JPH03216112A - Perishable food storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To compact a carbon dioxide adsorber by installing a specific flow channel changing parts at the upper stream side and the downstream side of plural adsorbent to adsorb and remove excess carbon dioxide gas divided by a partition plates and laying intervals between the changing part and the adsorbing materials. CONSTITUTION:A carbon dioxide gas adsorber 102 consisting of plural adsorbent 135 divided by inner partition plates 139 and flow channel changing parts 136 and 137 made of dampers 152-159 at the upper stream side and the downstream side of the adsorbent is covered with an outer box 138. A distance through which a circulating gas is passed is short, reduction in an amount of circulating air caused by pressure loss is small and a few connecting pipings exist.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fresh produce storage device that allows fresh produce such as vegetables and fruits to be stored for long periods of time at production sites or distribution stages.

Conventional techniques Refrigerated storage is a common means of storing raw materials, but in addition to this, there is also a long-term storage method that involves changing the air composition within the storage room. In other words, by reducing the oxygen O2 concentration and increasing the carbon dioxide CQ2 concentration in the storage room, it is possible to suppress the respiration of fresh produce and also prevent chemical reactions such as alteration and decomposition by microorganisms and oxidation. Are known.

Referring to the drawings below, this conventional Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-
Publication No. 201407 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a storage such as a pre-fabricated refrigerator for storing perishables, and a cooling device 7 consisting of a compressor 2, a condenser 3, an evaporator 4, and blowers 6 is mounted on the top.

Connected to the storage 1 are a carbon dioxide gas generator 8 for filling the interior with carbon dioxide gas CO2, and a carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 for adsorbing and removing excess carbon dioxide 7CO in the combustion gas. There is. The carbon dioxide generator 8 includes an introduction pipe 1o that introduces air inside the storage 1.
and a connecting pipe 11 that guides the calcined gas generated here to the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9, and is composed of a P calcining furnace 12, a catalyst tube 13, a preheater 14, and a cooler 15. 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a blower, which is installed in a connecting pipe 11 between the cooler 16 and the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9, guides the air in the storage 1 to the carbon dioxide gas generator 8 through the introduction pipe 10, and adsorbs carbon dioxide through the connecting pipe 11. It is sent to device 9. The combustion furnace 12 includes an inner casing 18 having a heat insulating pipe 17 on its inner surface, and an outer casing having a heat insulating pipe 20 on its inner surface forming an air passage 19 between the inner casing 18 and the inner casing 18 for supplying secondary combustion air. 21 and
a grate 23 on which solid fuel 22 is placed within the heat insulating pipe 17;
It is composed of an ignition heater 24 that heats the combustion air to combust the solid fuel 22. Inner casing 18
The outer casing 21 partitions the air passage 19 into upper and lower parts with a partition plate 26. Reference numeral 26 denotes a branch part for the combustion air to be circulated to the combustion furnace 12. This branch part 26 and the lower part of the non-burning furnace 12 are connected by a connecting pipe 27, and the branch part 26 and the air passage 19 of the combustion furnace 12 are connected to each other by a connecting pipe 27. It is connected to the upper part of the body by a connecting pipe 28. The solid fuel 22 is highly pure carbon and is combusted by a reaction of C+o+N-+CQ2+N2, and the combustion gas becomes charcoal 22 acid gas Co and nitrogen N.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a connecting pipe that guides combustion gas from the combustion furnace 12 to the catalyst tube 13, and has a heat insulating pipe 3o on its inner surface.

The catalyst tube 13 includes a heat insulating tube 31, an upper filter 33 in a casing 32, and two catalysts 34 below it. 35 is a heater for heating the catalyst, and is installed between the two catalysts 34. Reference numeral 36 denotes a connecting pipe for guiding the combustion gas from the catalyst pipe 13 to the preheater 14, and is provided with a heat insulating pipe 37 on the inner surface. The preheater 14 includes a heat exchanger 4o inside a casing 39 that includes an insulated pipe 38. The heat exchanger 4o is
It is composed of a plurality of pipes 41 and a plurality of fins 42 arranged so that air flows in a meandering manner on the outside of the pipe.

The combustion gas that has been circulated through the catalyst tube 13 passes through the pipe of this heat exchanger 4o, and the air in the storage 1 introduced through the introduction pipe 10 from the upper inlet 43 on the outside of the pipe is passed through.
The outside of the pipe is meandered and circulated up to the lower outlet part 44, and the connecting pipe 45 connected to the outlet part 44 connects the branch part 26.
It is connected to Reference numeral 46 denotes a connecting pipe that guides the combustion gas from the preheater 14 to the cooler 15. 47 is a cooling fan for the cooler.

On the other hand, the carbon dioxide adsorption device @9 is for adsorbing excess carbon dioxide gas CO2 in the combustion gas and discharging it outside the storage 1. Inlet pipes 60, 51 and discharge pipes 52, 5 are connected to the two adsorbers 48, 49 so that combustion gas alternately circulates.
3. Consists of switching valves 54 and 55. Adsorber 4
8.49 is filled with adsorbent 56.67.
When carbon dioxide gas C○2 is adsorbed and the adsorption capacity decreases, the blower 68 switches the outside air to the valve 69 and the exhaust pipe 6 2.
Air is blown to the adsorber 48 or 49 through the introduction pipe 60 or 61 connected to the 53, and carbon dioxide gas is introduced therein.
Discharge pipes 52, 6 connected to the inlet pipe 50 or 61
3. The exhaust pipe 65 is configured to be exhausted to the atmosphere through the switching valve 64.

For example, when the suction device 48 is performing an adsorption function and the adsorber 49 is performing a desorption function, the switching valves 54 and 66 allow the twisting gas to flow through the inlet pipe 60, adsorber 48, and discharge pipe 62. In addition, the switching valves 59 and 64 open in the direction in which outside air flows through the inlet pipe 61, adsorber 49, and discharge pipe 63 by the blower 58, and are exhausted to the atmosphere through the exhaust pipe 65. Ru. The exhaust pipe 66 connects the switching pulp 66 and the storage. Reference numeral 67 denotes a switching valve which is provided in the introduction pipe 1o and has one side open to the atmosphere. 68 is a switching valve, which is provided between the cooler 16 and the blower 16,
And the connecting pipe 69 connects the introduction pipe 1o and the switching valve 68.
is connected. A controller 7o controls the air volume of the blower 16, and the air volume is determined by a signal from a gas monitor 71 that detects the gas concentration in the storage 1. 7
2 is a chamber, which is a container provided in the introduction pipe 10 between the storage 1 and the switching valve 670, and a gas monitor 7;
1 sampling tube 73 is connected.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above configuration, the piping configuration force on the upstream and downstream sides of the adsorber is complicated, and the flow path switching part and the adsorbent are also connected by piping. ing.

For this reason, the amount of circulating air decreases due to pressure loss in this part, and in order to secure the necessary amount of circulating air, a large blower is required.
This had the problem of increasing the size of the equipment and increasing the number of connections.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a compact and inexpensive fresh food storage device.

Means to Eliminate Charges In order to solve the above problem, the fresh produce storage device of the present invention includes a plurality of adsorbents separated by internal partition plates that adsorb and remove excess carbon dioxide, and an adsorbent. The carbon dioxide carbon dioxide is composed of dampers on the upstream and downstream sides, and a flow path switching section that switches the gas flow direction and the flow path is integrated, and a gap is provided between the adsorbent and the flow path switching section. It is equipped with a gas adsorption device.

Function: With the above-described configuration, the gas flowing through the adsorbent material becomes a laminar flow, so that the adsorption capacity is not deteriorated, and the distance through which the circulating gas passes is short, and the amount of circulating air is prevented from decreasing due to pressure loss. A fresh produce storage device that can secure the required amount of circulating air with a small and compact blower, reduce the number of connecting pipes, and simplify the container for storing the adsorbent 136, making the device more compact and inexpensive. This means that we can provide the following.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, a fresh food storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a fresh produce storage device in an embodiment of the present invention.

In the description, parts that are the same as the conventional one will be given the same numbers, and parts that are different from the conventional one will be given numbers starting from 101.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a storage such as a prefab refrigerator for storing perishables, including a compressor 2, a condenser 3, an evaporator 4,
A cooling device 7 consisting of blowers 5 and 6 is mounted on the top. The storage 1 includes a carbon dioxide gas generating device 101 for filling the interior with carbon dioxide gas C○2, and a carbon dioxide gas adsorption device 102 for adsorbing and removing excess carbon dioxide gas C○2 in the combustion gas. It is connected. The carbon dioxide gas generator 101 is
The combustion furnace 105 and the twisting furnace 10 are arranged between an introduction pipe 103 that introduces air in the storage 1 and a connecting pipe 104 that leads the twisting gas generated here to the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102.
5. A preheater 106 which exchanges heat with combustion gas to preheat the air used for combustion, which is provided in contact with the upper part, and a combustion gas cooler 107.
It consists of

Reference numeral 108 denotes a blower, which is installed in the connecting pipe 104 between the cooler 107 and the carbon dioxide gas intake device 102, and guides the air in the storage 1 to the combustion furnace 106 through the introduction pipe 103, and further connects the combustion furnace 1
After cooling the combustion gas generated in step 05 with cooler 107,
It is led to the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102 through a connecting pipe 104. The combustion furnace 105 has an inner casing 110 equipped with a heat insulating pipe 109 on the inner surface, and a heat insulating plate 11 on the inner surface forming an air passage 111 between the inner casing 110 and the inner casing 110 for supplying combustion air.
It consists of an outer casing 113 with 2. 1
14 is solid fuel, which is an insulated pipe 109 of the inner casing 110.
filled inside. 116 is a grate, solid combustion 11
4 is listed.

Reference numeral 116 denotes an ignition heater that heats combustion air to combust the solid fuel 114. The solid fuel 114 is highly pure carbon, and when burned, it produces 9C+Q2+N2-CO2+N.
In reaction 2, the combustion gas becomes carbon dioxide gas CO2 and nitrogen N2.

117 is a partition plate that directs combustion air to the inner casing 10.
A heat insulating plate 112 provided on the inner surface of the outer casing 113 and the inner casing 110 is provided to form the air passage 111 for guiding the air into the inner casing 9 . The air passage 111 has an upper end opened to an outlet 119 on the outside of the combustion air tube provided at the contact surface 118 between the combustion furnace 105 and the preheater 106 , and a lower end opened to the inside of the combustion furnace 106 , which communicates with the inner casing 110 . It is open to Reference numeral 120 denotes a secondary combustion air hole, which opens in the upper part of the partition plate 117 through which the combustion gas after reacting with the solid fuel 114 passes. The preheater 106 is composed of a pipe 122 through which combustion gas having a higher temperature than the inner side of the pipe 121 flows, and fins 123 configured so that combustion air flows meandering around the outside of the pipe 122, and is connected to the combustion furnace 105. They are placed in contact with each other at the contact surface 118. 124 and 125 are covers that cover the preheater 108. Further, a heat insulating plate 126 is provided on the inner surface of the cover 124. The cooler 107 is connected to the pipe 1 of the preheater 106.
22 and is provided with a cooling fan 127 for cooling the pipe 122.

128 is a catalyst, which functions to oxidize carbon monoxide generated by incomplete combustion in the combustion gas and replace it with carbon dioxide. The catalyst 128 has a through-cylindrical portion 130 provided in a part of a case 129 that partitions a flow path of combustion gas.
and is provided above the inner casing 110. 131 is a diaphragm plate, and the inner casing 110
The combustion gas is allowed to pass through a throttle hole 132 provided at the center of the throttle plate 131 and provided with a flange at the periphery on the inner casing 110 side. 133 is solid fuel 11
It is a filter that removes the ash contained in 4.
It is provided between the catalyst 128 and the aperture plate 131. 1
34 is a heater for heating the catalyst, and is provided upstream of the catalyst 128.

On the other hand, the carbon dioxide gas adsorption device 102 is intended to adsorb excess carbon dioxide gas C2 in the combustion gas and discharge it to the outside of the storage 1. The carbon dioxide adsorption device 102 includes an adsorbent 136
Flow path switching section 13 provided upstream and downstream of this adsorbent 135
6,137, and the entire body is covered with a 138 outer box. Reference numerals 139 to 161 are internal partition plates, which partition each part so that there is no leakage inside. 152 to 159 are dampers for flow path switching, dampers 162 to 1, respectively.
Ventilation holes 160 to 167 provided in the internal partition plate facing 59
It is designed to open and close. Reference numerals 168 to 171 are communication holes that communicate between the flow path switching sections 136 and 137 and a gap 172' that accommodates the filter 172 and is provided between the adsorbent 136 (see FIG. 3 for details). 173 to 176 are internal partition plates 1
These are ventilation holes provided at 42, 143, 147, and 148.

176′ and 176″ are side plates that cover the flow path switching units 136 and 137 and close off the outer box 138. 177 is a discharge pipe that connects the flow path switching unit 137 on the downstream side of the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102.
and storage 1 are connected. Reference numeral 178 denotes a blower for removing and removing air, and is provided to blow into the flow path switching section 137.

Reference numeral 179 denotes an exhaust pipe, which is provided in the flow path switching section 136 and performs exhaust during regeneration.

Reference numeral 180 denotes a flow path switching section, which is provided between the carbon dioxide gas generator 101 and the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102. Outer box 18
1 is divided by internal partition plates 182 to 184 so that each part is not omitted. Reference numerals 185 to 188 designate dampers for switching flow paths, which open and close ventilation holes 189 to 192 provided in the outer box 181 and inner partition plates 1 82, 1 83, and 1 84 facing each damper 185 to 188. It is set up.

Reference numeral 193 denotes a gas monitor, which is connected through a sampling tube 194 so as to sample the gas inside the introduction pipe 103. A controller 196 controls the air volume of the blower 108, and the air volume is determined by a signal from the gas monitor 193.

Regarding the raw material storage device configured as described above, the first
The operation will be explained using FIGS.

The atmosphere inside storage 1 was initially N2=79%, 02=21
%, and when the carbon dioxide gas generator 101 is operated, the air inside the refrigerator is blown 1'! 108 is introduced into the outside of the preheater 106 from the introduction pipe 103 through the ventilation hole 190 and the introduction pipe 1Q3, and is heated to a high temperature through heat exchange. The solid fuel 114 is introduced into the solid fuel 114, heated by the ignition heater 116, and used for combustion of the solid fuel 114.

The reaction of C+o+N −+CO2+N2 causes combustion y. The charcoal 2 2 becomes acid gas Co2 and nitrogen N2, passes through the throttle hole 132 filter 133, completely oxidizes and purifies carbon monoxide generated by incomplete combustion in the catalyst 128, and passes through the inside of the tube of the preheater 106 to be cooled. After being cooled in the container 107, it passes through the ventilation hole 192 of the flow path switching section 180 and the blower 108 through the connecting pipe 104, and further passes through the connecting pipe 104, the ventilation holes 173, 161, and the communication hole 168, and enters the gap 172'. enter. Gap 172
' is a pressure chamber, and gas enters the adsorbent 136 on the left side in a laminar flow state. Here, carbon dioxide Co is the adsorbent 1
Only the nitrogen N2 adsorbed by 35 flows through the communication hole 170.
, through holes 165 and 176, and is circulated to the storage 1 through a discharge pipe 177. After a certain period of time has elapsed, the dampers 152 to 159 are switched so that the adsorbent 135 through which the P sintering gas circulates is switched from the left side to the right side, and the ventilation holes 17
3, 1 60, passes through the communication hole 169 and enters the interval i172'. The gap 172' becomes a pressure chamber and gas enters the adsorbent 135 on the right side in a laminar flow state. Here, carbon dioxide gas C○2 is again adsorbed by the adsorbent 135 on the right side, and nitrogen N
Two pieces pass through the communication hole 171 and the ventilation holes 164 and 175 and are circulated to the storage 1 through the discharge pipe 177. After a certain period of time has elapsed again, the adsorbent 135 switches from the right side to the left side, and the combustion gas alternately circulates. During this time, absorbent material 1 on the left
36 reaches the limit of its adsorption capacity for carbon dioxide C○2, and the carbon dioxide C○2 in the combustion gas is no longer able to be adsorbed and is exhausted into the storage 1 through the discharge pipe 177. Carbon dioxide gas CO2 concentration begins to increase gradually. 76rn'
This is the state about 2 hours after the start of operation in a storage warehouse 1 with a size of . During this time, the oxygen 02 concentration in storage 1 was initially 21%.
continues to decrease. The gas concentration in storage 1 is changed to oxygen 02
-5%, carbon dioxide gas CO2 = 5%, nitrogen N2 = 90% as the predetermined values, the carbon dioxide gas in storage 1 increases by 5%.
The gas monitor 193 indicates that the inlet pipe 103 has reached the
When detected by performing gas sampling within
The blower 178 for desorption of the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102 is operated, and regeneration of the adsorbent 135 is started. For example, the adsorbent 135 on the right side allows combustion gas to circulate and generate carbon dioxide CQ2.
When the absorbent material 135 on the left side is adsorbing the air blower 17
8 allows outside air to flow through ventilation holes 176, 167, and communication hole 170.
and enters the interval [172'.

The gap 172' becomes a pressure chamber, and gas is blown in a laminar flow state to the adsorbent 136 on the left side, thereby adhering carbon dioxide gas CO2 and regenerating it. Since this is performed alternately at regular intervals, the concentration of carbon dioxide gas CO2 in the storage 1 is maintained at a predetermined 6%. On the other hand, the oxygen Q2 concentration continues to decrease because it is being used for combustion during that time, and reaches the predetermined 5% after 10 hours.The gas monitor 193 detects this, and the carbon dioxide gas generator 101 and carbon dioxide adsorption device 1 0
Stop 2. Now, the inside of the storage 1 has the predetermined gas concentrations: oxygen Q2-5%, carbon dioxide C○2-5%, nitrogen N2-9.
It becomes 0% and storage starts. Oxygen 02 concentration is 6
%, dampers 1 86, 1 87, 1 88 of the flow path switching unit 180 simultaneously switch the introduction pipe 103
, the ventilation hole 191, the blower 108, and the connecting pipe 104 are switched so as to communicate with each other. Thereafter, by operating the feeder 108 at regular intervals and detecting the gas in the inlet pipe 103 with the gas monitor 193, carbon dioxide gas CO2 generated by the respiration of the fresh food stored in the storage 1 is detected. When the predetermined concentration of 5% is exceeded, the carbon dioxide adsorption device operates and adsorbs carbon dioxide CQ2 until the predetermined concentration is reached. To explain this operation, when the gas monitor 193 detects that a predetermined concentration has been exceeded, the blower 108 is operated and the gas in the storage 1 is transferred to the inlet pipe 103, the ventilation hole 191, the blower 108, the connecting pipe 104, and the ventilation hole. 173, 161, and the communication hole 168 to enter the gap 172'. The gap 172' becomes a pressure chamber and is introduced into the adsorbent 135 on the left side in a laminar flow state, and excess carbon dioxide Co2 is adsorbed by the adsorbent 135.
and circulates to storage. On the other hand, the adsorbent 135 on the right side
The outside air is supplied to the ventilation holes 176 and 166 by the blower 178.
, passes through the communication hole 171 and enters the gap 172'. Gap 1
Reference numeral 72' serves as a pressure chamber, which blows air in a laminar flow state to the adsorbent 136 on the right side, thereby adhering carbon dioxide gas C2. Since this is applied alternately at regular intervals, the carbon dioxide C○2 concentration in the storage returns to the predetermined concentration.

In addition, oxygen 02 becomes insufficient due to the respiration of fresh food.
When the amount falls below a predetermined value of 6%, outside air is introduced into the storage 1 by the blower 178 and replenished.

The introduction route is a blower 178, ventilation holes 176, 166, 1
64,1715 It passes through the discharge pipe 177 and is introduced into the storage 1. At the same time, the gas in the storage 1 is discharged from the exhaust pipe 19. The exhaust route includes a ventilation hole 191, a blower 108,
Connecting pipe 1o4, ventilation holes 173, 161, 163, 174
, and is discharged through the exhaust pipe 179.

Next, the operation of ventilating the gas in the storage 1 in order to finish storage and take out the raw material in the storage 1 will be explained.

Ventilation switch (not shown) on control panel (not shown)
By turning ON, the blower 108 is operated, and the gas in the storage 1 is transferred to the inlet pipe 1o3, the ventilation hole 191, the blower 107, the connecting pipe 1o4, and the ventilation holes 173, 161, 163.
, 174, and is discharged into the atmosphere through an exhaust pipe 179.

At the same time, outside air is introduced into the storage 1 by the blower 178.

The route includes the blower 178, ventilation holes 176, 166, 1
64, 176, and a discharge pipe 177. When the gas monitor 193 detects that the gas in the storage 1 has become equal to the outside air, the blowers 108 and 178 are stopped, and the damper 152 is turned off.
~159, 186-188 are ventilation holes 160-167,
189 to 192 are switched to close.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the adsorbent material 1 has two compartments separated by an internal partition plate 139 that adsorbs and removes excess carbon dioxide gas.
36 and dampers 162 to 169 on the upper and downstream sides of the adsorbent 135 in these two sections, and flow path switching parts 136 and 137 that switch the gas flow direction and flow path are integrally configured,
Furthermore, by providing a carbon dioxide adsorption device in which a gap 172' is provided between the adsorbent 135 and the flow path switching sections 136 and 137, the gap 172' serves as a pressure chamber for the gas flowing through the adsorbent 135. The flow becomes laminar and the distance through which the circulating gas passes can be shortened without deteriorating the adsorption capacity, so the amount of circulating air is less reduced due to pressure loss, and the required amount of circulating air can be secured with a small blower. Since the container containing the adsorbent 136 can be simplified, the device can be made more compact, and an inexpensive fresh food storage can be provided.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention comprises a plurality of adsorbents separated by internal partition plates that adsorb and remove excess carbon dioxide gas, and a flow path switching section that includes dampers on the upper and downstream sides of the adsorbents. and a flow path switching section that switches the gas flow direction and the flow path, and a carbon dioxide adsorption device that includes a flow path switching section that switches the gas flow direction and the flow path, and a gap is provided between the adsorbent and the flow path switching section. As a result, the gas flowing through the adsorbent material becomes a laminar flow because the gap plays the role of a king chamber, and the distance through which the circulating gas passes can be shortened without deteriorating the adsorption capacity, which reduces the amount of circulating air due to pressure loss. This is an inexpensive fresh food storage device that allows the device to be made more compact because the required amount of circulating air can be secured with a small air blower with low drop, the number of connecting pipes can be reduced, and the container that houses the adsorbent can be simplified. can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fresh produce storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a carbon dioxide adsorption device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a carbon dioxide adsorption device of the present invention. figure,
FIG. 4 is a graph showing changes in internal gas components due to the device, and FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional fresh food storage device. 1... Storage, 101... Carbon dioxide gas generator, 102... Carbon dioxide adsorption device, 136
...Adsorbent, 136, 137...Flow path switching section, 139...Inner partition plate, 162-159
...Damper 172' ...Gap.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A storage for storing perishables, a carbon dioxide gas generator that reduces oxygen and increases carbon dioxide in this storage, multiple adsorbents separated by internal partition plates that adsorb and remove excess carbon dioxide, and an adsorption system. Constructed with dampers on the upper and downstream sides of the material,
The carbon dioxide adsorption device is characterized in that it includes a flow path switching section that switches the gas flow direction and the flow path, and a gap is provided between the adsorbent and the flow path switching section. Perishable storage equipment.