Temperature Distribution in Moving Webs Heated by Radiation Panels: Model Development and Experimental Validation

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a model to determine the temperature distribution in moving webs due to heating by radiation panels and convection from the web surface. Heating of the transported material is common in many web processes, such as printing, coating, and lamination. Radiation panels provide a simple and noncontact means for web heating. To develop a governing equation for moving web temperature, we treat the web as a moving medium under a heating source which is the radiation panel. We consider both radiation and convection and changes in the convection coefficient in the air film between the web surface and the heating source. Using the temperature governing equation, one can predict the web temperature in the moving web that is transported with different speeds under the heating panels. The model development and analysis are dimensionless; therefore, it can be applied to a variety of web materials and heating panel locations. The model development is motivated by the roll-to-roll (R2R) atomic/molecular layer deposition (ALD/MLD) application, and an experimental platform designed to conduct ALD/MLD is employed to validate the model for different scenarios. Comparative results from experiments and model simulations for varying speeds and different operating conditions are provided to validate the model.