WO2015132083A1

WO2015132083A1 - Method for drying bodies

Info

Publication number: WO2015132083A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/053582
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bertram Anderer
Original assignee: Solramic Ag
Priority date: 2014-03-04
Filing date: 2015-02-20
Publication date: 2015-09-11
Also published as: EP3114420B1; EP3114420A1; PL3114420T3

Abstract

Water damage frequently occurs in buildings in particular, whether due to flooding, damaged pipelines, or extinguisher use. Until now, the affected rooms needed to be dried over weeks using ineffective air dryers. Infrared emitters for drying purposes are known, but said infrared emitters are only locally effective such that a plurality of infrared emitters must be used in order to ensure an effective drying process. Due to the power consumption of said infrared emitters, however, the infrared emitters cannot be expediently operated on normal house sockets because the available amperages are not sufficient. The invention solves this problem by means of a control process which reduces the power consumption to the necessary level and thus allows multiple infrared emitters to be operated one after the other in an alternating manner. In this manner, the affected bodies are first heated and then a post-drying process is carried out, during which another infrared emitter heats and dries another body or another region of the body. A suitable control method additionally provides an efficient and complete drying process.

Description

METHOD OF DRYING BODIES

The present invention relates to a method for drying bodies by means of infrared radiators, wherein at least a first infrared radiator is aligned with a body to be dried and the temperature of the body to be dried is detected at regular or irregular intervals by means of a temperature sensor, wherein the first infrared radiator in a Interval drying phase is switched on and off, that moves the detected temperature of the body to be dried between a lower temperature limit and an upper temperature limit.

Such a method is already known from DE 698 06 000 T3. There, a specially designed for floor drying infrared radiator is used, which includes a space with the body to be dried. The air contained within the thus enclosed space is monitored for temperature and humidity, and the turning on and off of the infrared radiator is operated depending thereon.

Among the methods for drying of bodies, in particular, methods for drying the building are to be mentioned, especially since large expenditures for the fastest possible drying are made in the building drying. For example, after flooding, after water pipe breaks or after extinguishing missions, as well as after heavy rains in unfinished or damaged roofs, it is important to make the rooms affected by water as soon as possible again, on the one hand to restore the usability as soon as possible and on the other to the Forming mold and avoid the lasting damage of the walls. Usually air dryers are used in the field of building drying for this purpose, which circulate the air in the room to be dried and in this case extract the moisture therefrom. However, this procedure is perceived as relatively inefficient, because actually not the walls are dried, but only the air in the room, which contacts the walls. Only over longer periods of time, this also sets a drying of the walls, which only gradually promote the moisture from its interior to the surface, so that it can be removed from the air dried by the air dryer.

Infrared radiators are now known as a solution to this problem, which can be placed in front of the wall in the form of infrared panels, for example, in order to dry them. However, there is the problem that such infrared panels act relatively locally, more or less only on the part of the wall to which they are aligned. It would therefore be necessary to set up a plurality of infrared panels over a wall to be dried or in front of a body to be dried in order to allow continuous drying. Then, however, the use of the infrared panels has significant advantages, since the use of the infrared panels, a warming of the wall takes place and thereby the moisture is much faster due to the capillary action of the wall or the body is conveyed out. In addition, the heating up to 80 ° C and beyond complicates the formation of mold after these bacteria are killed in these temperature ranges.

However, infrared panels are perceived as relatively expensive and in turn have the disadvantage that they have a relatively high power consumption. This pays off over time, because the drying time and thus the operating time of the infrared panels are so much shorter in a complete assembly of a room with infrared panels compared to the use of an air dryer, that the resulting electricity costs of the infrared panels are rather cheaper. Due to the shorter drying time, there is also a significantly reduced time in which the rooms are not available for use, so that the use of infrared panels is consistently positive. However, two problems that should be overcome in the context of the invention are problematic here. On the one hand, it must be remembered that with a standard house installation, not enough power can be made available to operate a large number of infrared panels in parallel. So it must be provided a separate power supply, which is perceived as consuming.

Much more serious, however, weighs the problem that by a pure interval drying, as described for example in the aforementioned prior art, a complete drying takes place only with very thin walls. For exterior walls, thick interior walls or just drenched false ceilings full drying with the described methods is not possible despite the use of infrared panels.

This is due to the fundamental physical property that water molecules move away from the heat when they can. As long as the core of the wall is at least as moist as the outer areas, the outer area also dries well. The moisture inside the wall prevents the water from penetrating further inwards. It forms an impenetrable barrier inside through its saturation. The water therefore takes the only remaining path, namely in the direction of the wall surface. There the water evaporates. This effect is also noticeable in the initial phase of drying.

Each additional heat input after a successful surface drying, however, shows only little or no success. The moisture that follows from the depth of the wall even worsens the result achieved so far. The moisture, which now draws from the wall depth is not promoted by re-use of the panel heat out of the wall but back into the wall, as the inner barrier now saturates with water attacks less. The surface of the heated wall attracts like a warm, dry sponge with the pores and capillaries opened by heat in addition the humidity from outside, thus the moisture, which has already dried off again. The water is so when Drying pushed into the wall core and evaporated into the air, in the resting phase it penetrates again from the wall core in front of and from the air back into the wall.

Against this background, the present invention is based on the object of specifying a method for drying bodies using infrared radiators, which despite a normal domestic installation enables a surface drying of bodies, in particular of building walls, with a plurality of infrared radiators.

This is achieved by a method for drying bodies by means of infrared radiators according to the features of claim 1. Further embodiments of such a method can be taken from the subclaims.

According to the invention, in a method for drying a body, in particular a building wall, with infrared radiators first by alternately switching on and off a superficial drying is brought about, so that a dry wall portion, or generally a dry wall layer of the body to be dried, is formed , In the heating phase, the water penetrates from the wall and is transported away with the air, while the water in the resting phases from the much wetter wall sections trailing. The greater humidity in the wall core outweighs the higher temperature at the surface, so that the water pulls outwards.

If the drying of the surface is completed, a so-called inversion point is reached in which the actual drying no longer takes place in the heating phase, but rather in the rest phase. The inversion point is achieved, in particular, when the degree of humidity of the wall surface in relation to the room humidity and the specific moisture transfer between the infrared radiator and the wall has reached a certain ratio. The achievement of this time is determined by a comparison with a reference curve. From this point on, there is not so much water left in the wall core that it can start against the thermal barrier at the surface, so that the water retreats towards the colder wall areas, despite the residual moisture present there. Only in the resting phase, with decreasing temperature on the wall surface, again draws water to the outside. It is now important not to fall below certain temperature values on the wall in order to continue to be able to transport the trailing core moisture to the outside. Keeping this wall temperature point is also necessary to prevent moisture absorption from the outside. In addition, above this limit value, a cyclic temperature delta with defined upper and lower limits must be able to act from the core to the outside, so that the moisture can also pass the physically compelling path from high to low humidity and from higher to lower temperature. For this purpose, it makes sense to measure all these values in a tight time frame, approximately every second, and to regulate the heat input and the rest phases accordingly.

To solve the second problem, ie the simultaneous drying operation of multiple infrared radiators, they can be used in an alternating operation, which is useful for various reasons. Firstly, the alternating operation of the infrared radiators avoids too high a simultaneous power consumption of the infrared radiators, so that the risk of overloading the available power network is reduced. In addition, the infrared radiators are often provided with a ceramic layer, which improves the infrared radiation. In spite of the fact that a plurality of infrared radiators are aligned at the same body to be dried at different locations, only one infrared radiator or a group of infrared radiators will heat the body or the wall at a time and then another from another infrared radiator or another group to be detached from infrared radiators.

This entire process is iterated as needed until a complete drying of the body or the wall has taken place. This can be quantified, for example, by detecting predetermined temperatures of the body to be dried or by detecting the room humidity in the area of action of the infrared radiators, so that a timely shutdown of the system is ensured. Again, this makes sense for energetic reasons. Several infrared radiators can in this case communicate with a control unit which coordinates the switching on and off of the individual infrared radiators. Here, various approaches are conceivable, such as the specification of a fixed sequence, or the connection of that infrared radiator, in the area of which the largest value of the room humidity can be determined. The shutdown of the individual infrared radiator or infrared radiator groups, however, takes place after falling below a limit value of the room humidity or even when reaching a predetermined temperature in the region of the body to be dried.

The individual infrared radiators can either be connected directly to the control unit, but without further ado, a bus system can also be created between the infrared radiators, which then terminally or equally includes the control unit as well. In this way, the structure of the system is significantly simplified, since it is not necessary to realize a cable connection with the control unit for each individual infrared radiator. Advantageously, via the bus cable used at the same time a power supply, if necessary, on other wires, can be realized. Furthermore, it is possible as an interim solution to design each individual infrared radiator group as a separate bus system.

During operation, the control unit will check the power available to it and, if necessary, switch on additional infrared radiators within the limits of its given or pre-set options in order to shorten the entire drying process as far as possible.

For detecting the temperatures on the body to be dried or on the wall to be dried contactless temperature sensors can be used, which are arranged in the region of the infrared radiator and are aligned with the body to be dried. The temperature sensor measures the energy radiated back from the object and thus the temperature on the body to be dried, eg on the wall to be dried. The infrared radiator itself usually radiates with a surface temperature of about 1 10 ° C, the temperature sensor receives the reflected back from the wall temperature, with a set limit, for example, could be at 75 to 80 ° C. In this way, ensures that the wall to be dried or the body to be dried does not become warmer than the pre-set temperature. Upon reaching the temperature of the temperature sensor or an associated control unit will direct a signal to the controller, which ensures a shutdown of the associated infrared radiator. These temperatures are completely uncritical for most building materials and are often reached on the walls in the depths of 2-3 mm in summer.

With the aid of the temperature sensor, it is possible to set up a control loop in which a predetermined temperature of the body to be dried is input as a setpoint, the temperature in the area of action of the infrared radiator is detected by the temperature sensor and fed back to the control unit as a measured temperature. Based on the temperature to be determined, which is detected by the temperature sensor, a control signal is generated by means of a reference value comparison by the control unit, which transmits the control unit to a processor unit for setting the power consumption of the infrared radiator.

In this case, with some advantage, the processor unit does not set the predetermined power directly, but rather only switch back and forth between a low and a high level. The resulting rectangular shape of the resulting pulse signal is applied in terms of its width so that over a period of observation as an average value, the desired performance sets. In this respect too, the exploitation of the ideal operating point applies, in which the power absorbed by the infrared radiator can be optimally converted into heat.

Through a communication between the control unit and the processor unit is regularly taken to ensure that switching on and off of the individual infrared radiators is effected exclusively to the zero crossing of the AC voltage of the power supply to avoid the occurrence of load peaks as much as possible. As a result, there are no steep flanks and it is avoided that the load peaks lead to the triggering of a possibly responsive in this area fuse. In order to ensure usability of the described system and method at different facilities, the target size of the predetermined temperature is set by means of an actuating means from the outside. Here, both a stepless as well as a graduated specification using, for example, a rotary switch is made possible, so that in a simple way, the application of the particular infrared radiator is specified before it is put into operation. Of course, a central programming of the actuating means, for example via the above-mentioned bus connection from the control unit from possible.

Furthermore, it is possible to supply the control unit with additional measured values via further sensors which can influence the control behavior. In particular, these may be room humidity sensors, as well as temperature sensors introduced into the body to be dried. This is not an exhaustive list, other sensors and timers may also be used.

The invention described above will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment.

Show it

1 shows a control circuit for controlling the operation of an infrared radiator according to the invention in a schematic representation,

2 shows a control unit for controlling a plurality of infrared radiator groups in a first configuration in a schematic representation, and

3 shows the control unit for controlling a plurality of infrared radiators according to Figure 2 in an alternative configuration in a schematic representation. FIG. 1 shows a control circuit in which initially a predetermined temperature 1 is set from the outside. This predetermined temperature 1 is first provided to a control unit 2, which then generates an actuating signal and forwards it to a processor unit 3. Due to the setting of the processor unit 3, an actual temperature 4 will set on a body to be dried, which in turn can be measured by means of temperature sensors. The measured temperature 5 is fed back into the control loop, and at the beginning of the control unit 2 a setpoint comparison is made. If applicable, interference quantities 6 act on the controlled system formed by the processor unit 3 and the infrared radiators 8, 9 itself.

FIG. 2 shows a control unit 7, which is connected to a plurality of groups of infrared radiators 8, 9 via a bus system. In FIG. 2, a first group of infrared radiators 8 is in operation, while two further groups of infrared radiators 9 are out of operation.

In the drying of large areas and objects is usually sufficient for the individual control of the respective infrared radiator 8, 9 no longer. In that regard, it requires the control unit 7 shown here to control entire groups of infrared radiators 8, 9. The infrared radiator 8, 9 are connected to each other in the present example in groups of three, the control unit 7 each three interconnected infrared radiators 8, 9 switches simultaneously. This avoids that in each case more than three infrared radiators 8 are simultaneously on the network, so that an overload of the network is avoided.

Figure 3 shows an alternative control by the control unit 7 in which individual infrared radiators 8 of each group are in operation while individual infrared radiators 9 of each group are out of operation. Here, only two groups are formed, which in turn can be switched alternatively to each other.

In addition to this control at the top level, a control takes place at the level of the individual infrared radiators 8, 9, wherein by switching on and off the individual infrared radiators 8, 9 an average power consumption is realized below the maximum power consumption. For this purpose, a change is made between a high level and a low level, in one possible embodiment of the high level the maximum power consumption and the low level representing a complete switch-off. The power is then affected by the fact that switching on and off for different periods of time is realized. This is done by a processor unit 3, which controls the pulse widths. In particular, a plurality of infrared radiators 8 can be synchronized via the bus system such that only one infrared radiator 8 is heated at a time, while the others are in the decay phase.

At the beginning of each drying process, the evaporation cold produced during drying ensures that the wall does not reach a given temperature for some time. The evaporation cold limits the heating. During this time, the infrared radiator 8 radiates at maximum power to achieve rapid drying. As drying progresses, the drier wall begins to radiate more energy, which can be detected by the temperature sensor. At this moment, the processor unit 3 will receive a lower control signal and then increase the pulse width of the low signal and thus lower the average energy which is radiated onto the body to be dried.

If the desired, predetermined temperature is completely reached, the power of the infrared radiator 8 is brought down completely to zero due to a sensor signal of the temperature sensor and signaled to the control unit 7 on the basis of a signal that this can turn on the next group of infrared radiators 9.

Thus described above is a method for drying of bodies by means of infrared radiators, which allows a variety of infrared radiators despite the power consumption of the individual devices effectively nationwide for wall drying or drying of large bodies to use without overloading existing networks or for additional power to care. REFERENCE LIST specified temperature

controller unit

processor unit

Actual temperature

measured temperature

disturbances

control unit

Infrared heater in operation

Infrared heater out of service

Claims

PATENT APPLICATIONS

1 . Method for drying bodies by means of infrared radiators (8, 9), in which at least one first infrared radiator (8) is aligned with a body to be dried and the temperature of the body to be dried is detected at regular or irregular intervals by means of a temperature sensor, the first Infrared radiator (8) is switched on and off in an interval drying phase such that the detected temperature of the body to be dried moves between a lower temperature limit and an upper temperature limit,

Characterized in that the temperature profiles are detected within the intervals and compared with a reference curve and is changed in an alignment of the temperature profile to the reference curve in a Inionsusstrocknungsphase at which the lower temperature limit is increased steadily or stepwise over time.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that is considered as a reference curve, the temperature profile of the respective preceding interval.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that their steps with second infrared radiators (9) are repeated on other parts of the body such that the second infrared radiators (9) are operated in the heating pauses of the first infrared radiator (8).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire process is iterated until a limit value of the room humidity in the space between the infrared radiators (8, 9) and the body, or to the infrared radiator (8, 9) around, falls below.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the infrared radiators (8, 9), preferably by means of a bus system, communicate with a control unit (7).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the control unit (7) switches on further infrared radiators (8, 9) in dependence on the available power.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the infrared radiators (8, 9) are connected in groups, which are switched on and off simultaneously.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is the temperature sensor is a non-contact temperature sensor, which is aligned with the of the infrared radiators (8, 9) irradiated, to be dried body.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that each infrared radiator (8, 9) is part of a control loop, in which a control unit (2) as a set value, a predetermined temperature (1) of the body is input, which detected by the temperature sensor and this measured temperature (5) is fed back to the control unit (2).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the control unit (2) due to the measured temperature (5) and a setpoint comparison generates a control signal, which transmits them to a processor unit (3) for adjusting the power consumption of the infrared radiator (8, 9) ,

1 1. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the processor unit (3) sets the predetermined by the control signal power by alternately driving a low and a high level of each variable pulse width over a period of observation as an average value.

12. The method according to claim 1 1, characterized in that it is at the low level to a zero level and the high level represents the maximum for the infrared radiator (8, 9) available power.

13. The method according to any one of the existing claims, characterized in that the processor unit (3) causes a switching between the low and the high level in both directions in each case exclusively to the zero crossing of the AC voltage of the power supply.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the desired size can be predetermined by means of an actuating means from the outside.

15. Device according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the controller unit (2) measured values of additional sensors are supplied as input variables, wherein the additional sensors are preferably room humidity sensors and / or introduced into the body to be dried temperature sensors.