Fruit and vegetable drying system based on fuel cell

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of fruit and vegetable drying, in particular to a fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell, which comprises a fuel cell unit, a tunnel type microwave drying device and a fruit and vegetable conveying device, the fuel cell unit is used for generating electric energy and heat, the generated electric energy is supplied to the tunnel type microwave drying device for use, and the generated heat is input into the fruit and vegetable conveying device for air drying of fruits and vegetables. Energy is supplied in a fuel cell combined heat and power supply mode, and clean, low-carbon and environment-friendly energy supply is guaranteed; a tunnel type hot air microwave drying device is combined, microwave hot air coupling drying is achieved, and the defects that a traditional single hot air drying mode is low in drying efficiency and uneven in microwave drying heating, and tunnel type drying equipment is high in energy consumption and pollution are effectively overcome. And by arranging the magnetic attraction type connecting shell, the multiple drying cavities are spliced, the drying device can be conveniently installed according to the requirement for the yield of dried materials, and the equipment is conveniently disassembled, assembled and transferred.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fruit and vegetable drying technology, and in particular to a fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell. Background Technology

[0002] Drying fruits and vegetables involves using heat or other methods to reduce their moisture content, thereby lowering water activity, inhibiting microbial growth and enzyme activity, and achieving long-term preservation. However, drying accounts for a significant portion of energy consumption in food processing. A common drying method is the tunnel drying unit, equipped with a conveyor belt system, which enables automation and assembly line operation of the drying process.

[0003] Currently, tunnel microwave dryers and tunnel hot air dryers, which utilize a single drying process, have achieved commercial mass production. However, each single drying technology has its own drawbacks. Hot air drying utilizes convective heat transfer between heated air and the material, evaporating moisture from the outside in. This technology is simple to operate and highly applicable, but its drying efficiency is relatively low. Microwave drying causes polar molecules such as water in the material to rotate at high speed with the microwave frequency, generating frictional heat. This leads to simultaneous heating inside and outside the material, causing water molecules to escape and achieving the drying effect. This technology has higher drying efficiency, but it is prone to uneven heating and poor drying quality. Furthermore, traditional tunnel drying equipment is typically large in size and inconvenient to transport in order to achieve automated assembly line operation; it also has high energy consumption and is environmentally unfriendly, requiring further optimization. Utility Model Content

[0004] Technical objective: In order to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology, this utility model provides a fruit and vegetable drying system based on fuel cells. It adopts a fuel cell cogeneration method, organically combining tunnel hot air and microwave drying methods, which is clean, environmentally friendly, and provides uniform and efficient drying.

[0005] Technical solution: To achieve the above objectives, this utility model discloses a fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell, including a fuel cell unit, a tunnel microwave drying device and a fruit and vegetable conveying device respectively connected to the fuel cell unit; the fuel cell unit is used to generate electrical energy and heat, the generated electrical energy is used to supply the tunnel microwave drying device, and the generated heat is input into the fruit and vegetable conveying device for air drying of fruits and vegetables.

[0006] Furthermore, it also includes a gas reforming unit, the outlet of which is connected to the fuel cell unit.

[0007] Furthermore, the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell unit is direct current (DC), which is converted into fixed voltage alternating current (AC) by a DC / AC inverter to supply the tunnel microwave drying device.

[0008] Furthermore, the fuel cell unit is equipped with an air recovery system for discharging hot air.

[0009] Furthermore, the tunnel-type microwave drying device includes an interconnected microwave control system and a drying chamber.

[0010] Furthermore, the fruit and vegetable conveying device includes an inlet channel, an outlet channel, and a belt conveyor. The inlet channel and the outlet channel are located on both sides of the drying chamber. The belt conveyor includes a conveyor belt. An inlet is provided on the inlet channel. The conveyor belt passes through the inlet under the drive of external force and sequentially passes through the inlet channel, the drying chamber, and the outlet channel.

[0011] Furthermore, a blower is also provided between the feeding channel and the air recovery system. The blower is connected to the feeding channel through a hot air pipe, and the outlet of the hot air pipe is configured to distribute airflow evenly. A feeding hopper is provided at one end of the feeding channel.

[0012] Furthermore, the drying chamber is equipped with monitoring equipment, temperature and humidity sensors, and dehumidification fans, all controlled by the microwave control system. Observation windows are provided on the side wall of the drying chamber.

[0013] Furthermore, the drying chamber is provided with a magnetically connected outer shell, and a metal plate lock is provided on the magnetically connected outer shell.

[0014] Furthermore, the belt conveyor also includes a drive roller and a driven roller located on both sides of the conveyor belt. The drive roller is driven by an electric motor, which is electrically connected to the microwave control system.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0016] The system employs a fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) system to supply the heat required for hot air drying and the electricity required for microwave drying, ensuring a clean, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly energy supply. By combining a tunnel-type hot air and microwave drying device, it achieves coupled microwave and hot air drying, effectively eliminating the shortcomings of traditional single hot air drying methods, such as low drying efficiency, uneven heating in microwave drying, and high energy consumption and pollution in tunnel-type drying equipment. Through the installation of a magnetic connection shell, multiple drying chambers can be spliced ​​together, facilitating the installation of the drying device according to the production requirements of the dried materials and making the equipment easy to disassemble and move. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the magnetic connection shell structure;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the inlet structure of the feed channel conveyor belt.

[0020] In the diagram, 1. Gas reforming unit; 2. Fuel cell unit; 21. Air recovery system; 3. DC / AC inverter; 4. Tunnel microwave drying device; 41. Microwave control system; 42. Drying chamber; 43. Monitoring equipment; 44. Temperature and humidity sensor; 45. Exhaust fan; 46. Magnetic connection shell; 47. Observation window; 48. Metal plate lock; 5. Fruit and vegetable conveying device; 6. Blower; 7. Hot air duct; 8. Air distribution shape; 9. Feed hopper; 10. Feed channel; 11. Discharge channel; 12. Belt conveyor; 121. Conveyor belt; 122. Driven roller; 123. Support frame; 124. Motor; 125. Rotating shaft; 126. Folding rod; 127. Driven roller; 13. Inlet. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1 To be continued Figure 3 The principles and features of this utility model are described, and the examples given are only used to explain this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model.

[0022] A fuel cell-based fruit and vegetable drying system includes a gas reforming unit 1, a fuel cell unit 2, a tunnel microwave drying unit 4, and a fruit and vegetable conveying device 5. The outlet of the gas reforming unit 1 is connected to the fuel cell unit 2, and the tunnel microwave drying unit 4 and the fruit and vegetable conveying device 5 are respectively connected to the fuel cell unit 2. Natural gas or other fuels are input into the gas reforming unit 1, where a reforming reaction produces hydrogen. The hydrogen then enters the fuel cell unit 2 for further reaction. The fuel cell unit 2 generates electricity and heat. The generated electricity supplies the tunnel microwave drying unit 4, and the generated heat is input into the fruit and vegetable conveying device 5 for drying the fruits and vegetables. Specifically, the electricity generated by the fuel cell unit 2 is direct current (DC), which is converted to fixed-voltage alternating current (AC) by a DC / AC inverter 3 to supply the tunnel microwave drying unit 4. An air recovery system 21 is installed within the fuel cell unit 2 to exhaust hot air for use by the fruit and vegetable conveying device 5 for hot air drying.

[0023] Gas reforming unit 1 utilizes the reaction of methane (CH4) in natural gas with water vapor (H2O) under high temperature and with the aid of a catalyst to produce hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), as follows:

[0024] CH4 + H2O → CO + 3H2 (1)

[0025] CO + H₂O → CO₂ + H₂ (2)

[0026] The tunnel-type microwave drying device 4 includes a microwave control system 41 and a drying chamber 42 interconnected. The drying chamber 42 is equipped with a monitoring device 43, a temperature and humidity sensor 44, and an exhaust fan 45, all controlled by the microwave control system 41. An observation window 47 is provided on the side wall of the drying chamber 42. The monitoring device 43 is a camera used for monitoring the interior of the chamber. The temperature and humidity sensor 44 detects the air temperature and humidity inside the drying chamber 42 and transmits the data to the microwave control system 41. The microwave control system 41 uses the received temperature and humidity data to adjust and control the heat output of the fuel cell unit 2, the power of the tunnel-type microwave drying device 4, and the operating status of the exhaust fan 45, thereby regulating the temperature and humidity inside the drying chamber 42.

[0027] In one embodiment, a magnetically connected outer shell 46 is provided on the drying chamber 42. Specifically, the magnetically connected outer shell 46 is located at both ends of the drying chamber 42. The middle material of the magnetically connected outer shell 46 is a strong magnet, which tightly connects the two sections of the drying chamber 42. The outermost and innermost layers of the outer shell are made of metal, which can suppress microwave radiation. A metal plate lock 48 is provided on the magnetically connected outer shell 46 to lock the two sections of the drying chamber 42 so that they are not easy to fall off. The connectable drying chambers 42 not only facilitate the installation and transportation of the overall drying device, but also allow the selection of the number of drying chambers 42 according to the microwave drying efficiency required by the material. Multiple drying chambers 42 can be spliced ​​together for large-scale material drying, while a single drying chamber 42 can work for small-scale material drying. If any component of the drying chamber 42 malfunctions, it is easy to replace and repair it.

[0028] The fruit and vegetable conveying device 5 includes an inlet channel 10, an outlet channel 11, and a belt conveyor 12. The inlet channel 10 and the outlet channel 11 are located on both sides of the drying chamber 42 and are connected to the drying chamber 42. An inlet hopper 9 is provided at one end of the inlet channel 10 for easy placement of materials such as fruits and vegetables that need drying. The connection between the inlet hopper 9 and the inlet channel 10 can be separated to prevent heat loss. The material to be dried enters the drying chamber 42 from the inlet hopper 9 through the inlet channel 10, is preheated with hot air, and then undergoes dual drying via microwave and hot air. Finally, the material is transported out through the outlet channel 11. If the material has not reached the ideal state, it is collected and sent back to the inlet channel 10 for further drying. The surface of the inlet channel 10 is made of metal to suppress microwave radiation.

[0029] A blower 6 is also installed between the feed channel 10 and the air recovery system 21. The blower 6 receives hot air discharged from the air recovery system 21 through its air inlet. The blower 6 is connected to the feed channel 10 through a hot air pipe 7. The connection between the blower 6 outlet and the hot air pipe 7 inlet is sealed to ensure complete heat transfer. The hot air pipe 7 outlet is designed with a uniform airflow shape 8, which ensures that the hot air is evenly distributed into the feed channel 10, guaranteeing full contact between the material and the hot air. The outlet of the uniform airflow shape 8 is sealed to the feed channel 10 to prevent heat loss.

[0030] The belt conveyor 12 includes a conveyor belt 121, a drive roller 122, a driven roller 127, and a support 123. The drive roller 122 and the driven roller 127 are located on both sides of the conveyor belt 121. The drive roller 122 is driven by a motor 124, which allows for speed adjustment and forward / reverse rotation of the drive roller 122. This enables the conveyor belt 121 to transport materials for drying with and against the wind using hot air, while also controlling the drying cycle time of each material drying cycle. The motor 124 is a variable frequency speed-regulating three-phase asynchronous motor, electrically connected to and controlled by the microwave control system 41. The conveyor belt 121 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is heat-resistant and can withstand microwave penetration. The support 123 supports the conveyor belt 121, the drive roller 122, the motor 124, and the driven roller 127. The bottom of the support 123 has rollers to facilitate the transfer of materials by the belt conveyor 12. The bracket 123 is connected in the middle by a folding rod 126. A pivot 125 is set in the middle of the folding rod 126 to realize the two ends of the bracket 123 folding towards the middle, which facilitates the transfer of the belt conveyor 12.

[0031] The feed channel 10 and the discharge channel 11 are separable from the belt conveyor 12. The feed channel 10 is provided with an inlet 13. The conveyor belt 121 passes through the inlet 13 and sequentially passes through the feed channel 10, the drying chamber 42 and the discharge channel 11.

[0032] This system can solve the problems of high energy consumption and carbon emissions, inconsistent drying quality, and low drying efficiency of single fruit and vegetable drying systems. It only requires natural gas as a single fuel and can generate both electricity and heat. It can also realize the combined installation and disassembly transportation of drying devices. The folding bracket reduces the space occupied during transportation, making it easy to transport the drying devices to high-altitude and remote areas. It is also easy to install and dry on-site in the place where agricultural products are grown, and can preserve the flavor of the products to the greatest extent.

[0033] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell, characterized in that, It includes a fuel cell unit (2), a tunnel microwave drying device (4) and a fruit and vegetable conveying device (5) respectively connected to the fuel cell unit (2); the fuel cell unit (2) is used to generate electricity and heat, the generated electricity is used to supply the tunnel microwave drying device (4), and the generated heat is input into the fruit and vegetable conveying device (5) for drying the fruits and vegetables.

2. The fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a gas reforming unit (1), the outlet of which is connected to a fuel cell unit (2).

3. The fuel cell-based fruit and vegetable drying system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The electrical energy generated by the fuel cell unit (2) is direct current, which is converted into fixed voltage alternating current by a DC / AC inverter (3) to supply the tunnel microwave drying device (4).

4. The fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The fuel cell unit (2) is equipped with an air recovery system (21) for discharging hot air.

5. The fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell according to claim 4, characterized in that, The tunnel microwave drying device (4) includes a microwave control system (41) and a drying chamber (42) that are interconnected.

6. The fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell according to claim 5, characterized in that, The fruit and vegetable conveying device (5) includes an inlet channel (10), an outlet channel (11), and a belt conveyor (12). The inlet channel (10) and the outlet channel (11) are located on both sides of the drying chamber (42). The belt conveyor (12) includes a conveyor belt (121). The inlet channel (10) is provided with an inlet (13). The conveyor belt (121) passes through the inlet (13) under the drive of external force and passes through the inlet channel (10), the drying chamber (42), and the outlet channel (11) in sequence.

7. The fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell according to claim 6, characterized in that, A blower (6) is also provided between the feeding channel (10) and the air recovery system (21). The blower (6) is connected to the feeding channel (10) through a hot air pipe (7). The outlet of the hot air pipe (7) is set in a uniform airflow shape (8). A feeding hopper (9) is provided at one end of the feeding channel (10).

8. The fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell according to claim 5, characterized in that, The drying chamber (42) is equipped with a monitoring device (43), a temperature and humidity sensor (44), and a dehumidification fan (45), all of which are controlled by the microwave control system (41). An observation window (47) is provided on the side wall of the drying chamber (42).

9. The fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell according to claim 8, characterized in that, The drying chamber (42) is provided with a magnetically connected outer shell (46), and a metal plate lock (48) is provided on the magnetically connected outer shell (46).

10. The fruit and vegetable drying system based on a fuel cell according to claim 6, characterized in that, The belt conveyor (12) also includes a drive roller (122) and a driven roller (127) located on both sides of the conveyor belt (121). The drive roller (122) is driven by a motor (124), which is electrically connected to the microwave control system (41).

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