System and method for drying objects

Abstract

The invention to a system which is used to dry objects, comprising a drying cubicle ( 1 ), known per se, wherein the objects are exposed to hot air. The process waste air from a high temperature fuel cell ( 10 ) is used as hot air which is directly introduced into the drying cubicle ( 1 ). The high pressure fuel cell ( 10 ) is operated, according to thermal energy required for the drying process, whereby according to the extent thereof electric energy is also accumulated and is disregarded when controlling the high temperature fuel cell ( 10 ), whereby electrical consumers for said electrical energy can always be found. The inventive system and method for drying objects are relatively inexpensive and have a very high energy utilisation ratio.

1 . System for drying objects, comprising: 
 a drying cubicle including at least one section in which the objects are exposed to hot air;    a heating device which heats the hot air introduced into the drying cubicle, wherein    the heating device includes at least one high temperature fuel cell the process waste air from which can be fed to the drying cubicle as hot air;    there is provided a control system which 
 so operates the high temperature fuel cell regardless of the electrical energy generated thereby that the thermal energy generated thereby meets the requirement in the drying cubicle; and  
 supplies whatever quantity of electrical energy is generated by the high temperature fuel cell to other electrical consumers.  
   
     
     
         2 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system utilises the electrical energy of the high temperature fuel cell primarily for electrical consumers belonging to the system itself and secondarily for electrical consumers located outside the system.  
     
     
         3 . System according to  claim 2 , wherein the control system utilises the electrical energy of the high temperature fuel cell within the system itself primarily for the electrical consumers used for heat generation, for example, infrared radiators, and secondarily for other electrical consumers, for example, electrical drives.  
     
     
         4 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system supplies the surplus electrical energy of the high temperature fuel cell not consumed in the system itself primarily to an energy accumulator and secondarily to the general electrical mains supply.  
     
     
         5 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein there is provided a regenerative post-combustion device to which air extracted from the drying chamber and containing hydrocarbon is fed for purification.  
     
     
         6 . System according to  claim 5 , wherein a heat exchanger is provided in which a thermal exchange takes place between hot air drawn from the regenerative post-combustion device and air drawn from the ambient atmosphere and fed to the drying cubicle.  
     
     
         7 . Method for drying objects, wherein air is heated and the objects are subjected to the influence of the heated air, the method comprising: 
 the process waste air from a high temperature fuel cell is used as hot air;    the high temperature fuel cell is operated according to the requirement for thermal energy of the drying process regardless of the electrical energy generated by said high temperature fuel cell; and,    the electrical energy generated by the high temperature fuel cell is fed in whatever quantity is obtained to electrical consumers.    
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrical energy of the high temperature fuel cell is utilised primary for electrical consumers belonging to the system itself and secondarily for electrical consumers located outside the system.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrical energy of the high temperature fuel cell is utilised within the system itself primarily for the electrical consumers used for heat generation, for example, infrared radiators, and secondarily for other electrical consumers, for example, electrical drives.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein the surplus electrical energy of the high temperature fuel cell not consumed in the system itself is supplied primary to an energy accumulator and secondarily to the general electrical mains supply.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein the air produced during drying and containing hydrocarbon is post-combusted regeneratively.  
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein the air heated by post-combustion is used for heating air which is drawn from the ambient atmosphere and fed to the drying process.  
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein upon attainment of the operating temperature of the fuel cell the fuel gas is heated at least partially by electrical energy supplied from the fuel cell itself.  
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein the process waste air from the high temperature fuel cell forms an inert atmosphere in the drying cubicle.