SUBSTANTIATION OF THE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGICAL SCHEME OF AN ENERGY-SAVING THERMAL VACUUM UNIT

Abstract

From the standpoint of thermodynamics, the energy conversion carried out in single-screw autogenous extruders is not rational, and therefore such machines do not belong to the group of energy-saving technological equipment. Equipping the extruder with a vacuum chamber and realizing the advantages of the thermal vacuum effect makes it possible to increase the energy efficiency of its working process by replacing part of the energy of the electric drive with the energy (heat) of hot steam released from the extrudate during intensive dehydration of the product under reduced pressure. However, a drastic reduction in the specific cost of electricity for the process of thermal vacuum processing of raw materials is associated with the replacement of the screw working body with a screw one and the use of an induction heater. Such a design and technological scheme of an energy-saving thermal vacuum unit will reduce the specific energy costs in comparison with the serial extruder KMZ-2U by 3.0-3.5 times.