A freeze concentration apparatus

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of freeze concentration and specifically relates to a freeze concentration device, which comprises a freeze-dissolution assembly and a negative pressure air extraction device. The freeze-dissolution assembly comprises a container, a container upper cover, a container bottom cover, and a gas guide hole and a negative pressure guide pipe channel arranged on the container upper cover. The negative pressure air extraction device comprises a negative pressure guide pipe port, a negative pressure guide pipe, a gas-liquid separation device, and a negative pressure air extractor. After a dilute solution is frozen into a frozen material in a solid state or a solid-liquid mixed state in the freeze-dissolution assembly, the negative pressure air extraction device is started, and gas enters the container as an energy medium to transfer heat to the frozen material for dissolution. The dissolved solution is segmented and collected, the solution meeting the target concentration is collected for standby, and the solution not meeting the target concentration is continuously frozen and dissolved by using the freeze concentration device to realize concentration of the dilute solution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of cryogenic concentration technology, specifically a cryogenic concentration apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Existing freeze concentration techniques utilize the solid-liquid phase relationship between dilute solutions and ice below its freezing point, achieving concentration through solid-liquid separation. This method primarily employs two approaches: suspension crystallization freeze concentration and (interfacial) progressive freeze concentration. Additionally, there are freeze concentration methods that utilize the natural melting of ice or the heating and melting of ice (belonging to the traditional conventional heating-dissolution freeze concentration method). However, all three existing freeze concentration methods suffer from low concentration efficiency.

[0003] Suspension crystallization freeze-concentration and progressive freeze-concentration methods achieve concentration through solid-liquid (ice crystals and liquid) separation. Both suffer from problems such as solute entrainment by ice crystals and low concentration efficiency. While conventional heating-dissolving (including natural dissolution) methods for frozen materials do not have the efficiency problem caused by solute entrainment, they face a long-standing and severely inefficient issue: heating frozen materials too quickly degrades concentration, while low-temperature heating (such as at refrigeration temperatures) yields better results (relative to higher temperatures), but is extremely time-consuming. Therefore, when using conventional heating-dissolving freeze-concentration methods, technicians generally prefer natural dissolution at room temperature (using ambient energy) or heating at refrigeration temperatures. Conventional heating-dissolving freeze-concentration (including natural dissolution at room temperature) is not only time-consuming but also less efficient than the previous two methods (those that achieve concentration through solid-liquid separation). Therefore, most of the current mainstream freezing concentration technologies use the first two methods (concentration through solid-liquid separation).

[0004] Existing cryogenic concentration apparatuses include a dissolving component and a gas processing component. The dissolving component contains a filter element that divides it into upper and lower parts: the upper part holds the crushed solids, and the lower part holds the dissolved solution. The gas processing component includes a gas drying device, a gas temperature regulating device, and a fan connected in sequence. A gas inlet is located on the side wall or top of the upper part of the dissolving component, connected to the fan outlet, and a gas outlet is located on the side wall of the lower part. The dry gas entering through the gas inlet acts as an energy medium, penetrating the crushed solids in the upper part of the dissolving component and transferring heat. The gas then exits through the gas outlet in the lower part of the dissolving component. The dissolved solution passes through the filter element into the lower part of the dissolving component, allowing for segmented solution collection to obtain solutions of different concentrations, thus achieving cryogenic concentration of a dilute solution. This apparatus improves the dissolution and separation efficiency by crushing the cryogenic material (solid or solid-liquid mixture) and allowing the energy medium gas to penetrate the crushed material, thereby enhancing the cryogenic concentration effect and efficiency. However, during the freeze-concentration process, this device requires a separate crushing step for the frozen materials before dissolving and separating them, increasing the operational complexity. Concentrating high-concentration solutions often necessitates deep cryogenic treatment. Furthermore, the increased number of operational steps also leads to greater complexity in designing multi-stage freeze-concentration combinations or automated control systems for freeze-concentration devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the main objective of this invention is to provide a cryogenic concentration apparatus.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0007] A cryogenic concentration apparatus includes: a cryogenic melting component and a negative pressure extraction device;

[0008] The freeze-thaw assembly includes a container, a container lid, and a vent hole and a negative pressure conduit channel disposed on the container lid;

[0009] The negative pressure extraction device includes a negative pressure conduit port, a negative pressure conduit, a gas-liquid separator, and a negative pressure pump connected in sequence.

[0010] After the dilute solution is frozen into a solid or solid-liquid mixture in the freeze-dissolving assembly, the negative pressure pump is activated, and gas enters the container through the gas inlet, acting as an energy medium to transfer heat to the frozen material for dissolution. The solution is then collected in segments. Solutions that meet the target concentration are kept for later use, while solutions that do not meet the target concentration are frozen and dissolved again using the freeze-concentrating device to achieve dilute solution concentration.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the cryogenic concentration apparatus described in this invention, after the dilute solution is frozen, a negative pressure conduit is placed in the cryogenic material inside the container by breaking the cryogenic material. The port of the negative pressure conduit is located at the bottom of the cryogenic dissolution component container, and the internal structural characteristics of the cryogenic material are used to allow gas to penetrate the cryogenic material and transfer heat to it.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the cryogenic concentration apparatus of the present invention, the negative pressure conduit of the negative pressure suction device is pre-installed in the cryogenic dissolution assembly before the dilute solution is frozen, and the port of the negative pressure conduit is located at the bottom of the cryogenic dissolution assembly container; the port of the negative pressure conduit is provided with an outlet valve; a thawing heating device is provided on the port of the negative pressure conduit to thaw the port of the negative pressure conduit and the outlet valve, and to utilize the internal structural characteristics of the freezing material to allow gas to penetrate the freezing material and transfer heat to it.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the cryogenic concentration apparatus described in this invention, the negative pressure conduit is connected via a conduit connector.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the cryogenic concentration apparatus described in this invention, a container bottom cover is also provided at the bottom of the container.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the cryogenic concentration apparatus described in this invention, the gas used as the energy medium is a gas that does not interfere with the dissolution and separation of the cryogenic material, such as air, inert gas, carbon dioxide gas, nitrogen gas, etc.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the cryogenic concentration apparatus described in this invention, heat is transferred to the cryogenic material using the energy carried by the energy medium gas, and the energy medium gas is replenished and recycled; or the air energy carried by the air itself is used to transfer heat to the cryogenic material; the energy medium gas may be dried as needed before transferring heat to the cryogenic material.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0018] The above-mentioned cryogenic concentration apparatus has applications in the fields of food, cosmetics, biomedicine, petrochemicals, metal processing, and environmental protection.

[0019] The above-mentioned freeze concentration apparatus has applications in the fields of milk, vinegar (including vinegar-containing foods, vinegar beverages, condiments, etc.), alcoholic beverages, beverages (such as fruit juice, coffee, tea, soy milk, soy milk, etc.), chemical liquids, traditional Chinese medicine liquids, plant extracts, petroleum refining, chemical refining, metal separation and refining, seawater refining, and wastewater treatment.

[0020] An application of the above-mentioned freeze concentration apparatus in the field of freeze concentration and separation purification of heat-sensitive raw materials.

[0021] The above-mentioned freeze concentration apparatus is applied in the fields of freeze concentration and separation purification of milk, vinegar (including vinegar-containing foods, vinegar beverages, condiments, etc.), alcoholic beverages, beverages (such as fruit juice, coffee, tea, soy milk, soy milk, etc.), chemical liquids, traditional Chinese medicine liquids, plant extracts, petroleum purification, chemical purification, metal separation and purification, seawater purification, wastewater treatment, etc.

[0022] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0023] This invention proposes a cryogenic concentration apparatus, including a cryogenic dissolution component and a negative pressure extraction device. The cryogenic dissolution component includes a container, a container top cover, a container bottom cover, and a vent hole and a negative pressure conduit channel disposed on the container top cover. The negative pressure extraction device includes a negative pressure conduit port, a negative pressure conduit, a gas-liquid separation device, and a negative pressure pump. After the dilute solution is frozen into a solid or solid-liquid mixture in the cryogenic dissolution component, the negative pressure extraction device is activated, and gas enters the container as an energy medium to transfer heat to the frozen material for dissolution. The solution is collected in segments; solutions that meet the target concentration are kept for later use, while solutions that do not meet the target concentration are used to continue freezing and dissolving using the cryogenic concentration apparatus to achieve dilute solution concentration. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cryogenic concentration apparatus of the present invention.

[0026] In the diagram, 1-container, 2-vent, 3-container top cover, 4-container bottom cover, 5-negative pressure conduit channel, 6-refrigeration material, 7-negative pressure conduit port, 8, 10, 14-negative pressure conduit, 9-conduit connector, 11-gas-liquid separation device, 12-concentrated solution, 13-concentrated solution outlet valve, 15-negative pressure pump, 16-negative pressure pump outlet, 17-gas.

[0027] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions described below in conjunction with the embodiments will be clearly and completely described. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a freeze concentration apparatus, comprising: a freeze-thaw assembly and a negative pressure extraction device;

[0030] The freeze-thaw assembly includes a container 1, a container top cover 3, a container bottom cover 4, and a vent 2 and a negative pressure conduit channel 5 disposed on the container top cover 3;

[0031] The negative pressure extraction device includes a negative pressure conduit port 7, negative pressure conduits 8, 10, and 14, a gas-liquid separator 11, and a negative pressure pump 15 connected in sequence.

[0032] After the dilute solution is frozen into a solid or solid-liquid mixture in the cryo-dissolution assembly, the surface structure of the cryo-material 6 is destroyed. The negative pressure conduit port 7 is placed in the cryo-material 6 of the container 1, and the negative pressure suction device is activated. The pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container 1 causes gas 17 (e.g., air in the working environment) to enter the container 1 through the air inlet 2 and penetrate the cryo-material 6. The solution is collected in segments. The solution that meets the target concentration is kept for later use. The solution that does not meet the target concentration is frozen and dissolved again using the cryo-concentration device to achieve dilute solution concentration.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, the dense solid layer on the surface of the freezing material 6 in the direction of gas 17 entry and exit is broken by mechanical means, the negative pressure conduit port 7 is set in the freezing material 6 inside the container 1, and the gas 17 is allowed to pass through the freezing material 6 by utilizing the internal structural characteristics of the freezing material 6 to transfer heat to it.

[0034] In one embodiment of the present invention, the solid structure of the freezing material 6 inside the container 1 is directly destroyed by mechanical means, the negative pressure conduit port 7 is set in the freezing material 6 inside the container 1, and the gas 17 is made to pass through the freezing material 6 and transfer heat to it by utilizing the internal structural characteristics of the freezing material 6.

[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, negative pressure conduits 8, 10, and 14 are connected via conduit connector 9.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the gas 17, which serves as the energy medium, is a gas that does not interfere with the dissolution and separation of the cryogenic material, such as air, an inert gas, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, the energy carried by the gas 17 as an energy medium is used to transfer heat to the freezing material 6, and the gas 17 as an energy medium is replenished and recycled; or the air energy carried by the air itself is used to transfer heat to the freezing material 6; before the gas 17 as an energy medium transfers heat to the freezing material 6, it may be dried as needed.

[0038] When using the cryogenic concentration apparatus of the present invention, the container cover 3 of the cryogenic dissolution component container 1 is opened, the dilute solution is injected into the container 1, the container cover 3 is closed, and the cryogenic dissolution component is sent into the freezing equipment. After the dilute solution is frozen into a solid or solid-liquid mixture of freezing material 6 in the cryogenic dissolution component, the cryogenic dissolution component is removed from the freezing equipment. The container cover 3 is opened, and the surface structure of the freezing material 6 is mechanically broken. The negative pressure conduit port 7 is placed in the freezing material 6 of the container, and the negative pressure suction device is activated. The pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container 1 causes gas 17 (e.g., air in the working environment) to enter the container 1 through the air guide hole 2 and penetrate the freezing material 6. After the surface of the damaged freezing material 6 is penetrated, the internal structural characteristics of the freezing material 6 are utilized to penetrate it; simultaneously, the gas-liquid mixture enters the gas-liquid separator device 11 through the negative pressure conduit port 7, then through the negative pressure conduit 8, the conduit connector 9, and the negative pressure conduit 10 in sequence; the concentrated solution 12 remains below the gas-liquid separator device 11, and the gas passes through the negative pressure conduit 14, then through the negative pressure pump 15 and is discharged through the negative pressure pump outlet 16; solutions of different concentrations are collected in segments through the concentrated solution outlet valve 13 of the gas-liquid separator device 11; solutions that meet the target concentration are kept for later use, while solutions that do not meet the target concentration are further frozen and dissolved using the freezing concentration device to achieve dilute solution concentration.

[0039] 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 transformations made using the contents of the present invention under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cryogenic concentration apparatus, characterized in that, include: Freeze-thaw assembly, negative pressure vacuum device; The freeze-thaw assembly includes a container, a container top cover, a container bottom cover, and a vent hole and a negative pressure conduit channel provided on the container top cover; The negative pressure extraction device includes a negative pressure conduit port, a negative pressure conduit, a gas-liquid separator, and a negative pressure pump connected in sequence. After the dilute solution is frozen into a solid or solid-liquid mixture in the cryo-dissolution assembly, the negative pressure pump is activated, and the energy medium gas enters the container to transfer heat to the frozen material for dissolution. The dissolved solution is collected in segments. The solution that meets the target concentration is kept for later use, while the solution that does not meet the target concentration is frozen and dissolved again using the cryo-concentration device to achieve dilute solution concentration.

2. The cryogenic concentration apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the dilute solution has been frozen, a negative pressure conduit is placed in the freezing material inside the container by breaking the freezing material.

3. The cryogenic concentration apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The negative pressure conduit is pre-installed in the cryo-thawing assembly before the dilute solution is frozen.

4. The cryogenic concentration apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The negative pressure catheter is connected via a catheter connector.

5. The cryogenic concentration apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy medium gas is a gas that does not interfere with the dissolution and separation of the cryogenic materials.

6. The cryogenic concentration apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy carried by the energy medium gas is used to transfer heat to the refrigeration material, and the energy medium gas is replenished and recycled.

7. The application of the cryogenic concentration apparatus according to any one of claims 1-6 in the fields of food, cosmetics, biopharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, metal processing, and environmental protection.

Images