Continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and maturation column

Abstract

A continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and ripening tower comprises a tower body and a heat source; the tower body is hollow; characterized in that the inner cavity of the tower body is sequentially connected from top to bottom with a feeding port, a storage section, a heating section, a cooling section, a discharging section and a discharging port; a material level sensor is installed in the storage section; a plurality of parallel heat conduction pipes are installed in the heating section; each heat conduction pipe is in a horizontal state and is divided into multiple layers, each layer having a plurality of heat conduction pipes; the air inlet and air outlet of the heat conduction pipes are respectively connected with the hot air outlet and cold air inlet of the heat source; the cross section of the heat conduction pipe is in the shape of a rhombus, one diagonal of the rhombus being parallel to the horizontal plane; the spacing between adjacent heat conduction pipes in the same layer is the same; the spacing between the (n+1)th layer and the nth layer of heat conduction pipes is the same; the median line of the connecting line between adjacent heat conduction pipes in the (n+1)th layer and one diagonal of the corresponding heat conduction pipe in the nth layer are in the same vertical plane; a plurality of pairs of coolant inlets and outlets are formed in the side wall of the cooling section.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of feed processing technology, specifically relating to a continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and maturation tower for processing granular grains. Background Technology

[0002] A sterilization and maturation tower is a comprehensive device that combines sterilization and maturation functions. It is mainly used in food processing, bio-fermentation and other fields to achieve sterilization and promote the maturation of materials through high-temperature treatment.

[0003] Taking corn as an example, existing equipment often uses high-temperature hot air to directly heat the corn for sterilization and cooking. This removes a large amount of water from corn with a moisture content of 15% (the required moisture content for corn used as feed), leading to the loss of water-soluble vitamins B and C, and a decrease in protein solubility and digestibility. The oxygen introduced by the high-temperature hot air will cause significant lipid oxidation, Maillard reaction, or caramelization reaction, resulting in a substantial decrease in its nutritional content. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a large-scale, continuous, energy-saving, and indirectly heated sterilization and maturation tower for processing particulate grains (such as corn) containing viruses (such as African swine fever). This tower aims to maintain the original moisture content of the raw materials as much as possible during the heating and sterilization process, ensuring the safety of corn feed, and maturing the corn to improve the nutritional value of the feed.

[0005] This utility model discloses a continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and cooking tower for granular grains such as corn, comprising a tower body and a heat source; the tower body is hollow.

[0006] The inner cavity of the tower body is connected from top to bottom to the following sections: feed inlet, storage section, (indirect heat conduction) heating section, cooling section, discharge section, and discharge outlet.

[0007] A level sensor is installed in the storage section;

[0008] Multiple parallel heat pipes are installed in the heating section; each heat pipe is horizontal and is divided into multiple layers, with multiple heat pipes in each layer; the air inlet and outlet of the heat pipe are connected to the hot air outlet and cold air inlet of the heat source, respectively.

[0009] The heat pipe has a rhombus-shaped cross-section, with one diagonal parallel to the horizontal plane; the spacing between adjacent heat pipes in the same layer is the same; the spacing between adjacent heat pipes in the (n+1)th and nth layers is the same; the perpendicular bisector of the line connecting adjacent heat pipes in the (n+1)th layer and one diagonal of the corresponding heat pipe in the nth layer are in the same vertical plane.

[0010] Multiple pairs of refrigerant inlets and refrigerant outlets are opened on the side wall of the cooling section.

[0011] Inside the tower, the material descends due to its own gravity. In the heating section, heat pipes carrying hot air heat the material. In the discharge section, the descent speed of the material is controlled by factors such as the opening degree of the discharge port, thereby affecting the residence time of the material in the heating section (heating time). Simultaneously, the heat pipes participate in the waste heat recycling of the heat source.

[0012] In the details of the design:

[0013] The material level sensor at the top of the storage section is used to detect whether the material is low or full. Two material level sensors can be used to detect the highest and lowest material levels respectively. If the material level is lower than the lowest level, raw materials are added; if the material level is higher than the highest level, adding materials is stopped.

[0014] Compared to other shapes, the rhomboid cross-section heat pipe, in addition to heating, also has excellent flow and heat conduction effects. "One diagonal of the rhombus is parallel to the horizontal plane," while the other diagonal is vertical. This causes the tip of the heat pipe to point upwards, separating the material flow. The material flows slowly along the two upper planes of the heat pipe, reaching the minimum space between adjacent heat pipes before expanding. Then, the top of the lower heat pipe blocks the upward flow, causing the expanding flow to separate and be squeezed to the two lower planes of the adjacent upper heat pipes. Through this process, the material makes full contact with the heat pipes and flows smoothly.

[0015] Furthermore, if the cooling section is air-cooled, then cold air is the refrigerant; the refrigerant inlet is connected to the air outlet of the air cooler.

[0016] Furthermore, if the cooling section is water-cooled, then cold water is the refrigerant; within the cooling section, a cooling water pipe connects the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet; the refrigerant inlet connects to the outlet of the cooling water circulation device, and the refrigerant outlet connects to the inlet of the cooling water circulation device.

[0017] Furthermore, an auxiliary discharge mechanism is connected to the discharge section; the auxiliary discharge mechanism includes a geared motor, a rotating shaft, and blades;

[0018] The rotating shaft is horizontally connected to the housing of the discharge section via a bearing device and a shaft seal. The geared motor is located in the housing of the discharge section, and the output shaft of the geared motor is connected to the rotating shaft. The blade is a rectangular flat plate, with its long side connected to the rotating shaft, and the plane of the blade passes through the axis of the rotating shaft.

[0019] The auxiliary discharge mechanism only agitates the material when discharge is obstructed; it does not affect discharge when it is smooth. Therefore, the blade size should not be too large, and the number of blades should not be excessive. When the material is corn, there are two symmetrical blades, which are perpendicular to the horizontal plane when not in operation.

[0020] Furthermore, there are multiple discharge ports, which are evenly distributed below the discharge section via hoppers.

[0021] Furthermore, a switchable valve is installed on the discharge port.

[0022] Furthermore, there are multiple identical heating sections, which are detachably connected from top to bottom; each heating section includes a housing and heat-conducting pipes inside the housing; adjacent heating sections are connected by flange mechanisms at the upper and lower edges of the housing, with sealing mechanisms at the connection points. This structure facilitates assembly, allowing for the use of different component numbers to meet varying production capacity requirements.

[0023] Furthermore, multiple parallel and equally spaced flow guide fins are connected to the outer wall of the heat pipe; the flow guide fins are perpendicular to the axis of the heat pipe.

[0024] This sterilization and curing tower enables large-scale, continuous operation, saving energy and ensuring safety. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structural principle of this embodiment;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the side structure of the heat pipe;

[0027] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the heat pipe assembly.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the auxiliary material feeding mechanism;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a single heating section;

[0030] In the diagram: 1. Heat source; 2. Feed inlet; 3. Storage section; 4. Heating section; 5. Cooling section; 6. Discharge section; 7. Discharge outlet; 8. Material level sensor; 9. Heat pipe; 10. Guide fins; 11. Refrigerant inlet; 12. Refrigerant outlet; 13. Air cooler; 14. Auxiliary discharge mechanism; 15. Gear motor; 16. Rotary shaft; 17. Paddle blade. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0032] refer to Figure 1 A continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and curing tower includes a tower body and a heat source 1; the tower body is hollow; the inner cavity of the tower body is connected from top to bottom to a feed inlet 2, a storage section 3, a heating section 4, a cooling section 5, a discharge section 6 and a discharge outlet 7.

[0033] A level sensor 8 is installed in the storage section 3;

[0034] Multiple parallel heat pipes 9 are installed within the heating section 4; each heat pipe is horizontal and consists of multiple layers, with multiple heat pipes in each layer; the air inlet and outlet of each heat pipe are connected to the hot air outlet and cold air inlet of the heat source 1, respectively. The heat source can be a steam heat exchanger, etc., and the hot air from the heat exchanger is blown out by a fan.

[0035] Further reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The heat pipe 9 has a rhomboid cross-sectional shape, and multiple parallel and equally spaced flow guide fins 10 are connected to the outer wall of the heat pipe; the flow guide fins are perpendicular to the axis of the heat pipe.

[0036] refer to Figure 5 One diagonal of the rhombus is parallel to the horizontal plane; in each heat pipe of the same layer, the spacing between adjacent heat pipes is the same; the spacing between the heat pipes of the (n+1)th layer and the nth layer is the same; the perpendicular bisector of the line connecting adjacent heat pipes in the (n+1)th layer and one diagonal of the corresponding heat pipe in the nth layer are in the same vertical plane.

[0037] Multiple pairs of refrigerant inlets 11 and refrigerant outlets 12 are provided on the side wall of cooling section 5.

[0038] In this example, the cooling section is air-cooled, so cold air is the refrigerant; the refrigerant inlet is connected to the air outlet of the air cooler 13. Alternatively, the cooling section can be water-cooled, so chilled water is the refrigerant; within the cooling section, a cooling water pipe connects the refrigerant inlet and outlet; the refrigerant inlet is connected to the outlet of the cooling water circulation device, and the refrigerant outlet is connected to the inlet of the cooling water circulation device.

[0039] An auxiliary discharge mechanism 14 is connected to the discharge section 6; further reference Figure 4 The auxiliary material discharge mechanism includes a geared motor 15, a rotating shaft 16, and a blade 17.

[0040] The rotating shaft is horizontally connected to the housing of the discharge section via a bearing assembly and a shaft seal. The geared motor is located in the housing of the discharge section, and the output shaft of the geared motor is connected to the rotating shaft. The blades are rectangular flat plates, with their long sides connected to the rotating shaft, and the plane containing the blades passes through the axis of the rotating shaft. In this example, the blades are two symmetrical pieces, and under normal conditions, the blades are perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

[0041] There are multiple discharge ports 7, which are evenly distributed below the discharge section via hoppers. The discharge ports can be arranged in a straight line or in a ring. A switchable valve is installed on each discharge port.

[0042] There are multiple identical heating sections 3 (11 in this example), which are detachably connected from top to bottom; each heating section includes a housing and a heat-conducting pipe inside the housing; adjacent heating sections are connected by flange mechanisms at the upper and lower edges of the housing, and there is a sealing mechanism (flange sealing ring) at the connection.

[0043] Take corn as an example:

[0044] 1. Continuous tower structure:

[0045] Corn feed enters the tower from the top and fills the entire internal effective space under the control of the material level sensor at the top of the tower. After passing through the indirect heat conduction heating section, the corn enters the cooling section and is discharged from the tower by the discharge mechanism after being cooled to room temperature.

[0046] When the material level sensor at the top of the tower detects a shortage of material, it replenishes the raw material in a timely manner; when the material level sensor detects a full load, it cuts off the material replenishment in a timely manner. This cycle of control is repeated to achieve continuous production.

[0047] 2. Heating section with indirect heat conduction:

[0048] The indirect heat conduction heating section adopts a combination of multiple sets of upper and lower series. Each section is equipped with assembled diamond-shaped heat conduction pipes. Hot air passes through the heat conduction pipes to conduct heat to the corn raw material and heat it to 80°C. The constant temperature aging is maintained for 2 hours. Since there is no outside air to take away the moisture, the moisture content of the corn raw material with a moisture content of 15% only decreases by about 1%.

[0049] 3. Waste heat recycling:

[0050] Since the hot air only passes through the diamond-shaped heat pipe, it does not carry dust or moisture, which is conducive to its recycling. No additional dust removal and dehumidification equipment is needed. The residual heat is 100% recovered to the heating system and reheated before entering the indirect heat conduction heating section for recycling.

[0051] This embodiment is used in the feed processing industry to ensure the safety of corn raw materials and improve the nutritional value of feed. The processing capacity of corn raw materials can reach 500 tons per day. The continuous tower structure requires little floor space. The corn flows slowly from top to bottom within the tower under gravity, with no excessive mechanical agitation under normal operating conditions, reducing the breakage rate of the corn. Indirect heat transfer via rhomboid heat pipes keeps the corn in an aerobic, closed-loop environment, resulting in minimal moisture loss. This prevents the loss of water-soluble vitamins B and C due to moisture loss, and the oxygen-deficient state prevents fat oxidation and the occurrence of significant Maillard reactions or caramelization. By controlling the corn temperature (e.g., 80℃) and maintaining this temperature for 2 hours, bacteria and microorganisms such as African swine fever virus can be effectively killed. The relatively low temperature of 80℃ preserves the activity of enzymes in the corn, enhancing its metabolic and processing characteristics. The vitamins and minerals in the cooked corn (processed into feed) are also more easily absorbed by pigs, aiding in the metabolism of enzymes in the pig's body and positively impacting the pig's immunity.

Claims

1. A continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and ripening tower, comprising a tower body and a heat source; said tower body is hollow; characterized in that... The inner cavity of the tower body consists of a feed inlet, a storage section, a heating section, a cooling section, a discharge section, and a discharge outlet, connected sequentially from top to bottom. A material level sensor is installed in the storage section; Multiple parallel heat pipes are installed in the heating section; each heat pipe is horizontal and is divided into multiple layers, with multiple heat pipes in each layer; the air inlet and outlet of the heat pipe are connected to the hot air outlet and cold air inlet of the heat source, respectively. The heat pipe has a rhombus-shaped cross-section, with one diagonal parallel to the horizontal plane; the spacing between adjacent heat pipes in the same layer is the same; the spacing between adjacent heat pipes in the (n+1)th and nth layers is the same; the perpendicular bisector of the line connecting adjacent heat pipes in the (n+1)th layer and one diagonal of the corresponding heat pipe in the nth layer are in the same vertical plane. Multiple pairs of refrigerant inlets and refrigerant outlets are opened on the side wall of the cooling section.

2. The continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and curing tower according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling section is air-cooled, and the cold air is the refrigerant; the refrigerant inlet is connected to the air outlet of the air cooler.

3. The continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and curing tower according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling section is water-cooled, and the cold water is the refrigerant; the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet are connected by a cooling water pipe in the cooling section; the refrigerant inlet is connected to the outlet of the cooling water circulation device, and the refrigerant outlet is connected to the inlet of the cooling water circulation device.

4. The continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and ripening tower according to claim 1, characterized in that... The discharge section is connected to an auxiliary discharge mechanism; the auxiliary discharge mechanism includes a geared motor, a rotating shaft, and blades; The rotating shaft is horizontally connected to the housing of the discharge section via a bearing device and a shaft seal. The geared motor is located in the housing of the discharge section, and the output shaft of the geared motor is connected to the rotating shaft. The blade is a rectangular flat plate, with its long side connected to the rotating shaft, and the plane of the blade passes through the axis of the rotating shaft.

5. The continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and ripening tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The discharge ports are multiple and are evenly distributed below the discharge section via hoppers.

6. The continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and ripening tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: A switchable valve is installed on the discharge port.

7. The continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and ripening tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are multiple identical heating sections, which are detachably connected from top to bottom; each heating section includes a housing and a heat-conducting pipe inside the housing; adjacent heating sections are connected by flange mechanisms at the upper and lower edges of the housing, and there is a sealing mechanism at the connection.

8. The continuous indirect heat conduction sterilization and ripening tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple parallel and equally spaced flow guide fins are connected to the outer wall of the heat pipe; the flow guide fins are perpendicular to the axis of the heat pipe.

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