Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B21/00—Arrangements or duct systems, e.g. in combination with pallet boxes, for supplying and controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects
  • F26B21/06—Controlling, e.g. regulating, parameters of gas supply
  • F26B21/08—Humidity
  • F26B21/083—Humidity by using sorbent or hygroscopic materials, e.g. chemical substances, molecular sieves
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B5/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat
  • F26B5/04—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum
  • F26B5/044—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum for drying materials in a batch operation in an enclosure having a plurality of shelves which may be heated
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B9/00—Machines or apparatus for drying solid materials or objects at rest or with only local agitation; Domestic airing cupboards
  • F26B9/06—Machines or apparatus for drying solid materials or objects at rest or with only local agitation; Domestic airing cupboards in stationary drums or chambers
  • F26B9/066—Machines or apparatus for drying solid materials or objects at rest or with only local agitation; Domestic airing cupboards in stationary drums or chambers the products to be dried being disposed on one or more containers, which may have at least partly gas-previous walls, e.g. trays or shelves in a stack

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a dehydration installation using more particularly zeolites as adsorption means.
• the invention is in particular intended for the dehydration of food products whose organoleptic qualities must be preserved.
• a zeolite is a material comprising pores with a diameter greater than the smallest dimension of a water molecule and electrical charges attracting the water molecules. These characteristics give the zeolite a power of adsorption of water which is interesting in the field of dehydration.
• Dehydration by means of zeolites, or "zeodration” is generally carried out by means of an installation comprising a first enclosure and a second adjoining enclosure and in communication with one another.
• the first enclosure is arranged to receive products to be dehydrated and the second enclosure receives zeolites and is equipped with a pump for extracting air from the enclosures.
• the suction pump creates a depression in the enclosures which promotes evaporation of the water contained in the products which are possibly heated.
• the water vapor passes into the second enclosure or it is trapped in the zeolites. This type of dehydration is particularly effective.
• some of the aromas are still extracted from the products. These aromas are found in the second enclosure before being evacuated by the pump.
• An object of the invention is to provide a means for dehydrating products, in particular food products, which is effective while not causing that a minimum deterioration of the organoleptic qualities of the products.
• a product dehydration installation comprising an enclosure, an air suction member contained in the enclosure, a receptacle for products open and received in the enclosure, and moisture adsorption means, the enclosure comprising an open receptacle receiving compartment at least one wall of which is formed by a layer of the adsorption means through which the air from the compartment is sucked.
• the wall formed by the layer of adsorption means is the upper wall and this wall comprises a plate having a bottom permeable to air and water vapor.
• the compartment comprises a bottom wall also formed by a layer of adsorption means. The efficiency of the installation is thus further improved.
• the upper pa-king of the compartment is adjustable in height and the receptacle advantageously comprises lateral walls intended to come into abutment against the bottom of the plate forming the upper wall. compartment.
• the installation comprises a means for reheating the product receptacle. This avoids that the evaporation of the water produces a cooling of the products which would be detrimental to their qualities.
• the adsorption means producing heat during the adsorption of water, the adsorption means are arranged in such a way that the heat release contributes to the heating of the products.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an installation according to the invention
• - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the product support module and zeolites of this installation
• - Figure 3 is a partial sectional view along plane III of Figure 2 of this module.
• the installation according to the invention comprises an enclosure generally designated in 1 which is here delimited by a blind tubular wall 2 having an open end closed in leaktight manner by a door 3.
• the enclosure 1 is associated with a vacuum device shown diagrammatically at 4 which comprises in a manner known per se a pump suction, air contained in enclosure 1.
• a module generally designated at 5 for supporting products to be dehydrated and zeolites is received in enclosure 1.
• This module 5 here comprises two side walls 6 between which are fixed pairs of trays 7.a, 8.a; 7.b, 8.b; 7.c, 8.c horizontal.
• the plates 7, 8 have side walls 9 and a bottom 10 which has at least one opening 11 in which a grid 12 extends.
• Each plate 7 is here rigidly fixed to the side walls 6 while the corresponding plate 8 extends above and at a distance from the plate 7 concerned and is connected to the side walls 6 by slides 13 adjustable in height in a manner known in itself.
• the plate 8 of a pair is also spaced from the plate 7 of the pair of adjacent plates.
• the side walls 6 have slots 29 which extend opposite each space existing between the free edges of the side walls 9 of the plate 8 of a pair of plates and the bottom 10 of the plate 7 of the adjacent pair.
• Inside each plate 7, 8 extends a coil 14.
• the coils 14 are connected to each other by a pipe 15 to form a circuit for transporting a heat transfer fluid.
• the conduits 15 are flexible or of variable length so as not to impede the movements of the plates 8.
• the coils 14 located at the ends of this circu.it are connected to a thermal regulation member 16 ensuring in known manner in itself the propulsion of the heat transfer fluid in the circuit and the cooling of said fluid.
• the plates 7, 8 receive zeolites 17.
• the grid 12 has meshes retaining the zeolites 17.
• the grid 12 allows the passage of air and water vapor.
• a tray 18 intended to receive the products to be dehydrated is received between the trays 7, 8 of each pair of trays.
• the plate 18 comprises a bottom 19 and side walls 20 pierced with openings 21.
• Each plate 18 is received on sliding slides 22 in contact with the zeolites 17 of the plate 7 above which it is mounted.
• the slides 22 and the plate 18 are made of thermally conductive material so as to establish a heat exchange relationship between the products contained in the plate 18 and these zeolites 17. As a variant, the slides 22 can be fixed. The operation of the installation will now be described.
• each tray 18 is placed between the corresponding pair of trays 7, 8.
• the tray 8 is then lowered so that the bottom 10 of the latter comes into contact with the free edges of the side walls 20 of the plates 18.
• Each pair of plates 7, 8, the corresponding plate 18 and the side walls 6 form a compartment.
• the door 3 is then closed and the suction pump of the vacuum means 4 is put into operation.
• the air is then sucked into the enclosure 1.
• the air escapes from the plates 18 mainly through the upper opening thereof and through the opening 11 in the bottom 10 of the plates 8 before passing through the zeolites 17 to flow in the space separating the pairs of trays.
• Air also escapes through the openings 21 in the side walls 20 of the plates 18 before passing through zeolites 17 and the openings 11 in the plates 7 to flow into the space separating the pairs of plates.
• the air flows out of the space separating the pairs of trays by the openings 29 of the side walls 6 and is evacuated outside the enclosure by the pump of the vacuum means 4.
• the pressure in the enclosure 1 decreasing, the water contained in the products evaporates.
• the water vapor thus created follows the same path as air to the zeolites in the pores of which it is trapped.
• the products are thus gradually dehydrated. It will be noted that the air in the compartment is sucked through the zeolites so that most of the aromas cannot escape from the compartment, the zeolites limiting the passage of these towards the outside of the compartment.
• the aromas are therefore maintained in the vicinity of the products.
• the adsorption of water generates a rise in temperature of the zeolites 17.
• the heat generated at the level of the zeolites 17 of the plate 8 is communicated to the products by radiation.
• the heat generated at the level of the zeolites 17 of the plate 7 is communicated to the products by conduction via the slides 22 and the plate 18.
• the heating of the products makes it possible to increase the evaporation of the water. This heating is controlled via the thermal regulation member 16 as a function of the information provided by temperature sensors not shown scattered in the module 5. It is also possible to use the thermal regulating member to maintain a temperature difference between the products and the immediate environment thereof.
• a temperature of 20 ° can be maintained at the level of the products and 70 ° at the vicinity thereof. This temperature difference causes condensation on the aroma products which are kept in the compartment.
• the installation may have a geometry different from that described.
• the module can have a different number of trays.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Drying Of Gases (AREA)
• Sorption Type Refrigeration Machines (AREA)
• Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
• Silicates, Zeolites, And Molecular Sieves (AREA)
• Fertilizers (AREA)
• Treatment Of Sludge (AREA)
• Treatment Of Liquids With Adsorbents In General (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=34945400

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2004
  • 2004-04-06 FR FR0403579A patent/FR2868520B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-04-06 DE DE602005025204T patent/DE602005025204D1/de active Active
  • 2005-04-06 AT AT05753686T patent/ATE491126T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-04-06 EP EP05753686A patent/EP1740898B1/de active Active
  • 2005-04-06 WO PCT/FR2005/000837 patent/WO2005100892A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2005-04-06 DK DK05753686.4T patent/DK1740898T3/da active

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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