Patent Application
20210127694
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates to a liquid product preparation system, and more particularly to a pasteurization system for effectively deactivating unwanted substances in the liquid product in a high-pressure-high temperature closed system.
Pasteurization is a process for deactivating unwanted substances in the liquid product, such as milk or fruit juice, before the liquid product is packed. A conventional pasteurization system comprises a delivering pipeline for delivering the liquid product, and a heat exchanging system for heat exchanging with the liquid product along the delivering pipeline. The heat exchanging system comprises a heat exchanging pipeline for delivering a heat exchanging medium and a heat pump compressor for heating up the heat exchanging medium along the heat exchanging pipeline. Therefore, the liquid product is heated up via the heat exchange of the heating exchanging medium.
One type of heat exchanging system is a closed system that the heat exchanging medium is returned back to the heat pump compressor after the liquid product is heated by the heat exchanging medium. In other words, after the pasteurization of the liquid product, the heat exchanging medium is remained in the high-temperature-high-pressure manner. It is burden for the heat pump compressor to handle the heat exchanging medium in such a high-temperature-high-pressure manner. Therefore, the heat exchanging system further comprises a cooling module, such as one or more expansion valves, coupled at the heat exchanging pipe to cool down the heating exchanging medium before returning back to the heat pump compressor. In other words, the expansion valves are configured to expand the heat exchanging medium to reduce the temperature and pressure of the heat exchanging medium. However, the major drawback of the cooling module is that the expansion valves cannot release the high temperature and high pressure energy from the heat exchanging system. In other words, even though the cooling module can cool down the heat exchanging medium but cannot release the energy from the heat exchanging medium, such that the unreleased energy will affect the stability of the heat exchanging system. In fact, the cooling module will complicate the configuration of the heat exchanging system and is unstable during the operation. Therefore, most conventional heat exchanging systems are a semi-closed system to handle the heat exchanging medium in such a high-temperature-high-pressure manner. However, the semi-closed system has the drawbacks of bigger overall size, lacking of expansion ability, higher energy consumption, and higher operation costs.
The invention is advantageous in that it provides a pasteurization system for effectively deactivating unwanted substances in the liquid product in a high-pressure-high temperature closed system.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a pasteurization system, which is configured to incorporate with a food treatment system to form a closed system for effectively deactivating unwanted substances thereof.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a pasteurization system, which comprises a plurality of capillary units for reducing the temperature and pressure of the heat exchanging medium to flow back to the compressor.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a pasteurization system, wherein the capillary units are individually operated for fine-adjusting the temperature and pressure of the heat exchanging medium to flow back to the compressor.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a pasteurization system, which is configured to guide the heat exchanging medium to pass through said cooling condenser twice, so as to effectively reduce the temperature and pressure of the heat exchanging medium before flowing back to the compressor.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a pasteurization system, which does not require altering the original structural design of the food treatment system, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the food treatment system that incorporates the pasteurization system.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a pasteurization system, wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objectives. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution for effectively deactivating unwanted substances in the liquid product, and for enhancing the operation of the food treatment system in a stable and safe manner.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a food treatment system for a liquid product, comprising a product delivering module and a pasteurization system
The product delivering module, which comprises a compressor, is configured for delivering the liquid product. The pasteurization system comprises a pasteurizing pipeline and a cooling module.
The pasteurizing pipeline comprises a forwarding passage guiding a heat exchanging medium toward the product delivering module and a returning passage guiding the heat exchanging medium from the product delivering module, wherein the compressor is operatively coupled at the forwarding passage for increasing temperature and pressure of the heat exchanging medium therealong to heat exchange with the liquid product at the product delivering module.
The cooling module is operatively coupled at the returning passage for not only reducing the temperature and pressure of the heat exchanging medium after being heat-exchanged with the liquid product but also releasing an excessive energy of the heat exchanging medium before returning back to the compressor.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention comprises a pasteurization system for a food treatment system which comprises a mix hopper, a freezing cylinder, and a cooling condenser, wherein the pasteurization system comprises the pasteurizing pipeline and the cooling module.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention comprises a pasteurization method for a food treatment system which comprises a mix hopper, a freezing cylinder, and a cooling condenser, comprising the following steps.
(A) Configure a forwarding passage to guide a heat exchanging medium from the compressor to the mix hopper and the freezing cylinder.
(B) Configure a returning passage to guide the heat exchanging medium from the mix hopper and the freezing cylinder back to the compressor through the cooling condenser.
(C) Operatively provide a cooling module operatively at the returning passage for not only reducing a temperature and pressure of the heat exchanging medium at the returning passage but also releasing an excessive energy of the heat exchanging medium before returning back to the compressor.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Referring to
As shown in
The pasteurization system comprises a pasteurizing pipeline 20 for guiding a heat exchanging medium through the food treatment system 10 and a cooling module 30 for cooling the heat exchanging medium. In one example, the heat exchanging medium can be a refrigerant, wherein the heat exchanging medium is arranged to heat-exchange with the liquid product for heating up the liquid product so as to deactivate unwanted substances in the liquid product, such that the heat exchanging medium is cooled down by the cooling module 30 after the heat exchanging process.
As shown in
Particularly, the forwarding passage 21 is defined to guide the heat exchanging medium from the compressor 13 to the mix hopper 11 and the freezing cylinder 12. The returning passage 22 is defined to guide the heat exchanging medium from the mix hopper 11 and the freezing cylinder 12 back to the compressor 13 through the cooling condenser 14.
As shown in
The returning passage 22 has two first returning lines 221 connected to the mix hopper 11 and the freezing cylinder 12 respectively and one second returning line 222 connected to the compressor 13. The first returning lines 221 are combined and connected to form the second returning line 222, such that the heat exchanging medium is guided to exit from the mix hopper 11 and the freezing cylinder 12 along the first returning lines 221 and is then combined to enter back to the compressor 13 through the cooling condenser 14.
It is worth mentioning that after the first returning lines 221 are combined and connected to form the second returning line 222, the second returning line 22 is configured to connect to the cooling condenser 14 before connecting to the compressor 13. As shown in
According to the preferred embodiment, the cooling module 30 comprises a valve arrangement 31 operatively coupled at the pasteurizing pipeline 20 for selectively controlling a temperature and pressure of the heat exchanging medium therealong. Accordingly, the valve arrangement 31 comprises first and second valve units 311, 312 operatively coupled at the first returning lines 221 respectively. In one embodiment, the first and second valve units 311, 312 are solenoid valves. The valve arrangement 31 further comprises a first check valve 316 operatively connected between the first condenser line section 23 and the second condenser line section 24, such that the heat exchanging medium is guided to pass through the first check valve 316 after the heat exchanging medium passes through the cooling condenser 14 at the first condenser line section 23 and before the heat exchanging medium returns back to the cooling condenser 14 at the second condenser line section 24.
As shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, the capillary units 32 are connected parallel with each other at the returning passage 22 and are located between the cooling condenser 14 and the compressor 13. In other words, the returning passage 22 is split into a plurality of parallel lines between the cooling condenser 14 and the compressor 13, such that the capillary units 32 are operatively coupled at the parallel lines of the returning passage 14 respectively.
As shown in
Accordingly, the capillary units 32 are operatively coupled at the sub-detouring lines 252, 523, 254 respectively. The valve arrangement 31 further comprises third, fourth and fifth valve units 313, 314, 315 operatively coupled at the sub-detouring lines 252, 523, 254 respectively, wherein the third, fourth and fifth valve units 313, 314, 315 are located in front of the capillary units 32, such that when the heat exchanging medium passes along the sub-detouring lines 252, 523, 254, the heat exchanging medium will firstly pass through the third, fourth and fifth valve units 313, 314, 315 and then the capillary units 32. Preferably, the third, fourth and fifth valve units 313, 314, 315 are also solenoid valves.
Particularly, the first sub-detouring line 252 is extended from the main detouring line 251 to connect with the third sub-detouring line 254. The second sub-detouring line 253 is extended from the main detouring line 251 to connect with one of the first returning lines 221 which is connected between the mix hopper 11 and the cooling condenser 14. The third sub-detouring line 254 is extended from the main detouring line 251 and is then combined with the first sub-detouring line 252 to connect with the second condenser line section 24 to the compressor 13.
The valve arrangement 31 further comprises a second check valve 317 operatively coupled at the main detouring line 251. Accordingly, the second check valve 317 is located at the main detouring line 251 before the sub-detouring lines 252, 253, 254 are split from the main detouring line 251.
The pasteurization system comprises a filter dryer 40 operatively coupled at the main detouring line 251, the filter dryer 40 is located at the main detouring line 251 between the second check valve 317 and the sub-detouring lines 252, 253, 254, such that the heat exchanging medium is guided to firstly pass the second check valve 217 and then the filter dryer 40 along the main detouring line 251 before the heat exchanging medium is guided to split at the sub-detouring lines 252, 253, 254. The filter dryer 40 is configured to filter and dry the heat exchanging medium for temperature control thereof.
The valve arrangement 31 further comprises a four way valve 33 operatively coupled at the pasteurizing pipeline 20 for detouring the flow of the heat exchanging medium. As shown in
Accordingly, the first valve inlet 331 is operatively coupled at the first forwarding line 211 to communicate with the compressor 13, such that the heat exchanging medium is guided to flow from the compressor 13 to the first valve inlet 331 of the four way valve 33 along the first forwarding line 211.
The second valve inlet 332 is operatively connected to the second condenser line section 24, such that the heat exchanging medium is guided to flow from the cooling condenser 14 to the second valve inlet 332 of the four way valve 33 along the second condenser line section 24.
The first valve outlet 333 is communicatively linked to the second valve inlet 332, such that the heat exchanging medium is guided to flow into the second valve inlet 332 and is detoured to the third valve outlet 333. The third valve outlet 333 is operatively coupled at the second condenser line section 24, such that the heat exchanging medium is guided to flow from the first valve outlet 333 of the four way valve 33 to the compressor 13 along the second condenser line section 24 at a position after the first sub-detouring line 252 is combined with the second condenser line section 24.
The second valve outlet 334 is communicatively linked to the first valve inlet 331, such that the heat exchanging medium is guided to flow into the first valve inlet 331 and is detoured to the second valve outlet 334. The second valve outlet 334 is operatively coupled at the first forwarding line 211 to communicate with the mix hopper 11 and the freezing cylinder 12, such that the heat exchanging medium is guided to flow from the second valve outlet 334 of the four way valve 33 along the first forwarding line 211 to the mix hopper 11 and the freezing cylinder 12 via the second forwarding lines 212 respectively.
The valve arrangement 31 further comprises a pressure switch 318 operatively coupled at the first forwarding line 211 between the compressor 13 and the four way valve 33 for controlling a flow amount of the heat exchanging medium from the compressor 13.
The valve arrangement 31 further comprises a thermal expansion valve 35 operatively coupled at the pasteurizing pipeline 20 at the returning passage 22 thereof, wherein the thermal expansion valve 35 comprises a valve body 351 and a valve bulb 352. The valve body 351 has an expansion valve inlet operatively connected to the first sub-detouring line 252 to guide the heat exchanging medium into the valve body 351, and an expansion valve outlet connected to the respective capillary unit 32 and one of the first returning lines 221 which is connected between the freezing cylinder 12 and the cooling condenser 14. In other words, when the heat exchanging medium enters into the expansion valve inlet of the valve body 351, the heat exchanging medium is split to flow back to the first sub-detouring line 252 toward the corresponding capillary unit 32 and to flow to the corresponding first returning line 221 for combing the heat exchanging medium out of the freezing cylinder 12. The valve bulb 352 is connected to the valve body 351 and is electrically tapped at one of the second forwarding lines 212 which is connected to the freezing cylinder 12.
As shown in
(1) Configure the forwarding passage 21 to guide the heat exchanging medium from the compressor 13 to the mix hopper 11 and the freezing cylinder 12.
(2) Configure the returning passage 22 to guide the heat exchanging medium from the mix hopper 11 and the freezing cylinder 12 back to the compressor 13 through the cooling condenser 14.
(3) Operatively provide the cooling module 30 operatively at the returning passage 22 for not only reducing the temperature and pressure of the heat exchanging medium at the returning passage 22 but also releasing an excessive energy of the heat exchanging medium before returning back to the compressor 13. Accordingly, the valve arrangement 31 and the capillary units 32 are incorporated with the cooling condenser 14 to reduce the temperature and pressure of the heat exchanging medium and to release the energy of the heat exchanging medium before returning back to the compressor 13.
The flow of the heat exchanging medium of the pasteurization system is illustrated in
Particularly, in the step (3), the capillary units 32 are provided at the returning passage 22 between the cooling condenser 14 and the compressor 13 for controllably and adjustably reducing the pressure and temperature of the heat exchanging medium before returning back to the compressor 13. Through the capillary units 32, the energy of high-pressure-high-temperature of the heat exchanging medium can be effectively released by the operation of the cooling condenser 14 so as to substantially reduce the pressure and temperature of the heat exchanging medium. As a result, the low-pressure-high-temperature of the heat exchanging medium can be returned back to the compressor 13 to ensure the safety operation of the pasteurization system in a closed system.
In addition, the pasteurization system can be integrated with the food treatment system 10 to share the use of the cooling condenser 14. In other words, by adding the capillary units 32 to the cooling condenser 14, the capillary units 32 and the cooling condenser 14 can work together to substantially reduce the pressure and temperature of the heat exchanging medium before returning back to the compressor 13.
It is worth mentioning that the pressure and temperature of the heat exchanging medium can be selectively adjusted and fine-tuned via the capillary units 32 before returning back to the compressor 13. Accordingly, each of the capillary unit 32 is operated individually and independently, such that the pressure and temperature of the heat exchanging medium can be different after passing through the capillary units 32. For example, the pressure and temperature of the heat exchanging medium through the first capillary unit 32 can be higher than that through the second capillary units 32. Accordingly, no conventional system provides any fine-adjustment for the pressure and temperature of the heat exchanging medium.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
