JPH11118287A - Vacuum cooler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need for long steam piping installation while saving a space by integrating a boiler and a cooling tank and prevent the generation of cooling deficiency by performing a control in relation to a vacuum cooler to the boiler to accurately operate a steam ejector. SOLUTION: A steam ejector 7 is connected to a cooling tank 2 housing an object to be cooled and a boiler for generating steam for the steam ejector 7 is arranged below the cooling tank 2 integral by therewith. A controller 24 having a steam ejector 7 connected to the cooling tank 2 housing the object to be cooled and a boiler provided to generate steam for the steam ejector 7, and having a function of not starting a vacuum cooling process unless the steam pressure of the boiler satisfies a set value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum cooling device for evaporating the water content of an object to be cooled under reduced pressure and using the latent heat of vaporization for cooling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a vacuum cooling device is designed to reduce the saturated steam temperature by evacuation and decompression of a cooling tank containing an object to be cooled, thereby evaporating the moisture of the object to be cooled. The object to be cooled is cooled by utilizing latent heat of vaporization at that time. This vacuum cooling device is used, for example, in the food industry in a process of packing and shipping cooked food. A steam ejector is used as one of the vacuum suction means of the vacuum cooling device. This steam ejector is a so-called jet pump that sucks and discharges gas by a jet of steam.

[0003]

The steam supplied to the steam ejector is generated by a boiler installed separately from a vacuum cooling device. Therefore, if the installation location of the boiler is far from the installation location of the vacuum cooling device, an extremely long steam piping facility is required to supply the steam generated by the boiler to the vacuum cooling device. Then, in addition to the increase in the cost of the equipment, there is a problem that the heat loss during the passage of the steam through the steam pipe increases, and the steam pressure decreases. Also, since the boiler and the vacuum cooling device are controlled independently of each other, even if the steam pressure of the boiler is low,
Alternatively, even if the boiler is stopped, if the operation switch of the vacuum cooling device is turned on, the vacuum cooling device starts the vacuum cooling process as it is. In such a case, the steam ejector does not perform its original function, and the cooling tank cannot be evacuated to vacuum.

An object of the present invention is to dispose a boiler and a cooling tank integrally to eliminate the need for long steam piping equipment and to save space, and to control a vacuum cooling device and a boiler in association with each other. This aims at reliably operating the steam ejector and preventing the occurrence of cooling failure.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has a boiler for connecting a steam ejector to a cooling tank containing an object to be cooled and generating steam for the steam ejector. The first thing that it was arranged integrally with the cooling tank was
The second feature is that the boiler is arranged below the cooling tank. In addition, the present invention includes a steam ejector connected to a cooling tank containing an object to be cooled, a boiler that generates steam for the steam ejector, and performs a vacuum cooling step when the steam pressure of the boiler is less than a set value. A third feature is that a controller having a function of not starting is provided.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A vacuum cooling apparatus according to the present invention includes a cooling tank having a sealable door, and a cooling object is accommodated in the cooling tank. Further, a steam ejector is provided as a vacuum suction means, and this steam ejector is connected to the cooling tank. The boiler for generating steam for the steam ejector is disposed integrally with the cooling tank. The boiler and the cooling tank are mounted integrally on one stand, and the boiler is disposed on the left, right, above, below, or behind the cooling tank, preferably,
It is located below the cooling bath.

By arranging the boiler and the cooling tank integrally, a long steam piping facility becomes unnecessary and space can be saved. When long steam piping equipment is not required, the cost of the equipment can be reduced and the heat loss can be reduced. If the cooling tub is arranged at a height where the object to be cooled can be easily taken in and out, a space is formed below the cooling tub. If the boiler is arranged in this space, it is more effective in terms of space saving.

[0008] The operation of the vacuum cooling device of the present invention and the operation of the boiler are controlled in association with each other. The steam pressure of the boiler is detected, and the controller controls so that the vacuum cooling step is not started when the steam pressure is less than a set value. That is, when the boiler is stopped or when the steam pressure of the boiler is low, the vacuum cooling step is not started, the steam ejector is reliably operated, and the occurrence of cooling failure is prevented. .

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory front view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

A substantially cylindrical cooling tank 2 for accommodating an object to be cooled is fixed to an upper portion of the gantry 1. The cooling tank 2 has an opening on the front surface, and a door 3 slidable up and down to seal the opening. When the door 3 is moved upward, the opening is closed, and when the door 3 is moved downward, the opening is opened. The cooling tank 2 is connected to a vacuum suction line 4 for reducing the pressure inside and an outside air introduction line 5 for returning the pressure to the atmospheric pressure after vacuum cooling.

The vacuum suction line 4 includes the cooling tank 2
A check valve 6, a steam ejector 7, a heat exchanger 8, and a water ring vacuum pump 9 are provided in this order from the side. The check valve 6
Functions to maintain the reduced pressure state in the cooling tank 2.
The steam ejector 7 introduces steam and sucks and discharges gas by a jet of steam. The heat exchanger 8 has a function of flowing the cooling water to condense the vapor in the exhaust gas and reducing the volume of the discharged gas. The water ring vacuum pump 9
Is to supply liquid sealing to form a liquid ring inside, and to suck and discharge gas by rotation of the liquid ring. The steam ejector 7, the heat exchanger 8, and the water-sealed vacuum pump 9 are arranged behind the cooling tank 2 on the gantry 1 to reduce the size of the entire vacuum cooling device.

The outside air introduction line 5 is provided with a filter 10 and an outside air introduction valve 11 in order from the outside air introduction side. The filter 10 removes dust, germs, and the like in the outside air introduced into the cooling tank 2. The outside air introduction valve 11 regulates the speed of the decompression by adjusting the flow rate of the air flowing into the cooling tank 2 through the outside air introduction line 5.

A water softener 12, a water supply tank 13, a water supply pump 14, and a boiler 15 are provided below the cooling tank 2 while being mounted on the gantry 1. The boiler 15
A water supply line 16 is connected to the water supply line 16, and the water softener 12, the water supply tank 13, and the water supply pump 14 are provided on the water supply line 16 in order from the upstream side. The water softener 12
Acts to soften the water supply by the action of the ion exchange resin filled inside. The softened water is temporarily stored in the water supply tank 13 and supplied to the boiler 15 by the water supply pump 14 according to the water level in the boiler 15.

In the boiler 15, the upper header 17 and the lower header 18 are formed in a substantially L-shaped water pipe (in the illustrated embodiment, 2 pipes).
Book 19). An electric heater 20 for heating is inserted into the horizontal portion 19 a of the water pipe 19 so as to penetrate the lower header 18. The lower header 18
Is disposed on the front side of the vacuum cooling device, and when the electric heater 20 is replaced, the electric heater 20 can be pulled out from the front of the vacuum cooling device to the front, which is excellent in maintainability. Further, the water supply tank 13 is provided with a horizontal portion 19 of the water pipe 19.
a, and the space below the cooling tank 2 is used efficiently. The water supply tank 13 may be disposed between the boiler 15 and the water softener 12,
In that case, the water supply pump 14 is placed on the horizontal portion 19 a of the water pipe 19.

The upper header 17 and the steam ejector 7
Are connected by a steam supply line 21. The steam supply line 21 is provided with a steam pressure sensor 22 and a steam control valve 23. The steam pressure sensor 22 and the steam control valve 23, the water-sealed vacuum pump 9 and the outside air introduction valve 11 are connected to a controller 24, and are programmed in advance (FIG. 3 shows a main part thereof). ).

The water supply pump 14 and the electric heater 20 are also connected to the controller 24 (electrical wiring is not shown), and each device is integrally controlled by the controller 24. The water supply pump 14 is turned on and off based on a detection signal from a water level detector (not shown) provided in the boiler 15 to maintain the water level in the boiler 15 within a predetermined range. The electric heater 20 is turned on and off based on a detection signal from the steam pressure sensor 22 to maintain the steam pressure in the boiler 15 within a predetermined range.

The cooling tank 2 is provided with an in-tank pressure sensor 25. Based on a detection signal from the in-tank pressure sensor 25, the operation of the steam ejector 7 and the water ring vacuum pump 9 is controlled. . Further, the boiler 15 and the cooling bath 2 are connected to a sterilized steam line 27 provided with a sterilized steam valve 26.
After the completion of vacuum cooling, steam is introduced into the cooling bath 2 to heat sterilize the inside.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described (see FIG. 3). After the object to be cooled is stored in the cooling tank 2 and the door 3 is closed, the operation switch is turned ON (S
1), start the vacuum cooling step. At this time, the controller 24 determines whether or not steam of a predetermined pressure is generated in the boiler 15 based on a signal from the steam pressure sensor 22.
(S3). When the steam pressure has not reached the set value, the vacuum cooling step is not started, and the operator is notified of that (S12). When the vapor pressure reaches the set value, the vacuum cooling step is automatically started (S5).
If the steam pressure does not reach the set value even after the lapse of a predetermined time (S13), an alarm is issued (S14).

When the pressure in the cooling tank 2 is reduced, the water ring vacuum pump 9 is first operated to reduce the pressure to a predetermined pressure (S6). Then, the steam control valve 23 is opened and the steam ejector 7 is opened. Steam is supplied to operate the steam ejector 7 (S7). After the completion of the vacuum cooling step (S8), the water ring vacuum pump 9 is stopped and the steam control valve 23 is closed (S9). Then, the outside air introduction valve 11 is opened to introduce clean outside air into the cooling tank 2 (S1).
0). After the pressure in the cooling tank 2 returns to the atmospheric pressure (S1
1) Open the door 3 and take out the object to be cooled.

The cooling tank 2 is arranged at a height at which an object to be cooled can be easily taken in and out, and a boiler is arranged in an open space below the cooling tank 2 to obtain a remarkable effect in terms of space saving. be able to. In addition, special steam piping equipment for connecting the boiler 15 and the steam ejector 7 is not required. Further, since the vacuum cooling step is not started when the steam pressure is less than the set value, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of cooling failure due to the steam ejector 7 not operating normally.

After completion of the vacuum cooling, in order to keep the inside of the cooling tank 2 clean, the sterilizing steam valve 26 is opened to introduce steam into the cooling tank 2 and heat sterilize the inside. The steam to be introduced also strikes the back side of the door 3 and the door 3
Wash the back side with steam.

Although not shown, as another embodiment, the air can be heated by the electric heater 20 and hot air can be supplied into the cooling tank 2 to sterilize the inside by heating. That is, a blowing means is connected to the lower header 18, and the upper header 19 and the cooling tank 2 are connected by a hot air supply line provided with a hot air supply valve. Further, the drainage of the water ring vacuum pump 9 is purified by a suitable purification device, and the boiler 1 is cleaned.
5 can also be supplied as water. Further, when casters are attached to the vacuum cooling device, in the present invention in which the cooling tank 2 and the boiler 15 are integrally arranged, both can be freely movable.

[0023]

According to the present invention, as described above, by arranging the boiler and the cooling tank integrally, a long steam piping facility becomes unnecessary and the space can be saved.
If the cooling tank is placed at a height where the object to be cooled can be easily taken in and out,
Since a space is formed below the cooling tank, arranging the boiler in this space is more effective in saving space. Also, by controlling not to start the vacuum cooling process when the steam pressure is less than the set value, the vacuum cooling process is started when the boiler is stopped or when the steam pressure of the boiler is low. By avoiding this, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of cooling failure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1 (the piping is not shown).

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a control flow in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Cooling tank 7 Steam ejector 15 Boiler 24 Controller

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akiyoshi Itabashi 7th, Horie-cho, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime Miura Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasunori Kano 7, Horie-cho, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime Miura Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vacuum characterized in that a steam ejector 7 is connected to a cooling tank 2 for storing an object to be cooled, and a boiler 15 for generating steam for the steam ejector 7 is arranged integrally with the cooling tank 2. Cooling system. 2. The vacuum cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said boiler is disposed below said cooling tank. 3. A steam ejector 7 is connected to a cooling tank 2 for accommodating an object to be cooled, and a boiler 15 is provided for generating steam for the steam ejector 7. When the steam pressure of the boiler 15 is lower than a set value. A vacuum cooling device comprising a controller 24 having a function of not starting a vacuum cooling step.