On June 24, 2025, Dongguan Villo Technology Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Villo”) and its subsidiary, Villo & Envsafe Environmental Protection and Safety Research Institute (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (“Villo Envsafe”), were officially granted a groundbreaking invention patent (Patent No. ZL 202011492089.X) by the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The patent focuses on a “High-Temperature Spark Detection Device Installed on the Top of a Spray Drying Tower and Its Application Method,” marking a significant technical breakthrough for Villo in combustible dust safety monitoring and offering a new solution for intrinsic safety and intelligent hazard prevention in the spray drying industry.
Technical Background: High-Risk Zones Lacking Effective Spark Monitoring
Spray drying is widely used in industries such as food, dairy, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals due to its efficiency and convenience. However, the upper area of spray drying towers often becomes a high-risk zone for fires and explosions due to static electricity or friction sparks in environments with continuous high temperature, low humidity, and high dust concentration. Given the small particle size and flammability of dust, traditional fire protection measures struggle to provide early detection and coordinated response to sparks. Enhancing real-time spark detection and automated intervention under high-temperature conditions has become a critical challenge for the industry.
Patent Innovations: High Temperature, Wide Angle, Smart Linkage
- Wide-angle high-temp detection: Durable probes operate under high temperatures with wide visual coverage, enabling dead-zone-free monitoring at the tower top.
- High-speed optical fiber transmission: Flexible fiber-optic communication ensures fast, stable signal transmission in high-heat settings.
- Intelligent linkage control: Based on a microcontroller platform, the system triggers alarms, stops hot air flow, and activates spray systems upon spark detection—forming a smart response loop.
- Modular integrated design: The device integrates mounting plates, protective covers, stainless steel tubing, probe holders, and universal nozzles for fast deployment and maintenance.
Implementation Advantages: Reliable, Automatic, Scalable
- Auto-cleaning:
Universal duckbill nozzles release high-pressure air to clean probe lenses and prevent dust build-up or false alarms.
- Custom adaptability:
Installation structure and probe count are easily tailored to tower size and process needs.
- Maintenance-friendly:
Modular structure supports fast replacement, upgrades, and multi-scenario expansion.
Industry Impact: From Reactive to Preventive Safety
This patented device has passed multiple functional tests and is ready for wide adoption in food, dairy, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. Its core value lies in:
- Advancing intrinsic safety through effective fire/explosion prevention and protection for people and equipment;
- Enabling smart manufacturing with real-time safety monitoring and automation;
- Supporting high-quality growth by reducing accidents and operational losses, enhancing green, safe, and sustainable competitiveness across industries.
Villo will continue to drive innovation and collaborate with industry partners to advance industrial safety technology and empower safer manufacturing in China and globally.
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