NZ624923B2 - Device for cooling bulk products - Google Patents
Device for cooling bulk products Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ624923B2 NZ624923B2 NZ624923A NZ62492312A NZ624923B2 NZ 624923 B2 NZ624923 B2 NZ 624923B2 NZ 624923 A NZ624923 A NZ 624923A NZ 62492312 A NZ62492312 A NZ 62492312A NZ 624923 B2 NZ624923 B2 NZ 624923B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- drum
- cooling
- products
- manifold
- liquid cryogen
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 64
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 240000002860 Daucus carota Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000002767 Daucus carota Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000001441 Fragaria vesca Species 0.000 description 1
- 240000005158 Phaseolus vulgaris Species 0.000 description 1
- 240000004713 Pisum sativum Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000010582 Pisum sativum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000001890 Ribes hudsonianum Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000016954 Ribes hudsonianum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000001466 Ribes nigrum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000016911 Ribes sativum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000002355 Ribes spicatum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000001461 Ribes triste Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000016897 Ribes triste Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 241000657513 Senna surattensis Species 0.000 description 1
- 240000001016 Solanum tuberosum Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000002595 Solanum tuberosum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000003095 Vaccinium corymbosum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000000851 Vaccinium corymbosum Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000017537 Vaccinium myrtillus Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000001464 adherent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000015241 bacon Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000021014 blueberries Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000005489 dwarf bean Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000013399 edible fruits Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000012015 potatoes Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013580 sausages Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004088 simulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004513 sizing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000021055 solid food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000021012 strawberries Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
- A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
- A23L3/36—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
- A23L3/37—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling with addition of or treatment with chemicals
- A23L3/375—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling with addition of or treatment with chemicals with direct contact between the food and the chemical, e.g. liquid nitrogen, at cryogenic temperature
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
- F25D3/10—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air
- F25D3/102—Stationary cabinets
Abstract
Device for cooling bulk products including a drum mounted for axial rotation, the drum has perforations distributed over all or part of its cylindrical lateral wall. The device has a motor which drives the drum as well as a thermally insulated chamber of elongate shape along the axis of the drum and enclosing it. The device has means for cooling the products and in addition to the means for cooling the products, the device also has at least one spray manifold for spraying a liquid cryogen. The spray manifold is situated inside the chamber, opposite a portion of the wall of the drum situated level with the area where the products enter the drum. The spray manifold is able to direct liquid cryogen to the wall portion of the drum and through the wall portion via the perforations, towards the products admitted into the drum. enclosing it. The device has means for cooling the products and in addition to the means for cooling the products, the device also has at least one spray manifold for spraying a liquid cryogen. The spray manifold is situated inside the chamber, opposite a portion of the wall of the drum situated level with the area where the products enter the drum. The spray manifold is able to direct liquid cryogen to the wall portion of the drum and through the wall portion via the perforations, towards the products admitted into the drum.
Description
DEVICE FOR COOLING BULK PRODUCTS
The present invention concerns the field of devices for cooling bulk food
products, of the type comprising a drum mounted for axial rotation, a drum
comprising perforations distributed over all or part of the cylindrical lateral wall
thereof, a drum enclosed in a thermally insulated chamber (in order to illustrate
this type of perforated-drum device, reference can be made to the document
FR-2 512 533).
The literature illustrates various types of cooling (methods for adding
cold) of products contained in the drum, and the above document FR-2 512 533
illustrates one of these methods (refrigerated convection), but, according to
another of the methods listed, the cooling of products contained in the drum is
obtained by the spraying of a liquid cryogen from the outside towards the wall of
the drum and through this wall, the spraying system normally consisting of
manifolds extending along a wall of the drum, in general in the bottom part of
the chamber.
It is known that the functioning of such equipment is characterised by the
need to regularly eliminate the snow or ice that forms and considerably disturbs
the functioning of the equipment and the efficacy of the heat exchange because
of the blockage of the orifices in the drum.
For this purpose, conventionally, at regular and preferably programmed
intervals, a fluid such as compressed air, gaseous nitrogen or gaseous CO is
blown from the outside in order to eliminate the deposits of snow or ice formed
on the orifices in the drum. The pressure of this unblocking (cleaning) is
typically around 6 bar.
This method then requires a specific system for bringing and managing
an unblocking gas in order to use this gas under pressure: namely a buffer tank
and the use of a pressure different from that of the supply of cryogen necessary
for the actual operation of cooling the products.
Among the well known drawbacks of these “unblocking” operations, the
fact can be mentioned that, in the case of compressed air, contamination
thereof may cause that of the food product being treated in the drum (by oil,
moisture, etc.), without forgetting the fact that the use of a gaseous “unblocking”
flow at ambient temperature is prejudicial to the thermal balance and therefore
to the consumption of cryogen of the method (liquid nitrogen, liquid CO ).
The present invention sets out to propose a novel configuration and a
novel method of operating such drum freezers. At least preferred embodiments
of the present invention set out to improve the overall efficiency of the operation
and in particular the problem of unblocking of the orifices in the drum.
As will be seen in greater detail hereinafter, this objective and other
advantages are obtained by the implementation of the following measures:
- at least one manifold for spraying a liquid cryogen is added to an
existing item of equipment, an additional manifold preferentially situated in a
low position, under the drum, so that the orifices of the manifold can direct liquid
cryogen from the outside towards the wall of the drum and through this wall,
over a length of wall situated in the inlet area of the drum;
- this manifold is therefore termed “additional” since it is added to the
existing means of injecting a cryogen into the drum in order to effect the cooling
of the actual products according to the existing techniques mentioned above;
- this positioning of the additional manifold makes it possible firstly to
abruptly cool this inlet portion of the drum so that the corresponding wall is put
in a “zero adhesion” condition. This concept of “zero adhesion” is known to
cryogenic experts: it is thus ensured that the surface in question is brought to a
sufficiently cold temperature (below a given limit temperature that will be
explained later), so that the frost that will form on this surface attaches less, and
will then be easier to make fall, but also so that the products treated in the drum
are less adherent on the inside of the drum.
“Sufficiently cold temperature” means a cryogenic temperature typically
o o o
below -50 C, but more preferentially below -80 C, for example around -90 to -
100 C.
- as has just been seen, this positioning therefore makes it possible to
abruptly cool this drum inlet portion in order to limit the phenomena of adhesion,
but it also contributes, as soon as the products enter, to effecting a precooling
of these products, at least on the surface, which can be called a “crusting” of
these products. This therefore participates firstly in limiting the adhesion to the
walls of the drum but also to begin cooling thereof, which is obviously very
positive in terms of thermal balance.
And it will be understood better from a reading of the above how the
disclosed embodiment sets out to preferentially position this (or these)
additional manifold or manifolds opposite the inlet area of the drum: this is
because the disclosed embodiment, and this is its merit, seeks an action
intervening as soon as possible as soon as the products enter the drum,
products which, in some cases, arrive with a significant moisture level, which it
is necessary to counteract since next the products continue their travel through
the drum, they are blackballed inside, and cooled, and the phenomena of frost
and adhesion further in the drum are in practice limited or non-existent.
- likewise as indicated above, the preferred positioning of this additional
manifold according to the disclosed embodiment is a low position, under the
drum, even if other positionings, such as a position above, may be envisaged,
for the following reason: this low positioning takes into account the fact that the
products, as soon as they enter, “fall” into the drum, and this is therefore one
way, and here again it is the merit of the disclosed embodiment, to be better in
a position to act as quickly as possible on the falling path of the products as
soon as they enter.
- by way of illustration, the length of this additional manifold measures a
few tens of centimetres, for example around sixty centimetres, and is situated at
a short distance from the drum, in parallel, preferentially at a few centimetres
from the wall, for example not more than 3 cm from the drum.
As will be clear to a person skilled in the art, this distance between the
manifold and the drum may vary depending on the sizing of the manifold
(number of spray nozzles on the manifold, spacing thereof, orientation thereof
in space, etc.) but also the pressure of the cryogen, etc., and in any event it
would be sought not to move the manifold too far away in order to assist the
action thereof, and a few centimetres (for example less than 5 cm, for example
3 to 5 centimetres) is then a preferred distance according to the disclosed
embodiment.
In other words, as will be clear in the light of the above description:
- if the cooling means of the installation comprise manifolds for injecting a
cryogen inside the drum through orifices in the wall, the disclosed embodiment
ADDS a manifold (at least one manifold) at the inlet;
- if the cooling means of the installation do not comprise such injection
manifolds (but other types of means, nozzles or convective devices or the like,
then the disclosed embodiment implements a spray manifold at the inlet
combining with said other means.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a device for cooling bulk products comprising a drum mounted for
axial rotation, a drum comprising perforations distributed over all or part of its
cylindrical lateral wall, the device also comprising a motor driving said drum as
well as a thermally insulated chamber of elongate shape along the axis of said
drum and enclosing it, and means for cooling the products, wherein
- in addition to the means for cooling the products, the device also
comprises at least one spray manifold for spraying a liquid cryogen, an
additional manifold situated inside the chamber, opposite an outer wall portion
of the drum situated at the area where the products enter the drum, and
wherein
- the spray manifold is able to direct liquid cryogen towards the portion of
the wall of the drum and through said wall portion, via said perforations,
towards the products admitted into the drum.
Preferably, said means for cooling comprises one or more manifolds for
injecting a cryogenic fluid into the drum through said perforations.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for cooling bulk products wherein the products are poured
inside a drum mounted for axial rotation, the drum comprising perforations
distributed over all or part of its cylindrical lateral wall, the drum enclosed by a
thermally insulated chamber of elongate shape along the axis of said drum, and
wherein means for cooling the products is provided or available, wherein
- in addition to the means for cooling the products, at least one spray
manifold for spraying a liquid cryogen is provided or available, the spray
manifold situated inside the chamber, opposite a wall portion of the drum
situated at the area where the products enter the drum,
- wherein the spray manifold is able to direct liquid cryogen towards said
wall portion of the drum and through said wall portion, via said perforations,
towards the products admitted into the drum, and
- wherein liquid cryogen is sprayed (preferentially continuously) onto and
through said wall portion, throughout all or some of an operation of cooling the
products implemented by means of said cooling means.
Preferably, said means for cooling the products comprises one or more
manifolds for injecting a cryogenic fluid into the drum through said perforations.
According to one of the embodiments of the invention, apart from the
spraying of cryogen carried out during all or part of the cooling operation itself,
liquid cryogen is also sprayed before the startup of the cooling operation, i.e.
before the admission of the products, in order to precool the drum (refrigeration
of the installation).
Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more
clearly from the following description given by way of illustration made in
relation to the accompanying drawings, for which:
- figure 1 is a partial schematic view of a drum cooling device according
to the prior art;
- figure 2 is a partial schematic view of a drum cooling device according
to the present invention;
- figure 3 is detail view of an embodiment of the system for bringing
cryogen to the cooling manifold (2) and additional manifold (3) in figure 2.
Figure 1 shows a device for cooling bulk products in a drum 1 mounted
for axial rotation, a drum comprising perforations distributed over all or part of
its cylindrical lateral wall (the perforations or orifices are not shown on the drum
in figure 1 for reasons of legibility), as well as means for cooling the products,
consisting here of a manifold 2 for spraying (injecting) cryogenic fluid (here
liquid nitrogen) towards the wall of the drum and through this wall towards the
products to be cooled in the drum, this cooling manifold 2 being situated here,
as is the case conventionally, in a low position under the drum 1.
In accordance with the invention, the action of at least one additional
manifold is proposed, which can be clearly seen in figure 2 (additional manifold
3), supplied by the same source of liquid cryogen upstream, an additional
manifold that is situated as a branch of the pipe supplying the cooling manifold
As will be clear to a food cryogenic expert, the number of nozzles on this
additional manifold can be determined by experience and/or by simulation study
(the latter will in particular consider the flow rate of product and the entry
temperature thereof).
The detailed view proposed in figure 3 gives a better view of a possible
method for supplying cryogen to the cooling manifold (2) and additional
manifold (3) in figure 2, a method that of course represents only one of the
many possibilities for implementing such supply, a method where the following
can be recognised:
- a valve 6 supplying the portion 9 directing the cryogen to the additional
manifold 3 and the portion 8 directing the cryogen to the cooling manifold 2;
- a proportional valve 7 governing the supply of cryogen, and therefore
the temperature of the actual method for cooling the products (via the manifold
- elements for managing the gas safety, and in particular a valve 5,
pressure gauges 4, etc.
The invention applies particularly to the quick freezing of bulk products
and in particular solid food products with relatively small dimensions, such as
for example diced bacon, minced meat, slices of sausages, finely chopped
meat (hot and cold), scrambled eggs, mushrooms whole, in strips, or in cubes,
peas, sliced carrots, French beans, potatoes cut in chips or in cubes, and red
fruit, including in particular strawberries, blueberries, blackcurrants or
redcurrants.
However, it is known that such drum installations are used for cooling
other types of product, in particular lines for recycling tyres, electric cables, etc.
The present invention will highly advantageously apply also to these non-food
industries.
An installation such as the one shown in figures 2 and 3 has been used
to successfully cool plum halves.
By virtue of the invention, the use of compressed air of food quality, a
possible source of contamination and which represents a high cost, has been
able to be eliminated on the production site in question.
It has also been possible to show that the invention prevents the blocking
(sticking) of the product at the entry to the drum: it is generally at this point that
the products remain, according to the prior art, clogged because of their
relatively high temperature, and the use of the invention makes it possible to
achieve, as was desired, a so-called zero-adhesion temperature on the internal
surface of the drum.
The term “comprising” as used in this specification and claims means
“consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting statements in this specification
and claims which include the term “comprising”, other features besides the
features prefaced by this term in each statement can also be present. Related
terms such as “comprise” and “comprised” are to be interpreted in a similar
manner.
Claims (13)
1. Device for cooling bulk products comprising a drum mounted for axial rotation, the drum comprising perforations distributed over all or part of its 5 cylindrical lateral wall, the device also comprising a motor driving said drum as well as a thermally insulated chamber of elongate shape along the axis of said drum and enclosing it, as well as means for cooling the products, wherein - in addition to the means for cooling the products, the device also comprises at least one spray manifold for spraying a liquid cryogen, said spray 10 manifold being situated inside the chamber, opposite a portion of the wall of the drum situated level with the area where the products enter the drum, and wherein - the spray manifold is able to direct liquid cryogen to said wall portion of the drum and through said wall portion, via said perforations, towards the 15 products admitted into the drum.
2. Cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one spray manifold is positioned in a low position, under the drum.
3. Cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one spray manifold is positioned in a high position, above the drum. 20
4. Cooling device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said means for cooling comprises one or more manifolds for injecting a cryogenic fluid into the drum through said perforations.
5. Cooling device according to claim 4, wherein said means for cooling comprises a cooling manifold situated inside the chamber, under the 25 drum or above the drum, able to spray a liquid cryogen towards the wall of the drum and through this wall towards the products, connected at its upstream part to a source of liquid cryogen through a proportional valve.
6. Cooling device according to claim 5, wherein said cooling manifold is situated in a low position under the drum, and wherein said spray manifold is also situated under the drum, and being also connected at its upstream part to the same source of liquid cryogen.
7. Cooling device according to claim 6, wherein said spray manifold is situated at a distance from the wall of the drum not exceeding 3 to 5 5 centimetres.
8. Method for cooling bulk products wherein the products are poured inside a drum mounted for axial rotation, the drum comprising perforations distributed over all or part of its cylindrical lateral wall and which is enclosed by a thermally insulated chamber of elongate shape along the axis of said drum, 10 and wherein means for cooling the products is provided, - wherein in addition to the means for cooling the product, at least one spray manifold for spraying a liquid cryogen is provided, the spray manifold situated inside the chamber, opposite a wall portion of the drum situated at the area where the products enter the drum, 15 - wherein the spray manifold is able to direct liquid cryogen towards said wall portion of the drum and through said wall portion, via said perforations, towards the products admitted into the drum, and - wherein liquid cryogen is sprayed onto and through said wall portion, throughout all or some of an operation of cooling the products implemented by 20 means of said cooling means.
9. Cooling method according to claim 8, wherein in addition to the spraying of cryogen effected throughout all or part of the operation of cooling the products, liquid cryogen is also sprayed before the startup of the operation of cooling the products before the admission of the products into the drum, in 25 order to pre-cool the drum.
10. Cooling method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said means for cooling the products comprises one or more manifolds for injecting a cryogenic fluid into the drum through said perforations.
11. Device for cooling bulk products substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the figure 2 or 3 of the accompanying figures.
12. Cooling device according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed. 5
13. Cooling method according to claim 8, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR1160757 | 2011-11-24 | ||
| FR1160757A FR2983286B1 (en) | 2011-11-24 | 2011-11-24 | DEVICE FOR COOLING BULK PRODUCTS |
| PCT/FR2012/052605 WO2013076401A1 (en) | 2011-11-24 | 2012-11-13 | Device for cooling bulk products |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| NZ624923A NZ624923A (en) | 2015-04-24 |
| NZ624923B2 true NZ624923B2 (en) | 2015-07-28 |
Family
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