A system and method for integrating the synchronous extraction of floral scents and the tea leaf scenting

Abstract

This invention discloses an integrated system and method for simultaneous floral aroma extraction and tea scenting. The integrated system includes a floral aroma extraction unit, a tea scenting unit, a recovery unit, and a circulation pipeline. The floral aroma extraction unit includes an extraction container for holding raw materials and a gas input component and a gas output pipeline connected to the extraction container. The tea scenting unit includes a scenting container for holding tea leaves. The recovery unit is connected to the gas outlet and gas inlet of the tea scenting unit. The recovery and circulation unit has an adsorption mode for adsorbing aroma and a desorption mode for desorbing aroma. The circulation pipeline connects the gas outlet of the tea scenting unit and the gas input component. This invention, through the arrangement of the circulation pipeline and the recovery unit, achieves the recycling of carrier gas and the dynamic recovery and replenishment of aroma, reducing the loss of aroma components during the emission process and significantly improving the overall utilization efficiency of floral aroma components.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tea processing technology, specifically to an integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and tea scenting. Background Technology

[0002] Scented tea, as a reprocessed tea, develops its unique flavor by absorbing the aromatic components released by fresh flowers, making it highly popular among consumers. Traditional scenting processes for tea often employ static piling or open-pouring methods, mixing fresh flowers and tea leaves in a specific ratio and allowing the tea to absorb the floral aroma naturally. While this process is simple, it has significant shortcomings in actual production: the fresh flowers and tea leaves are in direct contact, requiring manual or mechanical sifting to separate them after scenting. This process is not only tedious and labor-intensive but also prone to causing tea breakage and secondary loss of floral components. Furthermore, the release and absorption of aroma in traditional processes rely primarily on natural diffusion, resulting in low mass transfer efficiency, a long scenting cycle, and limited utilization of aromatic components. Some volatile aromas also escape into the environment, wasting resources and negatively impacting the production workshop's operating environment.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, in recent years, the industry has seen the emergence of technical solutions that separate fresh flowers and tea leaves and use airflow to transport the aroma during the scenting process. For example, patent application number CN202421760532.0 provides a fresh flower aroma extraction device for scenting tea, including an aroma extraction cylinder, an aeration pipe, spiral blades, and a drive mechanism. The aroma extraction cylinder is vertically arranged with an exhaust port at the top; the aeration pipe is coaxially arranged inside the aroma extraction cylinder, with its lower end extending out of the cylinder and connected to an external air source; the spiral blades are arranged inside the aroma extraction cylinder and are coaxially fixedly connected to the aeration pipe; the drive mechanism is connected to the portion of the aeration pipe extending out of the aroma extraction cylinder and is used to drive the aeration pipe to rotate the spiral blades. This device achieves efficient and specific aroma extraction by placing fresh flowers individually in an aroma-enhancing tube and using airflow from an aeration pipe to promote the release of floral fragrance. The air rich in floral fragrance is discharged from the exhaust port and directly guided to the external scenting equipment to scent the tea leaves, avoiding physical damage during the separation of tea leaves and fresh flowers after scenting and ensuring the integrity of the finished tea.

[0004] However, this technical solution still has shortcomings. After completing the aroma delivery, it directly emits the aroma or fails to form an effective recovery mechanism, resulting in the waste of aroma components after a single pass and the utilization rate needs to be further improved. At the same time, the system lacks the ability to dynamically control the aroma concentration in the scenting environment. When the aroma supply fluctuates or the tea leaves become saturated with adsorption, it cannot actively adjust the scenting atmosphere, which affects the stability of the scenting process and the consistency of product quality. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned technical deficiencies and propose an integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and tea scenting, which solves the technical problems of low aroma utilization rate and difficulty in dynamically controlling the scenting atmosphere during the simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and tea scenting process in the prior art, resulting in insufficient scenting efficiency and product quality stability.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: In a first aspect, the present invention provides an integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea leaves, comprising a floral fragrance extraction unit, a tea scenting unit, a recovery unit, and a circulation pipeline; the floral fragrance extraction unit includes an extraction container for holding raw materials and a gas input component and a gas output pipeline connected to the extraction container; the tea scenting unit includes a scenting container for holding tea leaves, the scenting container having a gas outlet and a gas inlet connected to the gas output pipeline; the recovery unit is connected to the gas outlet and gas inlet of the tea scenting unit, the recovery circulation unit having an adsorption mode for adsorbing fragrance and a desorption mode for desorbing fragrance; the circulation pipeline connects the gas outlet of the tea scenting unit and the gas input component to guide the output gas back to the extraction container.

[0007] In some embodiments, the tea scenting unit further includes an air intake component, an exhaust component, and a detection component; the air intake component and the exhaust component are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the scenting container; the air intake component has a plurality of air inlets spaced apart along the axial direction of the scenting container; the exhaust component has a plurality of exhaust outlets corresponding one-to-one with the air inlets; the detection component includes a plurality of aroma concentration sensing modules respectively disposed at the air inlets and / or the exhaust outlets.

[0008] In some embodiments, the integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and tea scenting also includes a control unit. The gas outlet of the tea scenting unit is connected to the circulation pipeline and the recovery unit via a three-way valve. The control unit is electrically connected to the three-way valve and the aroma concentration sensing module, and is used to control the corresponding three-way valve to switch according to the aroma concentration value detected by the aroma concentration sensing module, so as to selectively introduce the gas output from the tea scenting unit into the circulation pipeline or the recovery unit.

[0009] In some embodiments, the insulated container includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, and a drive assembly; the inner cylinder is rotatably disposed within the outer cylinder, and a plurality of vent holes are provided on the peripheral wall of the inner cylinder; a sandwich is formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, and the air inlet assembly and the air outlet assembly are both disposed within the sandwich; the drive assembly is drively connected to the inner cylinder and is used to drive the inner cylinder to rotate around its axis.

[0010] In some embodiments, the storage container further includes a plurality of dispersing inserts; the plurality of dispersing inserts are respectively disposed on the peripheral wall of the inner cylinder, and one end extends into the interior of the inner cylinder. The dispersing inserts have a concave surface facing the interior of the container, and a plurality of air-permeable grooves are uniformly formed on the concave surface.

[0011] In some embodiments, a plurality of the dispersion inserts are arranged sequentially along a spiral direction on the outer periphery of the inner cylinder.

[0012] In some embodiments, the inner cylinder has a slot corresponding to the position of the dispersing plug, and the dispersing plug is detachably inserted into the inner cylinder through the slot.

[0013] In some embodiments, the integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea leaves further includes a gas delivery unit located between the gas output pipeline and the gas inlet, used to regulate the gas pressure, temperature and humidity output from the extraction container to the scenting container.

[0014] In some embodiments, the gas delivery unit includes a pressure regulating valve, a temperature and humidity regulating tank, a heating device, a humidification module, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor; the pressure regulating valve is connected to the gas output pipeline and the temperature and humidity regulating tank, and is used to regulate the gas pressure entering the temperature and humidity regulating tank from the gas output pipeline; the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor are both connected to the interior of the temperature and humidity regulating tank, and are used to monitor the temperature and humidity of the gas inside the temperature and humidity regulating tank, respectively; the heating device and the humidification module are both connected to the temperature and humidity regulating tank, and are used to heat and humidify the gas inside the temperature and humidity regulating tank, respectively.

[0015] Secondly, the present invention also provides a method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea, using the integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea as described in any one of the above claims, the method comprising: Place the fresh flower raw materials into the extraction container, and place the tea leaves to be scented into the scenting container; Carrier gas is introduced into the extraction container through the gas input component, so that the carrier gas carries the aroma components released by the flowers and enters the scenting container through the gas output pipe, where it comes into full contact with the tea leaves to achieve aroma adsorption. During the scenting process, the gas discharged from the gas outlet of the scenting container is returned to the extraction container through the gas input component via the circulation pipeline, forming a closed circulation loop for the carrier gas. When the gas inside the scenting container needs to be discharged, or when the aroma concentration inside the scenting container is higher than a preset upper limit, the recovery unit is switched to adsorption mode to adsorb and recover the aroma in the gas discharged from the scenting container. When the aroma concentration in the scenting container is lower than a preset lower limit, the recovery unit is switched to desorption mode, so that the desorbed aroma-rich gas is returned to the scenting container through the gas inlet to replenish the aroma concentration.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, the integrated system and method for simultaneous floral fragrance extraction and tea scenting provided by this invention, by setting up a floral fragrance extraction unit, a tea scenting unit, a recovery unit, and a circulation pipeline, utilizes a carrier gas to deliver the aroma components released by fresh flowers to the scenting container in real time so that they come into contact with the tea leaves. This achieves dynamic synchronization between the release of floral fragrance and the adsorption of tea leaves. Furthermore, the circulation pipeline returns the gas discharged from the scenting container's gas outlet to the extraction container, forming a closed-loop circulation loop for the carrier gas. This enables the recycling of the carrier gas, reduces the loss of aroma components during the emission process, significantly improves the overall utilization efficiency of floral fragrance components, and lowers production costs. Simultaneously, a recovery unit with adsorption and desorption modes is installed between the gas outlet and gas inlet of the scenting container. When the aroma concentration in the system is too high or gas needs to be emitted, the recovery unit switches to adsorption mode to recover the emitted aroma, reducing the emission of aroma components into the environment and reducing raw material consumption. When the aroma concentration in the scenting container is lower than the preset lower limit, the recovery unit switches to desorption mode to return the enriched and desorbed aroma-rich gas to the scenting container, which can replenish the aroma concentration. This achieves dynamic balance control of the aroma concentration in the system, ensuring the stability and uniformity of the tea scenting process and improving product quality. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea provided in this embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the main cross-sectional structure of the scenting container of the integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea provided in this embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 This is a side view cross-sectional structural diagram of the scenting container of the integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea provided in this embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the recovery unit of the integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the gas delivery unit of the integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea provided in this embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Floral fragrance extraction unit; 11. Extraction container; 111. Extraction vessel; 112. Pressure gauge; 113. Pressure relief valve; 12. Gas input assembly; 121. CO2 storage tank; 122. Cooler; 123. High-pressure pump; 13. Gas output pipeline; 2. Tea scenting unit; 21. Scenting container; 211. Outer cylinder; 212. Inner cylinder; 213. Drive assembly; 2131. Motor; 2132. Belt drive mechanism; 214. Dispersion insert; 22. Air intake assembly; 23. Exhaust assembly; 24. Detection assembly; 241. Aroma concentration sensing module; 3. Recycling unit; 31. Regeneration compensation valve assembly; 32. Adsorption tank; 33. Temperature control components; 4. Circulation pipeline; 41. Pump body; 5. Gas delivery unit; 51. Pressure regulating valve; 52. Temperature and humidity regulating tank; 53. Heating device; 54. Humidification module; 55. Temperature sensor; 56. Humidity sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0020] To address the technical problems of low aroma utilization and difficulty in dynamically controlling the scenting atmosphere during the simultaneous extraction of floral aromas and tea scenting, which lead to insufficient scenting efficiency and product quality stability, this invention provides an integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral aromas and tea scenting. Through the setting of circulation pipelines and recovery units, the system realizes the recycling of carrier gas and the dynamic recovery and replenishment of aroma, reducing the loss of aroma components during the emission process and significantly improving the overall utilization efficiency of floral aroma components.

[0021] It should be noted that the integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea described in this invention is used, but not limited to, the preparation of osmanthus black tea. For ease of explanation, this invention will only use the integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea in the preparation of osmanthus black tea as an example. The principle of the integrated system and method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea in the preparation of other flower teas is essentially the same as that in the preparation of osmanthus black tea, and will not be elaborated here.

[0022] Please see Figure 1In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea leaves, including a floral fragrance extraction unit 1, a tea scenting unit 2, a recovery unit 3, and a circulation pipeline 4; the floral fragrance extraction unit 1 includes an extraction container 11 for holding raw materials and a gas input component 12 and a gas output pipeline 13 connected to the extraction container 11; the tea scenting unit 2 includes a scenting container 21 for holding tea leaves, the scenting container 21 having a gas outlet and a gas inlet connected to the gas output pipeline 13; the recovery unit 3 is connected to the gas outlet and gas inlet of the tea scenting unit 2, and the recovery circulation unit has an adsorption mode for adsorbing fragrance and a desorption mode for desorbing fragrance; the circulation pipeline 4 is connected to the gas outlet and gas input component 12 of the tea scenting unit 2 to guide the output gas back to the extraction container 11.

[0023] In this system, osmanthus raw materials are placed in extraction container 11, and clean carrier gas is introduced into extraction container 11 by gas input component 12, providing a continuous and controllable airflow environment for the release of aroma from the fresh flower raw materials. After the carrier gas comes into full contact with the fresh flower raw materials in extraction container 11, it carries the volatile aroma components released by the flowers. The carrier gas carrying the aroma components of the flowers is discharged from extraction container 11 through gas output pipeline 13 and transported to scenting container 21. Scenting container 21 is used to hold tea leaves to be scented. After the aroma enters through gas inlet, it comes into full contact with the surface of the tea leaves and adsorbs the aroma components. The circulation pipeline 4 connects the gas outlet and gas input component 12 of the tea scenting unit 2, which can guide the gas discharged from the scenting container 21 back to the extraction container 11. This allows the remaining aroma gas in the scenting container 21 that has not been completely absorbed by the tea to flow back to the extraction container 11 and re-participate in the aroma extraction and transportation process, forming a carrier gas circulation system. This effectively reduces the loss of aroma components and significantly improves the utilization rate of aroma. The recovery unit 3 is also located at the gas outlet of the tea scenting unit 2 and is connected to the gas outlet and gas inlet of the tea scenting unit 2. The recovery unit 3 can switch between adsorption and desorption modes under different operating conditions: when the aroma concentration in the scenting container 21 is lower than the preset lower limit due to the tea adsorption becoming saturated, the recovery unit 3 switches to desorption mode, releases the adsorbed and stored aroma components, and forms a fragrant gas that returns to the scenting container 21 through the gas inlet to replenish the aroma concentration in the scenting environment and maintain the continuous and efficient tea adsorption process; when some gas needs to be discharged during the scenting process (such as air replacement during the initial operation of the system or gas cleaning after the scenting is completed), or when the aroma concentration in the scenting container 21 is higher than the preset upper limit due to the intense release of aroma from the flowers, the recovery unit 3 switches to adsorption mode to efficiently adsorb the aroma components in the discharged gas, avoiding the waste of resources and environmental impact caused by the direct discharge of high-concentration aroma, and realizing the dynamic recovery and reuse of aroma.

[0024] Please see Figure 1To provide a continuous and controllable airflow environment for the release of aroma from the raw flower materials, in this embodiment, the gas input component 12 includes a CO2 storage tank 121, a cooler 122, and a high-pressure pump 123. The output end of the CO2 storage tank 121 is connected to the inlet of the cooler 122, and the outlet of the cooler 122 is connected to the gas inlet of the extraction container 11 via the high-pressure pump 123. The extraction container 11 is an extraction vessel 111, and the output end of the high-pressure pump 123 is connected to the extraction vessel 111. The extraction vessel 111 is equipped with a pressure gauge 112 and a pressure relief valve 113, which can monitor the pressure inside the vessel in real time and automatically release pressure when the pressure exceeds a set threshold to ensure operational safety. A stable gas source is provided by the CO2 storage tank 121, and the cooler 122 pre-cools the CO2 gas to a suitable temperature before it enters the extraction container 11. Then, the high-pressure pump 123 pressurizes the cooled CO2 gas to a preset pressure value and finally delivers it into the extraction container 11. Cooled and pressurized CO2 gas has stronger permeability and solubility in supercritical or subcritical states, which can more effectively carry the aroma components released by flowers, thereby significantly improving the aroma extraction rate.

[0025] Of course, in other possible embodiments, the gas input component 12 can also adopt other structural forms. For example, the CO2 storage tank 121 can be replaced with a nitrogen storage tank or a clean compressed air source, and equipped with corresponding pressure regulating valves and filters to adapt to the special requirements of different flower raw materials and tea varieties for the extraction environment. In addition, the cooler 122 and the high-pressure pump 123 can also be replaced with a temperature regulating device and a flow control pump with preheating function according to actual process requirements, so as to achieve multi-dimensional control of the carrier gas temperature and flow rate.

[0026] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2To improve the uniformity of gas distribution within the scenting container 21 and achieve sufficient and uniform contact between the aroma and the tea leaves, thereby enhancing the uniformity of the scenting effect, in some possible embodiments, the tea scenting unit 2 further includes an air intake assembly 22, an exhaust assembly 23, and a detection assembly 24. The air intake assembly 22, exhaust assembly 23, and detection assembly 24 form multiple zones within the scenting container 21. Specifically, the air intake assembly 22 includes four air intake pipes, and the exhaust assembly 23 includes four air outlet pipes. Through the corresponding arrangement of these four air intake pipes and four air outlet pipes, four relatively independent gas flow and detection zones are divided axially or circumferentially within the scenting container 21. Each air intake pipe in the air intake assembly 22 consists of a transversely arranged pipe and multiple nozzles connected to the pipe. The transverse pipe extends axially or circumferentially along the scenting container 21, and each air intake pipe corresponds to multiple nozzles. The nozzles are spaced apart along the length of the pipe to uniformly spray the aromatic gas into the corresponding zone. Correspondingly, the exhaust assembly 23 includes a horizontally arranged pipe with multiple openings, each outlet pipe corresponding to multiple openings, for uniformly exhausting the gas within the zone. The detection assembly 24 includes four aroma concentration sensing modules 241, each installed in one of the four outlet pipes, for real-time monitoring of the aroma concentration in the exhaust gas from each zone. The intake assembly 22, exhaust assembly 23, and detection assembly 24 form four independently controllable gas zones within the scenting container 21. In actual operation, when the aroma concentration of a zone is lower than other zones, the system can adjust the nozzle flow rate of the corresponding intake pipe or activate the desorption mode of the recovery unit 3 for that zone to specifically replenish the aroma in that area; conversely, when the aroma concentration of a zone is too high, the system can accelerate gas flow by controlling the exhaust assembly 23 of that zone or activate the adsorption mode of the recovery unit 3 for local aroma recovery.

[0027] The aroma concentration sensing module 241 can be selected from one or more combinations of electronic nose sensor arrays, gas sensors, infrared gas sensors, or tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy sensors. Electronic nose sensor arrays, composed of multiple gas sensors with different sensitivity characteristics, combined with pattern recognition algorithms, can identify and assess the overall characteristics and concentration of complex aroma components, making them suitable for scenting processes with high aroma quality requirements. Gas sensors (such as metal oxide semiconductor sensors) feature fast response speed and high sensitivity, enabling real-time monitoring of concentration changes of specific aroma components. They are relatively low-cost and suitable for large-scale deployment. Infrared gas sensors utilize the absorption characteristics of different gas molecules to specific wavelengths of infrared light for concentration detection, offering advantages such as non-contact operation, good selectivity, and long lifespan, making them suitable for long-term stable monitoring of key characteristic aroma components. Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy sensors offer extremely high detection accuracy and resolution, enabling precise measurement of trace aroma components, suitable for the precise control of aroma concentration required in high-end tea scenting processes.

[0028] In practical applications, different types of sensing modules can be flexibly configured according to the monitoring needs of different zones within the storage container 21. For example, a fast-response gas sensor can be configured near the air inlet to provide real-time feedback on the airflow adjustment effect; a high-precision infrared gas sensor can be configured near the exhaust outlet to evaluate the aroma adsorption efficiency within the zone. The detection data from multiple sensing modules are integrated and transmitted to the control unit, providing accurate and reliable data for zone air intake adjustment, mode switching timing of the recovery unit 3, and alternating operation of the dual recovery units 3.

[0029] Of course, in other possible embodiments, the number of partitions can be set to two, three, six, or other numbers depending on the size of the scenting container 21 and process requirements. The number, aperture, and distribution density of nozzles and openings in each partition can also be optimized based on the airflow simulation results within the partition to achieve more refined airflow organization. In addition, adjustable partitions or airflow guide plates can be set between each partition to further enhance the independence between partitions. The aroma concentration sensing module 241 can also be integrated with the temperature and humidity sensor 56 to form a multi-functional sensing node, simultaneously monitoring the temperature, humidity, and aroma concentration within the partition, providing more comprehensive feedback data for the temperature and humidity control of the gas delivery unit 5. Furthermore, the sensing module can also communicate with the control unit wirelessly, reducing wiring complexity and facilitating data acquisition when the scenting container 21 is rotating or moving.

[0030] To achieve automated operation and precise control of the system, and to further improve the efficiency of aroma recovery and the stability of the scenting process, a control unit is also configured in this embodiment. The gas outlet of the tea scenting unit 2 is connected to the circulation pipeline 4 and the recovery unit 3 via a three-way valve. The control unit is electrically connected to the three-way valve and the aroma concentration sensing module 241. The control unit controls the corresponding three-way valve to switch according to the aroma concentration value detected by the aroma concentration sensing module 241, so as to selectively introduce the gas output from the tea scenting unit 2 into the circulation pipeline 4 or the recovery unit 3. For example, when the aroma concentration in the scenting container 21 is detected to be too high, the control unit automatically controls the three-way valve to introduce part of the gas into the recovery unit 3 for adsorption and recovery; when the aroma concentration is detected to be too low, the control unit controls the three-way valve to introduce the aroma-rich gas desorbed from the recovery unit 3 into the scenting container 21.

[0031] The circulation pipeline 4 is equipped with a pump body 41, which provides a stable and adjustable delivery pressure to ensure that the gas in the circulation pipeline 4 circulates according to the set flow rate and velocity. By adjusting the speed of the pump body 41 through the control unit, the flow rate of the circulating gas can be precisely controlled. When the system needs to accelerate the aroma circulation speed to improve the tea adsorption efficiency, the control unit can increase the speed of the pump body 41 and increase the flow rate of the circulating gas; when it is necessary to reduce energy consumption or reduce excessive disturbance of the airflow to the fresh flower raw materials, the speed of the pump body 41 can be reduced to decrease the circulation flow rate.

[0032] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 To increase the agitation and contact with aroma during the scenting process, and further improve adsorption efficiency and scenting uniformity, in this embodiment, the scenting container 21 includes an outer cylinder 211, an inner cylinder 212, and a drive assembly 213. The inner cylinder 212 is rotatably disposed inside the outer cylinder 211, and several ventilation holes are formed on the peripheral wall of the inner cylinder 212. A sandwich is formed between the outer cylinder 211 and the inner cylinder 212, and the air inlet of the air inlet assembly 22 and the exhaust outlet of the exhaust assembly 23 are both disposed within the sandwich. The drive assembly 213 includes a motor 2131 and a belt drive mechanism 2132. The output shaft of the motor 2131 is connected to one end of the inner cylinder 212 through the belt drive mechanism 2132, for driving the inner cylinder 212 to slowly rotate around its own axis inside the outer cylinder 211. As the inner cylinder 212 rotates, the tea leaves contained within it continuously tumble and mix under the influence of their own weight and the friction of the cylinder wall, allowing the surface of the tea leaves to come into more even contact with the aromatic gases entering through the vent holes. The vent hole diameter is optimized to ensure that the gas can pass smoothly into the inner cylinder 212 while preventing the tea leaves from leaking out.

[0033] Furthermore, a heating device can be installed in the interlayer between the outer cylinder 211 and the inner cylinder 212. This device can be in the form of an electric heating tube, a heating coil, or a jacketed heat medium circulation system, etc., to heat the gas and tea leaves in the interlayer through direct heat conduction.

[0034] In other possible embodiments, the rotation drive of the inner cylinder 212 can also be achieved by gear transmission or chain transmission. When using gear transmission, a driven gear can be provided at the end of the inner cylinder 212, and the output shaft of the motor 2131 is connected to the driving gear. The inner cylinder 212 is driven to rotate through the meshing transmission between the driving gear and the driven gear. When using chain transmission, sprockets are installed on the output shaft of the motor 2131 and at the end of the inner cylinder 212, and power is transmitted through the chain connection.

[0035] Please see Figures 1 to 3 To effectively disperse the tea clumps during the tea-turning process and guide airflow directly from the inner cylinder 212 interlayer into the tea accumulation layer, in some embodiments, the scenting container 21 further includes several dispersing inserts 214. Each dispersing insert 214 is a frame structure recessed into the inner cylinder 212, mounted on the peripheral wall of the inner cylinder 212, with its main body extending inwards. Specifically, the dispersing insert 214 includes a frame recessed into the cylinder, with an opening at one end corresponding to the outer wall of the inner cylinder 212 and a concave surface facing inwards, forming a hollow cavity. Several vent holes are evenly distributed on the concave surface of the frame, connecting the interior of the frame to the inner cylinder 212. When the inner cylinder 212 rotates, the dispersing inserts 214 rotate with it. Because the dispersing insert 214 has an inwardly concave frame structure, the portion extending into the inner cylinder 212 can hold a certain amount of tea leaves. As the inner cylinder 212 rotates, the held tea leaves fall under gravity when the dispersing insert 214 rotates to a high position, achieving the throwing and dispersion of the tea leaves and effectively preventing the accumulation and clumping of tea leaves at the bottom of the inner cylinder 212. At the same time, aromatic gas enters from the interlayer between the outer cylinder 211 and the inner cylinder 212, enters the internal cavity of the dispersing insert 214 through the vent holes on the peripheral wall of the inner cylinder 212, and is then sprayed into the interior of the inner cylinder 212 through the evenly spaced vent grooves on the concave surface of the dispersing insert 214. Because the dispersing insert 214 extends into the tea leaf accumulation layer, the aromatic gas sprayed from the vent grooves can directly enter the gaps between the tea leaf particles, achieving full contact with the tea leaf surface. This design allows the gas to be directly delivered to the core area of ​​the tea leaf accumulation layer through the dispersion insert 214, which greatly shortens the path of gas diffusion into the tea leaf and significantly increases the contact area and contact efficiency between the gas and solid phases.

[0036] To further improve the continuity and uniformity of the scenting process, in some possible embodiments, several dispersing inserts 214 are arranged sequentially along a spiral direction on the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 212. When the inner cylinder 212 rotates, the spirally arranged dispersing inserts 214 not only radially disperse the tea leaves but also generate an axial pushing force, guiding the tea leaves to slowly move from one end of the inner cylinder 212 to the other. This achieves an effect similar to continuous feeding and discharging, effectively preventing the long-term accumulation of tea leaves in a single area and ensuring the uniformity of aroma absorption by all tea leaves.

[0037] To improve the system's versatility and ease of maintenance, in some possible embodiments, the inner cylinder 212 has slots corresponding to the positions of the dispersing inserts 214, through which the dispersing inserts 214 are detachably inserted into the inner cylinder 212. Operators can select to install dispersing inserts 214 of different shapes and quantities according to actual needs, or quickly replace worn inserts, which helps improve the applicability and maintenance efficiency of the equipment.

[0038] In other possible embodiments, the dispersing insert 214 can also be arranged in a multi-segment spiral pattern with different directions of rotation to achieve reciprocating motion of the tea leaves inside the cylinder, increasing their residence time and the number of times they come into contact with the aroma. The dispersing insert 214 can also be connected to the inner cylinder 212 via screws, clips, or other quick-release structures.

[0039] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 5To further enhance the aroma adsorption efficiency and scenting quality, in some embodiments, the integrated system for simultaneous floral aroma extraction and tea scenting also includes a gas delivery unit 5. The gas delivery unit 5 is located between the gas output pipeline 13 and the gas inlet, and is used to regulate the gas pressure, temperature, and humidity output from the extraction container 11 to the scenting container 21. Since the aromatic gas flowing from the extraction container 11 may have a lower temperature and higher pressure, directly feeding it into the scenting container 21 may be detrimental to the tea's adsorption of aroma. By adjusting these parameters, the gas delivery unit 5 ensures that the gas entering the scenting container 21 is in a mild and suitable state, effectively promoting the adhesion of aroma molecules to the tea surface. Specifically, the gas delivery unit 5 includes a pressure regulating valve 51, a temperature and humidity regulating tank 52, a heating device 53, a humidification module 54, a temperature sensor 55, and a humidity sensor 56. The pressure regulating valve 51 connects the gas output pipeline 13 and the temperature and humidity regulating tank 52, and is used to regulate the gas pressure entering the temperature and humidity regulating tank 52 from the gas output pipeline 13. Temperature sensor 55 and humidity sensor 56 are both connected to the interior of temperature and humidity control tank 52 to monitor the temperature and humidity of the gas inside the tank 52, respectively. Heating device 53 and humidification module 54 are both connected to temperature and humidity control tank 52 to heat and humidify the gas inside the tank 52, respectively. Through initial pressure regulation by pressure regulating valve 51, combined with heating and humidification processes within temperature and humidity control tank 52, and real-time data feedback from sensors, a closed-loop temperature and humidity control circuit can be formed to ensure that the gas parameters output to the control container 21 are always maintained within the preset optimal range. Specifically, heating device 53 uses electric heating tubes or heating coils, evenly distributed on the inner wall or bottom of temperature and humidity control tank 52, and achieves precise temperature regulation by controlling the heating power; humidification module 54 uses an ultrasonic atomizer or steam generator to convert deionized water into fine water mist or saturated steam, and regulates gas humidity by controlling the atomization amount or steam supply.

[0040] Furthermore, in some possible embodiments, the gas delivery unit 5 may also integrate a flow meter and a component analyzer to accurately measure the total amount of aroma entering the scenting container 21 and monitor the composition of the aroma in real time, providing a basis for fine-tuning the process parameters.

[0041] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 4To achieve efficient and continuous switching between adsorption and desorption modes in the recovery unit 3, in this embodiment, the recovery unit 3 includes a regeneration compensation valve assembly 31, an adsorption tank 32, and a temperature control component 33. The adsorption tank 32 is equipped with adsorption material, such as activated carbon, molecular sieves, MOFs, or composite adsorbents, for physical or chemical adsorption of aroma components. The temperature control component 33 is connected to the adsorption tank 32 and employs an electric heating mantle or a heat transfer oil circulation device to heat or cool the adsorption tank 32 according to the mode switching requirements, thereby achieving aroma desorption and release or enhancing the adsorption effect.

[0042] Specifically, two sets of recovery units 3 are provided, designated as the first recovery unit 3 and the second recovery unit 3, respectively. These two sets of recovery units 3 are connected in parallel between the gas outlet and gas inlet of the tea scenting unit 2. Under the control of the control unit, the two sets of recovery units 3 can alternately operate in adsorption and desorption modes. Specifically, when the first recovery unit 3 is in adsorption mode, it adsorbs and enriches the aroma components in the gas discharged from the scenting container 21. At this time, the second recovery unit 3 is in desorption mode, where the temperature control component 33 heats the gas to desorb and release the adsorbed aroma components, forming a fragrant gas that returns to the scenting container 21. When the adsorbent material of the first recovery unit 3 approaches adsorption saturation, the system automatically switches the operating conditions, causing the first recovery unit 3 to switch to desorption mode for regeneration, while the second recovery unit 3 switches to adsorption mode to continue aroma recovery. The regeneration compensation valve assembly 31 includes at least four valve groups, each including a three-way valve and two solenoid valves. One end of each three-way valve is connected to the gas outlet of the tea scenting unit 2, and the other two ends are connected to the solenoid valves, which connect to the inlets of the first and second recovery units 3. By controlling the switching of the three-way valves and the on / off state of the solenoid valves, seamless switching between adsorption and desorption modes of the two recovery units 3 is achieved, ensuring the continuity of the aroma recovery process and preventing aroma loss or interruption of the scenting process due to the regeneration of a single recovery unit 3.

[0043] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea, using an integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea as described above, the method comprising: Place the osmanthus raw material in the extraction container 11, and put the black tea into the scenting container 21; Carrier gas is introduced into extraction container 11 through gas input component 12, and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction is carried out under conditions of 35-45℃ and 20-35MPa. The carrier gas carries the aroma components released by the flowers and enters the scenting container 21 through gas output pipeline 13. The black tea adsorbs the osmanthus fragrance substances under conditions of 40-60℃, thus completing the synchronous scenting. During the scenting process, the gas discharged from the gas outlet of the scenting container 21 is returned to the extraction container 11 through the gas input component 12 via the circulation pipeline 4, forming a closed circulation loop for the carrier gas. When the gas inside the scent container 21 needs to be discharged, or when the aroma concentration inside the scent container 21 is higher than the preset upper limit, the recovery unit 3 is switched to adsorption mode to adsorb and recover the aroma in the gas discharged from the scent container 21. When the aroma concentration in the scenting container 21 is lower than the preset lower limit, the recovery unit 3 is switched to desorption mode, so that the desorbed aroma-rich gas is returned to the scenting container 21 through the gas inlet to replenish the aroma concentration.

[0044] In the scenting process of scented tea, the scenting parameters vary significantly depending on the type of scented flower. Osmanthus tea, in particular, suffers from the weak volatility and short-lasting fragrance of osmanthus (fresh osmanthus flowers effectively release their fragrance for only about 12 hours). Therefore, its scenting process utilizes a high flower ratio of approximately 4:1 (tea base to fresh flowers), with a scenting time controlled between 12 and 18 hours. The tea is air-dried and cooled 1 to 2 times, without the need for multiple re-scenting processes. After the primary scenting, a light enhancement of the fragrance is sufficient for shaping. The drying temperature is strictly controlled between 60°C and... 70℃ is used to prevent the decomposition of aroma components; however, jasmine tea, due to the strong and volatile aroma of jasmine, requires 3 to 7 re-scenting processes. After each scenting, the tea must be dried and new flowers added, with the amount of flowers decreasing each time. The flowers are ventilated 2 to 3 times during each scenting process, making the process complex. Rose tea, due to the high oil content of its petals, easily releases oil during scenting, causing the tea leaves to become greasy. Therefore, the mixing temperature needs to be lowered to 20 to 25℃, and cold scenting is often used to avoid damaging the rose aroma with high temperatures. Based on the differences in key parameters and aroma release patterns in the scenting processes of these different flower teas, the integrated system and method for simultaneous flower aroma extraction and tea scenting described in this specific embodiment can be flexibly adjusted by changing the parameters of the control unit to adapt to the characteristics of different flower materials and process requirements. For example, for osmanthus tea scenting, the system can be set to a lower carrier gas circulation flow rate and inner cylinder rotation speed, matching the scenting duration of 12 to 18 hours. The temperature of the gas entering the scenting container is precisely controlled at 40–60°C, and the humidity is adjusted to a suitable range for osmanthus aroma adsorption, using a temperature and humidity control tank. Simultaneously, a recovery unit replenishes the aroma when the concentration decreases in the later stages of scenting, ensuring efficient aroma adsorption within the 12 hours of effective osmanthus fragrance release, reducing the amount of flowers used. For jasmine tea, the pump speed can be increased to accelerate aroma circulation, the inner cylinder rotation frequency can be increased to promote tea leaf agitation, and multiple... To meet the requirements of the second scenting process, the control unit presets temperature, pressure, and cycle time parameters for different stages. During each scenting, the temperature and humidity output of the gas delivery unit is automatically adjusted, and two sets of recovery units work alternately to continuously recover and replenish the aroma, satisfying the complex scenting process. For rose tea, the system can activate a low-temperature mode to control the gas temperature in the temperature and humidity regulating tank at 20 to 25°C and reduce the rotation speed of the inner cylinder to reduce friction and heat generation between the tea leaves and the cylinder wall, in line with the requirements of the cold scenting process. At the same time, the design of the dispersion insert prevents the petals from releasing oil due to excessive turning, ensuring the complete preservation of the rose aroma.

[0045] The integrated system and method for simultaneous floral fragrance extraction and tea scenting provided by this invention, by setting up a floral fragrance extraction unit 1, a tea scenting unit 2, a recovery unit 3, and a circulation pipeline 4, utilizes a carrier gas to deliver the aroma components released by fresh flowers to the scenting container 21 in real time for contact with the tea leaves, achieving dynamic synchronization of floral fragrance release and tea adsorption. The gas discharged from the gas outlet of the scenting container 21 is returned to the extraction container 11 through the circulation pipeline 4, forming a closed-loop circulation loop for the carrier gas, thereby realizing the recycling of the carrier gas, reducing the loss of aroma components during the emission process, significantly improving the overall utilization efficiency of floral fragrance components, and reducing production costs. Simultaneously, a recovery unit 3 with adsorption and desorption modes is set between the gas outlet and gas inlet of the scenting container 21. When the aroma concentration in the system is too high or gas needs to be emitted, the recovery unit 3 switches to adsorption mode to recover the emitted aroma, reducing the emission of aroma components into the environment and reducing raw material consumption. When the aroma concentration in the scenting container 21 is lower than the preset lower limit, the recovery unit 3 switches to desorption mode to return the enriched and desorbed aroma-rich gas to the scenting container 21, which can replenish the aroma concentration. This achieves dynamic balance control of the aroma concentration in the system, ensuring the stability and uniformity of the tea scenting process and improving product quality.

[0046] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper" and "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0047] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0048] The specific embodiments of the present invention described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. Any other corresponding changes and modifications made in accordance with the technical concept of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for integrating the extraction of floral scents and the scenting of tea leaves, characterized in that it comprises: include: The floral fragrance extraction unit includes an extraction container for holding raw materials and a gas input component and a gas output pipeline connected to the extraction container. A tea scenting unit includes a scenting container for holding tea leaves, the scenting container having a gas outlet and a gas inlet connected to the gas outlet pipe; A recovery unit is connected to the gas outlet and gas inlet of the tea scenting unit. The recovery and recycling unit has an adsorption mode for adsorbing aroma and a desorption mode for desorbing aroma. as well as A circulation pipeline connects the gas outlet of the tea scenting unit and the gas input component to guide the output gas back to the extraction container.

2. The integrated system for the simultaneous extraction of floral scents and the scenting of tea leaves according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tea scenting unit also includes an air intake assembly, an exhaust assembly, and a detection assembly; The air intake assembly and the air exhaust assembly are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the scenting container; the air intake assembly has a plurality of air inlets spaced apart along the axial direction of the scenting container; the air exhaust assembly has a plurality of air exhaust ports corresponding one-to-one with the air inlets; the detection assembly includes a plurality of aroma concentration sensing modules respectively disposed at the air inlets and / or the air exhaust ports.

3. The integrated system for the simultaneous extraction of floral scents and the scenting of tea leaves according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a control unit. The gas outlet of the tea scenting unit is connected to the circulation pipeline and the recovery unit via a three-way valve. The control unit is electrically connected to the three-way valve and the aroma concentration sensing module. It is used to control the corresponding three-way valve to switch according to the aroma concentration value detected by the aroma concentration sensing module, so as to selectively introduce the gas output by the tea scenting unit into the circulation pipeline or the recovery unit.

4. The integrated system for simultaneous floral fragrance extraction and tea scenting according to claim 2, characterized in that, The incubation container includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, and a drive assembly; The inner cylinder is rotatably disposed within the outer cylinder, and a plurality of vent holes are provided on the peripheral wall of the inner cylinder; a sandwich is formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, and the air intake assembly and the air exhaust assembly are both disposed within the sandwich; The drive assembly is connected to the inner cylinder and is used to drive the inner cylinder to rotate around its axis.

5. The integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and tea scenting according to claim 4, characterized in that, The storage container also includes several dispersing inserts; several dispersing inserts are respectively disposed on the peripheral wall of the inner cylinder, and one end extends into the interior of the inner cylinder. The dispersing inserts have concave surfaces facing the interior of the container, and several air vents are evenly provided on the concave surfaces.

6. The integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and tea scenting according to claim 5, characterized in that, Several of the aforementioned dispersed inserts are arranged sequentially along a spiral direction on the outer periphery of the inner cylinder.

7. The integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and tea scenting according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inner cylinder has a slot corresponding to the position of the dispersing plug, and the dispersing plug is detachably inserted into the inner cylinder through the slot.

8. The integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and tea scenting according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a gas delivery unit, which is located between the gas output pipeline and the gas inlet, and is used to regulate the gas pressure, temperature and humidity output from the extraction container to the sealing container.

9. The integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and tea scenting according to claim 8, characterized in that, The gas delivery unit includes a pressure regulating valve, a temperature and humidity regulating tank, a heating device, a humidification module, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor; The pressure regulating valve is connected to the gas output pipeline and the temperature and humidity regulating tank, and is used to regulate the gas pressure entering the temperature and humidity regulating tank from the gas output pipeline; the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor are both connected to the inside of the temperature and humidity regulating tank, and are used to monitor the temperature and humidity of the gas in the temperature and humidity regulating tank respectively; the heating device and the humidification module are both connected to the temperature and humidity regulating tank, and are used to heat and humidify the gas in the temperature and humidity regulating tank respectively.

10. A method for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and scenting of tea leaves, characterized in that, Using the integrated system for simultaneous extraction of floral fragrance and tea scenting as described in any one of claims 1-9, the method includes: Place the fresh flower raw materials into the extraction container, and place the tea leaves to be scented into the scenting container; Carrier gas is introduced into the extraction container through the gas input component, so that the carrier gas carries the aroma components released by the flowers and enters the scenting container through the gas output pipe, where it comes into full contact with the tea leaves to achieve aroma adsorption. During the scenting process, the gas discharged from the gas outlet of the scenting container is returned to the extraction container through the gas input component via the circulation pipeline, forming a closed circulation loop for the carrier gas. When the gas inside the scenting container needs to be discharged, or when the aroma concentration inside the scenting container is higher than a preset upper limit, the recovery unit is switched to adsorption mode to adsorb and recover the aroma in the gas discharged from the scenting container. When the aroma concentration in the scenting container is lower than a preset lower limit, the recovery unit is switched to desorption mode, so that the desorbed aroma-rich gas is returned to the scenting container through the gas inlet to replenish the aroma concentration.

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