JP4876114B2 - Steam supply method and system for steamer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a system for supplying steam to a steamer by or in which flash steam generated in a flash tank is introduced into the steamer through stable supply of the steam under a high pressure. <P>SOLUTION: The system for supplying steam to a steamer includes: a heat exchanger 2 attached to a fryer 1 frying steamed noodle, a flash tank 4 connected to the heat exchanger 2 via an automatic pressure-adjusting valve 3; and a flash steam pipe 6 for connecting the flash tank 4 with a steamer 5 to introduce the flash steam generated in the flash tank 4 into the steamer 5. The flash tank 4 is provided with a pressure sensor 9 for detecting the pressure in the tank. The automatic pressure-adjusting valve 3 controls the pressure in the flash tank 4 corresponding to detected signals transmitted from the pressure sensor 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and system for supplying steam to a steamer, and more particularly, high-pressure drain from a heat exchanger attached to a fryer and a part thereof as steam supplied to a steamer used in a steaming process in an instant noodle manufacturing process. The present invention relates to a method for supplying steam to a steamer using flash steam generated by introducing residual steam to a flash tank, and a system for carrying out the method.

  In a general instant noodle manufacturing process, a noodle strip manufactured by rolling is cut with a cutting blade into a noodle strip, steamed in a steamer 51 after being waved, and suitable for eating. It is alpha. A sparge pipe 52 is disposed in the steamer 51, and steam supplied from the steam main pipe 53 is supplied from the sparge pipe 52, so that the noodle strings are steamed.

  The noodle strings that have passed through the steamer 51 are cut in a fixed amount after the seasoning process and stored in the frame conveyor of the fryer 54, and then fried by passing through the fryer 54 in that state. A heat exchanger 55 for heating oil is attached to the fryer 54, and high-pressure steam for heat exchange (for oil heating) is supplied to the heat exchanger 55 from a steam main pipe 56.

  In addition, a flash tank 58 is connected to the heat exchanger 55 via a high-pressure side steam trap 57, and high-pressure drain partially containing residual steam is discharged from the heat exchanger 55 by the action of the high-pressure side steam trap 57. It is introduced into the flash tank 58. In the flash tank 58, the flash vapor generated from the high-temperature and high-pressure drain in the flash tank 58 is separated and recovered and either exhausted as it is or used.

  In the case of this conventional heat exchanger 55, since the temperature difference is large at the start of steam supply, the heat exchange rate is very good. However, when the operation time becomes long and the temperature of the heat exchanger body rises, it is supplied. It is difficult for the steam to condense to become a drain, and some of the drain reabsorbs heat from the heat exchanger 55 to become a steam and stays on the temporary side of the steam trap 57.

  Since the steam trap 57 originally performs the drain discharge operation only after detecting the drain, the steam trap 57 does not operate even if the steam stays in this way, and causes the steam trouble due to the stay of the steam. Thus, if a steam failure occurs and the drain is not discharged, the heat exchange rate decreases and the processing capacity of the heat exchanger 55 decreases. Such a failure is more likely to occur as the temperature inside the heat exchanger 55 becomes higher.

  As a result of the decrease in the heat exchange rate, the oil temperature of the fryer 54 does not rise to the specified temperature. Further, since the flash vapor generated in the flash tank 58 is very low pressure and the generation thereof is unstable, the range of use (apparatus and place) is very limited (in practice, hand washing). It is the place used for warm water heating etc.).

  Further, after the use of the heat exchanger 55 is stopped, the inside of the heat exchanger 55 and the piping are filled with air. However, in the conventional system, there is no means for discharging the filled air. When steam is resupplied, it takes time to raise the temperature of the heat exchanger 55 and also causes a decrease in thermal efficiency.

JP 2001-299258 A Japanese Patent No. 3741941 JP 2008-194199 A

  According to the present invention, in the conventional noodle making system, the flash steam generated in the flash tank connected to the heat exchanger of the fryer is very low pressure, and the generation range thereof is unstable, so that the range of use is limited. It was made in view of the fact that it was limited, and it enabled a stable supply of flash steam generated in the flash tank in a high-pressure state, and thus it was possible to introduce and use it in a steamer. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for supplying steam to a steamer.

  The invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problem is a method for supplying steam to a steamer in a noodle making plant, and is a drain of a heat exchanger attached to a fryer for frying steamed noodles A flash tank equipped with a pressure sensor is connected to the pipe via an automatic pressure regulating valve, and the flash vapor generated in the flash tank corresponds to the pressure in the flash tank detected by the pressure sensor. The steam supply method to the steamer is characterized in that the steam is introduced into the steamer after being kept at a predetermined pressure by the action of the automatic pressure control valve operating in the above manner.

  In one embodiment, the flash steam is mixed with steam supplied from a steam main pipe and introduced into the steamer. Further, only the flash steam may be supplied to the steamer.

  The invention according to claim 4 for solving the above problem is a system for supplying steam to a steamer in a noodle making plant, and a heat exchanger attached to a fryer for frying steamed noodles; A flash tank connected to the heat exchanger via an automatic pressure regulating valve installed on a drain pipe of the heat exchanger; and flash steam generated in the flash tank extending from the flash tank. The flash tank is equipped with a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the tank, and the automatic pressure control valve corresponds to a detection signal sent from the pressure sensor. The steam supply system to the steamer is characterized by controlling the pressure in the flash tank.

  In a preferred embodiment, the flash steam line is connected to the steamer via a steam header. The steam header is connected to a branch pipe extending from the steam main pipe. In a preferred embodiment, an automatic air vent valve is installed in the flash tank.

  The present invention is as described above. In the steam supply method and system for a steamer according to the present invention, the flash tank is provided with a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the tank, and the heat exchanger and the flash tank are provided. Since the automatic pressure regulating valve disposed between the two pressure sensors operates to control the pressure in the flash tank based on the delivery signal from the pressure sensor, the flash steam generated in the flash tank is always kept at a predetermined level. It is possible to maintain a high pressure state, so that it is possible to stably supply the high pressure flash steam to the steamer even if it is located away from the flash tank. It is very useful because it can simplify the whole system and expect energy saving effect.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A steam supply method to a steamer according to the present invention is a method for supplying steam to a steamer in a noodle making plant, and the drain pipe is connected to a heat exchanger attached to a fryer for frying steamed noodles. A flash tank equipped with a pressure sensor is connected via an automatic pressure regulating valve installed above, and the flash vapor generated in the flash tank corresponds to the pressure in the flash tank detected by the pressure sensor. The automatic pressure regulating valve that operates as described above is maintained at a predetermined pressure and then introduced into the steamer.

  The steam supply system to the steamer according to the present invention is for carrying out the steam supply method to the steamer according to the present invention, and the system is a heat attached to the fryer 1 for frying the steamed noodles. A flash tank 4 connected to the exchanger 2 and the heat exchanger 2 via an automatic pressure regulating valve 3 installed in the drain pipe, and steam generated from the flash tank 4 is steamed. And a flash steam pipe 6 to be introduced into the machine 5.

  A branch pipe 7 extending from the steam main pipe is connected to the heat exchanger 2 via the temperature control valve 8, and high-pressure steam is constantly supplied from the branch pipe 7, and thus circulates through the heat exchanger 2. The oil in the fryer 1 is heated to a certain temperature.

  The flash tank 4 connected to the heat exchanger 2 via the automatic pressure regulating valve 3 includes a pressure sensor 9 that detects the pressure in the tank, and the automatic pressure regulating valve 3 is sent from the pressure sensor 9. The flow of the high-temperature and high-pressure drain is controlled so that the pressure in the flash tank 4 is maintained at a predetermined pressure. A safety valve 10 and an automatic air vent valve 11 are installed in the flash tank 4, and a drain recovery pump 13 is installed via a steam trap 12.

  The automatic air vent valve 11 operates by detecting steam and discharges air out of the tank. That is, when the drain is introduced into the flash tank 4 and the steam is generated, the tank is filled with air, but if the air is not discharged, the air is mixed in the steam, and when the steam is condensed, It will stay where steam should originally occupy, leading to a reduction in efficiency. In addition, the presence of air affects the pressure and temperature in the tank. Therefore, it is necessary to vent the air in advance.

  The flash steam generated in the flash tank 4 is discharged from the steam trap 14 installed in the drain pipe of the heat exchanger 2, and the high-temperature and high-pressure drain containing the partial residual steam supplied into the flash tank 4 is It occurs naturally when exposed to the low pressure atmosphere inside. The flash steam flows out from the flash tank 4 toward the steamer 5 through the flash steam pipe 6 and is supplied to the steamer 5.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the flash steam pipe 6 is split in the middle, one of which is connected to the front steam header 16 and the other is connected to the rear steam header 17. In addition, the branch pipe 15 extending from the steam main pipe is also divided into two in the middle, one of which is connected to the front steam header 16 and the other is connected to the rear steam header 17. The front-stage steam header 16 is connected to a front-stage sparge pipe 22 in the steamer 5 via an automatic pressure adjustment valve 18 and a pressure sensor 19, and the rear-stage steam header 17 is connected via an automatic pressure adjustment valve 20 and a pressure sensor 21. It is connected to the rear stage sparge pipe 23 in the steamer 5.

  Thus, mixed steam of the steam sent from the steam main pipe and the flash steam sent from the flash tank 4 mixed in the front stage steam header 16 is supplied to the front stage sparge pipe 22, and the rear stage sparge pipe 23 is supplied with the rear stage steam header 17. The mixed steam of the steam sent from the steam main pipe and the flash steam sent from the flash tank 4 mixed inside is supplied.

  The supply of the steam into the steamer 5 is not limited to the above-described method. For example, only the steam sent from the steam main pipe is supplied to one of the front-stage sparge pipe 22 and the rear-stage sparge pipe 23, and the other is sent from the flash tank 4. A method of supplying only the flash steam, or one of the front-stage sparge pipe 22 and the rear-stage sparge pipe 23 is supplied with only the steam sent from the steam main pipe, and the other is supplied with the steam sent from the steam main pipe and the flash steam sent from the flash tank 4 Or a mixture of the steam sent from the steam main pipe and the flash steam sent from the flash tank 4 to one of the front-stage sparge pipe 22 and the rear-stage sparge pipe 23. A method of supplying steam, and both are flush tanks The method (branch pipe 15 in this case is not required) supplies only flash steam sent from are possible.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 24 denotes a flash steam pressure reducing valve, 25 denotes a high pressure side pressure reducing valve, and 26 to 28 denote steam traps.

  The operation of the system having the above configuration will be described. In the heat exchanger 2, the oil in the fryer 1 is heated by the high-temperature steam supplied from the steam main pipe through the branch pipe 7, as in the conventional system. . Then, the high-temperature and high-pressure drain discharged from the heat exchanger 2 through the steam trap 14 is introduced into the low-pressure flash tank 4, whereby flash vapor is generated in the flash tank 4.

  In the system according to the present invention, the pressure sensor 9 is installed in the flash tank 4 and the pressure in the flash tank 4 is constantly measured. The output signal from the pressure sensor 9 is sent to the automatic pressure regulating valve 3 disposed in the drain pipe between the heat exchanger 2 and the flash tank 4, and the automatic pressure regulating valve 3 that has received this signal sends the pressure signal to the automatic pressure regulating valve 3. Operates according to the data, that is, when the pressure in the flash tank 4 is lower than the set value, the automatic pressure regulating valve 3 widens the drain flow path to increase the flow rate of the high-temperature and high-pressure drain, and further the above inflow If the pressure in the flash tank 4 is higher than the set value, the automatic pressure regulating valve 3 reduces the drain flow path to reduce the flow rate of the high-temperature and high-pressure drain. Operates to limit the inflow of steam.

  Since the pressure in the flash tank 4 is maintained at a predetermined pressure in this way, it is possible to secure in the tank sufficient high-pressure flash steam to be supplied to the steamer 5 and used. Further, since the flash steam can be maintained in such a high pressure state, it is possible to cope with the case where the steamer 5 is located away from the flash tank 4 due to the arrangement in the factory.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the high-pressure flash steam in the flash tank 4 flows out into the flash steam pipe 6 and is divided into two after being decompressed by the flash steam pressure reducing valve 24, one of which flows into the upstream steam header 16. The other flows into the rear steam header 17. The branch pipe 15 extending from the steam main pipe is also divided into two after being decompressed by the pressure reducing valve 24, one flowing into the front steam header 16 and the other flowing into the rear steam header 17 and mixed with the flash steam, respectively. Then, the mixed steam is sent to the pre-stage sparge pipe 22 or the post-stage sparge pipe 23.

  In other embodiments, the mixed steam is made only in one of the front steam header 16 and the rear steam header 17, or only the flash steam is supplied to both the front steam header 16 and the rear steam header 17. It is said that. Note that the amount of steam delivered to the front-stage sparge pipe 22 and the rear-stage sparge pipe 23 is controlled by automatic pressure control valves 18 and 20 that operate based on output signals from the pressure sensors 19 and 21 disposed in the respective steam pipes. Is done.

  The steam supply method and system to the steamer according to the present invention are as described above. According to this, the flash tank 4 is provided with the pressure sensor 9 for detecting the pressure in the tank, and the heat exchanger 2 is provided. The automatic pressure regulating valve 3 disposed between the fuel tank and the flash tank 4 operates based on a delivery signal from the pressure sensor 9 to control the steam pressure in the flash tank 4. Therefore, the flash steam generated in the flash tank 4 can be maintained at a high pressure suitable for use in the steamer 5 at all times, and the high-pressure flash steam can be stably supplied to the steamer 5. It becomes possible.

  Although the present invention has been described in some detail with respect to its most preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that a wide variety of different embodiments can be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention being defined by the appended claims. It is not restricted to the specific embodiment other than limiting in.

It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of the steam supply system to the steamer which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of the steam supply system to the conventional steamer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flyer 2 Heat exchanger 3 Automatic pressure regulating valve 4 Flash tank 5 Steamer 6 Flash steam piping 7 Branch pipe 8 Temperature regulating valve 9 Pressure sensor 10 Safety valve 11 Automatic air vent valve 12 Steam trap 13 Drain recovery pump 14 Steam trap 15 Branch pipe 16 Pre-stage steam header 17 Rear-stage steam header 18 Automatic pressure regulating valve 19 Pressure sensor 20 Automatic pressure regulating valve 21 Pressure sensor 22 Pre-stage sparge pipe 23 Rear stage sparge pipe 24 Flash steam decompression valve 25 High-pressure side decompression valve

Claims (7)

  It is a method for supplying steam to a steamer in a noodle making plant, and is connected to a heat exchanger attached to a fryer for frying steamed noodles through an automatic pressure regulating valve installed on its drain pipe, A flash tank provided with a sensor is connected, and the flash vapor generated in the flash tank is predetermined by the action of the automatic pressure regulating valve that operates in accordance with the pressure in the flash tank detected by the pressure sensor. A method for supplying steam to a steamer, wherein the steam is introduced into the steamer after being maintained at a pressure.   The method for supplying steam to a steamer according to claim 1, wherein the flash steam is mixed with steam supplied from a steam main pipe and introduced into the steamer.   The steam supply method to the steamer according to claim 1, wherein only the flash steam is supplied to the steamer. A system for supplying steam to a steamer in a noodle making plant,
A heat exchanger attached to a fryer for frying steamed noodles, a flash tank connected to the heat exchanger via an automatic pressure regulating valve installed on a drain pipe of the heat exchanger, and the flash tank And a flash steam pipe for introducing flash steam generated in the flash tank into the steamer.
The flash tank includes a pressure sensor that detects a pressure in the tank, and the automatic pressure control valve controls the pressure in the flash tank in response to a detection signal sent from the pressure sensor. A steam supply system for steamers.   The steam supply system to a steamer according to claim 4, wherein the flash steam pipe is connected to the steamer via a steam header.   The steam supply system for a steamer according to claim 5, wherein the steam header is connected to a branch pipe extending from a steam main pipe.   The steam supply system for a steamer according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein an automatic air vent valve is installed in the flash tank.

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