A modular humidity control system is provided. An example system includes a body configured for attachment with a food storage housing. The body may define a closed circuit air flow path for circulating air through the food storage housing. The system also includes a desiccant element secured within the closed circuit air flow path that removes moisture from the moisture-laden air passing through the closed circuit air flow path, and stores the removed moisture. The system further includes a regeneration system that monitors a saturation of the desiccant element. In an instance in which the saturation of the desiccant element exceeds a saturation threshold, the regeneration system may evaporate at least a portion of the moisture stored by the desiccant element.

A modular humidity control system is provided. An example system includes a body configured for attachment with a food storage housing. The body may define a closed circuit air flow path for circulating air through the food storage housing. The system also includes a desiccant element secured within the closed circuit air flow path that removes moisture from the moisture-laden air passing through the closed circuit air flow path, and stores the removed moisture. The system further includes a regeneration system that monitors a saturation of the desiccant element. In an instance in which the saturation of the desiccant element exceeds a saturation threshold, the regeneration system may evaporate at least a portion of the moisture stored by the desiccant element.

An exemplary process air recirculation system, and an electric heater mixing apparatus is disclosed herein. Exemplary process air recirculation systems comprise the electric heating mixing apparatus. An exemplary electric heating mixing apparatus comprises: walls defining a first chamber having a first upstream opening and a first downstream opening, and a second chamber having a first upstream opening and a first downstream opening, wherein the second chamber is adjacently disposed to the first chamber, a first inlet damper disposed at the first upstream opening, a second inlet damper disposed at the second upstream opening, and a resistance-type electric air heater disposed in the first chamber.

An exemplary process air recirculation system, and an electric heater mixing apparatus is disclosed herein. Exemplary process air recirculation systems comprise the electric heating mixing apparatus. An exemplary electric heating mixing apparatus comprises: walls defining a first chamber having a first upstream opening and a first downstream opening, and a second chamber having a first upstream opening and a first downstream opening, wherein the second chamber is adjacently disposed to the first chamber, a first inlet damper disposed at the first upstream opening, a second inlet damper disposed at the second upstream opening, and a resistance-type electric air heater disposed in the first chamber.

Systems and processes for curing a wet coating of a coated substrate are disclosed. The system includes a ventilation system and a curing room configured to receive the coated substrate being displaced along a displacement axis and includes at least an upstream curing section and a downstream curing section. The upstream curing section includes an upstream catalytic infrared heating system for producing an upstream infrared radiation at an upstream radiation intensity to heat and partially cure the wet coating while the coated substrate is being displaced through the upstream curing section. On the other hand, the downstream curing section includes a downstream catalytic infrared heating system for producing a downstream infrared radiation at a downstream radiation intensity, being lower than the upstream radiation intensity, to further cure the wet coating while the coated substrate is being displaced through the downstream curing section for producing a cured coating.

Systems and processes for curing a wet coating of a coated substrate are disclosed. The system includes a ventilation system and a curing room configured to receive the coated substrate being displaced along a displacement axis and includes at least an upstream curing section and a downstream curing section. The upstream curing section includes an upstream catalytic infrared heating system for producing an upstream infrared radiation at an upstream radiation intensity to heat and partially cure the wet coating while the coated substrate is being displaced through the upstream curing section. On the other hand, the downstream curing section includes a downstream catalytic infrared heating system for producing a downstream infrared radiation at a downstream radiation intensity, being lower than the upstream radiation intensity, to further cure the wet coating while the coated substrate is being displaced through the downstream curing section for producing a cured coating.

A device for drying sheets includes: a conveying device for conveying sheets through the device for drying sheets, a first drying stage arranged towards an upstream end of the device for drying sheets and comprising at least one drying chamber, first stage drying air supply means for introducing hot air into said at least one drying chamber of said first drying stage at a drying air inlet; air discharge means for discharging exhaust air from said at least one drying chamber of said first drying stage, a second drying stage arranged downstream of the first drying stage and comprising at least one drying chamber; transfer means for transferring exhaust air discharged from said at least one drying chamber of the first drying stage into said at least one drying chamber of the second drying stage; humid drying air supply means for introducing said exhaust air into said at least one drying chamber of said second drying stage, said humid drying air supply means comprising at an humid drying air inlet for introducing humid drying air arranged at an upstream position of the second drying stage; supplemental air supply means for introducing supplemental air into said second drying stage at an supplemental air inlet arranged downstream of said humid drying air inlet. A method for drying sheets is also disclosed.

The present invention provides improved apparatus and methods for the monitoring and control of apparatus designed to remove moisture from an initially wet product, such as a continuous dryer (14). The net rate of water removal from the wet product (16) is determined during drying thereof, preferably on a real-time basis. A control assembly (20) is operatively coupled with the dryer (14) and includes sensors (24, 26, 28, 34), which are operatively coupled with a digital controller (38). The controller (38) has a PID controller operable to continuously determine the average net rate of water removal from the product (16).

An air curtain generating device includes: a plurality of pairs of an air jet unit and an air suction unit placed opposite each other on both sides in a lateral direction of an inlet/outlet of a drying chamber, the plurality of the pairs being aligned up and down, the air suction units sucking air ejected from the air jet units to generate an air curtain; a first air guide provided to the air jet units in an upper part of the inlet/outlet to guide air ejected from the air jet units in a direction inclined inward of the drying chamber relative to the lateral direction of the inlet/outlet; and a second air guide provided to the air jet units in a lower part of the inlet/outlet to guide air ejected from the air jet units in a direction inclined outward of the drying chamber relative to the lateral direction.

An air curtain generating device includes: a plurality of pairs of an air jet unit and an air suction unit placed opposite each other on both sides in a lateral direction of an inlet/outlet of a drying chamber, the plurality of the pairs being aligned up and down, the air suction units sucking air ejected from the air jet units to generate an air curtain; a first air guide provided to the air jet units in an upper part of the inlet/outlet to guide air ejected from the air jet units in a direction inclined inward of the drying chamber relative to the lateral direction of the inlet/outlet; and a second air guide provided to the air jet units in a lower part of the inlet/outlet to guide air ejected from the air jet units in a direction inclined outward of the drying chamber relative to the lateral direction.