Method and apparatus for cooling a mixture of concrete components

Abstract

Method and corresponding apparatus (100) for cooling a mixture of concrete, the method comprising: loading a given quantity of components for forming the concrete in a hermetically sealed tank (1), the components comprising a predetermined quantity of water; regulating the pressure inside the tank (1) to obtain a transition vacuum degree in the tank (1); regulating the pressure inside a hermetically sealed condensation chamber (4) to obtain a substantial vacuum degree greater than the transition vacuum degree in the condensation chamber (4), i.e. such that the pressure in the condensation chamber (4) is lower than the pressure in the tank (1); operatively connecting the tank (1) with the condensation chamber (4) to substantially equalize the internal pressure in the tank (1) and the internal pressure in the condensation chamber (4), thereby obtaining the generated vacuum degree and causing at least partial evaporation of the water from the tank towards the condensation chamber (4), in turn causing a reduction in the temperature of the components in the tank (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The subject of this invention is a method and apparatus for cooling a mixture of concrete components. In particular, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for cooling a mixture of concrete components using the latent heat of evaporation from water. Concrete is a building mixture obtained by mixing appropriate amounts of building aggregates (sand, gravel, crushed stone) with a binder such as cement, which is then activated in the presence of water. Specifically, the water-to-cement ratio, characterizing the concrete mixture, is a fundamental parameter in the mixture design and must not be changed, as it must be suitable to ensure that the concrete has the required performance levels based on the architect's needs and the characteristics of the raw materials to be used. Furthermore, the water-to-cement ratio is particularly important for ensuring the proper fluidity of the mixture and, most importantly, the final strength of the concrete. Therefore, this ratio cannot be arbitrarily changed. Background Technology

[0002] To form concrete, the various components of concrete are poured into a single container in the required dosage to form a mixture of concrete components. This mixture contains predetermined amounts of building aggregates, cement, and water. The components of the mixture are then mixed or kneaded to amalgamate them and form the concrete mixture.

[0003] Concrete is poured in a fluid state and gradually transforms into a solid state; this reaction is called the setting of concrete. Alternatively, concrete can be poured in the form of RCC (an acronym for "roller-compacted concrete"), which is used in the construction of dams.

[0004] During the setting process, various chemical and physical reactions occur, which take place during the hydration of cement.

[0005] During the setting process, concrete must be kept in a moist environment as much as possible to ensure the complete hydration of cement, thereby giving the concrete good mechanical and strength properties.

[0006] In addition, during the setting period, the concrete must be kept below the maximum permissible temperature to avoid thermal stress.

[0007] This problem is particularly relevant to situations involving the pouring of cold concrete in high-temperature and / or low-humidity environments, and / or for large-scale projects such as dams and foundations.

[0008] In this situation, cracks may form.

[0009] Cracks can be prevented by limiting the temperature of cold concrete during pouring. In fact, there are strict standards for the temperature of cold concrete. For example, in some cases, the temperature of cold concrete must not exceed 25°C. Furthermore, the applicant has determined that, in order to pour concrete in a high-temperature environment, it may be necessary to cool the concrete to a temperature that may be as low as 10°C or lower.

[0010] Various measures have been taken to meet these requirements.

[0011] Methods have been proposed and used to cool the various components of a concrete mixture separately before combining them into a mixture of concrete components, such as building aggregates.

[0012] For example, it is known to cool building aggregate materials before mixing to form concrete with water or air.

[0013] One known system uses ice and cold water for this purpose. In this system, a certain amount of cold water and ice needs to be maintained, which means that a specific, substantial amount of energy is consumed to compensate for heat loss, rather than directly cooling the concrete itself. Furthermore, the cooling achievable through this system is significantly limited because ice and cold water are the only components in the mixture with cooling capacity, comprising only about 5% of the total mixture. Therefore, in a typical case where the average temperature of the uncooled concrete is about 30°C, a system using only ice and cold water does not allow for cooling the building aggregate or concrete to temperatures below 25°C.

[0014] For cooling, another known system uses cold water, ice, and cold air, which are blown into cooling silos. This technology allows for the precooling of larger aggregates but not finer ones. In fact, this technology requires the aggregates themselves to be "large enough" to form "porous" blocks that allow air to move between the concrete stones themselves, driven by a high-powered fan. Therefore, sand and cement, which make up about 40% of the total concrete mixture, cannot be precooled in this way. Thus, in a typical case where the average temperature of uncooled concrete is about 30°C, a system using cold water, ice, and cold air cannot cool building aggregates or concrete to temperatures below 22°C. Furthermore, in addition to the problems described in the case of using only water and ice, there is also the problem of the high electrical power required to supply the fans, which in practice can reach the nominal capacity of the production equipment per m³. 3 The quantity is on the order of 1 kW / h.

[0015] Furthermore, cooling with water or air is unsuitable for small-sized building aggregates. In fact, the finest particles can be washed away or blown away, altering the properties of the cooled material output from the cooling process. Moreover, the deposits of fine building aggregates have such low porosity that they effectively inhibit the flow of cold air between the particles.

[0016] In more complex known systems, in addition to using cold water and ice, larger aggregates (crushed stone) are cooled on a slowly advancing conveyor belt, where jets of cold water are sprayed onto the crushed stone itself. Meanwhile, sand passes through a rotating drum, into which a stream of cold air is blown in the opposite direction to the sand flow. While this system is more complex, it does not allow for cooling concrete to temperatures below 12°C. Furthermore, it is evident that this solution involves additional components, increasing the cost and complexity of the equipment. Moreover, this type of equipment is incompatible with the production of RCC because, unlike conventional concrete, RCC necessarily contains fine particles. Therefore, unlike the building aggregates of conventional concrete, the building aggregates of RCC must not be washed to avoid losing these fine particles. Since the wet conveyor belt acts as a washing system, this results in the removal of fine particles, which are essential for RCC production, thus making this technology incompatible with RCC production.

[0017] Furthermore, the above methods involve considerable energy consumption because these building aggregates need to be kept at low temperatures after cooling until the concrete is mixed. Therefore, additional cooling power is required to maintain the temperature of the building aggregates at the desired level throughout the entire time between cooling and use. Storing cooled building aggregates is also costly during equipment failures in the downstream equipment of the concrete production and distribution line. In fact, temperature maintenance cannot be interrupted if upstream or downstream equipment stops or malfunctions, as cooling the entire hot aggregate silo may take more than a day.

[0018] It is clear that the energy consumption associated with these methods is very high.

[0019] In addition to the aforementioned drawbacks related to the prior art, the applicant also found that the cooling system requires several hours of cooling time, which is therefore a very long time.

[0020] Other known systems involve using a vacuum to cool building aggregates. In these systems, the aggregate material is wetted and fed into a sealed container where the pressure is reduced, resulting in the evaporation of some water and subsequent cooling of the aggregate.

[0021] The cooled aggregate then incorporates cement to form a concrete mixture.

[0022] To obtain cold concrete, the building aggregates need to be cooled to compensate for the heat supply caused by the addition of previously uncooled cement. However, this cooling is not only costly but also inefficient because it cannot produce a sufficiently cold concrete mixture at the desired temperature.

[0023] Furthermore, existing technologies involving vacuum cooling of building aggregates of various sizes are particularly unsatisfactory. In fact, the volume-to-surface-area ratio of large-diameter stones is greater than that of smaller stones. Therefore, water wetting larger stones evaporates before their internal volume cools to the required temperature, unlike smaller stones which tend to cool rapidly due to their high surface-to-volume ratio.

[0024] Furthermore, the applicant has tested known systems for vacuum cooling of building aggregates and discovered various technical and thermodynamic limitations that make it extremely difficult to reach concrete temperatures below 15°C. In addition, the lack of cement cooling necessitates cooling the aggregates to levels incompatible with the vacuum technology used.

[0025] In fact, it has been found that there is a need to supply pre-cooled aggregate to these cooling devices. This pre-cooling of aggregate involves the use of cooled and insulated hoppers, which incurs greater costs in terms of electricity and investment. Practical trials have shown that, in the case of pre-cooling construction aggregate, for every m³ of the nominal capacity of the production equipment... 3 / h, with a heat distribution of approximately 1 kW.

[0026] Furthermore, these systems cannot guarantee that the water-to-cement ratio remains constant during the cooling process. Therefore, the uncertainty regarding the residual water content in the resulting mixture makes the final water-to-cement ratio uncertain.

[0027] The fact that the operation involved an increased amount of water exacerbated the problem.

[0028] Therefore, in all cases, it is impossible to meet the water ratio or water-to-cement ratio specified in the concrete formula.

[0029] Furthermore, existing systems for vacuum cooling via evaporation cannot meet the mixing time and precision of the product proportions indicated by the standards, and in particular, cannot prevent the risk of so-called segregation of concrete after it has formed.

[0030] Furthermore, existing systems for vacuum cooling via evaporation are unsatisfactory in terms of the energy and time required for the cooling process.

[0031] In addition, the cooling of building aggregates that can be obtained through known systems is usually insufficient to achieve the required pouring temperature. Summary of the Invention

[0032] The technical problem solved by this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for cooling a mixture of components in concrete, the method and apparatus being designed, in terms of structure and function, to at least partially eliminate one or more of the disadvantages described with reference to the prior art. This invention solves this problem by providing a method and apparatus for cooling a measured amount of components in concrete, manufactured according to this application.

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, a method for cooling a mixture of components for concrete is provided, the method comprising: loading a first given amount of components at a first initial temperature into an airtight first container, wherein the components are for forming concrete and include a predetermined first amount of water.

[0034] Preferably, the first amount of water is applied by means of a water-to-cement ratio determined by the design of the concrete mixture.

[0035] The pressure in the first tank is also adjusted to obtain the first transition vacuum.

[0036] In addition, the method preferably includes: adjusting the pressure in the hermetically sealed condenser chamber to obtain a basic vacuum degree greater than the first transition vacuum degree, that is, making the pressure in the condenser chamber lower than the pressure in the first tank.

[0037] Subsequently, the first tank is operatively connected to the condenser chamber to make the internal pressure in the first tank substantially equal to the internal pressure in the condenser chamber, thereby achieving a vacuum. This causes at least a portion of the water from the first tank to evaporate toward the condenser chamber, thereby lowering the temperature of the components in the first tank. Advantageously, the evaporation of water involves extracting a certain amount of energy corresponding to the latent heat of vaporization of the water from the environment where evaporation occurs, and thus includes cooling the components in the hermetically sealed first tank.

[0038] Preferably, the method further includes: condensing the water evaporated from the first tank in a condensing chamber, and conveying the condensed water from the condensing chamber back to the first tank.

[0039] According to another advantageous aspect, and preferably without delay, the condensed steam re-enters the condensation chamber as cold liquid water, directly into the mixture of evaporated steam, thereby ensuring that the water-to-cement ratio remains compliant throughout the entire process.

[0040] The method includes collecting a component at a first output temperature lower than a first initial temperature from a first tank. The first output temperature depends on factors such as the thermal inertia and quantity of the material introduced into the first tank, the initial temperature of the material, and the amount of water evaporated / condensed during the process.

[0041] By applying the variable, a mixture of concrete components with the desired temperature can be obtained by the method according to the invention.

[0042] Therefore, the method according to the invention makes it possible to use the latent heat of vaporization of water to cool a mixture of concrete components comprising a predetermined amount of water.

[0043] The recirculation of condensate from the condensation chamber to the first tank ensures that the predetermined initial amount of water present in the mixture of concrete components in the first tank remains substantially unchanged.

[0044] Therefore, this also makes it possible to cool the mixture of concrete components without substantially changing the amount of water supplied in the mixture.

[0045] By means of the method according to the invention, a cold mixture of concrete components is thus obtained. Furthermore, by mixing the mixture of concrete components, a mixture of concrete components suitable for immediate pouring is obtained without further modification or adjustment of the composition of the component mixture itself.

[0046] In addition, the amount of water required to form the desired concrete component mixture is cooled.

[0047] Advantageously, the components include aggregate materials, cement and water in predetermined relative proportions to obtain the desired concrete formulation.

[0048] Each component is loaded in a predetermined amount of water and cement according to the required concrete formula.

[0049] Preferably, the inert material is selected from sand, gravel, or crushed stone. Advantageously, the aggregate material also includes fillers or additives.

[0050] Cooling water is transferred from the cooling chamber to the first tank to substantially restore a predetermined amount of water in the concrete component mixture. In this way, the present invention allows concrete to be cooled without substantially altering the amount of water present in the mixture of each component, and therefore without substantially altering the final properties of the concrete.

[0051] Before being discharged into the first tank, the components of the concrete component mixture can be mixed together to form a mixture of concrete components within the first tank.

[0052] Alternatively, the preparation of the mixture, which has been mixed but not yet cooled, can be carried out in a dedicated mixing tank outside the first tank.

[0053] In some variations, the mixture of concrete components is mixed and kneaded using a mechanical mixer.

[0054] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method is provided for cooling a mixture of concrete components through a plurality of airtight containers that can be interconnected with each other, wherein each container is connected to a common condensation chamber.

[0055] Advantageously, the interconnection of the tanks allows for a reduction in the energy consumption and cycle time of individual tanks, and also allows for an increase in the specific capacity of each tank.

[0056] In the initial stage, the method includes: adjusting the pressure within the hermetically sealed plurality of tanks and the condensation chamber to obtain an initial vacuum level, i.e., an internal pressure level below atmospheric pressure.

[0057] According to this method, the hermetically sealed plurality of tanks and the hermetically sealed condenser are operatively connected, and the pressure in the hermetically sealed tanks and condenser operatively connected to each other is adjusted to obtain an initial vacuum.

[0058] In conventional operation, the method includes loading a first amount of a component at a first initial temperature into a first tank of the plurality of airtight tanks, the component being used to form concrete and including a first predetermined amount of water.

[0059] At this time, the first canister is operatively connected to the second canister of the plurality of airtight canisters so that the internal pressure in the first canister is substantially equal to the internal pressure in the second canister, thereby obtaining a residual vacuum. The first canister has an initial internal pressure level equal to atmospheric pressure, and the second canister has an initial internal pressure level lower than atmospheric pressure.

[0060] Then, a second quantity of components at a second initial temperature are loaded into a second tank. These components, which are used to form concrete, include a second predetermined quantity of water.

[0061] Preferably, the second initial temperature and the second predetermined water volume are substantially equal to the first initial temperature and the first predetermined water volume, respectively.

[0062] Subsequently, the pressure inside the first tank is adjusted to achieve a first transition vacuum level. Furthermore, the pressure inside the hermetically sealed condenser chamber is also adjusted to obtain a basic vacuum level greater than the first transition vacuum level, i.e., such that the pressure in the condenser chamber is lower than the pressure in the first tank. Preferably, the pressure in the condenser tank should be as low as possible.

[0063] Subsequently, the method includes: operatively connecting a first tank to a condenser chamber to achieve a vacuum by substantially equalizing the internal pressure in the first tank and the internal pressure in the condenser chamber, thereby causing at least a portion of the water contained in the first tank to evaporate toward the condenser chamber, thereby lowering the temperature of the components in the first tank.

[0064] The water that evaporates in the first tank condenses in the condenser chamber and preferably re-enters the first tank, as better explained below. This completes the cooling process in the first tank.

[0065] Then, the first and second tanks are operatively connected so that the internal pressure in the first tank and the internal pressure in the second tank are substantially equal, thereby obtaining an additional residual vacuum. The second tank has an initial internal pressure level equal to atmospheric pressure, and the first tank has an internal pressure level lower than atmospheric pressure.

[0066] This allows the vacuum within the first tank to be utilized before the cooling material is discharged, thus enabling a true "vacuum cycle" through which the first tank draws air from the second tank, making the pressure regulation process faster and more energy-efficient—air that would otherwise be emptied by a conventional pumping system.

[0067] Subsequently, the method includes: collecting a mixture of concrete components at a first output temperature lower than a first initial temperature from a first tank.

[0068] This method can be repeated multiple times to periodically utilize the vacuum generated in the tank to limit total energy consumption and the time required to cool the components.

[0069] According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the method further includes loading a third amount of a component at a third initial temperature into a first tank, the component being used to form the concrete, the component comprising an associated third predetermined amount of water.

[0070] Subsequently, the pressure inside the second tank is adjusted to obtain a second transition vacuum in the second tank.

[0071] In addition, the pressure in the condenser chamber is adjusted to a different basic vacuum level than the second transition vacuum level, that is, to make the pressure in the condenser chamber lower than the pressure in the second tank.

[0072] The method then includes: operatively connecting a second tank to a condenser chamber to obtain an additional vacuum by substantially equalizing the internal pressure in the second tank and the internal pressure in the condenser chamber, thereby causing at least a portion of the water contained in the second tank to evaporate toward the condenser chamber, thereby lowering the temperature of the components in the second tank.

[0073] Advantageously, the method includes: condensing the water evaporated from the second tank in a condensation chamber, and preferably, allowing the water evaporated from the second tank to re-enter the second tank, as better described below.

[0074] Then, the first tank and the second tank need to be operatively connected so that the internal pressure in the first tank and the internal pressure in the second tank are substantially equal, thereby obtaining a second additional residual vacuum. The first tank has an initial internal pressure level equal to atmospheric pressure, and the second tank has an initial internal pressure level lower than atmospheric pressure.

[0075] Finally, the components are collected from the second tank at a second output temperature lower than the second initial temperature. According to one aspect, condensate is conveyed from the condensation chamber to the first and second tanks to maintain the corresponding first predetermined amount of water and the second predetermined amount of water constant.

[0076] This allows the water content of a mixture containing various amounts of concrete components to remain essentially unchanged.

[0077] Preferably, the first and second tanks are operatively connected to a single circulating vacuum source configured to regulate the internal pressure in the first and second tanks.

[0078] The mixture of concrete components can be mixed in a respective tank to form a concrete mixture before the components are discharged outside the tank, where they have already been cooled.

[0079] In this way, the method advantageously allows for the production of ready-to-pour concrete without spending additional time mixing the concrete components.

[0080] This arrangement promotes heat exchange, thereby facilitating uniform cooling of all components in the tank.

[0081] In fact, due to fundamental thermodynamic reasons, stones with a high volume-to-surface-area ratio are difficult to cool using evaporation techniques, because the amount of water evaporating from the stone's surface is equivalent to a minimal amount of energy compared to the amount of water contained within the stone itself. On the other hand, mixing the stone into a moist, homogeneous mixture ensures that the stone's surface remains moist throughout the process, thereby releasing the stone's own heat by causing the water on the stone's surface to evaporate.

[0082] Alternatively, mixing can be carried out in a dedicated mixing tank, outside of the tank where the mixture containing concrete components is cooled.

[0083] In some variations, the mixture of concrete components is mixed using a mechanical mixer.

[0084] The values ​​of the basic vacuum and / or the additional basic vacuum and / or the intermediate vacuum and / or the additional intermediate vacuum are selected such that: the desired value of the intermediate vacuum and / or the desired value of the additional vacuum produced is obtained by equalizing the internal pressure.

[0085] According to another aspect, a cooling apparatus is provided for cooling a mixture of components of concrete, the cooling apparatus comprising: an airtight first tank configured to receive a given amount of components at a first initial temperature, wherein the components are used to form concrete and include a predetermined amount of water; and a condensation system for condensing water evaporated from the first tank. The condensation system includes a condenser and an airtight condensation chamber configured to receive the evaporated water.

[0086] The device also includes a recirculation pipe designed to deliver condensed water from the condensation chamber to a first tank to maintain the predetermined amount of water in the components of the first tank substantially unchanged.

[0087] Preferably, water vapor in the condensation chamber condenses upon contact with the condenser at the condensation temperature and is advantageously re-transported to the first tank at the same condensation temperature. The condenser allows for the condensation of evaporated water at low temperatures to avoid reducing the efficiency of the vacuum source.

[0088] Advantageously, the device according to the invention further includes at least one interconnecting valve configured to operatively connect the first tank to the condenser chamber.

[0089] According to one variant, the device further includes at least one vacuum source for regulating the internal pressure in the condenser chamber and the pressure in the first tank. According to a preferred aspect, the vacuum sources include a first vacuum source, referred to as a "basic vacuum source," and a second vacuum source, referred to as a "circulating vacuum source," which are respectively designed to regulate the pressure in the condenser chamber and the first tank.

[0090] According to some preferred embodiments, the apparatus for cooling concrete includes a plurality of hermetically sealed tanks, each of the hermetically sealed plurality of tanks being designed to receive a relevant amount of a component for forming concrete at a relevant first initial temperature, the component including a corresponding first predetermined amount of water and a second predetermined amount of water.

[0091] Advantageously, connecting pipes are provided to operatively connect the tanks, thereby equalizing the pressure in the tanks connected to each other through a series of connections, which allows for a reduction in the energy consumption of the equipment.

[0092] This allows the cooling and pumping processes to remain operational at all times, thereby reducing energy consumption and eliminating dead time.

[0093] According to another advantageous aspect, the method uses the vacuum generated in one canister to partially depressurize the second canister, thereby maximizing the use of the residual vacuum present in the canister before the hermetically sealed canister is emptied.

[0094] Preferably, the device further includes a condensation system for condensing water evaporated from the plurality of tanks, the condensation system including a condenser and an airtight condensation chamber configured to collect the evaporated water.

[0095] According to another aspect of the invention, the condensation system includes a plurality of condensation chambers separated from each other, each condensation chamber containing an associated condenser. According to this aspect of the invention, the number of condensation chambers is equal to the number of hermetically sealed tanks included in the device, each condensation chamber being designed to be operatively connected to an associated hermetically sealed tank.

[0096] Preferably, the device further includes at least one interconnecting valve to operatively connect the condensation chamber to one of the plurality of tanks, thereby allowing evaporated water to flow from the first or second tank to the condensation chamber.

[0097] Then, at least one vacuum source is provided to regulate the internal pressure in the condensation chamber and the internal pressure in each of the plurality of tanks. Preferably, a primary vacuum source is provided to regulate the internal pressure in the condensation chamber, and a circulating vacuum source is provided to regulate the internal pressure in each of the hermetically sealed plurality of tanks.

[0098] Preferably, the device includes at least one equalization valve configured to operatively connect a first tank to a second tank among the plurality of tanks, thereby substantially equalizing the internal pressures in the first and second tanks. Thus, given the presence of at least one tank with residual vacuum containing cooled concrete and at least one other tank with internal pressure equal to atmospheric pressure containing concrete to be cooled, the internal pressures between the two airtight tanks are then equalized. This equalization achieves partial recirculation of the residual vacuum while reducing the vacuum in the tank containing cooled concrete, and is beneficial to the vacuum in the tank containing concrete still to be cooled.

[0099] The equilibration is advantageous because it allows for the reduction of pressure in one tank to be used to lower the pressure in another tank. This pressure reduction is lost as the cooled components are discharged from the tank.

[0100] Therefore, partial recirculation of the residual vacuum in a tank containing a mixture of cooled components is advantageous because it reduces the time and energy required to achieve the vacuum level needed to cool the material in another tank containing a mixture of components to be cooled.

[0101] According to another advantageous aspect, the use of multiple interconnected tanks generates economic advantages because it allows the cooling unit to operate on one of the tanks used for cooling concrete, while the other tanks engage in activities that can be performed before or after the cooling activity, such as loading / unloading phases and equalization of internal pressure. In this way, the cooling unit operates continuously, and its use is shared by the tanks used for cooling concrete, which are then connected to a single condensation chamber via a network of pipes.

[0102] Similarly, a circulating vacuum source, i.e., a pumping unit, can serve tanks one after another in sequence without stopping. In fact, each stop corresponds to underutilization of resources and therefore to corresponding costs.

[0103] According to another advantageous aspect, the device includes a recirculation pipe that can deliver condensed water from the condensation chamber to the relevant tanks among the plurality of tanks to maintain the predetermined amount of water substantially constant.

[0104] In addition, each of the hermetically sealed tanks preferably includes a mixer designed to mix the dosage of concrete components within the tank. In this way, the device can supply kneaded, cooled concrete.

[0105] According to one aspect, each of the hermetically sealed tanks and / or condenser chambers is provided with an insulating cover. This arrangement allows for improved efficiency in the cooling process.

[0106] Preferably, the capacity of the first hermetically sealed tank and the capacity of each of the other hermetically sealed tanks are determined to optimize equipment operation by providing an optimal trade-off between the industrial need to cool large volumes of material and the need to reduce the volume of the hermetically sealed tanks, thereby accelerating the internal pressure regulation process within the tanks and limiting the energy consumption for regulating the internal pressure.

[0107] Advantageously, the capacity of the airtight sealed container was determined to meet the size requirements of the pumping unit of the vacuum source.

[0108] Preferably, the first of the hermetically sealed tanks has a capacity of 0.3 m³. 3 With 0.7 m 3 Between, preferably within 0.4 m 3 With 0.6 m 3Between, or even more preferably, the capacity of the first tank is approximately 0.5 m³. 3 .

[0109] Preferably, each of the hermetically sealed tanks has substantially the same capacity. This allows for standardization of tank production. Furthermore, this feature simplifies the equalization of internal pressure between tanks or between a tank and a condenser chamber.

[0110] Advantageously, the method and apparatus for cooling according to the invention enable very rapid, almost instantaneous cooling of a mixture of concrete components. Advantageously, the invention allows the mixture to be cooled directly in place, i.e., at the location where the concrete is to be poured. According to one aspect, the invention thus eliminates the need to keep the concrete components at low temperatures for an extended period until the concrete is kneaded and poured. The invention also eliminates the energy costs required to achieve this.

[0111] In summary, compared with existing systems, the method and apparatus for cooling according to the present invention allow for energy savings of 30% to 40%.

[0112] According to another advantageous aspect, the invention allows a mixture of concrete components to be cooled to 10°C or even lower. In this regard, the pressure values ​​inside the airtight sealed container and the condensation chamber are adjusted according to the initial temperature of the concrete component mixture before cooling and the final temperature of the mixture after cooling. Attached Figure Description

[0113] The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments shown by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a perspective view of an apparatus for cooling a mixture of concrete components according to an embodiment of the present invention. - Figure 3 yes Figure 1 and Figure 2 A block diagram of the cooling equipment in the middle; - Figure 4 This is a block diagram of an apparatus for cooling a mixture of concrete components according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0114] The accompanying drawings illustrate a cooling device 100 according to the invention for cooling a mixture of concrete components.

[0115] The cooling device according to the invention is suitable for cooling a mixture of concrete components using the latent heat of water evaporation.

[0116] "Mixture of concrete components" refers to a mixture of required amounts of building aggregates (such as sand, gravel, crushed stone), binders (such as cement), and water, loaded together into a sealed container. Specifically, water is present in the mixture of concrete components in a predetermined amount, conforming to the water ratio or water-to-cement ratio indicated by the concrete formulation.

[0117] Figures 1 to 3 A cooling device 100 according to the invention is shown, which includes a first airtight sealed tank 1, which is designed to contain a given amount of mixture of components for forming concrete.

[0118] The device 100 includes a first tank 1, a cooler 5, a condenser chamber 4, and a condenser 41 disposed within the condenser chamber 4 and operatively connected to the cooler 5. Additionally, 6 represents a basic vacuum source operatively connected to the condenser chamber 4, and 7 represents a circulating vacuum source operatively connected to the tank 1. The device 100 also includes an interconnecting valve 11 configured to operatively connect the first tank 1 and the condenser chamber 4.

[0119] Preferably, the device 100 is structurally and functionally designed such that the condenser chamber 4 is arranged above the first tank 1. Advantageously, this arrangement allows the use of gravity to facilitate the recirculation of condensate from the condenser chamber 4 back to the first tank 1 via the recirculation pipe 10, as better described below. According to one aspect, the first tank 1 is provided with at least one loading port and at least one discharge port.

[0120] The first tank 1 may have a hopper 14 to facilitate the loading of components of a mixture containing concrete components into the first tank 1.

[0121] During the startup phase of device 100, cooler 5 is turned on and allowed to reach the desired cooling temperature over a certain period of time.

[0122] In normal operation, a first quantity Q1 of concrete component is poured into the first container 1 at an initial temperature Tin1. The initial temperature Tin1 is the average temperature of the components poured into the first container 1 and depends on the temperature of each individual component.

[0123] Preferably, loading the first tank 1 requires that the tank's discharge port be closed and the loading port be open.

[0124] During operation, the pressure in the first tank 1 is adjusted to obtain a first transition vacuum degree Ptl in the first tank 1.

[0125] In addition, the pressure inside the airtight condenser 4 is regulated to obtain a basic vacuum degree P2 in the condenser 4 that is greater than the first transition vacuum degree Ptl, that is, to make the pressure in the condenser 4 lower than the pressure in the first tank 1.

[0126] It is also necessary to operatively connect the first tank 1 and the condenser chamber 4 so that the internal pressure in the first tank 1 and the internal pressure in the condenser chamber 4 are substantially equal, thereby obtaining an intermediate vacuum degree P3 and causing at least a portion of the water to evaporate from the first tank 1 to the condenser chamber 4, "vap", thereby lowering the temperature of the components in the first tank 1. The evaporation of water includes the extraction of a certain amount of energy corresponding to the latent heat of vaporization of water, and therefore includes cooling the concrete components within the tank 1.

[0127] According to one aspect, pressure equalization between the first tank 1 and the condenser chamber 4 is achieved by opening the interconnecting valve 11. Preferably, pressure equalization and water evaporation are achieved via the opened interconnecting valve 11.

[0128] Water vapor obtained from the evaporation of water in the components of tank 1 reaches the condensation chamber 4, which contains condenser 41. Condenser 41 is maintained at the condensation temperature by cooler 5. The water vapor in the condensation chamber 4 that comes into contact with condenser 41 at the condensation temperature condenses into condensate "con" and tends to be collected in the condensation chamber.

[0129] Preferably, condensate "con" is simultaneously transported from the condenser chamber 4 to the first tank 1 to maintain a substantially constant first predetermined amount of water in the first tank 1. Preferably, this recirculation of condensate is carried out via a recirculation pipe 10. Advantageously, the recirculation pipe 10 allows for the collection and transport of condensate "con," thereby maintaining thermal isolation of the condenser 41 from the external environment. According to another advantageous aspect, the recirculation pipe 10 can transport evaporated water "vap" from the first tank 1 to the condenser chamber 4 via an interconnecting valve 11, and can also collect condensate "con" and transport it back to the first tank 1.

[0130] According to one aspect, the first tank 1 includes a valve configured to eliminate residual vacuum within the first tank 1 once the cooling cycle has ended. In practice, the valve equalizes the internal pressure in the first tank 1 with the external atmospheric pressure. Advantageously, the elimination of residual vacuum allows the opening of the vent of the first tank 1.

[0131] At the end of the cooling process, each component is collected from the first tank 1 at an output temperature Toutl lower than the first initial temperature Tinl, where the first output temperature Toutl is the average temperature of the material collected from the first tank 1.

[0132] The first output temperature Toutl can be between 5°C and 25°C, depending on influencing parameters such as the thermal inertia and amount of material introduced into the first tank, the initial temperature of the material, and the amount of water evaporated / condensed during the process.

[0133] According to a preferred embodiment, the condenser 41 receives cooling water from the cooler 5.

[0134] According to one aspect, the device 100 includes a storage tank 13 operatively connected to the cooler 5 and to the condenser 41. The storage tank 13 can be configured to receive water cooled by the cooler 5 and allow this water to enter the condenser 41. Advantageously, the storage tank 13 can prevent continuous and rapid changes in the temperature of the cooling water due to intermittent regulation. According to another advantageous aspect, the storage tank 13 can limit the number of times the compressor of the cooler 5 is turned on / off per hour to an acceptable value, especially intentionally or unintentionally, when the cooling process is stopped, to ensure a certain degree of operational stability of the cooler 5. This is achieved thanks to the amount of stored water contained in the storage tank 13.

[0135] according to Figure 4 In another embodiment shown, the storage tank 13' is configured to receive water from the condenser 41' and allow water to enter the cooler 5' to ensure that the cooler 5' has a continuous water head.

[0136] According to one aspect, the components of a concrete mixture are mixed, i.e., kneaded, to combine these components into a concrete mixture. According to one aspect, the apparatus 100 includes a mixer 9 capable of producing the concrete mixture from the concrete component mixture. Preferably, as... Figure 3 As shown, mixer 9 is placed inside the first tank 1 to mix or knead the mixture during the cooling process. This solution can reduce the time required to produce concrete mixtures ready for pouring. Advantageously, the device 100 allows for the cooling of building aggregates or the cooling of produced concrete or roller-compacted concrete (RCC).

[0137] Figure 4 A cooling device 100' according to an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown, wherein components corresponding to those previously described are indicated by the same reference numerals with apostrophes and are not described in detail.

[0138] exist Figure 4 In one embodiment, the device 100' includes a plurality of tanks 200', each of which is designed to receive components of a concrete mixture to be cooled.

[0139] The plurality of tanks 200' includes at least one first tank 1', one second tank 2', and one third tank 3'. According to other variations not shown, more than or equal to two different numbers of tanks may be provided.

[0140] The cans are interconnected by equalization valves 12' to allow residual vacuum to be recirculated from one can to another. Preferably, each of the plurality of cans 200' is provided with an equalization valve 12' dedicated to operatively connecting a can to one or more other hermetic sealed cans.

[0141] Additionally, the device 100' includes a condensation chamber 4' and an interconnecting valve 11' located between the condensation chamber 4' and each of the tanks 1' to 3' in the plurality of tanks 200'.

[0142] According to one aspect, a single condenser 41' is provided within the condensing chamber 4', which can condense the evaporated water "vap" from each of the hermetically sealed plurality of tanks 200' 1' to 3', instead of a separate condenser for each tank. This arrangement allows for reduced equipment costs because the equipment includes a single condenser 41', a single water pump 51' for the cooling circuit of the condenser 41', and a single basic vacuum source 6' to depressurize the condensing chamber 4'. According to a variant, the basic vacuum source 6' may include multiple vacuum pumps, such as, for example, three vacuum pumps, to allow for the use of a larger condenser 41'. According to another advantage, the use of a single, larger condenser 41' allows for improved energy efficiency due to the reduction in load losses, such as those through the condenser tube bundle, and also allows for reduced energy consumption due to the larger surface area available for heat exchange, such as the larger surface area available for the same amount of cooling water passing through the condenser itself.

[0143] Advantageously, each tank 1' to 3' is provided with an inlet for loading the concrete components to be cooled and an inlet for discharging the cooled concrete, neither of which is shown in the figure.

[0144] The method for cooling concrete implemented on the equipment 100' which is equipped with the plurality of tanks 200' includes operating the following cycle.

[0145] In the initial stage, the cooler 5' is turned on and allowed to reach the required temperature over a certain period of time, while the pressure in the plurality of airtight sealed tanks 200' and condenser 4' is adjusted to obtain an initial vacuum.

[0146] Preferably, the tanks in the plurality of hermetically sealed containers 200' and the equally hermetically sealed condenser chamber 4' are operatively connected to each other to obtain a single environment with substantially uniform internal pressure. In practice, the interconnecting valve 11' and the equalizing valve 12' are opened to operatively connect the tanks 1' to 3' in the plurality of hermetically sealed containers 200' to the condenser chamber 4'.

[0147] Furthermore, tanks 1' to 3' are advantageously sealed to isolate them from the external environment, and the pressure within tanks 1' to 3' of the plurality of hermetically sealed tanks 200' and the pressure within the condensation chamber 4' are regulated to obtain a uniform initial vacuum within the environment of tanks 1' to 3'. This uniform initial vacuum is obtained via a primary vacuum source 6' or a circulating vacuum source 7' and may correspond to, for example, a pressure value equal to 10 mbar.

[0148] The closure of interconnecting valve 11' and equalization valve 12' ends the initial phase.

[0149] Then, a first quantity Q1 of a component at a first initial temperature Tin1 is loaded into a first tank 1', the component being used to form the concrete, the component comprising a first predetermined quantity of water.

[0150] The first initial temperature Tin1 represents the average temperature, which depends on the temperatures of the individual components of the concrete. At this point, the first tank 1' and the second tank 2' are operatively connected to achieve a residual vacuum Pr by making the internal pressure in the first tank 1' and the internal pressure in the second tank 2' substantially equal. The first tank 1' has an initial internal pressure level equal to atmospheric pressure Patm, and the second tank 2' has an initial internal pressure level lower than atmospheric pressure Patm.

[0151] Then, a second quantity of component Q2, which is at a second initial temperature Tin2, is loaded into a second tank 2', the component being used to form the concrete, the component including a second predetermined quantity of water.

[0152] Similar to the first initial temperature Tin1, the second initial temperature Tin2 also represents the average temperature, which depends on the temperature of each component of the concrete.

[0153] Preferably, the second quantity Q2 and the second initial temperature Tin2 are substantially equal to the first quantity Q1 and the first initial temperature Tin1, respectively.

[0154] The pressure inside the first tank 1' must also be adjusted to obtain the first transition vacuum degree Ptl in the first tank 1'.

[0155] The pressure inside the airtight condenser 4' is also adjusted to obtain a basic vacuum P2 in the condenser 4' that is greater than the first transition vacuum Ptl, that is, to make the pressure in the condenser 4' lower than the pressure in the first tank 1'.

[0156] Subsequently, the first tank 1' is operatively connected to the condenser 4' so that the internal pressure in the first tank 1' is substantially equal to the internal pressure in the condenser 4', thereby obtaining a vacuum P3, which causes at least a portion of the water contained in the first tank 1' to evaporate toward the condenser 4', thereby lowering the temperature of the components in the first tank 1'.

[0157] The water evaporated from the first tank 1' is then condensed in the condenser 4'.

[0158] Subsequently, the first tank 1' and the second tank 2' are operatively connected so that the internal pressure in the first tank 1' and the internal pressure in the second tank 2' are substantially equal, thereby obtaining an additional residual vacuum Pr'. The second tank 2' has an initial internal pressure level equal to atmospheric pressure Patm, and the first tank 1' has an initial internal pressure level lower than atmospheric pressure Patm.

[0159] According to one aspect, pressure equalization between the first tank 1' and the second tank 2' occurs due to the action of opening one or more equalization valves 12'. According to one aspect, the device 100' includes a connecting pipe 15' operatively connecting each of the plurality of tanks 200' to equalize the internal pressure within the tanks.

[0160] At this point, the components at a first output temperature Toutl, which is lower than the first initial temperature Tinl, can be collected from the first tank 1'.

[0161] According to one aspect, the condensate is returned from the condensation chamber 4' to the first tank 1' to maintain the water volume in the first tank 1' substantially constant compared to the initial water volume. This is to conform to the relative proportion of water indicated by the concrete formula and the water-to-cement ratio indicated by the formula. Advantageously, the water evaporated from the first tank 1' is restored to the mixture as cold water. Preferably, the condensation chamber 4' and the first tank 1' are operatively connected by a recirculation pipe 10' that can return the condensate to the first tank 1' containing the mixture of concrete components.

[0162] According to another advantageous aspect, the recirculation pipe 10' of any of the plurality of tanks 200's 1' to 3' includes an upper opening 42' located below the heat exchange section 43' within the condenser chamber 4'. Advantageously, the recirculation pipe 10' can deliver evaporated water "vap" from the tank via an interconnecting valve 11' toward the heat exchange section 43' of the condenser 41'. Conversely, due to the location of the heat exchange section 43' above the upper opening 42', the heat exchange section 43' can condense only the evaporated water "vap" from the tank and delivered by the recirculation pipe 10'.

[0163] Furthermore, the upper opening 42' is configured to receive only the condensate "con" from the heat exchange section 43', so that water can be returned to the tank. This arrangement ensures that the amount of evaporated water "vap" at the tank's outlet is substantially equal to the amount of condensate "con" returned to the tank.

[0164] According to one aspect, the heat exchange section 43' may be a tube bundle of condenser 41', the tube bundle having an exchange surface sized to condense an amount of evaporated water "vap" from the tanks in the plurality of hermetically sealed 200'.

[0165] According to one aspect, the method according to the invention continues by loading a third quantity Q3 of components for forming the concrete into a first tank 1', the components comprising a third predetermined quantity of water at a third initial temperature Tin3.

[0166] Then the pressure inside the second tank 2' needs to be adjusted to obtain the second transition vacuum degree Pt2 in the second tank 2'.

[0167] In addition, similar to the stage experienced by the first tank 1', the pressure in the condenser 4' is adjusted to another basic vacuum P2' which is greater than the second transition vacuum Pt2, that is, the pressure in the condenser 4' is lower than the pressure in the second tank 2'.

[0168] Subsequently, the second tank 2' needs to be operatively connected to the condenser 4' so that the internal pressure in the second tank 2' is substantially equal to the internal pressure in the condenser 4', thereby obtaining an additional vacuum P3', which causes at least a portion of the water contained in the second tank 2' to evaporate toward the condenser 4', thereby lowering the temperature of the components in the second tank 2'.

[0169] The water evaporated from the second tank 2' is then condensed in the condenser 4'.

[0170] Subsequently, the first tank 1' and the second tank 2' are operatively connected so that the internal pressure in the first tank 1' and the internal pressure in the second tank 2' are substantially equal, thereby obtaining a second additional residual vacuum degree Pr". The first tank 1' has an initial internal pressure level equal to atmospheric pressure Patm, and the second tank 2' has an initial internal pressure level lower than atmospheric pressure Patm.

[0171] Finally, the component can be collected from the second tank 2' at a second output temperature Tout2 lower than the second initial temperature Tin2, where the second output temperature Tout2 is the average temperature of the material collected from tank 2'.

[0172] According to one aspect, the circulating vacuum source 7' includes a vacuum tank 8' operatively connected to each of the plurality of hermetically sealed tanks 200' to accelerate the regulation of the internal pressure in each of the plurality of hermetically sealed tanks 200'.

[0173] According to one aspect, the device 100' and the method for cooling according to the invention can be used to cool a mixture of water and sand in the absence of stone and binders, such as cement.

[0174] According to another advantageous aspect, the basic vacuum source 6' includes a vacuum tank 8', which is operatively connected to the condenser chamber 4' to accelerate the time required to adjust the basic vacuum level within the condenser chamber 4'.

[0175] According to a preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of airtight sealed tanks 200', tank 1' to 3', includes a mixer 9' designed for mixing concrete components within the tank itself.

[0176] According to another advantageous aspect, thermal insulation is provided for the condensation chamber 4 and / or for one or more of the tanks 1' to 3' used for cooling concrete to reduce heat absorption from the outside, thereby reducing the energy consumption and time required for the cooling process.

[0177] Preferably, at least one gap 16' is provided, which may be placed between the outer wall of tank 1' to 3' of the plurality of tanks 200' and the mixer 9' disposed in the tank, or between the outer wall of condenser 41' and condensation chamber 4', and the gap 16' can be depressurized to thermally insulate the mixer 9' or the condenser 41'.

[0178] Advantageously, the gap 16' surrounds and encloses the condenser 4' or cooling tank to reduce heat absorption from the outside.

[0179] Therefore, the present invention solves the problems raised and achieves many advantages, including: • It can cool a mixture of concrete components (both conventional concrete and RCC) to 10°C or lower; • Recirculation of condensate to ensure that the amount of water supplied to the mixture of concrete components according to the predetermined formula of the concrete remains substantially unchanged; • The use of multiple compact tanks with smaller volumes to be emptied for concrete, and the resulting reduction in equipment costs; • The interconnection logic between tanks designed to hold the mixture of concrete components allows the cooling and pumping processes to be kept running at all times, thus eliminating dead time; • Includes cooling processes that achieve energy savings of more than 30% compared to the cited prior art; • A single condenser can be used to condense water that evaporates from multiple tanks used for concrete; • Use of residual vacuum in concrete component tanks before discharging cooled material; • A cooling process that can be put into production within minutes and allows concrete to cool in less than an hour; • Allows the following cooling processes: real-time cooling of concrete unaffected by the status of upstream or downstream equipment and without the need for energy to pre-cool building aggregates or maintain temperature.

Claims

1. A method for cooling a mixture of components of concrete, wherein, The method includes: • A given first quantity (Q1) of a component at a first initial temperature (Tin1) is loaded into an airtight first container, the component being used to form the concrete and including a first predetermined quantity of water; • The pressure in the first tank is adjusted to obtain a first transition vacuum (Pt1) in the first tank. • The pressure inside the hermetically sealed condenser is adjusted to obtain a basic vacuum (P2) in the condenser that is greater than the first transition vacuum (Pt1), that is, the pressure in the condenser is lower than the pressure in the first tank. • The first tank is operatively connected to the condenser to make the internal pressure in the first tank and the internal pressure in the condenser substantially equal, thereby obtaining a vacuum (P3) and causing at least part of the water from the first tank to evaporate toward the condenser, thereby lowering the temperature of the components in the first tank. • The water evaporated from the first tank is condensed in the condensation chamber; • The condensed water is transferred from the condensation chamber to the first tank to keep the first predetermined amount of water in the first tank substantially unchanged; • Collect the component from the first tank at a first output temperature (Tout1) that is lower than the first initial temperature (Tin1).

2. A method for cooling a mixture of components of concrete, wherein, The method includes: • A first quantity (Q1) of a component at a first initial temperature (Tin1) is loaded into a first tank among a plurality of airtight tanks, the component being used to form the concrete, the component comprising a first predetermined quantity of water; • The first canister is operatively connected to the second canister (2') of the plurality of hermetically sealed canisters so that the internal pressure in the first canister and the internal pressure in the second canister (2') are substantially equal, thereby obtaining a residual vacuum (Pr), wherein the first canister has an initial internal pressure level equal to atmospheric pressure (Patm) and the second canister (2') has an initial internal pressure level lower than atmospheric pressure (Patm); • A second quantity (Q2) of a component at a second initial temperature (Tin2) is loaded into the second tank (2'), the component being used to form the concrete, the component comprising a second predetermined quantity of water; • The pressure inside the first tank is adjusted to obtain a first transition vacuum (Pt1) in the first tank. • The pressure in the airtight condenser chamber is adjusted to obtain a basic vacuum (P2) in the condenser chamber that is greater than the first transition vacuum (Pt1), that is, the pressure in the condenser chamber is lower than the pressure in the first tank. • The first tank is operatively connected to the condenser to make the internal pressure in the first tank and the internal pressure in the condenser substantially equal, thereby obtaining a vacuum (P3) that causes at least a portion of the water contained in the first tank to evaporate toward the condenser, thereby lowering the temperature of the components in the first tank. • The water evaporated from the first tank is condensed in the condensation chamber; • The first tank and the second tank (2') are operatively connected so that the internal pressure in the first tank and the internal pressure in the second tank (2') are substantially equal, thereby obtaining an additional residual vacuum (Pr'), the second tank (2') having an initial internal pressure level equal to atmospheric pressure (Patm) and the first tank having an initial internal pressure level lower than atmospheric pressure (Patm); • Collect the component from the first tank at a first output temperature (Tout1) that is lower than the first initial temperature (Tin1).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The method further includes an initiation phase, which includes: • Each of the hermetically sealed plurality of tanks is operatively connected to the hermetically sealed condensation chamber; • The pressure inside the hermetically sealed plurality of tanks and the pressure inside the condenser chamber are adjusted to obtain an initial uniform vacuum.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The method includes: conveying condensed water from the condensation chamber to the first tank and the second tank (2') to maintain the corresponding first predetermined amount of water and the second predetermined amount of water unchanged.

5. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The method includes operatively connecting the first tank and the second tank (2') to a single circulating vacuum source configured to regulate the internal pressure in the first tank and the internal pressure in the second tank (2').

6. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The method includes mixing the components of the concrete in the first tank and / or the second tank (2').

7. An apparatus for cooling a mixture of components of concrete, wherein, The device includes: • An airtight first container, configured to receive a given first amount (Q1) of a component at a first initial temperature (Tin1), the component being used to form the concrete, the component comprising a first predetermined amount of water; • A condensation system for condensing water evaporated from the first tank, the condensation system comprising a condenser and an airtight condensation chamber configured to collect the evaporated water; • At least one interconnecting valve configured to operatively connect the first tank to the condenser chamber; • At least one vacuum source to regulate the internal pressure in the condensation chamber and the internal pressure in the first tank; • A recirculation pipe, which is configured and used to deliver condensed water from the condensation chamber to the first tank to maintain the first predetermined amount of water in the first tank substantially constant.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein, The at least one vacuum source includes a basic vacuum source (6) and a circulating vacuum source, the basic vacuum source (6) and the circulating vacuum source being designed to regulate the pressure in the condenser chamber and the pressure in the first tank, respectively.

9. The device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, The first tank includes a mixer designed to mix the components of the concrete within the first tank.

10. The device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, The device includes at least one gap positioned between the outer wall of the first tank and a mixer disposed within the first tank; or, the gap positioned between the condenser and the outer wall of the condensation chamber, the gap being depressurized to thermally insulate the mixer or the condenser.

11. The device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, The first tank has a capacity between 0.3 m 3 and 0.7 m 3 .

12. The device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, The first tank has a capacity between 0.4 m 3 and 0.6 m 3 .

13. The device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, The first tank has a capacity substantially equal to 0.5 m 3 .

14. An apparatus for cooling a mixture of components of concrete, wherein, The device includes: • A plurality of airtight tanks, each of the plurality of airtight tanks being designed to receive a corresponding amount of a component at a relevant first initial temperature (Tin1) and a second initial temperature (Tin2) for forming the concrete, the component comprising a corresponding first predetermined amount of water and a second predetermined amount of water. • A condensation system for condensing water evaporated from the plurality of hermetically sealed tanks, the condensation system comprising a condenser and a hermetically sealed condensation chamber configured to collect the evaporated water; • At least one interconnecting valve to operatively connect the condenser to each of the plurality of tanks, thereby allowing evaporated water to flow from the first or second tank (2') of the plurality of tanks to the condenser; • At least one vacuum source for regulating the internal pressure in the condensation chamber and the internal pressure in the plurality of tanks; • At least one equalization valve (12') is configured and used to operatively connect the first tank and the second tank (2') of the plurality of tanks to make the internal pressure in the first tank substantially equal to the internal pressure in the second tank (2').

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein, The device includes a recirculation pipe for each of the plurality of tanks, the recirculation pipe being capable of delivering condensed water from the condensation chamber to the relevant tank among the plurality of tanks to maintain the first predetermined amount of water and the second predetermined amount of water substantially unchanged.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein, The recirculation pipe of one of the plurality of tanks includes an upper opening (42') positioned below a heat exchange section (43') within the condenser chamber. The recirculation pipe is capable of conveying evaporated water from the tank via the interconnecting valve toward the heat exchange section (43') of the condenser, the heat exchange section (43') being used to condense only the evaporated water from the tank and conveyed by the recirculation pipe. The upper opening (42') is capable of receiving only the condensed water from the heat exchange section (43') for re-transporting the condensed water back to the tank.

17. The device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein, The first or second tank (2') of the plurality of airtight tanks includes a mixer designed to mix the components of the concrete within the respective tank.

18. The device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein, The device includes at least one gap positioned between the outer wall of the respective tank and a mixer disposed within the respective tank; or, the gap positioned between the condenser and the outer wall of the condensation chamber, the gap being depressurized to thermally insulate the mixer or the condenser.

19. The device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein, The first tank has a capacity between 0.3 m 3 and 0.7 m 3 .

20. The device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein, The capacity of the first tank is 0.4 m³. 3 With 0.6 m 3 between.

21. The device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein, The capacity of the first tank is approximately 0.5 m³. 3 .

22. The device according to claim 14, wherein, Each of the hermetically sealed tanks has substantially the same capacity.

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