Patent Application
20170219284
This disclosure relates to the field of heat and mass transfer. More particularly, this disclosure relates to drying, heating, cooling, curing, sintering, and cleaning with the assistance of acoustics.
It has been observed that the majority of energy intensive processes are driven by the rates of the heat and mass transfer. Specific details of a particular application, such as the chemistry involved in drying a material, the temperature and specific properties of the material, the ambient conditions, the resulting water or solvent evaporation rates, and other factors affect the outcome of any drying and/or heating process. These factors also often dictate the speed of the process, which is sometimes critical, and the nature and size of the drying equipment.
The properties of the boundary layer formed next to the surface along which a fluid moves dictate the heat transfer rate at the surface and therefore the drying rate at the surface. Because of the effect of the boundary layer on the heat transfer rate, it can be argued—as Incropera/DeWitt do in their textbook “Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer”—that heat transfer rates are higher for turbulent flow at a surface than for laminar flow at that surface. In modern heat and mass transfer practice, there are several methods to disrupt the boundary layer in order to produce more turbulent flow and therefore more heat transfer
One method of disrupting the boundary layer, in order to increase the heat transfer rate or for any other purpose, and therefore the drying rate of a wet surface, is to focus acoustic sound waves or oscillations such as ultrasonic waves or oscillations—and also heated air in various embodiments—at the surface of the material or coating being dried as shown in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010-0199510 to Plavnik, published Dec. 12, 2010, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,068,775 on Jun. 30, 2015, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. This aforementioned publication disclosed one method of drying with the assistance of an intense high frequency linear acoustic field.
Disclosed is an acoustic energy-transfer apparatus including: an acoustic chest, the acoustic chest defining an inner chamber sized to receive a material to be processed; and an acoustic device positioned within the acoustic chest and oriented to direct acoustic energy towards the material to be processed.
Also disclosed is a method for drying a material, the method including: positioning a material in an acoustic chest including an acoustic device; and directing acoustically energized air from the acoustic device at the material within the acoustic chest.
Also disclosed is an acoustic energy-transfer system comprising: an acoustic chest arranged circumferentially around a container configured to receive a material to be processed; and an ultrasonic transducer arranged circumferentially inside the acoustic chest, the ultrasonic transducer defining an acoustic slot extending through the ultrasonic transducer, the acoustic slot angled with respect to a central axis of the acoustic chest.
Also disclosed is an acoustic energy-transfer system comprising: a container; and an acoustic chest positioned inside the container and comprising an ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer defining an acoustic slot configured to direct acoustically energized air toward a circumference of a circulation path of a material being processed.
Also disclosed is a method for processing a material using an acoustic energy-transfer system, the method comprising: forcing inlet air through an acoustic slot of an ultrasonic transducer positioned inside an acoustic chest, the acoustic chest and the ultrasonic transducer arranged circumferentially around a container, the acoustic slot of the ultrasonic transducer defined extending through the ultrasonic transducer, the acoustic slot angled with respect to a central axis of the container; directing acoustically energized air from the ultrasonic transducer at the material; and transporting the material through the container.
Disclosed are various systems and methods related to drying, heating, cooling, and cleaning with the assistance of acoustics. Various implementations described in the present disclosure may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.
The features and components of the following figures are illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present disclosure. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures may be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity.
Disclosed are systems that can heat, cool and dry and associated methods, systems, devices, and various apparatus. In various embodiments, these systems include an acoustic dryer. It would be understood by one of skill in the art that the disclosed systems and methods described in but a few exemplary embodiments among many. No particular terminology or description should be considered limiting on the disclosure or the scope of any claims issuing therefrom.
Specifically disclosed are acoustic energy-transfer systems that can dry, heat, cool (including rapidly chill), heat and dry, cool and dry, cure, clean, mix, or otherwise process both continuous and discontinuous materials. An acoustic energy-transfer system that can process a material by drying, curing, cleaning, heating, cooling (including rapidly chilling), sintering, heating and drying, or cooling and drying the material should not be limiting on the current disclosure, however, as additional variations of these processes and combinations of these processes may be used in various embodiments to process the material. Continuous materials include, but are not limited to, such materials as films, coatings, and sheets. Discontinuous materials include, but are not limited to, food and non-food products such as vegetables, meats, fruits, powders, pellets, and granules. The disclosed systems are adaptable to a wide range of processes also including, but not limited to, chilling, flash freezing, freeze-drying, and other drying. In various embodiments, curing a material such as a food material includes preserving the material by drying, smoking, or salting the material.
An energy-transfer apparatus or system such as any one of the acoustic energy-transfer apparatuses or systems disclosed herein need not result in a processed material gaining or losing heat overall for heat-transfer to occur at some level in the process. In various embodiments, energy added in one step of a process may be removed in another process or the energy added to the material may be in a different form than the energy removed from the material—with various energy forms including, but not limited to, acoustic or sound energy, thermal energy, kinetic energy, chemical energy, and electrical energy). An energy-transfer system simply involves the transfer of energy at some point during the overall process, and an acoustic energy-transfer system simply includes the use of acoustic energy to facilitate the process. An apparatus can be any portion of such a system.
Acoustic fields may be used to dry, cool, heat, or even vibrate various materials so as to loosen, mix, or clean the materials. While it is known that acoustic fields can increase thermal transfer, it has been found, surprisingly, that when an object is subjected to chilled acoustic air at the appropriate frequency and intensity, not only is the surface of the object cooled, but rapid cooling is effected throughout the volume of the object. The cooling observed in the bulk of the object appears to be more rapid than would be expected by conventional methods of transferring heat from the object. In various embodiments, an acoustic energy-transfer apparatus or a portion thereof described herein as a dryer is not limited to simply drying the material but may be used to process the material in one or more of the other ways described herein.
In various embodiments, acoustically energized air is air in which acoustic oscillations have been induced. Like sound waves generally, acoustically energized air, in various embodiments, defines an oscillating pressure pattern in which the pressure varies over time and distance. Non-acoustically-energized air will typically have no oscillating pressure pattern but rather will define a constant pressure that may increase or decrease over time and distance but will not oscillate. In various embodiments, an acoustic device defines an acoustic slot from which the acoustically energized air is discharged or directed towards a material to be processed. In various embodiments, acoustically energized material is a material in which acoustic oscillations or vibrations have been induced by acoustically energized air. In various embodiments, acoustically energized material is a material in a fluid such as air or water, the boundary layer of which adjacent the material is disrupted as a result of acoustically energized air.
In various embodiments, an acoustic device is an ultrasonic transducer. In various embodiments, an ultrasonic transducer may be a pneumatic type or an electric type. In various embodiments, a ultrasonic transducer produces acoustic oscillations in a range beyond human hearing. In various embodiments, an acoustic device may generates acoustic energy at sound levels that are below the ultrasonic range (i.e., sound levels that are typically audible to a human). In various embodiments, the range of acoustic waves audible to a human is between approximately 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, although there is variation between individuals based on their physiological makeup including age and health.
In various embodiments, a system such as any one of the acoustic energy-transfer systems disclosed herein is able to cause axial movement of a material relative to an axial position of the acoustic chest or an acoustic device of the acoustic chest, wherein the acoustic device or acoustic chest may itself be stationary or may be in movement. In various embodiments, a system such as any one of the acoustic energy-transfer systems disclosed herein is able to cause axial movement of an acoustic device relative to an axial position of the material, wherein the material may itself be stationary or may be in movement. In other embodiments, it is not required that the material move relative to an acoustic chest or relative any portion of the system while being processed in order for the material to be dried or processed in any of the other ways disclosed herein. Likewise in various embodiments, it is not required that the acoustic chest or any other portion of the system move relative to the material while being processed in order for the material to be dried or processed in any of the other ways disclosed herein.
In various embodiments, a system such as any one of the acoustic energy-transfer systems disclosed herein is able to cause rotational movement of an acoustic chest or an acoustic device of the acoustic chest relative to a rotational position of the material being processed, wherein the material may itself be stationary or may be in rotational movement. In various embodiments, a system such as any one of the acoustic energy-transfer systems disclosed herein is able to cause axial movement of the material relative to a rotational position of the acoustic device, wherein the acoustic chest or the acoustic device of the acoustic chest may itself be stationary or may be in rotational movement. In other embodiments, it is not required that either the material rotate relative to the acoustic chest or the acoustic device of the acoustic chest while being processed in order for the material to be dried or processed in any of the other ways disclosed herein. Likewise in various embodiments, it is not required that the acoustic chest or any other portion of the system rotate relative to the material while being processed in order for the material to be dried or processed in any of the other ways disclosed herein.
Description of
The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,068,775 to Plavnik may be modified by inserting a heat exchanger between the blower and the acoustic head. This system may also be modified by feeding chilled air into the blower air intake or by inserting a cooling section on the positive pressure line instead of a heater. One embodiment of such a new acoustic energy-transfer system 100 is disclosed in
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
100 acoustic energy-transfer system
101 blower
102 tubing
103 heat exchanger
104 acoustic chest
105 acoustic slot
106 chilled air
107 acoustically energized air
108 object (to be processed)
109 injection port
110 inlet coolant
111 cooling piping
112 air intake
113 air intake filter
114 return coolant
115 air
116 additive
117 ultrasonic transducer
118 conveyor belt
119 transport direction
120 top
121 bottom
122 side
The acoustic energy-transfer system 100 disclosed in
In various embodiments, the acoustic chest 104 is substantially rectangular in shape when viewed facing a top 120 or the bottom 121 of the acoustic chest 104 or when viewed from any of a plurality of sides 122. However, the disclosure of a substantially rectangular shape for the acoustic chest 104 should not be considered limiting on the present disclosure. The heat exchanger 103 can take any one of many different forms and can utilize any one of many different methods of cooling including, but not limited to, air cooling, water cooling, or cooling by a Peltier device. In various embodiments, a cooling medium such as inlet coolant 110 enters the cooling piping 111 of the heat exchanger 103 and exits from the cooling piping 111 of the heat exchanger 103 as return coolant 114. Depending on the method of cooling or processing, a cooling medium through coolant piping 111 can include, but is not limited to, one or more of various liquids or gasses including chilled water, chilled glycol, ammonia and other so-called “natural” refrigerants like propane (R290) with low or no ozone depletion potential (ODP) and low or no global-warming potential (GWP), whether man-made or naturally-occurring, and R-12 or FREON and other chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), or hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. In various embodiments, the cooling piping 111 is formed from a metal such as steel. The disclosure of steel for the cooling piping 111 should not be considered limiting on the current disclosure, however, as in various embodiments the cooling piping 111 is formed from a material other than steel or is even formed from a non-metallic material. The disclosure of cooling piping 111 should also not be considered limiting on the current disclosure, however, as the cooling piping 111 of the heat exchanger 103 could be used to transfer heat into the air identified in the current embodiment as chilled air 106.
In various embodiments, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 117 produce acoustic waves through acoustic slots 105. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic transducers include, but are not limited to, those described in aforementioned US Patent No. 9,068,775 as being part of the HTI Spectra HE™ Ultra drying system. Each ultrasonic transducer 117 is elongated with a constant cross-section over the length of the ultrasonic transducer 117 and mounted in the acoustic slot 105, and each acoustic slot 105 is sized to provide clearance for the acoustically energized air 107 from the corresponding ultrasonic transducer 117. In various other embodiments, the ultrasonic transducers 117 are not elongated or else vary in cross-section over their length, however, and the disclosure of an elongated shape or a constant cross-section for the ultrasonic transducer 117 should not be considered limiting on the present disclosure. In addition, the disclosure of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 117 should not be considered limiting on the present disclosure as a single ultrasonic transducer 117 may be employed in various embodiments. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic transducer or other acoustic device defines the acoustic slot 105 and thus the ultrasonic transducer and acoustic slot are inseparable.
The acoustic energy-transfer system 100 of
In various embodiments, an additive 116 is delivered through an injection port 109 and mixed with the air 115 driven by the blower 101. In various embodiments, the additive 116 may include smoke from a smoke source (e.g., using smoldering wood such as cedar wood) or a smoke flavoring, or a sugar or other material. In various embodiments, the additive 116 can be used to additionally flavor foods that are being dried and/or cooled. In various embodiments, the injection port 109 is positioned before the heat exchanger 103. In various other embodiments, the injection port 109 is positioned at a point in the acoustic energy-transfer system 100 at or after the heat exchanger 103. The additive 116 can be a fluid material that becomes gaseous (i.e., is vaporized) before injection or upon injection into the acoustic energy-transfer system 100.
If water moisture or water mist is injected through the injection port 109, the acoustically energized air 107 breaks up the water particles, partially vaporizing them and creating a fine spray or mist. Because the specific heat capacity of water is greater than that of air, much greater heat transfer is possible. In addition, the water such as the water particles in the acoustically energized air 107 can be used to control the rate of drying and water content of a product such as the objects 108.
The airflow through the blower 101 and the geometry of the acoustic chest 104 can be adjusted so that an intense acoustic field is generated as the acoustically energized air 107 exits the acoustic slot 105. In various embodiments, the intensity of the acoustic field and the specific characteristics of the acoustic waveform are adjustable. Typically, this acoustic field has an acoustic pressure in the range of 150-190 dBA, where dBA is sometimes referred to as an “A-weighted” decibel or acoustic pressure measurement. It has been found that an acoustic field in this range can conservatively increase the cooling rate of an object by a factor of 4 to 8 when compared to chilled air that is not acoustically energized. In various embodiments, however, the acoustic pressure may be outside this range. In various embodiments, the temperature of the chilled air 106 is in the range of +20° C. to −50° C., depending upon the application and the end goals. In various embodiments, however, the temperature of the chilled air 106 may be outside this range.
An increased cooling rate made possible by the disclosed acoustic energy-transfer system 100 makes it possible to flash freeze materials, such as foods, while maintaining structure and nutritional value. It is also possible to very rapidly cool cooked foods, such as processed meats, ham, cheeses, fish, and seafood. It is expected that ice made in an acoustic field has a much smaller crystal size due to both increased seeding because of the acoustics traveling through the material, as well as the more rapid heat removal. Typically, in coatings that do include a phase change material, domain size becomes smaller and more uniform when acoustic drying or acoustic cooling technology is used.
In some instances, a food material needs to be chilled or frozen in a rapid continuous manner, such as in high-volume frozen food production (e.g., production of foods including, but not limited to, frozen peas, and frozen corn). In this case, it can be desirable to freeze the fruits and vegetables in such a way that they are separated from each other and do not clump into a frozen mass. Separating each vegetable piece not only increases thermal freezing efficiency, but also makes the food more desirable to some consumers.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 100 includes the acoustic chest 104, and the acoustic chest 104 further defines the acoustic slot 105 that directs the acoustically energized air 107 towards the objects 108 to be dried, cooled, or heated or otherwise processed. In various embodiments, the object 108 is a granular material that is transported on the conveyor belt 118 past the acoustic chest 104. In various embodiments, the heat exchanger 103 causes the air 115 to transform into the chilled air 106 before the air 115 or the chilled air 106 reaches the acoustic chest 104. In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 100 includes the injection port 109 for infusing the air 115 with the additive 116 such as smoke or other flavorings. In various embodiments not requiring the chilling of the objects 108, the chilled air 106 is replaced with heated air (not shown) by using a heat exchanger 103 to heat the air 115.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 100 dries the objects 108 by positioning at least one ultrasonic transducer 117 a spaced distance from the objects 108, the ultrasonic transducer 117 defined in the bottom 121 of the acoustic chest 104; by forcing the chilled air 106 through the at least one ultrasonic transducer 117; by inducing acoustic oscillations or acoustically energized air 107 in the at least one ultrasonic transducer 117; and by directing the acoustically energized air 107 at the objects 108. In various embodiments, the method of drying the objects 108 further includes chilling the objects 108 by causing the air 115 to become the chilled air 106 before the air 115 or the chilled air 106 reaches the acoustic chest 104. In various embodiments, drying the objects 108 includes infusing the air 115 with an additive 116.
Description of
One way to separate the materials yet maintain high throughput through an acoustic energy-transfer system is through fluidization. In the fluidization process, discrete objects are levitated against the force of gravity by a controlled air stream directed from beneath a mesh conveyer belt. The amount of air is carefully controlled to effect fluidization, while not blasting the materials with such force that they are ejected from the chilling or drying system. One embodiment of such a new acoustic energy-transfer system 200 is disclosed in
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
200 acoustic energy-transfer system
204 acoustic chest
205 acoustic slot
206 inlet air
207 acoustically energized air
208 objects (to be processed)
215 perforated conveyer
216 air inlet
217 ultrasonic transducer
218 transport mechanism
219 transport direction
220 top
In various embodiments, inlet air 206 (shown in
In various embodiments, each ultrasonic transducer 217 is elongated with a constant cross-section over the length of the ultrasonic transducer and is mounted in or itself defines the acoustic slot 205. In various embodiments, each acoustic slot 205 is sized to provide clearance for the acoustically energized air 207 from the corresponding ultrasonic transducer 217. In various other embodiments, the ultrasonic transducers 217 are not elongated or else vary in cross-section over their length, however, and the disclosure of an elongated shape or a constant cross-section for the ultrasonic transducer 217 should not be considered limiting on the present disclosure. In addition, the disclosure of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 217 should not be considered limiting on the present disclosure as a single ultrasonic transducer 217 may be employed in various embodiments.
The disclosure of the inlet air 206 being chilled or heated should not be considered limiting on the current disclosure as in various embodiments the acoustically energized air 207 need not be chilled or heated for heat transfer to take place (e.g., when the inlet air 206 is at any temperature other than an instantaneous temperature of the objects 208 being cooled).
A variety of objects 208 can be cooled, heated, or dried using the systems described herein. The disclosed acoustic energy-transfer system 200 can be used for discontinuous food materials including, but not limited to, peas and raspberries. The disclosed acoustic energy-transfer system 200 can also be used for non-food discontinuous materials such as polymer spheres that may be used for the extruding or molding of polymers such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides such as NYLON, and polylactide (PLA). Use of the disclosed fluidized bed acoustic energy-transfer system 200 with acoustic heat and mass transfer is also useful for the drying of minerals including, but not limited to, gypsum, clays, sands, and limestone.
As the flow of a gas such as the acoustically energized air 207 through a bed of particles such as objects 208 increases, the bed reaches a state where the particles are in “fluid” motion. This occurs when the pressure drop of the gas flowing through the bed equals the gravitational forces of the particles. The onset of this condition is called minimum fluidization.
The Carman-Kozeny equation correlates the various parameters of the particles and the processing parameters with the pressure drop through the bed. It is summarized by equation (1) below.
Where:
ΔP=the pressure drop of the gas through the bed.
g =gravitational constant.
L=the length of the bed.
ε=the void volume of the bed.
μ=the viscosity of the gas.
v=the superficial velocity of the gas through the bed.
D=the diameter of the particle spheres.
k=a constant.
A minimum gas velocity, vm, for fluidization to occur can be obtained from equation (1) by writing a force balance around the bed with the length of L and letting this equal the pressure drop through the bed. When this is completed, and certain assumptions are made on the magnitude of terms, equation (2) is generated.
Where:
ρ=the density of the gas.
ρs=the density of the particle spheres.
The vm term in equation (2) is the minimum gas velocity for the bed to become fluidized and it relates back to the characteristics of the beads and of the fluidizing gas and the void volume of the bed. Beyond the minimum gas velocity, the particles in the bed such as the objects 208 exhibit flow characteristics of ordinary fluids.
The CGS system of units was used in the equation. That is, the units are in centimeters, grams, and seconds. Listed below are the parameters with the appropriate units.
Density (ρ) (=) grams/cm3
Gravitational Constant (g) (=) 981 cm/sec2
Particle Diameter (D) (=) cm
Viscosity (μ) (=) grams/cm·sec.
The constant (k) is dimensionless and has a value of 150.
A void volume, ε, is the fractional volume of the bed that is completely void. A void volume of 0.45 means that 45 percent of the bed volume is empty and 55 percent is solid. A bed having a void volume of 0.90 is 90 percent empty.
A bed typically initially represents a loose packing of spheres representing the objects 208. The void volume for this type of bed is typically 0.45. To determine the point at which a bed begins to fluidize, this void volume value (0.45) is substituted into equation (2) to calculate the minimum gas velocity for bed fluidization.
However, there is also a maximum gas velocity that this bed can sustain prior to disintegration, when the force of a fluid such as the acoustically energized air 207 causes particles to exit the bed and be carried away by the fluid. This maximum gas velocity is determined by calculating the gas velocity term for a bed that has expanded to a void volume of 0.90. In various embodiments, this value (0.90) represents the onset of the bed being physically “blown” away.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 200 includes an acoustic chest 204 further defining an acoustic slot 205 capable of producing acoustically energized air 207 having a minimum gas velocity sufficient to maintain a fluidized bed of the objects 208.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 200 dries the objects 208 by positioning at least one ultrasonic transducer 217 a spaced distance from the objects 208, the ultrasonic transducer 217 included in the acoustic chest 204; by forcing inlet air 206 through the at least one ultrasonic transducer 217; by inducing acoustic oscillations or acoustically energized air 207 in the at least one ultrasonic transducer 217; and by directing the acoustically energized air 207 at the objects 208. In various embodiments, the method of drying or otherwise processing the objects 208 further includes producing acoustically energized air 207 having a minimum gas velocity sufficient to maintain a fluidized bed of the objects 208.
Description of
Another form of an acoustic energy-transfer device is a batch-wise fluidized bed, capable of drying, cooling, heating, or otherwise treating a batch of material. Any discontinuous material including, but not limited to, polymer beads may be dried, heated, or cooled using such a system. One embodiment of such a new batch-drying acoustic energy-transfer system 300 is disclosed in
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
300 acoustic energy-transfer system
303 container
304 acoustic chest
305 acoustic slot
306 inlet air
307 acoustically energized air
308 objects (to be processed)
316 perforated base
317 ultrasonic transducer
318 container wall
319 fluidizing air
320 circulation path (of objects being dried or cooled).
321 exiting air (i.e., air leaving container)
322 top
Acoustic air can also be used to convey objects, such as particles of material, fibers, particles of food, dust, and so forth. In this way, the acoustically energized air dries and heats, driess and cools, or otherwise processes the objects by any one of the other processes disclosed herein as the acoustic energy-transfer system 300 conveys the objects.
In various embodiments, inlet air 306 is supplied to each acoustic chest 304 by air inlets (not shown) in each acoustic chest 304. In various embodiments, the inlet air 306 is chilled but the disclosure of chilled air for the inlet air 306 should not be considered limiting on the current disclosure. Within each of a plurality of acoustic slots 305 as shown in
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 300 includes an acoustic chest 304 further defining a plurality of acoustic slots 305 capable of producing acoustically energized air 307 for batch drying of the objects 308. In various embodiments, fluidizing air 319 causes the objects 308 to become suspended inside the container 303 during the drying process.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 300 dries the objects 308 by positioning at least one ultrasonic transducer 317 a spaced distance from the objects 308, the ultrasonic transducer 317 included in the acoustic chest 304; by forcing inlet air 306 through the at least one ultrasonic transducer 317; by inducing acoustic oscillations or acoustically energized air 307 in the at least one ultrasonic transducer 317; and by directing the acoustically energized air 307 at the objects 308. In various embodiments, the method of drying the objects 308 further includes producing acoustically energized air 307 having a minimum gas velocity sufficient to suspend the objects 308 inside the container 303.
Description of
A cylindrically shaped or tubular dryer or “ring chiller” can enable the drying or cooling or other processing of a wide variety of materials. For example, such a dryer can be used for rapid chilling (also known as quenching) of film as it is being blown or for chilling extruded plastic parts or blow-molded objects. It is well known that the quenching rate impacts the microstructure of a polymer, providing different properties when compared to a film that was allowed to cool at a slower rate. The ring chiller can be vertical or horizontal or any angle in between. One embodiment of such an acoustic energy-transfer system 400 is disclosed in
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
400 acoustic energy-transfer system
401 dryer
403 container
404 acoustic chest
405 acoustic slot
406 inlet air
407 acoustically energized air
408 objects (to be processed)
410 central axis
416 air inlet
417 ultrasonic transducer
418 container wall
419 transport direction
421 material inlet
422 material outlet
423 inner chamber
In various embodiments, each air inlet 416 is connected to and delivers inlet air 406 through an axial end of an acoustic chest 404 at the top of each acoustic chest 404. The disclosure of an air inlet 416 that is connected to and delivers air through an axial end of an acoustic chest 404 at the top of each acoustic chest 404 should not be considering limiting, however. In various embodiments, one or more air inlets 416 may be connected to a portion of the acoustic chest 404 that is not an axial end of the acoustic chest. In addition, the air inlet 416 may deliver air to multiple portions of the acoustic chest 404 and may do so simultaneously. In various embodiments, a material 408—which can also be described as objects—are transported through an inner chamber 423 defined by a container wall 418 of the container 403. The material 408 may be transported from a material inlet 421 of the container 403 to a material outlet 422 distal the material inlet 421 in a transport direction 419, or the material 408 may be transported in an opposite direction.
The disclosure of acoustic slots 405 extending around the full circumference of the dryer 401 and the disclosure of multiple acoustic slots 405, however, should not be considered limiting. In various embodiments, the acoustic slots 405 extend a distance less the full circumference of the dryer 401, and in various embodiments a single acoustic slot 405 may be used. In various embodiments, one or more ultrasonic transducers 417 at least partly share a common structure. In various embodiments, each of the ultrasonic transducers 417 is formed into the shape of an annular ring. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic transducers 417 are formed together into a single ultrasonic transducer fitting, an axial end of which can receive a container 403, which in various embodiments includes a separate segment or section between each acoustic chest 404. In various embodiments, the container 403, when broken into separate segments or sections, incorporates a stop feature (not shown) on each end to prevent the container 403 from being inserted into the acoustic chest 404 so far that it blocks an acoustic slot 405. The stop feature may include, but is not limited to, a plurality of dimples around the circumference of the container 403, a mechanically formed flange around the circumference of the container 403, or a rabbeted or stepped outer edge (not shown) around the circumference of the axially outermost ultrasonic transducer or transducers. In various embodiments, the container 403 is a single part and incorporates clearances slots for acoustically energized air 407.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 400 includes at least one acoustic chest 404 further defining an acoustic slot 405 capable of producing acoustically energized air 407 for drying of the material 408, wherein the material 408 is enclosed within an inner chamber of the acoustic chest 404 and wherein the acoustic slot 405 is defined in a plane oblique to a central axis of the acoustic chest 404 in a cylindrically shaped inner chamber 423 of the acoustic chest 404.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 400 dries the material 408 by positioning at least one ultrasonic transducer 417 a spaced distance from the material 408, the ultrasonic transducer 417 included in the acoustic chest 404; by forcing the inlet air 406 through the at least one ultrasonic transducer 417; by inducing acoustic oscillations or acoustically energized air 407 in the at least one ultrasonic transducer 417; and by directing the acoustically energized air 407 at the material 408. In various embodiments, the method of drying the material 408 further includes transporting the material 408 through an inner chamber 423 of the dryer 401.
Description of
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
500 acoustic energy-transfer system
501 dryer
504 acoustic chest
505 acoustic slot
506 inlet air
507 acoustically energized air
508 objects (to be dried or cooled)
516 air inlet
517 ultrasonic transducer
519 transport direction
521 material inlet
522 material outlet
In various embodiments, objects 508 to be heated or cooled and in various embodiments dried are placed in the stream of acoustically energized air 507a of the first acoustic slot 505a. The acoustically energized air 507a either heats or cools and dries or otherwise processes and propels the objects 508 away from the first acoustic slot 505a. The first acoustic slot 505a directs the objects 508 close to the acoustically energized air 507b exiting the second acoustic slot 505b, into a zone of high acoustic intensity, where the objects 508 are further heated or cooled and dried. The objects are then propelled further through the dryer 501 and into the path of the acoustically energized air 507c exiting the third acoustic jet or acoustic slot 505c, close to the exit nozzle of the acoustic slot 505c, where the acoustic field is most intense. The acoustically energized air 507c exiting the third acoustic nozzle again propels the objects 508 towards the fourth acoustic nozzle jet or acoustic slot 505d, while heating or cooling and or drying it, and so on. In various embodiments, the strength or intensity of the acoustic field is constant or decreases as the materials pass by each acoustic jet or acoustic slot 505. In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 500 of
In various embodiments, an air nozzle (not shown) is positioned on a face of the acoustic chest 504a, 504b that is opposite the face in which one of the ultrasonic transducers 517 is installed. In various embodiments, the air nozzle discharges acoustically energized air (not shown). In various other embodiments, the air nozzle discharges air that is not acoustically energized. In various embodiments, the air nozzles positioned opposite the ultrasonic transducers 517 permit additional adjustment of the velocity of the objects 508 being dried through the acoustic energy-transfer system 500 and permit additional adjustment of the energy transfer achieved during the process.
Materials that can be dried, flash frozen, or heated include foods including, but not limited to, fruits and vegetables and also cereals such as those including, but not limited to, rice, corn, wheat, barley, and soy beans. Other materials that can be processed using the disclosed acoustic energy-transfer system 500 include processed foods including, but not limited to, freeze dried milk, pelletized foods, animal feed, flaked fish; starches including, but not limited to, corn starch, flour, potato starch; and food additives including, but not limited to, xanthan gum. Minerals and inorganic materials can also be dried using the acoustic energy-transfer system 500, such as gypsum, limestone, clays, talk, sodium bicarbonate, and other materials. One advantage of this type of system is the ability to dry materials at low temperature. Sodium bicarbonate, for example, is a thermally unstable material that releases carbon dioxide and water to form sodium carbonate if heated. Drying materials at low temperature can be counterintuitive because heat transfer rate generally decreases at temperature decreases, all other variables being equal. Evaporation using many conventional methods, for example, would require heat in order to supply the energy necessary for the water to change from a liquid phase to a vapor or gas phase.
Organic materials, such as pharmaceutical actives, food supplements, vitamins, and so forth may also be thermally unstable, producing unwanted decomposition products, if heated for too long or at too high temperatures. Such materials may benefit from the ability to be dried rapidly at low temperature, hence avoiding decomposition.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 500 includes at least one acoustic chest 504 further defining an acoustic slot 505 capable of producing acoustically energized air 507 for drying and in some embodiments also transporting the objects 508. In various embodiments, the at least one acoustic chest 504 includes one or more stepped sections.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 500 dries the objects 508 by positioning at least one ultrasonic transducer 517 a spaced distance from the objects 508, the ultrasonic transducer 517 included in the acoustic chest 504; by forcing inlet air 506 through the at least one ultrasonic transducer 517; by inducing acoustic oscillations or acoustically energized air 507 in the at least one ultrasonic transducer 517; and by directing the acoustically energized air 507 at the objects 508. In various embodiments, the method of drying the objects 508 further includes producing acoustically energized air 507 having a minimum gas velocity sufficient to propel the objects 508 through the dryer 501.
Description of
Because it is believed that high-intensity acoustic fields increase heat and mass transfer by diminishing or mixing the boundary layer, the acoustic nozzles of the current disclosure can be coupled with cooling water baths to increase the rate of cooling and quenching in water-based cooling processes. Such water-based cooling processes include, but are not limited to, those processes used in polymer extrusion, the drawing of metal rods, and so forth. Such an acoustic energy-transfer system 600 is shown in
Similarly, with a reduction in the boundary layer, material exchange from the surface of a material into the bulk liquid phase is accelerated. In this way, an acoustically charged water bath may be used to enhance washing, as well as to accelerate water treatment processes such as the dyeing and finishing of fabrics.
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
600 acoustic energy-transfer system
602 water bath
603 container
604 acoustic chest
605 acoustic slot
606 inlet air
607 acoustically energized air
616 air inlet
617 ultrasonic transducer
618 container wall
620 transport mechanism
623 material (to be cooled)
624 coolant liquid
625 idler roller
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 600 includes an acoustic chest 604 further defining an acoustic slot 605 capable of producing acoustically energized air 607; a water bath 602 including a coolant liquid 624 for receiving and enclosing the material 608, wherein the acoustically energized air 607 is directed towards the material 608 while the material 608 is submerged inside the coolant liquid 624.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 600 dries the material 608 by positioning at least one ultrasonic transducer 617 a spaced distance from the material 608, the ultrasonic transducer 617 included in the acoustic chest 604; by forcing inlet air 606 through the at least one ultrasonic transducer 617; by inducing acoustic oscillations or acoustically energized air 607 in the at least one ultrasonic transducer 617; and by directing the acoustically energized air 607 at the material 608. In various embodiments, the method of drying the material 608 further includes directing the acoustically energized air 607 at the material 608 while the material 608 is submerged inside the coolant liquid 624.
Description of
Instead of directly energizing the cooling fluid, the bath may be energized with acoustic energy by acoustically energized air directly impinging on a water bath container, as shown in
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
700 acoustic energy-transfer system
702 water bath
703 container
704 acoustic chest
705 acoustic slot
706 inlet air
707 acoustically energized air
716 air inlet
717 ultrasonic transducer
718 container wall
720 transport mechanism
723 material (to be cooled)
724 coolant liquid
725 idler rollers
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 700 includes an acoustic chest 704 further defining at least one acoustic slot 705 capable of producing acoustically energized air 707; a water bath 702 including a coolant liquid 724 for receiving and enclosing the material 708, wherein the acoustically energized air 707 is directed towards the material 708 from below the water bath 702 while the material 708 in submerged inside the coolant liquid 724.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 700 dries the material 708 by positioning at least one ultrasonic transducer 717 a spaced distance from the material 708, the ultrasonic transducer 717 included in the acoustic chest 704; by forcing inlet air 706 through the at least one ultrasonic transducer 717; by inducing acoustic oscillations or acoustically energized air 707 in the at least one ultrasonic transducer 717; and by directing the acoustically energized air 707 at the material 708. In various embodiments, the method of drying the material 708 further includes directing the acoustically energized air 707 at the material 708 from below the water bath 702 while the material 708 is submerged inside the coolant liquid 724.
Description of
The secondary mixing due to the presence of intense acoustic fields is useful for mixing fluids of very different viscosities and rheologies (alternately, rheometries). For instance, despite being water dispersible, tomato ketchup is difficult to rinse off of plates without some kind of agitation. Properties such as these may prove problematic for cleaning in the food manufacturing industry. Long pipes used to transport thick materials, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, chocolate, sauces etc., need to be cleaned periodically.
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
800 acoustic energy-transfer system
801 cleaning device
803 pipe
804 acoustic chest
805 acoustic slot
806 inlet air
807 acoustically energized air
816 air inlet
817 ultrasonic transducer
825 exterior surface (of tube)
826 interior surface (of tube)
827 slider mechanism (to reposition the acoustic chest along the pipe)
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 800 includes at least one acoustic chest 804 further defining at least one acoustic slot 805 capable of producing acoustically energized air 807; a slider mechanism 827 for repositioning the acoustic chest 804 along a pipe 803, wherein the acoustically energized air 807 is directed towards the exterior surface 825 of the pipe 803 to clean the interior surface 826 of the pipe 803.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 800 cleans the pipe 803 by positioning at least one ultrasonic transducer 817 adjacent an exterior surface 825 of the pipe 803, the ultrasonic transducer 817 included in the acoustic chest 804; by forcing inlet air 806 through the at least one ultrasonic transducer 817; by inducing acoustic oscillations or acoustically energized air 807 in the at least one ultrasonic transducer 817; and by directing the acoustically energized air 807 at the exterior surface 825 of the pipe 803. In various embodiments, the method of cleaning the pipe 803 further includes injecting an interior of the pipe 803 with a cleaning solution.
Description of
In another embodiment, as shown in
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
900 acoustic energy-transfer system
901 dryer
904 acoustic chest
905 acoustic slot
906 inlet air
907 acoustically energized air
908 material (to be dried or cooled)
910 central axis
916 air inlet
917 ultrasonic transducer
918 container wall
919 transport direction
920 outer surface
921 material inlet
922 material outlet
923 inner chamber
In various embodiments, the air inlet 916 delivers inlet air 906 to the acoustic chest 904 in the location shown. In various other embodiments, the air inlet 916 may deliver inlet air 906 to multiple portions of the acoustic chest 904 and may do so simultaneously. In various embodiments, the material 908 to be cooled is transported through an inner chamber 923 defined by a chamber wall 918 of the acoustic chest 904. The material 908 may be transported from a material inlet 921 of the dryer 901 to a material outlet 922 distal the material inlet 921 in a transport direction 919, or the material 908 may be transported in an direction opposite the transport direction 919.
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
In various embodiments, the acoustic chest 1004 includes a body 1110, an inlet tube 1120, and end plates 1130,1140. In various embodiments, the body 1110, the inlet tube 1120, and the end plates 1130, 1140 define a container wall 1018, an outer surface 1111, an inner surface 1112 (shown in
The inlet guard 1040 may in various embodiments be assembled to the end plate 1130 by a plurality of fasteners 1290 installed in a plurality of through holes (not shown) of the inlet guard 1040 defined in a plurality of tabs 1250a,b,c (1250b shown in
In various embodiments, the rotating drive mechanism 1030 also includes a wheel 1730 attached to the drive shaft 1740 and a grip 1735 attached to the wheel 1730. The disclosure of an acoustic energy-transfer system 1000 containing a chain 1720 and sprockets for the rotating drive mechanism 1030 should not be considering limiting on the current disclosure, however, as one may employ other means of rotating the acoustic head 1600 including, but not limited to, a belt and pulleys, a gearbox, and any one of a number of other systems for transmitting rotational movement. The disclosure of an acoustic energy-transfer system 1000 containing the wheel 1730 and the grip 1735 for supplying power to the rotating drive mechanism 1030 should not be considering limiting on the current disclosure, however, as one may employ other means of supplying power to the drive shaft including, but not limited to, a motor including a single-speed or a variable-speed motor, an engine, and any one of a number of other systems for providing power. In various embodiments, the rotating drive mechanism 1030 may include idler gears or rollers and may include a system for varying the speed by methods including, but not limited to, mechanical derailleurs and electronic motor control.
In various embodiments, each of a pair of end caps 1810 includes a pair of attachment holes (not shown), through which a pair of fasteners (not shown) may be used to cover or close a gap G1 between each pair of transducer bars 2200 of each ultrasonic transducer 1017 and to maintain the desired spacing therebetween. In various embodiments, the gap G1 is constant along the entire length of each ultrasonic transducer 1017. In various other embodiments, the gap G1 widens or narrows or varies in a non-linear fashion along the length of each ultrasonic transducer 1017 to produce acoustically energized air 1007 (shown in
In the area of the transducer mount 2100 where the ultrasonic transducers 1017 are attached, the transducer mount 2100 defines a substantially hexagonal cross-section. Axially beyond the area of the transducer mount 2100 having a substantially hexagonal cross-section and proximate a pair of ends 1905a,b, the transducer mount includes a pair of shaft end fittings 1925a,b. In various embodiments, the shaft end fittings 1925a,b include a pair of shoulder portions 1915a,b, respectively, each having a circular cross-section. Extending from the shoulder portion 1915a of the transducer mount 2100 towards the end 1905a is a bearing portion 1920a, which itself has a substantially circular cross-section. Extending from the shoulder portion 1915b of the transducer mount 2100 towards the end 1905b is a bearing portion 1920b, which itself also has a substantially circular cross-section. In various embodiments, an outer diameter of each of the shoulders portions 1915a,b is greater than an outer diameter of each of the bearing portions 1920a,b.
In various embodiments, the shaft end fittings 1925a,b include shaft bushings 1930a,b, respectively (1930b shown in
In various embodiments, each of the end plates 1130,1140 includes one of a pair of plate bushings 2310a,b, respectively (2310b not shown). In various embodiments, the plate bushings 2310a,b fit within the bores 1135a,b, respectively (1135b not shown). In various embodiments, the plate bushings 2310a,b are fabricated from brass and are assembled in the bores 1135a,b, respectively, with a press-fit connection. The disclosure of brass for the plate bushings 2310a,b and the disclosure of a press-fit connection, however, should not be considered limiting on the current disclosure.
In various embodiments, the bearing portion 1920a includes an outer sleeve 2320a, and the bearing portion 1920b (shown in
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 1000 includes the acoustic chest 1004, the acoustic chest 1004 defining a substantially enclosed cross-section and able to receive a material 1008 to be dried, cooled, or heated; and an acoustic slot 1005 defined within the acoustic chest 1004. In various embodiments, the acoustic chest 1004 defines a cylindrical cross-section. In various embodiments, the acoustic slot 1005 faces radially inward. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic transducer 1017 defines the acoustic slot 1005. In various embodiments, each of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 1017 defines an acoustic slot 1005. In various embodiments, each of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 1017 faces a central axis 1010 of a cylindrical cross-section of the acoustic chest 1004. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic transducer 1017 is assembled to the acoustic head 1600, the acoustic head 1600 rotatable about the central axis 1010 of the acoustic chest 1004. In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 1000 further includes a drive mechanism for transporting the material 1008 through the dryer 1001 or the rotating drive mechanism 1030 for rotating the acoustic head 1600 about the material 1008, the rotating drive mechanism 1030 coupled to the acoustic head 1600 to rotate the acoustic head 1600 about the central axis 1010 of the acoustic chest 1004. In various embodiments, the central axis 1010 is a central axis of the acoustic head 1600. In various embodiments, an acoustic chest may have a central axis (not shown) that is not coincident with a central axis of the acoustic head 1600.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 1000 includes the acoustic chest 1004; the ultrasonic transducer 1017 enclosed within the acoustic chest 1004; and the inner chamber 1023, the material 1008 receivable within the inner chamber 1023. In various embodiments, the acoustic chest 1004 defines a cylindrical cross-section. In various embodiments, an inner surface of the inner chamber 1023 defines a polygonal cross-section. In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 1000 further includes the material 1008, the material 1008 enclosed within the inner chamber 1023. In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 1000 further includes the material support 1028 sized to receive and enclose the material 1008. In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 1000 further includes the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 1017, each ultrasonic transducer 1017 defining the acoustic slot 1005. In various embodiments, the inner chamber 1023 defines an inner diameter (not shown) measuring 1.63 inches (4.14 cm). The disclosure of any particular measurement for the inner diameter of the inner chamber 1023 should not be considered limiting on the current disclosure, however, as the inner diameter of the inner chamber 1023 may be less than or greater than 1.63 inches. In various embodiments, a spaced distance between one or more acoustic slots 1005 and the material 1008 is selected such that an amplitude of the acoustic oscillations at the center of the material 1008 or at the surface of the material 1008 is maximized (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 9,068,775 to Plavnik).
In various embodiments, a method for drying the material 1008 includes: positioning an ultrasonic transducer 1017 a spaced distance from the material 1008, the ultrasonic transducer 1017 defined in the inner chamber 1023 of the acoustic chest 1004 and the material 1008 enclosed within the acoustic chest 1004; forcing the inlet air 1006 through the ultrasonic transducer 1017; inducing acoustic oscillations in the ultrasonic transducer 1017 to produce the acoustically energized air 1007; and directing the acoustically energized air 1007 towards the material 1008. In various embodiments, the method includes rotating the ultrasonic transducer 1017 about the material 1008. In various embodiments, the method includes positioning each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 1017 a spaced distance from the material 1008, each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 1017 spaced a substantially equal distance from the material 1008. In various embodiments, the method further includes transporting the material 1008 through the inner chamber 1023 of the acoustic chest 1004. In various embodiments, the method further includes supporting the material 1008 with the material support 1028, the material 1008 enclosed within the material support 1028. In various embodiments, the material support 1028 is perforated.
Description of
In another embodiment, as shown in
Disclosed below is a list of the systems, components, or features or components shown in
2400 acoustic energy-transfer system
2401 dryer
2404 acoustic chest
2405 acoustic slot
2406 inlet air
2407 acoustically energized air
2408 material (to be dried)
2410 central axis
2416 air inlet
2417 ultrasonic transducer
2418 container wall
2420 inlet tube
2421 outer surface
2423 inner chamber
2424 outer wall
2425 inner wall
2426 lower wall
2428 material support
2429 dryer support
2430 material support frame
2440 acoustic chest support frame
2445 support rim
2510 vertical axis
Θ rotation angle
In various embodiments, the air inlet 2416 delivers inlet air 2406 to the acoustic chest 2404 in the location shown at the top of the acoustic chest 2404. In various other embodiments, the air inlet 2416 may deliver air to multiple portions of the acoustic chest 2404 and may do so simultaneously. In various embodiments, the material 2408 to be cooled is transported through an inner chamber 2423 defined by a chamber wall 2418 of the acoustic chest 2404. The material 2408 may be transported from a material inlet (not shown) of the dryer 2401 to a material outlet (not shown) distal the material inlet in one transport direction parallel to the central axis 2410, or the material 2408 may be transported in an opposite direction. The material 2408 may also be transported along a conveyor (not shown) traveling along an upper surface of the material support frame 2430 or replacing the material support frame 2430. In various embodiments, the dryer 2401 also includes a material support 2428, which may be identical to the material support 1028 in various embodiments and which performs the function of supporting and maintaining the position of the material 2408. In various embodiments, the dryer 2401 includes a plurality of material supports 2428. The material supports 2428 may be attached to a material support frame 2430, which supports and maintains the position of the material supports 2428. In various embodiments, the material support frame 2430 is semicircular in shape to match the semicircular shape of the inner chamber 2423 and thus maintain the inner chamber 2423 a constant distance from the materials 2408.
In various embodiments, the material support 2428 is constant in cross-section and defines an inlet, an outlet, an outer surface, an inner surface, an inner diameter, and a length (none shown) sized to receive a variety of materials to be dried and cooled or heated such as the material 2408. In various embodiments, the material support 2428 resembles a pipe or tube as shown and has a cylindrical or other polygonal cross-section. The material support 2428 is a pre-punched spiral-wound and spiral-welded pipe with a seam (not shown) in the current embodiment. The material support 2428, however, may be formed or fabricated from any one or more of a variety of methods including, but not limited to, spiral winding and welding from plate, rolling and welding from plate, extruding, casting, and molding. The material support 2428 is fabricated from stainless steel in the current embodiment. The material support 2428, however, may be formed or fabricated from any one or more of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, steel including grades other than stainless steel, other metals, ceramics, polymers, or paper.
The material support 2428 defines a plurality of holes (not shown), which are circular in the current embodiment and facilitate passage of the acoustically energized air 2407 to any material 2408 enclosed within the material support 2428. The disclosure of a plurality of holes, which are circular in shape, should not be considered limiting on the current disclosure, however, as the material support 2428 may define openings that differ in shape from the holes that are shown. In various embodiments, the material support 2428 is able to not only support the weight of whatever material is enclosed thereby and dried by the dryer 2401, but the material support 2428 is also able to withstand the temperature extremes, the abrasion loads, and other stresses encountered during operation of the dryer 2401. In various embodiments the inlet or the outlet or both are cone shaped or fit with rollers to guide the material 2408 into the material support 2428. In various embodiments, the inner surface or the outer surface is fabricated in a way that eliminates any burrs or other impediments to the smooth movement of the material 2408 inside the material support 2428 during either loading of the material 2408 or during drying of loaded material 2408.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 2400 includes the dryer 2401 including the acoustic chest 2404 enclosing within the inner chamber 2423 the material 2408 to be dried, cooled, or heated. In various embodiments, the acoustic chest further defines an acoustic slot 2405 enclosed within the acoustic chest 2404. In various embodiments, the acoustic chest 2404 oscillates about a central axis 2410.
In various embodiments, the acoustic energy-transfer system 2400 dries the material 2408 by positioning at least one ultrasonic transducer 2417 a spaced distance from a material 2408, the ultrasonic transducer 2417 defined in an inner chamber 2423 of the acoustic chest 2404 and the material 2408 enclosed within the acoustic chest 2404; by forcing inlet air 2406 through the at least one ultrasonic transducer 2417; by inducing acoustic oscillations or acoustically energized air 2407 in the at least one ultrasonic transducer 2417; and by directing the acoustically energized air 2407 at the material 2408. In various embodiments, the method of drying the material 2408 further includes causing the acoustic chest 2404 to oscillate about a central axis and about the material 2408.
In various embodiments, one or more structural components of the systems described herein are fabricated from an aluminum alloy material and one or more of the bushings or sleeves described herein are fabricated from a brass or stainless steel material. In various embodiments, mating parts such as the plate bushing 2310 and the outer sleeve 2320 are made from dissimilar materials to reduce or eliminate the risk of seizing of parts at high temperatures due to mating materials having properties, including thermal expansion and hardness properties, that are undesirably similar in various embodiments. In various embodiments, a lubricant such as dry graphite may be applied to mating surfaces such as the inner surface 2311a of the plate bushing 2310 and the outer surface 2321a. The disclosure of dry graphite should not be considered limiting on the current disclosure, however, as other lubricants or lubricating coatings including, but not limited to, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) may be used in various embodiments. In various embodiments, one or more structural components of the systems described herein are fabricated from a corrosion-resistant material. In various embodiments, one or more components are made from a non-metallic material. In various embodiments, one or more components are made from a food-grade material. The disclosure of any particular materials or material properties should not be considered limiting on the current disclosure, however, as any number of different materials including aluminum, steel, copper, and various alloys and non-metallic materials could be used to form or fabricate the components described herein.
For purposes of the current disclosure, a physical dimension of a part or a property of a material measuring X on a particular scale measures within a range between X plus an industry-standard upper tolerance for the specified measurement and X minus an industry-standard lower tolerance for the specified measurement. Because tolerances can vary between different components and between different embodiments, the tolerance for a particular measurement of a particular component of a particular system can fall within a range of tolerances.
One should note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular embodiments or that one or more particular embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Any process descriptions or blocks in flow diagrams should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included in which functions may not be included or executed at all, may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. Further, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any and all combinations and sub-combinations of all elements, features, and aspects discussed above, including not only various combinations of elements within each embodiment but combinations of elements between various embodiments. For example, any ultrasonic transducer such as the ultrasonic transducer 117 is understood to be incorporated into any other embodiment disclosed herein including, but not limited to, embodiments where the ultrasonic transducer 117 is not disclosed or where a ultrasonic transducer is disclosed in less detail. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/808,625, filed Jul. 24, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/028,656, filed Jul. 24, 2014, both of which are hereby specifically incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62028656 | Jul 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14808625 | Jul 2015 | US |
| Child | 15486469 | US |
