A freezing concentration device

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of freeze concentration, and relates to a freeze concentration device, including a freeze-thaw assembly, the freeze-thaw assembly including a container, a container cover, a heat-insulating cover at the bottom of the container, an empty tube with an opening at the upper or lower end for setting a heat source, and a heat source arranged at the bottom of the container; the empty tube is arranged at the central axis position of the container and its vicinity. The device of the present invention solves the problem that during the freeze concentration process, the temperature of the heat source of the heater will be reduced to the freezing temperature, so that the temperature of the heat source itself cannot be met when the heater starts working, and the low temperature tolerance limit of the heat source of the heater affects the freezing low temperature that the final freeze concentration can withstand, thereby limiting the maximum concentration concentration of the freeze concentration of the device. The present invention improves the effect and efficiency of freeze concentration and separation and purification, and the equipment and operation are simple, which is convenient for application in the fields of food, cosmetics, biomedicine, environmental protection treatment, etc.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of freeze concentration, and in particular relates to a freeze concentration device. Background Art

[0002] Among the existing freeze concentration methods, there are mainly two types of freeze concentration methods with two different physical principles. The first type: a concentration technology that uses the solid-liquid phase relationship of a substance below the crystallization point (such as using an aqueous solution at the freezing point); for example, when the solvent is water, the concentration is achieved by freezing the water into ice crystals and removing the solvent (water) in a solid form through solid-liquid separation (separation of ice crystals from concentrated solution). The second type: a technical method for freeze concentration that uses the negative correlation between the melting point and the solute content (concentration); that is, a method of heating and dissolving the frozen material and collecting dissolved solutions of different concentrations to achieve a concentrated freeze concentration method.

[0003] The first freeze concentration method is a concentration technology that uses the solid-liquid phase relationship between a dilute solution and ice below the freezing point. There are two main methods: suspended crystallization freeze concentration and progressive freeze concentration. The principle of the suspended crystallization freeze concentration method is that when a dilute solution is frozen, the free small ice crystals suspended in the liquid are continuously removed to increase the liquid concentration. The principle of the progressive freeze concentration method is that when a dilute solution is frozen, as the ice layer is generated and grows on the cooling surface, the solute near the solid-liquid interface is removed to the liquid phase side, resulting in a concentration method in which the mass concentration of the solute in the liquid phase gradually increases. The existing freeze concentration methods have complex equipment structures, high equipment costs and production costs, and low efficiency.

[0004] The second freeze concentration method: using the negative correlation between melting point and solute content (concentration), concentration is achieved by heating, dissolving and separating the frozen material. For example, when ice melts naturally, a relatively high concentration solution will be dissolved first. Using this phenomenon, the concentration of the dilute solution can be increased by freezing the solution into a solid and then dissolving it multiple times. This is a freeze concentration method using the natural dissolution of ice. In addition, the natural dissolution of ice is a way of dissolving by heat. Similarly, heating and dissolving ice in other ways will also produce a concentrated solution, achieving freeze concentration. At present, the concentration effect and efficiency of this method are very low.

[0005] The above two freeze concentration methods based on different physical principles have a major problem: the effect and efficiency of freeze concentration are low. In particular, the existing freeze concentration method of heating and dissolving (traditional conventional heating method) has a lower concentration effect and efficiency than the existing method of using the solid-liquid phase relationship of the substance below the crystallization point (such as using the aqueous solution at the freezing point) to achieve concentration.

[0006] The reason that affects the concentration effect and efficiency of the first freeze concentration method is that the physical principle it adopts inevitably leads to the problem of solute entrainment during solid-liquid separation. The separation effect of ice crystals and the control of solute loss caused by ice crystal entrainment are extremely important for the successful application of freeze concentration under this physical principle, which is also one of the reasons for the complex structure, high equipment cost and complex operation of existing freeze concentration equipment.

[0007] The second freeze concentration method can solve the solute entrainment problem of the first method, but there are factors that affect the concentration effect and efficiency of the second freeze concentration method: factors such as the dense ice layer of the solute content on the cooling surface of the frozen material and the solid structure inside the frozen material will hinder the heat transfer when it is heated and dissolved, as well as the separation and outflow of the dissolved solution of the frozen material. These two hindering factors seriously affect the concentration effect and efficiency of the freeze concentration under this method.

[0008] The device disclosed in the public document (application number CN202411098564.3) breaks the above-mentioned conventional heating thinking by setting the heat source in a specific position. The heat source in a specific position solves the problem that the dense ice layer of the solute content on the cooling surface of the frozen material will hinder the heat transfer when it is heated and dissolved.

[0009] However, due to the negative correlation between the melting point and the solute content (concentration), many solutions have very low melting points when they reach a certain concentration. In other words, extremely low temperatures are required to freeze the solution at this concentration into a solid state. Figure 1 It is a curve diagram of the relationship between alcohol concentration and its melting point (freezing point). For example, when the alcohol concentration is about 70wt%, the melting point is below -50℃ (that is, the temperature when the solution is frozen into a solid state is below -50℃), and when the alcohol concentration is about 90wt%, the melting point is below -100℃ (that is, the temperature when the solution is frozen into a solid state is below -100℃). However, under normal circumstances, the heat source of the heater (heating element or heat medium) has a limited tolerance to low temperatures. If the low temperature limit is exceeded, the heater will be damaged and unable to work. At the same time, the heat source of the heater needs to meet a certain temperature before it can start working and transfer heat. If the freeze-concentration device with its own heater does not take protective measures for the heater during the freezing process, or if, as in the freeze-concentration device in the public document (application number CN202411098564.3): the heater and the dilute solution are frozen together in the freezing equipment, on the one hand, the temperature of the heat source of the heater will drop to the freezing temperature, which will cause the temperature of the heat source itself to fail to meet the requirements when the heater starts working; on the other hand, the low temperature tolerance limit of the heat source in the heater determines the final freezing low temperature that the freeze-concentration equipment can adopt, which limits the maximum concentration that can be achieved by the device during freeze-concentration, and ultimately affects the effect and efficiency of freeze-concentration. Summary of the invention

[0010] In order to solve the problems existing in the prior art, the main purpose of the present invention is to propose a technical concept of heat source installation: through the technical concept of separating or combining the heat source installation and the freezing process (determined by the depth of the freezing low temperature and the tolerance of the heat source).

[0011] To solve the above technical problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0012] A freeze concentration device comprises: a freeze-thaw component, the freeze-thaw component comprises a container, a container cover, a heat-insulating cover at the bottom of the container, an empty tube with an opening at the upper or lower end for setting a heat source and arranged at the bottom of the container; the empty tube is arranged at the central axis position of the container and its vicinity; during freezing, the dilute solution in the container is frozen into a solid or a solid-liquid mixture; then the container is removed from the freezing equipment, the heat source is used to transfer heat to the solid or the solid-liquid mixture for dissolution, and the solution is retained in sections, the solution that meets the target concentration is retained for standby use, and the solution that does not meet the target concentration is continuously frozen and dissolved using the freeze concentration device to achieve concentration of the dilute solution.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the freezing concentration device described in the present invention, there may be one or more empty tubes arranged at the central axis position of the container and in the vicinity thereof.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the freeze concentration device described in the present invention, the heat source may be a heating element (such as an electric heating element, etc.), or a heat medium (such as a fluid, etc.) may be used as the heat source.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the freezing concentration device described in the present invention, the heat source is independently or detachably arranged on the lower end surface of the container cover or the upper end surface of the container bottom insulation cover.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment of the freeze concentration device of the present invention, when freezing a dilute solution, the freezing method will affect the effect and efficiency of freeze concentration. For example, the effect and efficiency of freeze concentration are different under the gradual freezing method and the rapid freezing method; the gradual freezing method will improve the effect and efficiency of freeze concentration.

[0017] As a preferred embodiment of the freeze concentration device described in the present invention, the heat source is installed in the empty tube before or after freezing to ensure normal use of the heat source under various freezing temperature conditions, including extremely low temperatures.

[0018] As a preferred embodiment of the freezing concentration device described in the present invention, the device further comprises a heat insulation device for being mounted outside the container to achieve heat insulation.

[0019] As a preferred embodiment of the freeze concentration device described in the present invention, the device further comprises a device for manufacturing a flow guide channel, which is used to manufacture the flow guide channel on the solid or solid-liquid mixture obtained by freezing.

[0020] As a preferred embodiment of the freezing concentration device described in the present invention, a solution outlet and a solution outlet valve are arranged on the container cover of the container.

[0021] As a preferred embodiment of the freezing concentration device described in the present invention, the container cover of the container is also provided with supporting feet for supporting the container during heating and dissolving.

[0022] As a preferred embodiment of the freezing concentration device described in the present invention, the device is also provided with a spare cover, and both the spare cover and the container cover are provided with a heat insulation layer.

[0023] As a preferred embodiment of the freezing concentration device described in the present invention, when the opening of the empty tube is arranged at the lower end, the heat-insulating cover at the bottom of the container also serves as a protective cover for the opening of the empty tube; when the opening of the empty tube is arranged at the upper end, a protective cover is arranged on the opening, and a spare cover is installed on the top of the container during freezing.

[0024] As a preferred embodiment of a freeze concentration device according to the present invention, a plurality of groups of the aforementioned freeze-thaw components are assembled together to form a freeze-thaw component assembly, which can improve the effect and efficiency of the freeze concentration device.

[0025] To solve the above technical problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0026] An application of the above-mentioned freezing concentration device in the fields of food, cosmetics, biomedicine, environmental protection treatment, etc.

[0027] The above-mentioned freezing concentration device is used in the fields of milk, wine, beverages (such as juice, coffee, tea, soy milk, soy milk, etc.), chemical liquid, Chinese herbal medicine liquid, plant extract, seawater purification, wastewater treatment, etc.

[0028] An application of the above-mentioned freezing concentration device in the field of freezing concentration and separation and purification of heat-sensitive raw materials.

[0029] The above-mentioned freezing concentration device is used in the fields of freezing concentration and separation and purification of milk, wine, beverages (such as juice, coffee, tea, soy milk, soy milk, etc.), chemical liquid, Chinese herbal medicine liquid, plant extract, seawater purification, wastewater treatment, etc.

[0030] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0031] The present invention proposes a freezing concentration device, including a freezing and thawing component, the freezing and thawing component includes a container, a container cover, a heat-insulating cover at the bottom of the container, an empty tube with an opening at the upper or lower end for setting a heat source, and a heat source; the empty tube is arranged at the central axis position of the container and its vicinity; during freezing, the dilute solution in the container is frozen into a solid or a solid-liquid mixture; then the container is removed from the freezing equipment, and the heat source is used to transfer heat to the solid or solid-liquid mixture for dissolution, and the solution is retained in sections, and the solution that meets the target concentration is retained for standby use, and the solution that does not meet the target concentration is continued to be frozen and dissolved using the freezing concentration device to achieve the concentration of the dilute solution. The device of the present invention solves the problems that, during the freezing and concentration process, on the one hand, the temperature of the heat source (heating element or heat medium) of the heater will drop to the freezing temperature, which causes the temperature of the heat source itself to be unable to meet the requirements when the heater starts working; on the other hand, due to the low temperature tolerance limit of the heat source of the heater, the freezing low temperature that can be tolerated by the final freezing concentration is affected, thereby limiting the maximum concentration concentration of the freezing concentration of the device. The invention improves the effect and efficiency of freeze concentration and separation and purification, has simple equipment and operation, and is convenient for application in the fields of food, cosmetics, biomedicine, environmental protection treatment, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying creative work.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a curve chart showing the relationship between the concentration of alcohol and its melting point (freezing point).

[0034] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the freeze-thaw assembly of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 3 The schematic cross-sectional view of the freeze-thaw assembly structure of the present invention is provided with an empty tube with an opening at the lower end.

[0036] Figure 4 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the heat source of the present invention when it is installed on the heat-insulating cover at the bottom of the container.

[0037] Figure 5 The figure is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of a freezing concentration device of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 6 The schematic cross-sectional view of the freeze-thaw assembly structure of the present invention is provided with an empty tube with an upper end opening.

[0039] Figure 7 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heat source of the present invention when it is arranged on the container cover.

[0040] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of another freezing concentration device of the present invention.

[0041] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of a freeze-thaw component assembly composed of multiple freeze-thaw components.

[0042] In the figure, 1-solution outlet valve, 2-solution outlet, 3-container cover, 4-insulation layer, 5-empty pipe, 6-container, 7-ice support rack, 8-container bottom insulation cover, 9-opening, 10-container bottom, 11-protective cover, 12-spare cover, 13-support foot, 14-heat source, 15-power socket, 16-temperature adjustment switch, 17-protective cover, 18-heat source fixing frame, 19-solid or solid-liquid mixture, 20-container group cover, 21-container group, 22-container group bottom insulation cover.

[0043] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The following will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with the technical solutions in the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0045] The present invention provides a freezing concentration device, such as Figure 2-8 As shown, including:

[0046] A freezing concentration device, comprising:

[0047] The freeze-thaw assembly comprises a container 6, a container cover 3, a container bottom insulation cover 8, an empty tube 5 with an opening 9 at the upper or lower end for arranging a heat source 14 and arranged at the container bottom 10, and a heat source 14 in the empty tube 5; wherein the empty tube 5 is arranged at the central axis position of the container 6 and its vicinity;

[0048] During freezing, the dilute solution in the container 6 is frozen into a solid or a solid-liquid mixture 19 in the freezing equipment; then the container 6 is removed from the freezing equipment, and the solid or solid-liquid mixture 19 is heated and dissolved by the heat source 14 placed in the empty tube 5, and the solution is retained in sections. The solution that meets the target concentration is retained for use, and the solution that does not meet the target concentration is continued to be frozen and dissolved using the freezing concentration device to achieve concentration of the dilute solution.

[0049] In one embodiment of the present invention, the heat source 14 may be a heating element (such as an electric heating element, etc.), or a heat medium (such as a fluid, etc.) may be used as the heat source 14. The heat source 14 may be a plate-shaped heat source or a plurality of parallel rod-shaped heat sources.

[0050] In one embodiment of the present invention, the heat source 14 is independently provided or the heat source 14 is provided on the lower end surface of the container cover 3 or the upper end surface of the container bottom insulation cover 8. The container cover 3 or the container bottom insulation cover 8 provided with the heat source 14 is provided with a power socket 15, the power cord is connected to the power socket 15, the power socket 15 is provided with a temperature adjustment switch 16, and a protective cover 17 is provided on the power socket 15.

[0051] In one embodiment of the present invention, the heat source 14 is installed in the empty tube 5 before or after freezing.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a heat insulating device for being mounted outside the freezing and thawing component to achieve heat insulation.

[0053] In one embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a device for manufacturing a flow guiding channel, which is used to make the flow guiding channel on the solid or solid-liquid mixture obtained by freezing.

[0054] In one embodiment of the present invention, a solution outlet 2 and a solution outlet valve 1 are provided on the container cover 3 of the container 6 .

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, the container cover 3 of the container 6 is further provided with supporting feet 13 for supporting the container 6 during heating and dissolving.

[0056] In one embodiment of the present invention, the container cover 3 of the container 6 is provided with an insulation layer 4; when the opening 9 of the empty tube 5 is arranged at the lower end, the container bottom insulation cover 8 is also a protective cover of the opening 9 of the empty tube 5; when the opening 9 of the empty tube 5 is arranged at the upper end, a protective cover 11 is arranged on the opening 9.

[0057] In one embodiment of the present invention, the device is also provided with a spare cover 12, and the spare cover 12 is provided with an insulation layer 4; when the opening 9 of the empty tube 5 is set at the lower end, the container bottom insulation cover 8 is installed on the bottom of the container 6 during freezing; when the opening 9 of the empty tube 5 is set at the upper end, the spare cover 12 is used during freezing.

[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, an ice support rack 7 is further provided on the container cover 3 .

[0059] In one embodiment of the present invention, the heat source 14 is mounted on a heat source fixing frame 18 on the lower end surface of the container cover 3. The heat source fixing frame 18 serves as a bracket for fixing the heat source 14 and also has the function of serving as an ice support frame.

[0060] In one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9 As shown, the freezing concentration device includes a plurality of groups of freeze-thaw components assembled together, including a container group cover 20, a container group 21, and a container group bottom insulation cover 22, which can improve the effect and efficiency of the freezing concentration device.

[0061] like Figure 2-5 As shown, a specific embodiment of the present invention is provided: when the opening 9 of the empty tube 5 is set at the lower end, the freezing concentration device is used in a way that after the dilute solution is injected into the container 6, the container cover 3 of the container 6 is fastened and the container cover 3 is kept facing upward, and the container bottom insulation cover 8 without a heat source is installed, the container 6 is placed in a freezing device and frozen into a solid or a solid-liquid mixture 19, and then the container 6 is moved out of the freezer or refrigerator freezer. Then, remove the heat insulation cover 8 at the bottom of the container, install the heat source 14 on the heat insulation cover 8 at the bottom of the container, and then install it at the bottom of the container 6, so that the heat source 14 is placed in the empty tube 5 (or after the heat source 14 is installed in the empty tube 5, install the heat insulation cover 8 at the bottom of the container and realize the connection between the heat source 14 and the heat insulation cover 8 at the bottom of the container), flip the container 6 so that the container cover 3 is at the bottom, place the container 6 through the support feet 13, and then connect the power supply through the power socket 15, set the working temperature of the heat source 14, and the heat source 14 transfers heat to the solid or solid-liquid mixture 19 to dissolve it. After the solution falls through the ice rack 7, it flows out through the solution outlet 2, and the solution is retained in sections by opening and closing the solution outlet valve 1 to obtain solutions of different concentrations. The solution that meets the target concentration is transferred to the next link for storage (or utilization), and the solution that does not meet the target concentration can be frozen and dissolved again by the freezing concentration device to continue to increase the solution concentration.

[0062] like Figure 6-8As shown, the specific embodiment of the present invention is another way of using the freezing concentration device when the opening 9 of the provided empty tube 5 is set at the upper end, the protective cover 11 of the opening 9 is tightly closed, the dilute solution is injected into the container 6, the standby cover 12 of the container 6 is fastened, and the standby cover 12 of the container is kept facing upward, and the container 6 is placed in the freezing equipment and frozen into a solid or solid-liquid mixture 19, and then the container 6 is removed from the freezing equipment. Then, the standby cover 12 and the protective cover 11 are removed, the container cover 3 is covered, and the heat source 14 is installed into the empty tube 5, and the heat source 14 is installed on the heat source fixing frame 18 on the lower end surface of the container cover 3. The heat source fixing frame 18 serves as a bracket for fixing the heat source 14, and also has the function of serving as an ice support frame. The container 6 is turned over so that the container cover 3 is at the bottom, and the container 6 is placed by the support feet 13. Then, the power supply is connected through the power socket 15, and the working temperature of the heat source 14 is set. The heat source 14 transfers heat to the solid or solid-liquid mixture 19 to dissolve it. The solution flows out through the solution outlet 2, and the solution is retained in sections by opening and closing the solution outlet valve 1 to obtain solutions of different concentrations. The solution that meets the target concentration is transferred to the next link for storage (or use), and the solution that does not meet the target concentration can be frozen and dissolved again by the freezing concentration device to continue to increase the solution concentration.

[0063] like Fig. 9 As shown, a specific embodiment of the present invention: the freezing concentration device includes a plurality of groups of freezing and thawing component assemblies assembled together, including a container group cover 20, a container group 21, and a container group bottom insulation cover 22, which can improve the effect and efficiency of the freezing concentration device. Fig. 9 The figure shows a preferred example: the freeze-thaw assembly is composed of multiple freeze-thaw assemblies; the opening 9 of the empty tube 5 of a single freeze-thaw assembly is set at the lower end; a plurality of containers 6 are combined together to form a container group 21; a plurality of heat sources 14 are placed on the bottom insulation cover 22 of the container group; the container group cover 20, the container group 21, the bottom insulation cover 22 of the container group, etc. constitute a freeze concentration device. Its operation steps and processes are similar to those of the aforementioned device. However, because a plurality of freeze-thaw assemblies are combined together, the effect and efficiency of the freeze concentration device can be improved.

[0064] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural changes made by using the contents of the present invention specification under the inventive concept of the present invention, or directly / indirectly applied in other related technical fields are included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A freeze concentration device, characterized in that: include: A freeze-thaw assembly comprises a container, a container cover, an insulating cover on the bottom of the container, an empty tube with an opening at the upper or lower end for setting a heat source and arranged at the bottom of the container; the empty tube is arranged at the central axis position of the container and its vicinity; the heat source is installed in the empty tube after freezing; during freezing, the dilute solution in the container is frozen into a solid or a solid-liquid mixture; then the container is removed from the freezing equipment, and the heat source is used to transfer heat to the solid or the solid-liquid mixture for dissolution, and the solution is retained in sections. The solution that meets the target concentration is retained for use, and the solution that does not meet the target concentration is continuously frozen and dissolved using the freeze concentration device to achieve concentration of the dilute solution.

2. The freeze concentration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat source is a heating element or a heat medium.

3. The freeze concentration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat source is independently or detachably arranged on the lower end surface of the container cover or the upper end surface of the container bottom insulation cover.

4. The freeze concentration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The container cover of the container is provided with a solution outlet and a solution outlet valve; the container cover of the container is also provided with supporting feet for supporting the container during heating and dissolving.

5. The freeze concentration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The device is also provided with a spare cover, and both the spare cover and the container cover are provided with a heat insulation layer.

6. The freeze concentration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the opening of the empty tube is set at the lower end, the container bottom insulation cover of the container also serves as a protective cover for the opening of the empty tube; when the opening of the empty tube is set at the upper end, a protective cover is provided on the opening, and a spare cover is installed on the top of the container during freezing.

7. The freeze concentration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The invention comprises a plurality of groups of freeze-thaw components, which are assembled together to form a combination of freeze-thaw components, thereby improving the effect and efficiency of the freeze concentration device.

8. Application of the freezing concentration device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in the fields of food, cosmetics, biomedicine, and environmental protection treatment.

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