Design of infrared radiation for best heat source performance in paint cure oven

Abstract

This project aims at altering the conveyor speed for maximum productivity and modifying the oven in order to increase the efficiency of powder coating process involved in painting the components of lifts. The primary thing to be considered while modifying the oven is the heat source provided. Most of the industries use forced convection for heating up the product in order to cure the powder coating process. This project aims at providing infrared radiation as the heat source to cure the powder over the metal surface. Forced convection is advantageous for more complex shapes. But the components of lifts are not of complex shapes. So, it would be efficient to use infrared. The forced convection system requires long heat up time, high energy consumption, large floor area and some additional setups for air circulation inside the oven. Infrared radiation heating would eliminate these drawbacks. The infrared radiation would be absorbed by the material in order to heat up. This is more efficient in case of curing the powder coated parts. Because, in case of forced convection first the paint in form of powder is heated and then the heat is transferred to the metal surface. Whereas in case of infrared heating, the metal would be heated first and then it would be transferred towards the powder paint. In other words, we could say that the infrared radiation heating provides backward heating which would increase the efficiency and life of the paint coated. Temperature control and instant heating are also the advantages of infrared heating. Hence designing the infrared source for the given metal and powder specifications is done in this project.