EXTRUDANT COOLING DEVICE

1.0INTRODUCTION:

Extrusion is a very important aspect of modern day manufacturing. It is a

cheap and effective way of producing materials of different sizes or shapes of
uniform cross-section. Extrusion can be carried out continuously or in batches
depending on the demand placed on the material formed and on the model of
the extruder used.

2.0PROBLEM DEFINITION:

For proper extrusion, the resin must be properly heated to a gelatinous state,
this enables it flow freely and assume the shape of the mould selected. After
assuming the shape of the mould it is required that the moulded extrudate
regain its plasticity on leaving the mould. This prevents the newly formed
shape from deforming either under self-weight or due to environmental
factors. A cooling system of high heat exchange rate must be designed to
cool the resin, in this case polypropylene from 210 C to 60 C for quick and
proper solidification.

3.0PROPOSED SOLUTION:

The proposed solution termed high intensity cooling, is a form of

quenching. It involves directing fine jets of cooling water onto the extrudate
as it leaves the mould. The high speed fine jets of water will extract more
heat per unit time and allow the extrudate to plasticize quickly enough to
sustain a continuous extrusion process.

4.0DESCRIPTION OF THE EXTRUSION COOLING DEVICE:

The extrusion cooling device is a purely mechanical contraption composed of

the following parts:

• A cooling chamber

• Roller

• Hose

• Pump

• Frame
 • Pressure regulating valve

• Adjustable screw

The frame (5) serves as the mechanical support for the cooling device. At
the base of the frame, a water pump (4) of suitable rating is rigidly fixed and is
fed with a constant source of water. The pump supplies a hydraulic circuit
through a hose (3) and the supply pressure is controlled by a pressure regulating
valve (6). The upper part of the frame consists of rollers (2,) one at the inlet and
one at the outlet, these provide support to the mould and extruded material
respectively. The main pipe branches out in the upper chamber into smaller
pipes that bear nozzles. The nozzles perform the duty of converting the high
pressure water supply into fine jets of water. A groove at the base of the upper
part of the device collects the spent fluid and drains it out appropriately.

5.0MODE OF OPERATION

I. A mould is connected to the die of the extruder and it extends halfway

into the cooling compartment of the cooling device. The extrudate
while molten flows into mould and gets into the cooling chamber.

II. The pump is switched on and it begins pumping in water. The water
flows through the hose (3) into the cooling compartment.

III. At the cooling compartment, the fluid is forced into fine jets; due to the
cooling compartment’s geometry, the jets of water strike the mould
surface and the extrudate precisely.

IV. Due to rapid cooling, the extrudate leaves the mould as a solid halfway
into the cooling chamber. After leaving the mould, the jets of water
continue to spray the plastic and by the time it reaches the exit roller it
will have gained up to 80% of its full strength.

V. The exit roller guides the extrudate out of the cooling chamber. Once
out, the pipe can be cut into desired lengths.