JP2562677Y2 - Vacuum cooling device with regenerator - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum cooling device having a cool storage tank, and more particularly, to freeze and cool a cold storage agent in a spherical capsule by using nighttime electric power to produce a vegetable in the daytime. During the pre-cooling operation, the latent heat load is used to equalize the heat load at the peak time, the capacity of the brine cooler is reduced to about 1/2, and energy is saved. 2. Description of the Related Art Vegetables live and carry out living functions even after harvesting, but because they already have no roots, they consume nutrients in their own bodies and breathe. To maintain their freshness for a long time, It is important to suppress respiratory action. The best way to suppress respiratory action is to cool the product temperature to near the freezing point.
This method is called pre-cooling. Vegetable vacuum cooling equipment is used for pre-cooling vegetables. The feature is that the cooling time is short, about 30 minutes, and a large amount of vegetables can be cooled to a uniform temperature at a time, which is hygienic. Due to the short cooling time, a large-capacity brine cooler was required for heat load treatment, equipment costs were high, and high electricity rates had to be paid. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a currently used vegetable vacuum cooling apparatus, which mainly includes a vacuum tank 1, a vacuum pump 8, a cold trap 2, a freezing apparatus 4, and the like. Now, vegetables, for example, lettuce are housed and sealed in the vacuum chamber 1 and evacuated by the vacuum pump 8. When the pressure in the vacuum chamber 1 reaches 22 mmHg, the vegetable water at a product temperature of 22 ° C starts to evaporate, and when the pressure reaches 6 mmHg, the vegetables are cooled to 4 ° C by the latent heat of evaporation. If the water evaporates from the vegetables and the water becomes a gas, 1 liter of water under atmospheric pressure has a volume of about 2.2 million times when the pressure is 6 mmHg, so it is technically difficult to evacuate with a vacuum pump. Therefore, the cold trap 2 is provided, the cold trap 2 is cooled to about -5 ° C., the water vapor in the air that is exhausted from the vacuum tank 1 and passes therethrough is changed to water, and the water is drained. .
A brine cooler 4 and a cold trap 2 are used for this purpose. [0005] The vacuum cooling cycle of the vacuum cooling device for vegetables is about 30 minutes, and the evaporation time of the vegetable water is about 17 minutes. Since the heat load is applied in such a short time, a large-sized brine cooler is required. On the other hand, there is a season for harvesting vegetables, and in June,
In July, there is 80% -100% production, but in May, August,
September and October are 30% to 50%. From November to April, there will be no production and the plant will be closed. If the capacity of the equipment used increases, the electricity bill, especially the basic bill, increases. During the rest period from November to April, half of the basic charge must be paid. Therefore, reduction of the annual electricity rate is a big problem, and achieving energy saving in the vacuum cooling device for vegetables has been a problem. [0004] The inventor of the present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by installing a regenerator in a vacuum cooling device in consideration of economical operation time of a refrigerator from the viewpoint of energy saving and the like. They found that this was possible and proposed a vacuum cooling device provided with a regenerator before (Japanese Patent Application No. 59-207123 (JP-A-61-86553)). The apparatus is as shown in FIG. 3, a vacuum pump 8 for evacuating the vacuum tank 1, a cold trap 2 for condensing water vapor evaporating from vegetables, a brine cooler 4 for cooling brine circulating through the cold trap 2. in vegetable vacuum cooling device for the compressor 3 and the condenser 5 of the refrigerant circulating in the brine chiller as main components, brine circulating the cold trap 2 is frozen 60% of moisture content at about -5 ° C. is intended, together with the set up cool reservoir 6 between the brine cooler 4 and a cold trap 2, at the time of vegetable vacuum cooling refrigerant flows from the condenser 5 to the brine cooler 4 through the refrigerant three-way valve 14b, brine Flows with the brine cooler 4,
In the cold trap 2, piping is provided to condense the water vapor evaporating from the vegetables. When the vacuum cooling is stopped, the brine is retained in the cold storage tank 6, and the three-way valve 14b is switched to allow the refrigerant from the condenser 5 to cool the cold storage tank 6. The vegetable vacuum cooling device is characterized in that it flows to the ice making coil 17 installed therein and freezes the water content of the brine to form a sherbet-like shape. [0005] As a result of further research on this regenerator, the present inventors have found that the STL regenerator using a specific regenerator can save energy more efficiently, and arrived at the present invention. That is, the present invention provides a vacuum tank 1 for vacuum cooling vegetables, a vacuum pump 8 for evacuating the vacuum tank 1,
Cold trap 2 for condensing water vapor evaporating from vegetables, brine cooler 4 for cooling brine circulating through cold trap 2, compressor 3 for compressing refrigerant circulating through brine cooler 4, and condenser In a vegetable vacuum cooling device having a cold storage tank 6 between the brine cooler 4 and the cold trap 2, a cold storage agent that freezes and thaws at around -5 ° C in the cold storage tank 6 is spherical. A large number of capsules filled in the shell are stored, and at the time of nighttime vegetable cooling stop, the brine cooler 4 is operated by night power, and the brine is cooled by the brine cooler 4, the cold storage tank 6, and the brine.
While cooling by circulating exclusively to the cooler 4, the cooling
Circuit to cool the regenerator in the regenerator
During the vegetable cooling operation, the brine cooler 4 is not operated.
Then, brine was added to cold trap 2, cold storage tank 6,
Circulates to cold trap 2 and from cold trap 2
Cold storage in the cold storage tank with the heated brine
Cool using the latent heat of the agent, and cool the cooled brine
A piping circuit for cooling the vegetables by circulating in the trap 2,
At the peak of vegetable cooling, cold brine
Circulate to wrap 2, cold storage tank 6, cold trap 2
Together with a piping circuit for cooling vegetables
Operate the in-cooler 4 and convert the brine to the brine cooler 4,
Circulating to the cool storage tank 6 and the brine cooler 4,
Piping circuit to make up for the shortage of cooling brine inside
The present invention relates to a vegetable vacuum cooling device with a cold storage tank. The SLT regenerator used in the present invention is a huge cylindrical tank made of, for example, a copper plate. For example, when the internal volume is 20 m ³ , the diameter is 1900 mm, the length is 7100 mm, the weight is 27 tons, and a large number of spherical capsules 20 are packed inside. Only 35%. At the inlet and outlet, there is a flow straightening plate, and the cooled brine flows neatly while contacting the spherical capsule 20 . The capsule 20
Is a spherical plastic capsule filled with different regenerators depending on the required temperature. Latent heat is operating temperature -10
42,910 Kcal / m ³ at ℃, ³ at -6 ° C.
It is 8,360 Kcal / m ³ . FIG. 4 is an external view of the STL regenerator. FIG. 1 shows an example of a vegetable vacuum cooling device with a cool storage tank according to the present invention. A vacuum pump 8 for evacuating the vacuum tank 1 for vacuum cooling the vegetables, a cold trap 2 for condensing water vapor evaporating from the vegetables to form water droplets, a brine cooler 4 for cooling brine circulating through the cold trap 2, Circulation pumps 10 and 11 for circulating brine, a compressor 3 for freon refrigerant circulating through the brine cooler 4,
And the condenser 5 as a main component, the brine cooler 4
And a vacuum refrigerating tank provided with an STL regenerator 6 between the refrigerating tank 6 and the vacuum tank cold trap 2. The brine cooled by the brine cooler 4 flows through the regenerator 6 and is circulated by a circulation pump 11. Let it be spherical capsule 2 at night
During the pre-cooling operation of vegetables in the daytime, the circulation pump 10 is operated to utilize the latent heat of melting of the spherical capsule. When the cooling of the brine is insufficient, the brine cooler 4 is operated as a backup. That is, the brine pumps 11 and 10 are operated simultaneously during the peak pre-cooling operation of the vegetables, and the STL
The cooled brine in the cool storage tank 6 is passed through the cold trap 2 to exchange heat with water vapor evaporated from vegetables and drained as water droplets. The brine whose temperature has risen is introduced into the cool storage tank 6 and the spherical shape frozen by the heated brine is cooled. The regenerator in the capsule is melted, the brine is cooled by the latent heat of fusion, and mixed with the cooling brine sent from the brine cooler 4. If the amount of cooling of the vegetables is small, brine cooled only by the latent heat of melting of the spherical capsule regenerator frozen by night power is sufficient. When the work is stopped at night, the brine cooler 4 and the brine pump 11 are operated.
Freeze and cool the spherical capsules in the cool storage tank. The brine that can be used in the present invention can be used to reduce the surface of the cold trap from -3C to
It is necessary to cool down to -5 ° C.
Efficient cooling can be achieved by using a naive line and an aqueous solution of ethylene glycol. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following is a description of the "vegetable cooling suspension at night".
Time, "daytime vegetable cooling work""peak vegetable cooling work
Each step in each “time” will be specifically described. (1) At night heat storage operation When the heat storage operation is started in the brine system shown in FIG.
The flow does not go through the cold trap
4 "→" Cooling tank 6 "→" Brine cooler 4 "
Circuit. At 22:00 pm, brine cooler 4
Line circulation pump 11, cooling tower 7, cooling water pump 12
Operate and circulate the cooled brine to the regenerator 6
Freeze-cold accumulating coolant filled in the form capsule cell 20.
Freezing all the regenerator completes latent heat storage.
Temperature begins to drop below the solidification temperature of the regenerator
The brine temperature is set by the temperature detector 22 installed at the
Temperature below which the heat storage operation is completed and the brine cooler
4, brine circulation pump 11, cooling tower 7, cooling water pump
12 is automatically stopped. Night heat storage operation time is 22:
It is determined in 10 hours from 00 to 8:00 the next morning
Therefore, the capacity of the regenerator should be completed within 10 hours.
Select the capacity. (2) During the daytime vegetable cooling work (vegetable cooling heat ≤ cold storage tank
When the vacuum cooling operation start in the heat storage amount) days, the brine flow "code
Cold trap 2 ”→“ cool storage tank 6 ”→“ cold trap ”
2 ". The amount of cooling heat of vegetables is the amount of heat in the cold storage tank
Operation with only the brine circulation pump 10
Vegetables can be cooled. (3) At the peak of vegetable cooling work (vegetable cooling heat> cold storage tank)
When the vegetable cooling heat exceeds the heat in the cool storage tank,
Operate the brine cooler 4 during the day to replenish the lack of heat
I have to. The flow of brine is the same as (2)
But brine cooler 4, brine circulating pump 11, cooling
The tower 7 and the cooling water pump 12 are operated during the day to replenish. Pea
The amount of cooling heat at night is calculated by the amount of cold storage at night (10 hours) and during daytime.
It must not exceed the sum of the heat of cooling by the operation of the line cooler.
Cooling work during peak hours during the daytime brine cooling operation
Select a model that does not exceed the time. In the present invention,
During nighttime heat storage operation, the brine cooler 4
Is operated, and the brine is cooled by the brine cooler 4, the regenerator 6,
Circulates exclusively to line cooler 4 to cool vegetables during the day
Sometimes, brine is added to cold trap 2, regenerator 6 and
Circulates to the cold trap 2 and cools vegetables
During peak times, the brine cooler 4 is operated to reduce brine
Circulate to brine cooler 4, regenerator 6, brine cooler 4
Ring and cool brine 2 with cold trap
6. Cooling vegetables by circulating to cold trap 2
For performing these operations.
It goes without saying that the total change can be freely performed by those skilled in the art.
Not even . By installing a regenerator using a specific spherical capsule regenerator for cold trap cooling in a vacuum cooling device, a refrigerator having a capacity of about 1/2 can be operated continuously for a long time. When cooling operation is stopped, night power is used exclusively to freeze the cold storage agent in the spherical nozzle.At light load of cooling operation, the brine is cooled using only the latent heat of melting of the cold storage tank spherical capsule. Energy saving can be achieved by utilizing the latent heat of fusion of the regenerator and simultaneously operating the brine cooler to efficiently cool the brine. In the present invention, nighttime inexpensive midnight power is used.
Utilizing the storage tank filled in the spherical capsule 20 in the cold storage tank 6
Cold storage agent that freezes and stores cold agent and freezes during daytime cooling work
Use of latent heat of fusion and cooling capacity of brine cooler
To reduce the capacity of brine cooler
Downsizing of electricity and savings on basic electricity bills and electricity bills
Function. In the conventional vacuum cooling device, the brine temperature sent to the cold trap changes according to the temperature and processing amount of vegetables, and the cooling operation time varies depending on the season, etc., but by installing an STL regenerator with a large heat radiation area, Since the outlet temperature of the regenerator is always constant even if the brine temperature entering the regenerator changes greatly, the cooling time of the apparatus becomes constant and stable operation becomes possible. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described in the following embodiments. (1) Refrigerant (R-22) in brine cooler unit 4
Is compressor 3 → condenser 5 both when cooling and stopping vegetables
→ expansion valve → brine cooler 4 → compressor 3 to cool the brine. (2) At the peak of work in June, July and October, the brine flows from the cold storage tank 6 to the circulation pump 10 to the cold trap 2 to the cold storage tank 6, and at the same time, the cold storage tank 6 to the circulation pump 11 to the brine cooler 4 to the cold storage. The cooling capacity is the sum of the brine chiller and the latent heat of fusion of the spherical capsule. (3) During a light load of cooling vegetables in May, August and September, brine flows from the cold storage tank 6 to the circulation pump 10 to the cold trap 2 to the cold storage tank 6. When necessary, the brine cooler 4 is backed up by turning the temperature controller on and off. (4) When the nighttime operation is stopped, the brine flows from the regenerator 6 to the circulation pump 11 to the brine cooler 4 to the regenerator 6, and exclusively cools and freezes the spherical capsule regenerator. (5) Use of Vacuum Cooling Device and Electric Charge Table 1 shows the specifications of the case where vegetables are cooled using the vacuum cooling device having the cool storage tank of the present invention and the conventional method without the cool storage tank. [Table 1] Table 2 shows the features of the present invention and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-85553. [Table 2] [0013] The cold storage system makes the device compact.
Capacity can refrigerator becomes 1/2 or less of the conventional non-cold storage system, cooling tower with it, also reduces fixtures such as circulation pumps, equipment is reduced, energy saving can be achieved, contract basic with it Save about 30% on fees,
The use of late-night electricity also reduced electricity bills by 25%.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vacuum cooling device with a cold storage tank of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional vacuum cooling device. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a vacuum cooling device disclosed in JP-A-61-86553. FIG. 4 is an external view of an STL regenerator. [Description of Signs] 1 vacuum tank 2 cold trap 3 compressor 4 brine cooler 5 condenser 6 cold storage tank 7 cooling tower 8 vacuum pump 9 brine piping 10 brine circulation pump (P2) 11 brine circulation pump (P1) 12 cooling water Pump 13 Cooling water pipe 14b Three-way valve (refrigerant) 15a Expansion valve (brine cooler) 15b Expansion valve (cooling coil) 17 Brine cooling coil 19 Cool storage tank cooling coil 20 Spherical capsule 21 Brine 22 Temperature detector W Drain discharge

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims for Utility Model Registration] A vacuum tank 1 for vacuum cooling vegetables, a vacuum pump 8 for evacuating the vacuum tank 1, a cold trap 2 for condensing water vapor evaporated from vegetables, A brine cooler 4 for cooling brine circulating in the trap 2, a compressor 3 for compressing a refrigerant circulating in the brine cooler 4
And a condenser 5 having a condenser 5 as a main component and a refrigerating tank 6 provided between the brine cooler 4 and the cold trap 2 in which the refrigerating tank 6 freezes and thaws at about -5 ° C. in the refrigerating tank 6. A large number of capsules filled in a spherical shell with the agent are stored, and at the time of the nighttime vegetable cooling stop, the brine cooler 4 is operated by the night power, and the brine is cooled by the brine cooler.
4, circulating exclusively to regenerator 6 and brine cooler 4 for cooling
Cooling the regenerator in the regenerator with the cooling brine
Plumbing circuit during daytime vegetable cooling
The in-cooler 4 is not operated and the brine is
Circulate to the top 2, the cold storage tank 6, and the cold trap 2.
Bring the heated brine from the cold trap 2 into the regenerator
Using the latent heat of the regenerator cooled at night,
Circulate cooling brine to cold trap 2 to cool vegetables
At the peak during vegetable cooling work
, Cold brine 2, cold storage tank 6, cold
To cool the vegetables by circulating them to the trap 2
The brine cooler 4 is operated together with the piping circuit for
The brine cooler 4, regenerator 6, brine cooler 4
And circulate the water to remove the shortage of cooling brine in the cold storage tank 6.
Vegetable vacuum cooling equipment with cold storage tank consisting of piping circuit to supplement
Place.