Ultralow-temperature liquid medium instant freezing equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses ultralow-temperature liquid medium instant freezing equipment, which is very suitable for the field of processing and freezing of foods such as aquatic products and meat and comprises a freezing bin, a storage container, a circulating pump, a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, an evaporator and a control device. Two mutually isolated flow channels are arranged in the evaporator, and one flow channel of the compressor, one flow channel of the condenser, one flow channel of the throttling device and one flow channel of the evaporator are sequentially communicated through pipelines to form a refrigerant circulation loop; the refrigerating bin is filled with a secondary refrigerant, the storage container is detachably installed in the refrigerating bin, at least part of the storage container is immersed in the secondary refrigerant, the refrigerating bin, the circulating pump and the other flow channel of the evaporator are sequentially communicated through a pipeline to form a secondary refrigerant circulation loop, and the freezing point of the secondary refrigerant is lower than-60 DEG C. According to the equipment, a liquid cooling mode is adopted to replace an air cooling mode, a low-freezing-point liquid refrigerating medium is used as a medium for heat exchange, the freezing speed is higher, energy is saved, consumption is reduced, and the freshness, taste and the like of food are kept.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to refrigeration equipment, and more particularly to an ultra-low temperature liquid medium instant freezing device. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional freezing technologies in the aquatic and food processing industries primarily rely on air as the cooling medium, such as refrigerators, commercial freezers, and cold storage facilities. While the technology is mature, it has significant drawbacks. First, air has low heat transfer efficiency, resulting in slow freezing speeds, typically requiring over ten hours to complete the freezing process. This not only reduces production efficiency but also easily causes large ice crystals to form inside food cells, damaging cell structure, affecting the taste, and causing significant loss of nutritional value. For example, in aquatic product freezing, the slow freezing process leads to cell wall rupture in fish, shrimp, and other aquatic products, resulting in severe juice loss after thawing and a significant reduction in flavor and texture. Second, traditional freezing methods are energy-intensive. Due to the limited cooling capacity of air, equipment needs to operate for extended periods to maintain the low-temperature environment, leading to energy waste, which is particularly evident in large cold storage facilities and commercial freezers. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a more efficient and energy-saving freezing technology to meet the growing demands of the modern food industry and aquatic product processing for rapid freezing and high-quality preservation. Utility Model Content

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the above-mentioned problems and provide an ultra-low temperature liquid medium instant freezing device, which has a fast freezing speed, energy saving and consumption reduction, and is very suitable for the freezing of aquatic products, meat and other meat products, etc., greatly improving freezing efficiency and preservation effect.

[0004] The technical solution of this utility model is:

[0005] The ultra-low temperature liquid medium instant freezing device of this utility model is characterized by: including a freezing chamber, a storage container for placing materials to be frozen, a circulating pump, a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, an evaporator, and a control device; the evaporator has two mutually isolated flow channels, and one of the flow channels of the compressor, condenser, throttling device, and evaporator is connected in sequence through a pipeline to form a refrigerant circulation loop; the freezing chamber is filled with a refrigerant, the storage container is placed in the freezing chamber and at least partially immersed in the refrigerant, and the other flow channel of the freezing chamber, circulating pump, and evaporator is connected in sequence through a pipeline to form a refrigerant circulation loop, and the freezing point of the refrigerant is below -60°C.

[0006] In this invention, a liquid refrigerant with a freezing point below -60°C is used as the heat exchange medium. The refrigerant and the cooling agent have independent circulation loops. They exchange heat in the evaporator and then the refrigerant transfers the cooling capacity to the storage container immersed in the refrigerant. Liquid cooling technology is used to replace air cooling, which improves freezing efficiency and food preservation effect, and significantly shortens the production cycle.

[0007] Furthermore, in the cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device described in this utility model, the evaporator includes an inner tube and an outer tube nested together, with flow channels formed inside the inner tube and between the inner and outer tubes. This sleeve-type structure is compact and small, providing a large heat exchange contact surface between the refrigerant and the coolant, resulting in more direct and efficient heat transfer, reduced heat loss, and improved overall cooling performance.

[0008] Furthermore, in the cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device of this utility model, the storage container includes a container body and a container lid covering the container body. The container body has at least one storage cavity isolated from the refrigerant, and the material and the refrigerant are isolated and heat exchanged through the outer wall of the container body.

[0009] Furthermore, in the cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device described in this utility model, the control device is electrically connected to a first thermometer, and the storage container has at least one temperature measuring hole for inserting the first thermometer. The first thermometer is used to monitor and provide feedback on the temperature inside the storage container, thereby rationally adjusting the operating parameters of the equipment.

[0010] Furthermore, in the cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device described in this utility model, the outer wall of the storage container has a hollow structure, and the interior of the storage container is in contact with the refrigerant through the hollow structure. In this solution, the material to be frozen can be sealed in a sealed packaging bag, and the sealed packaging bag is placed inside the storage container and immersed in the refrigerant. The sealed packaging bag is used to achieve heat exchange isolation between the material and the refrigerant, ensuring food safety.

[0011] Furthermore, in the cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device of this utility model, the outer wall of the storage container has an outwardly extending flange, which is mounted inside the freezing chamber. The outer bottom surface of the storage container does not contact the inner bottom surface of the freezing chamber.

[0012] Furthermore, in the cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device described in this utility model, a second thermometer for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant inside the freezing chamber is provided. The second thermometer is electrically connected to the control device. The second thermometer and the first thermometer work together to monitor the temperature, and the control device intelligently adjusts the operating status of the equipment based on the two temperature data, thereby improving the control accuracy of the freezing process.

[0013] Furthermore, in the cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device of this utility model, the freezing chamber includes a chamber body and a chamber cover that covers the chamber body.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0015] This invention employs advanced liquid cooling technology, using a low-freezing-point liquid refrigerant as a medium to exchange heat with the storage container, replacing the traditional air cooling method. This results in higher heat transfer efficiency, enabling rapid cooling of materials in the storage container to ultra-low temperatures, significantly shortening freezing time, reducing energy consumption, and making operation more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. It has broad application prospects, especially in the field of food processing and freezing, such as aquatic products and meat, where it can prevent ice crystal formation from damaging cell tissues and maximize the preservation of food freshness, taste, and nutritional components. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Example 1.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the storage container described in Example 1.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the container lid described in Example 1.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a top view of the storage container described in Example 1.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the storage container described in Example 2. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings: Example 1

[0022] Reference Figure 1As shown in the figure, this embodiment of an ultra-low temperature liquid medium instant freezing device includes a freezing chamber 1, a storage container 2 for placing materials to be frozen, a circulating pump 3, a compressor 5, a condenser 6, a throttling device 7, an evaporator 4, and a control device (not shown in the figure). The evaporator 4 has two isolated flow channels. Specifically, the evaporator 4 includes an inner tube 4b and an outer tube 4a nested together, with the flow channels formed within the inner tube 4b and between the inner tube 4b and the outer tube 4a. One flow channel of the compressor 5, condenser 6, throttling device 7, and evaporator 4 is sequentially connected by a pipeline to form a refrigerant circulation loop; the throttling device 7 is an expansion valve or a capillary tube. The freezing chamber 1 is filled with a refrigerant with a freezing point below -60°C, and a liquid refrigerant with no abnormal odor, non-toxicity, and non-flammability is selected. The storage container 2 is placed inside the freezing chamber 1 and is at least partially immersed in the refrigerant. The other flow channel of the freezing chamber 1, circulating pump 3, and evaporator 4 is sequentially connected by a pipeline to form a refrigerant circulation loop. The control device is electrically connected to the circulating pump 3 and the compressor 5 to control their operation.

[0023] The refrigerant circulation loop works as follows: The control device controls the compressor 5 to start, compressing the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas into a high-temperature, high-pressure gas. After entering the condenser 6, it condenses into a high-temperature, high-pressure liquid. Then, it passes through the throttling device 7 to reduce the pressure and become a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid. The low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant enters one channel of the evaporator 4, absorbs heat from the other channel, and evaporates into a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas. It then enters the compressor 5 again, completing the refrigerant cycle.

[0024] The refrigerant circulation loop works as follows: The control device controls the circulation pump 3 to start, sending the refrigerant in the freezing chamber 1 into another flow channel of the evaporator 4. The refrigerant exchanges heat with the refrigerant and is cooled to an ultra-low temperature state. It then flows back to the freezing chamber 1 and exchanges heat with the storage container 2 to rapidly freeze the material in the storage container 2. After absorbing heat in the freezing chamber 1, the temperature of the refrigerant rises, and it is sent back to the evaporator 4 by the circulation pump 3 for cooling, thus completing the refrigerant circulation.

[0025] The freezer compartment includes a compartment body 1b and a compartment cover 1a that covers the compartment body 1b. The two are connected in an openable manner. Specifically, the compartment cover 1a and the compartment body 1b can be connected by a hinge, or by a sliding rail, snap-on, magnetic, or other means, as long as convenient opening and closing operation can be achieved.

[0026] Reference Figures 2-4The storage container 2 has an outwardly extending flange 2a on its outer wall, and is mounted inside the freezer compartment 1 through the flange 2a. The outer bottom surface of the storage container 2 does not contact the inner bottom surface of the freezer compartment 1. In the entire device, the number of storage containers 2 can be increased or decreased according to actual needs, and their size can also be adjusted accordingly. They can be arranged in parallel or other ways inside the freezer compartment 1.

[0027] The storage container 2 includes a container body and a container lid 2c that is closed on the container body. The container body has at least one storage cavity 2b that is isolated from the refrigerant. The multi-cavity design can accommodate multiple materials to be frozen at the same time, realize batch freezing, avoid frequent container disassembly, significantly improve production efficiency, and meet the needs of large-scale production.

[0028] The control device is electrically connected to a first thermometer (not shown in the figure), and the storage container 2 has at least one temperature measuring hole 2d for inserting the first thermometer. The position and number of temperature measuring holes 2d can be flexibly designed according to actual needs. In this embodiment, the temperature measuring holes 2d are set on the container lid 2c, but they can also be set on the container body. The temperature measuring holes 2d correspond to at least one storage cavity 2b, ensuring that the first thermometer can extend into or approach the storage cavity 2b through the temperature measuring hole 2d, thereby accurately measuring the temperature of the storage cavity 2b.

[0029] The freezer compartment 1 is equipped with a second thermometer 8 for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant inside the freezer compartment 1. The second thermometer 8 is electrically connected to the control device. Through the real-time monitoring and collaborative work of the first thermometer and the second thermometer 8, comprehensive temperature information is provided to the control device, thereby dynamically adjusting the operating parameters such as the flow rate and temperature of the refrigerant to ensure that the temperature of the storage cavity 2b is always within the optimal freezing range and improve the accuracy of control.

[0030] This embodiment is particularly suitable for the rapid freezing of aquatic products such as fish, shrimp, and shellfish, as well as meat and frozen foods. It uses a liquid refrigerant with a freezing point below -60°C as the medium, which has a much higher heat transfer efficiency than air, enabling more efficient transfer of cold energy, reducing energy loss, and significantly increasing freezing speed—it can be completed in just over ten minutes. Furthermore, rapid freezing can maximize the preservation of the food's cellular structure and nutritional components, resulting in better flavor and texture, meeting the food industry's demand for efficient and high-quality freezing. Example 2

[0031] The difference from Example 1 is that: (Refer to...) Figure 5The storage container 2 has a perforated structure 2e on its outer wall, and the interior of the storage container 2 comes into contact with the refrigerant through the perforated structure 2e. In this embodiment, the material to be frozen is pre-sealed in a sealed packaging bag, and the sealed packaging bag is placed inside the storage container 2. The refrigerant flows into the storage container 2 through the perforated structure 2e, and the sealed packaging bag is immersed in the refrigerant, achieving isolated heat exchange cooling between the material and the refrigerant. In this embodiment, a support can be installed in the freezing chamber, which defines an opening for accommodating multiple storage containers 2. The openings can be of different sizes to accommodate storage containers 2 of different sizes.

[0032] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in this utility model are still covered by the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device, characterized in that: The device includes a freezing chamber, a storage container for holding materials to be frozen, a circulating pump, a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, an evaporator, and a control device. The evaporator has two isolated flow channels. One of the flow channels of the compressor, condenser, throttling device, and evaporator is connected in sequence through a pipeline to form a refrigerant circulation loop. The freezing chamber is filled with a refrigerant. The storage container is placed in the freezing chamber and is at least partially immersed in the refrigerant. The other flow channel of the freezing chamber, circulating pump, and evaporator is connected in sequence through a pipeline to form a refrigerant circulation loop. The freezing point of the refrigerant is below -60°C.

2. The cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The evaporator includes an inner tube and an outer tube that are nested together, and the flow channels are formed inside the inner tube and between the inner tube and the outer tube.

3. The cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage container includes a container body and a container lid that covers the container body. The container body has at least one storage cavity that is isolated from the refrigerant.

4. The cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The control device is electrically connected to a first thermometer, and the storage container has at least one temperature measuring hole for inserting the first thermometer.

5. The cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer wall of the storage container has a hollow structure, and the interior of the storage container comes into contact with the coolant through the hollow structure.

6. The cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device according to claim 1, 3, or 5, characterized in that: The storage container has an outwardly extending flange on its outer wall and is mounted inside the freezer compartment through the flange. The outer bottom surface of the storage container does not contact the inner bottom surface of the freezer compartment.

7. The cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The freezer compartment is equipped with a second thermometer for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant inside the freezer compartment, and the second thermometer is electrically connected to the control device.

8. The cryogenic liquid medium instant freezing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The freezer compartment includes a compartment body and a cover that fits over the compartment body.

Images