WO2007083562A1

WO2007083562A1 - Composite cooling apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007083562A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/050234
Authority: WO
Inventors: Satoshi Wakasa; Yukihiro Isshiki
Original assignee: Miura Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-01-19
Filing date: 2007-01-11
Publication date: 2007-07-26
Also published as: KR20080085835A; TW200730780A

Abstract

Low temperature cooling is performed in a short time. A composite cooling apparatus is provided with a vacuum cooling means (4) for vacuum-cooling a subject (3) to be cooled in a cooling chamber (2); a cold blast cooling means (5) for cooling the subject (3) with cold blast; and a controller (6) for controlling the vacuum cooling means (4) and the cold blast cooling means (5). The composite cooling apparatus is also provided with detecting means (7, 27, 26) for detecting the cooling time of the vacuum cooling means (4), the pressure and the temperature in the cooling chamber (2), the temperature of the subject to be cooled, or the changed quantity of the pressure or the temperature in the cooling chamber (2) or that of the temperature of the subject (3). The controller (6) successively performs cold blast cooling process by the cold blast cooling means (5), after vacuum cooling process by the vacuum cooling means (4). When the values detected by the detecting means (7, 27, 26) become set values, the vacuum cooling process is switched to the cold blast cooling process.

Description

Specification

Combined cooling device

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a composite cooling apparatus capable of performing vacuum cooling and cooling air cooling.

Background art

Conventionally, as a device for cooling food, a cold air cooling device called a blast chiller for cooling food with cold air and a vacuum cooling device for vacuum cooling food are known.

[0003] Since the cooling by the cold air cooling device is mainly cooling by convective heat transfer between the cold air and the food surface, there is a problem that it takes a long time, for example, 90 minutes, and the food surface and the central portion It is difficult to cool them uniformly.

[0004] On the other hand, the vacuum cooling device is capable of rapid cooling up to about 20 ° C, but after that, the cooling rate decreases rapidly, so that the cooling capacity is low due to the fact that it goes around the field. In the device, cooling to the chilled region has been difficult. If it is attempted to cool down to the chilled region, it is necessary to significantly increase the cooling capacity of the vacuum cooling means, that is, the ultimate vacuum. In general, many vacuum cooling devices do not need to be cooled to the chilled region, and ordinary vacuum cooling does not require an increased cooling capacity in terms of cooling rate. Therefore, it is not economical to increase the cooling capacity of the vacuum cooling means only for cooling to the chilled region.

[0005] By the way, as a combined cooling device capable of vacuum cooling and cold air cooling, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this composite cooling device, an object to be cooled is first cooled by cold air cooling, and then cooled to a predetermined temperature by vacuum cooling. In this conventional technology, cooling is not performed in a short time, and cooling is performed in the order of cold air cooling → vacuum cooling. Therefore, when cooling to a low temperature in the chilled region, the cooling time becomes longer and the cooling of the vacuum cooling means is reduced. There was a problem that the capacity had to be large and the equipment of the vacuum cooling means would be large.

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-318051

Disclosure of the invention Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] As a result of repeated research and development to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventors of this application have shortened the cooling to the chilled region by utilizing the respective cooling characteristics of the vacuum cooling means and the cold air cooling means. I found that it was feasible in time.

[0008] A main problem to be solved by the present invention is to enable low-temperature cooling in a short time. In addition to the simplification of the vacuum cooling device and the reduction of the cost (running cost) required for operating the cooling device, the incidental problem is to maintain the cooling quality of the object to be cooled.

Means for solving the problem

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. The invention according to claim 1 includes a vacuum cooling means for vacuum-cooling an object to be cooled in a cooling chamber, and cooling the object to be cooled with cold air. And a controller for controlling the vacuum cooling means and the cool air cooling means, the cooling time by the vacuum cooling means, the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, the object to be cooled , Or the pressure in the cooling chamber, the temperature of the object to be cooled, and the temperature of the object to be cooled are detected. The controller includes a vacuum cooling step performed by the vacuum cooling unit. The cold air cooling process by the cold air cooling means is sequentially performed, and when the detection value of the detection means reaches a set value, the vacuum cooling process power is also switched to the cold air cooling process.

[0010] According to the invention of claim 1, after executing the vacuum cooling step capable of rapid cooling,

The cooling air cooling process capable of cooling to a low temperature is performed, and a decrease in vacuum cooling capacity is detected by detecting either the pressure or temperature in the cooling chamber or the temperature of the object to be cooled, or the pressure in the cooling chamber. Since it is detected by the amount of change in either the temperature or the temperature of the object to be cooled and switched to cold air cooling, the object to be cooled can be cooled to a low temperature in a short time even if it has a relatively low vacuum cooling capacity.

[0011] The invention according to claim 2 includes: a vacuum cooling means for vacuum cooling the object to be cooled in a cooling chamber; a cold air cooling means for cooling the object to be cooled with cold air; the vacuum cooling means and the cold air cooling means. A cooling device having a controller for controlling, wherein the vacuum cooling characteristics of the vacuum cooling means are slowed down in the latter period when the vacuum cooling speed of the previous period is high, and the cold air cooling means of the cold air cooling means is Characteristics of the cooling air cooling rate is the vacuum cooling rate of the previous term It is assumed that the controller is faster than the later slowed vacuum cooling rate, and the controller performs a cooling step by the cooling unit after performing a vacuum cooling step by the vacuum cooling unit, and also performs the vacuum cooling step. It is characterized in that the vacuum cooling process power is switched to the cold air cooling process at the timing when the latter vacuum cooling rate by the means falls below the cold air cooling speed.

[0012] According to the invention described in claim 2, the vacuum cooling process capable of cooling to a low temperature is performed after the vacuum cooling process capable of rapid and uniform cooling is performed at the most advanced stage. It is possible to cool the object to be cooled to a low temperature in a short time without increasing the cooling capacity.

[0013] The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in claim 2, the cooling time by the vacuum cooling means, the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, the temperature of the object to be cooled, or the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature and Detecting means for detecting any amount of change in temperature of the object to be cooled, and the controller switches to the vacuum cooling process force to the cold air cooling process when the detection value of the detecting means reaches a set value. It is characterized by that.

[0014] According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 2, there is an effect that the switching timing from the vacuum cooling to the cold air cooling can be set appropriately.

[0015] The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in claim 1 to claim 3, the controller performs a cold air cooling step by the cold air cooling means before performing the vacuum cooling step. Yes.

[0016] According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effects of claims 1 to 3, the high-temperature object to be cooled is subjected to rough heat removal in the cold air cooling step, and then rapid cooling is performed. Since the air cooling process is performed and then the cold air cooling process capable of low temperature cooling is performed, the initial temperature is relatively high, and the object to be cooled can be cooled to a low temperature in a short time. Play.

[0017] The invention according to claim 5 is the first cooling according to claim 4, wherein the controller sequentially performs a first cooling process for vacuum cooling the object to be cooled and a cooling air cooling process for cooling the object to be cooled with cold air. The program, the first cold air cooling process that cools the object to be cooled, the vacuum cooling process that cools the object to be cooled, and the second cold air cooling process that cools the object to be cooled are sequentially performed. The second cooling program can be selected.

[0018] According to the invention of claim 5, in addition to the effect of claim 4, the controller selectively executes the first cooling program and the second cooling program, There is an effect that appropriate cooling according to the cooling object can be performed.

[0019] The invention according to claim 6 comprises: a vacuum cooling means for vacuum cooling the object to be cooled in a cooling chamber; a cold air cooling means for cooling the object to be cooled with cold air; the vacuum cooling means and the cold air cooling means. A controller for controlling, wherein the vacuum cooling means comprises a first vacuum cooling means having a first vacuum cooling characteristic and a second vacuum cooling means having a second vacuum cooling characteristic, The controller is characterized in that the first vacuum cooling step by the first vacuum cooling means, the second vacuum cooling step by the second vacuum cooling means, and the cold air cooling step by the cold air cooling means are sequentially switched.

[0020] According to the invention of claim 6, since the cold air cooling process capable of cooling to a low temperature is performed after the vacuum cooling process capable of rapid and uniform cooling, the object to be cooled can be cooled to a low temperature in a short time. Can be cooled. In addition, since the vacuum cooling process is performed in two stages by the first vacuum cooling means and the second vacuum cooling means, the energy required for the operation of the vacuum cooling means can be reduced, and the object can be cooled by rapid cooling. Deterioration of the quality of food becomes a problem.

[0021] The invention of claim 7 is the invention of claim 6, wherein the cooling time by the first vacuum cooling means and the second vacuum cooling means, the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, the temperature of the object to be cooled, Or a detecting means for detecting a change amount of any of the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, and the temperature of the object to be cooled, and the controller is configured to detect when the detected value of the detecting means becomes a first set value. The first vacuum cooling step is switched to the second vacuum cooling step, and when the detected value reaches the second set value, the second vacuum cooling step is switched to the cold air cooling step.

[0022] According to the invention of claim 7, in addition to the effect of claim 6, the switching timing from the first vacuum cooling step to the second vacuum cooling step and the second vacuum cooling step force There is an effect that the switching timing to the cold air cooling process can be appropriately set. [0023] The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the first vacuum cooling means is a first vacuum cooling in which the vacuum cooling rate slows down in the latter period when the vacuum cooling rate in the previous period is high. The second vacuum cooling means has a second vacuum cooling characteristic in which the vacuum cooling rate slows down in the latter period when the vacuum cooling rate of the previous period is high, and the cold air cooling means has the cold air cooling characteristic. The cool air cooling rate is faster than the slowed-down vacuum cooling rate in the latter period, which is slower than the first vacuum cooling rate in the first vacuum cooling unit and the second vacuum cooling unit, and the controller includes the second vacuum cooling unit. The second vacuum cooling step is switched to the cold air cooling step at a timing when the vacuum cooling rate in the latter stage is lower than the cold air cooling rate.

[0024] According to the invention of claim 8, in addition to the effect of claim 6 or claim 7, the vacuum cooling process capable of rapid cooling and uniform cooling is performed as much as possible before the temperature is lowered to a low temperature. Since the cool air cooling process that can be cooled is performed, the cooling target can be cooled to a low temperature in a short time.

[0025] The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the cold air cooling means cools the air in the cooling chamber by indirect heat exchange with a heat exchanger for cooling. The first vacuum cooling means is configured to perform a first vacuum cooling step by operating a decompressor connected to the cooling chamber, and the second vacuum cooling means is configured to lower the cooling chamber under a low pressure. The second vacuum cooling process is performed by condensing the steam of the object to be cooled by the heat exchanger for cooling in the sealed state.

[0026] According to the invention of claim 9, in addition to the effect of claim 6 or claim 7, since the cooling heat exchanger for cooling the cold air is used as a cold trap during vacuum cooling, There exists an effect that the structure of the said vacuum cooling means can be simplified.

[0027] The invention of claim 10 is the invention according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the decompression line connected to the cooling chamber, the steam ejector provided in the decompression line, the heat exchanger for condensation, and A pressure reducer, and the first vacuum cooling means is configured to execute a first vacuum cooling step by the operation of the pressure reducer, and the second vacuum cooling means includes the steam ejector and the heat exchange for condensation. A second vacuum cooling step is performed by operating the pressure reducer and the pressure reducer. It is configured to be characterized by that.

[0028] According to the invention of claim 10, in addition to the effect of claim 6 or claim 7, it is possible to easily provide a large capacity composite cooling device.

[0029] Further, the invention according to claim 11 is the method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the controller performs the cold air cooling step by the cold air cooling means before performing the first vacuum cooling step. It is a feature.

[0030] According to the invention of claim 11, in addition to the effects of claims 6 to 7, the high-temperature object to be cooled is subjected to rough heat removal in the cold air cooling step, and then rapid cooling is performed. The first vacuum cooling process is possible! The second vacuum cooling process, which can be quickly cooled with a bowl, is carried out, followed by the cold air cooling process that allows low-temperature cooling, so the initial temperature is relatively high. If the object to be cooled can be cooled to a low temperature in a short time, there will be an effect!

The invention's effect

[0031] According to the present invention, it is possible to cool the object to be cooled to a low temperature in a short time.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a cooling program according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining another cooling program of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining another cooling program of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining another cooling program of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining another cooling program of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating a schematic configuration of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a cooling program according to another embodiment of the present invention. Explanation of symbols

[0033] 1 ... Composite cooling device

2 ... Cooling room

3 ... Cooled object 4 ... Vacuum cooling means

5 ... Cooling air cooling means

6 ... Control

41 ···· First vacuum cooling means

42 ··· Second vacuum cooling means

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The embodiment of the present invention is applied to a composite cooling apparatus capable of cooling an object to be cooled by cold air cooling and vacuum cooling.

[Embodiment 1]

First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described. The first embodiment includes a vacuum cooling means for cooling the object to be cooled in the cooling chamber, a cold air cooling means for cooling the object to be cooled with cold air, and a controller for controlling the vacuum cooling means and the cold air cooling means. A composite cooling device that detects either the cooling time by the cooling means, the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, and the temperature of the object to be cooled, or the pressure, the same temperature, and the temperature in the cooling chamber; The controller includes a detecting means for detecting any amount of change in the temperature of the object to be cooled, and the controller sequentially performs a cold air cooling process for cooling the object to be cooled with cold air after the vacuum cooling process based on a cooling program, When the detection value of the detection means reaches a set value, the vacuum cooling process power is also switched to the cold air cooling process.

[0036] In the first embodiment, the cooling by the vacuum cooling means is performed by setting the pressure around the object to be cooled below the pressure corresponding to the temperature of the object (hereinafter referred to as the product temperature). The object to be cooled is cooled by evaporating the moisture in the object. This cooling is uniform cooling with a small temperature difference between the surface of the object to be cooled and the central portion. This vacuum cooling characteristic is that the vacuum cooling rate in the latter period when the vacuum cooling rate in the previous period is faster becomes slower than that in the previous period. This vacuum cooling characteristic is a time-pressure characteristic determined by the vacuum cooling means, and the temperature of the object to be cooled (hereinafter referred to as the product temperature) draws a curve that substantially conforms to this vacuum cooling characteristic except for the initial process. It goes down exponentially.

[0037] Further, the cold air cooling characteristic of the cold air cooling means is that the cold air cooling rate is the vacuum cooling rate of the previous period. It is assumed that it is faster than the slowed-down vacuum cooling rate in the later stage. This cold air cooling is cooling by indirect heat exchange with the surrounding air on the surface of the object to be cooled. For this reason, the object to be cooled cannot be uniformly cooled in a short time. The cold air cooling characteristic is a one-time product temperature characteristic by the cold air cooling means, and the slope of the decrease in the product temperature is a gentler characteristic curve than that of the vacuum cooling characteristic.

Then, the controller performs a cold air cooling step by the cold air cooling unit after performing a vacuum cooling step by the vacuum cooling unit based on a cooling program stored in advance. The cooling program of this embodiment includes a program for cooling an object to be cooled to a chilled region in a short time. In the first half of the vacuum cooling process, the product temperature at which the vacuum cooling rate is fast decreases rapidly. Since the vacuum cooling rate decreases at the later stage of the vacuum cooling step, the cold air cooling step is executed instead of the vacuum cooling step. The cold air cooling rate in the cold air cooling step is slower than the vacuum cooling rate in the previous period of the vacuum cooling step, but it can be cooled to a chilled region.

The switching timing from the vacuum cooling step to the cold air cooling step is preferably a timing at which the latter vacuum cooling rate is lower than the cold air cooling rate.

[0040] The switching from the vacuum cooling process to the cold air cooling process includes detection means for detecting any one of the cooling time by the vacuum cooling means, the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, and the temperature of the object to be cooled. When the detection value of the detection means reaches a set value, the control is performed by the controller. The detection means detects any amount of change in the pressure in the cooling chamber, the temperature in the cooling chamber, or the temperature of the object to be cooled, and when the detected value becomes a set value, the vacuum cooling process force the cold air It can comprise so that it may switch to a cooling process.

[0041] The first switching timing in which the "late-stage vacuum cooling rate is lower than the cold air cooling rate" described above continuously monitors the vacuum cooling rate in the vacuum cooling step, and the cold air in the cold air cooling step. Compared to the cooling rate, the former can be at a timing slower than the latter. This timing can be set with a slight width before and after the timing at which the latter vacuum cooling rate becomes equal to the cold air cooling rate. Also, this first conversion timing can be determined based on the integrated values per unit time of the vacuum cooling rate and the cold air cooling rate that are pinpointed. In addition, the first switching timing is It may be when the pressure or temperature in the rejection chamber becomes a value obtained by adding a set value to the final ultimate pressure or temperature due to the vacuum cooling characteristics. The final ultimate pressure (temperature) means a pressure (temperature) that can be finally reached although it takes an infinite time depending on the vacuum cooling characteristics.

In addition, the first switching timing is determined in advance through experiments from the start of cooling to the elapsed time (cooling time) from the start of cooling to the “late stage vacuum cooling rate is lower than the cold air cooling rate”, the pressure in the cooling chamber, the cooling The amount of change between the indoor temperature, the temperature of the object to be cooled, or the pressure in the cooling room, the same temperature, and the temperature of the object to be cooled is obtained as a set value, and the detected value by the detecting means is It can be when the set value is reached.

[0043] Furthermore, the first switching timing is set when the time required for the vacuum cooling step and the cold air cooling step (set cooling time) and the cooling temperature to be reached (set cooling temperature) are set. The cooling time, the vacuum cooling characteristic, and the cold air cooling characteristic can be set. The outline of this setting is as follows. In the time (horizontal axis) -temperature (vertical axis) characteristic, the cold air cooling characteristic curve (time-temperature characteristic curve) is set so that the final point determined by the set cooling time and the set cooling temperature is the end point. The first switching timing is defined as a point crossing the time-product temperature characteristic curve corresponding to the vacuum cooling characteristic. By setting the timing in this way, cooling can be reliably performed to a predetermined temperature in a predetermined time.

[0044] Next, each component of the first embodiment will be described. The cooling chamber may be of any type, type and size as long as it forms a sealed space for accommodating the object to be cooled and can take in and out the object to be cooled. This cooling chamber can be called a cooling tank, a cooling compartment, a cooling container, or the like. The object to be cooled is preferably used as a food. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0045] The vacuum cooling means includes a decompression line connected to the cooling chamber, and decompression means (decompressor) provided in the decompression line. The decompressor can be a vacuum line or a water ejector. The decompressor may be a combination of a steam ejector, heat exchanger for steam condensation, and a vacuum pump or water ejector. The vacuum pump is preferably a water ring vacuum pump. [0046] The cold air cooling means cools an object to be cooled with cold air. Preferably, the cold air cooling means includes a cooling heat exchanger that cools the air in the cooling chamber, a fan that circulates the air in the cooling chamber, and the object to be cooled and the cooling heat exchanger. And a circulation path forming member that forms a circulation path so that an air circulation flow is formed by the fan. The circulation path is preferably formed in the cooling chamber by arranging the heat exchanger and the fan in the cooling chamber, but the heat exchanger and Z or the fan are arranged outside the cooling chamber. A circulation path can be configured by connecting these and the cooling chamber with a ventilation duct.

[0047] The cooling heat exchanger is a low temperature capable of cooling an object to be cooled to a chilled region by cooling with cold air.

(For example, −10 ° C. or less). However, it is preferable that the liquid refrigerant supplied from the condensing unit of the refrigerator is evaporated and the heat exchange is performed by indirect heat exchange. Configures the evaporator power to cool the air in the cooling chamber. However, the cooling heat exchange can be a heat exchange using a cold water supplied from a chilled water production apparatus (chiller) or a brine supplied from a blownler as a refrigerant.

[0048] The controller controls operations of the vacuum cooling means and the cold air cooling means according to the cooling program stored in advance. The cooling program includes at least a program for performing a cold air cooling process by the cold air cooling means after performing a vacuum cooling process by the vacuum cooling means. The outline of this program is as described above. Also

This cooling program includes a program that performs only vacuum cooling, a program that performs only vacuum cooling, a program that performs cooling air cooling, vacuum cooling and cooling air cooling sequentially, a program that performs only cooling air cooling, A program that sequentially performs cooling and vacuum cooling can be included, and these programs can be selectively executed according to the type of the object to be cooled and the set cooling temperature.

[0049] In the first cold air cooling in the program for sequentially performing the cold air cooling, the vacuum cooling, and the cold air cooling, the outside air is introduced into the cooling chamber without using the cooling heat exchanger, and the outside air is supplied to the object to be cooled. After hitting, it can be done by discharging.

[0050] (Embodiment 2)

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment includes a vacuum cooling unit that vacuum-cools an object to be cooled in a cooling chamber, a cold air cooling unit that cools the object to be cooled, and a controller that controls the vacuum cooling unit and the cold air cooling unit. In the composite cooling device, the vacuum cooling means includes a first vacuum cooling means having a first vacuum cooling characteristic and a second vacuum cooling means having a second vacuum cooling characteristic, and the controller includes the controller The first vacuum cooling step by the first vacuum cooling means, the second vacuum cooling step by the second vacuum cooling means, and the cold air cooling step by the cold air cooling means are sequentially switched and performed.

[0051] In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, either the cooling time, the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, or the temperature of the object to be cooled is detected, or the cooling is performed. Detecting means for detecting any amount of change in the indoor pressure, the same temperature, and the temperature of the object to be cooled, and when the detected value of the detecting means reaches a first set value, the controller Switching from one vacuum cooling step to the second vacuum cooling step can be configured to switch from the second vacuum cooling step to the cold air cooling step when the detected value reaches a second set value.

[0052] In this second embodiment, preferably, the first vacuum cooling means has a first vacuum cooling characteristic in which the vacuum cooling rate decreases in the latter period when the vacuum cooling speed of the first period is high, and the second vacuum cooling means. The vacuum cooling means has a second vacuum cooling characteristic in which the vacuum cooling rate slows down in the latter period when the vacuum cooling speed of the previous period is high, and the cold air cooling means has the cold air cooling characteristic of the first vacuum. The cooling means and the second vacuum cooling means are faster than the vacuum cooling rate of the latter stage, which is later than the vacuum cooling rate of the latter stage.

[0053] Preferably, switching from the second vacuum cooling step to the cold air cooling step is performed at a timing when the latter vacuum cooling rate by the second vacuum cooling device is lower than the cold air cooling rate by the cold air cooling device. It is not limited to this.

[0054] The content of the second switching timing from the second vacuum cooling step to the cold air cooling step is the same as the first switching timing, and the description thereof is omitted. The cooling time by the vacuum cooling means can be the time from the start of cooling of the first cooling means or the time of the second vacuum cooling start force. [0055] Further, the switching timing from the first vacuum cooling step to the second vacuum cooling step is preferably such that the late vacuum cooling rate by the first vacuum cooling means is higher than the cold air cooling rate by the cold air cooling unit. Force to decrease timing It is not limited to this.

[0056] In the second embodiment, first, rapid cooling is performed by the first vacuum cooling step, and when the vacuum cooling rate is decreased, rapid cooling is performed by the second vacuum cooling step, and when the vacuum cooling rate is decreased, Move to cold air cooling process.

[0057] According to the second embodiment, after the vacuum cooling process capable of rapid and uniform cooling is performed, the cold air cooling process capable of cooling to a low temperature is performed. Therefore, the vacuum cooling means and the cold air cooling means The object to be cooled can be cooled to a low temperature in a short time without increasing the cooling capacity. Moreover, since the vacuum cooling process is performed in two stages by the first vacuum cooling means and the second vacuum cooling means, the vacuum cooling process is performed in a vacuum compared to the case of vacuum cooling with an excessive cooling capacity from the beginning of the vacuum cooling. In addition to reducing the energy required for the operation of the cooling means, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the quality of foods where the quality of the object to be cooled is a problem due to rapid cooling.

[0058] The first vacuum cooling means and the second vacuum cooling means can be configured as follows as a first aspect suitable for a composite cooling device having a relatively small cooling capacity. In other words, the cold air cooling means is configured to cool the air in the cooling chamber by indirect heat exchange with a cooling heat exchanger. The first vacuum cooling means is configured to execute the first vacuum cooling by the operation of a decompressor connected to the cooling chamber. The second vacuum cooling means is configured to perform the second vacuum cooling step by condensing the vapor of the object to be cooled by the cooling heat exchanger with the cooling chamber sealed under a low pressure. . The cooling heat exchanger is not limited as long as it can cool the object to be cooled to the chilled region, but preferably has a cooling action by evaporation of the refrigerant supplied from the refrigerator.

[0059] The decompressor of the first vacuum cooling means may be a vacuum pump or a water ejector. The vacuum pump is preferably a water ring vacuum pump.

[0060] The second vacuum cooling means includes a decompressor for sealing the cooling chamber. In the pressure line, an open / close valve is provided between the cooling chamber and the pressure reducer, and the open / close valve is closed when the second vacuum cooling means is operated, whereby the cooling chamber can be sealed.

[0061] The operation of the first vacuum cooling means is to open the on-off valve and operate the pressure reducer, and the operation of the second cooling means is that the cooling chamber is in a low pressure state. After the production, the on-off valve is closed and the cooling heat exchanger is operated, that is, the refrigerant is supplied to perform the cooling action.

[0062] In the second vacuum cooling step, steam is generated from the object to be cooled in a sealed space under reduced pressure, and the generated steam is condensed on the surface of the heat exchanger for cooling. Promotes evaporation from. In order to ensure the action of this second vacuum cooling step, it is important that there is no air in the cooling chamber that prevents vapor condensation. For this reason, it is desirable to provide an air exclusion process before the first vacuum cooling process. This air exclusion step is preferably configured to exclude air by supplying steam or hot water to the cooling chamber and filling the cooling chamber with steam while evacuating by operating the decompressor. Further, the air exclusion step can be configured to be performed in the order of the exhaust gas → the steam supply → the exhaust gas, and this can be performed once or a plurality of times.

[0063] The second vacuum cooling step is performed using the cooling heat exchanger as a cold trap for condensing the vapor from the object to be cooled not only for cooling the cold air. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a steam ejector as the decompressor, and in some cases, it is possible to omit a steam condensation heat exchanger (condensation heat exchanger) provided upstream of the decompressor. The configuration of the vacuum cooling means can be simplified.

[0064] Further, the first vacuum cooling means and the second vacuum cooling means can be configured as follows as a second aspect suitable for a composite cooling device having a relatively large cooling capacity. That is, the decompression line, the steam ejector provided in the decompression line, the heat exchanger for condensation, and the decompressor are provided. And said 1st vacuum cooling means is comprised so that a 1st vacuum cooling process may be performed by the action | operation of the said pressure reduction device. The second vacuum cooling means is configured to execute the second vacuum cooling step by operating the steam ejector and the heat exchanger for condensation in addition to the operation of the decompressor. To do. The cold air cooling means is configured to cool the air in the cooling chamber by indirect heat exchange with the cooling heat exchanger.

[0065] The first vacuum cooling step is performed by the operation of the first vacuum cooling means of the second aspect, that is, the operation of the decompressor. The second vacuum cooling step is performed by the operation of the second vacuum cooling means, that is, the operation of the decompressor.

Example 1

Hereinafter, a specific example 1 of the composite cooling device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the first embodiment, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are flowcharts for explaining a main part of a control procedure of the first embodiment.

[0067] The composite cooling device 1 of the first embodiment is a cooling device capable of performing vacuum cooling and cold air cooling, and can selectively execute various cooling patterns, and can also perform an object temperature to be cooled (hereinafter, referred to as "cooled object temperature"). Product temperature) can be cooled to a low temperature in the chilled region in a short time.

[0068] The combined cooling device 1 includes a cooling chamber 2, a vacuum cooling means 4 for cooling the object 3 in the cooling chamber 2 in a vacuum, a cold air cooling means 5 for cooling the object 3 to be cooled, A vacuum cooling means 4 and a controller 6 for controlling the cold air cooling means 5 are provided as main parts. The controller 6 is provided with a timer 7 by software. Based on the cooling program stored in advance, the controller 6 performs the vacuum cooling process of the object 3 to be cooled by the vacuum cooling means 4, and then the detection value (measurement time) by the timer 7 becomes a set value. At this time, it is configured to perform control to switch between the vacuum cooling of the object 3 to be cooled by the vacuum cooling means 4 and the cold air cooling of the object 3 to be cooled by the cold air cooling means 5.

[0069] Next, each component of the first embodiment will be described. The cooling chamber 2 forms a sealed space in which the object to be cooled 3 is accommodated, and includes an opening for taking in and out the object to be cooled 3 and a door for opening and closing the object (both not shown). The cooling chamber 2 is divided into an upper first region 81 and a lower second region 82 by a partition wall 8. In the first area 81, the object to be cooled 3 is accommodated, and in the second area 82, the cooling heat exchanger 9 constituting a part of the cold air cooling means 5 is arranged. The object to be cooled 3 is a food contained in a container.

[0070] The cooling heat exchanger 9 includes a condenser (not shown) that liquefies the refrigerant of the refrigerator 10. The liquid refrigerant supplied from the condensing unit 11 has a well-known evaporator that performs a cooling action by evaporating.

[0071] The cold air cooling means 5 cools the object 3 to be cooled with cold air. The cold air cooling means 5 is a fan 13 as an air circulating means driven by the cooling heat exchanger 9 for cooling the air in the cooling chamber 2 and a motor 12 arranged outside the cooling chamber 2. Including. Then, openings (or gaps) 14 and 14 are provided between the constituent wall of the cooling chamber 2 and the partition wall 8 to form an air circulation path (not shown) in the cooling chamber 2. Thus, the cooling air cooling function is configured. In this embodiment, the partition wall 8 and the component wall of the cooling chamber 2 constitute the circulation path constituting member.

[0072] The vacuum cooling means 4 includes a first vacuum cooling means 41 having a first vacuum cooling characteristic in which the vacuum cooling speed decreases in the latter period when the vacuum cooling speed in the previous period is high, and the vacuum cooling speed in the previous period is high. It comprises a second vacuum cooling means 42 having a second vacuum cooling characteristic in which the vacuum cooling rate slows down in the later stage.

[0073] The first vacuum cooling means 41 and the second vacuum cooling means 42 are specifically configured as follows. That is, the first vacuum cooling means 41 includes a decompression line 15 connected to the cooling chamber 2, a water-sealed vacuum pump 16 serving as a decompressor provided in the decompression line 15, and the previous cooling chamber. 2 and the on-off valve 17 which is located between the vacuum pump 16 and holds the cooling chamber 2 in a closed state when closed.

The first vacuum cooling means 41 is configured to execute the first vacuum cooling step by operating (operating) the vacuum pump 16 with the on-off valve 17 open. The on-off valve 17 is a valve only for opening and closing, but can be a valve whose opening degree can be adjusted. The decompression line 15 can be provided with a check valve (not shown) for preventing the flow in the direction of the cooling chamber 2 as necessary. The first vacuum cooling characteristic of the first vacuum cooling means 41 having such a configuration is that the vacuum cooling rate becomes slow in the latter period when the vacuum cooling rate in the previous period is faster.

[0075] Further, the second vacuum cooling means 42 has a function of condensing steam from the object to be cooled by the cooling heat exchanger 9 with the inside of the cooling chamber 2 sealed under a low pressure. It is configured to perform two vacuum cooling processes. The elements constituting this second vacuum cooling means 42 are: The cooling chamber 2, the cooling heat exchanger 9, the on-off valve 17, and the first vacuum cooling means 41. Closing the inside of the cooling chamber 2 under a low pressure is realized by closing the on-off valve 17 after the first vacuum cooling step. As with the first vacuum cooling characteristic, the second vacuum cooling characteristic of the second vacuum cooling means 42 having such a configuration is such that the vacuum cooling rate slows down in the latter period when the vacuum cooling rate in the previous period is faster.

[0076] The cold air cooling characteristic of the cold air cooling means 5 is that the cool air cooling rate is slowed down in the latter period when the cold air cooling rate is slower than the vacuum cooling speeds of the first vacuum cooling means 41 and the second vacuum cooling means 42 in the previous period. Faster than speed.

[0077] In Example 1, in order to ensure the operation of the second vacuum cooling step, an air exclusion step is provided and executed before the first vacuum cooling step. . This air exhausting step is configured to exclude air by supplying steam from the steam supply means 18 to the cooling chamber 2 and filling the cooling chamber with steam while operating the vacuum pump 16. Yes. Specifically, the steam supply means 18 includes a first steam supply line 19 for supplying steam into the cooling chamber 2, a steam supply source 20, and a first steam supply valve 21 that controls steam supply. Is provided.

In addition, the cooling chamber 2 is provided with a return pressure means 22 for returning the pressure in the cooling chamber 2 from a negative pressure to an atmospheric pressure after the vacuum cooling process. The return pressure means 22 includes a return pressure line 23 connected to the cooling chamber 2, and a return pressure valve 24 and a sterilization filter 25 provided in the middle of the return pressure line 23. The return pressure valve 24 can be a force open / close valve that is a valve whose opening degree is adjustable in order to adjust the return pressure speed. Further, the return pressure line 23 can be provided with a check valve (not shown) that prevents the outward flow from the inside of the cooling chamber 2.

[0079] The controller 6 controls operations of the first vacuum cooling means 41, the second vacuum cooling means 42, the cold air cooling means 5 and the steam supply means 18 according to the cooling program stored in advance. It is composed of

[0080] In order to control the cooling program and the like, the product temperature sensor 26 for detecting the product temperature of the object 3 to be cooled, the indoor pressure sensor 27 for detecting the pressure (temperature) in the cooling chamber 2, and the refrigeration Refrigerant pressure sensor 28, refrigerant temperature sensor 2 that detects the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant circuit of the machine 10 Has nine. These sensors are connected to the controller 6 to control the condensing unit 11, the motor 12, the vacuum pump 16, the on-off valve 17, the first steam supply valve 21, the return pressure valve 24, etc. To do.

[0081] The cooling program includes a program (first program) for performing a cold air cooling process by the cold air cooling means 5 after performing a vacuum cooling process by the vacuum cooling means 41, 42, the cold air cooling process, the vacuum A program (second program) that sequentially performs the cooling process and the cold air cooling process, a program that performs only the vacuum cooling process (third program), a program that performs only the cold air cooling process (fourth program), and the cold air cooling And a program (fifth program) for sequentially performing the process and the vacuum cooling process. These programs are configured to be executed automatically and selectively according to the type of the object to be cooled or selected by the user.

Next, switching timing from the first vacuum cooling step 41 to the second vacuum cooling step 42 in the first program and the second program (hereinafter referred to as vacuum switching timing) and the second program. The switching timing from the vacuum cooling process to the cold air cooling process (hereinafter referred to as cold air switching timing) will be described.

[0083] The vacuum switching timing and the cold air switching timing are obtained in advance by experiments in consideration of the first vacuum cooling characteristics and the second vacuum cooling characteristics, respectively. That is, the vacuum cooling switching timing is the first set value of the elapsed time (cooling time) from the start of cooling until the late vacuum cooling rate of the first vacuum cooling step reaches the vicinity of the cold air cooling rate of the cold air cooling step. It is assumed that the measured value by the timer 7 as the detection means becomes the first set value. In addition, the cold air switching timing is a second set value for the elapsed time (cooling time) from the start of cooling until the latter half of the second vacuum cooling process reaches the vicinity of the cold air cooling speed of the cold air cooling process. And when the measured value by the timer 7 becomes the second set value.

[0084] The first set value and the second set value have reached the pressure in the cooling chamber 2 when reaching the vicinity of the cold air cooling rate, the vicinity of the cold air cooling rate, regardless of the cooling time. The temperature of the cooling chamber 2 when the temperature of the object 3 to be cooled This can be obtained from the pressure in the cooling chamber 2, the temperature in the cooling chamber 2, or the amount of change in the temperature of the object 3 to be cooled. When the detected value becomes the first set value by the force for detecting the indoor pressure or the indoor temperature by the indoor pressure sensor 25 and the force for detecting the product temperature by the product temperature sensor 7, Switching from one vacuum cooling process to the second vacuum cooling process, and when the detected value reaches the second set value, the second vacuum cooling process force can be switched to the cold air cooling process.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0086] <Preparation stage>

The user opens the door, accommodates the object 3 to be cooled in the cooling chamber 2, and closes the door to make it sealed. In this state, the on-off valve 17, the first steam supply valve 21, and the return pressure valve 24 are all closed, and the motor 12, the vacuum pump 16, and the condensing unit 11 are all inactive. State. The steam generation source 20 can be in an operating state in advance.

[0087] <Cooling program selection>

In this state, the user selects the first to fifth programs after starting operation with an operation switch (not shown). This selection can be made according to the product temperature at the beginning of cooling (hereinafter referred to as the initial product temperature), the cooling temperature to be reached (set cooling temperature), and the type of the object to be cooled 3.

[0088] With this selection, referring to FIG. 2, when processing step S1 (hereinafter, processing step SN is simply referred to as SN) is selected from the first program to the fifth program, S2 to S6, respectively. Then, the first program to the fifth program are executed. The operation of each driving program is described below.

[0089] <First program: Switching from vacuum cooling to cold air cooling>

The first program is suitable for cooling foods that have an initial product temperature of about 70 ° C or less and a set cooling temperature of about 10 ° C or less, and the object to be cooled 3 contains moisture and the moisture can evaporate. ing. Now, the initial product temperature is 70 ° C and the set cooling temperature is 3 ° C.

[0090] (Air exclusion process)

When this first program is selected, the processing procedure of FIG. 3 is executed. First empty at S 21 Qi exclusion process is performed. This air exclusion process is performed as follows. The steam generation source 20 is in a state where steam can be supplied, the on-off valve 17 and the first steam supply valve 21 are opened, the return pressure valve 24 is closed, and the vacuum pump 16 is operated. Then, steam is supplied from the steam generation source 20 into the cooling chamber 2, and the air in the cooling chamber 2 is discharged to the outside through the decompression line 15 together with the supplied steam. Eventually, the inside of the cooling chamber 2 is filled with steam. At the end of this air exclusion process, the inside of the cooling chamber 2 is at a low pressure below atmospheric pressure. In this air evacuation process, exhausting by the operation of the vacuum pump 16 and steaming by opening the on-off valve 21 are performed simultaneously in the order of exhaustion → steaming → exhaust. It can be configured to be performed repeatedly.

[0091] (First vacuum cooling step)

When the air exclusion process ends, the process proceeds to S22, and the first vacuum cooling process is performed. This first vacuum cooling step is performed as follows. The on-off valve 17 is opened, the first steam supply valve 21 is closed, the return pressure valve 24 is closed, and the vacuum pump 16 is operated. Then, the gas in the cooling chamber 2 is discharged to the outside through the decompression line 15. The pressure in the cooling chamber 2 decreases in accordance with the first vacuum cooling characteristics, and the temperature of the object to be cooled 3 decreases by 70 ° C. force due to vaporization of the vapor from the object to be cooled 3 according to this pressure decrease. Go. This rate of decrease in product temperature is rapid in the initial stage, and slows down in the later stages as the temperature decreases. When the time measured by the timer 7 reaches the first set value, the process proceeds to the second vacuum cooling step of S23. The vacuum cooling rate at this transition point is lower than the cooling rate due to the cold air cooling characteristics of the cold air cooling means 5. The product temperature at the time of this transition is approximately 20 ° C.

[0092] (Second vacuum cooling step)

In the second vacuum cooling step, the on-off valve 17, the first steam supply valve 21 and the pressure-reducing valve 24 are closed to stop the vacuum pump 16 and to operate the condensing unit 11. By operating the condensing unit 11, the temperature in the cooling heat exchanger 9 is set to about 10 ° C. The temperature reduction of the cooling heat exchanger 9 by the condensing unit 11 requires a predetermined time from the start-up. It is desirable to activate the condensing unit 11 before a predetermined time.

[0093] In this second vacuum cooling step, the inside of the cooling chamber 2 is sealed at a low pressure, and the steam in the cooling chamber 2 moves to the cooling heat exchanger 9 where it is condensed. The pressure in the cooling chamber 2 is maintained at a low pressure. As a result, steam is continuously generated from the object to be cooled 3 and the product temperature decreases. This temperature drop is made in accordance with the second vacuum cooling characteristic, and is performed rapidly in the initial stage, and the rate of decrease slows down in the later stage as the temperature decreases. When the time measured by the timer 7 reaches the second set value, the process proceeds to the recovery pressure process of S24. The vacuum cooling rate at the time of the transition is lower than the cooling rate due to the cold air cooling characteristics of the cold air cooling means 5. The product temperature at the time of this transition is about 10 ° C.

[0094] (Returning pressure process)

The return pressure step is performed by opening the return pressure valve 24. As a result, outside air is introduced into the cooling chamber 2 through the return pressure line 23, and the inside of the cooling chamber 2 returns to atmospheric pressure. This return pressure process is detected by the indoor pressure sensor 27. When the atmospheric pressure is detected, the return pressure process is terminated, and the process proceeds to the cold air cooling process of S25. In the first embodiment, during the decompression process, the operation of the condensing unit 11 is continued and the operation of the fan 13 is stopped. However, if necessary, the operation of the condensing unit 11 can be stopped and the fan 13 can be operated.

[0095] (Cooling air cooling process)

In the cold air cooling step, the on-off valve 17, the first steam supply valve 21 and the return pressure valve 24 are closed, the vacuum pump 16 is stopped, and the condensing unit 11 and the fan 13 are operated. . Thus, in the cooling chamber 2, the fan 13 → the cooling heat exchanger 9 → the opening 14 → the object to be cooled 3 → the opening 14 → the cooling air circulating flow as indicated by a one-dot broken arrow is formed. Is done. Due to this circulating flow, the air in the cooling chamber 2 is cooled by the cooling heat exchanger 9 and the temperature is lowered, and the object to be cooled 3 is cooled by indirect heat exchange. With such cold air cooling, the product is cooled to about 3 ° C. When the product temperature sensor 26 detects that the product temperature has dropped to 3 ° C, the cold air cooling process is terminated. In this cold air cooling step, condensed water (drain) is generated from the surface of the object to be cooled 3 and the heat exchanger 9 for cooling, and is stored in the inner bottom of the cooling chamber 2. This drain is discharged as follows. The on-off valve 17 is opened and the vacuum pump 16 is operated. Then, the drain is discharged out of the cooling chamber 2 through the decompression line 15. When the drain is discharged, the drain can be discharged smoothly by opening the return pressure valve 24.

[0097] (End of cooling operation)

When this cold air cooling step is completed, the user can operate the operation switch to stop the cooling operation and take out the object 3 to be cooled in the cooling chamber 2. Of course, even after the cold air cooling process is completed, the cold air cooling process can be continued for refrigeration of the object 3 to be cooled.

[0098] <Second program: cold air cooling → vacuum cooling → cold air cooling switching>

The second program is suitable for cooling foodstuffs having an initial product temperature of about 70 ° C or higher and a set cooling temperature of 10 ° C or lower, and the object to be cooled 3 contains water and the water can evaporate. Yes. Now, the initial product temperature is 90 ° C and the set cooling temperature is 3 ° C.

When this second program is selected, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 4 is executed. That is, the first cold air cooling step S31 → the air evacuation step S32 → the first vacuum cooling step S33 → the second vacuum cooling step 334 → the return pressure step S35 → the second cold air cooling step S36 are sequentially executed.

[0100] The second program differs from the first program in that a first cold air cooling step S31 is provided before the air exhausting step S22 in Fig. 2 and the first cold air cooling step S31 to The product temperature is a set value (in this example, 70 ° in the timing of switching to the vacuum cooling step (including the air exclusion step S32 → the first vacuum cooling step S33 → the second vacuum cooling step S34)). This is the point when it reached the timing of C).

[0101] In the following description, the air evacuation step S32, the first vacuum cooling step S33, the second vacuum cooling step S34, the return pressure step S35, and the second cold air cooling step S36 of FIG. Since this corresponds to the exclusion step S21, the first vacuum cooling step S22, the second vacuum cooling step S23, the decompression step S24, and the cold air cooling step S25, description thereof is omitted. The timing for switching from the first vacuum cooling step to the second vacuum cooling step and the timing for switching from the second vacuum cooling step to the second cold air cooling step (including the return pressure step) are respectively Since it is the same as the vacuum switching timing and the cold air switching timing, description thereof is omitted. The In the following, only the parts of the second program that are different from the first program will be described.

[0102] The first cold air cooling step S31 of Fig. 4 is performed in the same manner as the cold air cooling step S21 of Fig. 3. That is, cooling by the heat exchanger 9 for cooling (heat exchanger cooling) is performed, and the product temperature is lowered from 90 ° C to 70 ° C.

[0103] In the first cold air cooling step S31, without operating the condensing unit 11, the return pressure means 22 and the on-off valve 17 are opened, and the vacuum pump 16 is operated, whereby the outside air is discharged. By being discharged through the pressure reducing line 15 while being introduced into the cooling chamber 2, the object to be cooled 3 can be cooled by outside air (outside air introduction cooling). In this case, the operation of the fan 13 can be performed as necessary.

[0104] When the first cold air cooling step S31 is completed, the process proceeds to the air exclusion step 32, and cooling is performed until the temperature of the object 3 to be cooled reaches 3 ° C in the same manner as in the first program. End driving.

As described above, in the second program, the object 3 to be cooled is removed by the first cold air cooling step S31. When the product temperature is about 70 ° C or higher, natural evaporation from the cooled object 3 where the temperature of the cooled object 3 is high is dominant, so vacuum cooling by operating the vacuum cooling means 4 is effective. Not done. In this second program, since the rough heat removal is performed by cooling with cold air, the cooling target 3 can be effectively cooled, and the total cooling time can be shortened.

[0106] <Third program: vacuum cooling>

In the third program, the initial product temperature is about 70 ° C. or lower, the set cooling temperature is about 10 ° C. or higher, and the object to be cooled 3 contains moisture, and the food that can evaporate the moisture is cooled. Is suitable. Now, the initial product temperature is 70 ° C, and the set cooling temperature is 10 ° C.

When this third program is selected, as shown in FIG. 5, the air exclusion step S41 → the first vacuum cooling step S42 → the second vacuum cooling step 343 → the decompression step S44 is sequentially executed.

[0108] The third program differs from the first program in that the cold air cooling step S25 in Fig. 2 is omitted and the end of the second vacuum cooling step 43 is the timing when the product temperature reaches 10 ° C. It is a point to be. [0109] In the following description, the air exclusion step S41, the first vacuum cooling step S42, the second vacuum cooling step S43, and the decompression step S44 of FIG. Since this corresponds to the cooling step S22, the second vacuum cooling step S23, and the decompression step S24, description thereof is omitted. Moreover, the vacuum switching timing from the first vacuum cooling step to the second vacuum cooling step is the same as the vacuum switching timing, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, portions of the third program different from the first program will be mainly described.

In FIG. 5, the air exclusion step S41, the first vacuum cooling step S42, and the second vacuum cooling means S43 are performed in the same manner as the first program in FIG. In the second vacuum cooling step S43, when the value detected by the product temperature sensor 26 reaches 10 ° C, the second vacuum cooling step S43 is terminated, and the return pressure step S44 is executed as in the first program. To end the cooling operation.

[0111] <Fourth program: Cool air cooling>

The fourth program is suitable for cooling foodstuffs that are packaged in such a way that the object to be cooled 3 does not contain moisture, and even if it contains moisture, the moisture cannot evaporate! /.

[0112] When this fourth program is selected, the cold air cooling step S5 of Fig. 2 is executed. This cold air cooling step S5 is similar to the cold air cooling step S25 of FIG. 3, and closes the on-off valve 17, the first steam supply valve 21 and the return pressure valve 24 to stop the vacuum pump 16, and This is performed by operating the condensing unit 11 and the fan 13. That is, a cold air circulation flow as indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1 is formed, and the object to be cooled 3 is cooled by this cold air circulation flow. This cold air cooling step S5 ends when the value detected by the product temperature sensor 26 reaches the set cooling temperature.

[0113] <Fifth program: cold air cooling-> vacuum cooling>

The fifth program is suitable for cooling foodstuffs that have an initial product temperature of about 70 ° C or higher, a set cooling temperature of 10 ° C or higher, and the object to be cooled 3 contains water, and its water can evaporate. . Now, the initial product temperature is 90 ° C and the set cooling temperature is 10 ° C.

When this fifth program is selected, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 6 is executed. That is, cold air cooling process S61 → air exclusion process S62 → first vacuum cooling process S63 → second vacuum cooling Step 364 → return pressure step S65 is sequentially executed.

This fifth program differs from the second program in FIG. 4 in that the second cold air cooling step in FIG. 2 is deleted.

[0116] In the following description, the cold air cooling step S61, the air exhausting step S62, the first vacuum cooling step S63, the second vacuum cooling step S64, and the decompression step S65 of FIG. Since it corresponds to the cooling step S31, the air exclusion step S32, the first vacuum cooling step S33, the second vacuum cooling step S34, and the decompression step S35, the description thereof is omitted. The switching from the cold air cooling step S61 to the air exclusion step S32 and the switching from the first vacuum cooling step to the second vacuum cooling step are the same as the second program in FIG. Omitted.

[0117] According to the first embodiment configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained. In the first program or the second program, the cold air cooling step S25 or S36 that can be cooled to a low temperature after executing the vacuum cooling step S22 and S23 or S33 and S34 capable of rapid and uniform cooling. Execute. As a result, the object to be cooled can be cooled to the target low set cooling temperature in a short time.

[0118] In addition, since the vacuum cooling process is performed in two stages by the first vacuum cooling means 41 and the second vacuum cooling means 42, cooling is performed to enhance the cooling capacity of the vacuum cooling means 4. It is possible to eliminate the need for heavy equipment. In addition, the energy required for the operation of the vacuum cooling means can be reduced compared to the case of vacuum cooling with an excessive cooling capacity from the beginning of vacuum cooling, and the quality of the object to be cooled is a problem due to rapid cooling. The resulting food can suppress the quality degradation.

[0119] Further, since the cooling heat exchanger 9 for cooling the cold air is also used as a cold trap for condensing the vapor of the second vacuum cooling means 42, the equipment of the vacuum cooling means can be simplified. The initial cost of the combined cooling device can be reduced.

[0120] Furthermore, by selecting the first to fifth programs, it is possible to achieve cooling in accordance with the properties, initial product temperature, and set cooling temperature of the object 3 to be cooled. Various cooling can be realized in high quality in a short time.

Example 2 Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In Example 2, the configuration of Example 1 is the same as that of Example 1 in that the vacuum cooling means 4 is composed of the first vacuum cooling means 41 and the second vacuum cooling means 42. The differences are mainly explained.

[0122] The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the first vacuum cooling means 41. In the first embodiment, the force used as the decompression line 15, the on-off valve 17 and the vacuum pump 16 as the constituent elements of the first vacuum cooling means 41. In the second embodiment, in addition to these constituent elements, the vacuum pump This is the point that a heat exchanger 31 for condensation is provided upstream of 16. The on-off valve 17 is provided between the heat exchanger for condensation 31 and the cooling chamber 2. A water supply line 32 is connected to the heat exchanger 41 for condensation. The water supply to the condensing heat exchanger 31 is controlled by opening and closing the water supply valve 33 provided in the water supply line 32, and the operation of the condensing heat exchanger 31 is controlled. The water supply valve 33 is controlled by the controller 6.

[0123] The first vacuum cooling means 41 of the second embodiment opens the on-off valve 17 and the heat exchanger for condensation.

31 and the vacuum pump 16 are operated to execute the first vacuum cooling step. The first vacuum cooling characteristic of the first vacuum cooling step is the same as that of the first vacuum cooling of the first embodiment, but the vacuum cooling capacity is the first vacuum cooling means by the cooling action of the condensation heat exchanger 31. In addition, the air in the cooling chamber 2 can be efficiently removed.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the configuration different from the first embodiment has been described, but the other configuration is the same, and thus the description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, the first to fifth programs are also executed in the same manner, and the description thereof is omitted.

Example 3

Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Example 3 is suitable for a composite cooling device having a relatively large cooling capacity. In Example 3, the same configuration as that of Example 1 and Example 2 is used in that the vacuum cooling unit 4 includes the first vacuum cooling unit 41 and the second vacuum cooling unit 42. The following mainly describes the differences. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the first vacuum cooling means 41 and the second vacuum cooling means 42. In the first embodiment, the first vacuum cooling means 41 is reduced-pressure exhaust cooling including the vacuum pump 16, and the second vacuum cooling means 42 is reduced-pressure hermetic cooling using the cooling heat exchanger 9. In the second embodiment, both the first vacuum cooling means 41 and the second vacuum cooling means 42 are reduced-pressure exhaust cooling.

[0127] Specifically, the configuration is as follows. That is, a heat exchanger 31 for condensation is provided upstream of the vacuum pump 16, and a steam ejector 34 is provided upstream of the heat exchanger 31 for condensation as a decompressor for the vacuum cooling means. A second steam supply line 35 is connected to the steam ejector 34 and is provided in the second steam supply line 35. Then, the steam supply to the steam ejector 34 is controlled by opening and closing the second steam supply valve 33 controlled by the controller 6, and the operation of the steam ejector 34 is controlled. The on-off valve 17 is provided between the steam ejector 34 and the cooling chamber 2.

The first vacuum cooling means 41 of the third embodiment is configured to open the on-off valve 17 and execute the first vacuum cooling step by the operation of the vacuum pump 16. The first vacuum cooling characteristic of the first vacuum cooling step is the same as that of the first vacuum cooling of the first embodiment.

[0129] Further, in addition to the operation of the vacuum pump 16, the second vacuum cooling means 42 performs the second vacuum cooling step by operating the steam ejector 34 and the heat exchanger for condensation. Configure. The second vacuum cooling characteristic of the second vacuum cooling step is the same as that of the first vacuum cooling, but the vacuum cooling capacity is reduced by the cooling action of the steam ejector 34 and the heat exchanger 31 for condensation. As a result, the cooling rate becomes a rapid characteristic.

[0130] Also, regarding the first to fifth programs, in the third embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, the second vacuum cooling step is performed using the cooling heat exchanger 9. Air-exclusion process by supplying steam before the vacuum cooling process is performed. S21, S32, S41, and S61 are omitted. In relation to this program difference, the steam supply means 18 is omitted in the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the configuration different from that of the first embodiment has been described. However, since the other configuration is the same, the description thereof is omitted.

[0132] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In Examples 1 to 3, the vacuum cooling process has a two-stage configuration including the first vacuum cooling process by the first vacuum cooling means 41 and the second vacuum cooling process by the second vacuum cooling means 42. The composite cooling device 1 shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 7 can be used to perform a one-stage vacuum cooling step S71 as shown in FIG. That is, the second vacuum cooling step in Example 1 and Example 2 can be omitted. Since the vacuum cooling step S71 corresponds to the first vacuum step S22 of Example 1 and Example 2, the description thereof is omitted.

[0133] In the first to third embodiments, the vacuum switching timing and the cold air switching timing are configured to be controlled by the timer 7. However, in order to realize more accurate switching, Control can be performed based on either the detected pressure or detected temperature by the indoor pressure sensor 27 or the product temperature detected by the product temperature sensor 26. Further, in order to detect the slowdown of the vacuum cooling rate, it is desirable to detect the amount of change in the detected temperature, the detected pressure, and the product temperature.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] Composite cooling comprising: a vacuum cooling means for vacuum-cooling an object to be cooled in a cooling chamber; a cold air cooling means for cooling the object to be cooled with cold air; and a controller for controlling the vacuum cooling means and the cold air cooling means. A device,

Detection means for detecting a cooling time by the vacuum cooling means, a pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, a temperature of the object to be cooled, or a change amount of any of the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, and the temperature of the object to be cooled. With

The controller sequentially performs the cold air cooling process by the cold air cooling means after the vacuum cooling process by the vacuum cooling means, and when the detection value of the detection means reaches a set value, the vacuum cooling process force A combined cooling device characterized by switching to a process.

[2] Composite cooling comprising a vacuum cooling means for cooling the object to be cooled in the cooling chamber, a cold air cooling means for cooling the object to be cooled, and a controller for controlling the vacuum cooling means and the cold air cooling means. A device,

The vacuum cooling characteristic of the vacuum cooling means is assumed to slow down in the latter period when the vacuum cooling speed of the previous period is faster,

The cold air cooling characteristic of the cold air cooling means is assumed to be faster than the slowed-down vacuum cooling rate in the later period when the cooling air cooling rate is slower than the vacuum cooling rate in the previous period

The controller performs a cold air cooling process by the cold air cooling means after performing a vacuum cooling process by the vacuum cooling means, and a timing at which a late vacuum cooling speed by the vacuum cooling means is lower than the cold air cooling speed. And switching from the vacuum cooling step to the cold air cooling step.

[3] The amount of change in the cooling time by the vacuum cooling means, the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, the temperature of the object to be cooled, or the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, and the temperature of the object to be cooled is detected. Detecting means for

3. The composite cooling device according to claim 2, wherein when the detection value of the detection means reaches a set value, the controller switches the vacuum cooling process force to the cold air cooling process.

[4] The combined cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller performs a cold air cooling step by the cold air cooling means before performing the vacuum cooling step. .

[5] The controller includes a first cooling program for sequentially performing a vacuum cooling process for cooling the object to be cooled in vacuum and a cold air cooling process for cooling the object to be cooled with cold air;

The first cooling air cooling process that cools the object to be cooled, the vacuum cooling process that cools the object to be cooled and the second cooling air cooling process that sequentially cools the object to be cooled can be selected. The composite cooling device according to claim 4, wherein

[6] Composite cooling comprising vacuum cooling means for vacuum cooling the object to be cooled in the cooling chamber, cold air cooling means for cooling the object to be cooled, and a controller for controlling the vacuum cooling means and the cold air cooling means. A device,

The vacuum cooling means comprises a first vacuum cooling means having a first vacuum cooling characteristic and a second vacuum cooling means having a second vacuum cooling characteristic,

The controller is configured to sequentially switch between a first vacuum cooling step by the first vacuum cooling unit, a second vacuum cooling step by the second vacuum cooling unit, and a cold air cooling step by the cold air cooling unit. Cooling system.

[7] Cooling time by the first vacuum cooling means and the second vacuum cooling means, the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, the temperature of the object to be cooled, or the pressure in the cooling chamber, the same temperature, and the cooled object A detecting means for detecting any amount of change in the temperature of the object,

The controller switches from the first vacuum cooling step to the second vacuum cooling step when the detection value of the detection means reaches the first set value, and when the detection value reaches the second set value, 7. The composite cooling device according to claim 6, wherein the second vacuum cooling step is switched to the cold air cooling step.

[8] The first vacuum cooling means has a first vacuum cooling characteristic in which the vacuum cooling rate decreases in the latter period when the vacuum cooling rate of the previous period is fast,

The second vacuum cooling means has a second vacuum cooling characteristic in which the vacuum cooling rate slows down in the latter period when the vacuum cooling rate of the previous period is fast,

The cold air cooling means has the cold air cooling characteristics of the first vacuum cooling. Faster than the slowed-down vacuum cooling rate in the later period, which is slower than the vacuum cooling rate in the previous period of the means and the second vacuum cooling means,

The controller switches from the second vacuum cooling step to the cold air cooling step at a timing when a late vacuum cooling rate by the second vacuum cooling means falls below the cold air cooling rate. The composite cooling device according to claim 6 or claim 7.

[9] The cold air cooling means is configured to cool the air in the cooling chamber by indirect heat exchange with a cooling heat exchanger,

The first vacuum cooling means is configured to perform a first vacuum cooling step by operation of a decompressor connected to the cooling chamber,

The second vacuum cooling means is configured to perform the second vacuum cooling step by condensing the vapor of the object to be cooled by the heat exchanger for cooling with the cooling chamber sealed under a low pressure. The combined cooling device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein

[10] A decompression line connected to the cooling chamber, a steam ejector provided in the decompression line, a heat exchanger for condensation, and a decompressor,

The first vacuum cooling means is configured to perform a first vacuum cooling step by operating the decompressor,

The said 2nd vacuum cooling means is comprised so that a 2nd vacuum cooling process may be performed by the action | operation of the said steam ejector, the said heat exchanger for condensation, and the said pressure reduction device, The claim 6 or Claim characterized by the above-mentioned. 7. The composite cooling device according to 7.

11. The combined cooling device according to claim 6, wherein the controller performs a cold air cooling step by the cold air cooling means before performing the first vacuum cooling step.