Liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device and beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing

Abstract

This invention provides a liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device and a beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and freshness locking, relating to the field of beverage processing equipment technology. The liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device includes a liquid nitrogen deep-freezing mechanism, a primary crushing mechanism, a secondary crushing mechanism, a liquid nitrogen supply mechanism, and a nitrogen circulation mechanism. This invention utilizes liquid nitrogen deep-freezing and quick-freezing technology to instantly crystallize the water inside fruit cells, making the material brittle. Subsequently, under continuous low-temperature inert gas protection, multi-stage mechanical crushing is performed to achieve cell-level physical cell disruption, transforming the whole fruit or its components into ultra-fine frozen fruit powder. The activity of heat-sensitive nutrients is protected, resulting in a beverage with a richer aroma and closer resemblance to natural fresh fruit. This beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and freshness locking integrates a complete chain from freezing and crushing to low-temperature blending, clarification, and sterilization, forming an optimized production system specifically for producing high-quality frozen crushed base beverages.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of beverage processing equipment technology, and more specifically, to a liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device and a beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing for freshness preservation. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, with consumers increasingly demanding natural flavors, high nutrient retention, and simplified ingredients in beverages, the demand for fruit juice drinks is constantly growing. However, traditional fruit juicing techniques have significant limitations when processing certain fruits. For example, conventional processes such as mechanical pressing, hot extraction, and enzymatic hydrolysis cause heat-sensitive aroma components in the fruit to volatilize or undergo chemical changes due to increased temperature or chemical reactions, and vitamins and other nutrients are easily destroyed, resulting in a decline in flavor and nutritional quality. In addition, for citrus fruits, the characteristic aroma oils and functional components (such as flavonoids) rich in their peels are difficult to extract effectively and are often discarded with the pulp, resulting in a waste of flavor substances and raw materials. At the same time, traditional processes also suffer from insufficient resource utilization. For example, for fruits with low juice yields, such as lemons, a process of pulping the whole fruit with water and then concentrating it is often used to improve the yield. This is not only energy-intensive and inefficient, but the heating and concentration step further damages the flavor. The final product, due to the addition of water and concentration, cannot meet the high-end category standard of "not from concentrate" (NFC). Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device and a beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and freshness preservation.

[0004] The embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as follows: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device, comprising a liquid nitrogen deep cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism, a primary crushing mechanism, a secondary crushing mechanism, a liquid nitrogen supply mechanism, and a nitrogen circulation mechanism. The liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism is provided with a pre-cooling zone and a deep-freezing zone connected together. The pre-cooling zone is provided with a nitrogen inlet for pre-cooling, and the deep-freezing zone is provided with a liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing and a nitrogen outlet for quick-freezing. The primary crushing mechanism is connected to the discharge port of the liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism and is used to crush the raw material to a target particle size of 5~20mm. The primary crushing mechanism is provided with a liquid nitrogen inlet for primary crushing and a nitrogen outlet for primary crushing. The secondary crushing mechanism is connected to the discharge port of the primary crushing mechanism and is used to crush the raw material to a target particle size of 13μm~2mm. The secondary crushing mechanism is provided with a liquid nitrogen inlet for secondary crushing and a nitrogen outlet for secondary crushing. The liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing, the liquid nitrogen inlet for primary crushing, and the liquid nitrogen inlet for secondary crushing are all connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism. The nitrogen outlet for quick-freezing, the nitrogen outlet for primary crushing, and the nitrogen outlet for secondary crushing are all connected to the inlet of the nitrogen circulation mechanism. The outlet of the nitrogen circulation mechanism is connected to the nitrogen inlet for pre-cooling.

[0005] In an optional embodiment, the cryogenic zone is a liquid nitrogen cold gas circulation quick-freezing mechanism, an immersion liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism, or a spray liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism.

[0006] In an optional embodiment, the liquid nitrogen cold air circulation quick-freezing mechanism includes a sealed box, a circulating fan, and an atomizing mechanism. The liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing is disposed on the atomizing mechanism. The atomizing mechanism is connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism through the liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing. The outlet of the atomizing mechanism is connected to the air inlet of the sealed box. The circulating fan is connected to the sealed box to drive the airflow in the sealed box to circulate in the sealed box. Alternatively, the liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism includes an impregnation tank, the liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing is disposed on the impregnation tank, and the impregnation tank is connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism through the liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing; Alternatively, the spraying liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism includes a cooling pipe and multiple atomizing nozzles. The atomizing nozzles are disposed on the side wall of the cooling pipe, and the quick-freezing liquid nitrogen inlet is disposed on the atomizing nozzle. The atomizing nozzle is connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism through the quick-freezing liquid nitrogen inlet.

[0007] In an optional embodiment, the secondary crushing mechanism includes a crushing precooling chamber, a secondary crushing chamber, and an air classifier; the crushing precooling chamber is a V-shaped chamber, the top of the crushing precooling chamber is connected to the outlet of the cryogenic zone, the liquid nitrogen inlet for secondary crushing is located in the middle of the crushing precooling chamber, a screw feeder is installed in the bottom of the crushing precooling chamber, the discharge port of the screw feeder is located above the secondary crushing chamber, the discharge port of the secondary crushing chamber is connected to the air classifier, the air classifier is provided with a graded qualified outlet and a graded circulation outlet, the graded circulation outlet is connected to the crushing precooling chamber, and the nitrogen outlet for secondary crushing is located at the top of the air classifier.

[0008] In an optional embodiment, the nitrogen circulation mechanism includes an induced draft fan, a dust removal and filtration mechanism, and an exhaust fan connected in sequence. The induced draft fan is connected to the nitrogen outlet for quick freezing, the nitrogen outlet for primary crushing, and the nitrogen outlet for secondary crushing, respectively, and the exhaust fan is connected to the nitrogen inlet for precooling.

[0009] Secondly, the present invention provides a beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and freshness preservation, which includes a screening and cleaning unit, a sorting and pretreatment unit, a liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device as described in any of the foregoing embodiments, a packaging and storage unit, a beverage processing unit, and a sterilization and filling unit connected in sequence.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the screening and cleaning unit includes a discharge trough, an elevator, a conveyor, a pre-washing machine, a brush cleaning machine, a disinfection rinsing and cleaning machine, a rinsing elevator, and a draining platform connected in sequence, with the outlet of the draining platform connected to the inlet of the sorting and pretreatment unit.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the sorting and pretreatment unit includes an independent whole fruit channel, a peeling and dicing channel, a peeling and pitting channel, and a manual platform. The whole fruit channel, the peeling and dicing channel, the peeling and pitting channel, and the manual platform are all connected to the inlet of the liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the beverage processing unit includes a thawing and mixing tank, a separation mechanism, a clarification mechanism, a concentration mechanism, and a product pipeline connected in sequence. The product pipeline includes a non-clarified liquid pipeline, a clarified liquid pipeline, and a concentrated liquid pipeline. The outlet of the thawing and mixing tank is connected to the non-clarified liquid pipeline and the inlet of the separation mechanism, respectively. The outlet of the separation mechanism is connected to the non-clarified liquid pipeline, the clarified liquid pipeline, and the inlet of the clarification mechanism, respectively. The outlet of the clarification mechanism is connected to the clarified liquid pipeline and the inlet of the concentration mechanism, respectively. The outlet of the concentration mechanism is connected to the concentrated liquid pipeline. The non-clarified liquid pipeline, the clarified liquid pipeline, and the concentrated liquid pipeline are all connected to the sterilization and filling unit.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, the sterilization and filling unit includes a filling machine and a first sterilization mechanism connected in sequence. Alternatively, the sterilization and filling unit includes a second sterilization mechanism, an aseptic tank, and an aseptic filling machine connected in sequence.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device and the beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation provided in this invention include: The liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device provided by this invention utilizes liquid nitrogen deep cryogenic quick-freezing technology to instantly crystallize the water inside fruit cells, making the material brittle. Subsequently, under continuous low-temperature inert gas protection, multi-stage mechanical crushing is performed to achieve cell-level physical cell disruption, transforming the whole fruit or its components into ultra-fine frozen fruit powder. The ultra-low temperature of liquid nitrogen (-196℃) instantly locks in the volatile aroma components of the fruit and maintains the low temperature throughout the crushing process, avoiding aroma loss caused by traditional mechanical heat. Full utilization of flavor-rich parts such as the peel results in a richer aroma profile in the final beverage, closer to that of natural fresh fruit. The low-temperature processing environment effectively protects the activity of heat-sensitive nutrients such as vitamins, polyphenols, and antioxidants. Since the flavor substances originate from the fruit itself and are fully preserved, the use of artificial flavorings, colorings, and flavor enhancers is eliminated or significantly reduced, making the product ingredient list simpler and meeting market demands for clean labeling.

[0015] The beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation provided by this invention utilizes a screening and cleaning unit to screen and clean raw materials, ensuring their cleanliness. The raw materials then undergo sorting and pre-treatment; fruits with different characteristics and processing needs can be pre-treated through different processing equipment channels. After pre-treatment, liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing are performed to maximize the preservation of original flavor and nutrients. Following this, the materials are packaged and frozen for storage. The factory can utilize different types of base materials for production at any time according to orders, greatly improving operational flexibility. In the downstream beverage processing, a multi-product line design is incorporated to adapt to the processing of different beverage categories. After processing, sterilization and bottling are performed to complete production, followed by storage in the warehouse. The system integrates a complete chain from freezing and crushing to low-temperature blending, clarification, and sterilization. The process parameters of each unit (such as temperature and time) are mutually adapted, forming an optimized production system specifically for producing high-quality frozen crushed base beverages, solving the problem of the disconnect between "powdering" and "beverage making" processes in existing technologies. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device provided in this embodiment when no liquid nitrogen freezer is installed; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device provided in this embodiment when it is equipped with a liquid nitrogen freezing cabinet; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the secondary crushing mechanism in the liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing device provided in this embodiment; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation provided in this embodiment when no liquid nitrogen freezer is installed; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation provided in this embodiment when a liquid nitrogen freezer is installed.

[0018] Icons: 100-Liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing device; 110-Liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism; 1101-Liquid nitrogen freezing tunnel; 1102-Liquid nitrogen freezer; 111-Pre-cooling zone; 112-Cryogenic zone; 113-Nitrogen inlet for pre-cooling; 114-Liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing; 115-Nitrogen outlet for quick-freezing; 120-Primary crushing mechanism; 121-Liquid nitrogen inlet for primary crushing; 122-Nitrogen outlet for primary crushing; 130-Secondary crushing mechanism; 131-Liquid nitrogen inlet for secondary crushing; 132-Nitrogen outlet for secondary crushing; 133-Crushing pre-cooling chamber; 134-Secondary crushing chamber; 135-Airflow screen; 136-Screw feeder; 140-Liquid nitrogen supply mechanism; 150-Nitrogen circulation mechanism; 10- Beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation; 200- Screening and cleaning unit; 201- Unloading trough; 202- Elevator; 203- Conveyor; 204- Pre-washing machine; 205- Brush cleaning machine; 206- Disinfection rinsing and cleaning machine; 207- Rinsing elevator; 208- Draining platform; 300- Sorting and pre-treatment unit; 301- Whole fruit channel; 302- Peeling and cutting channel; 303- Peeling and pitting channel; 304- Manual platform; 4 00 - Packaging and storage unit; 500 - Beverage processing unit; 501 - Thawing and mixing tank; 502 - Separation mechanism; 503 - Clarification mechanism; 504 - Concentration mechanism; 505 - Product pipeline; 506 - Non-clarified liquid pipeline; 507 - Clarified liquid pipeline; 508 - Concentrated liquid pipeline; 600 - Sterilization and filling unit; 601 - Filling machine; 602 - First sterilization mechanism; 603 - Second sterilization mechanism; 604 - Aseptic tank; 605 - Aseptic filling machine. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0020] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0021] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0022] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer" are used to indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the product of this invention is usually placed, they are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0023] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0024] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0025] First Embodiment Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 This invention provides a liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing device 100, which is used to achieve liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing 100 on raw materials. Liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing 100 (NCC) is a technology that uses the ultra-low temperature (-196℃) of liquid nitrogen to embrittle materials and then achieves efficient crushing through mechanical force. The core is "embrittlement first, then crushing". It is suitable for heat-sensitive, high-toughness, sticky or easily deteriorated materials, and can avoid thermal damage and obtain uniform fine powder.

[0026] The liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing device 100 includes a liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism 110, a primary crushing mechanism 120, a secondary crushing mechanism 130, a liquid nitrogen supply mechanism 140, and a nitrogen circulation mechanism 150. The liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism 110 includes a liquid nitrogen freezing tunnel 1101, which has a pre-cooling zone 111 and a cryogenic zone 112 connected together. The pre-cooling zone 111 has a pre-cooling nitrogen inlet 113, and the cryogenic zone 112 has a quick-freezing liquid nitrogen inlet 114 and a quick-freezing liquid nitrogen outlet 115. The primary crushing mechanism 120 is connected to the discharge port of the liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism 110 and is used to crush the raw material to a target particle size of 5-20 mm to form primary crushed material. The primary crushing mechanism 120 is equipped with a primary crushing... Liquid nitrogen inlet 121 and primary crushing nitrogen outlet 122; secondary crushing mechanism 130 is connected to the discharge port of primary crushing mechanism 120, and is used to crush raw materials to a target particle size of 13μm~2mm to form secondary crushed material. Secondary crushing mechanism 130 is provided with secondary crushing liquid nitrogen inlet 131 and secondary crushing nitrogen outlet 132; quick-freezing liquid nitrogen inlet 114, primary crushing liquid nitrogen inlet 121 and secondary crushing liquid nitrogen inlet 131 are all connected to liquid nitrogen supply mechanism 140. Quick-freezing nitrogen outlet 115, primary crushing nitrogen outlet 122 and secondary crushing nitrogen outlet 132 are all connected to the inlet of nitrogen circulation mechanism 150. The outlet of nitrogen circulation mechanism 150 is connected to pre-cooling nitrogen inlet 113.

[0027] This invention utilizes a liquid nitrogen cryogenic freezing mechanism 110 to rapidly freeze raw materials, causing the water inside the fruit and vegetable cells to crystallize instantly, making the material brittle and forming a frozen material that facilitates subsequent crushing. Furthermore, both the primary crushing mechanism 120 and the secondary crushing mechanism 130 operate under a liquid nitrogen atmosphere, ensuring crushing occurs at low temperatures. The staged crushing by the primary and secondary crushers guarantees better crushing results for fruits and vegetables, resulting in smaller particle sizes that are more adaptable to various processing needs. This invention completes the entire process from freezing to crushing fruit under ultra-low temperatures and an inert atmosphere maintained by continuous flow of liquid nitrogen or cold nitrogen. This invention maximizes the retention and utilization of the flavor and nutrients of the whole fruit (especially the peel and pomace), achieving the production of high-quality beverages with richer flavor, more natural ingredients, and more complete nutrient retention.

[0028] Optionally, the liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism 110 in this invention may further include a liquid nitrogen freezer 1102, which is arranged in parallel with the liquid nitrogen freezing tunnel 1101 and both are connected to the primary crushing mechanism 120. The liquid nitrogen freezer 1102 and the liquid nitrogen freezing tunnel 1101 are independent of each other. The liquid nitrogen freezer 1102 can be used for quick-freezing large quantities of raw materials and can be pre-frozen for non-continuous production. By simultaneously providing the liquid nitrogen freezing tunnel 1101 and the liquid nitrogen freezer 1102, this invention can meet different production needs.

[0029] The specific structure of the cryogenic zone 112 is not limited in this invention. Any commercially available mechanism capable of liquid nitrogen quick-freezing can be used as the cryogenic zone 112 in this application. In some typical but non-limiting examples, the cryogenic zone 112 can be a liquid nitrogen cold gas circulation quick-freezing mechanism, an immersion liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism, or a spray liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism.

[0030] Next, the present invention will describe typical structures of liquid nitrogen cold gas circulation quick-freezing mechanism, liquid nitrogen immersion quick-freezing mechanism, or liquid nitrogen spraying quick-freezing mechanism, but without limitation. Any structure that can realize the above-mentioned liquid nitrogen cold gas circulation, liquid nitrogen immersion, or liquid nitrogen spraying can be used as the above-mentioned mechanism of the present invention.

[0031] For example, the liquid nitrogen cold air circulation quick-freezing mechanism includes a sealed box, a circulating fan and an atomizing mechanism. The liquid nitrogen inlet 114 for quick-freezing is set on the atomizing mechanism. The atomizing mechanism is connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism 140 through the liquid nitrogen inlet 114 for quick-freezing. The outlet of the atomizing mechanism is connected to the air inlet of the sealed box. The circulating fan is connected to the sealed box to drive the airflow in the sealed box to circulate in the sealed box. Alternatively, for example: the liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism includes an immersion tank, a liquid nitrogen inlet 114 for quick-freezing is provided on the immersion tank, and the immersion tank is connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism 140 through the liquid nitrogen inlet 114 for quick-freezing; Alternatively, for example: the spray liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism includes a cooling pipe and multiple atomizing nozzles. The atomizing nozzles are disposed on the side wall of the cooling pipe, and the quick-freezing liquid nitrogen inlet 114 is disposed on the atomizing nozzle. The atomizing nozzle is connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism 140 through the quick-freezing liquid nitrogen inlet 114.

[0032] In this invention, the primary crushing mechanism 120 is a conventional crushing mechanism, which can obtain frozen fruit particles with a particle size of about 5 to 20 mm by crushing the raw materials. The liquid nitrogen inlet 121 and the nitrogen outlet 122 for primary crushing can be directly set on the crushing chamber of the primary crushing mechanism 120, or a jacket can be set on the crushing chamber, and the low temperature inside the crushing chamber can be maintained by introducing liquid nitrogen into the jacket.

[0033] In this invention, the secondary crushing mechanism 130 includes a crushing precooling chamber 133, a secondary crushing chamber 134, and an air classifier 135. The crushing precooling chamber 133 is a V-shaped chamber, and its top is connected to the outlet of the cryogenic zone 112. The liquid nitrogen inlet 131 for secondary crushing is located in the middle of the crushing precooling chamber 133. A screw feeder 136 is installed at the bottom of the crushing precooling chamber 133, and the outlet of the screw feeder 136 is located above the secondary crushing chamber 134. The outlet of the secondary crushing chamber 134 is connected to the air classifier 135. The air classifier 135 is provided with a graded qualified outlet and a graded circulation outlet. The graded circulation outlet is connected to the crushing precooling chamber 133. The nitrogen outlet 132 for secondary crushing is located at the top of the air classifier 135. The coarsely crushed material falls into the crushing pre-cooling chamber 133 under gravity. The crushing pre-cooling chamber 133 pre-cools the material, utilizing the latent heat and sensible heat generated during the vaporization of liquid nitrogen to force cooling. The amount of liquid nitrogen injected can be adjusted via a cryogenic valve. During crushing, the temperature inside the crushing pre-cooling chamber 133 and the secondary crushing chamber 134 can drop to -196℃. The material in the crushing pre-cooling chamber 133, having reached the cooling and embrittlement stage, is then conveyed to the secondary crushing chamber 134 for fine crushing by the screw feeder 136. The crushed material is then classified and collected by the air classifier 135. Material meeting the fineness requirements is discharged from the qualified classification outlet to the next process, while material failing the fineness requirements is discharged from the classification circulation outlet and returned to the crushing pre-cooling chamber 133 for further crushing. In this invention, the secondary crushing mechanism 130 can maintain the crushing temperature below the embrittlement temperature throughout, completely preventing the denaturation of heat-sensitive components. By adjusting the feeding speed in the secondary crushing mechanism 130 and the grading parameters of the air classifier 135, the particle size of the finished product can be precisely controlled to meet the requirements of different beverage products (such as rich or clear) for the solubility and taste of the base material.

[0034] In this invention, the screw feeder 136, the secondary crushing chamber 134, and the air classifier 135 are all conventional structures. Their structures, operating principles, and control principles are all carried out in accordance with conventional operations, and will not be described in detail here.

[0035] The liquid nitrogen supply mechanism 140 is used to supply nitrogen to the liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism 110, the primary crushing mechanism 120 and the secondary crushing mechanism 130. The liquid nitrogen supply mechanism 140 is also a conventional structure. As long as it can realize the storage and transportation of liquid nitrogen, it can be used as the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism 140 of this application.

[0036] The nitrogen circulation mechanism 150 is used to recover and reuse the nitrogen generated by the evaporation of the liquid nitrogen after cooling with liquid nitrogen in the above-mentioned liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism 110, primary crushing mechanism 120, and secondary crushing mechanism 130. In this invention, the nitrogen circulation mechanism 150 includes an induced draft fan, a dust removal and filtration mechanism, and a blower connected in sequence. The induced draft fan is connected to the quick-freezing nitrogen outlet 115, the primary crushing nitrogen outlet 122, and the secondary crushing nitrogen outlet 132, respectively, and the blower is connected to the pre-cooling nitrogen inlet 113. This invention recovers the used waste gas through the induced draft fan and uses the dust removal and filtration mechanism to remove dust from the waste gas, ensuring the purity of the waste gas, so that it can be subsequently introduced into the pre-cooling nitrogen inlet 113 for pre-cooling. At the same time, this part of nitrogen can also maintain the positive pressure at the inlet of the pre-cooling zone 111 to prevent external humid air from entering and frosting.

[0037] The liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device 100 provided by this invention can freeze and crush raw materials (fruits and vegetables) at extremely low temperatures. The ultra-low temperature of liquid nitrogen (-196℃) can instantly lock in the volatile aroma components of fruits and maintain the low temperature throughout the crushing process, avoiding aroma loss caused by traditional mechanical heat. Full utilization of flavor-rich parts such as the peel results in a richer aroma profile in the final beverage, closer to that of natural fresh fruit. The low-temperature processing environment effectively protects the activity of heat-sensitive nutrients such as vitamins, polyphenols, and antioxidants. The ultra-fine pulverization of the secondary crushing mechanism 130 thoroughly breaks down plant cell walls, allowing for more complete release of intracellular contents (including water and flavor compounds). For fruits with low juice yield, such as lemons, there is no need to add water for pulping and concentration; whole-fruit frozen powder can be used directly, theoretically achieving nearly 100% solids utilization, and the product meets NFC standards.

[0038] Second Embodiment Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 The present invention provides a beverage production system 10 based on liquid nitrogen freezing and freshness preservation, which includes a screening and cleaning unit 200, a sorting and pretreatment unit 300, a liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device 100, a packaging and storage unit 400, a beverage processing unit 500, and a sterilization and filling unit 600 connected in sequence.

[0039] This embodiment defines the entire process of beverage production, realizing the entire process from raw material screening and cleaning, sorting and pretreatment, liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing, packaging and storage, beverage processing to sterilization and filling. It forms an optimized production system specifically for producing high-quality frozen crushed base beverages, solving the problem of the disconnect between "powdering" and "beverage making" processes in the existing technology.

[0040] The screening and cleaning unit 200 is mainly used to screen raw materials, distinguish different raw materials, and clean them. Currently, any conventional material capable of screening and cleaning can be used as the screening and cleaning unit 200 in this application. As a typical but non-limiting example, the screening and cleaning unit 200 includes a discharge trough 201, an elevator 202, a conveyor 203, a pre-wash machine 204, a brush cleaner 205, a disinfection and rinsing machine 206, a rinsing elevator 207, and a draining platform 208 connected in sequence. The outlet of the draining platform 208 is connected to the inlet of the sorting pretreatment unit 300. The discharge trough 201, elevator 202, conveyor 203, pre-wash machine 204, brush cleaner 205, disinfection and rinsing machine 206, rinsing elevator 207, and draining platform 208 are all conventional mechanisms, as long as they can perform their functions.

[0041] After the raw fruit is transported to the processing plant, the dump trucks unload the fruit directly into the inclined unloading chute 201, where the fruit rolls automatically to the elevator 202 under gravity. The fruit is then lifted by the elevator 202 to the conveyor 203, where impurities, spoiled fruit, and abnormal fruit are automatically and / or manually removed. Qualified raw materials enter the pre-washing machine 204 (bubble washing machine), where the recycled water from rinsing and draining removes surface dirt through bubble tumbling and spraying, serving as a pre-cleaning function. The fruit then passes through the brush washing machine 205, where strong physical friction removes hard dirt from the surface of the fruit. After cleaning, the fruits enter the disinfection and rinsing machine 206, where ozone, ultrasound, or hydroxyl ions are used to destroy the cell structure of bacteria and viruses, effectively killing pathogens on the surface of fruits and vegetables. Through strong oxidation (such as ozone decomposing organophosphorus pesticides) or physical peeling (such as ultrasonic vibration), chemical residues on the fruits and vegetables are reduced. After rinsing and spraying to remove chemical residues from the surface of the fruits, they are transported to the draining platform 208 by the rinsing elevator 207, and then removed by a powerful cyclone drainer with a wind speed of ≥15m / s to ensure that the surface of the materials is dry and to prevent them from sticking together or forming ice clumps during subsequent freezing.

[0042] The sorting and pre-processing unit 300 is used to pre-process fruits with different characteristics and processing needs through different processing equipment channels, as listed below: The sorting and pretreatment unit 300 includes an independent whole fruit channel 301, a peeling and cutting channel 302, a peeling and pitting channel 303, and a manual platform 304. The whole fruit channel 301, the peeling and cutting channel 302, the peeling and pitting channel 303, and the manual platform 304 are all connected to the inlet of the liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism 110.

[0043] Whole Fruit Channel 301: For fruits that are easy to freeze and pulverize whole and require full utilization (such as lemons, blueberries, and grapes), after being identified by weight or visual sensors, they are directly transported to the entrance of the liquid nitrogen freezing tunnel via a bypass conveyor belt. This path is suitable for products that pursue whole fruit flavor and maximize the retention of nutrients.

[0044] Peeling and dicing channel 302: For fruits such as mangoes and pineapples that can only be used and require peeling and pitting / seed removal, the peeling is done by hot steam or mechanical means, and then the fruit is cut into uniform blocks of 20-30mm square by a multi-blade cutter to facilitate rapid and uniform freezing in the future.

[0045] The peeling and pitting channel 303 can separate the peel and pulp, and also remove the pit and seeds.

[0046] For example, citrus fruits where the peel and pulp need to be used separately require a specialized peeling machine. This equipment uses a mechanical contouring cutter head to separate the peel (including the oil sac layer) from the pulp (sacs) under a pressure of 0.5-1.0 MPa. The separated peel and pulp are then transported via two independent conveyor belts to parallel liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing subunits A and B. Key technical points: The peeling depth must be precisely controlled to ensure that the peel retains as much of its aromatic essential oils as possible, while the pulp remains uncontaminated. The peel-to-leakage ratio must be <5%.

[0047] For example, with stone fruits (such as plums and peaches), the pit is removed in 0.3 seconds by fixing them with a positioning device and using a ring-shaped cutting blade in conjunction with a top rod. For fruits that require seed removal, such as Japanese yuzu, a high-pressure water jet (pressure 60-80 MPa) is used to precisely cut the segments and rinse away the seeds, avoiding juice loss and release of bitter substances caused by traditional mechanical squeezing.

[0048] Manual platform: Equipped with a manual operating station for handling non-standard operations such as pomegranate seed extraction and dragon fruit peeling, ensuring system versatility.

[0049] It should be understood that the mechanisms involved in the sorting preprocessing unit 300 are all commercially available conventional structures. This embodiment only integrates the connection relationship of the above mechanisms without making any changes to their structure.

[0050] The packaging and storage unit 400 is used to package and store the frozen and crushed powder, facilitating its direct use in subsequent beverage processing. Specifically, the ultra-finely pulverized fruit powder, under nitrogen protection, is automatically filled into aluminum foil bags equipped with cooling / insulation devices by a packaging machine, immediately sealed, and transferred to a cold storage. The packaged base material is then stored in a cold storage at -18°C or below. This step decouples "standardized base material production" from "flexible beverage formulation" in terms of time and space. The base material has a shelf life of over 18 months, and the factory can readily utilize different types of base materials for production based on orders, greatly improving operational flexibility.

[0051] The beverage processing unit 500 is used to process the aforementioned frozen and crushed powder. The beverage processing unit 500 is designed for multiple product lines and is adaptable to the processing of different beverage categories.

[0052] The beverage processing unit 500 includes a thawing and mixing tank 501, a separation mechanism 502, a clarification mechanism 503, a concentration mechanism 504, and a product pipeline 505 connected in sequence. The product pipeline 505 includes a non-clarified liquid pipeline 506, a clarified liquid pipeline 507, and a concentrated liquid pipeline 508. The outlet of the thawing and mixing tank 501 is connected to the inlet of the non-clarified liquid pipeline 506 and the inlet of the separation mechanism 502, respectively. The outlet of the separation mechanism 502 is connected to the inlet of the non-clarified liquid pipeline 506, the clarified liquid pipeline 507, and the inlet of the clarification mechanism 503, respectively. The outlet of the clarification mechanism 503 is connected to the inlet of the clarified liquid pipeline 507 and the inlet of the concentration mechanism 504, respectively. The outlet of the concentration mechanism 504 is connected to the concentrated liquid pipeline 508. The non-clarified liquid pipeline 506, the clarified liquid pipeline 507, and the concentrated liquid pipeline 508 are all connected to the sterilization and filling unit 600.

[0053] Among them, the thawing and mixing tank 501 can be used for thawing and mixing according to different product requirements.

[0054] Beverage Products: Depending on the product formula, purified water treated with a reverse osmosis membrane, frozen fruit powder base, sugar, acid, and other raw materials are added to a jacketed mixing tank. The tank is equipped with a high-speed shear mixer to quickly disperse and dissolve the fruit powder, forming a homogeneous slurry. For citrus products, different proportions of peel powder and pulp powder base can be precisely measured and added to achieve varying flavor intensities.

[0055] Juice / Pulp Products: For fruits with high juice yield, such as berries, oranges, and grapes, the frozen fruit powder base is added to the mixing tank for thawing. Temperature control devices and stirrers can be used to accelerate the melting of the base and form a uniform flowing liquid.

[0056] The separation unit 502 is used to perform centrifugation and other treatments on the prepared liquid. For example, it can use a horizontal screw centrifuge, disc centrifuge, tubular centrifuge, etc., for single or series-parallel combination processing, and to remove slag from the liquid. Under different separation factors, it can achieve solid-liquid separation of materials with high solids content, discharging the heavy phase (fruit pomace) and obtaining the light phase (juice). By adjusting the differential speed and flux, the content of insoluble solids in the juice can be controlled to obtain products with different tastes, ranging from rich to delicate.

[0057] The clarification unit 503 is used to filter and clarify the prepared liquid. For example, a clarification system such as a ceramic membrane, hollow fiber membrane, or cartridge filter can be selected for clarification. The membrane pore size can be selected from 0.02-1μm according to the characteristics of the target product. The transmembrane pressure is executed according to the equipment operating pressure requirements. According to the material characteristics, the material temperature is controlled to operate under low temperature or room temperature conditions to thoroughly remove proteins, colloids, and microorganisms, and obtain a stable clear liquid.

[0058] The concentration unit 504 can concentrate the above-mentioned clarified liquid and then pass it into the reverse osmosis membrane concentration unit. Concentration is carried out according to the material characteristics at low or room temperature and according to the equipment operating pressure requirements to obtain concentrated juice. The entire process involves no phase change heat damage.

[0059] The sterilization and filling unit 600 is used to sterilize and fill materials. The sterilization and filling unit 600 includes a filling machine 601 and a first sterilization mechanism 602 (e.g., an HPP ultra-high pressure sterilization mechanism) connected in sequence; or, the sterilization and filling unit 600 includes a second sterilization mechanism 603 (e.g., an ultra-high temperature sterilization mechanism), an aseptic tank 604, and an aseptic filling machine 605 connected in sequence.

[0060] For long-shelf-life products that can be stored at room temperature, the present invention can employ a UHT sterilization system. After sterilization, the product immediately enters the aseptic filling machine 605, where it is filled under clean air protection to complete the production process, and then transferred to the warehouse for storage.

[0061] For low-temperature, short-shelf-life products with higher quality requirements, non-thermal sterilization processes such as high pressure (HPP) can be used. The beverage is packaged first, and then subjected to high pressure treatment at 100-650MPa for 2-8 minutes to obtain the final product, which is then stored and transported at low temperature (0-10℃) or frozen (<-18℃).

[0062] The beverage production system 10 based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation provided in this embodiment is mainly applied to the industrial production of liquid beverages such as high-end fruit and vegetable juices and their beverages, plant-based beverages, tea beverages, coffee beverages, carbonated beverages, and special-purpose beverages. The raw materials for this system are not limited to fruits, but can also be applied to vegetables (such as cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, kale, etc.), herbal raw materials (such as lotus leaves, bamboo leaves, mulberry leaves, jasmine flowers, roses, chrysanthemums, honeysuckle, mint), food and medicine homologous raw materials (ginseng, astragalus, wolfberry, tangerine peel, polygonatum, etc.), tea (green tea, black tea, oolong tea, etc.), grains (red beans, mung beans, barley, soybeans, etc.), nuts (almonds, pistachios, sesame, peanuts, etc.), coffee (coffee beans, coffee fruit skins), etc.

[0063] Taking fruit as an example, this system receives whole or diced fruit after screening and cleaning, instantly crisps it by freezing it with ultra-low temperature liquid nitrogen, and then performs multi-stage crushing in a low-temperature environment protected by liquid nitrogen to obtain frozen fruit powder with fully broken cell structures but without loss of flavor substances. This intermediate product is stored in a cryogenic state and can serve as a rich and natural "base material". Subsequently, according to the product formula, the base material is blended with drinking water, sugar, and a few other ingredients at low temperatures. After undergoing a unique low-temperature clarification, filtration, concentration, and sterilization process, it is finally bottled to obtain a high-quality beverage with a flavor close to fresh fruit and a simple ingredient list. The system operates as a continuous or batch automated production line, reducing the high-temperature steps and additives used in traditional processes.

[0064] In summary, the liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device provided by this invention utilizes liquid nitrogen deep cryogenic quick-freezing technology to instantly crystallize the water inside fruit cells, making the material brittle. Subsequently, under continuous low-temperature inert gas protection, multi-stage mechanical crushing is performed to achieve cell-level physical cell disruption, transforming the whole fruit or its components into ultra-fine frozen fruit powder. The ultra-low temperature of liquid nitrogen (-196℃) instantly locks in the volatile aroma components of the fruit and maintains the low temperature throughout the crushing process, avoiding aroma loss caused by traditional mechanical heat. The full utilization of flavor-rich parts such as the peel results in a richer aroma profile in the final beverage, closer to that of natural fresh fruit. The low-temperature processing environment effectively protects the activity of heat-sensitive nutrients such as vitamins, polyphenols, and antioxidants. Since the flavor substances originate from the fruit itself and are fully preserved, the use of artificial flavorings, colorings, and flavor enhancers is eliminated or significantly reduced, making the product ingredient list simpler and meeting market demands for clean labeling.

[0065] The beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation provided by this invention utilizes a screening and cleaning unit 200 to screen and clean raw materials, ensuring their cleanliness. The raw materials then undergo sorting and pre-treatment; fruits with different characteristics and processing needs can be pre-treated through different processing equipment channels. After pre-treatment, liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing are performed to maximize the preservation of original flavor and nutrients. Following this, the materials are packaged and frozen for storage. The factory can readily utilize different types of base materials according to orders, greatly improving operational flexibility. In the downstream beverage processing, a multi-product line design is incorporated to adapt to different beverage categories. After processing, sterilization and bottling are performed to complete production, followed by storage in the warehouse. The system integrates a complete chain from freezing and crushing to low-temperature blending, clarification, and sterilization. The process parameters of each unit (such as temperature and time) are mutually adapted, forming an optimized production system specifically for producing high-quality frozen crushed base beverages, solving the problem of the disconnect between "powdering" and "beverage making" processes in existing technologies.

[0066] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing device, characterized in that, It includes a liquid nitrogen cryogenic freezing mechanism, a primary crushing mechanism, a secondary crushing mechanism, a liquid nitrogen supply mechanism, and a nitrogen circulation mechanism; The liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism includes a liquid nitrogen freezing tunnel, which is provided with a pre-cooling zone and a deep-freezing zone connected together. The pre-cooling zone is provided with a nitrogen inlet for pre-cooling, and the deep-freezing zone is provided with a liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing and a liquid nitrogen outlet for quick-freezing. The primary crushing mechanism is connected to the discharge port of the liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism and is used to crush the raw material to a target particle size of 5~20mm. The primary crushing mechanism is provided with a liquid nitrogen inlet for primary crushing and a nitrogen outlet for primary crushing. The secondary crushing mechanism is connected to the discharge port of the primary crushing mechanism and is used to crush the raw material to a target particle size of 13μm~2mm. The secondary crushing mechanism is provided with a liquid nitrogen inlet for secondary crushing and a nitrogen outlet for secondary crushing. The liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing, the liquid nitrogen inlet for primary crushing, and the liquid nitrogen inlet for secondary crushing are all connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism. The nitrogen outlet for quick-freezing, the nitrogen outlet for primary crushing, and the nitrogen outlet for secondary crushing are all connected to the inlet of the nitrogen circulation mechanism. The outlet of the nitrogen circulation mechanism is connected to the nitrogen inlet for pre-cooling.

2. The liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cryogenic zone is a liquid nitrogen cold gas circulation quick-freezing mechanism, an immersion liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism, or a spray liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism.

3. The liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The liquid nitrogen cold air circulation quick-freezing mechanism includes a sealed box, a circulating fan, and an atomizing mechanism. The liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing is located on the atomizing mechanism. The atomizing mechanism is connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism through the liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing. The outlet of the atomizing mechanism is connected to the air inlet of the sealed box. The circulating fan is connected to the sealed box to drive the airflow in the sealed box to circulate within the sealed box. Alternatively, the liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism includes an impregnation tank, the liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing is disposed on the impregnation tank, and the impregnation tank is connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism through the liquid nitrogen inlet for quick-freezing; Alternatively, the spraying liquid nitrogen quick-freezing mechanism includes a cooling pipe and multiple atomizing nozzles. The atomizing nozzles are disposed on the side wall of the cooling pipe, and the quick-freezing liquid nitrogen inlet is disposed on the atomizing nozzle. The atomizing nozzle is connected to the liquid nitrogen supply mechanism through the quick-freezing liquid nitrogen inlet. Alternatively, the liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism may further include a liquid nitrogen freezer, which is arranged in parallel with the liquid nitrogen freezing tunnel and is connected to the primary crushing mechanism.

4. The liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The secondary crushing mechanism includes a crushing precooling chamber, a secondary crushing chamber, and an air classifier. The crushing precooling chamber is V-shaped, with its top connected to the outlet of the cryogenic zone. The liquid nitrogen inlet for secondary crushing is located in the middle of the crushing precooling chamber. A screw feeder is installed at the bottom of the crushing precooling chamber, with its outlet located above the secondary crushing chamber. The outlet of the secondary crushing chamber is connected to the air classifier. The air classifier has a graded qualified outlet and a graded circulating outlet, which are connected to the crushing precooling chamber. The nitrogen outlet for secondary crushing is located at the top of the air classifier.

5. The liquid nitrogen cryogenic crushing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nitrogen circulation mechanism includes an induced draft fan, a dust removal and filtration mechanism, and an exhaust fan connected in sequence. The induced draft fan is connected to the nitrogen outlet for quick freezing, the nitrogen outlet for primary crushing, and the nitrogen outlet for secondary crushing, respectively. The exhaust fan is connected to the nitrogen inlet for precooling.

6. A beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation, characterized in that, It includes a screening and cleaning unit, a sorting and pretreatment unit, a liquid nitrogen freezing and crushing device as described in any one of claims 1-5, a packaging and storage unit, a beverage processing unit, and a sterilization and filling unit connected in sequence.

7. The beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation according to claim 6, characterized in that, The sorting and cleaning unit includes an unloading trough, an elevator, a conveyor, a pre-washing machine, a brush cleaning machine, a disinfection rinsing and cleaning machine, a rinsing elevator, and a draining platform connected in sequence. The outlet of the draining platform is connected to the inlet of the sorting and pretreatment unit.

8. The beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation according to claim 6, characterized in that, The sorting and pretreatment unit includes independent whole fruit channels, peeling and dicing channels, peeling and pitting channels, and manual platforms. The whole fruit channels, peeling and dicing channels, peeling and pitting channels, and manual platforms are all connected to the inlet of the liquid nitrogen cryogenic quick-freezing mechanism.

9. The beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation according to claim 6, characterized in that, The beverage processing unit includes a thawing and mixing tank, a separation mechanism, a clarification mechanism, a concentration mechanism, and a product pipeline connected in sequence. The product pipeline includes a non-clarified liquid pipeline, a clarified liquid pipeline, and a concentrated liquid pipeline. The outlet of the thawing and mixing tank is connected to the non-clarified liquid pipeline and the inlet of the separation mechanism, respectively. The outlet of the separation mechanism is connected to the non-clarified liquid pipeline, the clarified liquid pipeline, and the inlet of the clarification mechanism, respectively. The outlet of the clarification mechanism is connected to the clarified liquid pipeline and the inlet of the concentration mechanism, respectively. The outlet of the concentration mechanism is connected to the concentrated liquid pipeline. The non-clarified liquid pipeline, the clarified liquid pipeline, and the concentrated liquid pipeline are all connected to the sterilization and filling unit.

10. The beverage production system based on liquid nitrogen freezing and preservation according to claim 6, characterized in that, The sterilization and filling unit includes a filling machine and a first sterilization mechanism connected in sequence; Alternatively, the sterilization and filling unit may include a second sterilization mechanism, an aseptic tank, and an aseptic filling machine connected in sequence.

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