Drying systems for shell-making, installed by VA Technology

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Drying Systems

We offer a range of options, including vectored airflow units, compact shell drying systems and vertical-type drying options to suit your shellroom requirements. Our drying systems are custom-designed to meet your production requirements.

Drying a ceramic shell is a critical, time-consuming stage in the shell-building process. The impact of poor drying can affect the quality of the mold produced. Our shell drying systems are designed for consistent drying and smooth indexing to ensure your shells are dried in optimum conditions at all times.

We understand that the quality and consistency of shells should not compromised for speed. This is why we have engineered our drying systems to produce high-quality molds in the fastest time possible. We offer solutions for small-scale prototyping right through to high-volume continuous production.

Vectored Airflow Unit

A powerful solution for drying shells.

Vectored airflow units are placed within a drying room to dry shells carried on trolleys/racks, or integrated within a conveyor system to provide targeted, pulsed wave airflow to in-process shells.

The vectored airflow units are arranged to intake dry air at the top and the adjustable vanes are set to vector the out-flowing air onto the shell envelope. The internal aerofoil is designed to efficiently direct the air. A 360° continuous rotation and sweeping motion enables a large area to be serviced with high velocity pulsed wave air. The rotating chamber includes a safety clutch device to provide a secure environment and avoid risk of damage to in-process shells.

Our vectored airflow units can be fitted with an optional variable speed control system. The airflow velocity can be optimised to provide the preferred drying condition. Vectored airflow units are easily system integrated with the innovative Variair modules to achieve a highly efficient process environment.

  • Vectored airflow units for shell drying

Key Features

  • Available in a variety of sizes

  • Large area coverage

  • Flexible positioning

  • High air velocity

  • Safe operation

Options

  • Variable speed airflow

  • Remote start

  • Deflector

  • Auto control

  • Platform base

  • IC-E wall system

IC-Conveyer

Essential for a fully automated shellroom facility.

Our IC-conveyor system is a semi-enclosed track on a conveyor chain, with sealed precision bearings and an intelligent drive unit. This has been designed to ensure long life and smooth motion performance, whilst preventing contamination by creating an enclosed environment.

IC-conveyors can be designed for a wide range of shell weights.  Standard arrangements are single, dual, or triple-level horizontal with independent or multi-drive units. Special versions incorporate 360° rotating carriers.

Key Features

  • Enclosed track

  • Smooth running

  • Precise positioning

  • Intelligent drive control

  • Forward and reverse operation

  • Encoder controlled

Options

  • Single, double or triple level conveyor

  • Rotating hanger units

  • Dual and/or rotating carriers

  • Vectored airflow units

  • IC-Crystal shell management system

  • Environmental control system

  • IC-E wall system

Compact Shell Drying Systems

Specific environmental controls are applied to each shell.

Our compact shell drying system is a self-contained unit set to the desired environment parameter(s). This is suitable for low-volume rapid shells to be processed off-line from the main facility. The compact shell drying system is equipped to maintain temperature and relative humidity.

Optional process control systems are available to provide key process data for every shell produced in the compact shell drying unit. The compact shell drying unit can be equipped with dehumidification, humidification, heating, and cooling elements, and state-of-the-art PID environment controls. The integrated shell handling unit can accommodate 12 carriers (or more) to allow large and small shells to be processed simultaneously. The unique configuration allows variable speed airflow to be directed at all sides of the shell.

Key Features

  • Process evaluation

  • Temperature/relative humidity control

  • “Specials” production

  • Minimal space, self-contained

Options

  • Variable speed airflow

  • Auto control

  • Platform base

  • Environmental control system

Environmental Control Systems

Designed to maintain the temperature and relative humidity.

Our environmental control system incorporates two PID (proportional, integral, derivative) process controllers to monitor the conditions of the environment. The readings are compared to the required pre-set conditions, to then determine the level of heating, cooling, humidification, and dehumidification required to maintain the desired environment parameters. An out-of-range alarm is triggered when the conditions go outside of the desired range for a pre-set period of time. This can used to shut down the system, or, when using an auto dialler unit, a pre-programmed telephone notification with a pre-recorded message will be sent.

The PID controller ‘self-learns’ the performance trend of the environment. This minimises temperature and humidity overshoot to maintain the shell drying conditions, irrespective of the process load conditions. Dehumidifier, humidifier, heaters and coolers are available in various capacities to suit the required drying conditions.

Key Features

  • PID control system

  • Relative humidity control

  • Temperature control

Options

  • Cooling and/or heating

  • Humidification and/or dehumidification

  • Out-of-range alarm system

IC-E Wall System

Lightweight structural walling and roofing method for thermally and audio insulating the shell drying system.

Our IC-E wall system is constructed of a rigid closed cell PIR insulated core with 0.5mm thick hot-dipped zinc-coated steel inner and outer facings. The galvanised steel is further coated with a 15-micron polyester enamel layer. Each IC-E wall is built with a sealed interlocking joint on each panel, and is supported by a structural frame. Corners and edges are closed with panel trims to form a neat and attractive structure. We have designed the IC-E wall to have a smooth finish for easy-wiping.

Key Features

  • Self-contained

  • Lightweight

  • Temperature and relative humidity control

Options

  • Access doors and other viewing options

  • Lighting systems

  • Cooling and heating

  • Humidification control