Scope of application and advantages of the drying system
The MASS HST 200 horizontal stack dryer is located in a production line for the manufacture of thin-film solar modules and is used to burn in the dry adhesives under conductive tracks on the substrate. The product carriers are designed in such a way that chains and chain guides are not required. Several circulating air heating zones can be used to achieve different temperature profiles in the drying system.
Mode of operation and structure of the drying system
The heating zone of this drying unit consists of five separately controllable circulating air zones and one heatable exhaust air zone. The air is blown inside the drying unit over the glass panes in a circuit on two sides and sucked in again at the front side. The air outlet, as well as the air intake, are provided by nozzle plates, which create a uniform air flow.
Each recirculation zone within the drying system is equipped with fresh air supply and exhaust air, which ensure the required air exchange and remove the solvents produced. Fresh air and exhaust air volume can be adjusted in each zone of the dryer via throttle valves. The heating zone is followed by a double cooling zone. The glass panes are cooled down to < 30°C, which is ensured by a built-in cooling register in the last cooling zone.
The solar modules are taken over by toothed belt conveyors (at least three strands) at the infeed and transported onto the product carriers. In the HST 200 horizontal stack dryer, a glass pane lies on the product carrier. The product carriers cycle upward through the heating zones after the preset cycle time has elapsed. Once at the top, the product carriers are carried to the downstroke and cycle down through the heating and cooling zone to the outfeed area. The distance between the individual product carriers has an index of 38 mm.
At the outlet of the drying system, the product carriers are unloaded. The product carrier is then transported back to the infeed, where it can be loaded again with a thin-film solar module.
- Total system length 4500 mm
- Max. substrate temperature/air temperature: 145/175°C
- Temperature homogeneity: +/- 5°C on the glass pane in the holding phase
- Total connected load: 3 x 400 V, N, PE, 50 Hz, 185 kW
- Exhaust air and supply air heating module: each max. 1,800 m³/h
- Exhaust air cooling zone: max. 2,500 m³/h