BECCA was given the task of creating an economical air drying system under $5,000 that would be effective. Adding on to the challenge of creating a low-priced system that produces quality results, the system also needed to meet a variety of requirements. It had a few key features:
- Use of standard air delivery components (HVAC Round Duct) that are readily available at local Hardware stores to assist when additional components are needed
- Simple intake filter design that could be easily replaced
- Component flexibility to accommodate any spray booth design
- High performance air generation system at a very low operating cost
During BECCA’s quest to create this new model, the company challenged itself to go further and create a product that would meet demands of the industry that other designs in the market were unable to. The staff decided it would create a system that had the following features:
- Damper control to regulate the air based on performance needs
- Directional control that would provide the ability to handle any situation
- Simple design that would make for faster installation
- Installation instruction
- 4D Air Technology – This was the most important factor of all. 4D Air Technology is the ability to change the way the air is delivered, which is different than all other high velocity air systems. The ability to create an environment that works for all paint materials—solvent or waterborne— and reduce the drying time significantly without stirring contamination is crucial. In all other systems, high air velocities cause contamination, which has been and continues to be a significant cost that requires secondary processes for the removal of contaminants. The key to 4D technology is Dynamic Air Movement, the latest technology from BECCA. Read more
Combining all of those qualities, BECCA came up with its Flash Dry Rapid Drying System.
The Biggest Obstacle in Drying Paint
The biggest obstacle in paint drying with air movement systems is breaking the boundary layer. The boundary layer on vehicles or parts is a difficult barrier to overcome in the paint drying process. When the boundary layer is not broken, drying times dramatically increase. The boundary layer is a layer of stationary vapor (water or solvent) surrounding an object when air is moving around it. The boundary layer, depending on how the air is aimed, is usually small at first contact. As the air continues to move along the surface, the boundary layer increases. If there is an obstruction — like door handles, bumper grills, or fog light— the layer will extend significantly, making it more difficult to dry.
Air movement in paint booths has efficiently improved the drying times of wet paint on vehicles or parts. There are several different air movement methods used in drying systems, including directed air; turbulent air; and the newest—dynamic air, which is used in the Flash Dry system.
Dynamic Air Movement
The newest technology, Dynamic Air Movement, is used to vastly improve drying speeds by making the booth environment into a drying chamber. Dynamic Air Movement is a key component in making the Flash Dry Rapid Drying System as effective as it is. The steady pressure, as well as inconsistent velocity air movement, creates an ideal drying environment for the most difficult places, like bumper grills and fog light areas. The multidirectional movement of the air created by working with the existing air movement, cross draft, downdraft, or semi-downdraft, allows for the penetration of the boundary layer and effectively dries every surface of the vehicle, including hard to dry surfaces like bumpers.
Dynamic Air Movement’s ability to break the boundary layer is important in the drying process. The boundary layer is a layer of vapor that creates a barrier that traps the remaining solvents in the paint. If a drying system is unable to break the boundary layer, the process time is extended. If the next application happens too quickly, the paint job could be ruined, which will either require a redo or will not last as long. Dynamic air moves the vapor, dries in a consistent fashion, and results in the reduction of process time.
The number one obstacle in successfully drying cars in an efficient manner is the unit’s ability to break the boundary layer at all surfaces, including the most difficult. Dynamic Air Systems have been found to have the best results in successfully breaking the boundary layer and drying wet surfaces more effectively and efficiently than other types of air movement systems. Read more
To learn more about Flash Dry click here.