Web dryer with fully integrated regenerative heat source and control thereof
First Claim
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1. A method of drying a running web of material, comprising:
- transporting said web into a dryer enclosure having a dryer atmosphere;
impinging heated air onto said web with a plurality of nozzles;
drawing a portion of said dryer atmosphere into an integrated regenerative heat exchanger comprising at least first and second heat exchange columns containing heat exchange material and in communication with a combustion zone in order to heat said portion of said dryer atmosphere;
combusting in said integrated regenerative heat exchanger volatile contaminants present in said dryer atmosphere; and
bypassing one of said first and second heat exchange columns by directing a portion of the gas from said combustion zone to a water evaporating coil in communication with said combustion zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Integrated web dryer and regenerative heat exchanger, as well as a method of drying a web of material using the same. The apparatus and method of the present invention provides for the heating of air and the converting of VOCs to harmless gases in a fully integrated manner via the inclusion of a regenerative combustion device as an integral element of the drying apparatus.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of drying a running web of material, comprising:
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transporting said web into a dryer enclosure having a dryer atmosphere;
impinging heated air onto said web with a plurality of nozzles;
drawing a portion of said dryer atmosphere into an integrated regenerative heat exchanger comprising at least first and second heat exchange columns containing heat exchange material and in communication with a combustion zone in order to heat said portion of said dryer atmosphere;
combusting in said integrated regenerative heat exchanger volatile contaminants present in said dryer atmosphere; and
bypassing one of said first and second heat exchange columns by directing a portion of the gas from said combustion zone to a water evaporating coil in communication with said combustion zone.
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2. A method of drying a running web of material, comprising:
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transporting said web into a dryer enclosure having a dryer atmosphere and a plurality of supply zones;
impinging heated air onto said web with a plurality of nozzles;
drawing a portion of said dryer atmosphere into an integrated regenerative heat exchanger comprising at least one heat exchange column containing heat exchange material and in communication with a combustion zone in order to heat said portion of said dryer atmosphere;
combusting in said integrated regenerative heat exchanger volatile contaminants present in said dryer atmosphere;
sensing temperature in a said supply zone;
directing a portion of the combusted gas from said combustion zone to a mixing chamber in communication with said plurality of supply zones with a cast superalloy damper by modulating said damper in response to said sensed temperature;
introducing make-up air from outside said dryer enclosure into said mixing chamber with a variable speed fan;
mixing said make-up air with said portion of the combusted gas in said mixing chamber; and
directing said mixture to one or more of said plurality of nozzles in said plurality of supply zones.
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3. A dryer for a web of material and having an integrated regenerative heat source, comprising:
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a housing enclosure comprising;
a web inlet and a web outlet spaced from said web inlet;
a plurality of nozzles for drying said web;
a regenerative heat source comprising at least first and second heat exchange columns, each said column having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, each said column being in communication with a combustion zone, and containing heat exchange material;
valve means for alternatingly directing gas from said dryer into said gas inlet of one of said at least first and second heat exchange columns; and
a water evaporating coil in said housing enclosure and in communication with said combustion zone, whereby a portion of gas in said combustion zone bypasses one of said first and second heat exchange columns and is directed to said water evaporating coil.
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4. A dryer for a web of material and having an integrated regenerative heat source, comprising:
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a housing enclosure comprising;
a web inlet and a web outlet spaced from said web inlet;
a plurality of supply zones;
a plurality of nozzles for drying said web;
a regenerative heat source comprising at least one heat exchange column, said at least one column having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, said at least one column being in communication with a combustion zone, and containing heat exchange material;
valve means for alternatingly directing gas from said dryer into said gas inlet of said at least one heat exchange column;
a mixing chamber in communication with said combustion zone and said plurality of supply zones, said mixing chamber receiving make-up air from outside said dryer enclosure via a variable speed fan and mixing said make-up air with air from said combustion zone and supplying said mixed air to said plurality of supply zones;
a cast superalloy damper in communication with said combustion zone and said mixing chamber;
a sensor for sensing temperature in a said supply zone; and
a controller for modulating said damper in response to said sensed temperature to control the amount of air from said combustion zone allowed to enter said mixing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification