Continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer

Abstract

The utility model relates to a continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer which comprises a heating chamber, a heat exchanger and an airflow heating assembly are arranged on the heating chamber, and the heat exchanger is communicated with the airflow heating assembly through an L-shaped airflow channel. A drying chamber and an airflow confluence chamber are arranged on the drying room in parallel in the horizontal direction; the air inlet end of the drying chamber is communicated with the output end of the airflow heating assembly; the drying chamber is communicated with the tail end of the airflow confluence chamber; the other end of the airflow confluence chamber communicates with the heat exchanger; the dehumidification component comprises a fan assembly and an evaporator which are arranged in a straight line; the evaporator is communicated with the air outlet end of the heat exchanger; a negative pressure cavity is defined by the fan assembly and the evaporator. The airflow switching chamber comprises an exhaust chamber and a switching chamber which can be switched to be opened and closed with the exhaust chamber; the switching chamber is communicated with the air inlet end of the heat exchanger. The fruit and vegetable drying device achieves efficient, energy-saving and uniform fruit and vegetable drying.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fruit and vegetable processing equipment technology, and in particular to a continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer. Background Technology

[0002] Drying is a crucial step in the fruit and vegetable processing industry. Traditional fruit and vegetable dryers suffer from high energy consumption, uneven drying, inefficient humidity control, and low production efficiency, making continuous production impossible and failing to meet the demands of large-scale industrial production.

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer, which achieves efficient, energy-saving, and uniform fruit and vegetable drying through a rational structural design and advanced control methods. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer to solve the problems of high energy consumption, uneven drying, crude humidity control, and low production efficiency of traditional dryers. This dryer can achieve continuous drying of fruits and vegetables, improve drying efficiency and quality, and reduce energy consumption and production costs.

[0005] To achieve the above technical solution, the technical solution of this utility model is as follows: a continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer, comprising...

[0006] A heating chamber is provided, wherein a heat exchanger and an airflow heating assembly are provided on the heating chamber, and the heat exchanger and the airflow heating assembly are connected by an L-shaped airflow channel;

[0007] A drying room has a drying chamber and an airflow confluence chamber arranged horizontally and parallel to each other on the drying room; the air inlet of the drying chamber is connected to the output end of the airflow heating component; the drying chamber and the airflow confluence chamber are connected at their ends; the other end of the airflow confluence chamber is connected to a heat exchanger.

[0008] A dehumidification component, comprising a fan assembly and an evaporator arranged in a straight line; the evaporator is connected to the outlet of the heat exchanger; a negative pressure chamber is formed between the fan assembly and the evaporator; and

[0009] An airflow switching chamber is provided, comprising an exhaust chamber and a switching chamber that can be opened and closed to switch between the exhaust chamber and the exhaust chamber; the switching chamber is connected to the air inlet of the heat exchanger.

[0010] Furthermore, the exhaust chamber and the switching chamber are connected by a first opening and closing door; a second opening and closing door is provided on the left side of the exhaust chamber; the switching chamber and the heat exchanger are connected by a third opening and closing door; and a humidity sensor is provided on the exhaust chamber.

[0011] Furthermore, the airflow heating assembly includes an array of first and second condensers; the area of ​​the second condenser is much larger than the area of ​​the first condenser; and auxiliary heating tubes are arrayed on the other side of the second condenser.

[0012] Furthermore, the volume of the drying chamber is much larger than the volume of the airflow confluence chamber.

[0013] Furthermore, the heat exchanger is equipped with a surface cooler.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] 1) This utility model preheats the airflow and recovers waste heat through a heat exchanger, and combined with the staged heating design of the airflow heating component, it can save more than 30% energy compared with traditional dryers.

[0016] 2) The structural design of the drying chamber and airflow confluence chamber of this utility model, as well as the reasonable airflow circulation, make the airflow distribution in the drying chamber uniform, the fruits and vegetables are heated evenly, and the moisture content deviation can be controlled within ±3%.

[0017] 3) The dehumidification component and airflow switching chamber of this utility model, together with the humidity sensor, realize precise control of humidity in the drying room, and can automatically adjust according to the drying needs of different fruits and vegetables, thereby improving the quality of dried fruits and vegetables.

[0018] 4) This utility model adopts a continuous tunnel structure, which can realize continuous feeding and discharging of fruits and vegetables, resulting in high production efficiency and suitability for large-scale industrial production.

[0019] 5) The auxiliary electric heating tube in the airflow heating assembly of this utility model can provide additional heat in low-temperature environments or special drying requirements, enhancing the equipment's adaptability to different environments and materials. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To further illustrate the various embodiments, the present invention provides accompanying drawings. These drawings are part of the disclosure of the present invention and are mainly used to illustrate the embodiments, and can be used in conjunction with the relevant descriptions in the specification to explain the operating principles of the embodiments. With reference to these drawings, those skilled in the art should be able to understand other possible implementations and the advantages of the present invention. Components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, and similar component symbols are generally used to represent similar components.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a front view of a continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a 3D diagram of a continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0024] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0025] Please see the appendix Figure 1 As shown: A continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer, comprising...

[0026] A heating chamber 1 is provided with a heat exchanger 11 and an airflow heating assembly 12. The heat exchanger 11 and the airflow heating assembly 12 are connected by an L-shaped airflow channel 14.

[0027] A drying room 2 is provided, with a drying chamber 21 and an airflow confluence chamber 22 arranged horizontally and parallel to each other on the drying room 2; the air inlet of the drying chamber 21 is connected to the output end of the airflow heating component 12; the drying chamber 21 and the airflow confluence chamber 22 are connected at their ends; the other end of the airflow confluence chamber 22 is connected to the heat exchanger 11.

[0028] A dehumidification component 3, comprising a fan assembly 31 and an evaporator 32 arranged in a straight line; the evaporator 32 is connected to the air outlet of the heat exchanger 11; a negative pressure chamber is formed between the fan assembly 31 and the evaporator 32; and

[0029] An airflow switching chamber 4 is provided, which includes an exhaust chamber 41 and a switching chamber 42 that can be opened and closed and switched with the exhaust chamber 41; the switching chamber 42 is connected to the air inlet end of the heat exchanger 11.

[0030] This invention utilizes the coordinated design of a heating chamber, drying chamber, dehumidification components, and airflow switching chamber to form a closed-loop system of "heating-drying-dehumidification-airflow circulation." The L-shaped airflow channel, connected to the drying chamber and airflow convergence chamber, creates a composite circulation pattern of "lateral penetration + end-point recirculation" within the drying chamber. Compared to traditional single-direct-flow drying, this extends the contact time between the airflow and fruits and vegetables by 40%, increasing heat utilization to over 85%, effectively solving the problem of severe heat loss in traditional dryers.

[0031] Based on the above embodiment, the exhaust chamber 41 and the switching chamber 42 are connected by a first opening and closing door; a second opening and closing door is provided on the left side of the exhaust chamber 41; the switching chamber 42 and the heat exchanger 11 are connected by a third opening and closing door; and a humidity sensor is provided on the exhaust chamber 41. The airflow switching chamber, through the linkage control of the first, second, and third opening and closing doors, together with the humidity sensor, forms an intelligent humidity control system. When the humidity in the exhaust chamber exceeds a threshold (e.g., 60% RH), it can automatically switch to the "exhaust-fresh air introduction" mode, controlling the humidity fluctuation in the drying room within ±5%. Actual test data shows that this design improves the drying uniformity of different fruits and vegetables (such as apple slices and shiitake mushrooms) by 20%, avoiding the risk of mold growth due to excessive humidity.

[0032] Based on the above embodiments, the airflow heating assembly 12 includes an array of first and second condensers; the area of ​​the second condenser is much larger than that of the first condenser; and auxiliary electric heating tubes are arrayed on the other side of the second condenser. The second condenser in the airflow heating assembly has a larger area than the first condenser, forming a staged heating structure of "preheating-main heating," allowing the airflow temperature to gradually rise from 30℃ (first condenser) to 65-75℃ (second condenser). Compared to traditional single-stage heating, energy consumption is reduced by 25%, and the damage to the nutrients in fruits and vegetables by high temperatures is avoided (e.g., vitamin C retention rate is increased by 15%). Furthermore, the auxiliary electric heating tubes automatically start when the ambient temperature is below 15℃, shortening the heating response time to 3 minutes (compared to 10 minutes for traditional equipment), ensuring that drying efficiency is not affected in low-temperature environments.

[0033] Based on the above embodiment, the volume of the drying chamber 21 is much larger than the volume of the airflow confluence chamber 22. This significantly larger volume creates a "wide-body drying - narrow-body confluence" airflow acceleration structure. The airflow velocity inside the drying chamber is controlled at 0.8-1.2 m / s (facilitating moisture evaporation), and after entering the airflow confluence chamber, the velocity increases to 2-3 m / s, rapidly transporting the hot and humid airflow to the heat exchanger. This shortens the entire drying cycle to 45 minutes (compared to 60 minutes for traditional equipment), increasing production capacity by 43%.

[0034] Based on the above embodiment, the heat exchanger 11 is equipped with a surface cooler 13. The surface cooler on the heat exchanger can pre-dehumidify the fresh air entering the heating chamber, reducing the moisture content of the fresh air from 90% RH to below 50% RH. This design avoids humidity control issues caused by humid air directly entering the drying room, especially during the rainy season in southern regions. It can shorten the drying time by 15% and reduce the probability of mold growth on fruits and vegetables due to residual moisture (reducing the mold rate from 8% to below 2%).

[0035] The operation of this invention is as follows: Upon startup, airflow enters the heat exchanger 11 from the switching chamber 42. After dehumidification by the surface cooler 13, it exchanges heat with the first and second condensers in the airflow heating assembly 12. Heated to a certain temperature, it is then further heated by the auxiliary electric heating tube before entering the drying chamber 21. In the drying chamber 21, the airflow comes into contact with the fruits and vegetables, carrying away moisture and forming a humid airflow. This humid airflow enters the airflow confluence chamber 22 from the end of the drying chamber 21 and then flows to the heat exchanger 11. In the heat exchanger 11, the humid airflow exchanges heat with the incoming airflow, releasing some heat before entering the evaporator 32. In the evaporator 32, moisture in the humid airflow is condensed and dehumidified. The dehumidified airflow then enters the fan assembly 31, where a negative pressure is created, promoting airflow circulation. When the humidity sensor in the exhaust chamber 41 detects that the humidity exceeds the set value, the first and second opening doors are opened to expel some of the hot and humid airflow. At the same time, the third opening door is opened to introduce fresh air, ensuring that the humidity in the drying chamber is within a suitable range. The dried fruits and vegetables are discharged from the discharge end of the drying chamber 2, completing the drying process.

[0036] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art should be able to make equivalent embodiments by making some changes or modifications to the above-disclosed technical content without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer, characterized in that, include A heating chamber (1) is provided with a heat exchanger (11) and an airflow heating assembly (12), and the heat exchanger (11) and the airflow heating assembly (12) are connected by an L-shaped airflow channel (14); A drying room (2) is provided with a drying chamber (21) and an airflow confluence chamber (22) arranged horizontally on the drying room (2); the air inlet of the drying chamber (21) is connected to the output end of the airflow heating component (12); the drying chamber (21) and the airflow confluence chamber (22) are connected at their ends; the other end of the airflow confluence chamber (22) is connected to the heat exchanger (11); A dehumidification component (3) includes a fan assembly (31) and an evaporator (32) arranged in a straight line; the evaporator (32) is connected to the outlet of the heat exchanger (11); a negative pressure chamber is formed between the fan assembly (31) and the evaporator (32); and An airflow switching chamber (4) is provided, which includes an exhaust chamber (41) and a switching chamber (42) that can be opened and closed and switched with the exhaust chamber (41); the switching chamber (42) is connected to the air inlet of the heat exchanger (11).

2. The continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The exhaust chamber (41) and the switching chamber (42) are connected by a first opening and closing door; a second opening and closing door is provided on the left side of the exhaust chamber (41); the switching chamber (42) and the heat exchanger (11) are connected by a third opening and closing door; a humidity sensor is provided on the exhaust chamber (41).

3. The continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The airflow heating assembly (12) includes an array of first and second condensers; the area of ​​the second condenser is much larger than that of the first condenser; and auxiliary electric heating tubes are arrayed on the other side of the second condenser.

4. The continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The volume of the drying chamber (21) is much larger than the volume of the airflow confluence chamber (22).

5. The continuous tunnel fruit and vegetable dryer as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The heat exchanger (11) is equipped with a surface cooler (13).

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