EP0459204A1 - Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Schnellstrocknung eines Materiales durch Anwendung von Mikrowellen - Google Patents

Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Schnellstrocknung eines Materiales durch Anwendung von Mikrowellen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0459204A1
EP0459204A1 EP91107727A EP91107727A EP0459204A1 EP 0459204 A1 EP0459204 A1 EP 0459204A1 EP 91107727 A EP91107727 A EP 91107727A EP 91107727 A EP91107727 A EP 91107727A EP 0459204 A1 EP0459204 A1 EP 0459204A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
microwaves
treated
applicators
tunnel
inclusive
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91107727A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0459204B1 (de
Inventor
Claude Marzat
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CAGLIARI, ISABELLA
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Cagliari Isabella
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Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
    • F26B3/32—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by development of heat within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. by fermentation or other microbiological action
    • F26B3/34—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by development of heat within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. by fermentation or other microbiological action by using electrical effects
    • F26B3/343—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by development of heat within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. by fermentation or other microbiological action by using electrical effects in combination with convection

Definitions

  • This invention concerns a method and device for the drying of a material of any kind by application of microwaves, advantageously according to the Brewster angle of incidence, as set forth in the main claim.
  • the material in question may be in the form of semifinished or finished elements having a section of a relatively small thickness, and the microwaves may be of the order of magnitude of the internal wavelength of the material.
  • the invention can be applied to the field of sterilization of materials for health purposes too.
  • the invention can be applied to other products too, whether they have a continuous or divided form and are of another kind such as manufactured foodstuffs, agricultural foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals or other materials, ceramics, terracotta, cork, textiles, fabrics, yarns, sanitary and surgical materials, etc. to the extent which their dimensional configuration permits.
  • the Brewster angle is the name given to the angle of incidence of a wave in relation to a line normal to the surface of a product submitted to the electrical field of the polarized wave, on the basis of which a reflected wave does not exist, that is to say, that angle which has the effect that all the incident power is transmitted substantially into the product.
  • This angle of incidence varies for one and the same product as a function of its degree of humidity and, in a more general manner, as a function of its permittivity.
  • the invention is accomplished advantageously with a device to treat products with microwaves, in which device the products are moved in front of a plurality of microwave applicators the axes of symmetry of which are inclined, with various values too, in relation to the trajectory of movement of the products. These values of inclination are a function of the degree of humidity of the products passing each applicator, so that each applicator applies microwaves according to the Brewster angle.
  • the purpose of the invention is to eliminate the risks of damage resulting from the heat of the products or materials treated and to reduce at the same time the quantity of energy required for the optimum drying of such products or materials.
  • Another purpose of the invention is to shorten the drying time as much as possible.
  • the invention provides a method for the speedy drying or sterilization of a material, which may in itself be fragile, by applying microwaves according to the Brewster angle.
  • the method arranges to apply the microwaves with enough energy to bring the surface temperature and/or the temperature of the core of the material to a given upper limit, which is a function of the nature of the material.
  • the method arranges also to apply the microwaves again thereafter when the temperature or temperatures fall to a given lower limit, which too is a function of that material. This subsequent further application of the microwaves lasts until the temperature or temperatures reach the upper limit once more.
  • Such a method when applied to the drying of panels or wooden elements intended, for example, for joinery products, enables a quick, efficient drying to be achieved without deformations or loss of quality or of the appearance of the wood and with an appreciable reduction of the consumption of energy as compared to the known techniques of continuous application of microwaves.
  • the method is preferably, but not only, applied to material in movement; this relative movement is created between the product to be treated and the source or sources of microwaves.
  • the speed of movement, the gaps between the sources of microwaves or the duration of working of the source or sources are determined in such a way that the surface temperatures and/or core temperatures remain within such upper and lower limits.
  • the sources of microwaves provide various specific microwaves with differentiated wavelengths.
  • the slope of ascent of the applied power or the intensity of the applied power can be varied within a cycle.
  • Fig.1 shows with a continuous line the curve of evolution, as a function of time, of the temperature substantially at the centre of a piece of wood to be dried, for instance a stump of oak of a rectanglar section with a thickness of 40 mm. during a drying treatment according to the invention, whereby the microwaves are applied according to the incidence of the Brewster angle or at about that angle.
  • a line of dashes shows the parallel evolution of the surface temperature of the same piece of wood measured, for instance, by means of thermometers that do not interfere with the microwaves, such as infrared thermometers.
  • the temperature at the centre of the product is brought during the first step of the method from the ambient temperature (Ta) to an upper limit value established as 140°C in the case of the example shown.
  • Fig.2 shows a diagram of the powers of the microwaves applied during the process of drying a piece of wood being moved at a speed of one metre per minute, for instance, below emitters-applicators.
  • Emitters-applicators of 1200 W of returned power which emit microwaves with a frequency of 2450 MHz, were employed.
  • the use of this frequency is a good compromise since it corresponds to a wavelength of 12.24 cms. in free air. In fact, this frequency lies in the zone of intersection of the curves of absorption of the electromagnetic waves by the free water and captive water.
  • This frequency which is suitable for the drying of boards, panels, flooring and joinery elements is restricted preferably to pieces having a section of the order of 200 x 100 mm, when these pieces are very damp, or a section of greater dimensions when their humidity is decreasing.
  • these emitters emit waves with a frequency differing according to two or more values.
  • the first stage of the method consists in applying microwaves to the piece of wood at the power indicated above for 90 seconds; this brings the temperatures at the centre and the surface of the piece from the ambient temperature to the upper limit temperatures of 140°C and 100°C respectively.
  • these emitters emit waves at different powers, for instance progressively increasing or decreasing powers.
  • Figs.1 and 2 show a third application of microwaves for a period of 6 seconds to raise the temperatures again to the upper limit values, after which the piece of wood is not subjected again to microwaves and its temperature returns to the ambient temperature.
  • microwaves in a sequence stops when the degree of humidity of the piece of wood has fallen to the desired level.
  • the upper and lower limit values of the temperatures at the centre and at the surface, the applied power of the microwaves and the duration of the various steps of application and of the pauses between the applications depend on differing factors or parameters such as the nature of the material (wood, ceramics, clay, etc.) to be treated, on the configuration and dimensions of the articles or products treated, on the initial humidity and on the required final humidity, etc.
  • the temperature limit values in particular the upper limit value, are decided so as to prevent any cracking, breaking, weakening or other faults in the material.
  • Fig.3 is a diagram of a preferred way of carrying out the method according to the invention, whereby a relative movement is generated between the product to be treated, for instance a board of the panelling and the source of microwaves.
  • some stationary microwave emitters-applicators 1 operating according to the Brewster angle of incidence are positioned in relation to the trajectory of a product carried on a conveyor element 2, which passes through a horizontal tunnel 3 to which are secured waveguides 4 of the emitters-applicators 1.
  • the horizontal tunnel 3 may include screen means to prevent diffusion of the microwaves.
  • the number of the emitters-applicators 1 and the gap between two successive emitters-applicators 1 will, or may, vary according to the applications.
  • This angle can be adjusted advantageously, even for each emitter-applicator 1, especially in view of the application of the waves of each waveguide according to the Brewster angle of incidence or approximately according to that angle of incidence.
  • the emitters-applicators 1 may have equal powers or may have different powers.
  • the first emitter-applicator encountered by the product entering the tunnel 3 may possess adantageously a greater power so as to take into account the degree of humidity and the initial temperatures of the wood.
  • the parameters such as the number of emitters-applicators 1 of microwaves, the adjustment of the gaps therebetween and of their power and possibly of their frequency and of the inclination of their waveguides 4 and also the speed of the conveyor belt 2 are determined and controlled by making the material move inside the tunnel 3.
  • Fig.4 shows the application of the method according to the invention in a case where a piece of oak having a cross section of 80 mm. x 40 mm. is dried while positioned below an applicator fed by an emitter-applicator having a constant returned power (1200 W).
  • the abscissa gives the time in minutes, while the ordinate shows the percentage of humidity provided by the formula: H% + 100 (m - m bs )/m bs where "m” is the mass of the treated product at the instant "t", while “m bs " is the dry basic mass of the product after full extraction of the water.
  • the emitter-applicator and the piece of wood are stationary and action is taken by sending impulses of microwaves for variable periods separated by inactive intervals of the type shown in Fig.2.
  • the microwave impulses are represented by vertical segments grouped in packets.
  • the first packet 5 corresponds to the first application of microwaves and its duration is greater than that of the other applications (6 to 15), which all last for the same time.
  • the packets of impulses from 5 to 15 are separated by variable intervals of time.
  • the stopping of the first application of microwaves (5) and the starting and stopping of the subsequent applications (6 to 15) defined during measurements of the definition of the tunnel are controlled by measurements of the temperature on the surface of the sample, as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the sample is deemed to be dry enough at the end of 30 minutes, during which the duration of the application of the microwaves was only 3 minutes, 32 seconds.
  • the method is therefore economical and enables a homogeneous drying to be achieved to the desired degree together with an internal chemical conversion without any alteration, in particular without any cracking, of the faces of the product treated.
  • the industrial drying device according to the invention may require microwave emitters-applicators located on the two opposite faces of the product to be treated. This application is especially advantageous when the product is thick or very damp.
  • the microwaves can be applied to the faces of the smaller sides of the product so as to increase the inner field by reduction of the field of depolarization.
  • the water removed in the form of a liquid at the inlet of the tunnel should be eliminated gradually by blowing, aspiration or scraping to prevent its presence leading to the dissipation of energy.
  • the relative movement as between the product and the emitters-applicators can be obtained by displacing the emitters-applicators while the product remains stationary.
  • one single stationary emitter-applicator may be provided, while the products are positioned immovably under the waveguide, the period of the various applications being adjusted as shown in Fig.2.
  • the invention is obviously not restricted to the methods of performance described above but covers all the variants, especially as regards the power of the applicators, the microwave frequency used, the forms and dimensions of the waveguides and of the irradiation windows and their position on any of the surfaces of the tunnel.
  • the other two equally available parameters are the power of the generators and the speed of movement, which can be governed by continuous measurement of the humidity and can therefore be continuously controlled and adjusted by means of known control and actuator instruments.
  • the products can be carried on a conveyor belt or a mesh preferably not made of a polar material or can be kept under pressure between rolls protruding within the tunnel.
  • the product can be bent during the drying or be curved beforehand; for instance, a curved tunnel can be employed in which the wood will be retained on the edge and at the exit.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
EP91107727A 1990-05-14 1991-05-13 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Schnellstrocknung eines Materiales durch Anwendung von Mikrowellen Expired - Lifetime EP0459204B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9006203 1990-05-14
FR9006203A FR2661978A1 (fr) 1990-05-14 1990-05-14 Procede et dispositif de sechage rapide d'un materiau pouvant etre fragile par application de micro-ondes.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0459204A1 true EP0459204A1 (de) 1991-12-04
EP0459204B1 EP0459204B1 (de) 1994-06-22

Family

ID=9396727

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91107727A Expired - Lifetime EP0459204B1 (de) 1990-05-14 1991-05-13 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Schnellstrocknung eines Materiales durch Anwendung von Mikrowellen

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0459204B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE107760T1 (de)
DE (1) DE69102587T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2055487T3 (de)
FR (1) FR2661978A1 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2704633A1 (fr) * 1993-04-27 1994-11-04 Inst Textile De France Procédé et dispositif de séchage de bobines par air chaud et haute frééquence.
WO2000052406A1 (en) * 1999-03-01 2000-09-08 Milproc Miljöprocesser Ab A method and a device for determining the moisture rate of a particulate material during drying thereof
WO2006021231A1 (de) * 2004-08-24 2006-03-02 Hartwig Pollinger Verfahren und vorrichtung zur behandlung von korkeichen und kork
EP1327844A3 (de) * 2002-01-10 2006-05-17 DCT Dry Control Technologies GmbH & Co. KG Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Behandlung eines Beschichtungsstoffes auf einem Substrat und/oder eines Substrats
WO2019170299A1 (de) * 2018-03-08 2019-09-12 Siempelkamp Maschinen- Und Anlagenbau Gmbh Durchlaufofen und anlage zur herstellung von holzwerkstoffplatten

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR820908A (fr) * 1936-05-13 1937-11-22 Siemens Ag Disposition pour le séchage du bois ou d'autres objets ou matières humides, à l'aide de champs alternatifs à haute fréquence
DE737820C (de) * 1939-08-31 1943-07-24 Siemens Ag Verfahren zum Trocknen nichtmetallischer Stoffe im elektrischen Hochfrequenzfeld
DE839773C (de) * 1952-04-10 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin Und Erlangen Verfahren zur Trocknung mit Hochfrequenz
GB899044A (en) * 1960-04-12 1962-06-20 John Hamilton Stubber Improvements relating to the seasoning of timber
US3277580A (en) * 1963-07-05 1966-10-11 Hammtronics Systems Inc Method and apparatus for drying
FR1499628A (fr) * 1965-10-25 1967-10-27 Patelhold Patentverwertung Tunnel pour le traitement par micro-ondes
FR2076405A5 (de) * 1970-01-14 1971-10-15 Materiel Telephonique
FR2077953A1 (de) * 1970-02-26 1971-11-05 Pless John
FR2147456A5 (de) * 1971-07-28 1973-03-09 Materiel Telephonique
US3721013A (en) * 1971-06-04 1973-03-20 Canadian Patents Dev Method of drying wood
DE2431522A1 (de) * 1974-07-01 1976-01-22 Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz Ag Verfahren zur kontinuierlichen trocknung von nassen, koernigen und/oder stueckigen guetern und vorrichtung zur durchfuehrung des verfahrens
DE3106304A1 (de) * 1980-02-21 1982-02-18 Reinhard Ing.(grad.) 8643 Küps Tröbs Plastifizierung und trocknung von holz und holzwerkstoffen fuer die herstellung gebogener teile
US4714812A (en) * 1985-05-08 1987-12-22 John F. Woodhead, III Apparatus and method for processing dielectric materials with microwave energy
FR2651874A1 (fr) * 1989-09-08 1991-03-15 Charpente Menuiserie Chasseneuillaise Dispositif de sechage par micro-ondes de pieces de bois notamment de pieces de bois composites collees.

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE839773C (de) * 1952-04-10 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin Und Erlangen Verfahren zur Trocknung mit Hochfrequenz
FR820908A (fr) * 1936-05-13 1937-11-22 Siemens Ag Disposition pour le séchage du bois ou d'autres objets ou matières humides, à l'aide de champs alternatifs à haute fréquence
DE737820C (de) * 1939-08-31 1943-07-24 Siemens Ag Verfahren zum Trocknen nichtmetallischer Stoffe im elektrischen Hochfrequenzfeld
GB899044A (en) * 1960-04-12 1962-06-20 John Hamilton Stubber Improvements relating to the seasoning of timber
US3277580A (en) * 1963-07-05 1966-10-11 Hammtronics Systems Inc Method and apparatus for drying
FR1499628A (fr) * 1965-10-25 1967-10-27 Patelhold Patentverwertung Tunnel pour le traitement par micro-ondes
FR2076405A5 (de) * 1970-01-14 1971-10-15 Materiel Telephonique
FR2077953A1 (de) * 1970-02-26 1971-11-05 Pless John
US3721013A (en) * 1971-06-04 1973-03-20 Canadian Patents Dev Method of drying wood
FR2147456A5 (de) * 1971-07-28 1973-03-09 Materiel Telephonique
DE2431522A1 (de) * 1974-07-01 1976-01-22 Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz Ag Verfahren zur kontinuierlichen trocknung von nassen, koernigen und/oder stueckigen guetern und vorrichtung zur durchfuehrung des verfahrens
DE3106304A1 (de) * 1980-02-21 1982-02-18 Reinhard Ing.(grad.) 8643 Küps Tröbs Plastifizierung und trocknung von holz und holzwerkstoffen fuer die herstellung gebogener teile
US4714812A (en) * 1985-05-08 1987-12-22 John F. Woodhead, III Apparatus and method for processing dielectric materials with microwave energy
FR2651874A1 (fr) * 1989-09-08 1991-03-15 Charpente Menuiserie Chasseneuillaise Dispositif de sechage par micro-ondes de pieces de bois notamment de pieces de bois composites collees.

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2704633A1 (fr) * 1993-04-27 1994-11-04 Inst Textile De France Procédé et dispositif de séchage de bobines par air chaud et haute frééquence.
WO2000052406A1 (en) * 1999-03-01 2000-09-08 Milproc Miljöprocesser Ab A method and a device for determining the moisture rate of a particulate material during drying thereof
EP1327844A3 (de) * 2002-01-10 2006-05-17 DCT Dry Control Technologies GmbH & Co. KG Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Behandlung eines Beschichtungsstoffes auf einem Substrat und/oder eines Substrats
WO2006021231A1 (de) * 2004-08-24 2006-03-02 Hartwig Pollinger Verfahren und vorrichtung zur behandlung von korkeichen und kork
WO2019170299A1 (de) * 2018-03-08 2019-09-12 Siempelkamp Maschinen- Und Anlagenbau Gmbh Durchlaufofen und anlage zur herstellung von holzwerkstoffplatten

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2661978B1 (de) 1994-04-22
FR2661978A1 (fr) 1991-11-15
DE69102587T2 (de) 1994-10-06
EP0459204B1 (de) 1994-06-22
ES2055487T3 (es) 1994-08-16
DE69102587D1 (de) 1994-07-28
ATE107760T1 (de) 1994-07-15

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