Textile Drying with Air-Flow Deflection to Reduce Energy Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for drying textile materials after applying a sizing agent are energy-intensive, leading to high costs due to inefficient heat transfer and vapor pressure management.

Innovation Solution

An air flow is directed onto the textile material resting on a heating cylinder, improving contact pressure and heat transfer while carrying away volatile components, and a deflection device is used to prevent treatment agent deposition, with a housing for thermal shielding and air circulation to enhance energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If textile material is guided over a heating cylinder for drying, then the volatile components of the treatment agent evaporate and the textile material dries, but the process is relatively energy-intensive leading to high costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddrying efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A deflection device is introduced as an intermediary element between the textile material and the heating cylinder. This device improves the contact between the textile material and the heating cylinder surface, enhancing heat transfer efficiency without requiring additional energy input. The deflection device acts as a mediator that optimizes the thermal interaction while preventing direct contact between the textile and potential contamination sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the physical parameters of the drying system by controlling the temperature of the deflection device and adjusting the contact pressure between the textile material and the heating cylinder. By optimizing these parameters, the heat transfer coefficient is improved, allowing for more efficient drying with reduced energy consumption. The temperature of the deflection device is specifically controlled to prevent treatment agent deposition while maintaining effective heat transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the textile material is guided over a deflection device, then the contact zone on the heating cylinder can be determined, but the treatment agent may be deposited on the deflection device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidtreatment agent deposition
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature of the deflection device is controlled as a critical parameter to prevent treatment agent deposition. By maintaining the deflection device at a temperature above the dew point of the treatment agent, the volatile components remain in vapor phase and do not condense or deposit on the deflection device surface. This temperature control enables precise positioning while preventing substance loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The deflection device creates a localized environment that prevents treatment agent deposition. By controlling the thermal conditions and potentially introducing inert gas flow in the vicinity of the deflection device, the patent creates an environment where treatment agent vapors do not condense, thus preventing deposition while maintaining positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

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 approach reduces energy consumption and costs by improving heat transfer and vapor evaporation efficiency, allowing for faster and more cost-effective drying of textile materials.

Implementation Method 1

The heating cylinder has an increased surface temperature so that it can supply heat to the textile material. The heat causes volatile components of the sizing liquid to evaporate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the air flow can carry away volatile components of the treatment agent, e.g. the sizing liquid, so that the vapor pressure of these components in the vicinity of the textile goods decreases. This in turn facilitates further evaporation of the volatile components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

The air flow exerts a certain contact pressure on the textile material at least on a part of the peripheral surface of the heating cylinder, so that the contact between the textile material and the periphery of the heating cylinder is improved. This also improves the heat transfer from the heating cylinder to the textile material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2546406B1Method and device for handling a textile good
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 KARL MAYER STOLL R&D GMBH
  • EP2546406B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2546406B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The method involves applying a handling unit on a textile goods (2) that is dried on heating cylinders (4, 5). The textile goods is loaded with an air flow and rested on the heating cylinders, where the textile goods is guided across a deflection device (6) i.e. air-jet deflection device, before reaching the heating cylinders so as to contactlessly actuate the textile goods and indicate a non-adhesive surface of the textile goods, and allow the textile goods to be kept at moderate temperature. The air flow is directed in an input region tangential to the heating cylinders. An independent claim is also included for a device for treating a textile goods.