A pit for absorbing and releasing heat using a phase change material

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of pit of heat absorption and release using phase change material, it is related to pit structure technical field.It includes the main pool body of top opening setting, at least one fermentation bin inner container is installed in main pool body, and detachable installation is carried out with the top cover of its sealing cooperation at main pool body top opening, and the heat-insulating interlayer that can contact with fermentation bin inner container and can heat conduction is equipped between fermentation bin inner container and main pool body, heat-insulating interlayer is filled with the phase change material that can absorb, release heat.The utility model provides a kind of pit of heat absorption and release using phase change material, it can solve the problems, such as the temperature fluctuation of fermentation process is big, top temperature maintenance time is short, cooling is too fast and temperature regulation and control are dependent on external energy in prior art.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of cellar structure technology, and in particular to a cellar that utilizes phase change materials for heat absorption and release. Background Technology

[0002] In the baijiu brewing process, the fermentation pit is the core equipment that determines the flavor and quality of the liquor. The stability of its internal temperature has a crucial impact on the activity of the microbial community and the formation of metabolic products. Traditional fermentation pits mostly rely on moist materials such as pit mud and pit stones, utilizing their water evaporation and heat absorption properties to regulate the temperature inside the pit to a certain extent, achieving heat absorption in the early stage of fermentation and heat preservation in the middle and later stages. However, the temperature regulation capacity of these materials is limited, making it difficult to precisely control temperature fluctuations during the fermentation process. Especially in hot seasons or when the ambient temperature changes drastically, this can easily lead to increased temperature differences inside the pit, affecting the uniformity of fermentation.

[0003] With the widespread use of stainless steel and other metal fermentation pits, their hygiene and durability have improved. However, the high thermal conductivity of metals makes them susceptible to environmental temperature fluctuations in the absence of effective insulation, leading to unstable fermentation temperatures. This often results in problems such as rapid temperature rise, short duration of peak temperature, and rapid cooling in the later stages. Currently, common control methods rely on temperature control of the entire fermentation workshop environment, which is not only energy-intensive but also makes it difficult to precisely regulate the microenvironment within individual pits. This hinders the optimization of the baijiu fermentation process and further improvement of product quality.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a fermentation pit structure that can achieve autonomous temperature control of the fermentation process without relying on continuous external energy input, so as to promote the fermentation temperature to conform to the ideal process curve of "slow at the beginning, strong in the middle, and slow at the end", thereby improving the yield and quality stability of base wine. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a fermentation pit that utilizes phase change materials for heat absorption and release, which can solve the problems existing in the prior art, such as large temperature fluctuations during fermentation, short duration of top temperature maintenance, excessively rapid cooling, and reliance on external energy for temperature control.

[0006] The technical solution of this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is: a cellar that utilizes phase change material to absorb and release heat, including a main tank body with an opening at the top, at least one fermentation chamber liner installed in the main tank body, and a top cover that is detachably installed and sealed to the opening at the top of the main tank body, and a heat-insulating interlayer that is in contact with the fermentation chamber liner and can conduct heat is provided between the fermentation chamber liner and the main tank body, and the heat-insulating interlayer is filled with a phase change material that can absorb and release heat.

[0007] As a further improvement of this utility model, there are multiple fermentation chamber inner liner, and the multiple fermentation chamber inner liner are evenly arranged in the main tank along the horizontal direction.

[0008] As a further improvement of this utility model, the inner liner of the fermentation chamber is made of stainless steel.

[0009] As a further improvement of this utility model, the inner liner of the fermentation chamber is a ceramic jar fermentation tank.

[0010] As a further improvement of this utility model, the phase change temperature of the phase change material corresponds to the preset top temperature of the material fermentation.

[0011] As a further improvement of this utility model, the phase change material is a phase change material with a single phase change temperature.

[0012] As a further improvement of this utility model, the phase change material is a mixed phase change material with multiple phase change temperatures.

[0013] As a further improvement of this utility model, a cellar base is provided on the lower surface of the main pool body.

[0014] As a further improvement of this utility model, a sealing gasket is provided at the connection between the main pool body and the top cover.

[0015] Beneficial effects Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the cellar using phase change materials for heat absorption and release in this utility model are as follows: 1. Autonomous intelligent temperature control for stable fermentation: By filling the insulation layer with phase change material, which absorbs or releases a large amount of latent heat at the phase change point, excess heat can be absorbed during the peak heat production period of fermentation, inhibiting the temperature from rising too quickly; when heat production decreases or the ambient temperature drops, heat is released, slowing down the cooling rate. This process is completely passive and requires no external energy input, effectively promoting the fermentation temperature curve to meet the ideal process requirements of "slow at the beginning, rapid in the middle, and slow at the end." 2. Improved temperature uniformity and guaranteed fermentation quality: The arrangement of multiple fermentation chambers, combined with a thermally conductive insulation layer, allows for efficient and even heat transfer between the chambers via phase change materials. This significantly reduces temperature differences between different locations within the fermentation pit and between different fermentation chambers, preventing localized overheating or cooling, thus ensuring the uniformity and stability of material fermentation and contributing to higher alcohol yield and better base liquor quality. 3. Reduced energy consumption and practical structure: This invention abandons the traditional high-energy-consuming method of relying on regulating the temperature of the entire fermentation workshop. It achieves precise microenvironment control through the structure of the fermentation pit itself, resulting in significant energy savings. Furthermore, this structure is an improvement on existing fermentation pits. The added phase change material insulation interlayer is simple and easy to implement. The design of the top cover seal and the fermentation pit base also enhances the practicality and convenience of the equipment. 4. Strong compatibility and flexible application: The solution is compatible with various traditional or modern fermentation containers such as stainless steel inner liner and ceramic jar. The selection of phase change materials (single or mixed) can also be flexibly customized according to the temperature curve requirements of specific brewing processes. It has a wide range of applications and strong versatility.

[0016] The present invention will become clearer from the following description and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are used to explain the embodiments of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the main pool body of this utility model.

[0019] The components are: 1-top cover; 2-main tank body; 3-insulation interlayer; 4-inner liner of fermentation chamber; 5-base. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0021] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; of course, they can also refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; furthermore, they can refer to a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Example 1: The specific embodiments of this utility model are as follows: Figure 1-2As shown, a cellar utilizing phase change materials for heat absorption and release has a main structure comprising a main cellar body 2 with an open top. A cellar base 5 is fixedly installed at the bottom of the main cellar body 2 to stably support the entire cellar and facilitate transportation and relocation.

[0024] Inside the main tank 2, a stainless steel fermentation chamber liner 4 is installed. This fermentation chamber liner 4 is used to hold fermentation materials such as lees. A certain gap is maintained between the outer wall of the fermentation chamber liner 4 and the inner wall of the main tank 2. A heat-conducting insulating layer 3 is installed in this gap, which is in contact with the fermentation chamber liner 4. The heat-conducting insulating layer 3 is tightly filled with a phase change material that can absorb and release heat. In this embodiment, the selected phase change material is a single phase change temperature material, such as organic phase change material paraffin wax or inorganic phase change material modified sodium sulfate. Its phase change temperature (for example, 35°C) corresponds to the fermentation peak temperature required by the liquor brewing process. That is, the highest phase change temperature of the phase change material used is close to the corresponding temperature of the peak temperature required for material fermentation, so as to ensure that the phase change can effectively occur when the critical temperature is reached.

[0025] A top cover 1 is detachably installed at the top opening of the main tank 2 using clips or bolts. A silicone sealing gasket is embedded between the contact surface of the top cover 1 and the main tank 2 to ensure the airtightness of the fermentation chamber liner 4, prevent contamination by miscellaneous bacteria, and reduce the loss of internal moisture and heat.

[0026] The device operates as follows: In the early stages of fermentation, the microorganisms in the mash generate heat through metabolism, causing the temperature to gradually rise. When the temperature approaches or reaches the phase change temperature of the phase change material, the phase change material in the insulation layer 3 begins to melt, absorbing a large amount of heat, thereby inhibiting the excessively rapid rise in the internal temperature of the fermentation chamber liner 4, achieving a "slow initial rise" effect. As fermentation enters the middle stage, heat production and heat dissipation tend to be balanced, and the phase change material helps maintain a stable top temperature through continuous melting and solidification, achieving a "stable middle stage." In the later stages of fermentation, microbial heat production decreases, and the ambient temperature may be lower than the internal temperature of the fermentation pit. At this time, the phase change material begins to solidify, releasing the stored latent heat to replenish the heat of the fermentation chamber liner 4, thereby slowing down the rate of temperature decrease, achieving a "slow final drop."

[0027] This device abandons the traditional, high-energy-consuming method of relying on regulating the temperature of the entire fermentation workshop. Instead, it achieves precise microenvironment control through the structure of the fermentation pit itself, resulting in significant energy savings. Furthermore, this structure is an improvement upon existing fermentation pits, featuring a simple and easy-to-implement phase change material insulation layer. The design of the top cover seal and the pit base also enhances the equipment's practicality and convenience.

[0028] Example 2: This embodiment is basically the same in structure as Embodiment 1, the main difference being that multiple fermentation chamber inner tanks 4 are evenly arranged horizontally inside the main tank 2. The design of multiple fermentation chamber inner tanks 4 is suitable for fermenting materials in batches or of different types, improving the flexibility of single processing.

[0029] The insulation layer 3 fills the gaps between all the fermentation chamber inner liner 4 and the main tank 2, as well as between the fermentation chamber inner liner 4 themselves, forming an interconnected heat buffer zone. When the temperature of a fermentation chamber inner liner 4 is higher due to differences in feeding or microbial activity, the phase change material around it will absorb more heat and melt; while the adjacent fermentation chamber inner liner 4 with a lower temperature can obtain heat replenishment from the melting phase change material around it. This design greatly promotes the uniformity of temperature throughout the main tank 2, effectively avoiding the problems of local overheating or overcooling.

[0030] Example 3: This embodiment is similar in structure to embodiment 1 or 2, the difference being the material of the fermentation chamber inner liner 4 and the composition of the phase change material.

[0031] The inner liner of the fermentation chamber, liner 4, is a ceramic jar fermentation tank to meet the technological requirements of traditional fermentation containers for specific types of baijiu. Furthermore, the ceramic jar material of the inner liner 4 allows for the permeation of a suitable amount of oxygen, promoting the initial reproduction of aerobic microorganisms while avoiding excessive oxidation, which is beneficial for the esterification reaction during the anaerobic fermentation stage.

[0032] Meanwhile, the phase change material filled in the insulation interlayer 3 is a mixture of two inorganic phase change materials with different phase change temperatures (e.g., 32°C and 38°C), such as a PCM microcapsule mixture of n-octadecane (C18) and n-eicosane (C20). This mixed phase change material can efficiently absorb and release heat over a wider temperature range, resulting in a smoother temperature control curve in the fermentation pit, better adaptability to complex temperature changes during fermentation, and stronger process adaptability.

[0033] The present invention has been described above in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above, but should cover various modifications and equivalent combinations made in accordance with the essence of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cellar utilizing phase change materials for heat absorption and release, characterized in that, The main tank (2) includes a top opening, and at least one fermentation chamber liner (4) is installed inside the main tank (2). A top cover (1) is detachably installed at the top opening of the main tank (2) and is sealed to it. A heat-insulating interlayer (3) is provided between the fermentation chamber liner (4) and the main tank (2) to contact the fermentation chamber liner (4) and conduct heat. The heat-insulating interlayer (3) is filled with a phase change material that can absorb and release heat.

2. The cellar utilizing phase change materials for heat absorption and release according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are multiple fermentation chamber inner liner (4), and the multiple fermentation chamber inner liner (4) are evenly arranged in the main tank (2) along the horizontal direction.

3. The cellar utilizing phase change materials for heat absorption and release according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The fermentation chamber inner liner (4) is made of stainless steel.

4. The cellar utilizing phase change materials for heat absorption and release according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The inner liner (4) of the fermentation chamber is a ceramic fermentation tank.

5. The cellar utilizing phase change materials for heat absorption and release according to claim 1, characterized in that, The phase change temperature of the phase change material corresponds to the preset top temperature of the material fermentation.

6. The cellar utilizing phase change materials for heat absorption and release according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, The phase change material is a phase change material with a single phase change temperature.

7. The cellar utilizing phase change materials for heat absorption and release according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, The phase change material is a mixed phase change material with multiple phase change temperatures.

8. The cellar utilizing phase change materials for heat absorption and release according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower surface of the main pool body (2) is provided with a cellar base (5).

9. The cellar utilizing phase change material for heat absorption and release according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sealing gasket is provided at the connection between the main pool body (2) and the top cover (1).

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