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EP-4721920-A9 - METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF PARTICLES IN POLISHING PROCESSES USING SOLID PARTICLES WITH ELECTROLYTE IN A LIQUID ENVIRONMENT

EP4721920A9EP 4721920 A9EP4721920 A9EP 4721920A9EP-4721920-A9

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles containing an electrolyte, in a liquid environment. The method comprises: a step of absorbing the liquid (4) from the container (3) where the particles (2) are located; a step of thermally adjusting the liquid (4); and a step of reincorporating the liquid (4) after its thermal adjustment into the container (3) to control the temperature of the particles. And the equipment (1) comprises: a duct circuit (10), with an inlet mouth (101) and an outlet mouth (102) in the container (3); a suction pump (11); a filter (12) with a mesh (121) that does not allow particles (2) to pass through; and a heat exchanger (13).

Inventors

  • ROMAGOSA CALATAYUD, PAU
  • GUITART MONTALBAN, FRANCESC

Assignees

  • Steros GPA Innovative, S.L.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240603

Claims (16)

  1. A method for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment that is applicable to polishing processes by means of solid particles (2) immersed in a liquid (4), inside a container (3), which allows controlling the temperature of the particles (2), preventing a lack of control of said temperature from occurring due to, for example, conduction of current, characterised in that it comprises, at least: - a step of absorbing the liquid (4) contained in the container (3) where the particles (2) are immersed; - a step of adjusting the temperature of said liquid (4) outside the container (3); and - a step of reincorporating the liquid (4) with the adjusted temperature into the container (3) to, in turn, adjust the temperature of the particles.
  2. The method for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to claim 1, characterised in that the step of adjusting the temperature with the liquid (4) outside the container (3) is carried out by passing it through a heat exchanger (13) located outside the container (3).
  3. The method for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that prior to or in the very step of absorbing the liquid (4), a step for filtering the liquid (4) is provided prior to the thermal adjustment step that prevents the particles (2) from passing.
  4. Equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment that is applicable to part polishing processes by means of solid particles (2) with an electrolyte that are immersed, inside of a container (3), in a conductive or non-conductive liquid (4), characterised in that it comprises: - a duct circuit (10), suitable for circulating the liquid (4), which has an inlet mouth (101) and an outlet mouth (102) in the container (3); - a suction pump (11), with power suitable for causing the liquid (4) to circulate throughout the entire path of the duct circuit (10); - a filter (12) equipped with a fine mesh (121) with a lumen size such that it allows the liquid (4) when aspirated by the pump (11) to pass through it, but not the solid particles (2); and - a heat exchanger (13), inserted in the duct circuit (10) downstream of the filter (12) and of the pump (11), where the temperature of the liquid (4), as it passes through the same, is adjusted before returning to the container (3) through the outlet mouth (102).
  5. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to claim 4, characterised in that the inlet mouth (101) to the duct circuit (10) from which the liquid (4) is aspirated by the pump (11) is integrated into the filter (12) and located at the bottom of the container (3).
  6. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to claim 4, characterised in that the inlet mouth (101) is located at some height along the vertical axis of the container (3).
  7. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to any of claims 4-6, characterised in that the outlet mouth (102) of the duct circuit (10), from which liquid (4) with the already adjusted temperature is returned to the container (3), is at the top thereof.
  8. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to any of claims 4-6, characterised in that the outlet mouth (102) is located at some height along the vertical axis of the container (3).
  9. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to claims 5 to 8, characterised in that there are more than one outlet mouth (102) and/or more than one inlet mouth (101) of the duct circuit (10), located along the perimeter of the container.
  10. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to claim 9, characterised in that the outlet mouth (102) of the duct circuit (10), from which liquid (4), already thermally adjusted, is returned to the container (3), is suspended above the surface of the liquid (4) contained in the container (3), so that after thermal adjustment, it falls inside the same by gravity.
  11. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to any of claims 4 to 10, characterised in that the filter (12) is a device comprising a hollow body (122) of elongate configuration that is attached to the wall of the container (3), having a lower portion (123) that has an equally long and narrow front inlet opening (124), where it incorporates the mesh (121) that allows the liquid (4) to pass through it and prevents the particles (2) from passing through it, and an upper portion (125) with a support (126) for fastening to the upper edge of the container (3).
  12. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to claim 11, characterised in that said filter (12) incorporates therein a tube (103) that runs along its entire length and has a splice connector (127) at the top, acting as an extension of the duct circuit (10) with the inlet mouth (101) at its lower end, through which the liquid (4) rises.
  13. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to any of claims 4 to 12, characterised in that the heat exchanger (13) is a plate exchanger (131).
  14. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to any of claims 4 to 13, characterised in that the container (3) is incorporated inside a cooling jacket (5) that surrounds it externally and has a cooling fluid inlet (51) at the bottom and a cooling fluid outlet (52) at the top.
  15. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to any of claims 4 to 14, characterised in that the tube circuit (10) incorporates an emulsifying element of the moderating liquid (4).
  16. The equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment, according to any of claims 4 to 15, characterised in that the suction pump (11) is configured including an expiration cycle.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention, as stated in the title of this specification, relates to a method and to equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles, providing advantages and features to the function for which it is intended and which are described later on in detail. The object of the present invention relates to a method applicable to polishing processes or surface treatment of materials by means of solid particles, particularly relevant in electropolishing systems by means of solid particles loaded with an electrolyte and located inside a container, with the aim of controlling the temperature of the particles. During the polishing or electropolishing process by means of solid particles, a lack of temperature control may occur either due to the Joule effect generated during conduction of electrical current through the particles or the part to be polished, or due to friction or a combination of both effects. These temperature fluctuations can affect both the results of the surface treatment and the degradation of the solid particles, thereby reducing their useful life, affecting the conductivity and therefore the effectiveness of the treatment, which may no longer be homogeneous and/or repetitive. Furthermore, a second aspect of the invention relates to temperature adjustment equipment, such as cooling equipment, applicable to a container of a polishing system by means of solid particles via a liquid environment, which comprises a circuit with a specific filter that forces only the circulation of the liquid, with the possibility of its recirculation after being directed through a heat exchanger and being returned to the container again. FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The field of application of the present invention falls within the industry sector dedicated to surface treatment, encompassing the industrial sector dedicated to the treatment of metal surfaces, with applications in any field, and particularly covering electropolishing processes by means of solid particles. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Methods for polishing surfaces in which the parts to be treated are polished by friction and/or through conductive particles incorporated into a container are known in the state of the art. For example, document PCT/ES2017/070247 discloses a "Method for smoothing and polishing metals via ion transport by means of free solid bodies, and solid bodies for carrying out said method", which, after the connection of the parts to be treated to the positive pole (anode) of a current generator, includes the friction of the part with a set of particles made up of free electrically conductive solid bodies charged with a negative electrical charge and the introduction of said parts into a container or tank, in friction with a set of particles that are incorporated into said container and that contact electrically with the negative pole (cathode) of the current generator. One problem associated with said method is that during the polishing process by means of solid particles containing an electrolyte inside a container, the particles vary their temperature due to physical phenomena that occur during the surface treatment process, such as conduction of current or friction forces. This variation in temperature may alter the result of the treatment and degrade the solid particles, causing a decrease in their useful life. Furthermore, the increase in temperature also affects qualities such as conductivity, and therefore the polishing process, which depends on the conductivity of the process, is not homogeneous and/or repetitive. This means that, depending on the temperature of the particles, the polishing process is one or another, which may not be acceptable for the desired result in certain products. Therefore, an objective of the present invention is the development of a method and equipment for controlling the temperature of particles. The existence of temperature control systems in polishing systems, either by liquid recirculation or by direct contact by means of heat exchangers, is known. By applying these methods in a polishing system by means of solid particle friction and/or conductive solid particles, it is not possible to achieve sufficient thermal control to ensure optimal, homogeneous, constant and repetitive results. By applying thermal regulation by recirculating the product through a circuit through which heat is exchanged, as can be found in conventional electropolishing systems. In this case, there is a problem associated with the inability to pump the particles, since they are not inside a fluid that does not meet the features for the assembly to be pumpable. Given the difficulty in recirculation and the high probability of clogging the recirculation system, thermal control using this method is not possible. The systems that the following invention applies to are defined by discrete media and do not exhibit physical continuity between t