Prototype facility for an industrial infrared powder coating process

Infrared illumination powered by renewable energy sources can replace conventional heating based on fossil fuels. The use of infrared radiation as a heat source for industrial powder coating systems also provides a very fast and direct heating of the coating materials. Nevertheless, the difficulty of an evenly distributed illumination for industrial products with different shapes prevented this technology from a widespread use so far. Innovative approaches need to be adapted for the intended use of infrared heating in industrial powder coating processes. The prototype infrared furnace in our laboratory with highly reflective walls and a special octagonal design facilitates a largely homogeneous illumination even of geometrically complex products. An infrared camera visualizes temperature profiles of white and black coating samples during the heating process. The subsequent comparison of the experimental results with corresponding simulations will deliver the basis for the layout of future industrial facilities.