Vacuum RF Drying Chamber for Low-Temperature Dielectric Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for thermic drying of dielectric products, such as animal hides, foodstuffs, and polymers, do not efficiently combine the advantages of vacuum drying and radio frequency drying, leading to suboptimal performance and high resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A combined machine that integrates an electric generator producing radio frequency signals with an applicator unit inside a vacuum process chamber, creating an electromagnetic field to heat and dry dielectric products while minimizing energy consumption and reducing the risk of electrical discharges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If vacuum drying is used, then drying temperature can be reduced, but drying efficiency and productivity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines vacuum drying technology with radio frequency heating technology into a single integrated system. The vacuum chamber houses both the vacuum pump and the radio frequency applicator, allowing simultaneous operation of vacuum evacuation and electromagnetic field heating. This merging enables the system to achieve both low-temperature operation and high drying efficiency that neither technology can accomplish alone.
2Productivity
If radio frequency drying is used, then drying efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and electrical discharge risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the dielectric properties of water and the target material to enable selective heating. By adjusting the radio frequency parameters and leveraging the dielectric loss factor differences between water and the material, the system achieves efficient water removal while minimizing overall energy consumption and preventing excessive heating that could lead to electrical discharge risks.
3Loss of substance
If traditional vacuum drying is used, then resource consumption is high, but equipment complexity increases when combining technologies
Solution Approach 1:
The radio frequency applicator serves multiple functions within the vacuum chamber: it heats the material for drying, can control the drying rate through power adjustment, and works effectively across different material types. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate heating equipment, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while achieving reduced resource consumption.
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
The combined machine achieves higher production efficiency, reduces energy and resource consumption, and minimizes electrical discharge risks, making it more effective and cost-efficient than traditional machines.
Implementation Method 1
Drying by means of radio frequency systems (27.12 MHz) thus exploits the principle according to which water vapor always moves from the hot to the cold areas. By concerning the dielectric product to be treated in a treatment area in which a radio frequency electromagnetic field of appropriate intensity is present, heat is generated in a volumetric manner directly in the dielectric product itself
Implementation Method 2
Vacuum drying uses the principle according to which evaporation is achieved at lower temperatures (e.g., at 40° C. and 7.4 kPa) than atmospheric pressure (100° C. and 101.3 kPa) by reducing the pressure of the water contained in the dielectric product to be treated to dry it
Data Source
AI summary
A combined machine for the thermic drying treatment of dielectric products includes a box-like casing which defines a process chamber or cavity configured to receive a dielectric product placed on support means and to be thermally treated to obtain the drying thereof. A pumping means is operatively connected to the box-like casing and configured to be operated to create vacuum conditions inside the process chamber or cavity in the presence of the dielectric product. In particular, the combined machine includes an electric generator configured to generate a radio frequency output signal, at the desired output power, and applicator means, contained in the process chamber or cavity and electrically connected with the electric generator, configured to develop an electromagnetic field at a treatment zone of the dielectric product defined in the process chamber or cavity for heating the dielectric product itself.