TWM668708U - Continuous heating equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A continuous heating device includes a twin-screw extruder and a microwave generating device. The twin-screw extruder includes a sleeve and a twin-screw. The sleeve has at least one feeding section, at least one heating section and at least one discharging section arranged in sequence. The at least one feeding section, the at least one heating section and the at least one discharging section are connected to each other and form a conveying space. The twin-screw is rotatably arranged in the conveying space. The microwave generating device includes a waveguide and a microwave heater. The waveguide is directly arranged on the at least one heating section of the sleeve. The microwave heater is directly arranged on one side of the waveguide away from the sleeve. The microwave heater transmits microwaves to the at least one heating section through the waveguide.

Description

Continuous heating equipment

The invention relates to a continuous heating device, in particular to a microwave-heated thermal cracking device.

With the development of technology, composite materials are often used as product parts in various fields. Or, when manufacturing various products, waste containing composite materials is often generated.

However, when these products or waste materials containing composite materials need to be recycled, the composite materials are often not easy to decompose into reusable and simple raw materials, resulting in low recycling value. Therefore, how to design a continuous heating device that can heat and decompose composite materials has become a problem that people in this field are eager to solve.

The invention provides a continuous heating device which can heat and decompose composite materials.

The continuous heating equipment disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention comprises a twin-screw extruder and a microwave generating device. The twin-screw extruder comprises a sleeve and a twin-screw. The sleeve has at least one feeding section, at least one heating section and at least one discharging section arranged in sequence. The at least one feeding section, the at least one heating section and the at least one discharging section are connected to each other and form a conveying space. The twin-screw is rotatably arranged in the conveying space. The microwave generating device comprises a waveguide and a microwave heater. The waveguide is directly arranged in the at least one heating section of the sleeve. The microwave heater is directly arranged on one side of the waveguide away from the sleeve. The microwave heater transmits microwaves to the at least one heating section through the waveguide.

According to the continuous heating device disclosed in the above embodiment, microwaves are sent to the material in the heating section through the microwave generating device, so that heat can be transferred from the inside of the material to the outside, and the material can quickly reach the set temperature.

The above description of the content of the new invention and the following description of the implementation method are used to demonstrate and explain the principle of the new invention and provide a further explanation of the scope of patent application of the new invention.

The following will describe a continuous heating device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to Figures 1 and 2, wherein Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a continuous heating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the continuous heating device of Figure 1.

The continuous heating device 10 disclosed in this embodiment is, for example, a device that can perform a continuous high temperature reaction on a solid or liquid organic material OBJ to thermally crack the material OBJ into small molecules or oligomer raw materials. The continuous heating device 10 may include a twin-screw extruder 100, a feed hopper 200, an air inlet pipe 300, a plurality of preheaters 400, and a microwave generating device 500.

The twin-screw extruder 100 includes a sleeve 110 and a twin-screw 120. The sleeve 110 may have a feeding section 111, a plurality of preheating sections 112, a plurality of heating sections 113, and a plurality of discharging sections 114 arranged in sequence.

The feed section 111 may have a feed port 111a and an air inlet 111b. The feed port 111a may be farther from the preheating section 112 and the heating section 113 than the air inlet 111b.

The preheating sections 112 are detachable from each other, and are detachably disposed between the feeding section 111 and the heating section 113 .

The heating sections 113 are detachable from each other, and are detachably disposed between the feed section 111 and the discharge section 114. In this embodiment, the heating sections 113 are detachably disposed indirectly in the feed section 111 via the preheating section 112. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the preheating section may be omitted and the heating section may be detachably disposed directly in the feed section.

The discharging sections 114 are detachable from each other and are detachably disposed on one side of the heating section 113 away from the feeding section 111 and the preheating section 112. One of the discharging sections 114 may have a discharging port 114a, and the other discharging section 114 may have an air outlet 114b. The discharging port 114a may be farther from the heating section 113 than the air outlet 114b.

The feed section 111, the preheating section 112, the heating section 113 and the discharge section 114 are interconnected to form a transport space TPS. The twin screw 120 is rotatably disposed in the transport space TPS, for example, by the drive of the transport motor MT1, so as to facilitate the continuous transport of solid or fluid substances in the transport space TPS. Among them, the twin screw 120 has low requirements on the type or specification of the material OBJ being transported, so that the continuous heating device 10 can be applied to the thermal cracking of various materials OBJ. In contrast, the single screw used in the prior art needs to fill the space in the single screw with materials in order to provide sufficient pressure to push the materials forward.

The feed hopper 200 can be connected to the feed section 111 via the feed port 111a, and the feed hopper 200 can be connected to the feed motor MT2 to assist in feeding. The air intake pipe 300 can be connected to the feed section 111 via the air intake port 111b. The feed hopper 200 and the air intake pipe 300 can be arranged in the feed section 111 to form a feed air intake module M1. Please note that in some embodiments, the number of feed sections can also be multiple, and these feed sections can be detachable from each other, and the feed hopper and the air intake pipe can be separately arranged and connected to different feed sections to form a feed module and an air intake module respectively.

The preheater 400 can be directly disposed in the preheating section 112. The preheater 400 is, for example, an electric heating tube or a heat medium such as thermal oil, which can provide heat radiation to the preheating section 112. The preheater 400 can be disposed inside or outside the sleeve 110, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

One of the preheaters 400 and one of the preheating sections 112 can be arranged with each other to form a preheating module M2. The number of preheaters 400 and preheating sections 112 is the same, and the total number of preheaters 400 and preheating sections 112 in each preheating module M2 is one. Please note that in some embodiments, the number of preheaters and preheating sections can be only one to form only one preheating module. Please note that in some embodiments, multiple preheaters can be arranged on multiple sides of the preheating section, so that the number of preheaters and preheating sections in a preheating module can be multiple in addition to one.

The microwave generating device 500 may include a plurality of waveguide tubes 510 and a plurality of microwave heaters 520. The waveguide tubes 510 are directly disposed on the heating section 113 of the sleeve 110. The microwave heater 520 is directly disposed on a side of the waveguide tube 510 away from the sleeve 110, and the microwave heater 520 transmits microwaves to the heating section 113 through the guidance of the waveguide tube 510. The heating section 113 may have a microwave transmission interface (not separately labeled) on a side close to the waveguide tube 510 to facilitate the passage of the microwaves transmitted by the microwave generating device 500, and the material of the microwave transmission interface may be, for example, a non-metallic material that does not reflect microwaves, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (commonly known as Teflon), ceramics, or quartz.

One of the waveguide tubes 510, one of the microwave heaters 520 and one of the heating sections 113 can be arranged with each other to form a microwave module M3. The number of waveguide tubes 510, microwave heaters 520 and heating sections 113 are the same, and the total number of waveguide tubes 510, microwave heaters 520 and heating sections 113 in each microwave module M3 is one. Please note that in some embodiments, the number of waveguide tubes, microwave heaters and heating sections can be only one to form only one microwave module. Please note that in some embodiments, multiple waveguide tubes and multiple microwave heaters can be arranged on multiple sides of the heating section, so that the number of waveguide tubes, microwave heaters and heating sections in one microwave module can be multiple in addition to one. In some embodiments, the number of waveguides 510, microwave heaters 520, and heating sections 113 may be different.

Furthermore, the material discharging section 114 with the material discharging port 114a forms a material discharging module M4, and the material discharging section 114 with the air outlet 114b forms an air outlet module M5. Please note that in some embodiments, there may be only one material discharging section with both the material discharging port and the air outlet to form only one material discharging and air outlet module.

The operation of the continuous heating device 10 will be described below. The continuous heating device 10 can collect a material OBJ through the feed hopper 200, and the material OBJ can enter the feed section 111 through the feed port 111a. In addition, the continuous heating device 10 can also use the inlet pipe 300 to allow inert gas (not shown) such as nitrogen and noble gas to enter the transport space TPS through the inlet port 111b.

Then, the continuous heating device 10 can transport the material OBJ from the feeding section 111 to the preheating section 112 through the twin screws 120. The preheater 400 can be in thermal contact with the material OBJ transported to the preheating section 112 to preheat the material OBJ.

Then, the continuous heating apparatus 10 can continue to transport the material OBJ from the preheating section 112 to the heating section 113 through the twin screws 120. The microwave generating device 500 can emit microwaves to the material OBJ transported to the heating section 113 to heat the material OBJ.

Then, the continuous heating device 10 can continue to transport the heated material OBJ from the heating section 113 to the discharging section 114 through the twin screw 120, so that the solid or fluid products formed by the decomposition of the material OBJ after heating can be extruded out of the transport space TPS through the discharging port 114a, and the gas formed by the decomposition of the material OBJ after heating can be discharged from the transport space TPS through the gas outlet 114b. These gas, solid or fluid products extruded or discharged from the transport space TPS can be recycled and reused. Please note that the gas, solid or fluid products formed by the decomposition of material OBJ after heating may undergo combustion reaction with oxygen in the high-temperature transport space TPS because they have been decomposed into small molecules. The inactive gas entering the transport space TPS through the intake pipe 300 and the intake port 111b can avoid the possible risks of such combustion reactions.

Since the continuous heating device 10 transmits microwaves to the material OBJ in the heating section 113 through the microwave generating device 500, heat can be transferred from the inside of the material OBJ to the outside. Compared with the conventional method of transferring heat from the outside of the material to the inside, the novel continuous heating device 10 can quickly allow the material OBJ to reach a set temperature, such as the temperature generated by the start of thermal cracking, and can effectively achieve a continuous high-temperature reaction.

In addition, compared to the conventional method of transferring heat from the outside to the inside of the material, the novel continuous heating device 10 has lower heat resistance requirements for the sleeve 110 and has a higher heating efficiency for the material OBJ, thereby saving manufacturing and operating costs and shortening the length of the continuous heating device 10.

Furthermore, through the design of the feeding and air inlet module M1, the preheating module M2, the microwave module M3, the discharging module M4 and the air outlet module M5, the number of each module can be increased or decreased according to the characteristics of the material OBJ to be heated or other usage requirements, so as to adjust the length of the transport space TPS, and then adjust the size of the continuous heating device 10. Furthermore, the continuous heating device 10 can be easily disassembled and convenient for transportation. In addition, the design of the microwave module M3 allows a specific number of microwave heaters 520 to correspond to only one heating section 113, so that the microwaves received by each heating section 113 can be evenly distributed, and there will be no uneven temperature rise of the material OBJ, which is beneficial to the temperature control of the new continuous heating device 10. Furthermore, in some cases, the power of the microwave heater 520 in each microwave module M3 may be adjusted as needed, for example, by gradually increasing the power of the microwave emitted to the material OBJ.

Furthermore, by providing the preheating section 112 and the preheater 400, the material OBJ can be heated from the outside before receiving the microwaves, so as to shorten the time for the material OBJ to reach the set temperature both inside and outside. Moreover, in some cases, by preheating the material OBJ with the preheater 400, the material OBJ can be slightly molten, which is beneficial for the twin screw 120 to transport the material OBJ. Please note that in some embodiments, the material may not be preheated from the outside before receiving the microwaves, or the material may be heated to a slightly molten state before entering the transport space, and the preheating section and the preheater may be omitted. In some embodiments, the preheating section and the preheater in the continuous heating device may be removed by dismantling the preheating module.

In some embodiments, a microwave absorber may be added to the material to help the material heat up smoothly from the inside out after receiving microwaves.

In some embodiments, if it is determined that the gas, solid or fluid products formed by the decomposition of the material after heating will not have the risk of combustion reaction with oxygen, it is not necessary to introduce inactive gas and the settings of the air inlet and air inlet pipe can be omitted.

In some embodiments, the feed hopper can be omitted and replaced by other feeding methods, such as a robotic arm or a conveyor belt.

In some embodiments, the feed inlet and the air inlet may also be configured as the same opening.

In some embodiments, the material outlet and the gas outlet can also be configured as the same opening.

According to the continuous heating device of the above embodiment, microwaves are sent to the material in the heating section through the microwave generating device, so that heat can be transferred from the inside of the material to the outside. Compared with the conventional method of transferring heat from the outside of the material to the inside, the new continuous heating device can quickly allow the material to reach a set temperature, such as the temperature generated by the start of thermal cracking, and can effectively achieve a continuous high-temperature reaction.

In addition, compared with the conventional method of transferring heat from the outside of the material to the inside, the novel continuous heating device has lower heat resistance requirements for the sleeve and higher heating efficiency for the material, thereby saving manufacturing and operating costs and shortening the length of the continuous heating device.

Furthermore, through the design of the feeding and air inlet module, the preheating module, the microwave module, the discharging module and the air outlet module, the number of each module can be increased or decreased according to the characteristics of the material to be heated or other usage requirements, so as to adjust the length of the conveying space and thus the size of the continuous heating equipment. Furthermore, the continuous heating equipment can be easily disassembled and transported. In addition, the design of the microwave module allows a specific number of microwave heaters to correspond to only one heating section, so that the microwaves received by each heating section can be evenly distributed without uneven material heating, which is beneficial to the temperature control of the novel continuous heating equipment. Moreover, in some cases, the power of the microwave heaters in each microwave module can be adjusted as needed, for example, gradually increasing the power of the microwaves emitted to the material.

Furthermore, by setting up the preheating section and preheater, the material can be heated from the outside before receiving the microwave, so as to shorten the time for the material to reach the set temperature both inside and outside. Moreover, in some cases, preheating the material through the preheater can make the material slightly molten, which is conducive to the twin-screw conveying of the material.

Although the present invention is disclosed as above by the aforementioned embodiments, they are not used to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in similar techniques can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the patent protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the scope of the patent application attached to this specification.

10: Continuous heating equipment 100: Twin screw extruder 110: Sleeve 111: Feed section 111a: Feed port 111b: Air inlet 112: Preheating section 113: Heating section 114: Discharge section 114a: Discharge port 114b: Air outlet 120: Twin screw 200: Feed hopper 300: Air inlet 400: Preheater 500: Microwave generator 510: Waveguide 520: Microwave heater OBJ: Material TPS: Transport space M1: Feed and air inlet module M2: Preheating module M3: Microwave module M4: Discharge module M5: Air outlet module MT1, MT2: Motor

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a continuous heating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the continuous heating device of FIG. 1 .

10: Continuous heating equipment

100: Twin screw extruder

110: Sleeve

111: Feeding section

111a: Feeding port

111b: Air intake

112: Preheating section

113: Heating section

114: Discharging section

114a: Discharge port

114b: Air outlet

120: Double screw

200: Feed hopper

300: Intake pipe

400: Preheater

500: Microwave generating device

OBJ: Material

TPS:Transportation Space

M1: Feed and air intake module

M2: Preheating module

M3: Microwave module

M4: discharge module

M5: Exhaust module

MT1, MT2: Motor

Claims (11)

A continuous heating device comprises: a twin-screw extruder, comprising: a sleeve having at least one feeding section, at least one heating section and at least one discharging section arranged in sequence, wherein the at least one feeding section, the at least one heating section and the at least one discharging section are connected to each other and form a conveying space; and a twin-screw rotatably arranged in the conveying space; and a microwave generating device, comprising: a waveguide directly arranged on the at least one heating section of the sleeve; and a microwave heater directly arranged on a side of the waveguide far from the sleeve, wherein the microwave heater transmits microwaves to the at least one heating section through the waveguide. A continuous heating device as described in claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one heating section is multiple, the number of the waveguide tubes is multiple, the number of the microwave heaters is multiple, the heating sections are detachable from each other, the heating sections are detachably arranged between the at least one feeding section and the at least one discharging section, and one of the heating sections, one of the waveguide tubes and one of the microwave heaters are arranged with each other to form a microwave module. A continuous heating device as described in claim 2, wherein the total number of the heating sections, the waveguide tubes and the microwave heaters in each microwave module is at least one. The continuous heating device as described in claim 1 further includes a preheater, wherein the sleeve further has at least one preheating section, the at least one preheating section is detachably arranged and connected between the at least one feeding section and the at least one heating section, and the preheater is arranged in the at least one preheating section. A continuous heating device as described in claim 4, wherein the number of the at least one preheating section is multiple, the number of the preheaters is multiple, the preheating sections are detachable from each other, and one of the preheating sections and one of the preheaters are arranged with each other to form a preheating module. The continuous heating device as described in claim 1 further comprises a feed hopper, wherein the at least one feed section has a feed port, and the feed hopper is connected to the at least one feed section via the feed port. The continuous heating device as described in claim 1 further comprises an air inlet pipe, wherein the at least one feed section has an air inlet, the air inlet pipe is connected to the at least one feed section through the air inlet, and the air inlet pipe is used to allow an inactive gas to enter the transport space through the air inlet. A continuous heating device as described in claim 7, wherein the at least one feed section and the air intake pipe are arranged with each other to form a feed and air intake module. The continuous heating equipment as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one discharge section has a discharge port and an air outlet, the discharge port is used to allow a solid or fluid product formed by decomposition of a material after heating to be expelled from the conveying space, and the air outlet is used to allow a gaseous product formed by decomposition of a material after heating to be discharged from the conveying space. A continuous heating device as described in claim 9, wherein the number of the at least one discharge section is multiple, the discharge sections are detachable from each other, the discharge sections are detachably arranged on one side of the at least one heating section away from the at least one feeding section, one of the discharge sections has the discharge port, another one of the discharge sections has the air outlet, the at least one discharge section having the discharge port forms a discharge module, and the at least one discharge section having the air outlet forms an air outlet module. A continuous heating device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one heating section of the sleeve has a microwave transmission interface on one side close to the waveguide to facilitate the passage of microwaves transmitted by the microwave generating device.

Images