Variothermal Injection Mold Temperature Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing variothermal temperature control systems for injection molding machines suffer from energy inefficiencies and difficulty in maintaining precise temperature curves due to the need for constant alternation of hot and cold water through valves and supply lines, leading to time delays during temperature changes.
Innovation Solution
The system eliminates the need for a valve station by keeping hot and cold temperature control media directly available to the consumer, allowing immediate contact and exchange, with check valves ensuring indirect contact if needed, and using separate buffers for efficient medium circulation and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If hot and cold water are alternately routed through the tool via valve station and supply lines, then variothermal temperature control is achieved, but time delays occur during temperature switching and energy losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the temperature control into two separate independent circuits (hot water circuit and cold water circuit) that operate simultaneously. Each circuit has its own pump, valves, and piping, allowing independent control without interference between hot and cold water flows.
Solution Approach 2:
Both hot and cold water circuits are kept ready and pressurized simultaneously in advance. The hot water circuit maintains readiness to heat immediately, while the cold water circuit maintains readiness to cool immediately, eliminating the need to wait for one circuit to clear before switching to the other.
2Temperature
If valve station alternately supplies hot and cold water through supply lines, then temperature control is achieved, but energy balance deteriorates due to constant heating and cooling of lines
Solution Approach 1:
Both hot and cold water circuits operate continuously and simultaneously rather than alternately. The hot water circuit continuously circulates hot water through its designated paths, and the cold water circuit continuously circulates cold water through its designated paths, eliminating the energy waste of repeatedly heating and cooling the same lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides different temperature control solutions for different locations: hot water circuits serve heating zones while cold water circuits serve cooling zones. Each circuit is optimized for its specific function and location, with independent piping that doesn't require temperature switching.
3Temperature
If cold water displaces warm water through lines during switching, then temperature control medium changes, but time delay occurs and energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the temperature control medium paths into separate hot and cold circuits that do not mix. Each circuit has dedicated piping, valves, and pumps, allowing instantaneous switching without the energy waste of displacing one temperature control medium with another.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses independent valve control as an intermediary mechanism to switch between hot and cold water circuits. Each circuit has its own control valves that can be independently actuated, allowing smooth transitions without direct displacement of temperature control media.
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 improves energy balance, reduces cycle times, and enhances response time by eliminating energy losses and time delays during temperature changes, allowing for precise temperature control with minimal intermediate storage.
Implementation Method 1
both the hot temperature control medium and the cold temperature control medium are kept ready directly on or in the consumer and are in contact with one another there
Implementation Method 2
the hot and cold water are alternately routed through the tool via suitable valves
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A description is given of a method and a device for the variothermal temperature control of a consumer (5), in particular a mould of an injection-moulding machine, wherein a liquid temperature-control medium at a first temperature (hot medium, T1) and a liquid temperature-control medium at a second temperature (cold medium, T2) are kept in readiness and alternately pumped through the consumer (5). The invention is characterised by the fact that both the hot temperature-control medium and the cold temperature-control medium are kept in readiness directly at or in the consumer (5), where they are in contact with each other. When a change is made from heating to cooling or vice versa, the required temperature-control medium is immediately introduced at the consumer (5) into the temperature-control channels thereof.