JPH1163584A - Humidified air producing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the temperature and humidity of humidified air to predetermined values, and to eliminate the occurrence of variations in the temperature and humidity of the humidified air, by constructing a device to mix the humidified air with the air that has passed through a bypass passage in a mixing chamber. SOLUTION: Indoor air 54 is pressurized by a main blower 41 to be supplied into an air chamber 2 from an air supply window 13. This air is humidified, and flows into a mixing chamber 5 as cooling air 51. The part of the air in the air chamber 2 is supplied into a bypass passage 6 by a sub blower 20, and flows out to the inside of the mixing chamber 5. This bypass flow 52 flows out to the inside of the mixing chamber 5 in a roughly perpendicular direction to the cooling air 51, so that the mist that is being generated at the time of bubbling is mixed into the cooling air 51 to be impinged against the wall surface 5a of the mixing chamber 5. As a result, the temperature and humidity of the formed mixed air 53 can be regulated, by regulating the flow rate of the low temperature cooling air that is humidified, and the flow rate of the bypass air 52 that has the higher temperature than the cooling air.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for thawing frozen foods.
The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing humidified air used for conditioning indoor air and the like.

[0002]

The low-temperature and high-humidity air has a large heat removal energy. Therefore, a method of bringing frozen air into contact with the high-humidity air and performing thawing is widely used. This is because frozen foods such as marine products and livestock products need to maintain their freshness over a long period of time. However, even if the frozen food is stored smoothly, if it is not thawed effectively, the meat juice or cell fluid leaks from the frozen food or the cells are destroyed, resulting in the quality and taste of the product. In order to greatly reduce the
For this reason, in food factories, restaurants and other food processors, thawing has conventionally been performed in a low temperature range near the freezing point, but in such a low temperature thawing method, it takes time to thaw, and in terms of workability, Is also not preferred.

[0003] In order to solve such a drawback, a blowing means such as a fan is combined with the above-mentioned low-temperature thawing method, and ventilation maintained at a predetermined temperature is sent to a frozen food housed in a thawing refrigerator (thawing room). A method of thawing the thawed food has been proposed. However, in the thawing method as described above, since the frozen food is blown and thawed by the heat held by the wind heat, the surface of the frozen food is easily dried and causes deterioration in quality, and the inside of the frozen food is dried by the surface drying. It is difficult to obtain high heat transfer, not only takes time for thawing, but also causes surface oxidation and the like due to the drying of the product. Because the air volume varies greatly,
There is a problem that a variation in the thawing state occurs, a drip or the like occurs due to a local temperature rise or the like, and it is difficult to obtain a uniform and high-quality product.

[0004] As a method for solving such a problem, a thawing method using humidified air has been proposed. In the thawing method using humidified air, the air pumped by a blower is caused to flow through a storage section containing water to generate humidified air containing moisture in the air. Is sent to a thawing room in which the humidified air is brought into contact with the surface of the frozen food in the thawing room to perform thawing.

However, in the case of the thawing method using the humidified air, if the humidity and the temperature of the humidified air are not accurately and uniformly distributed over the entire thawing chamber, water droplets are generated due to excessive humidification. Problems such as an unsanitary surface due to the carrier overflow of the water droplets occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and controls the temperature and humidity of humidified air generated by mixing water with air supplied by a blower to desired values. It is an object of the present invention to provide a humidified air producing apparatus free from unevenness.

[0007]

According to the present invention, as a first invention, water is stored with a constant thickness on the upper surface of a perforated plate having a number of small holes. A reservoir, an air chamber formed below the reservoir and maintained at a predetermined pressure, a mixing chamber formed above the reservoir, and the mixing chamber bypassing the reservoir from the air chamber. And a bypass passage connected to the air chamber, and humidifies the room air by flowing the water in the perforated plate and the storage section through the air chamber to supply the humidified air to the mixing chamber, and the air passing through the air chamber. A blower for feeding a part of the humidified air to the bypass passage, and configured to mix the humidified air and the air passed through the bypass passage in the mixing chamber. .

[0008] Further, a second invention, in addition to the first invention,
Between the reservoir and the mixing chamber, humidified air flow rate adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate of humidified air passing through the reservoir is provided, and bypass air flow rate adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate of bypass air is provided in the bypass passage. It is composed. And
In the second invention, preferably, a controller is provided for controlling the humidified air flow rate adjusting means and the bypass air flow rate adjusting means to adjust the flow rate ratio between the humidified air and the bypass air.

According to this invention, the indoor air is humidified by passing through the perforated plate and the storage portion while bubbling by the blower, and is sent to the mixing chamber as low-temperature humidified air, where it passes through the bypass passage. The humidified bypass air is mixed with the room air. The flow rate of humidified air passing through the reservoir is adjusted by humidified air flow rate control means controlled by a controller, and the flow rate of air passing through the bypass passage is adjusted by bypass air flow rate adjusted means controlled by the controller.

In this invention, as described above, the flow rate of the low-temperature humidified air and the flow rate of the higher-temperature non-humidified bypass air are adjusted, and the two are mixed in the mixing chamber. The temperature and humidity of the air can be properly adjusted. At the time of such mixing, the bypass air is brought into contact with the humidified air in a direction perpendicular to the humidified air, and the mist in the humidified air collides with the wall surface of the mixing chamber, whereby the mist is sent to the outlet side together with the humidified air after mixing. Is suppressed, and humidified air having an appropriate humidity can be obtained.

As described above, it is possible to obtain humidified air which is humidified to an appropriate temperature and humidity, generates no water droplets, and has no humidification unevenness. Decompression can be performed.

[0012] In a third aspect, in the second aspect,
The humidified air flow rate adjusting means and the bypass air flow rate adjusting means are configured such that two perforated plates are overlapped and both perforated plates are relatively slid to change the overlapping area of the small holes so that the flow rate can be adjusted.

According to the invention, the humidified air and the bypass can be provided by a very simple and low-cost apparatus which only changes the overlap of the small holes of the perforated plate in the humidified air flow rate adjusting means and the bypass air flow rate adjusting means. By changing the flow rate of air, humidified air having appropriate temperature and humidity can be obtained.

The present invention also includes the use of a slit plate having a large number of slits in place of the superposition of two perforated plates in the third invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the second aspect, a variable flow rate second blower is provided in the bypass passage, and the flow rate of the blower is controlled by the controller. According to such means, the controller changes the air volume of the second blower, thereby changing the flow rate of the bypass air, changing the mixing ratio of the humidified air and the bypass air, and adjusting the temperature and the humidity of the humidified air. Can be.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified, and are merely illustrative examples. Only.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a humidified air producing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a suction chamber, and the suction chamber 1 is connected to a low-temperature chamber such as a defrost chamber (not shown) so that air after thawing in the low-temperature chamber is introduced. One or a plurality of main blowers 41 are installed in the suction chamber 1. An air chamber 2 which is a closed space is provided above the suction chamber 1 with a partition wall 3 interposed therebetween, and an air supply window provided at the distal end of the delivery pipe 4 of the main blower 41 in the air chamber 2. 13 is opened, and the air from the main blower 41 is blown out from the air supply window 13 into the air chamber 2.

Above the air chamber 2, there is provided a stainless steel perforated plate 7 having a number of small holes 7a formed therein. A part 18 is provided. The reservoir 18 is constantly supplied with water through a water supply nozzle 19 and maintains the water level at the height of the weir 17. 5 is the storage unit 18
Above the main flow rate adjusting plates (A) 9 and (B) 1
0 is a mixing chamber provided.

The pressure P of the air chamber 2 is controlled by the cooling air from the main blower 41 as described later.
In order to cause the water to flow while bubbling, the pressure is always maintained at the following formula (1). _{That, P> P 1 + P S} (1) where the water pressure of the upper surface of the P ₁ = pressure in the mixing chamber 5 (normally the atmospheric pressure) P _S = perforated plate 7

Reference numeral 6 denotes a bypass which bypasses the perforated plate 7 and the storage section 18 from the air chamber 2 and connects to the mixing chamber 5 via bypass flow rate adjusting plates (A) 11 and (B) 12, which will be described later. Have been. Reference numeral 20 denotes a sub-blower provided in the bypass passage 6, and supplies a part of the cooling air in the air chamber 2 to the bypass passage 6. Reference numeral 8 denotes a drainage channel, and water overflowing from the storage section 18 over the weir 17 is discharged to the outside through the drainage channel 8.

Reference numerals 9 and 10 denote main flow control plates (A) and (B) installed above the storage section 18, both of which are provided with a large number of small holes 9a and 10a. The main flow rate adjusting plate (A) 9 is fixed to a stationary member (not shown) such as a case or the weir 17, and the main flow rate adjusting plate (B) 10 is paired with the adjusting plate (A) 9. Is superposed on the adjustment plate (A) 9 so as to be relatively slidable. A drive device 15 such as a hydraulic cylinder is connected to one end of the adjustment plate (B) 10, and the adjustment plate (B) 10 is connected to the drive device 1.
5 allows the slide to reciprocate on the adjustment plate (A) 9.

Reference numerals 11 and 12 denote bypass flow rate adjusting plates (A) and (B) provided at the entrance of the mixing chamber 5 of the bypass passage 6, both of which are provided with a large number of small holes 11a and 12a. I have. The bypass flow rate adjusting plate (A) 11
Are fixed to the partition wall 14 of the bypass passage 6, and the bypass flow rate adjusting plate (B) 12 is superposed on the adjusting plate (A) 11 so as to be relatively slidable. A driving device 16 such as a hydraulic cylinder is connected to one end of the adjusting plate (B). The adjusting plate (B) 12 is reciprocated on the adjusting plate (A) 11 by the driving device 16. It is supposed to be.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a controller. The output terminal of the controller 30 is connected to the main blower 11, the sub blower 20, the driving device 15 and the driving device 16 via electric lines 21, 22, 23 and 24, respectively. Thereby, the rotation speed (air volume) of the main blower 11 and the sub blower 20 and the displacement (stroke) of the driving devices 15 and 16 are controlled.

During operation of the humidified air producing apparatus having such a configuration, the room air 54 after the thawing action introduced into the suction chamber 1 from the low-temperature chamber (not shown) is equal to or higher than the pressure of the above-mentioned formula (1) by the main blower 41. Air supply window 1
3 is supplied into the air chamber 2. This air is humidified by passing through the water in the storage portion 18 while bubbling through the small holes 7a of the perforated plate 7 to become humidified cooling air 51, and is humidified by the small holes of the main flow rate adjusting plate (A) 9. 9
a and into the mixing chamber 5 through the small holes 10a of the main flow rate adjusting plate (B) 10.

On the other hand, a part of the air in the air chamber 2 is supplied into the bypass 6 by the sub blower 20.
From the bypass passage 6, small holes 11 a of the bypass flow rate adjusting plate (A) 11 and small holes 12 of the bypass flow rate adjusting plate (B) 12.
a into the mixing chamber 5. This bypass flow 52
As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling air flows into the mixing chamber 5 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cooling air 51 so that the cooling air 5
The mist generated at the time of bubbling is mixed into the cooling air 51 by the flow velocity of the mist and the mist is caused to collide with the wall surface 5 a of the mixing chamber 5. by this,
The mixture of the cooling air 51 and the bypass air 52 mixed with the mist is suppressed from being sent out.

The flow rate of the humidified cooling air 51 from the air chamber 2 through the perforated plate 7 and the reservoir 18 is adjusted as follows. That is, the driving device 15 is driven by a control signal from the controller 30, and the main flow control plate (B) 10 connected thereto is relatively slid with respect to the fixed main flow control plate (A) 9. Let me know. Thereby, the small holes 9a of both adjustment plates (A) 9 and (B) 10
10a, that is, the opening area changes, and the flow rate of the cooling air passing through the small holes 9a and 10a changes. The maximum flow rate is when the small holes 9a and 10a completely overlap,
The minimum flow rate, that is, the zero flow rate, is reached when one plate surface of both adjustment plates (A) 9 and (B) 10 completely blocks the small hole of the other party.

The flow rate of the bypass air 52 is adjusted as follows. The driving device 16 is driven by a control signal from the controller 30, and the bypass flow rate adjusting plate (B) 12 connected thereto is slid relative to the fixed bypass flow rate adjusting plate (A) 11. Thereby, both adjustment plates (A) 11 and (B) 1
The overlap of the two small holes 11a and 12a, that is, the opening area changes, and the flow rate of the bypass air passing through the small holes 11a and 12a changes. As in the case of the cooling air, the maximum flow rate is when the small holes 11a and 12a completely overlap,
The flow rate is zero when one of the adjusting plates (A) 11 and (B) 12 completely covers the small hole of the other party.

By adjusting the flow rate of the low-temperature cooling air 51 humidified as described above and the flow rate of the bypass air having a higher temperature than the cooling air mixed in contact with the cooling air 51 at right angles thereto, both airs are cooled. The temperature and humidity of the mixed air 53 generated by mixing the 51 and 52 can be adjusted to appropriate values. At this time, the mist in the humidified cooling air is sent to the outlet side together with the mixed air by impinging the bypass air from the direction perpendicular thereto and colliding with the wall surface of the mixing chamber 5 as described above. Suppress.

When the air volume of the main blower 11 is changed by the controller 30, the total amount of the room air 54 supplied to the air chamber 2 (the total amount of the cooling air 51 and the bypass air 52) is increased. Change it,
The speed of the air passing through the small holes 7a and the like of the perforated plate 7 can be changed. Further, by the controller 30,
If the air volume of the sub blower 20 is changed, the bypass air 5
The ratio of the flow rate 2 to the total amount can be changed, whereby the temperature and humidity of the humidified mixed air 53 can be adjusted.

The adjustment of the flow rate of air during operation and the configuration of the temperature and humidity of the humidified air thereby are as described above. Several types of the main flow rate adjusting plates (A) 9 and (B) 10 and the bypass flow rate adjusting plates (A) 11 and (B) 12 in which the number of the small holes 11a and 12a, the hole diameter, the hole pitch, etc. are changed. By fabricating them and assembling them appropriately, it is possible to adjust the flow rate and thereby adjust the temperature and humidity of the humidified air in the same manner as described above.

Further, by changing the height S of the weir 17, the amount of water stored in the storage unit 18 is changed,
Thus, the amount of water mixed into the air when passing through the reservoir 18, that is, the humidification can be changed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the main flow rate adjusting plates (A) 9 and (B) 10 and the bypass flow rate adjusting plates (A) 11 and (B) 12 are replaced by slits having a large number of slits. A plate may be used.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the flow rate of the low-temperature humidified air and the flow rate of the non-humidified high-temperature bypass air are respectively adjusted by the flow rate adjusting means instructed by the controller, and both are adjusted in the mixing chamber. Since the mixing is performed, the temperature and humidity of the humidified air to be mixed can be adjusted to appropriate values.

At the time of the mixing, the bypass air is brought into contact with the humidified air in a direction perpendicular to the humidified air, so that the mist in the humidified air can collide with the wall surface of the mixing chamber. It is suppressed that the humidified air is sent to the outlet side together with the air, so that the humidity of the humidified air can be appropriately maintained.

As described above, humidified air which is humidified to an appropriate temperature and humidity, has no generation of water droplets, and has no humidification unevenness can be sent to the thawing chamber, and efficient thawing without thawing unevenness can be performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the humidification is achieved by a very simple and low-cost apparatus that only changes the overlap of the small holes of the perforated plate in the flow rate adjusting means for the humidified air and the bypass air. By changing the flow ratio between the air and the bypass air, humidified air having an appropriate temperature and humidity can be obtained. Also, the same operation and effect can be obtained by using a slit plate having a large number of slits instead of the perforated plate.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the controller changes the air volume of the second blower, thereby changing the mixing ratio between the humidified air and the bypass air, and adjusting the temperature and the humidity of the humidified air to appropriate values. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a humidified air production device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inhalation chamber 2 Air chamber 3 Partition wall 4 Delivery pipe 5 Mixing chamber 5a Wall surface 6 Bypass path 7 Perforated plate 7a Small hole 8 Drainage channel 9 Main flow control plate (A) 9a Small hole 10 Main flow control plate (B) 10a Small hole Reference Signs List 11 bypass flow rate adjusting plate (A) 11a small hole 12 bypass flow rate adjusting plate (B) 12a small hole 13 air supply window 14 partition wall 15 drive unit 16 drive unit 17 weir 18 storage unit 19 water supply nozzle 20 sub blower 21, 22, 23, 24 Electric circuit 30 Controller 51 Cooling air (humidified air) 52 Bypass air 53 Mixed air 54 Supply air (room air)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazutoshi Ito 2-13-1, Botan, Koto-ku, Tokyo Inside Maekawa Works, Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuo Kanai 2-3-1, Botan, Koto-ku, Tokyo No.In the Maekawa Factory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage section in which water is stored while maintaining a constant thickness on an upper surface of a perforated plate having a number of small holes, and a storage section formed below the storage section and maintained at a predetermined pressure. An air chamber; a mixing chamber formed above the storage section; a bypass path connected to the mixing chamber by bypassing the storage section from the air chamber; and a perforated plate for passing room air through the air chamber. And a blower that feeds the humidified air to the mixing chamber and feeds a part of the air that has passed through the air chamber to the bypass passage. A humidified air producing apparatus characterized in that the humidified air and the air passing through the bypass passage are mixed in a room. 2. A humidified air flow rate adjusting means for adjusting a flow rate of humidified air passing through the storage section between the storage section and the mixing chamber, and a bypass air flow rate adjusting a flow rate of bypass air in the bypass passage. The humidified air producing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a flow rate adjusting means. 3. A controller for controlling the humidified air flow rate adjusting means and the bypass air flow rate adjusting means to adjust a flow rate ratio between the humidified air and the bypass air.
The humidified air producing apparatus as described in the above. 4. The humidified air flow rate adjusting means and the bypass air flow rate adjusting means overlap two perforated plates and relatively slide both perforated plates to change the overlapping area of the small holes to adjust the flow rate. The humidified air producing device according to claim 2, wherein the humidified air producing device is configured to be capable of being used. 5. The humidified air producing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a second blower of a variable flow rate type is provided in the bypass passage, and the flow rate of the blower is controlled by the controller.