EP3310130B1 - Continuous furnace for the continuous heating of a compressed material mat - Google Patents

Continuous furnace for the continuous heating of a compressed material mat Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3310130B1
EP3310130B1 EP17191051.6A EP17191051A EP3310130B1 EP 3310130 B1 EP3310130 B1 EP 3310130B1 EP 17191051 A EP17191051 A EP 17191051A EP 3310130 B1 EP3310130 B1 EP 3310130B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antenna
housing
slots
installation according
waveguide
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.)
Active
Application number
EP17191051.6A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3310130A2 (en
EP3310130A3 (en
Inventor
Klaus Gartz
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.)
Siempelkamp Maschinen und Anlagenbau GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Siempelkamp Maschinen und Anlagenbau GmbH and Co KG
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Publication date
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Publication of EP3310130A2 publication Critical patent/EP3310130A2/en
Publication of EP3310130A3 publication Critical patent/EP3310130A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B27—WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
    • B27N—MANUFACTURE BY DRY PROCESSES OF ARTICLES, WITH OR WITHOUT ORGANIC BINDING AGENTS, MADE FROM PARTICLES OR FIBRES CONSISTING OF WOOD OR OTHER LIGNOCELLULOSIC OR LIKE ORGANIC MATERIAL
    • B27N3/00—Manufacture of substantially flat articles, e.g. boards, from particles or fibres
    • B27N3/08—Moulding or pressing
    • B27N3/18—Auxiliary operations, e.g. preheating, humidifying, cutting-off
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B27—WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
    • B27N—MANUFACTURE BY DRY PROCESSES OF ARTICLES, WITH OR WITHOUT ORGANIC BINDING AGENTS, MADE FROM PARTICLES OR FIBRES CONSISTING OF WOOD OR OTHER LIGNOCELLULOSIC OR LIKE ORGANIC MATERIAL
    • B27N3/00—Manufacture of substantially flat articles, e.g. boards, from particles or fibres
    • B27N3/08—Moulding or pressing
    • B27N3/20—Moulding or pressing characterised by using platen-presses
    • B27N3/203—Moulding or pressing characterised by using platen-presses with heating or cooling means
    • 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
    • F26B3/347—Electromagnetic heating, e.g. induction heating or heating using microwave energy
    • 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
    • H05B6/70—Feed lines
    • H05B6/707—Feed lines using waveguides
    • H05B6/708—Feed lines using waveguides in particular slotted waveguides
    • 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
    • H05B6/78—Arrangements for continuous movement of material
    • H05B6/784—Arrangements for continuous movement of material wherein the material is moved using a tubular transport line, e.g. screw transport systems

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a continuous furnace for the continuous heating of a pressed material mat, in particular in the course of the production of wood-based panels, with a tunnel-shaped housing through the interior of which the pressed material mat can be passed and with one or more microwave generators for generating microwaves, which are fed via one or more waveguides into the Interior of the housing are irradiated.
  • pressed material mat preferably means a mat or material web made of (glued) particles, e.g. B. chips or fibers, preferably wood chips or wood fibers in the course of the production of wood-based panels.
  • the particles, z. B. wood chips or wood fibers are usually scattered on a conveyor belt or the like to form a pressed material mat and the pressed material mat thus produced then passes through a press, e.g. B. a continuously operating double belt press, in which the pressing material mat is pressed using pressure and/or heat to form a (wood-based material) board or board strand.
  • microwave radiation means electromagnetic radiation in a frequency range of 100 MHz to 300 GHz, preferably 300 MHz to 100 GHz.
  • the microwave radiation is generated in one or more microwave generators, e.g. B. magnetrons, generated and radiated or coupled via waveguide into the interior of the housing.
  • a continuous furnace for the continuous preheating of a pressed material mat of the type described above is e.g. B. from the EP 2 247 418 B1 and DE 10 2007 063374 A1 (DIEFFENBACHER GMBH & CO KG [DE]) July 2, 2009 (2009-07-02) known.
  • Microwaves in a frequency range of 2400 to 2500 MHz are used to heat the pressing material mat, with the microwaves being generated for each pressing surface side from 20 to 300 microwave generators with magnetrons with a power of 3 to 50 KW.
  • the inlet and outlet of the continuous furnace should be variable in height and/or width.
  • Movable absorption elements can be provided to change the inlet or outlet, e.g. B. absorber stones and / or water tank.
  • the German utility model DE 20 2015 102 422 U1 describes a device for the continuous heating of materials made of essentially non-metallic material, comprising a continuous furnace for the continuous heating of material on an endlessly circulating conveyor belt, the continuous furnace having a plurality of magnetrons for generating electromagnetic waves and waveguides with outlet openings for feeding the waves into has a radiation room.
  • the main axes of the outlet openings enclose an angle greater than 0° and/or the connecting line of the centers of gravity of the surfaces of the outlet openings enclose an angle of greater than 0 to the perpendicular to the direction of production. This measure is intended to ensure that the material is heated evenly.
  • WO 2008/067996 A1 a microwave heating device which is designed in particular for ceramic materials and molded parts and has a number of microwave generators for emitting microwaves with a frequency of 300 MHz to 5.8 GHz.
  • the high- and low-frequency microwaves are coupled in via several coupling elements embedded in the ceiling and floor area of the drying chamber. These should be slot antennas tuned to the output frequency.
  • several field guides are arranged in the ceiling area of the drying chamber.
  • the focus of the invention lies in the industrial drying of ceramic materials and mineral insulation materials. These considerations had no influence on the design of preheating devices for the wood-based panel industry.
  • the invention is based on the object of creating a continuous furnace with which a pressing material mat, in particular for the production of wood-based panels, can be heated or preheated efficiently and economically.
  • the invention teaches in a generic continuous furnace of the type described above that the waveguide or waveguides is/are designed at least in sections as waveguide slot antenna(s), which (each) has a slot antenna section, each with a plurality of exit slots for the coupling of the microwaves into the interior.
  • Slot antenna section means a section of the waveguide in relation to the longitudinal direction and consequently a length section of the waveguide.
  • a waveguide is one Waveguide for electromagnetic waves (here: microwaves).
  • the waveguide is designed as a metal tube with a preferably rectangular (possibly also circular or elliptical) cross section.
  • Such waveguides are used in the prior art for transporting the microwaves generated in the microwave generator in the oven when the microwave generators are not connected directly to the housing. While the microwaves in the prior art usually emerge from the open ends of the waveguides and are radiated into the interior of the furnace, the invention proposes that the waveguides (at least in sections) be designed as waveguide slot antennas, each of which has a large number of have of exit slots.
  • the waveguide or the waveguide slot antenna is preferably closed at the end, specifically at the end facing away from the microwave generator, with an end wall. Consequently, the microwaves do not exit the waveguide at the front, but are radiated via one longitudinal wall, the so-called antenna wall, of the waveguide slot antenna, specifically through the exit slots arranged there.
  • the microwaves consequently enter the waveguide or the slotted waveguide antenna on the side facing the microwave generator and are reflected on the opposite closed end or the end wall, so that a standing wave with the so-called waveguide wavelength forms within the slotted waveguide antenna, i.e. it occurs two antinodes per waveguide wavelength.
  • the field created in this way is severely disturbed by the slits made in an antenna wall and through this disturbance the field exits from the waveguide slot antenna and spreads from it into space, ie into the interior of the oven.
  • the invention has recognized that with conventional irradiation via the open-ended waveguide when the microwaves enter the interior of the furnace housing, reflections occur and the radiation enters the interior in an undirected manner, resulting in uneven heating. Directed irradiation of the pressed material mat takes place via the waveguide slot antenna, ie the energy input is directed onto the pressed material mat and reflections are avoided. The "illumination" of the pressed material mat is improved.
  • slot antennas are known in principle from communications technology in order to address specific sectors of a coverage area uniformly and in a targeted manner using radio technology. The invention transfers such considerations to the area of microwave heating of pressed material mats for the wood-based materials industry.
  • the waveguide slot antennas (each) preferably have a rectangular cross section.
  • the waveguide slot antenna extends along a longitudinal direction, so that the waveguide slot antenna forms a predetermined length section of the waveguide, this slot antenna section having an antenna wall extending along the longitudinal direction of the antenna, in which the exit slots are arranged.
  • the waveguide can consequently also have a (conventional) waveguide section without slots. Proceeding from the microwave generator, the waveguide can consequently initially have a waveguide section without slots and an adjoining slot antenna section with slots.
  • the waveguide (with waveguide section and antenna section) can extend straight in one direction and with a substantially identical cross section. However, it is also within the scope of the invention for the waveguide section or a waveguide section to extend in a different direction than the slot antenna section, so that spatial deflection can take place within the waveguide. This is particularly useful when the arrangement of the microwave generators in the room requires it.
  • the waveguide slot antennas protrude into the interior of the housing, i. H. they break through the housing wall. Consequently, the waveguides do not end when they enter the housing, but rather they extend through the housing wall and protrude into the housing as waveguide slot antennas, so that they are arranged above and/or below the pressed material mat and the pressed material mat can be pressed from above and in a targeted manner /or irradiate from below (directed).
  • the waveguide slot antennas can be connected to the outside of the housing or attached to the outside of the housing so that the antenna wall is formed by a region of the housing or the housing wall or the antenna wall forms part of the housing wall.
  • the waveguide slot antennas (or the antenna section of the waveguides) run transversely to the direction of passage, i. i.e. they are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the furnace.
  • the longitudinal direction of the waveguide slot antenna consequently extends transversely or perpendicularly to the direction of passage of the furnace.
  • the waveguide slot antennas are not arranged transversely to the direction of passage, but rather parallel to the direction of passage and consequently the longitudinal direction of the furnace, so that the longitudinal direction of the waveguide slot antennas extends along the direction of passage.
  • the waveguides themselves and in particular their waveguide slot antenna sections. or waveguide slot antennas preferably have a rectangular cross section, with the width defined by the antenna wall (which has the slots) preferably being 1.5 times or 2.5 times, particularly preferably 2 times, the height of the waveguide -slot antenna is.
  • the waveguide slot antenna e.g. B. the antenna wall
  • the waveguide slot antenna preferably has at least two mutually parallel, spaced rows of slots, each row of slots preferably having a plurality of slots spaced one behind the other.
  • the two rows of slots are preferably offset and consequently arranged at a distance from the center line of the waveguide slot antenna or the antenna wall.
  • the individual slits of the two rows of slits are preferably offset from one another along the longitudinal direction.
  • the individual slots are preferably of rectangular design. You can have a length of z. B. 100 mm to 200 mm.
  • the waveguide slot antennas can be coordinated or designed in a variety of ways with regard to waveguide geometry and slot geometry, taking into account the respective microwave length. With the help of simulations, an optimization can be carried out so that reflections when entering the interior of the furnace are avoided and a uniform, targeted illumination of the mat to be pressed (e.g. from above and/or below).
  • the subject matter of the invention is also a method for preheating a pressing material mat, in particular in the course of the production of wood-based panels, with a continuous furnace of the type described.
  • This method is characterized in that the pressing material mat is passed through the interior of the housing and is connected to the hollow conductor slot antennas emitted microwaves and is thereby heated.
  • the use of such a continuous furnace for the preheating of (glued) wood-based material mats in the course of the production of wood-based material boards is therefore of particular importance according to the invention.
  • the device is therefore preferably designed as a wood-based material mat heating device or preheating device.
  • the continuous furnace itself can e.g. B. have a rectangular cross-section, so that the pressing material mat runs through the rectangular interior at a predetermined height.
  • the waveguide slot antennas can protrude into the interior at right angles to the direction of passage or be placed on the interior so that the pressed material mat z. B. is irradiated from above.
  • the waveguide slot antennas can also be arranged parallel to the passage direction within the interior space or placed on the interior space or on the housing.
  • z. B. provided with the slots antenna wall part of the upper housing wall in which the waveguide slot antenna is attached directly to the upper housing wall. The irradiation can take place from above onto the upper side of the mat and/or from below onto the underside of the mat.
  • the tunnel-shaped housing can alternatively be oval in cross-section and z. B. have a width that is greater than the height.
  • the options described also exist in such a case. If at one such oval, z. B. elliptical housing, the slot antennas are attached to the outside of the housing, there is the possibility that the waveguide slot antennas follow the oval shape of the housing and are consequently themselves curved along the longitudinal direction.
  • the tunnel-shaped housing not only has a housing jacket (with, for example, a rectangular or oval cross section), but also an inlet-side end wall and an outlet-side end wall, which close the furnace on the inlet side and outlet side. Since the material web to be heated is to be fed continuously through the continuous furnace, the inlet-side end wall and/or the outlet-side end wall have on the one hand an inlet-side opening and on the other hand an outlet-side opening through which the continuous material web can enter the housing and exit from the housing.
  • an input tunnel and an output tunnel to the opening on the input side and/or to the opening on the output side, with such an input tunnel or output tunnel usually having a significantly smaller one Cross-section or a significantly smaller cross-sectional area than the continuous furnace itself or its housing, so that the microwave losses through the entrance tunnel and the exit tunnel are kept low.
  • the entrance tunnel and the exit tunnel are usually constructed as well as waveguides made of an electrically conductive material (e.g. metal), with these tunnels being dimensioned in terms of width and height in such a way that no or as little propagation as possible of the microwaves of the specific wavelength so that they work "destructively" so to speak by suppressing the oscillation modes of the microwaves.
  • In 1 is a simplified representation of a plant for the production of wood-based panels in continuous flow.
  • the grit to be compressed e.g. wood fibers or wood chips
  • the grit mat 1 produced in this way is pressed in a continuously operating press 3 using pressure and heat to form the wood-based panel (e.g. chipboard or fiberboard).
  • Such Press 3 is usually designed as a double-belt press, which has an upper heating plate and a lower heating plate and endlessly circulating press belts (e.g. steel press belts) in the upper and lower parts of the press, these press belts with the interposition of rolling element assemblies (e.g. wooden rods) are supported on the press plates/heating plates.
  • One of the heating plates or both heating plates are acted upon by press cylinders which are supported on the press frame (e.g. on the press frame).
  • the pressing material mat 1 is preheated within the scope of the invention with the aid of an in 1 only indicated continuous furnace 4.
  • the pressing material mat 1 consequently runs through the continuous furnace 4, which has a tunnel-shaped housing 5.
  • the continuous furnace 4 has a multiplicity of microwave generators 6, with which microwaves are generated, so that the material web 1 is acted upon in the interior space 7 of the housing 5 and consequently heated.
  • the microwave generators 6 can be magnetrons or the generators can have such magnetrons.
  • the microwave generators 6 are connected to the housing 5 via waveguides 8 so that the microwaves are radiated into the interior 7 of the housing via the waveguides 8 .
  • the tunnel-shaped housing 5 has a housing shell 10 which has a rectangular cross section in the exemplary embodiment.
  • the housing 5 has an entry-side end wall 11 and an exit-side end wall 12, with the entry-side end wall having an entry-side opening 13 and the exit-side end wall having an exit-side opening 14, through which the pressing material mat 1 enters the housing 5 and exits the housing 5 .
  • there is an inlet tunnel 15 on the inlet-side opening 13 and on the outlet-side Opening 14 is connected to an output tunnel 16, with which the escape of microwaves from the interior of the housing can be avoided or reduced.
  • the input tunnel 15 and the output tunnel 16 in the manner of waveguides as z. B. rectangular tubes, which are dimensioned such that the corresponding modes of the microwave beams are suppressed.
  • the pressed material mat 1 runs through the continuous oven 4 on a forming belt or conveyor belt 17, which consists of a non-conductive material, so that it can be passed through the microwave oven 4 during operation without any problems. In principle, this can be the same forming belt onto which the pressed material mat is spread. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide a separate, endlessly circulating forming belt 17 for the continuous furnace, so that the pressed material mat 1 previously scattered on a first forming belt 2 is then delivered to a second form sheet 17, which runs through the continuous furnace 4.
  • the waveguides 8 are designed at least in sections as waveguide slot antennas 8a, with these waveguide slot antennas 8a each having a plurality of exit slots 9 for coupling the microwaves into the interior 7.
  • the waveguides 8 have a waveguide section in a manner known in principle, which is then followed by a slot antenna section, forming the waveguide slot antenna 8a.
  • the waveguide slot antenna 8a is consequently, in relation to the longitudinal direction of the waveguide 8, a part or a section of the waveguide 8 which defines the slot antenna section 8a of the waveguide 8, the waveguide slot antenna 8a or the slot antenna section of the waveguide having a length L, wherein the exit slots 9 are arranged in this longitudinal section with the length L.
  • the exit slots 9 are arranged in a wall, namely in the antenna wall 18 .
  • the waveguide or waveguide slot antennas 8a have a rectangular cross-section in the exemplary embodiment, with the antenna wall 18 with the exit slots 9 (and the opposite wall) having a greater width B than the walls running transversely thereto (which have a width or height H).
  • the width B of the waveguide slot antenna (like the waveguide) is approximately twice the height H.
  • the end wall 19 closes the waveguide slot antenna 8a at the end of the waveguide 8 opposite the microwave generator 6. In this way, A standing wave occurs in the waveguide 8 and in particular in the waveguide slot antenna 8a, the field of which is disturbed by the slots 9 made in the antenna wall 18, so that the microwaves are directed through the slots 9 and enter the interior of the furnace and the pressing material mat 1 heat.
  • the waveguide slot antennas 8a protrude into the interior 7 of the housing 5 through the housing wall 10.
  • the waveguides 8 consequently project with their antenna section (which forms the waveguide slot antenna) by a predetermined amount ( e.g. by the length L of the waveguide slot antenna) into the interior of the housing.
  • the waveguide slot antennas 8a extend in the in 2 illustrated embodiment transverse to the flow direction D, which defines the longitudinal direction of the furnace. It can be seen here that a plurality of waveguide slot antennas 8a (which run transversely to the direction of passage) are arranged one behind the other along the direction of passage D. A single one of these waveguide slot antennas is shown at in 3 shown.
  • the slots 9 made in the antenna wall 18 of the slot antenna 8a are in 4 shown. It can be seen that such a slot antenna 8a or its antenna wall 18 has (at least) two rows of slots running parallel to one another 9', each having a plurality of slots 9 spaced one behind the other.
  • the two rows of slots 9' are arranged at a distance A from one another, and the individual slots 9 of a row of slots 9' are arranged one behind the other at a distance a.
  • the slots 9 of the two rows 9' are offset from one another along the longitudinal direction of the waveguide. It can also be seen that the two rows of slots 9′ are offset from the center line X of the antenna wall 18, ie they are at a distance V from the center line X as an offset.
  • the slots 9 themselves are rectangular with a length l.
  • FIG 5 a modified embodiment of the invention is shown in simplified form, in which the waveguide slot antenna 8a is not arranged transversely, but rather parallel through the direction of passage D, so that they extend along the direction of passage. In this case, too, there is the possibility of protruding a plurality of waveguide slot antennas 8a, which are then preferably arranged next to one another transversely to the direction of passage. This is in figure 5 not shown.
  • the waveguide slot antennas 8a protrude through the housing shell 10 into the interior 7 of the housing 5, so that the waveguide slot antennas 8a have an antenna housing that is separate from the housing 5.
  • a modified embodiment is shown in simplified form, in which the waveguide slot antenna 8a is connected to the outside of the housing 5, so that the antenna wall 18 is formed by an area of the housing 5 or the housing jacket 10, or the antenna wall itself is part of the housing or the housing shell forms.
  • the slots 9 are in this embodiment, as it were in the Housing jacket 10 introduced.
  • This can e.g. B. so realize that a cross-section U-shaped metallic tube is attached to the side of the housing 5, 10 or placed so that together with the housing wall a waveguide with a rectangular cross-section is formed, the slots 9 are then introduced into the housing wall .
  • Such an embodiment can also be implemented in a housing 5 that does not have a rectangular cross section, but z. B. has an oval cross-section, in which case the waveguide slot antenna can then be curved and adapted to the outer circumference of the oval housing. This is not shown in the figures.
  • each microwave generator can generate an output of 100 KW.
  • the Pressgutmatte can z. B. at a temperature of 20 ° C to 40 ° C, z. B. 35 ° C in the oven and at a temperature of 70 ° C to 100 ° C, z. B. 80 ° to 90 ° C are preheated.
  • Each individual microwave generator 6 has a magnetron 20 and a heating voltage generator 21 and an anode voltage generator 22 and a cooling system 23 and an insulator 24 .
  • a cooling and/or ventilation 25 for the oven is also indicated.
  • the irradiation takes place only from above, i. H. the slot antennas are arranged above the mat. Alternatively or additionally, however, waveguide slot antennas can also be arranged below the mat, with which the mat is irradiated from below.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen Durchlaufofen zur kontinuierlichen Erwärmung einer Pressgutmatte, insbesondere im Zuge der Herstellung von Holzwerkstoffplatten, mit einem tunnelförmigen Gehäuse, durch dessen Innenraum die Pressgutmatte hindurchführbar ist und mit einem oder mehreren Mikrowellengeneratoren zur Erzeugung von Mikrowellen, die über ein oder mehrere Hohlleiter in den Innenraum des Gehäuses einstrahlbar sind.The invention relates to a continuous furnace for the continuous heating of a pressed material mat, in particular in the course of the production of wood-based panels, with a tunnel-shaped housing through the interior of which the pressed material mat can be passed and with one or more microwave generators for generating microwaves, which are fed via one or more waveguides into the Interior of the housing are irradiated.

Pressgutmatte meint im Rahmen der Erfindung bevorzugt eine Matte bzw. Materialbahn aus (beleimten) Partikeln, z. B. Spänen oder Fasern, bevorzugt Holzspänen oder Holzfasern im Zuge der Herstellung von Holzwerkstoffplatten. Dabei werden die Partikel, z. B. Holzspäne oder Holzfasern in der Regel auf einen Streubandförderer oder dergleichen unter Bildung einer Pressgutmatte aufgestreut und die so erzeugte Pressgutmatte durchläuft anschließend eine Presse, z. B. eine kontinuierlich arbeitende Doppelbandpresse, in welcher die Pressgutmatte unter Anwendung von Druck und/oder Wärme zu einer (Holzwerkstoff-)Platte bzw. Plattenstrang verpresst wird. Zur Optimierung des Pressprozesses erfolgt eine Vorwärmung des Pressgutes bzw. der Pressgutmatte, und zwar im Rahmen der Erfindung mit Hilfe einer Pressgutmatten-Vorwärmeinrichtung, die als Durchlaufofen ausgebildet ist. Die Pressgutmatte wird folglich mit Hilfe von Mikrowellenstrahlung vorgewärmt. Mikrowellenstrahlung meint dabei erfindungsgemäß elektromagnetische Strahlung in einem Frequenzbereich von 100 MHz bis 300 GHz, bevorzugt 300 MHz bis 100 GHz. Die Mikrowellenstrahlung wird in einem oder mehreren Mikrowellengeneratoren, z. B. Magnetronen, erzeugt und über Hohlleiter in den Innenraum des Gehäuses eingestrahlt bzw. eingekoppelt.In the context of the invention, pressed material mat preferably means a mat or material web made of (glued) particles, e.g. B. chips or fibers, preferably wood chips or wood fibers in the course of the production of wood-based panels. The particles, z. B. wood chips or wood fibers are usually scattered on a conveyor belt or the like to form a pressed material mat and the pressed material mat thus produced then passes through a press, e.g. B. a continuously operating double belt press, in which the pressing material mat is pressed using pressure and/or heat to form a (wood-based material) board or board strand. To optimize the pressing process, the material to be pressed or the mat of material to be pressed is preheated, specifically within the scope of the invention with the aid of a device for preheating the material to be pressed, which is designed as a continuous furnace. The pressed material mat is consequently preheated with the aid of microwave radiation. According to the invention, microwave radiation means electromagnetic radiation in a frequency range of 100 MHz to 300 GHz, preferably 300 MHz to 100 GHz. The microwave radiation is generated in one or more microwave generators, e.g. B. magnetrons, generated and radiated or coupled via waveguide into the interior of the housing.

Ein Durchlaufofen zum kontinuierlichen Vorwärmen einer Pressgutmatte der eingangs beschriebenen Art ist z. B. aus der EP 2 247 418 B1 und DE 10 2007 063374 A1 (DIEFFENBACHER GMBH & CO KG [DE]) 2. Juli 2009 (2009-07-02) bekannt. Dabei werden zur Erwärmung der Pressgutmatte Mikrowellen in einem Frequenzbereich von 2400 bis 2500 MHz verwendet, wobei die Mikrowellen für jede Pressflächenseite aus 20 bis 300 Mikrowellenerzeugern mit Magnetronen eine Leistung von 3 bis 50 KW erzeugt werden. Der Einlauf und der Auslauf des Durchlaufofens sollen in Höhe und/oder Breite veränderlich ausgeführt sein. Zur Veränderung des Einlaufs oder Auslaufs können bewegliche Absorptionselemente vorgesehen sein, z. B. Absorbersteine und/oder Wasserbehälter.A continuous furnace for the continuous preheating of a pressed material mat of the type described above is e.g. B. from the EP 2 247 418 B1 and DE 10 2007 063374 A1 (DIEFFENBACHER GMBH & CO KG [DE]) July 2, 2009 (2009-07-02) known. Microwaves in a frequency range of 2400 to 2500 MHz are used to heat the pressing material mat, with the microwaves being generated for each pressing surface side from 20 to 300 microwave generators with magnetrons with a power of 3 to 50 KW. The inlet and outlet of the continuous furnace should be variable in height and/or width. Movable absorption elements can be provided to change the inlet or outlet, e.g. B. absorber stones and / or water tank.

In der DE 697 37 417 T2 wird eine Vorrichtung und ein Verfahren zur Herstellung von Produkten aus Holz bzw. Holzfasern beschrieben, wobei Mikrowellen zur Vorerwärmung eines Bindemittels eingesetzt werden. Dabei sollen insbesondere Furnierhölzer hergestellt werden.In the DE 697 37 417 T2 describes a device and a method for the production of products made of wood or wood fibers, wherein microwaves are used to preheat a binder. In particular, veneered wood is to be produced.

Das deutsche Gebrauchsmuster DE 20 2015 102 422 U1 beschreibt eine Vorrichtung zum kontinuierlichen Erwärmen von Materialien aus im Wesentlichen nicht metallischem Material, umfassend einen Durchlaufofen zur kontinuierlichen Erwärmung von Material auf einem endlos umlaufenden Transportband, wobei der Durchlaufofen eine Mehrzahl von Magnetronen zur Erzeugung von elektromagnetischen Wellen und Hohlleiter mit Austrittsöffnungen zur Einspeisung der Wellen in einen Strahlungsraum aufweist. Bei zumindest zwei Austrittsöffnungen, welche in und/oder quer zur Produktionsrichtung als nächster Nachbar angeordnet sind, schließen die Hauptachsen der Austrittsöffnungen einen Winkel größer 0° ein und/oder die Verbindungslinie der Schwerpunkte der Flächen der Austrittsöffnungen schließen einen Winkel von größer 0 auf die Senkrechte zur Produktionsrichtung ein. Durch diese Maßnahme soll eine gleichmäßige Erwärmung des Materials sichergestellt werden.The German utility model DE 20 2015 102 422 U1 describes a device for the continuous heating of materials made of essentially non-metallic material, comprising a continuous furnace for the continuous heating of material on an endlessly circulating conveyor belt, the continuous furnace having a plurality of magnetrons for generating electromagnetic waves and waveguides with outlet openings for feeding the waves into has a radiation room. With at least two outlet openings, which are arranged as the next neighbor in and/or transverse to the production direction, the main axes of the outlet openings enclose an angle greater than 0° and/or the connecting line of the centers of gravity of the surfaces of the outlet openings enclose an angle of greater than 0 to the perpendicular to the direction of production. This measure is intended to ensure that the material is heated evenly.

Im Übrigen kennt man aus der WO 2008/067996 A1 eine Mikrowellenheizeinrichtung, die insbesondere für keramische Werkstoffe und Formteile ausgebildet ist und mehrere Mikrowellengeneratoren zur Abstrahlung von Mikrowellen mit einer Frequenz von 300 MHz bis 5,8 GHz aufweist. Die Einkopplung der hoch- und niederfrequenten Mikrowellen erfolgt über mehrere in die Decke und den Bodenbereich der Trockenkammer eingelassenen Einkoppelelemente. Dabei soll es sich um auf die Abgabefrequenz abgestimmte Schlitzantennen handeln. Um eine besonders gleichmäßige Mikrowellenverteilung zu erreichen, ist die Anordnung von mehreren Feldführern im Deckenbereich der Trockenkammer vorgesehen. Der Schwerpunkt der Erfindung liegt dabei in der industriellen Trocknung von keramischen Materialien und mineralischen Isolationswerkstoffen. Auf die Ausgestaltung von Vorwärmeinrichtungen für die Holzwerkstoffplattenindustrie hatten diese Überlegungen keinen Einfluss.Incidentally, one knows from the WO 2008/067996 A1 a microwave heating device which is designed in particular for ceramic materials and molded parts and has a number of microwave generators for emitting microwaves with a frequency of 300 MHz to 5.8 GHz. The high- and low-frequency microwaves are coupled in via several coupling elements embedded in the ceiling and floor area of the drying chamber. These should be slot antennas tuned to the output frequency. In order to achieve a particularly even microwave distribution, several field guides are arranged in the ceiling area of the drying chamber. The focus of the invention lies in the industrial drying of ceramic materials and mineral insulation materials. These considerations had no influence on the design of preheating devices for the wood-based panel industry.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, einen Durchlaufofen zu schaffen, mit dem sich eine Pressgutmatte, insbesondere für die Herstellung von Holzwerkstoffplatten, effizient und wirtschaftlich erwärmen bzw. vorwärmen lässt.The invention is based on the object of creating a continuous furnace with which a pressing material mat, in particular for the production of wood-based panels, can be heated or preheated efficiently and economically.

Zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe lehrt die Erfindung bei einem gattungsgemäßen Durchlaufofen der eingangs beschriebenen Art, dass der bzw. die Hohlleiter zumindest abschnittsweise als Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne(n) ausgebildet ist/sind, der bzw. die (jeweils) einen Schlitzantennenabschnitt mit jeweils mehreren Austrittsschlitzen für die Einkopplung der Mikrowellen in den Innenraum aufweisen. Schlitzantennenabschnitt meint dabei einen Abschnitt des Hohlleiters bezogen auf die Längsrichtung und folglich einen Längenabschnitt des Hohlleiters. Bei einem Hohlleiter handelt es sich in grundsätzlich bekannter Weise um einen Wellenleiter für elektromagnetische Wellen (hier: Mikrowellen). Der Hohlleiter ist als Metallrohr mit bevorzugt rechteckigem (ggf. auch kreisförmigem oder elliptischem) Querschnitt ausgebildet. Solche Hohlleiter werden beim Stand der Technik für den Transport der in dem Mikrowellengenerator erzeugten Mikrowellen in dem Ofen verwendet, wenn die Mikrowellengeneratoren nicht unmittelbar an das Gehäuse angeschlossen sind. Während die Mikrowellen beim Stand der Technik in der Regel aus den stirnseitig offenen Enden der Hohlleiter austreten und in den Innenraum des Ofens eingestrahlt werden, schlägt die Erfindung vor, dass die Hohlleiter (zumindest abschnittsweise) als Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen ausgebildet sind, welche jeweils eine Vielzahl von Austrittsschlitzen aufweisen. Bevorzugt ist der Hohlleiter bzw. die Hohlleiterschlitzantenne endseitig, und zwar an dem dem Mikrowellengenerator abgewandten Ende mit einer Stirnwand verschlossen. Die Mikrowellen treten folglich nicht stirnseitig aus dem Hohlleiter aus, sondern sie werden über die eine Längswand, die sogenannten Antennenwand, der Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne abgestrahlt, und zwar durch die dort angeordneten Austrittsschlitze. Die Mikrowellen treten folglich auf der dem Mikrowellengenerator zugewandten Seite in den Hohlleiter bzw. in die Hohlleiterschlitzantenne ein und werden auf dem gegenüberliegenden geschlossenen Ende bzw. der Stirnwand reflektiert, so dass sich innerhalb der Hohlleiterschlitzantenne eine stehende Welle mit der sogenannten Hohlleiterwellenlänge ausbildet, d. h. es entstehen zwei Schwingungsbäuche je Hohlleiterwellenlänge. Das auf diese Weise entstehende Feld wird über die in eine Antennenwand eingebrachten Schlitze stark gestört und durch diese Störung tritt das Feld aus der HohlleiterSchlitzantenne aus und breitet sich von diesen in den Raum aus, d. h. in den Innenraum des Ofens.To solve this problem, the invention teaches in a generic continuous furnace of the type described above that the waveguide or waveguides is/are designed at least in sections as waveguide slot antenna(s), which (each) has a slot antenna section, each with a plurality of exit slots for the coupling of the microwaves into the interior. Slot antenna section means a section of the waveguide in relation to the longitudinal direction and consequently a length section of the waveguide. In a fundamentally known manner, a waveguide is one Waveguide for electromagnetic waves (here: microwaves). The waveguide is designed as a metal tube with a preferably rectangular (possibly also circular or elliptical) cross section. Such waveguides are used in the prior art for transporting the microwaves generated in the microwave generator in the oven when the microwave generators are not connected directly to the housing. While the microwaves in the prior art usually emerge from the open ends of the waveguides and are radiated into the interior of the furnace, the invention proposes that the waveguides (at least in sections) be designed as waveguide slot antennas, each of which has a large number of have of exit slots. The waveguide or the waveguide slot antenna is preferably closed at the end, specifically at the end facing away from the microwave generator, with an end wall. Consequently, the microwaves do not exit the waveguide at the front, but are radiated via one longitudinal wall, the so-called antenna wall, of the waveguide slot antenna, specifically through the exit slots arranged there. The microwaves consequently enter the waveguide or the slotted waveguide antenna on the side facing the microwave generator and are reflected on the opposite closed end or the end wall, so that a standing wave with the so-called waveguide wavelength forms within the slotted waveguide antenna, i.e. it occurs two antinodes per waveguide wavelength. The field created in this way is severely disturbed by the slits made in an antenna wall and through this disturbance the field exits from the waveguide slot antenna and spreads from it into space, ie into the interior of the oven.

Dabei hat die Erfindung erkannt, dass bei der herkömmlichen Einstrahlung über die stirnseitig offene Hohlleiter beim Eintritt der Mikrowellen in den Innenraum des Ofengehäuses Reflexionen entstehen und die Strahlung ungerichtet in den Innenraum eintritt, so dass eine ungleichmäßige Erwärmung erfolgt. Über die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne erfolgt eine gerichtete Bestrahlung der Pressgutmatte, d. h. die eingetragene Energiemenge wird auf die Pressgutmatte gelenkt und es werden Reflexionen vermieden. Die "Ausleuchtung" der Pressgutmatte wird verbessert. Solche Schlitzantennen sind aus der Kommunikationstechnik grundsätzlich bekannt, um bestimmte Sektoren eines Versorgungsbereichs gleichmäßig und gezielt funktechnisch anzusprechen. Die Erfindung überträgt derartige Überlegungen auf den Bereich der Mikrowellenerwärmung von Pressgutmatten für die Holzwerkstoffindustrie. Bevorzugt weisen die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen (jeweils) einen rechteckigen Querschnitt auf. Die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne erstreckt sich entlang einer Längsrichtung, so dass die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne einen vorgegebenen Längenabschnitt des Hohlleiters bildet, wobei dieser Schlitzantennenabschnitt eine sich entlang der Antennenlängsrichtung erstreckende Antennenwand aufweist, in welcher die Austrittsschlitze angeordnet sind. Der Hohlleiter kann folglich außerdem über einen (herkömmlichen) Hohlleiterabschnitt ohne Schlitze verfügen. Ausgehend von dem Mikrowellengenerator kann der Hohlleiter folglich zunächst einen Hohlleiterabschnitt ohne Schlitze und einen sich daran anschließenden Schlitzantennenabschnitt mit Schlitzen aufweisen. Der Hohlleiter (mit Hohlleiterabschnitt und Antennenabschnitt) kann sich dabei gerade in einer Richtung und mit im Wesentlichen identischen Querschnitt erstrecken. Es liegt jedoch ebenfalls im Rahmen der Erfindung, dass sich der Hohlleiterabschnitt oder ein Hohlleiterschnitt in einer anderen Richtung erstreckt als der Schlitzantennenabschnitt, so dass innerhalb des Hohlleiters eine räumliche Umlenkung erfolgen kann. Dieses ist insbesondere dann zweckmäßig, wenn die Anordnung der Mikrowellengeneratoren im Raum dieses erfordert.The invention has recognized that with conventional irradiation via the open-ended waveguide when the microwaves enter the interior of the furnace housing, reflections occur and the radiation enters the interior in an undirected manner, resulting in uneven heating. Directed irradiation of the pressed material mat takes place via the waveguide slot antenna, ie the energy input is directed onto the pressed material mat and reflections are avoided. The "illumination" of the pressed material mat is improved. Such slot antennas are known in principle from communications technology in order to address specific sectors of a coverage area uniformly and in a targeted manner using radio technology. The invention transfers such considerations to the area of microwave heating of pressed material mats for the wood-based materials industry. The waveguide slot antennas (each) preferably have a rectangular cross section. The waveguide slot antenna extends along a longitudinal direction, so that the waveguide slot antenna forms a predetermined length section of the waveguide, this slot antenna section having an antenna wall extending along the longitudinal direction of the antenna, in which the exit slots are arranged. The waveguide can consequently also have a (conventional) waveguide section without slots. Proceeding from the microwave generator, the waveguide can consequently initially have a waveguide section without slots and an adjoining slot antenna section with slots. The waveguide (with waveguide section and antenna section) can extend straight in one direction and with a substantially identical cross section. However, it is also within the scope of the invention for the waveguide section or a waveguide section to extend in a different direction than the slot antenna section, so that spatial deflection can take place within the waveguide. This is particularly useful when the arrangement of the microwave generators in the room requires it.

In einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform ragen die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen (d. h. die Antennenabschnitte der Hohlleiter) in den Innenraum des Gehäuses hinein, d. h. sie durchbrechen die Gehäusewand. Die Hohlleiter enden folglich nicht mit dem Eintritt in das Gehäuse, sondern sie erstrecken sich durch die Gehäusewand hindurch und ragen als Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen in das Gehäuse hinein, so dass sie oberhalb und/oder unterhalb der Pressgutmatte angeordnet sind und die Pressgutmatte gezielt von oben und/oder von unten (gerichtet) bestrahlen.In a preferred embodiment, the waveguide slot antennas (i.e., the antenna portions of the waveguides) protrude into the interior of the housing, i. H. they break through the housing wall. Consequently, the waveguides do not end when they enter the housing, but rather they extend through the housing wall and protrude into the housing as waveguide slot antennas, so that they are arranged above and/or below the pressed material mat and the pressed material mat can be pressed from above and in a targeted manner /or irradiate from below (directed).

In einer alternativen Ausgestaltung können die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen außenseitig an das Gehäuse angeschlossen sein bzw. außenseitig an das Gehäuse angesetzt sein, so dass die Antennenwand von einem Bereich des Gehäuses bzw. der Gehäusewand gebildet wird bzw. die Antennenwand einen Teil der Gehäusewand bildet.In an alternative embodiment, the waveguide slot antennas can be connected to the outside of the housing or attached to the outside of the housing so that the antenna wall is formed by a region of the housing or the housing wall or the antenna wall forms part of the housing wall.

In einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung verlaufen die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen (bzw. der Antennenabschnitt der Hohlleiter) quer zur Durchlaufrichtung, d. h.sie sind quer zur Ofenlängsrichtung angeordnet. Die Längsrichtung der Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne erstreckt sich folglich quer bzw. senkrecht zur Durchlaufrichtung des Ofens. Bei einer solchen Ausführungsform ist es zweckmäßig, wenn mehrere Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen hintereinander angeordnet sind.In one embodiment of the invention, the waveguide slot antennas (or the antenna section of the waveguides) run transversely to the direction of passage, i. i.e. they are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the furnace. The longitudinal direction of the waveguide slot antenna consequently extends transversely or perpendicularly to the direction of passage of the furnace. In such an embodiment, it is expedient if several waveguide slot antennas are arranged one behind the other.

Alternativ liegt es im Rahmen der Erfindung, dass die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen nicht quer zur Durchlaufrichtung, sondern parallel zur Durchlaufrichtung und folglich Ofenlängsrichtung angeordnet sind, so dass sich die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen mit ihrer Längsrichtung entlang der Durchlaufrichtung erstrecken. Bei einer solchen Ausführungsform ist es zweckmäßig, wenn mehrere Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen quer zur Durchlaufrichtung nebeneinander angeordnet sind, so dass auch hier eine Bestrahlung der Pressgutmatte mit mehreren Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen erfolgt.Alternatively, it is within the scope of the invention that the waveguide slot antennas are not arranged transversely to the direction of passage, but rather parallel to the direction of passage and consequently the longitudinal direction of the furnace, so that the longitudinal direction of the waveguide slot antennas extends along the direction of passage. In such an embodiment, it is expedient if several waveguide slot antennas are arranged next to one another transversely to the direction of passage are arranged so that here, too, the pressed material mat is irradiated with a plurality of waveguide slot antennas.

Die Hohlleiter selbst und insbesondere deren Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennenabschnitte. bzw. Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen weisen bevorzugt einen rechteckigen Querschnitt auf, wobei vorzugsweise die durch die Antennenwand (welche die Schlitze aufweist) definierte Breite das 1,5-fache bzw. 2,5-fache, besonders bevorzugt das 2-fache der Höhe der Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne beträgt.The waveguides themselves and in particular their waveguide slot antenna sections. or waveguide slot antennas preferably have a rectangular cross section, with the width defined by the antenna wall (which has the slots) preferably being 1.5 times or 2.5 times, particularly preferably 2 times, the height of the waveguide -slot antenna is.

Die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne, z. B. deren Antennenwand, weist bevorzugt zumindest zwei parallel zueinander verlaufende, beabstandete Schlitzreihen auf, wobei jede Schlitzreihe bevorzugt mehrere hintereinander beabstandete angeordnete Schlitze aufweist. Die beiden Schlitzreihen sind dabei bevorzugt versetzt und folglich mit Abstand zur Mittellinie der Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne bzw. der Antennenwand angeordnet. Außerdem sind die einzelnen Schlitze der beiden Schlitzreihen entlang der Längsrichtung bevorzugt versetzt zueinander angeordnet. Diesbezüglich wird auf die Figurenbeschreibung verwiesen.The waveguide slot antenna, e.g. B. the antenna wall, preferably has at least two mutually parallel, spaced rows of slots, each row of slots preferably having a plurality of slots spaced one behind the other. The two rows of slots are preferably offset and consequently arranged at a distance from the center line of the waveguide slot antenna or the antenna wall. In addition, the individual slits of the two rows of slits are preferably offset from one another along the longitudinal direction. In this regard, reference is made to the description of the figures.

Die einzelnen Schlitze sind bevorzugt rechteckig ausgebildet. Sie können eine Länge von z. B. 100 mm bis 200 mm aufweisen.The individual slots are preferably of rectangular design. You can have a length of z. B. 100 mm to 200 mm.

Insgesamt kann im Rahmen der Erfindung in Abhängigkeit von der Ofengeometrie und der Mattengeometrie eine vielfältige Abstimmung bzw. Auslegung der Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen hinsichtlich Hohlleitergeometrie und Schlitzgeometrie erfolgen, und zwar unter Berücksichtigung der jeweiligen Mikrowellenlänge. Mit Hilfe von Simulationen kann eine Optimierung erfolgen, so dass vor allem Reflexionen beim Eintritt in das Innere des Ofens vermieden werden und eine gleichmäßige gezielte Ausleuchtung der Pressgutmatte (z. B. von oben und/oder von unten) erfolgen.Overall, within the scope of the invention, depending on the oven geometry and the mat geometry, the waveguide slot antennas can be coordinated or designed in a variety of ways with regard to waveguide geometry and slot geometry, taking into account the respective microwave length. With the help of simulations, an optimization can be carried out so that reflections when entering the interior of the furnace are avoided and a uniform, targeted illumination of the mat to be pressed (e.g. from above and/or below).

Gegenstand der Erfindung ist auch ein Verfahren zur Vorwärmung einer Pressgutmatte, insbesondere im Zuge der Herstellung von Holzwerkstoffplatten, mit einem Durchlaufofen der beschriebenen Art. Dieses Verfahren ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Pressgutmatte durch den Innenraum des Gehäuses hindurchgeführt und mit den aus den Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen austretenden Mikrowellen bestrahlt und dabei erwärmt wird. Der Verwendung eines solchen Durchlaufofens für die Vorwärmung von (beleimten) Holzwerkstoff-Matten im Zuge der Herstellung von Holzwerkstoffplatten kommt folglich erfindungsgemäß besondere Bedeutung zu. Die Vorrichtung ist folglich bevorzugt als Holzwerkstoffmatten-Erwärmungseinrichtung bzw. Vorwärmungseinrichtung ausgebildet. Der Durchlaufofen selbst kann z. B. einen rechteckförmigen Querschnitt aufweisen, so dass die Pressgutmatte in vorgegebener Höhe durch den rechteckförmigen Innenraum läuft. Die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen können - wie bereits beschrieben - quer zur Durchlaufrichtung in den Innenraum ragen oder auf den Innenraum aufgesetzt werden, so dass die Pressgutmatte z. B. von oben bestrahlt wird. Alternativ können die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen auch parallel zur Durchlaufrichtung innerhalb des Innenraums angeordnet sein oder auf den Innenraum bzw. auf das Gehäuse aufgesetzt sein. In diesem Fall bildet z. B. die mit den Schlitzen versehene Antennenwand einen Teil der oberen Gehäusewand, in dem die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne unmittelbar an die obere Gehäusewand angesetzt ist. Die Bestrahlung kann von oben auf die Oberseite der Matte und/oder von unten auf die Unterseite der Matte erfolgen.The subject matter of the invention is also a method for preheating a pressing material mat, in particular in the course of the production of wood-based panels, with a continuous furnace of the type described. This method is characterized in that the pressing material mat is passed through the interior of the housing and is connected to the hollow conductor slot antennas emitted microwaves and is thereby heated. The use of such a continuous furnace for the preheating of (glued) wood-based material mats in the course of the production of wood-based material boards is therefore of particular importance according to the invention. The device is therefore preferably designed as a wood-based material mat heating device or preheating device. The continuous furnace itself can e.g. B. have a rectangular cross-section, so that the pressing material mat runs through the rectangular interior at a predetermined height. As already described, the waveguide slot antennas can protrude into the interior at right angles to the direction of passage or be placed on the interior so that the pressed material mat z. B. is irradiated from above. Alternatively, the waveguide slot antennas can also be arranged parallel to the passage direction within the interior space or placed on the interior space or on the housing. In this case z. B. provided with the slots antenna wall part of the upper housing wall in which the waveguide slot antenna is attached directly to the upper housing wall. The irradiation can take place from above onto the upper side of the mat and/or from below onto the underside of the mat.

Das tunnelförmige Gehäuse kann alternativ im Querschnitt auch oval ausgebildet sein und z. B. eine Breite aufweisen, die größer als die Höhe ist. Auch in einem solchen Fall bestehen die beschriebenen Optionen. Sofern bei einem solchen ovalen, z. B. ellipsenförmigen Gehäuse die Schlitzantennen außenseitig an das Gehäuse angesetzt sind, besteht die Möglichkeit, dass die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen der ovalen Gehäuseform folgen und folglich selbst entlang der Längsrichtung gekrümmt ausgebildet sind.The tunnel-shaped housing can alternatively be oval in cross-section and z. B. have a width that is greater than the height. The options described also exist in such a case. If at one such oval, z. B. elliptical housing, the slot antennas are attached to the outside of the housing, there is the possibility that the waveguide slot antennas follow the oval shape of the housing and are consequently themselves curved along the longitudinal direction.

Das tunnelförmige Gehäuse weist in der Regel nicht nur einen Gehäusemantel (mit z. B. rechteckigem oder ovalem Querschnitt auf), sondern außerdem eine eingangsseitige Stirnwand sowie eine ausgangsseitige Stirnwand, welche den Ofen eingangsseitig und ausgangsseitig abschließen. Da die zu erwärmende Materialbahn kontinuierlich durch den Durchlaufofen hindurchgeführt werden soll, weisen die eingangsseitige Stirnwand und/oder die ausgangsseitige Stirnwand einerseits eine eingangsseitige Öffnung andererseits eine ausgangsseitige Öffnung auf, durch welche die durchlaufende Materialbahn in das Gehäuse eintreten und aus dem Gehäuse austreten kann. Um Verluste im Bereich dieser Öffnungen zu vermeiden bzw. zu reduzieren, ist es zweckmäßig, an die eingangsseitige Öffnung und/oder an die ausgangsseitige Öffnung einerseits einen Eingangstunnel und andererseits einen Ausgangstunnel anzuschließen, wobei ein solcher Eingangstunnel bzw. Ausgangstunnel in der Regel einen deutlich geringeren Querschnitt bzw. eine deutlich geringere Querschnittsfläche aufweist, als der Durchlaufofen selbst bzw. dessen Gehäuse, so dass die Mikrowellenverluste durch den Eingangstunnel und den Ausgangstunnel hindurch gering gehalten werden. Es sind der Eingangstunnel und der Ausgangstunnel in der Regel konstruktiv sowie Hohlleiter ausgebildet, die aus einem elektrisch leitenden Material (z. B. Metall) gefertigt sind, wobei diese Tunnel hinsichtlich Breite und Höhe so dimensioniert sind, dass keine bzw. eine möglichst geringe Ausbreitung der Mikrowellen der bestimmten Wellenlänge erfolgt, so dass sie gleichsam "destruktiv" arbeiten, indem die Schwingungsmoden der Mikrowellen unterdrückt werden.As a rule, the tunnel-shaped housing not only has a housing jacket (with, for example, a rectangular or oval cross section), but also an inlet-side end wall and an outlet-side end wall, which close the furnace on the inlet side and outlet side. Since the material web to be heated is to be fed continuously through the continuous furnace, the inlet-side end wall and/or the outlet-side end wall have on the one hand an inlet-side opening and on the other hand an outlet-side opening through which the continuous material web can enter the housing and exit from the housing. In order to avoid or reduce losses in the area of these openings, it is expedient to connect an input tunnel and an output tunnel to the opening on the input side and/or to the opening on the output side, with such an input tunnel or output tunnel usually having a significantly smaller one Cross-section or a significantly smaller cross-sectional area than the continuous furnace itself or its housing, so that the microwave losses through the entrance tunnel and the exit tunnel are kept low. The entrance tunnel and the exit tunnel are usually constructed as well as waveguides made of an electrically conductive material (e.g. metal), with these tunnels being dimensioned in terms of width and height in such a way that no or as little propagation as possible of the microwaves of the specific wavelength so that they work "destructively" so to speak by suppressing the oscillation modes of the microwaves.

Im Folgenden wird die Erfindung anhand einer lediglich ein Ausführungsbeispiel darstellenden Zeichnung näher erläutert. Es zeigen

Fig. 1
eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Holzwerkstoffplatten mit einem Durchlaufofen in einer stark vereinfachten Seitenansicht,
Fig. 2
einen erfindungsgemäßen Durchlaufofen der Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 in einer vereinfachten perspektivischen Darstellung,
Fig. 3
eine Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne im Bereich der zu erwärmenden Pressgutmatte,
Fig. 4
die Schlitzwand einer Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne in einer Draufsicht,
Fig. 5
eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform des Gegenstandes nach Fig. 3,
Fig. 6
ein schematisch vereinfachtes Funktionsdiagramm eines erfindungsgemäßen Durchlaufofens,
Fig. 7
eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Durchlaufofens.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing that merely shows an exemplary embodiment. Show it
1
a device for the production of wood-based panels with a continuous furnace in a greatly simplified side view,
2
a continuous furnace according to the invention according to the device 1 in a simplified perspective view,
3
a waveguide slot antenna in the area of the pressed material mat to be heated,
4
the slot wall of a waveguide slot antenna in a plan view,
figure 5
a modified embodiment of the object 3 ,
6
a schematically simplified functional diagram of a continuous furnace according to the invention,
7
a modified embodiment of a continuous furnace according to the invention.

In Fig. 1 ist vereinfacht eine Anlage zur Herstellung von Holzwerkstoffplatten im kontinuierlichen Durchlauf dargestellt. Zunächst wird mit Hilfe einer Streuvorrichtung das zu verpressende Streugut (z. B. Holzfasern oder Holzspäne) unter Bildung einer Streugutmatte 1 auf einen Streubandförderer 2 aufgestreut. Die auf diese Weise hergestellte Streugutmatte 1 wird in einer kontinuierlich arbeitenden Presse 3 unter Anwendung von Druck und Wärme zu der Holzwerkstoffplatte (z. B. Spanplatte oder Faserplatte) verpresst. Eine solche Presse 3 ist in der Regel als Doppelbandpresse ausgebildet, die eine obere Heizplatte und eine untere Heizplatte und im Pressenoberteil und im Pressenunterteil endlos umlaufende Pressbänder (z. B. Stahlpressbänder) aufweist, wobei diese Pressbänder unter Zwischenschaltung von Wälzkörperaggregaten (z. B. Holzstangen) an den Pressenplatten/Heizplatten abgestützt sind. Eine der Heizplatten oder auch beide Heizplatten werden mit Presszylindern beaufschlagt, die an dem Pressengestell (z. B. an Pressenrahmen) abgestützt sind.In 1 is a simplified representation of a plant for the production of wood-based panels in continuous flow. First, with the aid of a scattering device, the grit to be compressed (e.g. wood fibers or wood chips) is scattered onto a scattering belt conveyor 2 to form a grit mat 1 . The grit mat 1 produced in this way is pressed in a continuously operating press 3 using pressure and heat to form the wood-based panel (e.g. chipboard or fiberboard). Such Press 3 is usually designed as a double-belt press, which has an upper heating plate and a lower heating plate and endlessly circulating press belts (e.g. steel press belts) in the upper and lower parts of the press, these press belts with the interposition of rolling element assemblies (e.g. wooden rods) are supported on the press plates/heating plates. One of the heating plates or both heating plates are acted upon by press cylinders which are supported on the press frame (e.g. on the press frame).

Um den Pressprozess innerhalb der Presse 3 zu optimieren, erfolgt im Rahmen der Erfindung eine Vorwärmung der Pressgutmatte 1 mit Hilfe eines in Fig. 1 lediglich angedeuteten Durchlaufofens 4. Zur Vorwärmung der Materialbahn 1 durchläuft die Pressgutmatte 1 folglich den Durchlaufofen 4, der ein tunnelförmiges Gehäuse 5 aufweist. Außerdem weist der Durchlaufofen 4 eine Vielzahl von Mikrowellengeneratoren 6 auf, mit denen Mikrowellen erzeugt werden, so dass die Materialbahn 1 im Innenraum 7 des Gehäuses 5 beaufschlagt und folglich erwärmt wird. Bei den Mikrowellengeneratoren 6 kann es sich um Magnetronen handeln bzw. die Generatoren können solche Magnetronen aufweisen. Die Mikrowellengeneratoren 6 sind dabei über Hohlleiter 8 an das Gehäuse 5 angeschlossen, so dass die Mikrowellen über die Hohlleiter 8 in den Innenraum 7 des Gehäuses eingestrahlt werden.In order to optimize the pressing process within the press 3, the pressing material mat 1 is preheated within the scope of the invention with the aid of an in 1 only indicated continuous furnace 4. To preheat the material web 1, the pressing material mat 1 consequently runs through the continuous furnace 4, which has a tunnel-shaped housing 5. In addition, the continuous furnace 4 has a multiplicity of microwave generators 6, with which microwaves are generated, so that the material web 1 is acted upon in the interior space 7 of the housing 5 and consequently heated. The microwave generators 6 can be magnetrons or the generators can have such magnetrons. The microwave generators 6 are connected to the housing 5 via waveguides 8 so that the microwaves are radiated into the interior 7 of the housing via the waveguides 8 .

Das tunnelförmige Gehäuse 5 weist einen Gehäusemantel 10 auf, der im Ausführungsbeispiel einen rechteckigen Querschnitt besitzt. Außerdem weist das Gehäuse 5 eine eingangsseitige Stirnwand 11 und eine ausgangsseitige Stirnwand 12 auf, wobei die eingangsseitige Stirnwand eine eingangsseitige Öffnung 13 und die ausgangsseitige Stirnwand eine ausgangsseitige Öffnung 14 aufweisen, durch welche die Pressgutmatte 1 in das Gehäuse 5 einläuft und aus dem Gehäuse 5 austritt. Dabei sind in dem dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel an die eingangsseitige Öffnung 13 ein Eingangstunnel 15 und an die ausgangsseitige Öffnung 14 ein Ausgangstunnel 16 angeschlossen, mit denen das Austreten der Mikrowellen aus dem Gehäuseinnenraum vermieden bzw. reduziert werden. Dazu können der Eingangstunnel 15 und der Ausgangstunnel 16 nach Art von Hohlleitern als z. B. rechteckige Rohre ausgebildet sein, die jedoch derart dimensioniert sind, dass die entsprechenden Moden der Mikrowellenstrahlen unterdrückt werden.The tunnel-shaped housing 5 has a housing shell 10 which has a rectangular cross section in the exemplary embodiment. In addition, the housing 5 has an entry-side end wall 11 and an exit-side end wall 12, with the entry-side end wall having an entry-side opening 13 and the exit-side end wall having an exit-side opening 14, through which the pressing material mat 1 enters the housing 5 and exits the housing 5 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, there is an inlet tunnel 15 on the inlet-side opening 13 and on the outlet-side Opening 14 is connected to an output tunnel 16, with which the escape of microwaves from the interior of the housing can be avoided or reduced. For this purpose, the input tunnel 15 and the output tunnel 16 in the manner of waveguides as z. B. rectangular tubes, which are dimensioned such that the corresponding modes of the microwave beams are suppressed.

Die Pressgutmatte 1 durchläuft den Durchlaufofen 4 auf einem Formband bzw. Transportband 17, welches aus einem nichtleitenden Material besteht, so dass es unproblematisch durch den Mikrowellenofen 4 während des Betriebs hindurchgeführt werden kann. Dabei kann es sich grundsätzlich um dasselbe Formband handeln, auf das die Pressgutmatte aufgestreut wir. Es liegt jedoch ebenso im Rahmen der Erfindung, ein separates, endlos umlaufendes Formband 17 für den Durchlaufofen vorzusehen, so dass die zuvor auf ein erstes Formband 2 aufgestreute Pressgutmatte 1 anschließend an ein zweites Formblatt 17 abgegebenen wird, welches den Durchlaufofen 4 durchläuft. Erfindungsgemäß sind die Hohlleiter 8 zumindest abschnittsweise als Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen 8a ausgebildet, wobei diese Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen 8a jeweils mehrere Austrittsschlitze 9 für die Einkopplung der Mikrowellen in den Innenraum 7 aufweisen. In den Figuren ist erkennbar, dass die Hohlleiter 8 in grundsätzlich bekannter Weise einen Hohlleiterabschnitt aufweisen, an den sich dann ein Schlitzantennenabschnitt unter Bildung der Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne 8a anschließt. Die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne 8a ist folglich bezogen auf die Längsrichtung des Hohlleiters 8 ein Teil bzw. ein Abschnitt des Hohlleiters 8, welcher den Schlitzantennenabschnitt 8a des Hohlleiters 8 definiert, wobei die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne 8a bzw. der Schlitzantennenabschnitt des Hohlleiters eine Länge L aufweist, wobei in diesem Längenabschnitt mit der Länge L die Austrittsschlitze 9 angeordnet sind. Dabei sind die Austrittsschlitze 9 in einer Wand, nämlich in der Antennenwand 18 angeordnet. Die Hohlleiter bzw. Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen 8a weisen dabei im Ausführungsbeispiel einen rechteckigen Querschnitt auf, wobei die Antennenwand 18 mit den Austrittsschlitzen 9 (und deren gegenüberliegende Wand) eine größere Breite B als die quer dazu verlaufenden Wände aufweisen (die eine Breite bzw. Höhe H aufweisen). Im Ausführungsbeispiel beträgt die Breite B der Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne (wie auch der Hohlleiter) in etwas das 2-fache der Höhe H. Die Stirnwand 19 verschließt die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne 8a an dem dem Mikrowellengenerator 6 gegenüberliegenden Ende des Hohlleiters 8. Auf diese Weise bildet sich in dem Hohlleiter 8 und insbesondere in der Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne 8a eine stehende Welle aus, deren Feld durch die in die Antennenwand 18 eingebrachten Schlitze 9 gestört wird, so dass die Mikrowellen über die Schlitze 9 gerichtet in den Innenraum des Ofens eintreten und die Pressgutmatte 1 erwärmen.The pressed material mat 1 runs through the continuous oven 4 on a forming belt or conveyor belt 17, which consists of a non-conductive material, so that it can be passed through the microwave oven 4 during operation without any problems. In principle, this can be the same forming belt onto which the pressed material mat is spread. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide a separate, endlessly circulating forming belt 17 for the continuous furnace, so that the pressed material mat 1 previously scattered on a first forming belt 2 is then delivered to a second form sheet 17, which runs through the continuous furnace 4. According to the invention, the waveguides 8 are designed at least in sections as waveguide slot antennas 8a, with these waveguide slot antennas 8a each having a plurality of exit slots 9 for coupling the microwaves into the interior 7. It can be seen in the figures that the waveguides 8 have a waveguide section in a manner known in principle, which is then followed by a slot antenna section, forming the waveguide slot antenna 8a. The waveguide slot antenna 8a is consequently, in relation to the longitudinal direction of the waveguide 8, a part or a section of the waveguide 8 which defines the slot antenna section 8a of the waveguide 8, the waveguide slot antenna 8a or the slot antenna section of the waveguide having a length L, wherein the exit slots 9 are arranged in this longitudinal section with the length L. The exit slots 9 are arranged in a wall, namely in the antenna wall 18 . The waveguide or waveguide slot antennas 8a have a rectangular cross-section in the exemplary embodiment, with the antenna wall 18 with the exit slots 9 (and the opposite wall) having a greater width B than the walls running transversely thereto (which have a width or height H). In the exemplary embodiment, the width B of the waveguide slot antenna (like the waveguide) is approximately twice the height H. The end wall 19 closes the waveguide slot antenna 8a at the end of the waveguide 8 opposite the microwave generator 6. In this way, A standing wave occurs in the waveguide 8 and in particular in the waveguide slot antenna 8a, the field of which is disturbed by the slots 9 made in the antenna wall 18, so that the microwaves are directed through the slots 9 and enter the interior of the furnace and the pressing material mat 1 heat.

In dem in Fig. 2 dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel ragen die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen 8a (d. h. die Antennenabschnitte der Hohlleiter 8) in den Innenraum 7 des Gehäuses 5 hinein durch die Gehäusewand 10. Die Hohlleiter 8 kragen folglich mit ihrem Antennenabschnitt (der die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne bildet) um ein vorgegebenes Maß (z. B. um die Länge L der Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne) in den Innenraum des Gehäuses hinein. Dabei erstrecken sich die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen 8a in dem in Fig. 2 dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel quer zur Durchlaufrichtung D, welche die Ofenlängsrichtung definiert. Dabei ist erkennbar, dass mehrere Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen 8a (die quer zur Durchlaufrichtung verlaufen) entlang der Durchlaufrichtung D hintereinander angeordnet sind. Eine einzelne dieser Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen ist bei in Fig. 3 dargestellt. Es ist erkennbar, dass aus den Austrittsschlitzen das Mikrowellenfeld M gezielt gerichtet auf die Pressgutmatte 1 gestrahlt wird. Die in die Antennenwand 18 der Schlitzantenne 8a eingebrachten Schlitze 9 sind in Fig. 4 dargestellt. Es ist erkennbar, dass eine solche Schlitzantenne 8a bzw. deren Antennenwand 18 (zumindest) zwei parallel zueinander verlaufende Schlitzreihen 9' aufweist, die jeweils mehrere hintereinander beabstandet angeordnete Schlitze 9 aufweisen. Die beiden Schlitzreihen 9' sind dabei mit einem Abstand A zueinander angeordnet und die einzelnen Schlitze 9 einer Schlitzreihe 9' sind mit einem Abstand a hintereinander angeordnet. Dabei sind die Schlitze 9 der beiden Reihen 9' entlang der Längsrichtung des Hohlleiters versetzt zueinander angeordnet. Im Übrigen ist erkennbar, dass die beiden Schlitzreihen 9' versetzt zur Mittellinie X der Antennenwand 18 angeordnet sind, d. h. sie weisen einen Abstand V als Versatz zur Mittellinie X auf. Die Schlitze 9 selbst sind dabei rechteckig mit einer Länge I ausgebildet.in the in 2 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the waveguide slot antennas 8a (ie the antenna sections of the waveguides 8) protrude into the interior 7 of the housing 5 through the housing wall 10. The waveguides 8 consequently project with their antenna section (which forms the waveguide slot antenna) by a predetermined amount ( e.g. by the length L of the waveguide slot antenna) into the interior of the housing. The waveguide slot antennas 8a extend in the in 2 illustrated embodiment transverse to the flow direction D, which defines the longitudinal direction of the furnace. It can be seen here that a plurality of waveguide slot antennas 8a (which run transversely to the direction of passage) are arranged one behind the other along the direction of passage D. A single one of these waveguide slot antennas is shown at in 3 shown. It can be seen that the microwave field M is radiated from the exit slits in a targeted manner onto the pressing material mat 1 . The slots 9 made in the antenna wall 18 of the slot antenna 8a are in 4 shown. It can be seen that such a slot antenna 8a or its antenna wall 18 has (at least) two rows of slots running parallel to one another 9', each having a plurality of slots 9 spaced one behind the other. The two rows of slots 9' are arranged at a distance A from one another, and the individual slots 9 of a row of slots 9' are arranged one behind the other at a distance a. The slots 9 of the two rows 9' are offset from one another along the longitudinal direction of the waveguide. It can also be seen that the two rows of slots 9′ are offset from the center line X of the antenna wall 18, ie they are at a distance V from the center line X as an offset. The slots 9 themselves are rectangular with a length l.

In Fig. 5 ist vereinfacht eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform der Erfindung dargestellt, bei welcher die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne 8a nicht quer, sondern parallel durch Durchlaufrichtung D angeordnet sind, so dass sie sich entlang der Durchlaufrichtung erstrecken. Auch dabei besteht die Möglichkeit, mehrere Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen 8a vorzustehen, die dann bevorzugt quer zur Durchlaufrichtung nebeneinander angeordnet sind. Dieses ist in Fig. 5 nicht dargestellt.In figure 5 a modified embodiment of the invention is shown in simplified form, in which the waveguide slot antenna 8a is not arranged transversely, but rather parallel through the direction of passage D, so that they extend along the direction of passage. In this case, too, there is the possibility of protruding a plurality of waveguide slot antennas 8a, which are then preferably arranged next to one another transversely to the direction of passage. This is in figure 5 not shown.

In der in den Fig. 2 bis 5 dargestellten bevorzugten Ausführungsform ragen die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen 8a durch den Gehäusemantel 10 in den Innenraum 7 des Gehäuses 5 hinein, so dass die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen 8a ein von dem Gehäuse 5 separates Antennengehäuse aufweisen.In the in the Figures 2 to 5 In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the waveguide slot antennas 8a protrude through the housing shell 10 into the interior 7 of the housing 5, so that the waveguide slot antennas 8a have an antenna housing that is separate from the housing 5.

In Fig. 7 ist eine demgegenüber abgewandelte Ausführungsform vereinfacht dargestellt, bei welcher die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne 8a außenseitig an das Gehäuse 5 angeschlossen ist, so dass die Antennenwand 18 von einem Bereich des Gehäuses 5 bzw. des Gehäusemantels 10 gebildet wird bzw. die Antennenwand selbst einen Teil des Gehäuses bzw. des Gehäusemantels bildet. Die Schlitze 9 sind bei dieser Ausführungsform gleichsam in den Gehäusemantel 10 eingebracht. Dieses lässt sich z. B. so realisieren, dass ein im Querschnitt U-förmiges metallisches Rohr seitlich an das Gehäuse 5, 10 angesetzt bzw. aufgesetzt wird, so dass zusammen mit der Gehäusewand ein Hohlleiter mit rechteckigem Querschnitt entsteht, wobei die Schlitze 9 dann in die Gehäusewand eingebracht sind. Eine solche Ausführungsform lässt sich auch bei einem Gehäuse 5 realisieren, dass keinen rechteckigen Querschnitt, sondern z. B. einen ovalen Querschnitt aufweist, wobei die Hohlleiter-Schlitzantenne dann gekrümmt ausgebildet und an den Außenumfang des ovalen Gehäuses angepasst sein kann. Dieses ist in den Figuren nicht dargestellt.In 7 a modified embodiment is shown in simplified form, in which the waveguide slot antenna 8a is connected to the outside of the housing 5, so that the antenna wall 18 is formed by an area of the housing 5 or the housing jacket 10, or the antenna wall itself is part of the housing or the housing shell forms. The slots 9 are in this embodiment, as it were in the Housing jacket 10 introduced. This can e.g. B. so realize that a cross-section U-shaped metallic tube is attached to the side of the housing 5, 10 or placed so that together with the housing wall a waveguide with a rectangular cross-section is formed, the slots 9 are then introduced into the housing wall . Such an embodiment can also be implemented in a housing 5 that does not have a rectangular cross section, but z. B. has an oval cross-section, in which case the waveguide slot antenna can then be curved and adapted to the outer circumference of the oval housing. This is not shown in the figures.

In Fig. 2 ist im Übrigen erkennbar, dass sechs Mikrowellengeneratoren mit sechs Hohlleitern vorgesehen sind, so dass folglich sechs Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen in das Gehäuse ragen. Jeder Mikrowellengenerator kann eine Leistung von 100 KW erzeugen. Die Pressgutmatte kann z. B. in einer Temperatur von 20° C bis 40 °C, z. B. 35° C in den Ofen einlaufen und auf eine Temperatur von 70° C bis 100° C, z. B. 80° bis 90° C vorgewärmt werden.In 2 it can also be seen that six microwave generators with six waveguides are provided, so that consequently six waveguide slot antennas protrude into the housing. Each microwave generator can generate an output of 100 KW. The Pressgutmatte can z. B. at a temperature of 20 ° C to 40 ° C, z. B. 35 ° C in the oven and at a temperature of 70 ° C to 100 ° C, z. B. 80 ° to 90 ° C are preheated.

In Fig. 6 ist im Übrigen schematisch vereinfacht die Erzeugung der Mikrowellen und deren Einkopplung dargestellt. Jeder einzelne Mikrowellengenerator 6 weist ein Magnetron 20 und einen Heizspannungserzeuger 21 sowie einen anoden Spannungserzeuger 22 und eine Kühlung 23 sowie einen Isolator 24 auf. Im Übrigen ist noch eine Kühlung und/oder Belüftung 25 für den Ofen angedeutet.In 6 the generation of the microwaves and their coupling is also shown in a schematically simplified manner. Each individual microwave generator 6 has a magnetron 20 and a heating voltage generator 21 and an anode voltage generator 22 and a cooling system 23 and an insulator 24 . A cooling and/or ventilation 25 for the oven is also indicated.

Bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform erfolgt die Bestrahlung nur von oben, d. h. die Schlitzantennen sind oberhalb der Matte angeordnet. Alternativ oder ergänzend können jedoch auch unterhalb der Matte Hohlleiter-Schlitzantennen angeordnet sein, mit denen die Matte von unten bestrahlt wird.In the illustrated embodiment, the irradiation takes place only from above, i. H. the slot antennas are arranged above the mat. Alternatively or additionally, however, waveguide slot antennas can also be arranged below the mat, with which the mat is irradiated from below.

Claims (11)

  1. Installation for manufacturing fibre boards or chipboards with
    - a spreading device for forming a pressing material mat of wood fibres or wood chips,
    - a continuous furnace (4) for the continuous preheating of the pressing material mat (1),
    - a continuously operating press (3) in which the pressing material mat is pressed, utilising pressure and heat, into a fibreboard or chipboard,
    wherein the continuous furnace comprises a tunnel-shaped housing (5), through the inner space (7) of which the pressing material mat can be passed, and
    comprises one or more microwave generators (6) for producing microwaves which can be beamed into the inner space (7) of the housing by means of one or more waveguides (8),
    characterised in that the waveguides (8) are designed, at least in sections, as slotted waveguide antennas (8a) which each comprise a plurality of outlet slots (9) for coupling the microwaves into the interior space (7),
    in that the slotted waveguide antennas (8a) each have at least one antenna wall (18) in which the outlet slots (9) are arranged, and
    in that the waveguides (8) and/or their slotted waveguide antennas (8a) are each closed at the ends facing away from the microwave generators (6) with an end wall (19) so that a standing wave is formed within the slotted waveguide antenna (8a).
  2. Installation according to claim 1, characterised in that the slotted waveguide antennas (8a) project into the interior space (7) of the housing (5).
  3. Installation according to claim 1, characterised in that the slotted waveguide antennas (8a) are connected externally to the housing, and in that the antenna wall (18) is formed by an area of the housing or housing wall.
  4. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the slotted waveguide antenna (8a) is arranged perpendicularly to the throughput direction (D).
  5. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the slotted waveguide antenna (8a) is arranged in parallel to the throughput direction (D) .
  6. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that several waveguides (8) or slotted waveguide antennas (8a) are arranged next to each other perpendicularly to the throughput direction or one after the other along the throughput direction.
  7. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the waveguides (8) and/or the slotted waveguide antennas (8a) have a rectangular cross-section, wherein preferably the width (B) defined by the antenna wall (18) is 1.5 to 2.5 times, preferable 2 times the height (H).
  8. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the slotted antenna (8a), e.g. its antenna wall (18), comprises at least two rows of slots (9') running parallel to each other at a distance, each with a plurality of slots (9) arranged behind each other in a spaced manner, wherein the slots (9) of the two rows (9') are preferably offset with regard to each other along the longitudinal direction of the slotted antenna.
  9. Installation according to claim 8, characterised in the rows of slots (9') are arranged offset with regard to the midline (X) of the antenna wall (18).
  10. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that outlet slots (9) are designed to be rectangular and, for example, have a length (1) of 100 mm to 200 mm.
  11. Method of manufacturing fibre boards or chipboards with an installation according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that
    the pressing material mat is passed through the interior space of the housing of the continuous furnace and is irradiated with the microwaves emerging from the slotted waveguide antenna and heated thereby.
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DE102016119463A1 (en) 2018-04-12
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EP3310130A2 (en) 2018-04-18
EP3310130A3 (en) 2018-05-16

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