DTI-1495 Carbon Fiber Conveyor Oven
Customer directive
Davron was directed by our customer to design and engineer a continuous conveyor oven to test new production methods for carbon fiber. The oven needed to have very accurate control of temperature, air flow and material movement as the material was processed. This oven is intended for low volume research purposes, rather than production so its overall size is reduced, but the flexibility of use was increased by splitting the oven into five (5) independently controlled zones. From the beginning, provision for a future possibility of running a very different style of product in the form of carbon fiber tows was incorporated in the design. This involved raising the supply plenums to increase the available chamber volume, as well as building insulated removable plugs above both entrance and exit that would allow full access to the chamber height for tow to be threaded back and forth through the length of the oven. Removable zone dividers further open the cross section of each chamber and lift out plenum panels increases the flexibility of future varied requirements.
Description
To safely meet the temperature demands of this oven, 6” mineral wool insulated walls were used with Davron’s unique sealed wall system. Five separate zones of heat gives the customer detailed control of the heat profile as the product travels through the oven. Individual zone circulation fans used with variable frequency drives (VFDs) allows the airflow to be tailored to match the product’s sensitivity changes throughout the process. Low speed air can be used in the initial zones and as the product reacts to the heat and grows less fragile, high air velocities can be utilized. A chain-on-edge type belt offers oversized oven class rollers, greatly reducing belt friction, drive power, support wear and possible airborne particulates. Enhanced monitoring was provided in the way of chamber and filter differential pressure transmitters for each zone. This oven was designed for ease of use and maintenance to accommodate the laboratory-type setting it will reside in, reducing the need for extensive maintenance and care.
Specifications
| Product Being Processed | Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), Carbon Fiber |
| Overall System Dimensions | 26′-10″ L x 6′-1″ W x 10′-5″ H |
| Heated Chamber Dimensions | 16′-8″ L x 2′-2″ W x 3′-6″ H |
| Number of Heated Zones | Five (5) |
| Method of Heat | Electric |
| Design Operating Temperature | 617°F (325°C) |
| Maximum Operating Temperature | 700°F (371°C) |
| Product Support | Chain-on-edge conveyor belt |
| Controls | PLC control with operator HMI, UL listed control enclosure |
Alternative capabilities
Davron Technologies, Inc. designs and manufactures ovens of this type to meet many unique process requirements, including but not limited to, the following:
- Airflow: Horizontal Cross flow, Vertical up
- Industries Served: Aerospace, Automotive, Composites, Research and Development
- Materials Processed: Ceramics, baked-goods, coatings, glass, friction material, metals
- Other Processes: Annealing, baking, curing, drying, stress-relieving
- Heating Systems: Natural gas, propane
