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
  • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• • 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
  • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
  • F25D11/006—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cold storage accumulators
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
  • A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
  • A23L3/36—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
• • 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
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B40/00—Subcoolers, desuperheaters or superheaters
• • 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
  • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
  • F25D11/02—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• • 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
  • F25D23/00—General constructional features

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for supercooling, and more particularly, to an apparatus for supercooling which can cool food and liquid by using a material having a large heat capacity and store the food and liquid in a supercooled state at nearly a constant temperature.
• This technology uses supercooling.
• Supercooling means that a molten object or a solid cooled below a phase transition temperature in a balanced state is not changed.
• FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an embodiment of a conventional apparatus for thawing and freshness keeping.
• a cooling box 1 includes an insulation 2 and an outer wall 5.
• a temperature control device (not shown) is installed in the cooling box 1.
• a metal shelf 7 installed in the cooling box 1 has a two layer structure. Vegetables, meats or marine products are mounted on each layer for thawing, freshness keeping or ripening.
• the metal shelf 7 is isolated from the bottom of the cooling box 1 by insulators 9.
• a high voltage generating device 3 can generate 0 to 5000V of DC and AC voltages.
• the inner surface of the insulation 2 is covered with an insulating plate 2a such as vinyl chloride.
• a high voltage cable 4 for outputting the voltage of the high voltage generating device 3 accesses the metal shelf 7 through the outer wall 5 and the insulation 2.
• a safety switch 13 (refer to Fig. 2) is turned off to block the output of the high voltage generating device 3.
• Fig. 2 is a circuit view illustrating the circuit configuration of the high voltage generating device 3.
• 100V of AC is supplied to a primary side of a voltage adjusting transformer 15.
• Reference numeral 11 denotes a power lamp and 19 denotes an operation state lamp.
• a relay 14 is operated.
• the operation of the relay 14 is displayed by a relay operation lamp 12.
• Relay contact points 14a, 14b, and 14c are closed by the operation of the relay 14, and 100V of AC is applied to the primary side of the voltage adjusting transformer 15.
• the applied voltage is adjusted by an adjusting knob 15a at a secondary side of the voltage adjusting transformer 15.
• the adjusted voltage is displayed on a voltmeter.
• the adjusting knob 15a is connected to a primary side of a boosting transformer 17 at the secondary side of the voltage adjusting transformer 15.
• the boosting transformer 17 boosts a voltage at a rate of 1 :50. For example, when 60V of voltage is applied, it is boosted to 3000V.
• One end O of the secondary side output of the boosting transformer 17 is connected to the metal shelf 7 isolated from the cooling box 1 through the high voltage cable 4, and the other end O of the output is earthed. Since the outer wall 5 is earthed, if the user contacts the outer wall 5 of the cooling box 1, he/she does not receive an electric shock. In Fig. 1, the metal shelf 7 exposed in the cooling box 1 must be maintained in an insulated state. It is thus necessary to separate the metal shelf 7 from the walls of the cooling box 1 (the air performs insulation). If the contents 8 mounted on the metal shelf 7 contact the walls of the cooling box 1, the current flows to the ground through the walls of the cooling box 1. Drop of the applied voltage is prevented by adhering the insulating plate 2a to the inner walls. When the metal shelf 7 is not exposed but covered with vinyl chloride, an electric field atmosphere is made in the whole cooling box 1.
• An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supercooling which can store food or liquid cooled and stored in a container in a supercooled state.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supercooling which uses a material having a large heat capacity so as to store food or liquid stored in a container at a temperature below zero.
• Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supercooling in which a material having a large heat capacity for storing food or liquid at a constant temperature directly or indirectly exchanges heat with an evaporator.
• an apparatus for supercooling comprising: a storage space divided into a relatively high temperature region and a relatively low temperature region; a filling material formed of a material having a large heat capacity for filling the relatively low temperature region; and an evaporator for maintaining the filling material at a low temperature by exchanging heat with the filling material.
• the evaporator and the filling material directly exchange heat by conduction.
• the evaporator and the filling material indirectly exchange heat by convection.
• the apparatus for cooling comprises a blowing fan disposed between the evaporator and the filling material.
• the filling material is an antifreeze solution.
• the filling material is an insulating material.
• an apparatus for supercooling according to the present invention comprising: a main body for storing an antifreeze solution having a temperature below the maximum freezing point of liquid in a lower part and storing air having a temperature above 0 0 C in an upper part; and an evaporator located outside the main body, for exchanging heat with the antifreeze solution.
• the apparatus for supercooling former comprises separation means for preventing direct contact between a container and the antifreeze solution within main body.
• the separation means is made of metal.
• the separation means is made of synthetic resin having an elastic force.
• the separation means comprises insertion grooves for inserting the container.
• the apparatus for supercooling further comprises an antifreeze solution cooling path connected to both sides of the lower part of the main body, and adapted such that the antifreeze solution flows out of one side of the lower part of the main body and flows into the main body through the evaporator.
• the apparatus for supercooling former comprises a valve disposed on the antifreeze solution cooling path, for regulating the inflow and outflow of the antifreeze solution.
• the apparatus for supercooling former comprises a vent hole formed at an upper part of the main body, thr ⁇ jgh which outside air flows in and out.
• outside air maintains the upper part of the container housed in a supercooling chamber at a high temperature, thus preventing freezing of liquid.
• the apparatus for supercooling provided in the present invention may store food or liquid in a supercooled state.
• the apparatus for supercooling provided in the present invention may store food or liquid in a supercooled state at a constant temperature.
• FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an embodiment of a conventional apparatus for thawing and freshness keeping
• FIG. 2 is a circuit view illustrating the circuit configuration of the high voltage generating device
• FIG. 3 is a view showing a process of forrring freezing nuclei in a liquid being cooled
• FIG. 4 is a view showing a process of preventing formation of freezing nuclei applied to the apparatus for supercooling according to the present invention
• Fig. 5 is a graph showing a supercooled state of water according to Fig. 4;
• FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an apparatus for supercooling according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an apparatus for supercooling according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an apparatus for supercooling according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a view showing a process of forrring freezing nuclei in a liquid being cooled.
• a container C accommodating a liquid is cooled in a cooling space S.
• a cooling temperature of the cooling space S is cooled, for example, from an ambient temperature down to 0 0 C (phase transition temperature of water) or below a phase transition temperature of the liquid L.
• a supercooled state of water or liquid L is maintained, for example, below a temperature (-1 to -5°C) of the maximum ice crystal generation zone of water in which a maximum amount of ice crystals is generated or at a cooling temperature below the maximum ice crystal generation zone of liquid L.
• the container C may selectively comprise a lid Ck, and if included, this can prevent direct introduction of cool air of a cooling space or prevent the temperature of the surface of the liquid L or the temperature of the gas Lg above the surface from being cooled by cool air to a certain extent.
• freezing nuclei Fl are formed in the gas Lg or freezing nuclei F2 are formed on the inner wall of the container.
• condensation occurs at a portion where the surface Ls of the liquid L and the inner wall (almost matching to the cooling temperature of the cooling space S), and this condensed liquid L may be formed as freezing nuclei F3 which are ice crystals.
• the freezing nuclei Fl in the gas Lg descend and permeate the liquid L through the surface Ls, the supercooled state of the liquid L is released to cause freezing of the liquid L, thereby releasing the supercooling of the liquid L.
• Fig. 4 is a view showing a process of preventing formation of freezing nuclei applied to the apparatus for supercooling according to the present invention.
• the temperature on the surface Ls of the gas Lg or liquid L is higher than the temperature of the maximum ice crystal generation zone of the liquid L, more preferably, the phase transition temperature of the liquid L. Further, in order to prevent freezing when the surface Ls of the liquid L is brought in contact with the inner wall of the container C, the temperature of the surface Ls of the liquid L is higher than the temperature of the maximum ice crystal generation zone of the liquid L, more preferably, the phase transition temperature of the liquid L.
• Fig. 5 is a graph showing a supercooled state of water according to Fig. 4.
• the graph of Fig. 5 is a temperature graph measured in a state the principle according to Fig. 4 is applied when the liquid L is water.
• line I denotes a cooling temperature curve of the cooling space S
• line II denotes a temperature curve of the gas Lg (air) above or on the water surface in the container C
• line HI denotes a temperature of the outer surface of the container C.
• the temperature of the outer surface of the container C is substantially the same as the temperature of the water in the container C.
• FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an apparatus for supercooling according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• the apparatus for supercooling 100 comprises a casing 110 providing a storage space and an evaporator 120 used for cooling the storage space.
• the casing 110 is made up of a main body 112 and a door 114. The door opens and closes the storage space.
• the main body comprises a layer foamed with an insulating material for insulation.
• a lower part of the main body 112 is provided with a thermostatic cooling unit 116 which is foamed thicker than the other parts.
• An evaporator 120 is installed at one side of the thus thickly-foamed thermostatic cooling unit 116 and exchanges heat with the insulating material of the thermostatic cooling unit 116.
• the insulating material Since the insulating material has a large heat capacity, it can be maintained at a constant temperature below 0 0 C by continuously exchanging heat with the evaporator 120. Further, container insertion grooves 118 for inserting a container 200 are formed at the thermostatic cooling unit 116. The container 200 is inserted into the container insertion grooves 118 so that food or liquid stored in the container 200 can maintain a temperature below 0 0 C while exchanging heat with the insulating material of the thermostatic cooling unit 116. The upper part of the container 200 is projected a pre- deter ⁇ ined height from the thermostatic cooling unit 116.
• the upper part of the container 200 i.e., the upper part of the storage space, is maintained higher than the temperature of the maximun ice crystal generation zone, thus preventing the generation of ice crystals on the food or liquid stored in the container 200.
• the door 114 is not foamed with an insulating material, but the upper part of the storage space is adapted to exchange heat with outside air of an ambient temperature.
• the door 114 is is foamed with an insulating material, and outside air inlet/outlet holes 130 are formed on the door 114 or the top part of the main body 112.
• Fig. 7 is a view illustrating an apparatus for supercooling according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• a construction that the apparatus is is foamed with an insulating material and comprises a casing 110 including a main body 112 and a door 114 and an evaporator 200 and an operating principle are almost similar to those of the first embodiment.
• an explanation of the members overlapping with those of the first embodiment will be o ⁇ itted.
• the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that a thermostatic cooling unit 116 is made of not an insulating material but an antifreeze solution, and the antifreeze solution cools food or liquid stored in a container 200 by directly exchanging heat with an evaporator (not shown).
• separation means 119 for separating the antifreeze solution and the container 200 is provided.
• the separation means 119 may be formed of a metal having good thermal conductivity in order to make a heat exchange between the container 200 and the antifreeze solution easier.
• the separation means 119 is made of a metal having an elastic force so that the size and shape of the container insertion grooves 118 may be varied according to the size and shape of the container 200, thus increasing the contact with the container 200 and improving the performance of heat exchange with the antifreeze solution.
• an antifreeze solution cooling path 117 which discharges the antifreeze solution from the thermostatic cooling unit 116 and guides it to the evaporator (not shown) so as to allow the antifreeze solution filling the thermostatic cooling unit 116 to exchange heat with the evaporator (not shown), and introduces the antifreeze solution heat-exchanged with the evaporator (not shown) again into the thermostatic cooling unit 116.
• the antifreeze solution cooling path 117 is preferably formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity, such as a copper pipe, in order to increase the efficiency of heat exchange with the evaporator (not shown).
• FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an apparatus for supercooling according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
• the apparatus for supercooling 100 has a freezing chamber 140 maintained at a temperature below 0 0 C and a refrigerating chamber 150 maintained at a low temperature that are formed at one side.
• the outer appearance of the apparatus for supercooling 100 and a partition between the freezing chamber 140 and the refrigerating chamber 150 are foamed with an insulating material.
• an insulating material is foamed thicker than the other parts, and a thermostatic cooling unit 146 with container insertion grooves 148 for inserting a container 200 is provided.
• an evaporator 120 is located at the rear side of the thermostatic cooling unit 146.
• the evaporator 120 may perform heat exchange by conduction while contacting the thermostatic cooling unit 146, or may perform heat exchange by convection by installing a blowing fan (not shown) between the evaporator 120 and the thermostatic cooling unit 146 and blowing cool air heat- exchanged with the evaporator 120 to the thermostatic cooling unit 146.
• a blowing fan not shown
• the thermostatic cooling unit 146 has a heating apparatus 142 such as a heat generating wire right above the thermostatic cooling unit 146.
• the heating apparatus 142 prevents the formation of ice crystals on the food or liquid stored in the container 200 by heating the upper part of the container 200 exposed to the upper part of the thermostatic cooling unit 146. As a result, the food or liquid stored in the container 200 can be stored in a supercooled state without being frozen.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=40468641

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 2007
  • 2007-09-21 KR KR1020070096895A patent/KR20090031066A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2008
  • 2008-09-22 WO PCT/KR2008/005614 patent/WO2009038423A2/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events