EP3730886B1 - Treatment system and method for treating workpieces - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a treatment system and a method for treating workpieces. In particular, a treatment system is used to dry coated vehicle bodies. The method for treating workpieces is therefore in particular a method for drying coated vehicle bodies.

Treatment systems and treatment processes are particularly from EP 1 998 129 B1 , the US 2006/0068094 A1 , the EP 1 302 737 A2 , the WO 02/073109 A1 , the DE 10 2013 203 089 A1 , the DE 197 35 322 A1 , the DE 10 2010 001 234 A1 , the US 4,656,758 A , the US 5,868,562 A and the JP 2008-093578 A known.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a treatment system which has a simple structure and enables energy-efficient workpiece treatment.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a treatment system according to claim 1.

Because the treatment system according to the invention comprises a heating system with a self-contained heating gas duct, which is coupled to the circulating air modules, the gas to be supplied to the treatment room sections can be heated easily and efficiently. The treatment system can thereby preferably be operated in a particularly energy-efficient manner.

The heating gas guide is preferably designed to be closed in a ring shape, so that at least a partial gas flow of a heating gas flow guided in the heating gas guide flows through the heating gas guide several times.

The heating gas is preferably raw gas and/or clean gas, which is suitable and/or intended for use in the treatment room, that is to say for flow through the treatment room.

The heating gas preferably has an increased temperature compared to the gas flow in the circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections, at least immediately upstream of the treatment room sections.

The heating gas is preferably not an exhaust gas from a heating device of the heating system, in particular not a combustion exhaust gas.

A “self-contained heating gas duct” is to be understood in particular as a heating gas duct in which at least part of a heating gas stream is conducted in a circuit. Regardless of this, a continuous or phased supply of fresh gas to the heating gas stream and/or removal of heating gas from the heating gas stream can preferably be provided even with a self-contained heating gas supply.

It can be advantageous if a supply of fresh gas and a discharge of heating gas, that is to say an exchange of heating gas, are preferably dimensioned so that in a single pass of the heating gas stream through the heating gas guide at least 40%, preferably at least approximately 50%, in particular at least approximately 80%, for example at least approximately 90%, of the heating gas stream flowing past a specific point in the heating gas guide reaches this point again after the complete run.

The supply of fresh gas and/or the removal of heating gas from the heating gas stream preferably takes place exclusively in the treatment room sections and/or the circulating air modules of the treatment system.

However, it can also be provided that the heating system is assigned a fresh gas supply and/or an exhaust gas outlet, by means of which fresh gas can be supplied outside the treatment room sections and/or outside the circulating air modules or heating gas can be removed from the heating gas stream.

The circulating air modules and/or the treatment room sections are preferably part of the heating gas supply.

In particular, the heating gas can preferably be passed at least partially through the treatment room sections several times before it (again) flows through the part of the heating gas guide located outside the circulating air modules and/or outside the treatment room sections.

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the heating gas duct comprises a recirculation air duct, which is formed in sections by several recirculation air modules and/or treatment room sections arranged in parallel.

In the circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections, a gas stream can preferably be conducted in a circulating air circuit, to which heating gas can be supplied from the heating gas guide. Preferably, a partial gas flow of the circulating gas flow of each recirculating air module and/or treatment room section can be removed from the recirculating air module and/or the treatment room section, can be conducted in a closed circuit by means of the heating gas guide and can finally be fed again as part of the heating gas flow to one or more recirculating air modules and/or treatment room sections .

Preferably, the treatment system comprises a conveyor device, by means of which the workpieces can be fed to the treatment room, removed from the treatment room and/or conveyed through the treatment room in a conveying direction of the conveyor device.

The treatment room sections and/or the circulating air modules are preferably arranged one after the other in the conveying direction.

It can be advantageous if the recirculating air modules are independent recirculating air modules.

• eine Gaszuführung zum Zuführen von Gas zu dem Behandlungsraumabschnitt; und/oder
• eine Gasabführung zum Abführen von Gas aus dem Behandlungsraumabschnitt; und/oder
• eine Gebläsevorrichtung zum Antreiben eines (Umluft-)Gasstroms; und/oder eine Abscheidevorrichtung zum Abscheiden von Verunreinigungen aus dem (Umluft-)Gasstrom; und/oder
• eine Verteilervorrichtung zum Verteilen des dem Behandlungsraumabschnitt zuzuführenden (Umluft-)Gasstroms auf mehrere Einlassöffnungen der Gaszuführung; und/oder
• eine Sammelvorrichtung, mittels welcher der durch mehrere Auslassöffnungen (Rückführöffnungen) der Gasabführung aus dem Behandlungsraum abgeführte (Umluft-)Gasstrom zusammenführbar ist.

A recirculation module, in particular every recirculation module, preferably comprises the following:

• a gas supply for supplying gas to the treatment room section; and or
• a gas discharge for discharging gas from the treatment room section; and or
• a blower device for driving a (recirculated air) gas stream; and/or a separation device for separating impurities from the (recirculated air) gas stream; and or
• a distribution device for distributing the (circulating air) gas stream to be supplied to the treatment room section to a plurality of inlet openings of the gas supply; and or
• a collecting device by means of which the (recirculated air) gas stream removed from the treatment room through several outlet openings (return openings) of the gas discharge can be brought together.

Each circulating air module, together with the associated treatment room section, preferably forms a, in particular complete, section of the treatment system.

In this description and the attached claims, the term “circulating air” is not necessarily defined as the gas “air”. Rather, the term “circulating air” preferably refers to a gas that is conducted in a circuit (circulating air circuit), which is in particular processed and/or reused several times.

Likewise, the terms "supply air", "supply air flow", "exhaust air" and "exhaust air flow" are not necessarily limited to the gas "air", but rather generally refer to a gas supplied to the recirculation air circuit (supply air, supply air flow) or a gas from the recirculation air circuit discharged gas (exhaust air, exhaust air flow).

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the heating system comprises a heating device and a heat exchanger, by means of which heat generated in the heating device can be transferred to a heating gas guided in the heating gas guide.

The heat exchanger is arranged in particular in an exhaust gas line of the heating device in order to be able to use heat contained in the exhaust gas of the heating device to heat the heating gas.

It can be advantageous if the treatment system includes a fresh gas supply that is different and/or independent of the heating system, by means of which fresh gas can be supplied to the treatment room.

The fresh gas can preferably be supplied independently of a heating gas flow to the gas flow conducted in the circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections and thus to the treatment room.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the fresh gas stream is at least partially used as a lock gas stream and is fed to the treatment room in this way.

It can be advantageous if the treatment system includes a fresh gas supply, by means of which fresh gas can be supplied to a heating gas stream guided in the heating gas duct.

The fresh gas supply is preferably coupled to the exhaust gas line of the heating device with a heat exchanger, in particular in order to transfer heat from the exhaust gas of the heating device to the fresh gas to be supplied by means of the fresh gas supply.

The heat exchanger for heating the fresh gas is preferably a heat exchanger that is different from the heat exchanger for heating the heating gas.

Alternatively, it can be provided that sections of a common heat exchanger that are different from each other serve, on the one hand, to heat the fresh gas and, on the other hand, to heat the heating gas. The fresh gas supply and the heating gas supply then in particular have a common heat exchanger. In particular, a cold side of the heat exchanger is then preferably divided into several segments. In particular, a plurality of segments that can flow through independently of one another and are separated from one another in a fluid-effective manner can be provided.

The treatment system preferably comprises one or more locks, which are designed in particular as fresh gas locks and through which fresh gas flows or can flow.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it can be provided that the treatment system comprises one or more circulating air locks, through which circulating air, that is to say a gas stream conducted in a circuit, flows through or can flow through. For this purpose, it can be provided in particular that each circulating air lock is assigned to a circulating air module.

In particular, if the treatment system includes circulating air locks, it can be provided that a fresh gas stream flows directly to the heating gas stream is mixed or can be mixed. This means that a separate fresh gas line for supplying fresh gas to the treatment room can be unnecessary.

It can be advantageous if the heating gas duct comprises a central heating gas line in which heating gas is guided or can be guided and by means of which heating gas can be supplied from the heating gas duct to the plurality of recirculating air modules and / or treatment room sections, the heating gas being delivered directly or indirectly via the recirculating air modules to the respective treatment room sections can be initiated.

The heating gas duct thus preferably forms a supply air duct for supplying supply air to the circulating air circuits in the treatment room sections.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the heating gas guide comprises a central heating gas line in which heating gas is guided or can be guided and by means of which gas can be removed from the circulating air modules and/or from the treatment room sections.

The heating gas duct thus preferably forms an exhaust air duct for removing exhaust air from the gas streams circulated in the circulating air modules.

It can be advantageous if the heating gas guide comprises a central heating gas line, by means of which a heating gas can be guided in a ring from a heat exchanger for heating the heating gas to the several circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections and back again to the heat exchanger.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it can be provided that the heating gas guide comprises a central heating gas line, by means of which gas, which in particular serves as heating gas, from one or more circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections and can be fed to a heat exchanger for heating the same and can then be led back to the one or more circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections.

The heating gas guided in the heating gas guide can preferably be driven by means of exactly one blower or by means of several blowers.

It can be provided that the hot gas duct comprises several branches or branches for distributing a hot gas stream guided in the hot gas duct to the circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections.

In particular, it can be provided that the heating gas guide comprises a main supply line extending along the circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections, from which parts of the heating gas flow can be branched off and fed to the respective circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections.

By means of the branches or branches, the heating gas stream can preferably be divided in order to ultimately obtain several supply air streams for supplying the heating gas to the circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections.

It can be advantageous if the heating gas guide has a main branch, by means of which a total heating gas flow can be divided into a first heating gas partial flow and a second heating gas partial flow, the first heating gas partial flow being a first recirculating air module or a first to nth recirculating air module with respect to a conveying direction of a conveying device of the treatment system and/or or first treatment room section or first to nth Treatment room section can be supplied and the second heating gas partial flow can preferably be divided into all other circulating air modules and / or treatment room sections.

The first recirculation module is preferably a recirculation module assigned to a treatment room section. However, it can also be provided that this first recirculating air module is a recirculating air module assigned to a recirculating air lock.

It can be advantageous if the heating gas guide comprises several merging points for merging several gas streams discharged from the circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections.

In particular, exhaust air streams from the circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections can preferably be brought together and reheated as a total heating gas flow and finally fed again to the circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections.

It can be provided that the heating gas guide has a main merging, by means of which an exhaust gas flow from a first recirculating air module or first to nth recirculating air module and / or first treatment room section or first to nth treatment room section with respect to a conveying direction of the conveying device of the treatment system with an already merged exhaust gas stream all other circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections can be brought together.

The use of a main branch and/or a main junction can serve in particular to reduce channel cross sections of a main supply line and/or a main discharge line of the heating gas line, in particular in order not to have to pass the entire heating gas stream in a single flow direction through the main supply line and/or the main discharge line.

It can be provided that each recirculation air module and/or each treatment room section comprises an inlet valve and/or an outlet valve, by means of which a volume flow of a heating gas flow to be supplied to the recirculation air module and/or the treatment room section and/or a volume flow of one from the recirculation air module and/or from the Treatment room section of the discharged gas flow can be controlled and / or regulated.

Preferably, a supply air flow and/or an exhaust air flow of the circulating air flow conducted in the respective circulating air module and/or treatment room section can be controlled and/or regulated.

The treatment system preferably comprises a control device, by means of which the volume flow of the heating gas flow to be supplied to the recirculation air module and/or treatment room section and/or the volume flow of the gas flow discharged from the recirculation air module and/or from the treatment room section can be controlled and/or regulated.

Preferably, by means of the control device, by controlling the volume flows, so much heating gas can always be supplied to the respective recirculation air module and/or treatment room section that a desired temperature of the recirculation air flow conducted in the respective recirculation air module and/or treatment room section is essentially constant.

The control device is preferably designed and set up in such a way that the functions described can be carried out and/or that the parameters described are maintained, in particular kept at least approximately constant.

It can be advantageous if the treatment system includes a control device by means of which an at least approximately constant volume flow of the heating gas flow guided in the heating gas duct can be maintained. In particular, it can be provided that a heating gas stream driving fan of the heating gas supply is controlled and / or regulated, for example by varying a drive power.

The blower (or also called fan) for driving the heating gas flow preferably comprises a frequency converter, via which the control and/or regulation can take place.

Fluctuations in the total energy requirement of the treatment system, in particular fluctuations in the heating requirement, can preferably be compensated for by controlling and/or regulating the fan of the heating gas supply.

Alternatively or in addition to this, a setpoint and/or an actual value for a temperature of the heating gas flow can be adjusted, in particular if a low volume flow of the heating gas flow has already been set when the heating requirement is low, for example the volume flow has been reduced to a minimum.

Furthermore, it can be provided that when the heating requirement is reduced, the temperature of the heating gas stream is initially reduced. When a predetermined lower limit value of the temperature of the heating gas flow is reached, it can then be further provided that the volume flow is reduced by suitable control and / or regulation of the fan.

It can be provided that the treatment system comprises a control device by means of which an at least approximately constant temperature of the heating gas flow guided in the heating gas guide can be maintained. In particular, it can be provided here that a bypass volume flow guided past a heat exchanger for heating the heating gas flow is influenced, in particular varied in a targeted manner. For example, a ratio of the volume flow carried out by the heat exchanger for heating the heating gas flow to the bypass volume flow can be varied in order to to achieve the desired temperature of the heating gas flow guided in the heating gas guide.

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the heating gas guide comprises one or more bypass lines to bypass all circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections. In this way, a reserve of the heating gas flow can be provided, in particular to prevent undesirable undersupply of individual circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections. By means of the bypass line, in particular an excess supply of heating gas can be maintained in the main supply line of the heating gas supply.

Preferably, the main feed line opens into the bypass line at a downstream end thereof and/or at a rear end thereof with respect to the conveying direction.

The bypass line preferably opens into the main discharge line at an upstream end of the main discharge line and/or at a rear end thereof with respect to the conveying direction.

A bypass line is arranged, for example, upstream of several, in particular all, branches and / or branches of the heating gas line for supplying heating gas to the circulating air modules. Alternatively or in addition to this, it can be provided that a bypass line is arranged downstream of several, in particular all, mergings of the heating gas duct for merging gas streams from the circulating air modules.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous if a bypass line is arranged downstream of several, in particular all, branches and/or branches of the heating gas duct for supplying heating gas to the circulating air modules. Alternatively or in addition to this, it can be provided that a Bypass line is arranged upstream of several, in particular all, mergings of the heating gas guide for merging gas flows from the circulating air modules.

By means of a bypass line, hot gas can preferably be introduced directly into a discharge section of the heating gas line, in particular in order to always keep a temperature of the gas stream guided in the discharge section above a condensation temperature.

The bypass line preferably branches off from the feed section of the heating gas line at a front end of a feed section of the heating gas line with respect to the conveying direction.

The bypass line preferably opens into the discharge section of the heating gas line at a downstream end of the main discharge line and/or at a front end thereof with respect to the conveying direction.

A volume flow of the heating gas flow guided past the recirculating air ducts via the bypass line can preferably be controlled and/or regulated by means of a bypass valve.

The present invention further relates to a method for treating workpieces.

In this regard, the invention is based on the object of providing a method by means of which workpieces can be treated easily and energy-efficiently.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method according to the independent method claim.

The method according to the invention preferably has one or more of the features and/or advantages described in connection with the treatment system.

Furthermore, the treatment system preferably has one or more features and/or advantages which are described in connection with the method.

In the method according to the invention it can preferably be provided that, in order to heat the plurality of gas streams conducted in the separate circuits, a partial stream of each of these gas streams is removed from the respective gas stream and replaced by a partial stream of the heating gas stream.

In this description and the attached claims, a “valve” is understood to mean, in particular, any type of closure element or opening element for influencing a flow rate in a line. In particular, a valve can be a flap.

It can be advantageous if the recirculating air modules each include or form a recirculating air duct. However, it can also be provided that a recirculating air module is only a part of a recirculating air duct, namely the part which serves to drive the gas flow guided in the recirculating air duct. The further part is then in particular the associated treatment room section.

Each circulating air module preferably comprises at least one blower and an intake space arranged immediately upstream of the blower.

A supply channel opens into the suction chamber, via which heating gas can be supplied from a heating gas line of the heating gas guide, in particular a main supply line, to the circulating air module. In this way the heating gas is by means of the at least one fan of the circulating air module can preferably be sucked in from the heating gas line.

A main supply line for distributing the heating gas to the circulating air modules preferably extends parallel to a conveying direction of a conveying device of the treatment system and/or over at least approximately an entire length of the treatment room.

The main supply line is preferably arranged outside a housing, the interior of which forms the treatment room.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the heating system comprises a main discharge line which extends parallel to the conveying direction of a conveying device of the treatment system and/or over at least approximately an entire length of the treatment room.

The main discharge line preferably serves to discharge gas streams discharged from the circulating air modules and/or treatment room sections.

The main discharge line is preferably arranged within a housing surrounding the treatment room, in particular by compartmentalizing or separating part of the interior of the housing.

Preferably, at least one outlet valve of each recirculation air module or each treatment room section for discharging a gas stream from the gas stream conducted in the recirculation air module and / or the treatment room section is arranged in a partition wall, which divides an interior of the housing into the treatment room and the main discharge line.

In one embodiment of the treatment system, transverse conveying of the workpieces, in particular the vehicle bodies, is preferably provided. Here, a vehicle longitudinal axis of the vehicle bodies is preferably aligned horizontally and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying device.

It can be advantageous if a main flow direction of the gas stream guided through a treatment room section is at least approximately parallel to a vehicle longitudinal axis of the vehicle body conveyed through. In particular, it can be provided that the main flow direction is aligned essentially parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis in such a way that the gas flow flows around the vehicle body from front to back. However, it can also be provided that the main flow direction is aligned such that the gas flow flows around the vehicle body from back to front.

It can also be provided that a longitudinal conveying system is provided in the treatment system, in which the longitudinal axis of the vehicle is aligned parallel to the conveying direction of the conveying device.

It can be advantageous if the treatment system includes a main treatment system and a pre-treatment system.

Preferably, the main treatment system and the pretreatment system each include a separate heating gas duct.

Preferably, a treatment system, which includes both a main treatment system and a pretreatment system, comprises two independent, self-contained heating gas ducts, which are thermally coupled in particular to a common heating device.

The main treatment system preferably comprises a heat exchanger for thermally coupling the main treatment system with an exhaust gas discharge of the heating device.

Furthermore, the pretreatment system preferably comprises a heat exchanger for thermally coupling the pretreatment system with the exhaust gas discharge of the heating device.

It can be advantageous if the fresh gas supply for supplying fresh gas to a treatment room of the main treatment system and/or to a treatment room of the pretreatment system comprises a heat exchanger, by means of which the fresh gas supply is thermally coupled to the exhaust gas discharge of the heating device.

The one or more heat exchangers are preferably arranged on or in the exhaust gas outlet.

The heat exchanger of the fresh gas supply is preferably arranged downstream or upstream of a heat exchanger of the main treatment system and/or upstream or downstream of a heat exchanger of the pretreatment system with respect to a flow direction of the exhaust gas in the exhaust gas discharge line.

Preferably, a heat exchanger of the main treatment system is arranged upstream or downstream of a heat exchanger of the pretreatment system with respect to a flow direction of the exhaust gas in the exhaust gas discharge.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the heat exchangers are coupled to the exhaust gas discharge of the heating device in such a way that the exhaust gas removed from the heating device is first sent to the heat exchanger of the main treatment system, then to the heat exchanger of the Pretreatment system and then the heat exchanger of the fresh gas supply is supplied or can be supplied.

An exhaust gas from the pretreatment system and an exhaust gas from the main treatment system can preferably be combined and fed to the heating device as a common exhaust gas stream.

Further preferred features and/or advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphic representation of exemplary embodiments.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Behandlungsanlage, bei welcher eine in sich geschlossene Heizgasführung und eine hiervon unabhängige Frischgaszuführung vorgesehen sind;

Fig. 2

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende schematische Darstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer Behandlungsanlage, bei welcher eine optimierte Strömungsführung der Heizgasführung vorgesehen ist;

Fig. 3

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende schematische Darstellung einer dritten Ausführungsform einer Behandlungsanlage, bei welcher die Frischgaszuführung in die Heizgasführung mündet;

Fig. 4

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung eines Umluftmoduls einer Behandlungsanlage samt eines Behandlungsraumabschnitts eines Behandlungsraums der Behandlungsanlage;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Seitenansicht des Behandlungsraumabschnitts aus Fig. 4;

Fig. 6

eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines Abschnitts des Umluftmoduls aus Fig. 4;

Fig. 7

einen schematischen horizontalen Schnitt durch einen Unterbodenaufbau des Umluftmoduls und des Behandlungsraumabschnitts aus Fig. 4;

Fig. 8

einen schematischen vertikalen Schnitt durch das Umluftmodul und den Behandlungsraumabschnitt aus Fig. 4 längs der Linie 8-8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

einen schematischen vertikalen Schnitt durch das Umluftmodul und den Behandlungsraumabschnitt aus Fig. 4 längs der Linie 9-9 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10

einen schematischen vertikalen Schnitt durch das Umluftmodul und den Behandlungsraumabschnitt aus Fig. 4 längs der Linie 10-10 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 11

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende schematische Darstellung einer vierten Ausführungsform einer Behandlungsanlage, bei welcher eine Vorbehandlungsanlage vorgesehen ist;

Fig. 12

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende schematische Darstellung einer fünften Ausführungsform einer Behandlungsanlage, bei welcher eine zusätzliche oder alternative Bypassleitung vorgesehen ist; und

Fig. 13

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende schematische Darstellung einer sechsten Ausführungsform einer Behandlungsanlage, bei welcher eine zusätzliche oder alternative Bypassleitung vorgesehen ist.

In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a treatment system, in which a self-contained heating gas supply and an independent fresh gas supply are provided;

Fig. 2

one of the Fig. 1 Corresponding schematic representation of a second embodiment of a treatment system, in which an optimized flow control of the heating gas guide is provided;

Fig. 3

one of the Fig. 1 Corresponding schematic representation of a third embodiment of a treatment system, in which the fresh gas supply opens into the heating gas supply;

Fig. 4

a schematic perspective representation of a recirculation module of a treatment system including a treatment room section of a treatment room of the treatment system;

Fig. 5

a schematic side view of the treatment room section Fig. 4 ;

Fig. 6

an enlarged view of a section of the recirculation module Fig. 4 ;

Fig. 7

a schematic horizontal section through an underbody structure of the recirculation module and the treatment room section Fig. 4 ;

Fig. 8

a schematic vertical section through the recirculation module and the treatment room section Fig. 4 along the line 8-8 in Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9

a schematic vertical section through the recirculation module and the treatment room section Fig. 4 along the line 9-9 in Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 10

a schematic vertical section through the recirculation module and the treatment room section Fig. 4 along the line 10-10 in Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 11

one of the Fig. 1 corresponding schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a treatment system, in which a pretreatment system is provided;

Fig. 12

one of the Fig. 1 Corresponding schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of a treatment system, in which an additional or alternative bypass line is provided; and

Fig. 13

one of the Fig. 1 Corresponding schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of a treatment system, in which an additional or alternative bypass line is provided.

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numbers in all figures.

One in Fig. 1 Schematically illustrated first embodiment of a treatment system designated as a whole by 100 is used to treat workpieces 102.

The treatment system 100 is, for example, a drying system 104 for drying workpieces 102.

The workpieces 102 are, for example, vehicle bodies 106.

The treatment system 100 is preferably used to dry previously painted or otherwise treated vehicle bodies 106.

The workpieces 102 can be conveyed along a conveying direction 110 through a treatment room 112 of the treatment system 100 by means of a conveyor device 108 of the treatment system 100.

The treatment room 112 comprises several, for example at least four, in particular at least six, preferably exactly seven, treatment room sections 114 or is formed by these treatment room sections 114.

Each treatment room section 114 is preferably assigned a separate circulating air module 116.

By means of each circulating air module 116, a gas stream can preferably be guided in a circuit, in particular a circulating air duct 118, and can be passed through the respective treatment room section 114. Preferably, one circulating air module 116 and one treatment room section 114 each form a circulating air duct 118.

Each circulating air module 116 preferably includes one or more fans 120 for driving the circulating gas stream.

Each circulating air module 116 and/or each treatment room section 114 preferably further comprises an inlet valve 122 and an outlet valve 124.

By means of the inlet valve 122, a gas stream serving as a supply air stream can preferably be added to the gas stream guided in the recirculation air duct 118.

By means of the outlet valve 124, part of the gas flow guided in the recirculation air duct 118 can preferably be removed.

By means of the inlet valve 122 and the outlet valve 124, an exchange of the gas flow guided in the recirculation air duct 118 can thus be carried out. This exchange of the gas flow guided in the recirculation air duct 118 serves in particular to control and/or regulate certain parameters of the gas flow guided in the recirculation air duct 118. In particular, a temperature of the gas stream guided in the circulating air duct 118 can preferably be controlled and/or regulated in this way.

In particular, it can be provided that the gas stream guided in the circulating air duct 118 can be heated by supplying heating gas. This heat input then serves to heat the workpiece 102 to be treated, in particular to dry a workpiece 102 designed as a vehicle body 106.

The gas to be supplied to each circulating air duct 118 is preferably a heating gas, which can be provided by means of a heating system 126 of the treatment system 100.

The heating system 126 preferably includes a heating device 128, which is designed, for example, as a thermal exhaust gas cleaning device 130.

By means of the heating device 128, a hot exhaust gas can preferably be generated, which can be removed from the heating device 128 via an exhaust gas discharge line 132.

Preferably, the heating system 126 further comprises at least one heat exchanger 134, which is thermally coupled to the exhaust line 132 in order to use the heat of the exhaust gas to heat another medium.

This further medium is, for example, a heating gas, which is guided or can be guided in a closed heating gas guide 136.

The heating gas duct 136 is in particular a recirculating air duct in which at least a large part of the heating gas guided therein is guided or can be conducted in a circuit.

The heating gas guide 136 preferably includes a heating gas line 138 and one or more fans 120 for driving the heating gas guided in the heating gas line 138.

By means of a heat exchanger 134 of the heating system 126, the exhaust gas discharge line 132 of the heating device 128 is preferably thermally coupled to the heating gas line 138.

The heating gas line 138 preferably includes a supply section 140, which connects the heat exchanger 134 with the circulating air modules 116 and/or the treatment room sections 114.

In particular, heated heating gas can be supplied to the circulating air ducts 118 and thus to the treatment room sections 114 via the supply section 140 of the heating gas line 138.

The heating gas line 138 further comprises a discharge section 142, via which gas discharged from the circulating air ducts 118 can be discharged and fed to the heat exchanger 134 for reheating the same.

The supply section 140 of the heating gas line 138 preferably comprises a plurality of branches 144 or branches 146 in order to distribute a total heating gas flow to the individual circulating air modules 116 and/or treatment room sections 114.

The discharge section 142 preferably comprises a plurality of junctions 148 in order to be able to bring together the individual (partial) gas streams discharged from the circulating air ducts 118 and to be able to supply them again to the heat exchanger 134 as a common gas stream.

The heating gas guide 136 preferably further comprises a bypass line 150, by means of which a partial gas flow of the total heating gas flow supplied to the recirculation air ducts 118 via the feed section 140 of the heating gas line 138 can be guided past all of the recirculation modules 116 and/or treatment room sections 114 and fed directly to the discharge section 142.

By using such a bypass line 150, an excess supply of heating gas can preferably be provided in front of the circulating air ducts 118, in order to always have a sufficient amount of heating gas available in the circulating air ducts 118, even if the heating gas requirement fluctuates.

A volume flow of the heating gas flow guided past the circulating air ducts 118 via the bypass line 150 can preferably be controlled and/or regulated by means of a bypass valve 152.

The heating gas guide 136 preferably includes one or more control devices 154 for controlling and/or regulating the fans 120 and/or the inlet valves 122 and/or the outlet valves 124 and/or the bypass valve 152 of the bypass line 150.

By means of the one or more control devices 154, in particular a distribution of the heating gas flow to the circulating air ducts 118 can be controlled and/or regulated.

Furthermore, a total volume flow and/or a temperature of the heating gas flow can be controlled and/or regulated by means of the one or more control devices 154.

The heating gas guide 136 can also include a bypass line 150 in the area of the heat exchanger 134. By means of this bypass line 150 and by means of a bypass valve 152 assigned to this bypass line 150, it is preferably possible to control and/or regulate which partial volume flow of the total heating gas flow is passed through or past the heat exchanger 134 for heating the same. In particular, this allows a constant temperature of the heating gas flow to be controlled and/or regulated downstream of the heat exchanger 134 and the bypass line 150 and/or upstream of the circulating air ducts 118.

In one embodiment of the treatment system 100, it can be provided that the heating gas line 138, in particular the supply section 140 of the heating gas line 138, comprises a main supply line 156.

This main supply line 156 preferably runs outside the treatment room 112 parallel to the conveying direction 110. The main supply line 156 preferably extends at least approximately over an entire length of the treatment room 112 in order to be able to supply all of the circulating air ducts 118 with heating gas.

The heating gas line 138, in particular the discharge section 142 of the heating gas line 138, preferably comprises a main discharge line 158.

The main discharge line 158 is preferably arranged outside the treatment room 112 or integrated into it.

In particular, it can be provided that the main discharge line 158 extends parallel to the conveying direction 110 and/or at least approximately over an entire length of the treatment room 112. As a result, all (partial) gas streams removed from the circulating air ducts 118 can preferably be removed.

The bypass line 150 for bypassing all circulating air ducts 118 is preferably arranged at a rear end of the main supply line 156 and/or the main discharge line 158 with respect to the conveying direction 110 of the conveying device 108.

The treatment system 100 further includes a fresh gas supply 160 for supplying fresh gas to the treatment room 112.

The fresh gas supply 160 preferably includes a fresh gas line 162 and a blower 120 for driving a fresh gas flow in the fresh gas line 162.

Furthermore, the fresh gas supply 160 preferably comprises a heat exchanger 134, by means of which the fresh gas line 162 and the exhaust gas discharge line 132 of the heating device 128 are thermally coupled to one another. In particular, this allows the fresh gas supplied via the fresh gas supply 160 to be heated before it is supplied to the treatment room 112.

The fresh gas line 162 preferably opens into the treatment room 112 in the area of an inlet section 164, in which the workpieces 102 are guided into the treatment room 112, and/or in the area of an outlet section 166, in which the workpieces 102 are removed from the treatment room 112.

In particular, an inlet lock 168 is provided in the area of the entry section 164 and/or an outlet lock 170 is provided in the area of the exit section 166. Furthermore, one or more intermediate locks can be provided.

The fresh gas supplied via the fresh gas supply 160 serves in particular as a lock gas, with which it is possible to avoid gas guided in the recirculating air ducts 118 being released outwards through the inlet section 164 and/or the outlet section 166 to an environment of the treatment system 100.

The volume flow of the fresh gas flow is preferably selected so that, starting from the inlet section 164 and/or the outlet section 166, there is a cross flow flowing along or counter to the conveying direction 110 and thus transversely to the gas streams guided in the recirculating air ducts 118 results. In particular, this leads to an increase in the loading of the gas stream conducted in the treatment room 112 with impurities and/or other substances, for example solvent vapors, etc., towards the center of the treatment room 112.

An upstream end of an exhaust gas discharge 172 of the treatment system 100 is therefore preferably provided essentially centrally with respect to the conveying direction 110 on the treatment room 112.

In particular, an exhaust gas stream can be removed from the treatment room 112 via the exhaust gas discharge 172 and can preferably be fed directly to the heating device 128.

In particular, if the exhaust gas removed from the treatment room 112 contains solvents, the heating device 128 can be used to clean the exhaust gas using energy contained in the exhaust gas and/or energy released during combustion.

The treatment system 100 described above works as follows:
To heat and/or dry the workpieces 102, they are conveyed through the inlet lock 168 into the treatment room 112 by means of the conveying device 108. In the treatment room 112, the workpieces 102 pass through the treatment room sections 114 one after the other.

Individual, several or all treatment room sections 114 are flowed through with a gas stream conducted in a circuit, which has a temperature that is increased compared to the temperature of the workpiece 102, so that the workpiece 102 heats up due to the flow around and/or inflow with the gas stream or a predetermined temperature maintains.

The initially relatively cold workpiece 102 absorbs the largest amount of heat, particularly in a first treatment room section 114 with respect to the conveying direction 110, so that the circulating air module 116 and/or the circulating air duct 118 of this first treatment room section 114 must provide the greatest heating output. The subsequent treatment room sections 114 preferably provide continuously lower heating outputs.

The respective heating output is provided by supplying heating gas from the heating system 126 to the respective circulating air module 116 and/or the respective treatment room section 114.

This heating gas has an increased temperature compared to the gas stream guided in the circulating air duct 118 in order to ultimately heat the entire gas stream guided in the circulating air duct 118 and thus also the workpiece 102.

The heating gas is provided by heating it by means of a heat exchanger 134 using hot exhaust gas from the heating device 128.

For example, it can be provided here that the heating gas is heated to a temperature of at least approximately 200 ° C, preferably at least approximately 250 ° C, for example approximately 270 ° C.

To compensate for the heating gas volume flow supplied to each recirculation air duct 118, a corresponding partial gas volume flow of the gas flow guided in the recirculation air duct 118 is preferably removed from the recirculation air duct 118.

These discharged gas streams from all circulating air ducts 118 are brought together and fed to the heat exchanger 134 for renewed heating and thus for the provision of heated heating gas.

In particular, if the workpieces 102 release substances relevant to health when they are dried, excessive concentration of these substances and undesirable release into the environment must be avoided. For this purpose, fresh gas is supplied to the treatment room 112 via the fresh gas supply 160 and gas loaded with the health-relevant substances is removed via the exhaust gas discharge 172.

The discharged exhaust gas is then cleaned in the heating device 128, in particular by burning the substances contained therein.

Exhaust gas from the heater 128 is then discharged via the exhaust gas discharge line 132. The heat contained in this exhaust gas is used to heat the fresh gas supplied via the fresh gas supply 160 and/or the heating gas carried in the heating gas guide 136.

One in Fig. 2 The second embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown differs from that in Fig. 1 illustrated first embodiment essentially in that the heating gas line 138 comprises a main branch 180 and / or a main junction 182.

The main branch 180 preferably serves to distribute the heated total heating gas flow during the supply to the main supply line 156, on the one hand, to a first recirculating air duct 118 with respect to the conveying direction 110 and, on the other hand, to all other recirculating air ducts 118. In this way, in particular, a flow cross section of the main supply line 156 can be minimized, since the entire heating gas flow for all circulating air ducts 118 does not have to be guided through the main supply line 156, for example along the conveying direction 110. Rather, a heating gas partial volume flow can be used for the first recirculating air duct 118 with respect to the conveying direction 110, which is the largest in comparison with the other recirculating air ducts 118 Heating power must be provided, branched off and fed to this circulating air duct 118 counter to the conveying direction 110.

The main merging 182 preferably serves to combine a partial gas stream removed from the first recirculating air duct 118 with respect to the conveying direction 110 with the partial gas streams which were removed from all other recirculating air ducts 118. As a result, a line cross section of the main discharge line 158 can preferably be minimized.

Incidentally, the in Fig. 2 Illustrated second embodiment of the treatment system 100 in terms of structure and function with that in Fig. 1 illustrated first embodiment, so that reference is made to the above description.

One in Fig. 3 The third embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown differs from that in Fig. 2 illustrated second embodiment essentially in that the fresh gas supply 160 opens directly into the heating gas guide 136.

The fresh gas to be supplied to the treatment room 112 is in Fig. 3 illustrated third embodiment of the treatment system 100 can therefore be fed via the heating gas line 138, in particular the supply section 140 of the heating gas line 138, to the circulating air ducts 118 and thus to the respective treatment room sections 114.

The inlet lock 168 and the outlet lock 170 can preferably be flowed through with circulating air. For this purpose, separate circulating air modules 116 or the circulating air modules 116 of the respectively adjacent treatment room sections 114 are preferably assigned to the inlet lock 168 or the outlet lock 170.

Incidentally, the in Fig. 3 shown third embodiment in terms of structure and function with the in Fig. 2 illustrated second embodiment, so that reference is made to the above description.

In all of the described embodiments, it can also be provided that additional, in particular unconditioned, fresh air or other fresh gas is supplied in the inlet section 164 and/or in the outlet section 166, whereby an undesirable outflow of gas from the treatment room 112 is preferably avoided.

One in the Fig. 4 to 10 The illustrated embodiment of a recirculating air duct 118 is an example of a recirculating air duct 118 of a treatment system 100 according to Fig. 1 , 2 , 3 or 11 .

The recirculation module 116 of the recirculation air duct 118 is assigned to a treatment room section 114 of the recirculation air duct 118, so that a gas stream guided in a recirculation air circuit can flow through this treatment room section 114.

Like this in particular Fig. 4 , 6 and 8 to 10 As can be seen, the recirculation air module 116 is coupled to a main supply line 156 of a treatment system 100 in order to be able to supply the recirculation air module 116 and/or the recirculation air duct 118 formed by the recirculation air module 116 and/or the treatment room section 114 with heating gas.

The recirculation module 116 includes one or more fans 120 for driving the gas flow in the recirculation duct 118.

The circulating air duct 118 preferably includes the one or more blowers 120, a pressure chamber 190, the treatment chamber section 114, a return line 192 and/or a suction chamber 194.

The pressure chamber 190 is in particular arranged immediately downstream of the one or more blowers 120 and preferably serves to equalize a gas flow to be supplied to the treatment room section 114 and to distribute the gas flow to a plurality of feed openings 196 for supplying the gas flow to the treatment room section 114.

The gas stream introduced into the treatment chamber section 114 via the feed openings 196 can preferably be partially removed from the treatment chamber section 114 via one or more return openings 198 and fed to the suction chamber 194 via the return line 192.

A further part of the gas stream supplied to the treatment room section 114 via the feed openings 196 can preferably be removed from the circulating air duct 118 and from the treatment room section 114 via discharge openings 200 and fed to the main discharge line 158.

The supply openings 196, the return openings 198 and/or the discharge openings 200 are preferably arranged in such a way that preferably at least a large part of the gas stream guided through the treatment chamber section 114 is supplied or can be supplied to one side of the workpiece 102 and to a further side of the workpiece 102 opposite this side Workpiece 102 can be removed or is removed from the treatment room section 114. This preferably results in an optimized flow through the treatment room section 114 and an optimized heating of the workpiece 102.

Like in particular Fig. 5 As can be seen, it can be provided that in addition to the feed openings 196, which are preferably arranged in a side wall of the treatment room section 114, further feed openings 196 are provided, which are arranged in a floor 202 which delimits the treatment room section 114 downwards. The Workpiece 102 can preferably be flowed into from below by means of these additional feed openings 196. Like this in particular Fig. 4 , 7 and 8th As can be seen, the gas stream is supplied to the feed openings 196 arranged in the base 202 from the pressure chamber 190 via one or more base channels 204 running below the base 202 or in the base 202.

For example, two such bottom channels 204 are provided in order to supply the gas stream to the additional feed openings 196.

These two floor channels 204 are preferably arranged on both sides of the return line 192 (see in particular Fig. 7 ).

The suction chamber 194 is preferably arranged immediately upstream of the one or more fans 120, so that gas located in the suction chamber 194 can be sucked in via the one or more fans 120.

The return line 192 opens into the suction chamber 194. Provision can also be made for the suction chamber 194 to be formed by an end of the return line 192 arranged downstream.

The supply of heating gas from the main supply line 156 into the circulating air duct 118 preferably takes place via the suction chamber 194.

For this purpose, a feed channel 206 is provided, which fluidly connects the main feed line 156 to the suction chamber 194.

A valve, in particular the inlet valve 122, is preferably arranged in the feed channel 206 or at one or both ends thereof (in the Fig. 4 to 10 not shown). By means of the valve is preferably the quantity (the volume flow) of the heating gas supplied to the circulating air duct 118 can be controlled and/or regulated.

Because the supply channel 206 preferably opens into the suction chamber 194, heating gas from the main supply line 156 can be easily and energy-efficiently mixed into the gas stream guided in the recirculation air duct 118 by means of the one or more blowers 120. The subsequent flow through the one or more blowers 120 and the pressure chamber 190 also preferably ensures uniform mixing of the supplied heating gas and the remaining gas stream guided in the circulating air duct 118.

The gas stream supplied to the treatment room section 114 is therefore preferably a homogeneous gas stream with a preferably constant temperature, despite the admixture of the heating gas.

In a further embodiment (not shown) of a treatment system 100 and/or a circulating air duct 118, it can also be provided that heating gas can be fed from the main supply line 156 directly into a floor channel 204, in order ultimately to individual areas of the treatment room section 114 and/or by means of the additional supply openings 196. or the workpiece 102 to heat more than the other areas.

Like in particular Fig. 5 As can be seen, the main discharge line 158 is preferably integrated into a housing 208 surrounding the treatment room section 114.

The housing 208 is, for example, essentially cuboid-shaped. The main discharge line 158 is formed, for example, by separating part of the cuboid interior of the housing 208. In particular It can be provided here that an upper corner region of the interior of the housing 208 is separated from the treatment room section 114 for producing the main discharge line 158.

The main supply line 156, however, is preferably arranged outside the housing 208. However, it can also be provided that the main supply line 156 is also formed by dividing a region of the interior of the housing 208. The recirculating air module 116 described above and the recirculating air duct 118 realized thereby preferably function as follows:
A gas stream is driven by the blower 120 and initially fed to the pressure chamber 190.

The gas flow is introduced into the treatment room section 114 via feed openings 196, which can optionally be provided with valves.

At least one workpiece 102 is preferably arranged in this treatment room section 114, which absorbs heat from the gas stream by flowing around it with the gas stream and is thereby heated. In particular, the workpiece 102 is thereby dried.

The gas passed through the treatment chamber section 114 is removed via one or more return openings 198 and a return line 192 and fed to a suction chamber 194. The gas located therein is finally sucked in again from this suction chamber 194 via the one or more blowers 120, so that a circuit is formed for the gas guided through the treatment chamber section 114.

During operation of the treatment system 100, the circulating gas cools down, in particular due to the heat transfer to the workpieces 102.

Heat must therefore be supplied continuously or regularly.

This is done by supplying heating gas from a heating system 126 that is heated compared to the gas flow guided in the circulating air duct 118.

This heating gas is provided via the main supply line 156 and, if necessary, branched off via the supply channel 206 and supplied to the intake chamber 194. In particular, the heating gas is sucked in from the main supply line 156 if necessary by connecting the supply channel 206 to the suction chamber 194 by means of the one or more blowers 120.

Preferably at the same time, a portion of the gas flow guided in the recirculation air duct 118 is removed from the recirculation air duct 118 via the discharge openings 200, which are formed in particular by valves, for example one or more outlet valves 124. In particular, this allows a total volume flow of the gas flow guided in the circulating air duct 118 to be kept constant despite the supply of heating gas.

The discharged gas is discharged via the main discharge line 158.

Preferably, a treatment system 100, for example according to one of Fig. 1 to 3 or 11 , several of the in the Fig. 4 to 10 The recirculating air modules 116 and/or treatment room sections 114 shown here. The recirculating air modules 116 and/or treatment room sections 114 can preferably be flowed through perpendicular to the conveying direction 110 with the gas stream guided in the respective recirculating air duct 118. A cross flow between two or more circulating air modules 116 and/or circulating air ducts 118 is preferably minimal.

Preferably, a transverse flow with a component parallel to the conveying direction 110 arises solely due to the treatment space 112 fresh gas supplied and/or due to the removal of exhaust gas from the treatment room 112 (see in particular the Fig. 1 and 2 ).

The described embodiments of the treatment system 100 and/or the recirculating air module 116 and/or the recirculating air duct 118 and/or the treatment room sections 114 are particularly suitable for use in a so-called transverse driving style, in which the workpieces 102, in particular the vehicle bodies 106, are transverse, in particular vertical, to the conveying direction 110 through the treatment room 112. In particular, a vehicle longitudinal axis is aligned horizontally and essentially perpendicular to the conveying direction 110.

However, the embodiments described can also be used in a so-called longitudinal conveyance of the workpieces 102, in which the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is aligned parallel to the conveying direction 110.

One in Fig. 11 The fourth embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown differs from that in Fig. 1 illustrated first embodiment essentially in that the treatment system 100 comprises a main treatment system 220 and a pretreatment system 222.

The main treatment system 220 is, for example, a main dryer 224. The pre-treatment system 222 is, for example, a pre-dryer 226.

Preferably, the main treatment plant 220 is substantially identical to that in view Fig. 1 described first embodiment of a treatment system 100.

The pretreatment system 222 is therefore an optional addition for a treatment system 100 according to one of the described embodiments, in particular the first embodiment.

The pretreatment system 222 is preferably essentially also a treatment system 100 according to one of the described embodiments, in particular according to the first embodiment.

It may be advantageous if the pretreatment system 222 is dimensioned smaller than the main treatment system 220. For example, it can be provided that the pretreatment system 222 comprises a smaller treatment room 112 and/or preferably fewer treatment room sections 114 than the main treatment system 220.

For example, it can be provided that a pretreatment system 222 only includes three or four treatment room sections 114.

The pretreatment system 222 preferably comprises a heating gas guide 136 that is different and/or independent of the heating gas guide 136 of the main treatment system 220.

Preferably, heating gas can be supplied to the circulating air modules 116 and/or treatment room sections 114 of the pretreatment system 222 independently of the heating gas guide 136 of the main treatment system 220.

The heating gas guide 136 of the pretreatment system 222 is preferably thermally coupled to the exhaust gas discharge line 132 of the heating device 128 by means of a separate heat exchanger 134.

The heat exchanger 134 for the thermal coupling of the pretreatment system 222 with the exhaust gas discharge line 132 of the heating device 128 can be arranged upstream or downstream of the heat exchanger 134 for the thermal coupling of the main treatment system 220 with the exhaust gas discharge line 132 of the heating device 128 with respect to the flow direction of the exhaust gas from the heating device 128 in the exhaust gas discharge line 132 . Preferably the heat exchanger 134 of the pretreatment system 222 is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger 134 of the main treatment system 220.

The heat exchanger 134 for coupling the fresh gas supply 160 with the exhaust gas discharge line 132 of the heating device 128 is preferably arranged downstream of the heat exchanger 134 of the main treatment system 220 and/or downstream of the heat exchanger 134 of the pretreatment system 222. As a result, the use of the heat present in the exhaust gas of the heating device 128 can be optimized due to the mostly low fresh gas temperature (fresh air temperature).

The entire treatment system 100 preferably comprises a single heating device 128, by means of which the heat can be provided both for the heating gas duct 136 of the main treatment system 220 and for the heating gas duct 136 of the pretreatment system 222.

The treatment system 100 may include a common fresh gas supply 160 for supplying fresh gas to both the treatment room 112 of the main treatment system 220 and the treatment room 112 of the pre-treatment system 222.

Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that the treatment system 100 includes two fresh gas feeds 160, with a fresh gas feed 160 being assigned to the main treatment system 220 and a further fresh gas feed 160 to the pre-treatment system 222 (not shown in the figures).

An exhaust gas from the pretreatment system 222 can preferably be fed to the exhaust gas exhaust 172 of the main treatment system 220 by means of an exhaust gas discharge 172 of the pretreatment system 222.

The exhaust gas from the pretreatment system 222 can therefore preferably be fed to the common heating device 128 together with the exhaust gas from the main treatment system 220.

The workpieces 102 to be treated can preferably be conveyed through the treatment room 112 of the pretreatment system 222 and then through the treatment room 112 of the main treatment system 220 by means of a conveyor device 108, in particular a single conveyor device 108.

In Fig. 11 the pretreatment system 222 and the main treatment system 220 are shown at a distance from one another. This is preferably just to illustrate how it works. However, it can also be provided that the pretreatment system 222 and the main treatment system 220 are arranged directly one after the other. For example, a lock designed as an intermediate lock can fluidically separate the otherwise immediately adjacent treatment rooms 112 from one another. This intermediate lock then simultaneously forms an outlet lock 170 of the pretreatment system 222 and an inlet lock 168 of the main treatment system 220.

Because the pretreatment system 222 is provided in addition to the main treatment system 220 and includes a separate heating gas guide 136, a simple and efficient subdivision of the overall gas flow can be achieved, particularly in the event of heavy evaporation of the workpieces 102 to be treated or other severe contamination of the gas streams guided through the treatment room sections 114 Treatment room 112 belonging to treatment system 100 can be realized.

Otherwise, the treatment system 100, in particular both the main treatment system 220 and the pre-treatment system 222, is correct taken on its own, in terms of structure and function with the in Fig. 1 illustrated first embodiment, so that reference is made to the above description.

One in Fig. 12 The fifth embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown differs from that in Fig. 1 illustrated first embodiment essentially in that the heating gas guide 136 comprises an additional bypass line 150, by means of which a partial gas flow of the total heating gas flow to be supplied to the recirculation air ducts 118 via the feed section 140 of the heating gas line 138 can be guided past all of the recirculated air modules 116 and / or treatment room sections 114 and fed directly to the discharge section 142 is.

The additional bypass line 150 branches off from the supply section 140 of the heating gas line 138, in particular upstream of the main supply line 156, in particular upstream of all branches 144 and/or branches 146.

The additional bypass line 150 is preferably arranged at a front end of the main feed line 156 and/or the main discharge line 158 with respect to the conveying direction 110 of the conveying device 108, that is to say preferably in the area of an inlet section 164 of the treatment system 100.

A volume flow of the heating gas flow guided past the circulating air ducts 118 via the bypass line 150 can preferably be controlled and/or regulated by means of a bypass valve 152.

The additional bypass line 150 preferably opens into the discharge section 142, in particular downstream of the main discharge line 158, for example downstream of all junctions 148.

By using such an additional bypass line 150, a partial gas flow from the supply section 140 can preferably be guided past the recirculation air modules 116 and/or recirculation air ducts 118, bypassing the main supply line 156 and the main discharge line 158. As a result, relatively hot gas can be introduced directly into the discharge section 142 in order to heat the gas stream to be discharged overall by means of the discharge section 142.

The gas stream is heated in particular to a temperature which prevents undesirable condensation formation.

By means of the control device 154, the bypass valve 152 of the bypass line 150 and thus the supply of hot gas to the discharge section 142 is preferably controlled in such a way that an actual temperature of the gas stream conducted in the discharge section 142 is always above the condensation temperature. In particular, regulation is provided on the basis of a predetermined minimum temperature setpoint.

Incidentally, the in Fig. 12 Illustrated fifth embodiment of the treatment system 100 in terms of structure and function with that in Fig. 1 illustrated first embodiment, so that reference is made to the above description.

One in Fig. 13 The sixth embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown differs from that in Fig. 2 illustrated second embodiment essentially in that according to the in Fig. 12 illustrated fifth embodiment, an additional bypass line 150 is provided.

The sixth embodiment of a treatment system 100 therefore corresponds to that in. in terms of the basic structure and the basic function Fig. 2 illustrated second embodiment, so that reference is made to the above description. With regard to the additional bypass line 150, the sixth embodiment of a treatment system 100 agrees with the one in Fig. 12 fifth embodiment shown, so that reference is made to the above description.

In further embodiments (not shown), individual or multiple bypass lines 150 can be added or omitted if necessary. For example, the in Fig. 3 illustrated embodiment of a treatment system 100 if necessary with an additional bypass line 150 according to in Fig. 12 shown fifth embodiment.

Claims (14)

1. Treatment system (100) for treating workpieces, comprising:

   - a treatment chamber which comprises a plurality of treatment chamber portions, each of which is assigned to one of a plurality of separate circulating-air modules (116) of the treatment system (100), each circulating-air module (116) being arranged to guide a separate, circular gas flow;

   - a heating system (126) which comprises a self-contained heating-gas guide (136) in which at least some of a heating-gas flow can be guided in a circuit, a plurality of circulating-air modules (116) being coupled to the heating-gas guide (136) to heat the gas guided through the treatment-chamber portions (114),
   the circulating-air modules (116) each comprising at least one fan (120),

   characterized in that the circulating-air modules (116) each comprise a suction chamber (194) arranged directly upstream of the at least one fan (120), a supply duct (206) opening into the suction chamber (194), via which supply duct heating gas can be supplied from a heating-gas line (138) of the heating-gas guide (136) to the circulating-air module (116).
2. Treatment system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating system (126) comprises a heating device (128) and a heat exchanger (134), by means of which heat generated in the heating device (128) can be transferred to a heating gas guided in the heating-gas guide (136).
3. Treatment system (100) according to either claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heating-gas guide (136) comprises a central heating-gas line (138) in which

   a) heating gas is or can be guided and by means of which heating gas from the heating-gas guide (136) can be supplied to the plurality of circulating-air modules (116) and/or to the treatment-chamber portions (114), the heating gas being able to be introduced into each of the treatment-chamber portions (114); and/or

   b) heating gas is guided or can be guided and by means of which gas can be discharged from the circulating-air modules (116) and/or from the treatment-chamber portions (114).
4. Treatment system (100) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the heating-gas guide (136) comprises a central heating-gas line (138), by means of which a heating gas can be guided in a ring shape from a heat exchanger (134) for heating the heating gas to the plurality of circulating-air modules (116) and/or treatment-chamber portions (114) and back to the heat exchanger (134) again.
5. Treatment system (100) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises a fresh-gas supply (160) different from and/or independent of the heating system (126), by means of which fresh-gas supply fresh gas can be supplied to the treatment chamber (112).
6. Treatment system (100) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises a fresh-gas supply (160), by means of which fresh gas can be supplied to a heating-gas flow guided in the heating-gas guide (136).
7. Treatment system (100) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the heating-gas guide (136)

   a) comprises a plurality of junctions (146) or branches (144) for distributing a heating-gas flow guided in the heating-gas guide (136) onto the circulating-air modules (116) and/or treatment-chamber portions (114); and/or

   b) comprises a main branch (180), by means of which a total heating-gas flow can be divided into a first partial heating-gas flow and a second partial heating-gas flow, it being possible for the first partial heating-gas flow to be supplied to a first circulating-air module (116) or a first to nth circulating-air module (116) and/or a first treatment-chamber portion (114) or a first to nth treatment-chamber portion (114) with respect to a conveying direction (110) of a conveying device (108) of the treatment system (100), and it being possible for the second partial heating-gas flow to be divided into all further circulating-air modules (116) and/or treatment-chamber portions (114); and/or

   c) comprises a plurality of combining means for combining a plurality of gas flows discharged from the circulating-air modules (116) and/or treatment-chamber portions (114); and/or

   d) comprises a main combining means (182) by means of which an exhaust-gas flow of a first circulating-air module (116) or first to nth circulating-air module (116) and/or first treatment-chamber portion (114) or first to nth treatment-chamber portion (114) with respect to a conveying direction (110) of a conveying device (108) of the treatment system (100) can be combined with an already combined exhaust-gas flow of all further circulating-air modules (116) and/or treatment-chamber portions (114).
8. Treatment system (100) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each circulating-air module (116) and/or each treatment-chamber portion (114) comprises an inlet valve (122) and/or an outlet valve (124), by means of which a volume flow of a heating-gas flow to be supplied to the circulating-air module (116) and/or to the treatment-chamber portion (114) and/or a volume flow of a gas flow discharged from the circulating-air module (116) and/or from the treatment-chamber portion (114) can be controlled in an open loop and/or in closed loop.
9. Treatment system (100) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises a control device (154), by means of which

   a) an at least approximately constant volume flow of the heating-gas flow guided in the heating-gas guide (136) can be maintained, in particular by means of closed-loop control of a fan (120) of the heating-gas guide (136), which fan drives the heating-gas flow; and/or

   b) an at least approximately constant temperature of the heating-gas flow guided in the heating-gas guide (136) can be maintained, in particular by means of influencing a bypass volume flow guided past a heat exchanger (134) for heating the heating-gas flow.
10. Treatment system (100) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the heating-gas guide (136) comprises one or more bypass lines (150) for bypassing all the circulating-air modules (116) and/or treatment-chamber portions (114), in particular

    a) a bypass line (150) being arranged upstream of a plurality of, in particular all, branches (144) and/or junctions (146) of the heating-gas guide (136) to supply heating gas to the circulating-air modules (116), and/or

    b) a bypass line (150) being arranged downstream of a plurality of, in particular all, combining means (148) of the heating-gas guide (136) to combine gas flows from the circulating-air modules (116).
11. Treatment system (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that a bypass line (150) is arranged downstream of a plurality of, in particular all, branches (144) and/or junctions (146) of the heating-gas guide (136) to supply heating gas to the circulating-air modules (116),
    and/or
    in that a bypass line (150) is arranged upstream of a plurality of, in particular all, combining means (148) of the heating-gas guide (136) to combine gas flows from the circulating-air modules (116).
12. Treatment system (100) according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a main discharge line (158) for discharging gas flows discharged from the circulating-air modules (116) and/or from the treatment-chamber portions (114) is arranged within a housing (208) forming or surrounding the treatment chamber (112).
13. Method for treating workpieces (102), comprising:

    - a plurality of gas flows, guided in separate circuits, flowing through a plurality of treatment-chamber portions (114) of a treatment chamber (112) of a treatment system (100);
    the treatment-chamber portions (140) each being associated with one of a plurality of separate circulating-air modules (150), each circulating-air module (150) being arranged to guide a separate, circular gas flow (154);

    - heating the gas flows by means of a heating-gas flow which is guided in a self-contained heating-gas guide (136) of a heating system (126) of the treatment system (100) in which at least some of a heating-gas flow is guided in a circuit,

    the circulating-air modules (116) each comprising at least one fan (120),

    characterized in that the circulating-air modules (116) each comprise at least one suction chamber (194) arranged directly upstream of the at least one fan (120), a supply duct (206) opening into the suction chamber (194), via which supply duct heating gas can be supplied from a heating-gas line (138) of the heating-gas guide (136) to the circulating-air module (116).
14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that for heating the plurality of gas flows guided in the separate circuits, a partial flow of each of these gas flows is discharged from each gas flow and replaced by a partial flow of the heating-gas flow.

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