Third Party Funds Group - Sub project
Acronym: E-BaTroGal
Start date : 01.01.2017
End date : 31.12.2018
Component drying is the last treatment step in electroplating manufacturing processes. Electroplating has an above-average high energy requirement, whereby the electric drying represents a not negligible energy consumer. The drying of component surfaces is an unavoidable, energy-intensive process step in industrial production, which is characterized by a complex interplay of various physical mechanisms of action. The drying process, which is typical in electroplating, consists of energy-intensive thermal drying and thus causes considerable operating costs. The aim of this research project is to reduce the energy consumption of industrial drying processes in electroplating by the increased use of mechanical drying effects and to improve the drying result. First, reference components with critical geometric features with respect to drying are identified and defined. These are considered as a physical test object and in the virtual rake model. Using numerical flow simulations, real drying plants of the project partners are abstracted and the drying processes on the component surface are simulated and analyzed. On the basis of the results, the test pattern of a drying plant is to be constructed in order to influence the air guidance by means of constructive measures (flow velocity, incident angle, etc.). The drying results are evaluated quantitatively with residual moisture measurements on the real object in order to validate the simulation results. Finally, generalizable optimization potentials are to be derived.