DE102019003437A1 - Drying device for agricultural products - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a drying device (1) for agricultural products (2), with a housing (3) and with a fan (4) and a heating device (5) for drying air (T) conveyed by the fan (4), which is supplied to at least a drying element (6) is guided with items to be dried (2). In order to create a drying device for agricultural products that increases the quality of the dried products with a minimized drying time and minimized energy consumption, it is provided that the drying device (1) is assigned a transfer unit (7) for the drying element (6), and that through the transfer unit (7) the drying element (6) is horizontally and / or vertically transferred to another position above, below or next to the position of the drying element (6).

Description

The invention relates to a drying device for agricultural products, with a housing and with a fan and a heating device for drying air conveyed by the fan, which is guided to at least one drying element with material to be dried, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Drying devices for agricultural products, which are in the form, for example, of batch or tray dryers, are known. With such batch dryers, large quantities of agricultural products can be dried at once, but the product quality achieved in this way is not always satisfactory, in particular because of different drying processes. Sensitive agricultural products such as fruit, vegetables or leaves of medicinal plants are also not very suitable for this type of dryer.

In order to achieve a uniform product quality, u. a. Continuous dryers are also used, which can be used, for example, for pourable products such as grain. The well-known dryer designs leave something to be desired in order to obtain very high product quality from dried agricultural products. In particular, more frequent control or conversion or mixing of the agricultural products during the drying process is difficult or impossible at all due to the known drying devices for agricultural products.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a drying device for agricultural products which brings about an increased quality of the dried products with minimized drying time and energy consumption.

The object is achieved with a drying device having all of the features of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

The fact that the drying device is assigned a transfer unit for the drying element and that the transfer unit transfers the drying element horizontally in a position adjacent to the position of the drying element, for example in a parallel row, or in a vertical position above or below it is, a constructive measure is specified to move the material to be dried several times in the drying device and / or inspect it at the transfer unit. This creates a drying device that is improved in terms of the quality of the dried end product. The material to be dried is dried more quickly and its quality is improved in comparison with drying devices of the prior art.

In a simply constructed embodiment, the drying element is essentially built in one piece and extends over approximately the length that corresponds to the length of the drying device or its housing enclosing the drying space.

It can be advantageous, especially if different items to be dried are to be dried, or if the items to be dried are to be fed gradually to the drying device, to divide the drying element into several drying segments. Drying segments can be boxes with perforated walls and floors, for example.

Drying segments can also be formed in the manner of individual dryers which each have an essentially closed housing in which at least one fan, a heating device for heating the drying air and one or more shelves for the items to be dried are provided. In this case, the operation of each dryer or dryer segment can be controlled by a control and / or regulating device independently of a further drying segment. As a result, certain items to be dried can be dried in each drying segment, so that, overall, a large number of different items to be dried can be dried simultaneously in the drying device.

The drying device or also individual drying segments of the drying device can have an opening on an exhaust air channel, that is to say the channel leading the drying air after the passage of the drying material, which allows a fluidic connection to the surroundings of the drying device. The opening can be closed by a flap or partially or completely opened by the flap. As a result, outside air can pass from the environment to the exhaust air in the exhaust air duct, mix and be blown back into a drying air duct by the fan and guided to the material to be dried.

By regulating the fan speed, regulating the heating power of the heating device and regulating the flap position, the control and / or regulating device can control the drying of the items to be dried depending on the current moisture content and / or the surface temperature and / or the color of the items to be dried.

It can also be advantageous to use the control and / or regulating device to control the drying of the items to be dried according to a cycle time of the transfer unit.

The drying of the items to be dried according to time and / or temperature specifications is preferably carried out by the control and / or regulating device with the aid of a program stored in a memory.

In order to enable particularly careful, controlled drying, the material to be dried can also be mixed while passing through the transfer unit. This can be done both manually and automatically.

• 1 eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht einer Trocknungsvorrichtung,
• 2 eine Ansicht eines Inneren eines Gehäuses der Trocknungsvorrichtung mit Trocknungsgut in 1; und
• 3 eine Ansicht einer Übergabeeinheit der Trocknungsvorrichtung, wie in 1 und 2 gezeigt.

The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment and explained using the drawing. Show it:

• 1 a schematic, perspective view of a drying device,
• 2 a view of an interior of a housing of the drying device with items to be dried in 1 ; and
• 3 a view of a transfer unit of the drying device, as in FIG 1 and 2 shown.

In 1 is a schematic, perspective, partial view of a drying device 1 for agricultural products 2 , for example for tomato slices (cf. 2 ) shown. The drying device 1 has a cube-shaped housing, shown broken off 3 made of sheet metal on, with the housing 3 can be thermally insulated. In the case 3 is at least one drying element 6th that here in many drying segments 8th is divided, arranged. The drying element 6th or each drying segment 8th serves to take up and dry items to be dried 2 , as described. At least a fan 4th on each drying segment 8th is provided to suck in drying air T from the environment U and after passage of the drying air T a heating device 5 in one drying air duct on each drying segment 8th to promote. The blowers 4th are shown here as cross-flow fans, but can also be axial or radial fans. The drying air T is sent to the shelves 10 stacked items to be dried 2 directed and dries this.

For the onward transport of drying air T from a drying element 6th to the next drying element attached to it 6th , serve separate fans 4 ' , with three fans each 4 ' for each drying segment 8th are provided.

Exhaust A is via exhaust ducts 13 back to the fans 4th guided and dehumidified. That from several drying segments 8th formed drying element 6th has a total length 1 which is approximately the length L of the drying device 1 itself corresponds.

Every drying segment 8th becomes independent of another drying segment 8th from one or more external control and / or regulating devices 11 operated, so that the most diverse drying products 2 at the same time in the drying device 1 can be dried with different drying programs. In every case 9 of each drying segment 8th thus prevails u. U. one of another housing 9 another drying segment 8th different drying air temperature. To air from the environment U to a respective fan 4th to lead are openings 14th provided, each with a flap 12 can be closed or partially or fully opened, the flap 12 with the help of the control and / or regulating device 11 is controlled.

Ambient air can be mixed with the dehumidified exhaust air or the respective drying segment 8th can also be operated in recirculation mode if the flap 12 the opening 14th locks.

To preferably a cyclical movement of the drying segments 8th in the case 3 to enable is preferably at a front end of the housing 15th a transfer unit 7th arranged. The transfer unit 7th is in 3 shown only schematically in a perspective view. With the help of the transfer unit 7th can be a single drying element 6th or here the drying segments shown 8th be moved horizontally to an adjacent position, or as in 1 shown, can also be transferred vertically to a position below or above, compared with the respective starting position. At the transfer unit 7th can the items to be dried 2 can also be mixed or reallocated.

In the 3 Transfer unit shown 7th is essentially made up of a transport floor 16 formed, which is electromechanically vertically movable and with a displacement element 17th formed that the respective drying segment 8th can move horizontally.

The operation of the transfer unit 7th can be done partially or fully automatically. Pneumatically, electrically or hydraulically driven servomotors can be used for this around the transport floor 16 and the sliding element 17th to move.

The drying of the goods to be dried 2 can from the control and / or regulating device 11 can be controlled depending on the current material moisture content and / or the surface temperature and / or the color of the material to be dried.

The drying can also be carried out on a cycle time of the transfer unit 7th be adjusted.

The control and / or regulating device can be advantageous 11 the drying of the goods to be dried 2 according to time and / or temperature specifications from one, in a memory of the control and / or regulating device 11 stored programs.

List of reference symbols

(1)

Drying device

(2)

Product to be dried

(3)

casing

(4)

(4 ') fan

(5)

Heating device

(6)

Drying element

(7)

Transfer unit

(8th)

Drying segment

(9)

Housing, v. 8th

(10)

Filing

(11)

Control and / or regulating device

(12)

flap

(13)

Exhaust duct

(14)

opening

(15)

Housing end

(16)

Transport floor

(17)

Sliding element

(T)

Drying air

(1)

Length, v. 6

(L)

Length, v. 1

(U)

Surroundings

(A)

Exhaust air

Claims (11)

Drying device for agricultural products (2), with a housing (3) and with a fan (4) and a heating device (5) for drying air (T) conveyed by the fan (4), which is sent to at least one drying element (6) with material to be dried (2) is performed, characterized in that the drying device (1) is assigned a transfer unit (7) for the drying element (6), and that the drying element (6) horizontally and / or vertically into another through the transfer unit (7) , above, below or next to the position of the drying element (6) is transferred. Drying device after Claim 1 , characterized in that the drying element (6) has at least approximately a length (1) which corresponds to the length (L) of the drying device (1). Drying device after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the drying element (6) is divided into several drying segments (8) which can be handled individually. Drying device after Claim 3 , characterized in that each drying segment (8) has a substantially closed housing (9) in which at least one fan (4), a heating device (5) and a tray (10) for the items to be dried (2) are provided. Drying device after Claim 4 , characterized in that the operation of each drying segment (8) is controlled independently of a further drying segment (8) by a control and / or regulating device (11). Drying device according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that a flap (12) is provided between an exhaust air duct (13) for drying air (5) and the environment (4) of the drying device (1) or of each drying segment (8), which opens an opening (14) or closes and that through the opening (14) outside air is led to the fan (4). Drying device according to one of the Claims 5 or 6th , characterized in that the control and / or regulating device (11) controls the drying of the items to be dried (2) as a function of the current moisture content of the items and / or the surface temperature and / or the color of the items to be dried (2). Drying device according to one of the Claims 5 to 7th , characterized in that the control and / or regulating device (11) controls the drying of the items to be dried (2) according to a cycle time of the transfer unit (7). Drying device according to one of the Claims 5 to 8th , characterized in that by the control and / or regulating device (11) the drying of the drying items (2) according to time and / or temperature specifications from one, in one Memory of the control and / or regulating device (11) stored program is controlled. Drying device according to one of the Claims 1 to 9 , characterized in that the material to be dried (2) is mixed on or through the transfer unit (7). Drying device according to one of the Claims 1 to 10 , characterized in that the transfer unit (7) is part of the drying device (1).

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