JP2008161559A - Steam heating method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To highly efficiently and accurately steam-heat a heating object such as foods by sophisticating the temperature control of steam in a heating space while reducing the escape of the steam from the heating space. <P>SOLUTION: In this steam heating device having the heating space 2 disposed with an inlet and outlet for carrying in/out a heating object 4 and a steam supply means 15 having an intended volume and a steam ejection outlet, and a conveyance means 5 for conveying the heating object on a prescribed route in the heating space, a useless space connected to the heating space is eliminated as much as possible; a useless space is eliminated for forming the heating space with the shape and volume indispensable and necessary minimal for the heating of the heating object; the steam is vertically raised through a conveyance means by a space reducing body to suppress the flowing by the escape of the steam, and the steam is brought into direct contact with the heating object to heat it, thus forming the highly efficient heating space. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for heating foods and other articles with steam at a pressure near or above atmospheric pressure.

  In conventional heating of foods with water or steam, indirect heating in which the object to be heated is placed in a container containing water and boiled from the outside, and steam directly as in the case of generating high temperature water, are used. There is known a direct heating method in which heating is performed by contacting with water, or an object to be heated is stored in a steamer and heated by contacting with steam. Direct heating, in which an object to be heated and steam are brought into direct contact, is generally referred to as steaming, and in the case of food, the main objectives are to gelatinize starch and solidify protein. As a method of performing steaming, there are known a batch type non-continuous heating method in which the object to be heated is replaced every time and a continuous heating method in which the object to be heated is heated while being continuously fed using a conveyor or the like. ing. In the case of the batch type heating method, the material to be heated is stored in a steamer and steam is supplied into a sealed container and heated until it reaches a specified temperature. However, escape of steam from the steamer cannot be avoided. It was.

  On the other hand, in the continuous heating method, articles are continuously fed into a steamer to which saturated steam of a predetermined pressure is supplied by a conveyor or the like, and the articles are heated with steam while passing through a steamer of a certain length. . In such a continuous heating system, at least the inlet and outlet of the steamer are open to the atmosphere, and the steam inside the steamer escapes, so that the steaming temperature is maintained at, for example, 100 ° C. For this, it is necessary to supply a vapor pressure of 100 ° C. or higher, for example, 102 ° C. to 105 ° C. Since the vapor pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure, the escape of the vapor from the inside of the vessel increases, resulting in a wasteful consumption of a large amount of vapor. Heating at 100 ° C. is necessary for the purpose of steaming foods and pregelatinizing starch, but in order to compensate for the escape of steam and obtain a predetermined heating temperature, a large amount of steam Supply is necessary, and it causes a large energy loss. Further, the escape of steam causes a change in the temperature in the vessel, which is an obstacle to heating at a constant temperature.

  Furthermore, it is desirable to fill the heated container in which the object to be heated is filled with saturated steam for heating. However, comparing air at atmospheric pressure with saturated steam at 100 ° C, air is approximately twice as heavy as steam. Therefore, the steam supplied into the steamer easily escapes from the entrance and exit, and air flows from the outside of the equipment instead of the escaped steam. There was a problem of lowering.

  In view of these problems, the present inventor, as a technique for solving the above problems, a heating space in which means for supplying heating steam is arranged, the upper part communicates with the heating space, the lower part is opened to the atmosphere, A pressure equalizing space provided with a height difference h between the steam ejection surface of the steam supply means and the lower opening; and a saturated vapor pressure and an air pressure are balanced inside the pressure equalizing space to A barrier is formed in the pressure equalization space to suppress the escape of steam caused by the pressure equilibrium state, and the barrier is heated while suppressing the escape of steam and the inflow of air from the lower opening of the pressure equalization space. A heating method and apparatus configured to heat an object to be heated with heated steam in a space are proposed and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-195190 (Patent Document 1).

According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to significantly improve the energy consumption efficiency by suppressing the discharge of useless steam, and cause temperature unevenness in a heated object such as food. It is very excellent in that it can be heated uniformly without any problems. However, as a result of intensive research aimed at further improving energy efficiency in the method and apparatus for heating an object to be heated by steam, the inventor succeeded in further improving energy efficiency and led to the present invention. It was.
JP 2004-195190 A

  In a method and apparatus for heating an object to be heated with steam, it is necessary to be able to perform stable heating with the minimum necessary energy consumption, to complete the heat treatment in the shortest time, or to minimize the space It is important to be able to perform an amount of heat treatment. The present invention has been made to meet these demands to a higher degree and intends to improve the efficiency of steam heat treatment. That is, the object of the present invention is to further enhance the temperature control of the steam in the heating space while further suppressing the escape of the steam from the heating space, so that the object to be heated such as food is heated. An object of the present invention is to enable heating with steam with higher efficiency and higher accuracy.

  A first invention for solving the above-described problem relates to a heating method, and has an inlet and an outlet through which a heated object can be carried in and out, and a desired volume, and steam for heating the heated object. It includes a heating space in which a steam supply means having a steam outlet to be supplied is disposed, and a transport means for transporting an object to be heated along a predetermined path in the heating space, and the steam in the heating space freely escapes. It is characterized in that the space to be discharged is reduced and the steam is raised vertically through the conveying means to heat the object to be heated while suppressing wasteful escape of the steam. In addition, the flow of the steam flowing in the heating space is blocked and the flow is suppressed without hindering the conveyance of the heated object, thereby suppressing the lowering of the vapor pressure in the heating space and the heating target. An object is heated, and a pressure equalizing space having a height difference h is communicated between an inlet and an outlet of the heating space, and a steam outlet disposed in the heating space and an opening to the lower atmosphere. Further, the outflow of steam to the atmosphere is suppressed by the balance of pressure in the pressure equalizing space.

  A second invention relates to a heating device, and has an inlet and an outlet through which an object to be heated can be carried in and out, and a desired volume, and a steam outlet for supplying steam for heating the object to be heated. In a steam heating apparatus that includes a heating space in which a steam supply unit having gas is disposed and a transport unit that transports an object to be heated in a predetermined path in the heating space, the heating space is configured to heat the object to be heated with steam. In order to reduce the space in which the steam inside freely escapes, to raise the steam vertically through the conveying means, and to prevent wasteful escape of steam, in the longitudinal direction in the heating space A space-reducing means extending along the space is provided, and the space-reducing means suppresses free escape of steam so that the heating space is a highly efficient heating space.

  The space reduction means has a structure in which the shape of the heating space is deformed along the longitudinal direction, and for example, a part of the path from the inlet side to the outlet side of the heated object conveyed by the conveying means is routed As a structure in which the steam is continuously squeezed along, preferably a structure in which the cross section of the heating space is squeezed into a substantially inverted convex shape, the steam is vertically raised through the transport means and the steam in the transport direction of the heated object is Reduce free escape space.

  The space reduction means is a space reduction body that is disposed in the heating space and extends along the longitudinal direction of the space, and the space reduction body is disposed in the heating space to reduce the steam escape space in the heating space. And let the steam rise vertically. Preferably, in the path from the inlet side to the outlet side of the object to be heated conveyed by the conveying means, the side path between the conveying means and the inner wall of the heating space is arranged so as to close the side road. Consists of a structure.

  Further, in the path from the inlet side to the outlet side of the object to be heated conveyed by the conveying means, the heating space is partitioned and partitioned in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and preferably heated at the center part. The pressure blocking plate that has openings through the front and back sides through which objects can pass and partitions the heating space transversely partitions the heating space in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction to block pressure escape. The conveying means is preferably a mesh-like conveyor belt, for example.

  The steam heating apparatus has a heating space in which a steam heating means having a steam outlet is provided, and has an inlet and an outlet through which a heated object can be carried in and out, and a desired volume. Is provided with a pressure equalizing space in which the steam outlet and the lower opening are arranged with a height difference h, and a pressure balance between the steam pressure and the atmospheric pressure is achieved in the pressure equalizing space, It is characterized by suppressing the escape of steam.

According to the present invention, the escape of steam from the heating space can be further reduced, and the temperature control of the steam in the heating space can be further enhanced, and the steam of the object to be heated such as food Can be heated with high efficiency and high accuracy, and the starch can be made alpha, and the feeling of plumpness and weight increase of the product after steaming can be improved. By reducing the shape and volume of the heating space by the space reduction means, it is possible to raise the vapor vertically through the conveyance means, and it is possible to eliminate wasteful consumption of steam,
Further, by blocking the flow of the steam in the escape direction by the pressure shut-off plate, the ability to keep the steam in the heating space can be enhanced, and a predetermined steam pressure is set in the heating space with a smaller steam injection amount. Energy efficiency can be improved.

  As a result, the heating device can be reduced in weight and size, temperature control in the heating space can be performed with higher accuracy, and uniform heating can be performed.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. The present invention is a heating method and apparatus in which an object to be heated is carried into a heating space, and the object to be heated is heated by heating steam supplied to the heating space, and the object to be heated can be carried in and out freely. A heating space having a steam supply means having an inlet, an outlet, and a desired volume and supplying steam for heating the object to be heated is disposed, and the object to be heated is predetermined in the heating space. A wasteful space connected to the heating space as much as possible, and the flow of steam flowing in the escape direction in the space inside the apparatus without blocking the transportation of the object to be heated. It is characterized in that the flow is controlled by blocking the flow so that the vapor is raised vertically through the conveying means, and the vapor is brought into direct contact with the object to be heated.

  The heating space is preferably in the form of a container having a desired volume, for example, the container is formed in a cylindrical structure having a cross section arranged in a horizontal direction with a desired length and a substantially inverted convex shape. And the form suitable for the continuous heating system which made it possible to convey a to-be-heated object with the belt conveyor which drive | moves the inside of this container is preferable.

  The heating space can be connected to a pressure equalizing space in which the upper portion communicates with the heating space and the lower portion is opened to the atmosphere, and the steam outlet and the lower opening are arranged with a height difference (h). This pressure equalizing space has a cylindrical shape having a predetermined height, and when the heating space is a horizontal structure suitable for the continuous heating system and having a desired length, the pressure equalizing space is Although it is most preferable to configure the structure of an inclined path, the present invention is not limited to this, and a vertically arranged path may be used. Further, the heating space is not limited to the cylindrical one arranged in the horizontal direction. For example, it is a matter of course that a box-shaped heating space in which an object to be heated is stored may be used, and the object to be heated may be heated in a batch manner. In this case, the pressure equalizing space has a pipe-like structure in which the upper end communicates with the heating space and the lower end is arranged with a height difference (h).

  Further, an air discharge pipe is connected to the heating space, and the lower opening end of the air discharge pipe is positioned at least at the same height as the height difference (h), so that the air existing in the heating space and the covered air are covered. Air that flows along with the heated object is discharged from the pipe to the outside of the heating space, preventing air from being trapped in the heating space and preventing the occurrence of temperature unevenness in the heating space. It is characterized by heating the object.

  The heating space is desirably a space that eliminates unnecessary space for heating the object to be heated as much as possible, and is characterized by eliminating as much as possible a useless space where steam can flow and escape. As a method for eliminating the useless space of the heating space and the space connected to the heating space, the transporting means for transporting the object to be heated and the object to be heated can pass through the heating space, which is sufficient to heat the object to be heated. A heating space is formed in a shape and volume that can be filled with an amount of steam, and the heating space is partitioned and partitioned in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction for transporting the object to be heated, so that the steam in the entrance / exit direction is more than necessary. Blocks the flow of water and blocks the escape of steam. The shape and volume of the heating space are defined by a structure or a space reduction body for forming the heating space in a required shape and volume. The structural heating space can be created by permanently deforming the shape of the container that forms the heating space in advance, or the existing container-shaped heating space can be improved to a more efficient heating space. It is possible to modify the shape and volume of the heating space by arranging a space reduction body as much as possible.

  The space-reducing body is formed, for example, so as to fill a side path that tends to be a flow path in the escape direction of steam in the heating space or a space connected to the heating space. Furthermore, it is preferable that the heating space is partitioned and partitioned in the conveyance direction of the object to be heated in the heating space, and is configured to be formed so as to block the flow of steam in the entrance / exit direction, and is a member having a small heat capacity. As an example of the specific shape of the partition-type pressure blocking plate, for example, it is formed in a form having a predetermined thickness and having an opening through which the central portion passes through the front and back, and through which the conveying means and the object to be heated can pass. It may be what you did. In the heating device of the present invention, the space reducing body and the pressure blocking plate formed in this way are arranged in an appropriate position in the heating space or a space connected to the heating space, so that a heating space with a higher efficiency and a better form can be obtained. Get. The cross-sectional shape of the heating space can be, for example, a substantially reverse convex shape, and in order to form the heating space in this way, the container forming the heating space may be a substantially reverse convex shape in advance, or As described above, the space reduction body may be disposed and formed later.

  The inlet and outlet through which the object to be heated can be carried in and out of the heating space may be the same opening formed in the container forming the heating space, or may be separate openings. Each of the inlet and the outlet is configured to have a shape and a size capable of passing an object to be heated that is conveyed into the heating space by the conveying means, and is preferably spaced from the bottom, the side wall, and the ceiling of the container forming the heating space. This prevents the escape of steam.

  The conveying means is not particularly limited as long as the object to be heated can be conveyed while being uniformly heated over the entire path from the inlet side to the outlet of the heating space, but a belt conveyor can be adopted, It is desirable that the belt portion of the conveyor on which the article to be heated is placed is made of, for example, a mesh-like structure so that the front, back, sides, or the inside of the article to be heated can be easily heated.

  The heating steam is supplied into the heating space by ejecting the steam through a plurality of steam jets arranged on a plane in the heating space, whereby the steam is almost uniformly distributed in the heating space. Although it can be filled to prevent temperature unevenness in the heating space, it is needless to say that the arrangement method of the steam outlets is not limited to the arrangement on one plane, and any arrangement can be adopted. The steam supply means for defining the upper part of the height difference (h) may be arranged at any position of the lower part, the upper part or the middle part in the heating space.

  In addition, in this specification, a space means a space or a gap or a container having a partitioned constant volume.

  The steam supplied to the heating space is most preferably saturated vapor pressure. For example, plastic fiber shaping / vulcanizing, low temperature molding / vulcanizing of rubber products, or coloring / printing / dose fixing in dyeing processes. Superheated steam may be used depending on the properties of the object to be heated and the heating conditions. Of course, the present invention is not limited to these heat treatments, such as food heating / sterilization / humidification / thawing treatment, paper surface treatment / heating / drying treatment, stretching adjustment / drying of printing process, It can be applied to all devices that simultaneously perform humidification and heating, such as high-humidity reaction / heating in the bio industry and ultra-high humidity reaction treatment in the brewing industry.

  The height difference (h) corresponds to a pressure difference between the pressure of the steam supplied to the heating space and the atmospheric pressure of the heating field (which means a place where the heating space and the pressure equalizing space are arranged). Theoretically, the steam in the heating space and air at atmospheric pressure come into contact with each other in the pressure equalization space and the pressure is balanced, so that the escape of steam in the vessel is suppressed and the inflow of air from outside the vessel is prevented. Be blocked. That is, the saturated steam in the heating space flows down in the pressure equalizing space, while air in the atmosphere enters the pressure equalizing space from the opening and contacts in the pressure equalizing space. Due to the contact of steam and air, the steam heats the incoming air. The air heated by the steam and changed in state absorbs moisture at the same time and changes to humid air. The humid air changed by the steam is present in the vicinity of the opening, and functions to prevent the steam from flowing out of the opening. In other words, the present invention utilizes a change in the state of humid air due to saturated steam, and installs a pressure equalizing section (space) having an optimal shape at the position of the height difference (h) in the pressure equalizing space of the steamer, and is used for atmospheric pressure. Heating is performed while preventing saturated vapor of higher pressure from escaping from the opening of the heating space and maintaining the temperature in the heating space at 60 to 120 ° C. In the case of the thawing process, the temperature is set to a lower temperature, for example, around 30 ° C.

  In this way, the air whose water vapor partial pressure has increased has a specific gravity approximately twice as large as that of saturated steam, so it falls from the contact area with the steam. Repeatedly contact continuously. In other words, at the boundary where saturated steam in the pressure equalization space and the outside air contact, the steam and air are mixed, and the vapor pressure and atmospheric pressure are in a state of confusion, and the steam has condensed and entered from the outside. The air is replaced and a barrier is formed. This barrier serves to suppress the escape of steam and the inflow of air into the heating space. As a result, the saturated vapor in the vessel does not escape from the opening, and the heating space is filled with a constant saturated vapor pressure near atmospheric pressure, and stable heating can be achieved. Moreover, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, at least the outlet and the inlet of the heating space are blocked by the pressure blocking plate (9), thereby reducing the amount of steam flowing into the pressure equalizing space communicating with the outlet and the inlet. Therefore, the height difference (h) can be made smaller, and the entire apparatus can be further downsized.

  The contact portion between the saturated steam inside the vessel described above and the atmospheric pressure air outside the vessel is theoretically performed inside the height difference (h), so the opening should be set at the bottom position of the height difference (h). It will be good. However, due to fluctuations in the atmospheric pressure of the actual heating field, fluctuations in moisture content in the air, etc., the contact position between the steam and air is not constant, and the contact area also fluctuates. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the height of the pressure equalizing space with a width larger than the height difference (h).

  For example, when the food is heated at 100 ° C., the heating is actually performed by supplying saturated steam of 156 kPa into a predetermined heating space. The difference of 54.7 kPa between the saturated steam of 156 kPa and the atmospheric pressure of the heating field of 101.3 kPa can be confirmed to correspond to the height difference (h) of 1.5 m by experiments when the diameter of the pressure equalizing space is 100 mm. Therefore, it is only necessary to position the lower opening of the pressure equalization space 1.5 m below the heating space, but in reality, the atmospheric pressure constantly fluctuates and the moisture content of the atmosphere also fluctuates. Both steam and air pressure at the boundary also fluctuate. For this reason, the height of the pressure equalizing space of 2 to 3 m is required in view of these fluctuations. The actual pressure equalization space height and cross-sectional area are designed based on various condition settings. In the actual contact area between steam and air in the pressure equalizing space, the temperature in the contact area changes greatly, so that the contact area can be easily known by measuring the temperature from the outside.

  The steamer (1), which is a steam heating device configured to apply the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 to heat food and achieve starch gelatinization, will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the steamer (1) of the present embodiment includes a heating space (2), a cylindrical pressure equalizing space (3) having upper ends connected to both ends of the heating space (2), and And a transport means (5) for transporting the article (4) to be heated in the series of interiors with an appropriate transport time.

  The heating space (2) and the pressure equalization space (3) are arranged in one heating field, and the heating field is under atmospheric pressure corresponding to its altitude. An opening (6) that is opened to the atmosphere of the heating field is formed in the lower part of the pressure equalization space (3), and one opening (6) is an inlet for the object to be heated, and the other opening (6). Is the exit. The openings of the heating space (2) and the pressure equalization space (3) are arranged vertically with at least a height difference (h). The height difference (h) balances the pressure difference between the vapor pressure supplied to the heating space (2) and the atmospheric pressure of the heating field.

  In the present embodiment to which the invention is applied, the air in the steamer (1) heated by saturated steam and changed in state absorbs moisture at the same time and changes to humid air. The humid air changed by the saturated water vapor exists in the vicinity of the opening (6) of the pressure equalizing space (3) and functions to prevent the vapor from flowing out from the opening (6). That is, the steamer (1) of the present embodiment utilizes the change in the state of humid air due to saturated steam, and has an optimum shape leveling at the position of the height difference (h) in the pressure equalizing space (3) of the steamer (1). A pressure unit is installed so that saturated steam at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure does not escape from the opening (6) of the steamer (1), and the temperature inside the steamer (1) is kept at 60 to 110 ° C. The heated product (4) is heated.

  In the illustrated structure, the heating space (2) is formed to be surrounded by a cylindrical body (11) extending in the horizontal direction, and the pressure equalizing space (3) is connected to both ends thereof. The pressure equalizing space (3) has an inclined portion (7) connected to the heating space (2) and a horizontal portion (8) extending horizontally outward from the lower end of the inclined portion (7). However, although it is formed in a cylindrical furnace type structure having a desired length and inner diameter, the horizontal portion (8) at the lower end is not necessarily required, and only the inclined portion (7) is used, or the vertical portion is vertical. Of course, it may be a simple structure. In any case, it is configured such that the object to be heated (4) can be conveyed from the inlet to the outlet in the middle of the heating space (2) in an appropriate conveying time by the conveying means (5) suitable for the structure. Is done. In addition, pressure blocking plates (9) are arranged at the opening of the heating space (2) and at some predetermined locations and outlets in the heating space (2) to suppress the escape of steam and the inflow of air. .

  The conveying means (5) moves the article to be heated (4) from the inlet of the steamer (1) which is the steam heating device to the pressure equalization space (3), heating space (2), pressure equalization space (3), and outlet. It is arrange | positioned so that it may carry out, and has comprised the shape of a belt conveyor. The belt (10) is composed of a mesh-like structure so that the bottom, top, side or inside of the heated object (4) placed and conveyed on the mesh-like structure can be easily heated evenly. It has become.

  The heating space (2) is surrounded by a rectangular tubular body (11) having a slightly larger cross-sectional area in order to heat a predetermined object to be heated (4). The cylindrical body (11) extends in the horizontal direction, has a length sufficient to obtain a desired heating time, and has both ends connected to the pressure equalizing space (3). The inside of the cylindrical body (11) is substantially the same as the inside height, has a desired length, has a hollow back portion, and is combined with the inner wall of the cylindrical body (11). A box-shaped space reduction body (13a) formed so as to surround (12) and occupy a desired volume is connected to the heating space (2) inside the cylindrical body (11). In order to isolate the excess space from the heating space (2) and eliminate the useless space in the cylindrical body (11), a plurality of them are arranged and fixed on both sides inside the cylindrical body (11). Has been.

  On one plane of the outer shape of the space-reducing body (13a), the cylindrical body is positioned so as to be located at substantially the center in the height direction and at both lower ends in the width direction of the mesh belt (10) of the conveying means (5). A plate-like ridge (14) projecting toward the center of (11) is formed, and the steam flowing vertically in the cylindrical body (11) passes vertically through the mesh belt (10). It raises and it is constituted so that it may be in direct contact with the object to be heated (4) placed on the belt and heated. By disposing the space reducing body (13a), the side passage inside the cylindrical body (11), which has been a flow path for the escape of steam, is eliminated before it is disposed, and it is connected to the heating space (2). The unnecessary volume can be eliminated, and the inside of the heating space (2) can be supplied with the same level of steam to be kept at a higher temperature while maintaining a higher steam pressure. That is, it is possible to obtain the necessary vapor pressure and temperature state by supplying the vapor at a lower level.

  Between the space reduction bodies (13a) disposed on both sides of the inside of the cylindrical body (11), the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body (11) surrounding the heating space (2) is set to a conveying means ( A pressure blocking plate (13b) having a partition shape made of a plate-like member partitioned and partitioned into a plurality of spaces is provided so that the heated object conveyed by 5) can pass through. By partitioning the space from the inlet to the outlet with the pressure blocking plate in the transverse direction, the flow in the direction of escape of the steam is blocked and blocked, and the steam is stagnated in each compartment. The amount of escape of steam can be greatly reduced, and furthermore, the inside of the heating space (2) can be maintained at a higher temperature while maintaining a higher vapor pressure by supplying an equivalent level of steam. . In other words, the space reducing body (13a) and the pressure blocking plate (13b) escape while eliminating unnecessary space inside the cylindrical body (11) surrounding the heating space (2). Reduces directional steam flow, thereby enabling lower level steam supply to achieve the required steam pressure and temperature conditions, improving energy efficiency and equal or better with smaller equipment and installation space Thus, the heating efficiency of the article to be heated (4) is improved.

  In almost the center of the bottom surface of the cylindrical body (11), a steam supply means (15) provided with a large number of outlets for ejecting saturated steam is disposed, and the steam supply means (15) is provided from the outside. A steam supply pipe (16) for feeding steam is connected. The steam supply means (15) having a number of steam outlets for supplying steam into the heating space (2) is configured so that the number of steam outlets covers the entire bottom surface of the heating space (2) almost evenly. Are arranged at evenly spaced intervals on one horizontal plane as much as possible. For this reason, the ejected saturated steam is ejected almost uniformly from the lower part of the heating space (2) to the entire horizontal surface of the heating space (2), and the heating space (2) is brought to a uniform temperature.

  Moreover, the upper end of the air exhaust pipe (17) is connected in the heating space (2). The lower end of the air discharge pipe (17) is positioned at least below the height difference (h). The air existing in the heating space (2) and the air flowing along with the heated object (4) carried in by the belt conveyor are pushed by saturated steam and discharged from the air discharge pipe (17). . In the air discharge pipe (17), a phenomenon similar to that in the pressure equalization space (3) occurs at a position where the saturated vapor pressure and the atmospheric pressure are balanced, and air is prevented from flowing into the heating space (2). Generation of temperature unevenness due to air accumulation can be prevented. Since such air discharge is achieved by a pressure difference, it is not necessary to use an air discharge valve, a temperature control valve, or the like.

  In the heating of the object to be heated (4) by this apparatus, first, the object to be heated (4) such as food is placed on the belt (10) of the mesh belt type conveying means (5), and the steamer ( 1) It is sent in. The article (4) to be heated passes through the pressure equalizing space (3) extending horizontally, rises in the inclined pressure equalizing space (3), and passes through the heating space (2). During this time, heating is performed in the vicinity of 100 ° C. with saturated steam in the vicinity of the atmospheric pressure filled in the heating space (2), thereby achieving alpha conversion of the food. At this time, the steam filled in the heating space (2) has almost no useless space connected to the heating space (2), and is further divided into each heating space ( 2) Since it is kept inside, escape is suppressed and wasteful consumption of energy is suppressed.

  The object to be heated (4) heated evenly in the heating space (2) descends in the other pressure equalizing space (3), passes through the horizontal portion thereof and is carried out from the outlet at the tip thereof, and is subjected to the entire processing. Reachable. This apparatus is suitable when the cylindrical body (11) surrounding the heating space (2) of the existing steam heating apparatus is improved to improve the processing efficiency, and it is not necessary to newly install the entire apparatus. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to obtain a heating apparatus having a high-efficiency processing capability while realizing a reduction in installation period and cost reduction. However, in the steam heating apparatus in the present embodiment, the pressure equalizing space (3) is connected to the heating space (2), but this pressure equalizing space (3) is not necessarily required, and The configuration of the apparatus can be variously changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  Next, a modification of the steamer (101) to which the present invention is applied will be described. The steamer (101), which is the steam heating device of the present embodiment, is suitable for a case where the steam heating device itself is newly installed with respect to the device of the first embodiment suitable for improvement of the existing steam heating device. Since the basic configuration of the entire apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the cylindrical body (111) that surrounds (102), the description will be made only with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the cylindrical body (111) surrounding the heating space (102) in the steamer (101) of the present embodiment has a substantially reverse convex shape in cross-section, and has a steam escape path in advance. It is configured to eliminate the side road. In addition, a plurality of cylindrical bodies (111) are connected in the conveying direction of the object to be heated to obtain a heating space (102) having a desired length as a whole, and between the cylindrical bodies (111). Is provided with a partition-like pressure blocking plate made of a plate-like member that is partitioned and partitioned so that an object to be heated transported by the transport means (105) can pass therethrough, and the heating space can be partitioned into a plurality of parts. It is configured as follows. That is, the cylindrical body (111) in the present embodiment is structurally a cylindrical body for increasing the shape of the heating space (102) in order to make the heating space (102) a more efficient heating region. The structure is previously deformed.

  The tubular body (111) reduces the unnecessary space in the heating space (102) and reduces the flow of steam in the escape direction, thereby providing the required steam pressure for lower level steam supply. It is possible to obtain a temperature state and improve the energy efficiency, and it is possible to perform the same or better heat treatment with a smaller device and installation space, and the effect of improving the heating efficiency of the object to be heated is achieved. Has been.

  A steam supply means (115) having a large number of steam outlets is disposed in the lower rectangular region of the cylindrical body (111), and saturated steam is uniformly distributed in the heating space (102) formed in the upper part thereof. It is configured so that it can be filled. A steam supply pipe (116) for supplying steam from the outside is connected to the steam supply means (115).

  At both lower ends in the width direction of the conveyor means (105) in the form of a belt conveyor, there are lid plates (114) that block both sides so that the steam ejected from the steam outlets passes upward through the central area of the conveyor belt. It is arranged and configured to eliminate waste of steam as much as possible.

The schematic diagram seen from the side which shows the whole image of the steam heating apparatus of one Example concerning this invention Schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the cylindrical body of the device Configuration diagram of space-reducing body placed inside the cylindrical body of the device The schematic diagram which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship of the space reduction body arrange | positioned at the side inside the cylindrical body of the apparatus, and a conveyor Sectional drawing of the periphery of the heating space which shows the structure of the steam heating apparatus of another Example

Explanation of symbols

(1) Steamer (2) Heating space (3) Pressure equalization space (4) Object to be heated (5) Conveying means (6) Opening (7) Inclined portion (8) Horizontal portion (9) Pressure shut-off plate (10) Belt (11) Cylindrical body (12) Hollow part (13a) Space reduction body (13b) Pressure cut-off plate (14) Convex section (15) Steam supply means (16) Steam supply pipe (17) Air discharge pipe (101) Steamer (102) Heating space (105) Transport means (111) Cylindrical body (114) Cover plate (115) Steam supply means (116) Steam supply pipe

Claims (13)

  A heating space in which steam supply means having an inlet and an outlet through which the object to be heated can be carried in and out and a desired volume and having a steam outlet for supplying steam for heating the object to be heated are disposed; A transporting means for transporting an object to be heated in a predetermined path in the heating space, and transporting while suppressing wasteful escape of steam by reducing a space in which steam in the heating space escapes freely. A method of heating with steam, wherein the object to be heated is heated by raising the steam vertically through the means.   By preventing the flow of steam flowing in the heating space and preventing the flow of the heated object without hindering the conveyance of the heated object, The heating method using steam according to claim 1, wherein heating is performed.   A steam pressure outlet disposed in the heating space and a lower opening to the atmosphere communicate with a pressure equalization space having a height difference h to the inlet and the outlet of the heating space, and the large pressure in the pressure equalization space. The steam heating method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outflow of steam into the atmosphere is suppressed by balancing the pressure between the atmospheric pressure and the steam pressure.   A heating space in which a steam supply means having an inlet and an outlet through which the object to be heated can be carried in and out and a desired volume and having a steam outlet for supplying steam for heating the object to be heated is disposed; In the heating space, a steam heating apparatus for transporting the object to be heated by a predetermined path and capable of conveying the steam vertically through the steam, and for heating the object to be heated by the steam, In order to reduce the space where the steam escapes freely and suppress the wasteful escape of steam, the heating space is provided with a space reducing means extending along the longitudinal direction, and the space reducing means frees the steam. The steam heating device is characterized by suppressing the escape and making the heating space a highly efficient heating space.   The space reducing means has a structure in which the shape of the heating space is deformed along the longitudinal direction thereof, and the steam is vertically raised through the conveying means so as to be directed to the object to be heated. The steam heating apparatus according to claim 4.   The space reduction means has a structure in which a part of the path from the inlet side to the outlet side of the heated object conveyed by the conveying means is continuously squeezed along the path so that the steam can freely move in the conveying direction of the heated object. 6. The steam heating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a space for escape is reduced, and the vapor heating apparatus is vertically raised through the conveying means toward the object to be heated.   The structure that is continuously squeezed along the path consists of a structure in which the cross section of the heating space is squeezed into a substantially inverted convex shape so that the vapor rises vertically through the transporting means toward the object to be heated. The steam heating apparatus according to claim 6.   The space reduction means is a space reduction body that is disposed in the heating space and extends along the longitudinal direction of the space, and the space reduction body is disposed in the heating space to reduce a steam escape space in the heating space, 5. The steam heating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the steam vertically rises through the conveying means and travels toward the object to be heated.   In the path from the inlet side to the outlet side of the object to be heated conveyed by the conveying means, the space reduction body closes the side road between the conveying means and the inner wall of the heating space. 9. The steam heating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the steam heating apparatus comprises a structure to be disposed, and the steam rises vertically through the conveying means toward the object to be heated.   5. The steam heating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the heating space is partitioned and partitioned in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in a path from the inlet side to the outlet side of the heated object conveyed by the conveying means.   The steam heating apparatus according to any one of claims 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, wherein the conveying means is composed of a mesh belt conveyor capable of passing steam.   A pressure blocking plate that has an opening through the front and back that allows the object to be heated to pass through in the center, and partitions the heating space transversely to partition the heating space in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, thereby blocking pressure escape. The steam heating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the steam heating apparatus is configured as described above. The steam heating apparatus has a heating space in which a steam heating means having a steam outlet is provided, and has an inlet and an outlet through which a heated object can be carried in and out, and a desired volume. Is provided with a pressure equalizing space in which the steam outlet and the lower opening are arranged with a height difference h, and a pressure balance between the steam pressure and the atmospheric pressure is achieved in the pressure equalizing space, The steam heating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein escape of steam is suppressed.

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