Selecting Carbon Fiber Heater for Industrial Tunnel Dryers

Industrial tunnel dryers are a preferred choice for drying processes in industrial, agricultural, and medical production due to their efficiency in facilitating streamlined production lines with shorter turnover cycles and smaller floor space compared to batch dryers. However, selecting the optimal drying temperature in tunnel dryers poses challenges due to the diverse types of materials and their varying drying characteristics, amid strong market demands.

For drying oil-based paints, temperature selection hinges on parameters derived from manufacturers’ test reports. Calculations based on these parameters dictate the appropriate temperature range, guiding the design specifications of carbon fiber heater elements. However, final selection of the heating element’s temperature range must align with comprehensive conditions of the heated object. Given the chemical kinetics of paint surfaces, every 10°C rise in surface temperature can triple the curing speed. Yet, care must be taken; for instance, drying PC+ABS material paint at 260°C risks distorting plastic products, impacting structural integrity. Thus, iterative testing of optimal drying schemes remains crucial, highlighting the complexity in selecting electric heating elements in the infrared drying sector.

Drying capillary porous colloids involves an internal diffusion-controlled process where surface moisture evaporates readily while internal moisture migration proves challenging, potentially causing surface effects leading to clogging and affecting overall drying efficacy. Hence, in-depth research into drying principles based on material requirements or permissible maximum temperatures is essential. Experimental principles involve dynamic drying studies tailored to different heating and drying stages, optimizing heat and substance transfer processes theoretically, culminating in the final temperature determination for carbon fiber heater elements.

Capillary porous bodies, commonplace in materials such as sand, wood, and ceramic, absorb and desorb moisture easily. Their drying involves moisture absorption with strong infrared absorption characteristics at temperature ranges like 76°C, 160°C, and 600–800°C. Temperature selection aligns with product characteristics, such as in traditional ceramic greenware drying or brick drying processes, where temperatures around 100°C prevent deformation or cracking. Notably, in a university experiment, employing carbon fiber heater elements at approximately 600°C facilitated radiation of greenware, reducing drying times from 7.5 to 4 minutes.

New materials lacking historical drying data require caution. Thermal profiling tests initiate temperature range determination, followed by dynamic drying experiments to optimize engineering drying parameters. For instance, drying a new mineral with carbon fiber heater elements involved step-by-step experiments: thermal profiles indicated desorption at 170°C and crystallization water removal at 320°C. Further kinetic analysis led to a final drying temperature set at 380°C ±5°C.

For expert solutions in infrared drying systems, visit GlobalQT’s website or contact us via email.

• Company: GlobalQT provides tailored solutions for infrared heating elements.
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