DE102007040896B4 - Device for separating wet paint overspray, installation for painting objects, method for producing a device for separating wet paint overspray and method for converting an existing device for separating wet paint overspray - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (126) for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas stream (120) containing overspray particles, comprising at least two units (154) which follow one another in a longitudinal direction (134) of the device (126), each unit (154) having the following comprises:- a filter element receiving space (170) for receiving at least one filter element (172) for separating the overspray from the raw gas flow (120);- at least one auxiliary material receiving container (176) for receiving an auxiliary material that is added to the raw gas flow (120) before the Raw gas flow (120) that passes through at least one filter element (172);- at least one vertically aligned partition (168) for separating the filter element receiving space (170) from a flow chamber (128) of the device (126) for separating wet paint overspray, which is separated from the Raw gas stream (120) is flowed through before it enters the unit (154); and- at least one inlet opening (212) through which the raw gas stream (120) enters the unit (154) from the flow chamber (128); the units (154) being pre-assemblable and each unit (154) including a support structure (156) which supports all other elements of the unit (154).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas stream containing overspray particles.

Such a device is, for example, from DE 10 2005 048 579 A1 known.

In this known device, the dry separation of the wet paint overspray from the raw gas stream of a spray booth of a paint shop takes place in a filter device after a flowable, particulate filter aid material known as “precoat” material has been released into the raw gas stream with a nozzle arrangement.

This auxiliary material is used to form a barrier layer on the surfaces of the filter element in order to prevent these surfaces from sticking due to adhering overspray particles.

By periodically cleaning the filter elements of the filter device, the mixture of auxiliary material and wet paint overspray passes from the filter elements into an auxiliary material receptacle from which it can be sucked off in order to be fed to the nozzle arrangement for reuse as auxiliary material. Furthermore, the mixture of auxiliary material and wet paint overspray in the auxiliary material reservoir can be whirled up by means of compressed air pulses from a compressed air lance in order to rise from the auxiliary material reservoir to the filter elements and settle there.

In the known device, the filter elements are attached to the side walls of a flow chamber arranged under the application area of the paint shop, at intervals which depend on the individual length of the flow chamber and the individual number of filter elements. The raw gas flow is guided through the flow chamber by means of flow baffles, which extend over the entire length of the flow chamber and must therefore be adapted to the individual length of the flow chamber.

As a result, each device of this type must be planned individually, and the individual components of the device must be individually manufactured in dimensions tailored to the specific dimensions of the individual device.

The DE 10 2005 048 580 A1 discloses a device for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas stream containing overspray particles, with a filter device, the filter device having a filter element receiving space for receiving filter elements for separating the overspray from the raw gas stream, a plurality of auxiliary material receiving containers for receiving an auxiliary material that is added to the raw gas stream, before the raw gas flow passes through the filter elements, and horizontally aligned partition walls for temporarily separating the filter element receiving space from a flow chamber of the device for separating wet paint overspray, through which the raw gas flow flows before it enters the filter device.

The present invention is based on the object of creating a possibility for particularly simple and rapid assembly of a device for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas flow containing overspray particles.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a device for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas flow containing overspray particles according to claim 1.

By using several units of the type mentioned in claim 1, which are lined up in one or more rows in a longitudinal direction of the device for separating wet paint overspray, a device for separating wet paint overspray with any crude gas cleaning capacity is achieved in a simple and rapid manner created.

Due to this modular design, such a modularly constructed device for separating wet paint overspray can be expanded as required, even after it has been created for the first time, by adding further modules or units.

The pre-assembled unit is also referred to below as a module or as a filter module.

The flow conditions of the raw gas flow in the filter element receiving space of each unit remain unaffected by the addition of further units to expand the capacity, since these flow conditions are essentially determined by the dimensioning of the inlet opening through which the raw gas flow enters the unit from the flow chamber, and since each unit passes through a separate partition wall is separated from the flow chamber, through which the raw gas stream flows before it enters the unit.

Each of the units thus represents a self-sufficient filter device for separating wet paint overspray from one containing overspray particles Raw gas stream, which can be used individually or together with other units.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the inlet opening of the unit is delimited at the bottom by a lower guide surface.

For the desired guidance of the raw gas flow into the interior of the unit, in particular into the auxiliary material reservoir, it is favorable if the lower guide surface is at least partially inclined to the horizontal, in particular in such a way that the lower guide surface - seen in the direction of flow of the raw gas flow - is inclined downwards.

It has proven particularly favorable if the lower guide surface is inclined at least in sections at an angle of at least approximately 30°, preferably at an angle of at least approximately 40°, to the horizontal.

Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the lower guiding surface is formed at least partially on a guiding element which protrudes to one side over a support structure of the unit.

Such a guide element can be designed in particular as an inlet slope.

In a preferred embodiment of the unit according to the invention, it is provided that the unit comprises at least one filter element arranged in the filter element receiving space.

In order to be able to easily connect the units to one another or to partitions arranged between two adjacent modules, it is advantageous if the unit comprises at least one connecting element for connecting the unit to an adjacent further unit or an adjacent partition.

Such a connecting element can in particular form part of a supporting structure of the unit.

For example, it can be provided that the connecting element is designed as a substantially vertically running support.

Furthermore, the connecting element can have a contact surface for contacting a contact surface of an adjacent unit or an adjacent partition.

In particular, in order to be able to provide such a planar contact surface and sufficient mechanical stability, it is favorable if the connecting element has an essentially U-shaped cross section, at least in sections.

In order to be able to easily detach individual units from a row of interconnected units when required, for example for repair and/or maintenance purposes, it is advantageous if the connecting element can be releasably connected to an adjacent unit or to an adjacent partition wall.

In particular, it can be provided that the connecting element can be screwed to an adjacent unit or to an adjacent partition.

By screwing the connecting elements together, the static load that can be absorbed by the connecting elements is increased.

In the invention it is envisaged that the unit will comprise a support structure which supports all other elements of the unit.

The unit can be pre-assembled so that after pre-assembly it can be handled and transported as a whole in a pre-assembled state.

The preassemblable unit is particularly suitable for use in a device for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas flow containing overspray particles, which comprises at least one unit according to the invention and a flow chamber through which the raw gas flow flows before it enters the at least one unit .

The device comprises at least two units which follow one another in a longitudinal direction of the device.

In particular, it can be provided that at least two units are arranged directly next to one another.

The two units can be detachably connected to one another.

As an alternative to this, it can be provided that the device has at least one partition wall, by which the filter element receiving spaces of at least two units that follow one another in a longitudinal direction of the device are separated from one another. Such a separation of the filter element receiving spaces of mutually adjacent units creates longitudinal flows between the filter element receiving spaces of the units and thus a mutual influencing of the flow conditions in the units is avoided. This achieves a defined zone separation of the raw gas flow through the units, which enables a well-defined adjustment of the raw gas flow within the individual units.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the device also has at least one dividing wall, by which successive sections of the flow chamber are separated from one another in a longitudinal direction of the device.

The partition walls which separate the sections of the flow chamber that follow one another in a longitudinal direction of the device can be identical to the partition walls that separate the filter element receiving spaces of units that follow one another in the longitudinal direction of the device.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is further provided that the device for separating off wet paint overspray comprises at least two units which are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction of the device.

By changing the distance between the units spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction of the device, the overall arrangement of the units can be adapted to the width of the flow chamber of the device without the need for a change to the units themselves.

In this case, the at least two units are preferably arranged with their respective inlet openings facing each other.

The area of the flow chamber remaining between the two units facing each other with their inlet openings forms a narrowed section of the flow chamber in which the flow rate of the raw gas flow, which flows to the inlet openings of the units, is higher than in a section of the flow chamber located above the units. In this way, an increasing velocity profile is generated in the raw gas flow, which offers the advantage that auxiliary material and overspray are more easily kept away from the inlet openings and retained in the units.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a walkway that can be walked on by an operator is arranged between at least two units that are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction of the device.

By varying the width of the walkable web, the overall arrangement of the units and the walkable web arranged between them can be adapted to any desired width of the flow chamber of the device for separating wet paint overspray.

The height of the overall arrangement of the units can also be easily adjusted to any desired height of the flow chamber of the device for separating wet paint overspray by merely changing the length of the supports of the supporting structure of the units or, for example, by attaching extension pieces to these supports.

The device according to the invention for separating wet paint overspray is particularly suitable for use in a system for painting objects, in particular vehicle bodies, which has at least one application area for applying wet paint to the objects to be painted and at least one device according to the invention for separating wet paint overspray includes.

The flow chamber of the device for separating wet paint overspray is preferably arranged at least partially below the application area.

It is particularly favorable if the entire device for separating off wet paint overspray, including the flow chamber and the units, is arranged within the vertical projection of the application area of the paint shop.

The present invention is based on the further object of creating a method for producing a device for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas flow containing overspray particles, which method can be carried out particularly simply and quickly.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for producing a device for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas flow containing overspray particles according to claim 21.

In this way, the device for separating wet paint overspray can be assembled in a simple manner from a number of preassembled units corresponding to the desired capacity.

At least two pre-assembled units are manufactured at a manufacturing site, transported to the assembly site, arranged in a working position and connected to each other or to a partition disposed therebetween.

In addition to this, the pre-assembled units can be connected to a support structure for the application area of a paint shop.

The task of creating a method for producing a device for separating wet paint overspray that can be carried out particularly easily and quickly is also achieved by a method for converting an existing device for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas stream containing overspray particles according to claim 22 .

In this way, an existing device for separating liquid paint overspray can be replaced by the above-described modular device for separating dry paint overspray without the need to dismantle the application area of the system for painting vehicle bodies or to install a new one Having to create steel construction for the application area.

Due to the variability of the height of the units according to the invention and the possibility of setting up two units that are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction of the device for separating wet paint overspray at any distance from one another, the device according to the invention for separating wet paint overspray can be attached to an application area with any dimensions in Longitudinal and transverse direction can be adjusted.

In particular, it is possible to replace an existing device for the wet removal of wet paint overspray by washing out with the above-described modular device for the dry removal of wet paint overspray.

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphic representation of exemplary embodiments.

• 1 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer Lackierkabine mit einer darunter angeordneten Vorrichtung zum Abtrennen von Nasslack-Overspray aus einem Overspray-Partikel enthaltenden Rohgasstrom, welche eine unter der Lackierkabine angeordnete Strömungskammer und auf beiden Seiten der Strömungskammer jeweils drei Filtermodule umfasst;
• 2 einen schematischen vertikalen Querschnitt durch die Anlage aus 1;
• 3 einen der 2 entsprechenden schematischen vertikalen Querschnitt durch die Anlage aus 1, wobei zusätzlich die jeweilige Strömungsrichtung des Rohgases, der aus den Filtermodulen austretenden Abluft und der zur Erzeugung von Querluftschleiern in die Strömungskammer eingespeisten Zuluft durch Pfeile angezeigt sind;
• 4 eine schematische Draufsicht von oben auf die Anlage aus den 1 bis 3;
• 5 eine schematische Seitenansicht der Anlage aus den 1 bis 4;
• 6 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung zum Abtrennen von Nasslack-Overspray aus einem Overspray-Partikel enthaltenden Rohgasstrom, welche unter der Lackierkabine der Anlage aus den 1 bis 5 angeordnet ist und welche die Strömungskammer in entlang der Längsrichtung der Strömungskammer aufeinanderfolgende Abschnitte unterteilende Quertrennwände aufweist;
• 7 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung eines einzelnen Filtermoduls, das zur Anordnung zwischen zwei benachbarten weiteren Filtermodulen vorgesehen ist (Mittelmodul);
• 8 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung eines einzelnen Filtermoduls, das zur Anordnung neben einem weiteren Filtermodul vorgesehen ist und auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite ein Ende einer Filtermodul-Reihe bildet (Eckmodul);
• 9 einen schematischen vertikalen Querschnitt durch ein Filtermodul;
• 10 einen schematischen vertikalen Querschnitt durch ein Filtermodul und den angrenzenden Bereich der Strömungskammer, in welchem die jeweilige lokale Strömungsrichtung des Rohgasstroms durch Pfeile angezeigt ist;
• 11 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung eines Randbereichs einer Einlassöffnung eines Filtermoduls;
• 12 eine schematische Vorderansicht eines Filtermoduls;
• 13 einen schematischen vertikalen Schnitt durch einen Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehälter mit im Inneren des Behälters angeordnetem Füllstandssensor und Aufwirbelungseinrichtung;
• 14 eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Revisionstür des Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehälters aus 13, mit an der Revisionstür gehaltenem Füllstandssensor und Aufwirbelungseinrichtung;
• 15 eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Außenseite der Revisionstür aus 14;
• 16 eine schematische Draufsicht von oben auf ein in dem Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehälter aus 13 angeordnetes Auffanggitter;
• 17 eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Zuführen von frischem Hilfsmaterial aus einem Vorlagebehälter zu in ihrer Arbeitsposition befindlichen Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehältern der in 13 dargestellten Art;
• 18 eine schematische Darstellung einer Abführvorrichtung zum Abführen von mit Overspray vermischtem Hilfsmaterial aus den Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehältern zu einem Sammelbehälter;
• 19 eine schematische Darstellung eines Filtermoduls und einer stromabwärts des Filtermoduls angeordneten Abluftleitung mit Gebläse sowie verschiedener Vorrichtungen zur Überwachung des Betriebszustands des Gebläses und einer Vorrichtung zum Zuführen von Druckluft zu den Filterelementen, zu einer Aufwirbelungseinheit und zu einem Fluidboden des Filtermoduls;
• 20 einen schematischen vertikalen Querschnitt durch eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zum Abtrennen von Nasslack-Overspray aus einem Overspray-Partikel enthaltenden Abluftstrom, welche geneigte Strömungsleitbleche zum Leiten eines Querluftstroms und einen begehbaren Steg mit geneigter Oberseite zwischen den Filtermodulen umfasst;
• 21 einen schematischen vertikalen Querschnitt durch eine alternative Ausführungsform eines Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehälters, welcher mit einem pneumatisch betriebenen Rührwerk zum Durchmischen des im Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehälter befindlichen Materials und zum Vergleichmäßigen der Vorlage versehen ist;
• 22 eine schematische Draufsicht von oben auf den Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehälter mit pneumatisch betriebenem Rührwerk aus 21;
• 23 einen schematischen vertikalen Schnitt durch eine weitere alternative Ausführungsform eines Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehälters, der mit einer elektrisch betriebenen Welle und Paddeln zum Durchmischen des im Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehälter befindlichen Materials und zum Vergleichmäßigen der Vorlage versehen ist; und
• 24 eine schematische Draufsicht von oben auf den Hilfsmaterialaufnahmebehälter mit elektrisch betriebener Welle aus 23.

In the drawings show:

• 1 a schematic perspective view of a paint booth with a device arranged underneath for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas flow containing overspray particles, which comprises a flow chamber arranged under the paint booth and three filter modules on both sides of the flow chamber;
• 2 a schematic vertical cross-section through the plant 1 ;
• 3 one of the 2 corresponding schematic vertical cross-section through the plant 1 , wherein the respective direction of flow of the raw gas, of the exhaust air exiting from the filter modules and of the supply air fed into the flow chamber to generate transverse air curtains are also indicated by arrows;
• 4 a schematic top view of the system from the 1 until 3 ;
• 5 a schematic side view of the plant from the 1 until 4 ;
• 6 a schematic perspective view of the device for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas flow containing overspray particles, which under the paint booth of the system from the 1 until 5 and which has transverse partitions dividing the flow chamber into successive sections along the longitudinal direction of the flow chamber;
• 7 a schematic perspective view of a single filter module, which is intended to be arranged between two adjacent further filter modules (middle module);
• 8th a schematic perspective view of a single filter module, which is intended to be arranged next to another filter module and forms one end of a filter module row on the opposite side (corner module);
• 9 a schematic vertical cross section through a filter module;
• 10 a schematic vertical cross section through a filter module and the adjoining area of the flow chamber, in which the respective local flow direction of the raw gas flow is indicated by arrows;
• 11 a schematic perspective view of an edge region of an inlet opening of a filter module;
• 12 a schematic front view of a filter module;
• 13 a schematic vertical section through an auxiliary material reservoir with arranged inside the container fill level sensor and turbulence device;
• 14 a schematic side view of an inspection door of the auxiliary material reservoir 13 , with content at the inspection door a level sensor and turbulence device;
• 15 a schematic plan view of the outside of the inspection door 14 ;
• 16 a schematic plan view from above of an in the auxiliary material reservoir 13 arranged collecting grid;
• 17 a schematic representation of a device for supplying fresh auxiliary material from a storage container to auxiliary material receptacles located in their working position in 13 depicted species;
• 18 a schematic representation of a discharge device for discharging auxiliary material mixed with overspray from the auxiliary material receiving containers to a collection container;
• 19 a schematic representation of a filter module and an exhaust air line arranged downstream of the filter module with a fan and various devices for monitoring the operating state of the fan and a device for supplying compressed air to the filter elements, to a turbulence unit and to a fluid base of the filter module;
• 20 a schematic vertical cross section through a second embodiment of a device for separating wet paint overspray from an exhaust air flow containing overspray particles, which includes inclined flow baffles for guiding a transverse air flow and a walkable web with an inclined upper side between the filter modules;
• 21 a schematic vertical cross section through an alternative embodiment of an auxiliary material reservoir, which is provided with a pneumatically operated agitator for mixing the material in the auxiliary material reservoir and for equalizing the template;
• 22 a schematic plan view from above of the auxiliary material reservoir with pneumatically operated agitator 21 ;
• 23 a schematic vertical section through a further alternative embodiment of an auxiliary material reservoir, which is provided with an electrically operated shaft and paddles for mixing the material in the auxiliary material reservoir and for equalizing the template; and
• 24 12 is a schematic plan view from above of the electrically operated shaft auxiliary material reservoir 23 .

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference symbols in all figures.

one in the 1 until 19 The system shown, designated 100 as a whole, for spray painting vehicle bodies 102 comprises a conveying device 104, shown purely schematically, by means of which the vehicle bodies 102 can be moved along a conveying direction 106 through an application area 108 of a painting booth, designated 110 as a whole.

The application area 108 is the interior of the paint booth 110, which is delimited by a booth wall 114 on both sides of the conveyor device 104 in a horizontal transverse direction 112 running perpendicularly to the conveying direction 106, which corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the paint booth 110.

Spray painting devices 116 , for example in the form of painting robots, are arranged on both sides of the conveyor device 104 in the painting booth 110 .

By means of a circulating air circuit (shown only in part), an air flow is generated which passes through the application area 108 essentially vertically from top to bottom, as is shown in 3 is indicated by the arrows 118.

In the application area 108, this air flow picks up paint overspray in the form of overspray particles. The term “particles” includes both solid and liquid particles, in particular droplets.

When using wet paint, the wet paint overspray consists of paint droplets. Most of the overspray particles have a largest dimension in the range of about 1 micron to about 100 microns.

The exhaust air flow loaded with the overspray particles from the application area 108 is referred to below as the raw gas flow 120 . To illustrate the raw gas stream 120, the flow direction of the raw gas stream 120 is in the 3 and 10 represented by arrows provided with the reference number 120 .

The raw gas flow 120 leaves the paint booth 110 downwards and enters a device for separating wet paint overspray from the raw gas flow 120 , designated as a whole by 126 , which is arranged below the application area 108 .

The device 126 comprises an essentially cuboid flow chamber 128, which extends in the conveying direction 106 over the entire length of the painting booth 110 and is delimited in the transverse direction 112 by vertical side walls 130, which are essentially aligned with the side booth walls 114 of the painting booth 110 such that the flow chamber 128 has substantially the same horizontal cross-sectional area as the paint booth 110 and is disposed substantially entirely within the vertical projection of the paint booth 110 footprint.

How best 6 As can be seen, a plurality of, for example three, filter modules 132 are arranged on both sides of the flow chamber 128, which form two rows of modules 136 extending in the longitudinal direction 134 (which coincides with the conveying direction 106) of the device 126 for separating wet paint overspray.

Each of the rows of modules 136 comprises two corner modules 138, which each form one end of a row of modules 136, and at least one center module 140 arranged between two adjacent filter modules 132.

To avoid longitudinal flows of the raw gas flow 120 in the longitudinal direction 134 of the flow chamber 128 and to avoid flows of the raw gas between the individual filter modules 132, vertical transverse partitions 142 can be provided which extend in the transverse direction 112 and which are located between two filter modules 132 are arranged and divide the flow chamber 128 into flow chamber sections 144 that follow one another along the longitudinal direction 134 .

A defined setting of the raw gas flow for each individual filter module 132 independently of the raw gas flow through the other filter modules 132 is possible through these transverse partitions 142 .

How best 2 As can be seen, between the two rows of modules 136 there is a web 146 which can be walked on by an operator.

In order to be able to continuously walk on the sections of the web 146 which are arranged in the successive flow chamber sections 144, passage doors 148 are provided in the transverse partitions 142 ( 6 ).

The end walls 150 of the flow chamber 128 closing off the flow chamber 128 at its front end and at its rear end are provided with access doors 152 through which an operator can enter the flow chamber 128 from the outside.

Each of the filter modules 132 is configured as a preassembled unit 154 that is manufactured at a location remote from the paint shop assembly site and transported as a unit to the paint shop assembly site. At the assembly site, the preassembled unit 154 is arranged in the intended working position and connected to one or more adjacent preassembled units 154 or to the transverse partitions 142 arranged between them and to a support structure of the application area 108 .

• Das Modul umfasst eine Tragekonstruktion 156 aus zwei vertikalen hinteren Stützen 158 und zwei vertikalen vorderen Stützen 160, welche an ihrem oberen Ende über horizontale Querstreben 162 mit jeweils einer der hinteren Stützen 158 verbunden sind (7).

The structure of a filter module 132 is shown below using the example of a central module 140 with reference to FIG 7 and 9 until 16 described:

• The module comprises a support structure 156 made up of two vertical rear supports 158 and two vertical front supports 160, which are connected at their upper end via horizontal cross braces 162 to one of the rear supports 158 ( 7 ).

Furthermore, the front supports 160 are connected to one another at their upper ends by means of another cross brace (not shown).

The rear supports 158 are also connected to one another by means of cross braces (not shown) or by means of a connecting frame (not shown).

The cross braces at the upper end of the support structure 156 support a horizontal top wall 164.

A vertical front wall 166 of the filter module 132 is held on the front sides of the front supports 160 .

The top wall 164 and the front wall 166 form partition walls 168 of the filter module 132, which separate a filter element receiving space 170 arranged inside the filter module 132 from the area of the flow chamber 128 located outside the filter module 132.

In the filter element receiving space 170 of the filter module 132 are several, for example ten, filter elements 172 are arranged in two rows one above the other, which of a common base body 174, the rear on the back whose supports 158 is held, protrude in the horizontal direction.

The filter elements 172 can be formed, for example, from plates made from sintered polyethylene, which are provided with a membrane made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) on their outer surface.

The PTFE coating serves to increase the filter class of the filter elements 172 (i.e. to reduce their permeability) and also to prevent the permanent adhesion of the wet paint overspray separated from the raw gas flow 120 .

Both the base material of the filter elements 172 and their PTFE coating are porous, so that the raw gas can enter the interior of the respective filter element 172 through the pores.

In order to prevent the filter surfaces from sticking together, they are also provided with a barrier layer of auxiliary material released into the raw gas flow 120 . This auxiliary material, which is preferably in particulate form, is usually also referred to as “precoat” material.

The barrier layer forms during operation of the device 126 by separating the auxiliary material discharged into the raw gas flow 120 on the filter surfaces and prevents the filter surfaces from sticking together due to adhering wet paint overspray.

Auxiliary material from the raw gas stream 120 is also deposited on the insides of the top wall 164 and the front wall 166 of the filter module 132, where it also prevents wet paint overspray from adhering.

In principle, any medium that is able to absorb the liquid portion of the wet paint overspray can be used as the auxiliary material.

In particular, lime, stone powder, aluminum silicates, aluminum oxides, silicon oxides, powder coating or the like come into consideration as auxiliary materials.

As an alternative or in addition to this, particles with a cavity structure and a large inner surface area relative to their external dimensions can also be used as auxiliary material for absorbing and/or binding the overspray, for example zeolites or other hollow, for example spherical bodies made of polymers, glass or aluminum silicate and/or natural ones or synthetic fibers.

Alternatively or additionally, particles that chemically react with the overspray can also be used as auxiliary material for absorbing and/or binding the overspray, for example chemically reactive particles made of amine, epoxy, carboxyl, hydroxyl or isocyanate groups, chemically reactive particles made of octylsilane post-treated aluminum oxide or solid or liquid mono-, oligo- or polymers, silanes, silanols or siloxanes.

The auxiliary material preferably consists of a large number of auxiliary material particles which have an average diameter in the range from, for example, approximately 10 μm to approximately 100 μm.

In order to be able to add the auxiliary material to the raw gas stream 120 without the risk of the auxiliary material getting into the application area 108 of the system 100, each filter module 132 is provided with an auxiliary material receptacle 176 which is held on the support structure 156 and which, for example, has a funnel shape in shape of an inverted truncated pyramid ( 13 ).

The four trapezoidal side walls 178 of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 are inclined at an angle of at least approximately 60° with respect to the vertical.

The height of the auxiliary material storage container 176 is approximately 1.1 m, for example.

The upper edges of the side walls 178 enclose an access opening 180 of the auxiliary material receptacle 176, through which the raw gas stream 120 loaded with overspray can enter the auxiliary material receptacle 176 and escape from the same again.

The essentially horizontally oriented floor 182 is configured as a porous fluid floor 184 that can be flushed with a gaseous medium, in particular with compressed air, in order to fluidize the auxiliary material arranged in the interior space 186 of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 and to ensure locally different fill levels of the auxiliary material within the auxiliary material reservoir 176 to equalize.

During operation of the system 100, the fluid floor is operated intermittently, for example three times per minute for approximately two seconds each time.

In order to prevent the fluid base 184 from being damaged by falling larger objects, a collection grid or retaining grid 187 is arranged at a distance of, for example, 20 cm above the fluid base 184, which extends horizontally over the entire cross section of the interior 186 of the auxiliary material receptacle 176 and a plurality of rows of honeycomb or rectangular through openings 189 for the passage of auxiliary material through the retaining grid 187. The passage openings are offset from one another from row to row and have a size of, for example, approximately 30 mm x 30 mm ( 16 ).

In order to enable access to the interior 186 of the auxiliary material receptacle 176 for maintenance purposes, one of the side walls 178 is provided with an inspection opening, which is closed by an inspection door 188 with a handle 190 when the filter module 132 is in operation (see Fig 13 until 15 ).

How out 15 As can be seen, the inspection door 188 is detachably held on the associated side wall 178 of the auxiliary material receptacle 176 by means of clamps 192 with wing nuts 194 .

A compressed air line 196 is held on the inspection door 188, which leads to a turbulence device 198 ( 14 ).

The turbulence device 198 serves to emit compressed air pulses into the auxiliary material located underneath in order to whirl up this auxiliary material and thus introduce it into the raw gas flow 120 passed through the auxiliary material receptacle 176 .

In addition, the whirling up of the auxiliary material by means of the whirling device 198 achieves a homogenization of the mixture of auxiliary material and overspray bound thereto that is present in the auxiliary material receptacle 176 .

During operation of the system 100, the turbulator 198 is activated intermittently, for example, four times per minute for about 5 seconds each time.

The turbulence device 198 comprises a plurality of, for example two, outlet nozzles 200 for compressed air, which are designed as cone nozzles and can each produce a compressed air cone which widens downwards towards the base 182 of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 .

The outlet nozzles 200 are preferably designed and arranged in such a way that the compressed air cones generated by the outlet nozzles 200 together sweep the bottom surface of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 completely.

Furthermore, a holder 202 for a level sensor 204 is arranged on the compressed air line 196, which includes a rod-shaped sensor element 206 and a sensor housing 208 with sensor electronics housed therein ( 14 ).

Fill level sensor 204 is embodied as an analog, in particular capacitive, sensor and is used to generate a signal that corresponds to a value from a large number of discrete fill levels or from a continuum of fill levels in order to determine the fill level of the auxiliary material in auxiliary material receptacle 176 as precisely as possible to be able to determine.

The rod-shaped sensor element 206 of the filling level sensor 204 is aligned essentially vertically and is arranged as far as possible from the side walls 178 of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 in the vicinity of the center of the interior 186 of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 in order to impair the measurement result of the filling level sensor 204 as little as possible by edge effects ( 13 ).

The rod-shaped sensor element 206 of the filling level sensor 204 is aligned essentially perpendicular to the horizontal floor 182 of the auxiliary material receptacle 176 .

The signal generated by the level sensor 204 is transmitted via a signal line (not shown) to an electrical connection box 209 of the filter module 132, which is arranged on the base body 174 of the filter elements 172 (see FIG 7 ), and from there to a control device of the system 100, which in 19 is shown schematically and denoted by 210, transmitted.

In order to guide the raw gas flow 120 entering the filter module 132 in a targeted manner into the interior 186 of the auxiliary material receptacle 176 and to prevent the raw gas flow 120 from entering the flow chamber 128 directly from the filter elements 172, each filter module 132 is also provided with a slot-shaped inlet opening 212 , which is formed as an inlet channel 214, for example, as in particular from 9 as can be seen, has a flowable cross section that narrows in the flow direction of the raw gas flow 120 up to a constriction 240 .

As an alternative or in addition to this, it can also be provided that the inlet channel 214 has a cross section that can be flowed through, expanding in the flow direction of the raw gas flow 120 from a constriction 240 .

The inlet channel 214 is led downwards by an inlet slope 216, which extends obliquely upwards from the front supports 160 of the support structure 156 at an angle of, for example, about 40° to about 65° to the horizontal, and by a lower end of the inlet slope 216 adjoining lower guide plate 218, which is more inclined to the horizontal than the inlet slope 216, for example at an angle of about 55° to about 70°, and which has an upper, substantially vertically oriented section 220 of a side wall 178 of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 also protrudes and projects into the interior 186 of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 .

In this way, the lower baffle plate 218 acts as a retaining element 222, which keeps auxiliary material from the auxiliary material reservoir 176 away from the inlet opening 212 and prevents fluidized material on the side of the inlet opening 212 from escaping the auxiliary material reservoir 176 along the side wall 178.

In addition, the lower baffle plate 218 prevents the flow of raw gas from breaking off after it has passed the inlet slope 216 and ensures a directed flow of raw gas into the auxiliary material receptacle 176 .

The lower baffle 218 has a depth (i.e. an extent in the direction of flow of the raw gas stream 120) of, for example, approximately 100 mm.

The inlet slope 216 and the lower baffle plate 218 extend in the longitudinal direction 134 of the flow chamber 128 over essentially the entire length of the inlet opening 212 of, for example, approximately 1 m to approximately 2 m, which almost corresponds to the extent of the entire filter module 132 in the longitudinal direction 134.

The top of the inlet slope 216 and the top of the lower guide plate 218 together form a lower guide surface 224 of the inlet opening 212, which delimits the inlet opening 212 at the bottom and in its upper section 226, which is formed by the inlet slope 216, relative to the horizontal an inclination of from about 40° to about 65° and in its lower portion 228 formed by the lower baffle 218 has a steeper inclination from the horizontal of from about 55° to about 70°.

At the top, the inlet opening 212 is delimited by the lower edge of the front wall 166 and by an upper baffle plate 230 protruding obliquely downwards from the lower edge of the front wall 166 into the interior of the filter module 132 .

The upper baffle plate 230, like the lower baffle plate 218, is inclined at an angle of, for example, approximately 55° to approximately 70° to the horizontal and extends in the longitudinal direction 134 over essentially the entire width of the inlet opening 212 of, for example, 1 m or 2 m .

The upper baffle 230 has a depth (i.e. an extension along the direction of flow of the raw gas flow 120) of, for example, approximately 150 mm.

The lower side of the upper baffle 230 forms an upper baffle 232 which bounds the inlet opening 212 at the top and is inclined at an angle of, for example, from about 55° to about 70° with respect to the horizontal.

This upper guide surface 232 for the raw gas flow 120 ensures that the raw gas flow does not break off at the front wall 166 of the filter module 132 but is guided directly into the auxiliary material receptacle 176 .

The upper baffle 230 also serves as a filter shield member 234 because it is configured and positioned at the inlet port 212 to prevent the raw gas entering the filter module 132 from flowing directly to the filter elements 172 .

Furthermore, the upper baffle plate 230 serves as a deflection element 236, which keeps material cleaned off the filter elements 170, which contains auxiliary material and overspray particles bound to the auxiliary material, away from the inlet opening 212.

Rather, material falling from the filter elements 172 onto the upper side of the upper guide plate 230 is guided into the auxiliary material receptacle 176 by the inclined position of the upper guide plate 230 .

During operation of the filter module 132, both the upper baffle 232 and the upper side of the upper baffle 230 are provided with a coating of the auxiliary material so that these surfaces of the upper baffle 230 are easy to clean and no overspray sticks directly to the upper baffle 230.

How best 12 As can be seen, the filter module 132 also includes two cover elements 238 in the form of approximately triangular cover plates, which cover the left and right lower corner areas of the inlet opening 212 in such a way that auxiliary material and overspray from the raw gas flow 120 are kept away from these corner areas of the inlet opening 212 and deposits of auxiliary material and overspray particles in these corner areas and outside of the filter module 132 on the inlet slope 216 can be prevented.

The upper sides of the cover elements 238 are aligned obliquely to the vertical and obliquely to the horizontal and each have a surface normal which is directed upwards into the exterior of the filter module 132 .

The configuration of the geometry of the inlet opening 212 described above means that the inlet opening 212 has a constriction 240 at which the cross section through which the inlet opening 212 can flow is smallest and therefore the raw gas velocity is greatest.

The raw gas velocity in the constriction is preferably from approximately 2 m/s to approximately 8 m/s, in particular from approximately 3 m/s to approximately 5 m/s.

In this way, it is effectively prevented that auxiliary material from inside the filter module 132, which forms a closed box, gets into the flow chamber 128 and from there into the application area 108. The fluidizing of the auxiliary material in the auxiliary material receptacle 176 and the cleaning of the filter elements 172 can therefore take place at any time without having to interrupt the supply of raw gas to the filter module 132 or even the operation of the spray painting devices 116 in the application area 108 .

Furthermore, the fact that the raw gas flow 120 exits the inlet opening 212 directed into the auxiliary material reservoir 176 ensures that the raw gas flow 120 is deflected in the interior 186 of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 . As a result, a sufficient quantity of auxiliary material, which is generated by being whirled up from the template located in the auxiliary material receptacle 176, is entrained by the raw gas stream 120.

The raw gas flow from the flow chamber 128 through the inlet opening 212 into the interior of the filter module 132 is in 10 shown as the result of a flow simulation. From this it can be clearly seen that a flow roll is formed in the interior of the filter module 132, the horizontal axis of which is somewhat lower than the upper edge of the auxiliary material receptacle 176.

On the side of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 opposite the inlet opening 212, the raw gas stream 120 loaded with auxiliary material flows out of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 again and is then distributed over the entire depth of the filter element receiving space 170, so that turbulence is formed around the filter elements 172 and due to the high dynamics , which the raw gas stream 120 has received in the constriction 240, a homogeneous distribution of the auxiliary material to the individual filter elements 172 is ensured.

Since there are hardly any components of the filter module 132 in the flow path of the incoming raw gas stream 120, contamination of components by sticky paint is largely prevented and a flow of the filter elements 172 that is favorable for filtration is nevertheless obtained.

Because the mean flow direction of the raw gas flow 120 entering the filter module 132 through the constriction 240 is inclined at an angle of more than 40° to the horizontal, an airlock is prevented from forming in the lower region of the filter element receiving space 170, which Filter elements 172 cleaned material would immediately convey back to the filter elements 172 and could lead to the formation of opposing air vortices within the filter module 132.

In order to be able to easily and stably connect two filter modules 132 arranged next to one another in a module row 136, or to be able to connect a filter module 132 to an adjacent transverse partition wall 142, the support structure 156 of each filter module 132 comprises at least one rear support 158, which has a vertical and has a substantially flat contact surface 242 aligned in the transverse direction 112, which can be placed against a corresponding contact surface 242 of an adjacent filter module 132 or on an adjacent transverse partition wall 142 ( 7 ).

Also provided in the contact surface 242 are passage openings 244 for the passage of fasteners, by means of which the rear support 158 serving as the connecting element 246 can be connected to a connecting element 246 of an adjacent filter module 132 or to an adjacent transverse partition wall 142 .

The rear support 158 serving as the connecting element 246 preferably has an approximately U-shaped profile.

How out 7 As can be seen, each central module 140 has two rear supports 158 with U-shaped profiles serving as connecting elements 246, the open sides of which face one another so that the central module 140 can be connected on both sides to an adjacent further filter module 132 or to a transverse partition 142 .

How out 8th As can be seen, each corner module 138 has only one U-shaped profile rear support 158 formed as a connecting element 246; the opposite rear support 158a, which does not have to be connected either to an adjacent filter module 132 or to an adjacent transverse partition wall 142, can have, for example, a T-shaped profile instead of a U-shaped profile in order to increase its mechanical strength.

Otherwise, the corner modules 138 correspond to the center modules 140 described in detail above in terms of structure and function.

During operation of each filter module 132, the raw gas stream 120 sweeps over the filter surfaces of the filter elements 172, with both the auxiliary material carried along and the wet paint overspray carried along being separated on the filter surfaces, and the filtered raw gas passes through the porous filter surfaces into the interiors of the filter elements 172 as an exhaust air stream Which are connected to a cavity within the base body 174 from which the filter elements 172 protrude. From this cavity, the cleaned exhaust air flow passes into an exhaust air pipe 248, which leads from the base body 174 of the filter elements 172 of each filter module 132 to an exhaust air duct 250 that is arranged approximately centrally below the flow chamber 128 and runs parallel to the longitudinal direction 134 of the flow chamber 128 (see in particular the 2 and 3 ).

As can be seen from the schematic representation of the 19 can be seen, the exhaust air cleaned of the wet paint overspray passes from the exhaust air duct 250 to an exhaust air fan 252, from where the cleaned exhaust air is conveyed via a cooling register (not shown) and a supply line (not shown) to a (not shown) arranged above the application area 108 ) air chamber, the so-called plenum, is supplied.

From this air chamber, the cleaned exhaust air returns to the application area 108 via a filter cover.

An exhaust air line (not shown) branches off from the supply line, through which part of the cleaned exhaust air flow is discharged (for example via a chimney) to the environment.

This part of the exhaust air flow released to the environment is replaced by fresh air, which is fed into the flow chamber 128 via two air curtain generating devices 254, which are each connected to an air supply system (not shown) via an air supply line 256 ( 1 until 3 ).

Each of the air curtain generating devices 254 comprises a supply air chamber extending in the longitudinal direction 134 of the flow chamber 128, which is supplied with supply air via the supply air line 256 and via a gap 258, which extends along the longitudinal direction 134 and in the vertical direction has an extent in the range of e.g approximately 15 cm to approximately 50 cm, opens into an upper section 260 of the flow chamber 128, which is bounded at the top by the application area 108 and at the bottom by the top walls 164 of the filter modules 132.

The gap 258 of each supply air chamber is arranged just above the top walls 164 of the filter modules 132, so that the inflow of the supply air from the supply air chambers in a substantially horizontal direction along the tops of the top walls 164 of the filter modules 132 into the flow chamber 128 at the top of the filter modules 132 an air curtain is formed in each case, which is directed from the respectively assigned air curtain generating device 254 to a constriction 262 between the upper edges of the opposing rows of modules 136 and thereby prevents the raw gas flow 120 laden with the wet paint overspray from the application area 108 to the top of the filter modules 132 and the wet paint overspray from the raw gas flow 120 settles on the upper side of the filter modules 132.

At the constriction 262 of the flow chamber 128, the horizontal cross section of the flow chamber 128 through which the raw gas flow 120 can flow decreases abruptly, so that the flow velocity of the raw gas flow 120 is significantly higher in the lower section 263 of the flow chamber 128 located below the narrow point 262 than in the section above the narrow point 262 located upper portion 260 of the flow chamber 128.

The mean flow direction of the air in the transverse air curtains created by the air curtain generating devices 254 at the top of the filter module 132 is in 3 illustrated by arrows 264 .

The majority of the air guided through the application area 108 is thus conducted in an air circulation circuit which includes the application area 108, the flow chamber 128, the filter modules 132, the exhaust air pipes 248, the exhaust air duct 250, the exhaust air fan 252 as well as the supply line and the air chamber above the application area 108 includes, wherein a constant heating of the air guided in the circulating air circuit is avoided by the fresh air supply via the air curtain generating devices 254 .

Since the wet paint overspray is separated from the raw gas flow 120 by means of the filter elements 172 dry, i.e. without being washed out with a cleaning liquid, the air guided in the circulating air circuit is not moistened when the wet paint overspray is separated, so that no devices are required to dehumidify the Recirculated air are required.

Furthermore, no devices for separating wet paint overspray from a wash-out cleaning liquid are required.

Because the horizontal cross section of flow chamber 128 through which raw gas flow 120 can flow is significantly smaller due to the presence of filter modules 132 in lower section 263 of flow chamber 128 below constriction 262 than in upper section 260 of flow chamber 128 (for example, in lower section 263 only approximately 35% to approximately 50% of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the flow chamber 128 in the upper section 260 thereof), the flow rate of the raw gas flow 120 is continuously increased on its way from the application area 108 through the flow chamber 128 to the inlet openings 212 of the filter modules 132, so that an increasing velocity profile in the raw gas stream 120 results.

The result of this increasing velocity profile is that particles escaping from the filter modules 132 cannot reach the application area 108 .

The speed of the raw gas flow in the application area 108 and in the upper section 260 of the flow chamber 128 is, for example, up to approximately 0.6 m/s, while in the lower section 263 of the flow chamber it is, for example, in the range from approximately 0.6 m/s to approximately 3 m/s and increases in the inlet openings 212 of the filter modules 132 to a maximum value in the range from about 3 m/s to about 5 m/s.

Because the filter elements 172 are completely housed in the filter modules 132, the filter elements 172 can be activated by applying auxiliary material and the filter elements 172 can be cleaned at any time during the ongoing painting process in the application area 108.

If the width of the paint booth 110, i.e. its extent in the transverse direction 112, is changed, filter modules 132 of the same size are nevertheless used; in this case, the device 126 for separating off wet paint overspray is adapted merely by increasing the distance between the two rows of modules 136 and by widening the web 146 that can be walked on.

With such a widening of the paint booth 110, the speed profile of the raw gas flow changes only in the area up to the accessible web 146; From here, i.e. in particular when passing through the inlet openings 212 of the filter modules 132, the velocity profile of the raw gas flow is only dependent on the raw gas quantity flowing through per unit of time, but not on the geometry of the flow chamber 128.

The distance between the (accessible) ceiling walls 164 of the filter modules 132 and the lower edge of the vehicle bodies 102 conveyed through the paint booth 110 is at least approximately 1.5 m for maintenance reasons.

The filter elements 172 are cleaned by compressed air pulses at specific time intervals when their loading with wet paint overspray and auxiliary material has reached a predetermined level.

This cleaning can (depending on the increase in pressure loss at the filter elements 172) take place, for example, once to six times per 8-hour work shift, i.e. approximately every 1 to 8 hours.

The required compressed air pulses are generated by means of a pulse-off unit 266, which is arranged on the base body 174 of the filter elements 172 of each filter module 132, with the pulse-off unit 266 being able to deliver compressed air pulses to compressed air pipes that run within the respective base body 174 and from the Guide the pulsing unit 266 into the interior of the filter elements 172 ( 19 ).

From the interior of the filter elements 172, the compressed air pulses pass through the porous filter surfaces into the filter element receiving space 170, with the barrier layer formed on the filter surfaces consisting of auxiliary material and the wet paint overspray deposited on it being detached from the filter surfaces, so that the filter surfaces are returned to their original cleaned state .

The abpulsion unit 266 comprises an abpulsion valve 268, via which the abpulsion unit 266 can be supplied with compressed air from a compressed air supply line 270, which is fed by a compressor 272 (see FIG 19 ).

The compressed air pipeline 196 , which leads to the outlet nozzles 200 of the turbulence device 198 , is also connected to this compressed air supply line 270 via a compressed air valve 274 .

Furthermore, the fluid base 184 of each auxiliary material reservoir 176 is also connected to the compressed air supply line 270 via a compressed air line 278 provided with a compressed air valve 276 .

Opening discharge valve 268, compressed air valve 274 or compressed air valve 276 can thus alternately or simultaneously trigger cleaning of filter elements 172, whirling up of the auxiliary material in auxiliary material reservoir 176, or fluidization of the auxiliary material in auxiliary material reservoir 176 by means of fluid base 184 .

A check valve 280 is arranged in the compressed air supply line 270 between the compressed air valves mentioned and the compressor 272 and can be controlled by the control device 210 in the local control station.

By closing the check valve 280, the control device 210 blocks the compressed air supply from the compressor 272 to the above-mentioned compressed air consumers of a filter module 132 or all filter modules 132 if it determines that the raw gas flow through the filter elements 172 is not sufficient.

In order to determine whether there is a sufficient raw gas flow through the filter elements 172 , it can be provided, for example, that the control device 210 monitors the operating state of the exhaust air fan 252 .

This monitoring of the operating state of the exhaust air fan 252 can be carried out, for example, by means of a differential pressure gauge (PDIA) 282 which measures the pressure drop between the pressure side and the suction side of the exhaust air fan 252 .

As an alternative or in addition to this, the operating state of the exhaust fan 252 can also be monitored by the control device 210 using a current monitoring device (ESA) 284 and/or using a frequency converter (SC) 286 .

Furthermore, it can be provided that the lack of a sufficient raw gas flow through the filter elements 172 is determined by means of a flow meter (FIA) 288 which measures the gas flow through the exhaust air duct 250 or through one or more of the exhaust air pipes 248 .

There is also the possibility of determining the lack of a sufficient raw gas flow through the filter elements 172 by measuring the pressure drop across the filter elements 172 of a filter module 132 or of all filter modules 132 .

If the control device 210 determines, based on the signals transmitted to it from the differential pressure gauge 282, the current monitoring device 284, the frequency converter 286 and/or the flow meter 288, that the raw gas flow through the filter elements 172 is below a specified threshold value, the compressed air supply to at least one of the filter modules 132 locked by closing the check valve 280.

This prevents auxiliary material from being whirled up by the whirling up unit 198, by cleaning the filter elements 172 or by fluidizing the supply of auxiliary material in the auxiliary material reservoir 176 into the flow path of the raw gas and in particular through the inlet opening 212 of a filter module 132 into the flow chamber 128 and from there into reaches the application area 108 .

This blocking of the compressed air supply can take place for all filter modules 132 together or for the individual filter modules 132 separately from one another. In the latter case, the lack of a sufficient raw gas flow through the filter elements 172 is determined separately for each of the filter modules 132, and either a separate compressor 272 is provided for each filter module 132 or the compressed air supply lines 270 to the individual filter modules 132 are connected via shut-off valves that can be switched separately from one another 280 individually lockable or unlockable.

In the above-described device 126 for separating wet paint overspray, the auxiliary material is added to the raw gas flow 120 exclusively within the filter module 132 by whirling up the auxiliary material in the respective auxiliary material receptacle 176 .

In order to be able to supply fresh auxiliary material to the auxiliary material reservoirs 176, which are fixed in their working position within the filter modules 132, the device 126 for separating wet paint overspray comprises an in 17 schematically illustrated auxiliary material supply device 290, which comprises a storage container 292, which can be designed as a blowpot or as a simple fluidization container.

Blowpots are, for example, from the JP H02 - 123 025 A or the JP H06 - 278 868 A known and have been used in coating systems to promote powder coating to the application containers located near the atomizer. They are relatively small sealable containers with an air permeable base through which air is ducted to fluidize the powder and convey it into the container.

While a blowpot can be emptied by the pressure of the fluidization air, a powder dosing pump 293 is otherwise connected downstream of the fluidization container to convey material (see Fig 1 ), such as those in the WO 03/024612 A1 described so-called DDF pump or another according to the dense phase principle with suction / pressure alternation promotional dosing pump, such as from the EP 1 427 536 B1 , the WO 2004/087 331 A1 or off 3 the DE 101 30 173 A1 are known.

To fill the storage container 292, a larger storage container (container or "big bag") 294 for the fresh auxiliary material is arranged above it, from which, in the simplest case, the material can trickle through an opening that can be closed with a flap into the storage container (silo) 292. In order to be able to continuously refill the reservoir 292 while the material is being conveyed and to avoid wasting time during operation, a mechanical conveying device 296, for example a cellular wheel sluice or a screw conveyor, is preferably arranged between the reservoir 294 and the reservoir 292. When using such a conveying device, a desired filling quantity can advantageously also be set, in the case of a star feeder via the previously determined filling quantity per cell.

The reservoir 292 is connected to each of the auxiliary material reservoirs 176 via a main line 300 which branches into two branches 298a, 298b and from which branch lines 302 lead to one of the auxiliary material reservoirs 176 in each case. Each of the branches 298a, 298b of the main line 300 leads to the auxiliary material reservoirs 176 of a row of modules 136.

The main line 300 preferably consists of flexible hoses.

For this, hoses with an inside diameter of up to about 14 mm, in particular from about 6 mm to about 12 mm, can be used.

The branch lines 302 can be tubular and are each provided with a mechanical pinch valve 304 , with a second pinch valve 306 being arranged behind the branch of the respective branch line 302 in the direction of flow of the auxiliary material.

Further pinch valves 309 are arranged at the junction of the two branches 298a, 298b of the main line 300 in order to be able to open or close these two branches 298a, 298b as required.

When the auxiliary material supply device 290 is in operation, the main line 300 and all the branch lines 302 are initially empty. If a specific auxiliary material reservoir 176 is to be loaded with fresh auxiliary material, the main line downstream of the branch point of the associated branch line 302 is blocked by closing the associated pinch valve 306, the branch line 302 in question is opened by opening the associated pinch valve 304 and then the auxiliary material is removed from the reservoir 292 conveyed into the relevant auxiliary material reservoir 176.

The line path described above is then emptied into the relevant auxiliary material reservoir 176 and flushed. This offers the advantage that the charge quantity can always be precisely determined and metered and that the line path cannot be blocked, since flushing into the charged auxiliary material reservoir 176 always takes place.

Each of the branch lines 302 opens into one of the side walls 178 of the associated auxiliary material reservoir 176, preferably in an area near the upper edge of the auxiliary material reservoir 176, so that the largest possible amount of auxiliary material can be fed through the branch line 302.

The branch line 302, which leads to the last auxiliary material reservoir 176 in a row of modules 136, does not require a pinch valve arrangement, since all the pinch valves 306 and 309 arranged in the main line 300 upstream of this auxiliary material reservoir 176 must be open to charge this last auxiliary material reservoir 176.

Instead of the pinch valve arrangements described above, mechanical pinch switches known from the prior art or other forms of powder switches can also be provided at the branches of the auxiliary material line system.

In order to be able to remove the auxiliary material mixed with overspray that has accumulated therein before the supply of fresh auxiliary material to an auxiliary material receptacle 176 and to be able to dispose of it or recycle it, the device 126 for separating wet paint overspray also comprises an in 18 Auxiliary material removal device 308 shown schematically.

The auxiliary material removal device 308 in turn comprises a suction fan 310, for example a vacuum cleaner fan, which conveys used auxiliary material from a main line 312, which branches into two branches 314a, 314b, into a collection container 316 arranged under the suction fan 310.

One of the branches 314a, 314b of the main line 312 leads to the auxiliary material reservoirs 176 of a row of modules 136 and is connected to each of the auxiliary material reservoirs 176 of the module row 136 in question via a branch line 318, which can be closed by means of a pinch valve 320.

A ball valve 322 is arranged at the end of each branch 314a, 314b of the main line 312, through which conveying air can be fed into the main line 312 if required, in order to facilitate the suction of the auxiliary material from the main line 312 to the suction fan 310.

The branch lines 318 each open just above the fluid base 184 into the interior 186 of the respective auxiliary material reservoir 176, preferably in a corner area of the auxiliary material reservoir 176, in which two side walls 178 adjoin one another.

It is particularly favorable for efficient and as complete as possible suction of the used auxiliary material from an auxiliary material receptacle 176 if the branch line 318 branches into two suction lines, each of which opens into the interior 186 of the auxiliary material receptacle 176 at a different corner area.

If a specific auxiliary material reservoir 176 is to be emptied of used auxiliary material mixed with overspray, pinch valve 320 of the associated stub line 318 is opened for this purpose and the material present in the auxiliary material reservoir 176 is sucked in through stub line 318 and main line 312 by means of suction fan 310 and discharged into the collection container 316 promoted.

The suction process is ended by closing the respectively associated pinch valve 320 .

During the suction process, the fluid floor 184 of the relevant auxiliary material reservoir 176 is operated continuously, i.e. compressed air flows through it during the entire suction process in order to fluidize the material to be suctioned off and make it flow well.

Furthermore, the suction of the used material from the auxiliary material reservoir 176 can be supported by the fact that the turbulence device 198 of the relevant auxiliary material reservoir 176 is put into operation continuously or at intervals (e.g. for 6 x 5 seconds per minute) during the suction process, because the impact on the material to be sucked off Material is loosened up with compressed air from above through the outlet nozzles 200 of the turbulence device 198 and the material is moved to the orifices of the branch line 318.

If the suction of the used auxiliary material from one of the auxiliary material reservoirs 176 does not work properly, which can be seen from the fact that the associated filling level sensor 204 reports that the filling level is no longer falling, the operation of the device 126 for separating wet paint overspray does not have to be interrupted. Rather, auxiliary material can instead be sucked out of another auxiliary material receptacle 176 which is connected to the same branch 314a or 314b of the main line 312 . In this way, in many cases the blockage of the material transport from the blocked auxiliary material receptacle 176 can be removed, so that the material can then be sucked out of the previously blocked auxiliary material receptacle 176 .

The material sucked out of the auxiliary material receptacle 176, which material contains auxiliary material together with overspray particles, can either be disposed of or—possibly after processing—at least partially reused in the coating system.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the substances of the auxiliary material are selected in such a way that, after use in the coating system, they can be utilized for purposes other than for the coating of workpieces. For example, the used auxiliary material can be used as insulation material or, for example, in the brick or cement industry or the like, can be thermally recycled, whereby the wet paint overspray bound to the auxiliary material can also be used as an energy source in an incineration process required for production.

After the used auxiliary material has been sucked out of an auxiliary material reservoir 176, the same is filled with fresh auxiliary material by means of the auxiliary material supply device 290 already described above, for example up to an initial filling level of approximately 50% of the total capacity of the auxiliary material reservoir 176.

Due to the accumulation of wet paint overspray, which has a lower density than the auxiliary material, in the mixture of auxiliary material and overspray, which is present in the auxiliary material reservoir 176, the density of this mixture continues to decrease during the operation of a filter module 132, so that the barrier layer, which builds up on the filter elements 172 of the filter module 132, has an ever-increasing volume.

The filling level of the material in the auxiliary material reservoir 176 immediately before a cleaning process of the filter elements 172 therefore continues to decrease.

At a predetermined residual filling level, which corresponds, for example, to approximately 10% of the capacity of the auxiliary material reservoir 176, the auxiliary material mixed with overspray is sucked out of the auxiliary material reservoir 176, as described above. The suction before a cleaning process of the filter elements 172 ensures that mainly the unusable material that has accumulated in the auxiliary material reservoir 176 and does not form the barrier layer on the filter elements 172 is removed from the auxiliary material reservoir 176 .

As an alternative to this procedure, it can also be provided that the fill level of the material in the auxiliary material reservoir 176 is measured after a cleaning process of the filter elements 172 of the filter module 132 and a suction process is initiated when a predetermined maximum level, for example 90% of the maximum capacity of the auxiliary material reservoir 176, is reached.

In any case, the fill level of the material in the auxiliary material receptacle 176, which triggers a suction process, is determined by means of the fill level sensor 204, which is arranged in the respective auxiliary material receptacle 176.

one inside 20 The second embodiment of a system 100 for painting vehicle bodies 102, shown in a schematic cross section, differs from the first embodiment described above in that separate transverse air curtain baffles 324 are arranged above the filter modules 132, which serve to channel the air supplied by the air curtain generating devices 254 to the constriction 262 between the upper portion 260 and the lower portion 263 of the flow chamber 128 to direct.

These transverse air curtain baffles 324 are inclined at an angle of, for example, approximately 1° to approximately 3° to the horizontal toward the respective adjacent side wall 130 of the flow chamber 128, so that liquids reaching the transverse air curtain baffles 324 from above do not reach the constriction 262, but instead reach the Side walls 130 flow out.

In this way, it is ensured that, for example due to a hose bursting, paint or extinguishing water flowing out of the application area 108 does not get into the lower section 263 of the flow chamber 128 and from there into the filter modules 132, but rather can flow off to the sides of the flow chamber 128.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, walkable web 146 between rows of modules 136 is divided into two halves 328a, 328b that are essentially mirror-symmetrical to a vertical longitudinal center plane 326 of flow chamber 128, each of which is at an angle of, for example, approximately 1° to, for example, approximately 3° with respect to the Horizontals are inclined toward the longitudinal center plane 326, so that liquids, such as paint or extinguishing water, getting onto the walk-on web 146 from above do not reach the inlet openings 212 of the filter modules 132 over the lateral edges 330 of the walk-on web 146, but instead in the Center of the walk-bridge 146 are retained.

Both the footbridge 146 that can be walked on and the transverse air curtain guide plates 324 can also be inclined relative to the horizontal in the longitudinal direction 134 of the flow chamber 128, so that the liquids on these elements can flow off to a drain opening due to the effect of gravity.

For the rest, the in 20 illustrated second embodiment of a system 100 for painting vehicle bodies 102 in terms of structure and function with in the 1 until 19 illustrated first embodiment match on whose above description is referred to in this respect.

The auxiliary material reservoirs 176 of the filter modules 132 of the systems 100 described above for painting vehicle bodies 102 can alternatively or additionally to the 13 Fluid floor 184 shown also have other devices 332 for mixing the material located in the auxiliary material reservoir 176, for example one in the 21 and 22 Schematically shown pneumatically operated agitator 334.

The pneumatically operated agitator 334 comprises an agitator 336 with at least two agitator paddles 340 arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on an essentially vertically aligned agitator shaft 338 and one in the 21 and 22 agitator turbine 342 shown purely schematically, by means of which the agitator shaft 338 can be driven to rotate about its vertical axis.

The agitator paddles 340 are arranged on the agitator shaft 338 at an angular distance of, for example, approximately 180° and offset from one another in the axial direction of the agitator shaft 338 .

Compressed air can be supplied to the agitator turbine 342 via a compressed air supply line 344 .

If compressed air is supplied to agitator turbine 342 via compressed air supply line 344, the supplied compressed air causes agitator turbine 342 to rotate about its vertical axis, whereupon agitator shaft 338, which is non-rotatably connected to agitator turbine 342, also begins to move.

The material located in the auxiliary material reservoir 176 is mixed by the rotating agitator paddles 340 and the surface of the material located in the auxiliary material reservoir 176 is smoothed. Material bridges formed by undercutting in the auxiliary material receptacle 176 are broken up.

In this way, thorough mixing of the material in the auxiliary material reservoir 176 and equalization of the fill level of the material within the auxiliary material reservoir 176 is achieved.

The pneumatic drive of the agitator 334 prevents sparking inside the auxiliary material receptacle 176 and ensures adequate protection against explosion.

one in the 23 and 24 The alternative embodiment of a device 332 shown for mixing the material in the auxiliary material reservoir 176 comprises an electric motor 346, which is arranged laterally next to the auxiliary material reservoir 176 and whose output shaft 348 is passed through a side wall 178 of the auxiliary material reservoir 176 and is provided with a plurality of, for example four, paddles 350 , which are arranged on the output shaft 348 in a rotationally fixed manner and at an angular distance of, for example, approximately 90° each and offset from one another in the axial direction of the output shaft 348 .

By rotating the output shaft 348 by means of the electric motor 346 about its essentially horizontally aligned axis, the paddles 350 are set in rotary motion, whereby the paddles 350 mix the material located in the auxiliary material reservoir 176 and smooth its surface and break up material bridges that have formed in the auxiliary material reservoir 176.

• Zunächst wird ein Teil der bestehenden Vorrichtung abgebaut, so dass der von einem Filtermodul 132 in seiner Arbeitsposition beanspruchte Raum freigegeben wird.

An already existing device 126 for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas stream 120 containing overspray particles can be converted in the following manner using the filter modules 132 of the systems 100 described above:

• First, part of the existing device is dismantled so that the space occupied by a filter module 132 in its working position is released.

A filter module 132 is then arranged in the working position released in this way and is connected to the support structure for the application area 108 , in particular to the booth walls 114 of the painting booth 110 .

These steps are then repeated until all filter modules 132 designed as preassembled units 154 are arranged in their working position and connected to the support structure for the application area 108 .

In this way, for example, an existing device for the wet removal of wet paint overspray can be replaced by the above-described, modular device 126 for the dry removal of wet paint overspray, without it being necessary to open the application area 108 of the system 100 for painting To dismantle vehicle bodies 102.

Claims (22)

Device (126) for separating wet paint overspray from a crude gas stream (120) containing overspray particles, comprising at least two units (154) which are in one In the longitudinal direction (134) of the device (126), each unit (154) comprising the following: - a filter element receiving space (170) for receiving at least one filter element (172) for separating the overspray from the raw gas flow (120); - At least one auxiliary material receptacle (176) for receiving an auxiliary material which is added to the raw gas flow (120) before the raw gas flow (120) passes through the at least one filter element (172); - at least one vertically aligned partition (168) for separating the filter element receiving space (170) from a flow chamber (128) of the device (126) for separating wet paint overspray, which is removed from the raw gas flow (120) before it enters the unit (154) flows through; and - at least one inlet opening (212) through which the raw gas stream (120) enters the unit (154) from the flow chamber (128); the units (154) being pre-assemblable and each unit (154) including a support structure (156) which supports all other elements of the unit (154). Device (126) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the inlet opening (212) is limited at the bottom by a lower guide surface (224). Device (126) according to claim 2 , characterized in that the lower guide surface (224) is at least partially inclined to the horizontal. Device (126) according to claim 3 , characterized in that the lower guide surface (224) is inclined at least in sections at an angle of at least 30 ° to the horizontal. Device (126) according to any one of claims 2 until 4 , characterized in that the lower guide surface (224) is formed at least partially on a guide element (216) which protrudes to one side over a support structure (156) of the unit (154). Device (126) according to any one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that each unit (154) comprises at least one filter element (172) arranged in the filter element receiving space (170). Device (126) according to any one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that each unit (154) comprises at least one connecting element (246) for connecting the unit (154) to an adjacent further unit (154) or an adjacent partition. Device (126) according to claim 7 , characterized in that the connecting element (246) forms part of the support structure (156) of the unit (154). Device (126) according to any one of Claims 7 or 8th , characterized in that the connecting element (246) is designed as a vertically extending support (158). Device (126) according to any one of Claims 7 until 9 , characterized in that the connecting element (246) has a bearing surface (242) for abutting against a bearing surface (242) of an adjacent unit (154) or on an adjacent partition. Device (126) according to any one of Claims 7 until 10 , characterized in that the connecting element (246) has at least partially a U-shaped cross section. Device (126) according to any one of Claims 7 until 11 , characterized in that the connecting element (246) is releasably connectable to an adjacent unit (154) or to an adjacent partition. Device (126) according to claim 12 , characterized in that the connecting element (246) can be screwed to an adjacent unit (154) or to an adjacent partition wall. Device (126) according to any one of Claims 1 until 13 , characterized in that the device (126) has at least one partition, by which in the longitudinal direction (134) of the device (126) successive sections (144) of the flow chamber (128) are separated from one another. Device (126) according to any one of Claims 1 until 14 , characterized in that the device (126) comprises at least two units (154) spaced from each other in the transverse direction (112) of the device (126). Device (126) according to claim 15 , characterized in that at least two units (154) are arranged with their respective inlet openings (212) facing each other. Device (126) according to any one of Claims 15 or 16 , characterized in that between At least two units (154) have a footbridge (146) that can be walked on. Plant (100) for painting objects, comprising at least one application area (108) for applying wet paint to the objects to be painted and at least one device (126) for separating wet paint overspray according to one of Claims 1 until 17 . Appendix (100) after Claim 18 , characterized in that the system (100) is a system for painting vehicle bodies (102). Plant (100) according to one of claims 18 or 19 , characterized in that the flow chamber (128) of the device (126) for separating wet paint overspray is arranged at least partially below the application area (108). Method for producing a device (126) for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas stream (120) containing overspray particles, comprising the following method steps: - Preassembling at least two units (154) at a manufacturing site, each unit (154) comprising: - A filter element receiving space (170) for receiving at least one filter element (172) for separating the overspray from the raw gas flow (120); - At least one auxiliary material receptacle (176) for receiving an auxiliary material which is added to the raw gas flow (120) before the raw gas flow (120) passes through the at least one filter element (172); - at least one vertically aligned partition (168) for separating the filter element receiving space (170) from a flow chamber (128) of the device (126) for separating wet paint overspray, which is removed from the raw gas flow (120) before it enters the unit (154) flows through; - At least one inlet opening (212) through which the raw gas flow (120) from the flow chamber (128) enters the unit (154); and - a support structure (156) which supports all other elements of the unit (154); - Transporting the preassembled units (154) from the place of manufacture to an assembly site; - Arranging the preassembled units (154) in a working position at the assembly site, with at least two units (154) following one another in a longitudinal direction (134) of the device (126) for separating wet paint overspray. Method for converting an existing device for separating wet paint overspray from a raw gas stream (120) containing overspray particles, which comprises a support structure for an application area (108), comprising the following method steps: a) preassembling at least two units (154), each unit (154) comprising: - A filter element receiving space (170) for receiving at least one filter element (172) for separating the overspray from the raw gas flow (120); - At least one auxiliary material receptacle (176) for receiving an auxiliary material which is added to the raw gas flow (120) before the raw gas flow (120) passes through the at least one filter element (172); - at least one vertically aligned partition (168) for separating the filter element receiving space (170) from a flow chamber (128) of the device (126) for separating wet paint overspray, which is removed from the raw gas flow (120) before it enters the unit (154) flows through; - At least one inlet opening (212) through which the raw gas flow (120) from the flow chamber (128) enters the unit (154); and - a support structure (156) which supports all other elements of the unit (154); b) dismantling part of the existing apparatus so as to free up the space occupied by a preassembled unit (154) in its operative position; c) placing a pre-assembled unit (154) in the released working position; d) connecting the preassembled unit (154) to the support structure for the application area (108); e) repeating steps b), c) and d) until all preassembled units (154) are placed in their operative position and connected to the application area support structure (108); wherein at least two units (154) follow one another in a longitudinal direction (134) of the device (126).

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