Tenter Oven Airflow Control Apparatus for Film Manufacturing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for manufacturing stretched films of thermoplastic resin in tenter ovens face issues with machine direction (MD) flow, leading to temperature unevenness, increased energy consumption, and productivity losses due to uncontrolled airflow, which current solutions fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
An airflow control apparatus is installed adjacent to the entrance and exit of the tenter oven, featuring pairs of air blowing nozzles and exhaust mechanisms that form an air curtain to prevent external air from entering and internal air from escaping, maintaining a stable air balance and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If air blowing nozzles increase air volume or raise temperature to maintain heating performance, then heating performance is maintained, but energy consumption of heat exchanger increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flow control plate as an intermediary element positioned between the air blowing nozzle and the film. This plate redirects the airflow path to reduce MD flow while maintaining heating effectiveness, thereby preserving heating performance without increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the airflow parameters by controlling the direction and distribution of air flow through the flow control plate. By changing the flow direction parameter rather than increasing volume or temperature, the system maintains heating performance while reducing energy consumption
2Ease of operation
If outside air flows into the tenter oven through MD flow, then air circulation occurs, but temperature unevenness in the film occurs and product quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control plate serves as a mediator that intercepts and redirects outside air flow before it can cause temperature unevenness. It maintains necessary air circulation while preventing harmful MD flow patterns that lead to temperature variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful MD flow into beneficial airflow patterns by using the flow control plate to redirect outside air into useful circulation patterns that maintain temperature uniformity while still providing necessary air exchange
3Use of energy by stationary object
If air heated in the chamber blows to the outside of the chamber, then heat exchange occurs, but working environment deteriorates and productivity decreases due to sublimate deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control plate acts as an intermediary barrier that controls the outflow of heated air and sublimate. It allows necessary heat exchange while preventing excessive heated air and sublimate from escaping to the working environment, thereby maintaining productivity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces temperature unevenness, decreases energy consumption, prevents sublimate deposition, and enhances productivity by stabilizing the air balance within the tenter oven, ensuring uniform film characteristics and reduced operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pair of air blowing nozzles that are air blowing nozzles configured to blow air toward the film
Implementation Method 2
at least one pair of upstream-side exhaust mechanisms that are exhaust mechanisms configured to discharge air in the box-shaped body
Implementation Method 3
maintaining a stable air balance and temperature
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention provides an airflow control apparatus of a box-shaped body installed adjacent to an upstream side of an entrance and/or a downstream side of an exit of a tenter oven. Air blowing nozzles facing each other across a film are installed in the airflow control apparatus. Air is blown toward the film from the air blowing nozzles, and the flows of air into the tenter oven and out of the tenter oven are blocked. Additionally, excess air blown from the air blowing nozzles is exhausted by exhaust mechanisms installed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the air blowing nozzles. The present invention provides the airflow control apparatus that suppresses the inflow of air to the tenter oven from the outside of a chamber and suppresses the outflow of air to the outside of the chamber from the tenter oven.