US20110197621A1 - Device for freezing and/or cooling-down products - Google Patents

Device for freezing and/or cooling-down products Download PDF

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Publication number
US20110197621A1
US20110197621A1 US12/865,430 US86543008A US2011197621A1 US 20110197621 A1 US20110197621 A1 US 20110197621A1 US 86543008 A US86543008 A US 86543008A US 2011197621 A1 US2011197621 A1 US 2011197621A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cold gas
products
axis
ventilator
cooling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/865,430
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English (en)
Inventor
Rudolf Erwin Berghoff
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Linde GmbH
Original Assignee
Linde GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE200810009172 external-priority patent/DE102008009172A1/de
Application filed by Linde GmbH filed Critical Linde GmbH
Assigned to LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT reassignment LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BERGHOFF, RUDOLF E.
Publication of US20110197621A1 publication Critical patent/US20110197621A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • F25D3/11—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space
    • 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
    • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
    • F25D2317/068—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the fans
    • F25D2317/0681—Details thereof
    • 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
    • F25D2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25D2500/02—Geometry problems

Definitions

  • the invention relates a device for freezing and/or cooling-down products comprising a cooling chamber, which encompasses a transport device for conveying the products through the cooling chamber, at least one device for generating a cold gas atmosphere for the cooling chamber and an extraction device for the cold gas as well as at least one axially conveying ventilator for conveying the cold gas.
  • a use of this device is furthermore the object of the instant invention.
  • cooling-down is to refer to herein as to cooling as well as to freezing and deep freezing.
  • Cooling tunnels and spiral freezers can be listed as state of the art, in the case of which products are in each case transported through the device and are cooled-down by means of the contact with cryogenic gases.
  • Cryogenic gases in liquid and/or gaseous state are often used for this purpose.
  • the use of liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide is well known.
  • the liquid nitrogen e.g., is guided through a heat exchanger and is expanded by means of a throttling valve as expansion device, so as to then be introduced into a cooling tunnel.
  • the expanded gas accommodates heat from the products, which are to be cooled-down.
  • the gas which is heated through this, leaves the cooling tunnel as abstracted gas.
  • an extraction device is typically used, which extracts the heated gas from the cooling tunnel by means of extraction.
  • Ventilators for the most part axially conveying ventilators, are furthermore used to improve the flow and to increase the convective heat transfer.
  • the posed object is solved in that the axis of the at least one ventilator is attached at an angle to the vertical, wherein the vertical to the moving direction of the products serves as reference direction and the at least one ventilator is attached to the ceiling of the cooling chamber, wherein the axis of the ventilator includes an angle b with a vector, which represents the moving direction of the products, wherein the origin of the vector is placed at the lower end of the axis.
  • the deviation of the axis of the ventilator as compared to embodiments, which typically extend vertically downwards, provides for a specific impacting of the fluid flow of the cold gas through the cooling chamber.
  • the embodiment of a directed fluid flow or agitation of the cold gas is thus preferably made possibly, whereby the convective heat transfer between cold gas and product can be increased considerably with particular advantage. In individual cases, it can also be advantageous to attain a non-directed fluid flow, which is also possible by means of the instant invention.
  • the cold gas atmosphere in the case of a common ventilator axis which extends vertically downwards, is pressed centrally downwards only in the area of the ventilator and rises again directly next thereto.
  • This movement of the cold gas does not represent an embodiment of a fluid flow in terms of the invention, because the cold gas does not leave the close-up range of the ventilator thereby.
  • the embodiment of a cold gas fluid flow is only possible via the use of an extraction device.
  • axially conveying ventilators are equipped with rotor blades comprising a curved profile.
  • the preferred fluid flow direction for the cold gas is opposite to the moving direction of the products, which are moved by means of the transport device, thus in counter flow.
  • the reverse thus the fluid flow direction of cold gas parallel to and in the moving direction of the products, which are to be cooled-down and/or frozen (coflow), can be more advantageous.
  • the angle b between the axis and the vector is smaller than 90°, thus acute angled.
  • the fluid flow of the cold gas is supported by means of this arrangement.
  • this arrangement has a delaying or slow-down effect, respectively, on the fluid flow of the cod gas.
  • the relative dwell time of a certain quantity of cold gas in the range of a certain quantity of product, which is to be cooled-down can thus be varied via the selection, which is made for the arrangement. Different cool-down characteristics can thus be realized, that is, the speed of the cool-down process can thus be adjusted, that is, by how many degrees (° C.) the temperature of a product decreases in a certain period of time.
  • the angle b between the axis and the vector is greater than 90°, thus obtuse angled.
  • the fluid flow of the cold gas is slowed down in the case of counterflow equipment.
  • the fluid flow of the cold gas is accelerated, thus supported through this.
  • the angle a which the axis of the ventilator draws with the vertical, lies in the range of from 1° to 8°, preferably in the range of from 1° to 5°.
  • the axis can thereby be deflected in or against the moving direction of the products. Both alternatives are to be covered herein by means of the afore-claimed area for the angle a.
  • all of the axes can encompass the same inclination (deviation from the vertical).
  • a cold gas reservoir in particular for a cold gas reservoir for liquefied cold gas.
  • the cooling medium e.g., which is removed from the cold gas reservoir under a first higher pressure (e.g. approx. 3.5 bar for nitrogen; e.g. approx. 15 bar for carbon dioxide), is fed to an expansion device and is expanded to ambient pressure.
  • the temperature of the cooling medium decreases through this.
  • the cold gas flow generated in that way is supplied into the space for accommodating the products, which are to be cooled down, e.g. to the interior of a cryogenic cooling tunnel, and is used at that location for cooling-down the products.
  • the object of the instant invention is furthermore solved by the use of the device according to one of claims 1 to 7 for freezing and/or cooling-down foods.
  • the instant invention is particularly interesting for sensitive products, which are to be cooled-down, such as foods or pharmaceuticals, for example, because it is particularly advantageous in the case of these products to be able to influence the cool-down characteristics in the described manner.
  • the convective heat transfer between cold gas and product, which is to be cooled can be increased in an advantageous manner. It would not be possible to reach this goal by means of the extraction capacity of the extraction device or it would not be possible to reach an increase thereof, because it would thereby not be possible to adjust the length of dwell time of the cold gas in the cooling tunnel independent on the extraction capacity.
  • the instant invention provides for a further adjusting possibility, which makes it possible to choose the dwell time in certain limits independent on the extraction capacity.
  • FIG. 1 shows a freezing tunnel (overview) according to the invention
  • FIGS. 2 to 5 show schematic illustrations of different inclination possibilities for the axis of a ventilator according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows a freezing tunnel comprising all of the substantial components as overview.
  • the inclination of the axes of the ventilators cannot be seen in detail in this illustration, because the deviation is very small.
  • FIGS. 2 to 5 this deviation is illustrated in an exaggerated manner, which first makes it visible.
  • the freezing tunnel thus encompasses a cooling chamber 1 and a transport device 2 , on which the products 6 , which are to be cooled-down, rest, and by means of which these products are transported through the cooling chamber, namely from left to right in this example.
  • the fluid flow of the cold gas which escapes from the device 3 for generating a cold gas atmosphere, which is sprayed onto the products 6 or which acts upon the products 6 in the area of the device 3 , respectively, is oriented in this example opposite to the transport direction of the products.
  • the cold gas thus flows herein from right to left through the cooling chamber 1 .
  • the fluid flow is supported by two ventilators 4 , the axes 5 of which are deflected out of the vertical such that the angle b between the axis 5 and the vector, which represents the moving direction of the products 6 , is in each case smaller than 90°, thus acute angled.
  • the fluid flow is supported through this, is thus accelerated as compared to a device comprising ventilators, which are conventionally attached vertically.
  • Both of the areas A and B illustrated in FIG. 1 can be characterized as precooling area A and as cooling area B.
  • FIG. 2 shows an angle b between the axis 5 and the vector of less than 90°, thus acute angled.
  • the fluid flow of the cold gas is supported by means of this arrangement.
  • FIGS. 2 to 5 The fluid flow direction of the cold gas is indicated in FIGS. 2 to 5 in each case by means of a dashed arrow.
  • FIG. 3 shows the acute angled arrangement in the case of the coflow, in which said arrangement has a delaying or slow-down effect on the flow of the cold gas, respectively.
  • FIG. 4 shows another advantageous embodiment of the instant invention, in the case of which the angle b between the axis 5 and the vector is greater than 90°, thus obtuse angled.
  • the fluid flow of the cold gas is slowed down in the case of a counterflow arrangement.
  • FIG. 5 shows the obtuse angled arrangement for the case of a coflow arrangement. The fluid flow of the cold gas is accelerated through this, is thus supported.
  • the relative dwell time of a certain quantity of cold gas in the area of a certain quantity of product, which is to be cooled-down, can thus be varied via the selection, which is made for the arrangement.
  • Different cool-down characteristics can thus be realized, that is, the speed of the cool-down process can thus be adjusted, that is, by how many degrees (° C.) the temperature of a product decreases in a certain period of time.
  • the extraction capacity of the extraction device 7 (see FIG. 1 ) can thereby be held so as to be constant in an advantageous manner.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
US12/865,430 2008-02-14 2008-12-09 Device for freezing and/or cooling-down products Abandoned US20110197621A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE200810009172 DE102008009172A1 (de) 2008-02-14 2008-02-14 Vorrichtung zum Gefrieren und/oder Abkühlen von Produkten
DE102008009172.3 2008-02-14
EP08007968 2008-04-24
EP08007968.4 2008-04-24
PCT/EP2008/010448 WO2009100747A2 (de) 2008-02-14 2008-12-09 Vorrichtung zum gefrieren und/oder abkühlen von produkten

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110197621A1 true US20110197621A1 (en) 2011-08-18

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US12/865,430 Abandoned US20110197621A1 (en) 2008-02-14 2008-12-09 Device for freezing and/or cooling-down products

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20110197621A1 (es)
EP (1) EP2247902A2 (es)
AU (1) AU2008350648A1 (es)
BR (1) BRPI0822268A2 (es)
CA (1) CA2715084A1 (es)
MX (1) MX2010008780A (es)
WO (1) WO2009100747A2 (es)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8474273B2 (en) 2009-10-29 2013-07-02 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Apparatus and method for providing a temperature-controlled gas

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4350027A (en) * 1981-10-05 1982-09-21 Lewis Tyree Jr Cryogenic refrigeration apparatus
US5365752A (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-11-22 The Commonwealth Industrial Gases Limited Freezing apparatus
US5367887A (en) * 1993-09-22 1994-11-29 Byrd; Jerry Apparatus for frosting drinking glasses
US5460015A (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-10-24 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezer with imperforate conveyor belt
US5467612A (en) * 1994-04-29 1995-11-21 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezing system for fragible food products

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1533537A (fr) * 1967-07-20 1968-07-19 Tunnel de refroidissement pour fourrage vert, légumes à feuilles et produits similaires

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4350027A (en) * 1981-10-05 1982-09-21 Lewis Tyree Jr Cryogenic refrigeration apparatus
US5365752A (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-11-22 The Commonwealth Industrial Gases Limited Freezing apparatus
US5367887A (en) * 1993-09-22 1994-11-29 Byrd; Jerry Apparatus for frosting drinking glasses
US5460015A (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-10-24 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezer with imperforate conveyor belt
US5467612A (en) * 1994-04-29 1995-11-21 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezing system for fragible food products

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2715084A1 (en) 2009-08-20
WO2009100747A3 (de) 2010-05-20
AU2008350648A1 (en) 2009-08-20
EP2247902A2 (de) 2010-11-10
MX2010008780A (es) 2010-08-30
WO2009100747A2 (de) 2009-08-20
BRPI0822268A2 (pt) 2015-06-23

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AS Assignment

Owner name: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BERGHOFF, RUDOLF E.;REEL/FRAME:025083/0023

Effective date: 20100929

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION