EP2046093A1 - Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum gleichmäßigen Erwärmen von Materialien durch elektromagnetische Hochfrequenzstrahlung - Google Patents

Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum gleichmäßigen Erwärmen von Materialien durch elektromagnetische Hochfrequenzstrahlung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2046093A1
EP2046093A1 EP07019535A EP07019535A EP2046093A1 EP 2046093 A1 EP2046093 A1 EP 2046093A1 EP 07019535 A EP07019535 A EP 07019535A EP 07019535 A EP07019535 A EP 07019535A EP 2046093 A1 EP2046093 A1 EP 2046093A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
radiation
incoupling
temperature
frequency electromagnetic
incoupling means
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
EP07019535A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP2046093B1 (de
Inventor
Rudolf Dr. Emmerich
Tomaz Lasic
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.)
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung eV
Asociacion de Investigacion de Materiales Plasticos y Conexas AIMPLAS
Original Assignee
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung eV
ABB doo
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Application filed by Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung eV, ABB doo filed Critical Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung eV
Priority to EP20070019535 priority Critical patent/EP2046093B1/de
Priority to ES07019535.9T priority patent/ES2455241T3/es
Publication of EP2046093A1 publication Critical patent/EP2046093A1/de
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Publication of EP2046093B1 publication Critical patent/EP2046093B1/de
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/78—Arrangements for continuous movement of material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/72—Radiators or antennas

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for heating materials being capable of absorbing high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, in particular microwaves, by means of irradiating said materials with high-frequency electromagnetic radiation.
  • the present invention is directed to a device for heating materials being capable of absorbing high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, the device being capable of carrying out such process and comprising at least one source of radiation capable of generating high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, in particular microwaves, said source of radiation being connected to at least one incoupling means being capable of incoupling the high-frequency electromagnetic radiation generated by said source of radiation into the material to be heated.
  • Devices for the generation of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation of the type mentioned above are well-known in the art in order to heat different types of materials, e.g. meals and drinks (microwave ovens), polymers which are to be plastified (thermoplastics) or cured/cross-linked (thermosetting plastics, elastomers), etc..
  • the frequency and wavelength of the generated radiation are in the range of microwaves, i.e. between approximately 300 MHz and 300 GHz and between approximately 1 mm and 1 m, respectively, although said parameters may vary in a broader range dependent on the material to be heated.
  • One basic problem of the heating by means of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, in particular microwaves, consists in that a rather inhomogeneous temperature distribution is achieved in the material being heated as conventional incoupling means, e.g. microwave antennas in the form of substantially rectangular or cylindrical wave guides and the like, usually emit a rather acute "jet", in the centre thereof the material tends so get overheated whereas in the circumferential area of this "jet” no significant heating occurs.
  • conventional incoupling means e.g. microwave antennas in the form of substantially rectangular or cylindrical wave guides and the like
  • the radiation field itself generated by an incoupling means, e.g. a microwave antenna, of a source of radiation being capable of generating microwaves, e.g. a magnetron, klystron or the like, tends to be rather inhomogeneous.
  • heating of a material by means of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation is dependent on its material properties, e.g. density, water content, material type and especially absorption capacity for high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, it is practically impossible to provide for a substantially homogeneous heating of the material by means of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, which not only applies in connection with materials to be heated itself being not very homogenous.
  • this object is achieved by a method as defined by way of introduction, the method being characterised in that the high-frequency electromagnetic radiation is coupled into said material at a plurality of radiation areas by means of a plurality of incoupling means, the centres of said radiation areas being spaced apart from each other, wherein the temperature of the material is measured in each of said plurality of radiation areas, and the radiation dose of said plurality of incoupling means is controlled, dependent on the respective temperature, in such a way that a substantially uniform temperature of the material is obtained in all of said plurality of radiation areas.
  • the above object is achieved by a device as defined by way of introduction, the device being characterised in that it is provided with a plurality of incoupling means, said incoupling means are arranged in such a way that radiation areas are obtained the centres thereof being spaced apart from each other, wherein a temperature measuring means is assigned to each incoupling means being capable of measuring the temperature of each radiation area, and wherein the radiation dose of each incoupling means is controllable, dependent on the temperature of its radiation area measured by the respective temperature measuring means, in such a way that a substantially uniform temperature of the material to be heated is obtained in the radiation areas of all incoupling means, respectively.
  • the invention combines the main advantage of conventionally heating of materials by means of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation being comparatively fast and economical due to a comparatively high effectiveness with the essential further advantage of being able to provide for a substantially homogeneous and reproducible heating of the material in an effective and inexpensive manner due to the possibility of controlling the radiation dose of each of the plurality of incoupling means being spaced apart from each other dependent on the temperature of the respective radiation area of the material being radiated from the respective incoupling means.
  • hot spots a local overheating of the material
  • more or less important temperature gradients in the material are reliably avoided which enables the invention to be particularly applied to plastics procession processes, e.g.
  • the temperature of the material being heated is measured at least in the central region of each area being radiated, e.g. in the central point of the radiation field being emitted from the respective incoupling means.
  • the temperature measuring means can be arranged in such a way that it is capable of measuring the temperature of at least the central region of the radiation area of the respective incoupling means, e.g. in alignment with the focus of the latter.
  • the temperature is preferably measured substantially continuously, especially in real-time and in time intervals of, e.g., 0,01 s to 1 s, respectively.
  • the temperature measuring means is adapted to measure the temperature of the respective radiation area substantially continuously, wherein a data processing means as a central processing unit (CPU) or the like may be provided for processing the temperature data being supplied from all of the temperature measuring means and for controlling the radiation dose being emitted from the respective incoupling means dependent on the actual temperature, respectively.
  • a data processing means as a central processing unit (CPU) or the like may be provided for processing the temperature data being supplied from all of the temperature measuring means and for controlling the radiation dose being emitted from the respective incoupling means dependent on the actual temperature, respectively.
  • the temperature of the material being radiated by the plurality of incoupling means may be basically measured by any suitable temperature measuring means, measurement of the temperature preferably takes place without contact of the measuring means with the material to be heated, in particular by means of infrared sensors.
  • each incoupling means can be connected to an individual source of radiation capable of generating high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, e.g. a magnetron, klystron, maser or the like.
  • the radiation dose of each incoupling means can be controlled by means of individually controlling the radiation efficiency, in particular the amplitude of the high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, of its respective source of radiation.
  • the radiation dose of each incoupling means can be controlled by means of individually controlling the duration of generating radiation of its respective source of radiation, e.g.
  • the source of radiation can be pulsed in order to generate discrete pulses of radiation being transmitted to the respective incoupling means, the duration and/or the frequency of the pulses being controlled dependent on the temperature measured in the respective radiation area.
  • the radiation efficiency, in particular the amplitude of the high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, of each source of radiation can be held on a substantially constant level, preferably on an adjustable level or can, of course, be varied additionally.
  • the radiation dose of each incoupling means is controlled by means of individually influencing the emission properties of the respective incoupling means, wherein the radiation dose of each incoupling means preferably is controlled by means of varying a magnetic field affecting the respective incoupling means.
  • an embodiment of a device can be designed in such a way that the radiation dose of each incoupling means is controllable by means of individual interference of the emission properties of the respective incoupling means.
  • a magnet having a variable magnetic field in particular an electromagnet, is assigned to each incoupling means, wherein the magnet is arranged in such a way that its magnetic field is allowed to affect the radiation efficiency of the high-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from the respective incoupling means.
  • the electromagnet is suitably in the form of a coil whose windings surround the respective incoupling means, e.g. a waveguide or antenna, wherein the coil is connected to a power supply unit such as a voltage or current generator, the power of which is controlled dependent on the temperature measured by the respective temperature measuring means, e.g., by means of a CPU as indicated above.
  • the plurality of incoupling means may be arranged in such a way that the radiation areas thereof overlap partially so that the circumferential areas of each radiation area generated by the plurality of incoupling means (in which the radiation dose is decreased compared to their central area and, therefore, an inferior heating capacity is obtained) can be radiated by more than one incoupling means, e.g. by two incoupling means being positioned adjacently. This may contribute to a very homogenous heating of the material avoiding any serious temperature gradients therein.
  • the plurality of incoupling means may be, e.g., arranged in an array, wherein such array preferably can comprise several rows of incoupling means, the rows being arranged substantially in parallel relationship.
  • the incoupling means of at least some rows, in particular of adjacent rows can be arranged in a staggered relationship, wherein the offset of different or adjacent rows may correspond to the reciprocal value of the number of rows multiplicated by the distance of incoupling means or their radiation area in a row, respectively.
  • the plurality of incoupling means is arranged on a carrier means, wherein the incoupling means are movable relative to said carrier means and/or said carrier means is movably mountable on the ground.
  • the displacement of the array of incoupling means in respect of the carrier means or the displacement of the latter in respect to the ground may be, e.g., ensured through the provision of guide rails, portal cranes, robots or the like.
  • the invention is especially applicable to a thermally initiatable curing of resins or a cross-linking of polymers or, generally speaking, to the curing and/or cross-linking of curable and/or cross-linkable monomers, dimers, oligomers and/or polymers which can be heated to a sufficient temperature in order to substantially homogeneously cure and/or cross-link said monomers, dimers, oligomers and polymers at least partially, wherein the curing/cross-linking process can, of course, be influenced by previously known measures such as the provision of additives in the form of cross-linking agents, accelerators, promoters, hardeners (e.g., substances being capable to be decomposed to radicals such as peroxides etc.), additives being capable of enhancing the microwave absorbance (such as glycols, phthalates, amines etc.) and so on.
  • additives in the form of cross-linking agents accelerators, promoters, hardeners (e.g., substances being capable to be de
  • the curable and/or cross-linkable monomers, dimers, oligomers and polymers will be arranged in a mould, wherein the incoupling means are moved over substantially the entire mould in order to achieve a substantially homogenous curing and/or cross-linking of the curable and/or cross-linkable monomers, dimers, oligomers and/or polymers thereby obtaining a cured and/or cross-linked moulding.
  • the device according to the present invention may further comprise a mould being capable of accommodating curable and/or cross-linkable monomers, dimers, oligomers and/or polymers, the incoupling means being movable over substantially the entire mould in order to achieve a substantially homogenous curing and/or cross-linking of the curable and/or cross-linkable monomers, dimers, oligomers and/or polymers thereby obtaining a cured and/or cross-linked moulding or shaped part.
  • a mould being capable of accommodating curable and/or cross-linkable monomers, dimers, oligomers and/or polymers
  • the incoupling means being movable over substantially the entire mould in order to achieve a substantially homogenous curing and/or cross-linking of the curable and/or cross-linkable monomers, dimers, oligomers and/or polymers thereby obtaining a cured and/or cross-linked moulding or shaped part.
  • an embodiment of a device 1 for heating materials being capable of absorbing high-frequency electromagnetic radiation such as microwaves comprises a plurality of incoupling means 2 in the form of microwave antennas which may, e.g., be composed of hollow waveguides, coaxial waveguides or the like.
  • Each incoupling means 2 is connected to an individual source of radiation 3 being capable of generating microwaves such as magnetrons.
  • the incoupling means 2 are arranged in an array which, in the present embodiment, comprises two parallel rows R 1 , R 2 of microwave antennas 2 being positioned equidistantly and in a staggered relationship, wherein the offset of the antennas 2 of the first row R 1 and the ones of the second row R 2 is approximately half the distance of the antennas 2 in the first and second rows R 1 , R 2 , respectively, in order to provide for a substantially homogenous overall radiation field, the radiation field of the individual antennas 2 overlapping each other peripherally (see also fig. 2 ).
  • the array of incoupling means or microwave antennas 2 and their sources of radiation or magnetrons 3 are arranged on a carrier means 4 in the form of a frame, wherein the array of microwave antennas 2 is movable in respect of the frame 4.
  • the array can, for example, be positioned on a slide 5 which is guidably mounted on guide rails 6 being fixedly mounted on the frame 4 in order to be able to be displaced a least translationally along the guides 6.
  • the array of antennas 2 or the slide 5 can further be displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of the guides, and/or can be mounted rotatable around a vertical axis (not shown), if need be.
  • a temperature measuring means e.g. an infrared sensor preferably being adapted to deliver measurement signals with regard to the temperature substantially continuously or in real-time, is assigned to each microwave antenna 2 in order to measure the temperature of the material to be heated (not shown) in a radiation area of the material being radiated from the respective antenna 2.
  • the infrared sensors 7 can be arranged in the central region of each antenna 2 or its radiation area, respectively although, of course, more than one sensor may be assigned to each of the antennas 2 in order to measure the temperature of the radiated material in more than one point of the respective radiation area.
  • a control means such as a CPU unit (also not shown) is provided in order to receive the information in regard to the temperature of all infrared sensors 7, and to control the microwave antennas 2, dependent on the respective temperature, in such a way that a substantially uniform temperature of the material to be heated is obtained in the radiation areas of all antennas 2.
  • the radiation efficiency i.e. the amplitude or "power" of the microwaves
  • the duration/frequency of discrete pulses of radiation being generated by the respective magnetrons 3 may be controllable dependent on the temperature measured in the respective radiation area.
  • the device 1 is further provided with a mould (not shown) being positioned beneath the slide 5 carrying the array of microwave antennas 2 so that the microwaves can be incoupled directly in the mould.
  • the width of the mould should correspond approximately to the width of the array of microwave antennas 2, whereas the length of the mould should not exceed the length of the guide rails 6 so that it is possible for the mould to be radiated substantially over the whole projection thereof by means of the moving the array of microwave antennas 2 along the guide rails 6.
  • the mould should be positionable relative to the microwave antennas 2 in such a way that it is enabled to be radiated by the array of microwave antennas 2 substantially completely, e.g.
  • the mould serves to accommodate curable and/or cross-linkable polymer or resins systems such as di or multifunctional acids, anhydrides, alcohols, isocyanates etc., if need be together with suitable additives, reinforcement fibres and so on, the resin system being curable or cross-linkable by means of radiating it with microwaves.
  • curable and/or cross-linkable polymer or resins systems such as di or multifunctional acids, anhydrides, alcohols, isocyanates etc., if need be together with suitable additives, reinforcement fibres and so on, the resin system being curable or cross-linkable by means of radiating it with microwaves.
  • mouldings or shaped parts in particular also large-scale and/or rather complex mouldings such as blades of windmills, hulls etc. can be produced under pre-adjustable, reproducible and homogeneous curing conditions and in an inexpensive and time-saving manner, e.g. compared to a curing at ambient temperature or a curing employing convective heating.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Heating, Cooling, Or Curing Plastics Or The Like In General (AREA)
EP20070019535 2007-10-05 2007-10-05 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum gleichmäßigen Erwärmen von Materialien durch elektromagnetische Hochfrequenzstrahlung Active EP2046093B1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20070019535 EP2046093B1 (de) 2007-10-05 2007-10-05 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum gleichmäßigen Erwärmen von Materialien durch elektromagnetische Hochfrequenzstrahlung
ES07019535.9T ES2455241T3 (es) 2007-10-05 2007-10-05 Método y dispositivo para calentar materiales de forma homogénea por medio de radiación electromagnética de alta frecuencia

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20070019535 EP2046093B1 (de) 2007-10-05 2007-10-05 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum gleichmäßigen Erwärmen von Materialien durch elektromagnetische Hochfrequenzstrahlung

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EP2046093A1 true EP2046093A1 (de) 2009-04-08
EP2046093B1 EP2046093B1 (de) 2014-01-01

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ES (1) ES2455241T3 (de)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5459301A (en) 1993-03-04 1995-10-17 Miller; Alan E. Cyclic microwave treatment of pressed garments
WO1997013136A1 (en) 1995-10-03 1997-04-10 Cem Corporation Microwave apparatus for controlling power levels in individual multiple cells
FR2874473A1 (fr) 2004-08-19 2006-02-24 Michel Boulard Procede et dispositif pour le traitement thermique d'un materiau souple

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5459301A (en) 1993-03-04 1995-10-17 Miller; Alan E. Cyclic microwave treatment of pressed garments
WO1997013136A1 (en) 1995-10-03 1997-04-10 Cem Corporation Microwave apparatus for controlling power levels in individual multiple cells
FR2874473A1 (fr) 2004-08-19 2006-02-24 Michel Boulard Procede et dispositif pour le traitement thermique d'un materiau souple

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Publication number Publication date
ES2455241T3 (es) 2014-04-15
EP2046093B1 (de) 2014-01-01

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