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July 2011 — Heat Technologies, Inc( HTI) has recently completed the installation and optimization tests of its Spectra HE Ultra 6-12-S drying system designed and manufactured for extremely heavy water and solvent based adhesive and coating appications. The customer originally requested a design for solvent based applications; however, during the design discovery phase, it was determined that the solution would also apply to solventless materials. As post-installation results show, the Spectra HE Ultr Drying System successfully operated with elevated throughput and lower energy on both water based and solvent based coatings and adhesives.
It has replaced an existing dryer with specifications in Table 1 and shown on the figure 2. The HTI Spectra HE Ultra Dryer was located below the existing dryer to maximize the utilization of existing assets/coater. Results of the testa are shown in the Table 2.
The dramatic results achieved have bolstered the commercialization efforts of HTI in expanding its commercial reach. Ideal application areas for HTI’s mass transfer (heating/cooling/drying) technology:
· Critical surface control applications
· Food Processing
· Printed electronics
· High barrier laminations
· Paper Making/Converting
· Solvent Based Materials
· Water Based Materials
· Cold Seal Applications
· Molded Fiber
· Substrate Cooling
Table 1: Dimensional Comparison of Drying Units
|
Spectra HE TM Ultra |
Existing Thermal Dryer |
Overall Length |
50 in |
56 ft |
Web Width |
12 in |
12 in |
Thermal Capacity |
12 kW (3 electric heaters 4 kW each) |
1 million Btu/hr |
Air Supply Regenerative Blower |
8.4 kW |
5.5 kW |
Drying Zones |
3 @ 16 in each |
8 @ 6 ft each |
A .Existing Dryer
Existing dryer is equipped with a speed controlled web moving mechanism, one million BTU/hr natural gas powered burner with all safety and control trains, as well as exhaust system.
HTI’ Spectra HE TM Ultra Dryer
As it is shown on the Fig 1 and 2, HTI’ Spectra HE Ultra dryer is located right below the existing dryer, it is equipped with three 4 kW heaters, one regenerative blower with 8.6 kW, one stand-alone VFD based control panel.
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| Fig. 1 Close up of the HTI Spectra HE Ultra Dryer in operation. |
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| Fig 2. Part of the existing dryer and HTI Spectra HE Utlra Dryer, including supply air manifold. |
Table 1. Tests Results
Type of Coating/Adhesive |
Operating Parameter |
Spectra HE TM Ultra |
Existing Dryer |
Water Based |
|
|
|
|
Wet weight, lb/ream(g/m2) |
30 |
30 |
|
% solids |
25 |
25 |
|
Operating Temperature, F(C) |
120 F |
350 F |
|
Web Speed |
54 |
54 |
|
Drying Time, min |
0.07 |
1.08 |
|
Evaporation Rate lb/min |
292.2 |
20.6 |
|
Quality Control |
passed |
Passed |
|
Type of Heat |
Electric Heater |
Natural Gas |
|
Thermal Input, kW (Million Btu/hr) |
0 |
250 kW (750,000) |
|
Electric Power consumption by air supply blowers, kW |
8.4 |
5.5 |
|
Total Energy Input, kW |
8.4 |
155.5 |
Solvent Based (Toluene) |
|
|
|
|
Wet weight, lb/ream(g/m2) |
36 |
30 |
|
% solids |
50 |
50 |
|
Operating Temperature, F(C) |
225/250/250 (107/121/121) |
170/250/350 (77/121/177) |
|
Web Speed |
36 |
30 |
|
Drying Time |
0.115 |
1.67 |
|
Evaporation Rate |
|
|
|
Quality Control |
|
|
|
Type of Heat |
Electric Heater |
Natural Gas |
|
Thermal Input, kW (Btu/hr) |
12 (0.0041) |
150 (500,000) |
|
Electric Power consumption by air supply blowers |
8.4 kW |
5 kW |
|
Total Energy Input, kW |
20.4 |
155.5 |
Source: Heat Technologies Inc.
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