Method and apparatus for introducing auxiliary material
In order to provide a method of introducing auxiliary material into the flow path of a crude gas stream charged with wet-paint overspray before the crude gas stream passes through at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the crude gas stream, with which method an introduction of auxiliary material into the application region of a paint shop is reliably prevented even in the event of incorrect operation, a method is proposed, which comprises the following method steps: detecting whether there is an adequate crude gas flow through the at least one filter element; and blocking the introduction of auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream if it is determined that there is not an adequate crude gas flow.
1. Method of introducing auxiliary material into the flow path of a crude gas stream charged with wet-paint overspray before the crude gas stream passes through at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the crude gas stream, wherein the auxiliary material deposits as a barrier layer on surfaces of the filter element in order to prevent these surfaces from being clogged by adhering wet-paint overspray particles, said method comprising the following method steps:
detecting whether there is an adequate crude gas flow through the at least one filter element; and
blocking the introduction of auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream if it is determined that there is not an adequate crude gas flow.
2. Method according to claim 1 , whereby an introduction of auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream is effected by swirling auxiliary material situated in an auxiliary-material receiving container by means of a swirling device and wherein in the absence of an adequate crude gas flow the operation of the swirling device is blocked.
3. Method according to claim 1 , whereby an introduction of auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream is effected by cleaning auxiliary material off at least one filter element and wherein in the absence of an adequate crude gas flow the cleaning of the at least one filter element is blocked.
4. Method according to claim 1 , whereby the absence of an adequate crude gas flow is determined on the basis of a pressure drop at at least one filter element.
5. Method according to claim 4 , wherein the absence of an adequate crude gas flow is detected when the pressure drop is too low.
6. Method according to claim 1 , whereby the absence of an adequate crude gas flow is determined on the basis of the operating state of a blower that is disposed downstream of the at least one filter element.
7. Method according to claim 6 , whereby the operating state of the blower is monitored by means of current monitoring.
8. Method according to claim 6 , whereby the operating state of the blower is monitored by means of a frequency converter.
9. Method according to claim 6 , whereby the operating state of the blower is monitored by means of measuring the pressure drop at the blower.
10. Method according to claim 1 , whereby the absence of an adequate crude gas flow is determined by means of a flow meter.
11. Method according to claim 10 , whereby there is used a flow meter that is disposed downstream of the at least one filter element.
12. Apparatus for introducing auxiliary material into the flow path of a crude gas stream charged with wet-paint overspray before the crude gas stream passes through at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the crude gas stream, wherein the auxiliary material deposits as a barrier layer on surfaces of the filter element in order to prevent these surfaces from being clogged by adhering overspray particles and wherein the apparatus comprises the following:
a detection device for detecting whether there is an adequate crude gas flow through the at least one filter element; and
a blocking device for blocking the introduction of auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream if the detection device determines the absence of an adequate crude gas flow.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 , whereby the apparatus comprises a control apparatus, which is used as a detection device for detecting whether there is an adequate crude gas flow and/or as a blocking device for blocking the introduction of auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream.
14. Apparatus according to claim 12 , whereby the apparatus comprises at least one swirling device for swirling auxiliary material situated in an auxiliary-material receiving container and wherein the operation of the swirling device can be blocked in the absence of an adequate crude gas flow.
15. Apparatus according to claim 12 , whereby the apparatus comprises a cleaning device for cleaning auxiliary material off at least one filter element and wherein the operation of the cleaning device may be blocked in the absence of an adequate crude gas flow.
16. Apparatus according to claim 12 , whereby the apparatus comprises pressure sensors for measuring a pressure drop at at least one filter element.
17. Apparatus according to claim 12 , whereby the apparatus comprises at least one device for monitoring the operating state of a blower that is disposed downstream of the at least one filter element.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17 , whereby the apparatus comprises a current monitoring appliance for monitoring the operating state of the blower.
19. Apparatus according to claim 17 , whereby the apparatus comprises a frequency converter for monitoring the operating state of the blower.
20. Apparatus according to claim 17 , whereby the apparatus comprises a differential pressure gauge for measuring the pressure drop at the blower.
21. Apparatus according to claim 12 , whereby the apparatus comprises at least one flow meter.
22. Apparatus according to claim 21 , whereby at least one flow meter is disposed downstream of the at least one filter element.
23. Apparatus for separating wet-paint overspray from a crude gas stream containing overspray particles, comprising at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the crude gas stream and at least one apparatus for introducing auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream charged with wet-paint overspray before the crude gas stream passes through the at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the crude gas stream, wherein the apparatus for introducing auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream comprises the following:
a detection device for detecting whether there is an adequate crude gas flow through the at least one filter element; and
a blocking device for blocking the introduction of auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream if the detection device determines the absence of an adequate crude gas flow.
24. Installation for painting articles, comprising at least one application region for applying wet paint onto the articles to be painted as well as at least one apparatus for separating wet-paint overspray from a crude gas stream containing overspray particles, comprising at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the crude gas stream and at least one apparatus for introducing auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream charged with wet-paint overspray before the crude gas stream passes through the at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the crude gas stream, wherein the apparatus for introducing auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream comprises the following:
a detection device for detecting whether there is an adequate crude gas flow through the at least one filter element; and
a blocking device for blocking the introduction of auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream if the detection device determines the absence of an adequate crude gas flow.
25. Installation according to claim 24 , wherein the articles are vehicle bodies.