JPH08159647A - Method and device for manufacturing moisture air - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve humidifying performance and perform positive and easy drying and distilation by a method wherein a fine wire material with non-absorbing characteristic and superior heat transferring characteristic is bent to construct a filling part. CONSTITUTION: A filling part 7 has a filter function in which an ultra fine wire having non-humidity absorbing characteristic and having a superior heat transfer characteristic is bundled in a mesh form or in a linear manner. The filling part 7 and a heating part 6 such an electrical heating having an electrical heating wire 66 in a quartz pipe are abutted or mounted to each other while being adjacent in such a manner that a heat transfer may easily be carried out so as to construct a humidifying part 50. Water is splashed in atomized form by a water dispersion device 8 from above the humidifying part 50 and water is adhered to the surface of the ultra fine wire type filling part 7. Some fine water droplets adhered to the filling part 7 ride on an air flow flowing by a fan and is transferred within an air duct 4 toward a thawing chamber 2 and the like due to the fact that material at the filling part has a water absorbing characteristic. Accordingly, germ may not be increased within the filling part. In addition, the temperature of the heating part 6 is controlled and the filling part 7 can be kept at a temperature preferable for getting a desired humidifying performance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for producing humidified air mainly used for thawing frozen food, an apparatus for producing the humidified air, and a method for thawing frozen food using the humidified air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a thawing method for thawing various frozen foods in a refrigerator for sale, a conventional air duct for circulating the air circulating in the refrigerator in which the frozen foods are stored is provided. A method in which water is atomized and sprayed by a water sprinkling device in the air of the duct, and a method of applying humidified air to the frozen food in the refrigerator and a filler together with the water sprinkling device and hetimaron are provided, Sprinkle water toward the filling material to make it contain water,
There is provided a method of passing air through a water-containing filler to humidify the air and send it to frozen food in a refrigerator.

[0003]

Of the above-mentioned methods for thawing frozen foods which have been conventionally provided, the method of injecting water into the circulating air in the air duct by a water sprinkler has the following problems. Not only is the mist scattered to unnecessary parts due to humidification, but also high mist performance cannot be obtained because the mist falls at a high speed.

In addition, in the case where the sprinkler and the filler made of hemitalone and the like are provided side by side, since the filler itself is in a water-containing state, there is a high possibility that it will become a bed for the growth of bacteria, which is hygienic. The problem of occurs.

An object of the present invention is to prevent moisture absorption in the filling portion and to easily control the temperature in the filling portion to a required temperature, thereby obtaining humidified air having a required humidity at all times, thereby improving the humidifying performance and humidifying the humidifying air. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing humidified air and a device therefor which are capable of performing subsequent drying and sterilization reliably and easily and are also good in hygiene.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and bends and fills a fine wire material having a non-water-absorbing property and good heat conductivity into a mesh shape, a cotton shape, or the like. And a heating part such as a heating tube having a built-in heater for heating the filling part is provided adjacent to or adjacent to the filling part, and preferably, the filling part and the heating part are combined in a plurality of layers. Further, the gist of the invention is to keep the filling part at a preferable temperature required to obtain a desired humidifying performance by controlling the temperature of the heating part by atomizing the water with a water sprinkling device and spraying the water.

Further, when the humidified air is used for thawing frozen food, after thawing, the watering is stopped and the temperature of the heating section is raised to dry the equipment installed from the air duct to the thawing chamber, The fact that sterilization is performed is also one of the gist of the present invention.

The present invention is based on such a constitution, and its specific features are as follows.

(1) In producing humidified air used for thawing frozen foods, etc., while spraying water into a filling portion formed by bending a wire rod that is non-water-absorbing and has good heat conductivity, The temperature of the filling portion is maintained in a predetermined temperature range for obtaining a desired humidity, and the air is passed through the filling portion to obtain humidified air.

(2) When the humidified air is obtained and used, the temperature of the filled portion is controlled while sprinkling water on the filled portion formed by bending a wire material having a non-water absorbing property and a good heat transfer property. Holding in a predetermined temperature range for obtaining a desired humidity, the air is passed through the filling portion to supply humidified air to the humidified air use destination, and after the thawed frozen food is released to the outside, The filling section is heated to 60 ° C. or higher to produce humidified air, and the equipment in the air duct including the filling section is sterilized with the humidified air,
Next, watering to the filling section is stopped, and the inside of the chamber, the duct and the equipment are dried and sterilized by the dry air.

(3) In a humidified air manufacturing system including an air duct that communicates with a destination of humidified air such as a defroster storing frozen foods and through which the humidified air flows, non-water-absorption in the air duct. And a heating portion provided with a heating means such as a quartz heater are provided adjacent to each other, and a filling portion formed by bending a wire having good heat conductivity and heat conductivity is provided, and water is sprayed on the filling portion. Provide a water sprinkler to attach water to the surface.

(4) In addition to the device described in the item (3),
A heat exchanger is provided for adjusting the temperature of the air by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the air that has passed through the filling unit and the heating unit.

(5) In addition to the device described in the item (3),
A heat exchanger that adjusts the temperature of the air by exchanging heat between the air and the heat medium that has passed through the filling unit and the heating unit, a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the air that has passed through the filling unit and the heating unit, and the temperature A controller that controls the amount of heat of the heating unit and the amount of heat exchanged by the heat exchanger based on the temperature detected by the detector is provided.

In thawing the frozen food in a frozen food thawing system provided with an air duct which is communicated with the inside of the refrigerator where the frozen food is stored and in which the air sent to the inside of the warehouse by a fan circulates, While water-absorbing and sprinkling water into a filling portion formed by bending a good heat-transferring wire, the temperature of the filling portion is maintained in a predetermined temperature range for obtaining a desired humidity,
The humid air is generated by passing the air through the filling section,
The frozen food is thawed by circulating it through the air duct in the refrigerator in which the frozen food is stored, and after releasing the thawed frozen food to the outside of the refrigerator, the filling portion is heated to 60 ° C. or higher to humidify air. And the equipment inside the air duct including the inside of the storage and the filling portion is sterilized with the humidified air. Further, if necessary, watering to the filling portion is stopped, and the inside of the refrigerator, the duct and the equipment are dried and sterilized with the dry air.

[0015]

In the present invention, ultrafine wires which are non-water-absorbing and have good heat conductivity (relatively high thermal conductivity) are bundled in a mesh shape or a cotton shape so as to have a filter function, and this filling is performed. Part and a heating part such as an electric heating type in which a heating wire is housed in a quartz tube are placed so as to be in contact with or adjacent to each other so that heat can be easily transferred to each other to form a humidifying part, and a sprinkler device is provided from above the humidifying part. To pour the water into a mist, and attach the water to the surface of the ultrafine wire filling part.

Since the material of the filling portion is non-water-absorbing, the minute water droplets attached to the filling portion are not absorbed in the wire (filling material) and ride on the air flow that is made to flow by the fan. The inside can be transferred to a thawing room. Therefore, in the filling section, there is no occurrence of bacterial growth due to water absorption by the filling material.

Further, since the filler constituting the filling section has a good heat transfer performance, it can quickly follow the temperature change of the heating section. Therefore, by controlling the temperature of the heating section by the controller, the filling section can be controlled. Can also be maintained at a required temperature at all times and at a uniform temperature over the entire filling portion.

As a result, it is possible to control the ratio of water evaporation in the filling section and mixing in air to a required value, and it is possible to always obtain humidified air at a required temperature.

After thawing, the food is discharged from the inside of the refrigerator, the temperature of the heating portion is set to 60 ° C. or higher, and the inside of the refrigerator, the duct and the equipment are sterilized by humidified air. Next, when the fan is stopped and the water sprinkling from the water sprinkler is stopped to raise the temperature of the heating section, all the water droplets in the filling section evaporate and the temperature of the air flowing in the air duct rises to dry air. By maintaining this dry air at a temperature of 60 ° C. or higher by the controller and feeding it into the thawing chamber or the like, sterilization in the thawing chamber or the like can be performed reliably and easily.

【Example】

Embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc., of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto, unless there is a specific description, and are merely illustrative examples. Nothing more than.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a frozen food defrosting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a defroster and 2
Is a thawing chamber for storing frozen foods 3 provided in the thawing chamber, 4 is an air duct through which air into the thawing chamber 2 is circulated, and 5 is a flow of air through the air duct 4 to the thawing chamber. It is the exit.

Reference numeral 18 is an air inlet for communicating the lower portion of the thawing chamber 2 with the inside of the air duct 4, and 10 is a fan for air circulation installed in the air duct 4. This fan 10
The air in the thawing chamber 2 is sucked into the air duct 4 through the inlet 18, and is made to flow into the thawing chamber 2 from the air outlet 5 through the filling section 7, the heating section 6, the heat exchanger 9, etc., which will be described later. It serves to circulate air.

Above the air inlet 18 in the air duct 4, the heating portion 6 and the filling portion 7 are inserted adjacent to each other in a sandwich shape, and a plurality of humidifying portions 50 are combined to form an air flow. They are arranged side by side.

The filling portion 7 is made of a fine wire such as stainless steel fine wire, copper wire, fiber, etc., which has non-water absorbability, excellent heat resistance and heat transferability, and has a sterilizing effect. A demister-shaped member formed by bundling in a mesh shape or a cotton shape is laid over the entire passage cross section of the air duct 4.

The heating section 6 heats and raises the temperature of the filling section 7 adjacent to the heating section 6. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a heating wire coil 6b is internally provided in an insulation-coated heat conduit 6a. The thing etc. are used. That is, the heating unit 6 is
Since the heating wire coil is penetrated inside and the heat conduit on the outer surface is in contact with the filling part 7, the outer shell part which is the contact part is electrically connected like a quartz tube or an insulating coated metal tube. Composed of various insulating materials. The heating part 6 may be formed of a tubular body as shown in FIG. 2, or a plate-shaped body in which a heater wire is sandwiched by insulating plates, which is perforated into punching metal is used. May be.

The filling section 7 and the heating section 6 may be provided with a heating section formed of a large number of heating tubes inside the filling section 7.

A sprinkler 8 is installed above the humidifying section 50 consisting of the heating section 6 and the filling section 7, and has a plurality of jets at the bottom of the header provided on the entire cross section of the air duct 4. Nozzles are provided at substantially equal intervals. Since the structure of the sprinkler 8 is a known structure, a detailed structural drawing is omitted.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a pump for feeding water to the water sprinkling device, which pumps water accumulated in a water pan 15 provided at the lower portion of the thawing chamber to the water sprinkling device 8 through a water pipe 19. Pump up.

A heat exchanger 9 is provided in the air duct 4 on the downstream side of the water sprinkler 8. The heat exchanger 9 exchanges heat between the heat medium passing through the heat medium regulator 12 and the air flowing in the air duct 4. To adjust the temperature of the air.

Reference numeral 11 is a temperature detector provided on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 9, and 17 is a humidity detector provided between the sprinkler 8 and the heat exchanger 9. Reference numeral 16 is a current regulator that regulates the amount of current applied to the heating wire of the heating unit 6.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a controller, which inputs a detection signal of the air temperature in the air duct 4 from the temperature detector 11 and a detection signal of the air humidity from the humidity detector 17, respectively.
Based on these detection signals, the control signal 21 of the flow rate temperature of the heat medium to the heat exchanger 9 is transmitted to the heat medium regulator 12, and the current control signal 22 is transmitted to the current regulator 16.

Next, the operation of the frozen food defrosting apparatus configured as described above will be described. When the fan 10 is operated, the air in the thawing chamber 2 is fed from the inlet 18 to the air duct 4
A suction flow is introduced into the inside of the air duct 4, and flows in the air duct 4 as shown by an arrow to form a circulation flow returning from the outlet 5 to the inside of the thawing chamber 2.

In the humidifying section 50 consisting of the heating section 6 and the filling section 7 in the air duct 4, the water pumped by the pump 14 is sprayed in a mist form from the sprinkler 8 installed above the humidifying section. Water droplets are attached to the surface of the wire material of the filling part 7 made of a wire material of mesh or cotton shape, and a wire having a small diameter that bundles a plurality of coils.

In this case, since the small-diameter wire material forming the filling portion 7 is made of a non-water-absorbing material such as stainless steel wire, the water content is not absorbed inside the wire material, and the water content is evenly attached to the surface of the wire material. ing.

On the other hand, in the heating section 6, the current regulator 16
The electric current of which the intensity is adjusted by is applied to the electric heating coil (illustrated) to generate heat and raise the temperature of the heat conduit outside the electric heating coil.

Therefore, the filling section 7 of the heating section 6 which is in contact with the quartz tube is heated and maintained at a desired temperature by the heating section 6 while being supplied with fog water from the sprinkler 8 as described above. . The temperature of the filling portion 7 is maintained at 5 ° C. to 15 ° C. under the control of the controller 13, which will be described later, during the humidification operation.

In addition, a heat medium such as water is introduced into the heat exchanger 9 through the heat medium regulator 12, and heat is exchanged with the air flowing through the humidifying section 50 to maintain the air temperature at a required temperature. There is.

To the controller 13, a detection signal of the air temperature at the outlet of the heat exchanger 9 is input from the temperature detector 11, and a detection signal of the humidity of the air at the outlet of the humidifying unit is input from the humidity detector 17, respectively.

Then, the controller 13 calculates the temperature and flow rate of the heat medium sent to the heat exchanger 9 based on the detection signals of the temperature and humidity, and outputs the temperature and flow rate to the heat medium adjuster 12, and the heating unit 6 The current value given to the heating wire is calculated and output to the current regulator 16.

Therefore, the heat exchanger 9 has a controller 13
And the heat medium regulator 12 supplies the heat medium adjusted to the required temperature and flow rate, and the heating wire of the heating unit 6 is supplied with the current adjusted to the required intensity by the controller 13 and the current regulator 16. Shed

Due to the above action, the temperature detected by the temperature detector 11 is 5 ° C. during humidification as described above.
It is controlled by the controller 13 so as to be maintained at -15 ° C.

At the time of the above-mentioned operation, since the filling portion 7 is non-water-absorbing as described above, microscopic water droplets attached to the surface of the filling portion 7 are not absorbed in the wire rod, so that bacteria can grow. Absent.

The material of the filling section 7 (stainless steel wire, etc.)
Has good heat conductivity, temperature control is easy and the heating unit 6
The heat is smoothly transferred from and to the filling portion 7, and the filling portion 7 can be always kept uniformly and easily at a required temperature.

By the humidifying operation as described above, 5 ° C. to 15 ° C.
The humidified air whose temperature is adjusted to ℃ flows into the thawing chamber 2 from the inside of the air duct 4 by the fan 10 through the outlet 5 to the thawing chamber 2, and after thawing the frozen food 3 placed in the thawing chamber, It is returned from the inlet 18 into the air duct 4.

Of the sprayed water from the water spraying device 8, the water not consumed in the humidifying section 50 falls, is collected in the water pan 15, and is pumped up to the water spraying device 8 by the pump 14.

The frozen food 3 is thawed by the above operation, and after the frozen food is released from the thaw chamber 2, it is dried and sterilized by the following operation. With the fan 10 operating, the controller 13 increases the current of the current regulator 16,
The temperature of the heating section 6 is raised to around 60 ° C. As the temperature of the heating section 6 rises, the temperature of the filling section 7 abutting on the heating section 6 rises, and the water droplets attached to the surface layer of the filling section 7 evaporate. As a result, the air flowing from the humidifying section 50 through the heat exchanger 9 and inside the air duct 4 becomes high-temperature, high-humidity air and the defrosting chamber 2
And then sterilize. After that, the pump 14 is stopped to stop the water spray from the water spray device 8, and the controller 13 increases the current amount of the current regulator 16 to further raise the temperature of the heating unit 6.

As a result, the air flowing from the humidifying section 50 through the heat exchanger 9 into the air duct 4 becomes hot dry air and flows into the thawing chamber 2 to dry and sterilize the thawing chamber 2.

The temperature of the air flowing in the air duct 4 and sent to the thawing chamber 2 is detected by the temperature detector 11 and controlled by the controller 13 as in the humidification.
This temperature is maintained at 60 ° C. or higher during dry sterilization.

The temperature of the dry air is controlled by the controller 13
By adjusting the amount of heat exchanged in the heat exchanger 9 via the heat medium adjuster 12, it is possible to perform auxiliary operation.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a modified example of the humidifying section 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the heating section 6 and the filling section 7 are vertically arranged vertically. In FIG. 3, 61 is a heating unit, 6
Reference numeral 2 is a filling portion provided in contact with the surface of the heating portion 61.

In this embodiment, the structure of the filling portion 62 is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but the heating portion 61 is made of an insulating material and has a heat generating element 61a in a plate material 61b having good heat conductivity. The air flows in the direction perpendicular to the bottom surface.

Although the above embodiments have described the supply of humidified air to frozen foods, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to all devices requiring sterilized humidified air in the normal temperature range.

[0053]

According to the present invention, a fine wire material that is non-water absorbent and has good heat conductivity is bent into a mesh shape, a cotton shape, or the like to form a filling portion, and the filling portion is brought into contact with or close to the filling portion. Since it was configured to spray fog water on the humidifying section provided with the heating section by a water sprinkling device, the fog water is evenly attached to the outer periphery of the filling section and the filling section does not contain water. Since the humidifying part does not become a bed for growing bacteria, hygiene can be improved.

Further, since the heat transfer property of the material constituting the filling portion is good, the temperature can be easily controlled, and the temperature and humidity of the filling portion are kept uniform by the heating of the heating portion. Air with uniform temperature and humidity can be sent.

Further, since the filling portion is formed by bundling a large number of fine wire rods in a cotton shape or in the form of a mesh, the filling portion itself functions as a filter for filtering foreign matter, and clean humidified air is used in a defrosting chamber or the like. The humidified air can be sent to the destination.

Furthermore, after thawing, the sprinkler can be stopped, and high-temperature dry air whose temperature and humidity have been set to desired values by the controller can be sent to the thawing chamber. Sterilization and drying can be performed, and hygiene can be improved in this respect as well.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a frozen food defrosting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part of a humidifying unit according to the embodiment of FIG. 1, in which a heating unit and a filling unit are vertically stacked.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part of a humidifying unit according to the embodiment of FIG. 1, in which a heating unit and a filling unit are vertically stacked.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Defroster 2 Defroster 3 Frozen food 4 Air duct 6,61 Heating part 7,62 Filling part 8 Sprinkler 9 Heat exchanger 10 Fan 11 Temperature detector 13 Controller 14 Pump 50, 60 Humidifying part

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. When producing humidified air used for thawing frozen foods, etc., while filling a filling portion formed by bending a wire rod having a non-water-absorbing property and good heat transfer property, the filling is performed. A method for producing humidified air, characterized in that the humidified air is obtained by keeping the temperature of a part in a predetermined temperature range for obtaining a desired humidity and allowing the air to flow through the filling part. 2. When producing humidified air used for thawing of frozen foods, etc., while filling a filling portion formed by bending a non-water-absorbing and heat-transferring wire, the filling is performed. The temperature of the part is kept in a predetermined temperature range for obtaining a desired humidity, the air is passed through the filling part to supply humidified air to the humidified air use destination, and then the thawed frozen food is stored outside the refrigerator. After being discharged to the filling part, the filling part is heated to 60 ° C. or higher to produce humidified air, and the equipment in the air duct including the filling part is sterilized by the humidified air. A method for producing humidified air, which comprises stopping water spraying and performing dry sterilization of an inside of a refrigerator, a duct and equipment with the dried air. 3. A humidified air manufacturing system including an air duct that communicates with a destination of humidified air such as a defroster in which frozen food is stored, and through which humidified air flows. And a filling part formed by bending a wire having good heat conductivity, heating means in contact with or adjacent to the filling part, and a sprinkler device that sprinkles water on the filling part to attach water to its surface. An apparatus for producing humidified air, comprising: 4. A humidified air producing apparatus comprising a heat exchanger for adjusting the temperature of the air by exchanging heat between the air humidified through the filling section and the heating section and a heat medium. 5. A temperature detector that detects the temperature of humidified air that has passed through the filling section and the heating section, and a controller that controls the heat quantity of the heating section and the heat exchange quantity of the heat exchanger based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector. An apparatus for producing humidified air, comprising: 6. The humidified air manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the filling portion is formed by bending a metal wire into a mesh shape or a cotton shape so as to collect foreign matter in the air. 7. A container for storing frozen food is communicated with,
In thawing the frozen food in a frozen food thawing system provided with an air duct through which air sent to the inside of the refrigerator is circulated, a non-water-absorbing and heat-conductive wire rod is bent. While spraying water on the formed filling portion, the temperature of the filling portion is maintained in a predetermined temperature range for obtaining a desired humidity, and the air is passed through the filling portion to generate humidified air. The frozen food is thawed by circulating it through the duct through the duct into which the frozen food is stored. Then, after releasing the thawed frozen food to the outside of the refrigerator, the filling part is heated to 60 ° C. or higher to humidify air. Produce, sterilize the inside of the chamber with the humidified air, and sterilize the equipment in the air duct including the filling part, and further stop the watering to the filling part, if necessary, with the dry air, inside the chamber, Of frozen foods characterized by performing dry sterilization of ducts and equipment How to freeze.