Efficient Quick Freezing with Reduced Nitrogen Use
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Summary
Problems
Existing quick freezing equipment using liquid nitrogen suffers from high nitrogen consumption, non-uniform freezing processes, and inefficient energy use due to suboptimal management and distribution of liquid nitrogen, leading to poor product quality and extended freezing times.
Innovation solutions
A multifunctional quick freezing equipment with a double thermal-insulated enclosure and high-precision nozzles, combined with an automatic control algorithm, ensures uniform nitrogen distribution and efficient reuse of nitrogen vapors, optimizing latent and sensible heat use, and minimizing nitrogen consumption.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If liquid nitrogen is used for quick freezing, then freezing speed is improved, but nitrogen consumption increases
Why choose this principle:
The patent recovers and reuses nitrogen vapor that would otherwise be discarded. The system captures nitrogen vapor from the freezing chamber, condenses it back to liquid nitrogen, and recycles it for subsequent freezing operations, thereby reducing nitrogen consumption while maintaining high freezing speeds
Principle concept:
If liquid nitrogen is used for quick freezing, then freezing speed is improved, but nitrogen consumption increases
Why choose this principle:
The patent implements continuous nitrogen vapor recovery and recycling operations. The system continuously captures, condenses, and recycles nitrogen vapor during the freezing process, ensuring that the useful cooling action is sustained while minimizing nitrogen loss
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A multifunctional quick freezing equipment with a double thermal-insulated enclosure and high-precision nozzles, combined with an automatic control algorithm, ensures uniform nitrogen distribution and efficient reuse of nitrogen vapors, optimizing latent and sensible heat use, and minimizing nitrogen consumption.
Abstract
This invention relates to a quick-freezing equipment, cabinet type, with discontinuous operation, using the method of freezing by contact with liquid nitrogen, in order to reduce the temperature of the products to the temperature of storage in a frozen state. The multifunctional quick-freezing equipment consists of a support frame (S), a double thermal insulated enclosure (IE), a tray rack (TR), a tray rack drive system (DS), a mechanical vapour ventilation plant (MV), a liquid nitrogen supply plant (NS), a mechanical vapour compression freezing refrigeration plant (CP), a Dewar vessel (DV) with purge head and respectively an automation plant (AP). The double thermal insulated enclosure (IE) is made in the form of a construction made up of two enclosures separated by a common wall and allows the reuse of nitrogen vapours that have not yet been used at maximum efficiency in the quick-freezing room (2) for additional cooling the adjacent room (3). The tray rack drive system (DS) and a liquid nitrogen supply plant (NS) are configured to, through a synergistic action, purge liquid nitrogen with high precision and flat distribution on the target surface and to homogenize the exposure to the liquid nitrogen jets. The automation plant (AP) is configured both to avoid the entrainment of liquid nitrogen particles and the deviation of their trajectory towards the side walls of the enclosure, and to quickly pass the phase of maximum crystallization of the aqueous solution contained in the product.