THE NEW PARADIGM OF DEHUMIDIFICATION (AND NOT ONLY...) PART 1
2 MOBY THE NEW PARADIGM OF DEHUMIDIFICATION (AND NOT ONLY...) PART 1 PART 1: THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MOBY SYSTEM MOBY is a system for the pre-treatment of the plastic material that uses the contemporary action of infrared radiations and vacuum. Compared to the technologies currently on the market for simple processes of drying and dehumidification, but also crystallization, super-clean and solid state polycondensation (SSP), MOBY brings some benefits residing in the use of the following principles: 1. All bodies absorb or reflect a specific wavelength of infrared radiation. Since the water and plastics have their own spectrum of absorption / reflection, it is possible to focus the radiation on the water only (maximum dehumidification) or only on the material (for crystallization processes or SSP of PET), or both. The result is an optimization of the energy delivered (Figure 1). FIGURE 1 How infrared radiations operate All bodies absorb or reflect a specific wavelength of infrared radiation Action on water: simple drying Action on water and plastic: dehumidification Action on plastic: SSP (Solid State Polycondensation)
MOBY THE NEW PARADIGM OF DEHUMIDIFICATION (AND NOT ONLY...) PART 1 3 2. The infrared radiation heats the material directly and in a uniform manner. The system MOBY exposes all the material to infrared radiation, providing a direct heating, controlled and uniform, both of the part and of the mass. At the end of the process, the treated material is in the same condition of temperature and humidity, which results in quicly cycle starts and reduction to zero of the waste by dehumidification. 3. The vacuum ensures maximum efficiency of the infrared radiation. Compared to radiation in the air, the yield of the infrared radiation under vacuum increases to a 30%, allowing to raise the temperature of the material in less time, with consequent energy saving and volumes. In addition, without the interference of the air, the radiation maintains the same wavelength from the source to the material and can be exploited in all its properties (Figure 2). FIGURE 2 Kinds of heating in comparison Kind Advantages Disadvantages Convection Control of the heating Flexibility Medium efficiency Long time Conduction Control of the heating Low efficiency Long time High installations cost Friction Good efficiency Lot of dust Poor control of the temperature Little uniformity in the heating Dielectric (microwaves) Good efficiency Selective heating Heating limited to dipolar interaction High installation costs Poor control of the microwaves Safety issues IR Selective heating Highest efficiency (vacuum increases IR efficiency) Low permeability of the plastic to IR
4 MOBY THE NEW PARADIGM OF DEHUMIDIFICATION (AND NOT ONLY...) PART 1 4. Vacuum is the most efficient means for the extraction of liquids. The ambient under vacuum causes the migration from the material not only of water but also of any other chemical contaminants (for example acetaldehyde, chloroform, benzophenone, etc....). The system MOBY is thus used not only for the dehumidification, but also for the so-called "super-clean" of PET in the "bottle-to-bottle" processes. 5. Vacuum is the best thermal insulator in nature. As a vase of Dewar, the reactor does not exchange any heat with the outside, from which it is not only isolated, but independent: the system MOBY can thus operate indifferently in temperate or tropical climates with the same effectiveness. 6. Vacuum decreases the boiling point of water. Operating with values closed to the absolute vacuum, MOBY system can start the dehuidification from 80-85 C, treating also materials with low melting levels. 7. Vacuum prevents the action of oxidation. The material at the end of the treatment has not undergone any kind of degradation or aging, and maintains the same initial quality. In case of materials such as PA, it is possible to raise the temperature of treatment beyond the usual threshold of 80 C, however avoiding phenomena of ye llowing. 8. All the bodies under vacuum fall at the same speed. By exploiting a known law of physics, the system MOBY is able to handle not only granules, but also flakes, powders, regrind of monofilament, textile waste and any other type of particle size, while maintaining safe both the irradiation and filtration means. FIGURE 3 The key-rule of vacuum Guarantees the maximum efficiency of infrared radiations Blocks the material oxidation Strips-out water and possible contaminants from the material Reduces the boiling point of water Preserves the irradiation and filtration means Insulates from the external ambient
MOBY THE NEW PARADIGM OF DEHUMIDIFICATION (AND NOT ONLY...) PART 1 5 MOBY is the evolution of some existing technologies (IRD and "tumble-dryers"), from which it takes inspiration to develop a system easy to use, efficient in performance, adaptable to any kind of material and convenient in the return on investment. FIGURE 4 Pictures of the reactor with the lid open We will see in the next article how the MOBY system works, describing its main means and the process logic.
6 MOBY THE NEW PARADIGM OF DEHUMIDIFICATION (AND NOT ONLY...) PART 1 TEST ON MOBY Our internal lab is equipped with measuring instruments to check the humidity and the intrinsic viscosity of the materials. www.sbplastics.it To do a test on your own material or simply view the system MOBY, write to sales@sbplastics.it All material reproduced in the present document is property of IRV SYSTEMS SRL located in via G. Marconi, 42 Villanova di Camposampiero (PD) ITALY C.F. & PIVA 04522430281