Traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function

Abstract

The application discloses a traditional Chinese medicine drying device with a cooling function, and belongs to the technical field of traditional Chinese medicine drying. The device comprises a drying box, a drying box cooling assembly and a water adding assembly. The drying box cooling assembly is composed of a water cooler, a water outlet pipe, a water return pipe and a first plate heat exchanger to form a closed-loop cooling system. The water adding assembly is composed of a first water tank, a water adding pipeline and a discharge pipe to realize the circulation and replacement of process water. The application adopts an active cooling technology, and heat exchange cooling of the process water is realized through the first plate heat exchanger. The cooled water directly absorbs heat in the drying box, and meanwhile, the pulse pump is used to realize the rapid discharge of hot water in the box and the timely injection of cold water, thereby forming an efficient forced cooling circulation. The device effectively solves the problem of low efficiency of traditional natural cooling, realizes rapid cooling in the drying process, significantly shortens the production cycle, improves the equipment utilization rate, and is helpful to maintaining the stability of effective components of traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of drying traditional Chinese medicine, and in particular to a drying device for traditional Chinese medicine with a cooling function. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of traditional Chinese medicine production, some medicinal herbs contain high levels of sugar. These sugars need to be effectively removed during processing to ensure the quality and stability of the final product. Current technology typically uses a drying oven to heat and evaporate the medicinal herbs, converting the sugars into a viscous state through high temperatures, facilitating evaporation and removal. Subsequently, during the cooling stage, the sugars gradually solidify into lumpy solids, making separation or further processing easier.

[0003] However, current cooling methods primarily involve cutting off the heat source to the drying chamber after evaporation, relying on ambient temperature to allow the chamber to cool naturally. This natural cooling method, lacking an active cooling mechanism, is extremely slow and often takes a considerable amount of time to complete. This lengthy cooling process significantly extends the production cycle, reduces equipment utilization, and lowers overall production efficiency. Furthermore, excessively long cooling times may adversely affect the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, such as causing degradation or alteration of certain effective components, thereby impacting the efficacy and safety of the medicine. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problem of slow cooling speed in traditional Chinese medicine drying devices leading to long production cycles, this application provides a traditional Chinese medicine drying device with a cooling function.

[0005] The technical solution of the traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function provided in this application is as follows: A traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function includes a drying chamber, a drying chamber cooling assembly, and a water supply assembly. The drying chamber cooling assembly includes a chiller, an outlet pipe, a return pipe, and a first plate heat exchanger. The chiller is located on one side of the drying chamber, the outlet pipe is located on the chiller, the first plate heat exchanger is located at the end of the outlet pipe, and the return pipe is located between the first plate heat exchanger and the chiller. The water supply assembly includes a first water tank, a water supply pipe, and a discharge pipe. The first water tank is located on one side of the drying chamber, the water supply pipe is located between the first water tank and the drying chamber, and the water supply pipe also passes through the first plate heat exchanger. A first pulse pump is also provided on the water supply pipe. The discharge pipe is located between the drying chamber and the first water tank. A buffer tank is provided on the return pipe, a cooling jacket is provided on the buffer tank, a cold water inlet pipe and a cold water return pipe are provided on the cooling jacket, the end of the cold water inlet pipe is located on the outlet pipe, and the end of the cold water return pipe is located on the return pipe.

[0006] By adopting the above technical solution, the drying oven cooling assembly generates chilled water through a chiller. The chilled water flows through the outlet pipe into the first plate heat exchanger to exchange heat with the water in the water supply pipe. The cooled water enters the drying oven to absorb heat and then returns to the chiller through the return pipe, forming a circulating cooling system to achieve rapid cooling of the drying oven. The water supply assembly stores water in the first water tank, and the first pulse pump pumps water into the water supply pipe. The water flows through the first plate heat exchanger, is cooled, and then enters the drying oven. The discharge pipe returns the heated water in the drying oven to the first water tank, achieving water recycling. The buffer tank temporarily stores the water in the return pipe, and the cooling jacket uses the chilled water diverted from the outlet pipe to provide auxiliary cooling to the buffer tank, improving the overall cooling efficiency.

[0007] Preferably, the water supply assembly further includes a steam pipe, a steam boiler is provided on one side of the drying box, one end of the steam pipe is set on the steam boiler, and the other end of the steam pipe is set on the steam boiler after passing through the first plate heat exchanger; an outlet valve is provided on the outlet pipe, and a return valve is provided on the return pipe.

[0008] By adopting the above technical solution, the steam pipeline flows through the first plate heat exchanger, transferring the high-temperature steam heat energy generated by the steam boiler to the process water in the water supply pipeline, providing an efficient and controllable heat source for the heating process in the drying stage. The setting of the outlet and return water valves allows operators to precisely control the on / off state and flow rate of the cooling water in the drying chamber cooling components, ensuring that the cooling system can be put into or taken out of operation immediately when needed, thus improving the operational flexibility of the entire unit.

[0009] Preferably, the water supply assembly further includes a return water pipe, which is disposed between the drying chamber and the first water tank, and a second pulse pump is provided on the return water pipe; the first pulse pump is used to pump water from the first water tank into the drying chamber, and the second pulse pump is used to pump water from the drying chamber into the first water tank.

[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, the return water pipe and the second pulse pump form a return channel independent of the normal water filling process. When rapid cooling is required, this channel can actively and quickly pump the hot water accumulated in the drying box, jacket, and discharge plate back to the first water tank, creating conditions for the subsequent injection of cold water for rapid cooling.

[0011] Preferably, the buffer box is equipped with a temperature sensing rod, one end of which extends into the buffer box; the other end of which extends out of the buffer box, and a temperature display is provided at the other end of the temperature sensing rod.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, the temperature display can intuitively show the water temperature in the buffer tank. When the water temperature is detected to drop to the preset range, the operator opens the water valve so that the water in the buffer tank can flow back to the chiller, thereby completing the circulation of the cooling medium.

[0013] Preferably, a vacuum pump assembly is provided on one side of the drying chamber. The vacuum pump assembly includes a vacuum pump and a first vacuum pipe, which is disposed between the vacuum pump and the drying chamber.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, the vacuum pump generates negative pressure, which is then used to promptly extract water vapor generated during the drying process inside the drying chamber via the first extraction pipe. This not only effectively reduces the air pressure inside the chamber, creating a low-pressure environment conducive to the evaporation of moisture at lower temperatures, but also prevents water vapor from condensing and flowing back inside the chamber, ensuring the smooth progress of the drying process.

[0015] Preferably, the vacuum assembly further includes a second vacuum pipe, a condenser, and a buffer tank. The condenser is disposed on one side of the drying chamber, and the first vacuum pipe connects the drying chamber to the condenser. The buffer tank is disposed at the lower end of the condenser. The second vacuum pipe connects the buffer tank to the vacuum pump.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the condenser cools the extracted steam, the buffer tank separates the gas-liquid mixture, and the second pumping pipe pumps the cooled gas to the vacuum pump, thereby improving the pumping efficiency and protecting the vacuum pump.

[0017] Preferably, a vacuum pump cooling assembly is provided on one side of the vacuum pump. The vacuum pump cooling assembly includes a second plate heat exchanger and a second water tank. The second plate heat exchanger is disposed on the outlet pipe, and the second water tank is disposed on one side of the vacuum pump. A drain pipe is provided on the second water tank, and the end of the drain pipe is disposed on the vacuum pump. The drain pipe also passes through the second plate heat exchanger. A water inlet pipe is also provided on the second water tank, and the end of the water inlet pipe is also disposed on the vacuum pump. The drain pipe is used to transfer water from the second water tank to the vacuum pump, and the water inlet pipe is used to transfer water from the vacuum pump to the second water tank.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the vacuum pump cooling assembly provides a dedicated cooling cycle for the vacuum pump. A second water tank stores cooling water, which is then transported to the vacuum pump through a drain pipe to absorb the heat generated during its operation. The cooled water, after absorbing heat, returns to the second water tank through an inlet pipe and flows through the second plate heat exchanger in this cycle. The second plate heat exchanger utilizes the main cooling water from the drying chamber cooling assembly to cool the circulating cooling water of the vacuum pump, ensuring a constant supply of low-temperature cooling water to the vacuum pump, thereby maintaining stable and efficient long-term operation of the vacuum pump at a suitable temperature.

[0019] Preferably, the vacuum pump cooling assembly further includes a cooling pipe, one end of which is connected to the water outlet pipe, and the other end of which passes through the condenser and is connected to the water return pipe.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, the cooling pipe guides some of the cooling water in the drying chamber's cooling assembly to the condenser for cooling. This design enhances the condensation effect of the condenser, enabling it to more efficiently condense the extracted water vapor into water, indirectly improving the overall working efficiency of the extraction assembly.

[0021] Preferably, a gas replenishment component is also provided on one side of the drying chamber. The gas replenishment component includes a gas replenisher and an air outlet pipe. The gas replenisher is located on one side of the drying chamber, and the air outlet pipe is located between the gas replenisher and the drying chamber. A pulse valve and a heater are provided on the air outlet pipe, and the heater is used to heat the air discharged from the gas replenisher.

[0022] By employing the above technical solution, the air replenishment component supplies filtered dry air to the drying chamber, which is under negative pressure, via an air replenishment machine. A heater on the outlet pipe preheats the replenished air, preventing cold air from directly entering the chamber and causing a sudden temperature change in the material. A pulse valve allows for intermittent control of the air replenishment process. The function of this component is to balance the pressure within the drying chamber and, when necessary, introduce hot dry air to remove residual moisture from the material surface, promoting uniform and thorough drying.

[0023] In summary, this application includes the following beneficial technical effects: A forced-circulation cooling loop is constructed through the chiller, first plate heat exchanger, and supporting piping system in the drying chamber cooling assembly. This actively and rapidly reduces the temperature of the drying chamber and its internal materials, fundamentally changing the passive situation of relying on natural environmental cooling and significantly shortening the time required for the cooling stage. The first water tank, first pulse pump, and second pulse pump in the water supply assembly work together to achieve rapid switching and efficient circulation of process water in both heating and cooling modes within the drying chamber. Especially in the initial cooling stage, hot water can be quickly drained and cold water injected, laying the foundation for rapid cooling. The synergistic effect of the buffer tank and cooling jacket provides intermediate cooling and buffering for the returning cooling water, improving the efficiency of the main chiller and the system stability. The coordinated work of the air extraction and air replenishment assemblies ensures efficient moisture evaporation during the drying stage. The vacuum pump cooling assembly ensures the reliability of the vacuum pump during continuous operation. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall planar structure used in the embodiments of this application.

[0025] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the air replenishment component in the embodiments of this application.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the water supply component in the embodiments of this application.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a planar structural diagram illustrating the cooling assembly of the drying oven in an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 5 This is a planar structural diagram illustrating the air extraction assembly and the vacuum pump cooling assembly in the embodiments of this application.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Drying oven; 11. Discharge plate; 111. Water supply pipe; 12. Jacket; 2. Drying oven cooling assembly; 21. Chiller; 22. Water outlet pipe; 221. Water outlet valve; 23. First plate heat exchanger; 24. Return water pipe; 241. Return water valve; 25. Cooling jacket; 251. Cold water inlet pipe; 2511. Control valve; 252. Cold water return pipe; 26. Buffer tank; 261. Temperature sensor; 262. Temperature display; 27. Water inlet valve; 3. Vacuum assembly; 31. Vacuum pump; 311. Roots pump; 312. Water ring pump; 32. First vacuum pipe; 321. Vacuum valve; 33. Condenser; 34. Buffer tank; 35. Second vacuum pipe; 4. Vacuum pump cooling assembly; 41. Second plate heat exchanger; 4 2. Second water tank; 421. Drain pipe; 422. Inlet pipe; 43. Cooling pipe; 5. Air supply assembly; 51. Air supply machine; 52. Air outlet pipe; 521. First air supply pipe; 5211. Pulse valve; 5212. Heater; 522. Second air supply pipe; 5221. Manual valve; 53. Inlet pipe; 6. Water supply assembly; 61. First water tank; 611. Water tank drain pipe; 62. Water supply pump; 621. Water supply pipe; 6211. Water supply valve; 63. Water supply pipe; 631. Drain valve; 632. First pulse pump; 633. First branch; 634. Second branch; 64. Steam pipe; 641. Air outlet valve; 65. Return water pipe; 651. Return water valve; 652. Inlet valve; 653. Second pulse pump; 66. Discharge pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-5 This application will be described in further detail.

[0031] This application discloses a traditional Chinese medicine drying device with a cooling function, referring to... Figure 1It includes a drying chamber 1, a drying chamber cooling assembly 2, an air extraction assembly 3, a vacuum pump cooling assembly 4, a gas replenishment assembly 5, and a water addition assembly 6. The water addition assembly 6 is used to deliver hot water into the drying chamber 1 to evaporate the sugar-containing Chinese medicine. The air extraction assembly 3 is used to extract the steam from the drying chamber 1. The gas replenishment assembly 5 is used to deliver heating gas to the drying chamber 1. The vacuum pump cooling assembly 4 and the water addition assembly 6 are combined to cool the vacuum pump 31. The drying chamber cooling assembly 2 is used to rapidly cool the drying chamber 1.

[0032] Reference Figure 2 The drying chamber 1 is fixedly connected with multiple material feeding plates 11 and a water supply pipe 111. The outer side of the drying chamber 1 is fixedly connected with a jacket 12. In this embodiment, the water supply pipe 111 is located on the same side of the multiple material feeding plates 11. Each material feeding plate 11 is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe 111, and each material feeding plate 11 is provided with a water storage chamber. Each water storage chamber is connected to the water supply pipe 111.

[0033] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3 The water supply assembly 6 includes a first water tank 61, a water supply pipe 63, a steam pipe 64, a return water pipe 65, and a discharge pipe 66. The drying chamber cooling assembly 2 includes a first plate heat exchanger 23. The first water tank 61 is located on one side of the drying chamber 1. The water supply pipe 63 is fixedly connected to the first water tank 61, and a drain valve 631 is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe 63. A first pulse pump 632 is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe 63 and is located behind the drain valve 631. The first plate heat exchanger 23 is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe 63 and is located behind the first pulse pump 632. A steam boiler (not shown in the figure) is provided on one side of the drying chamber 1. One end of the steam pipe 64 is fixedly connected to the steam boiler, and the other end of the steam pipe 64 returns to the steam boiler after passing through the first plate heat exchanger 23, forming a circulation. Steam pipe 64 heats the water in water supply pipe 63 via first plate heat exchanger 23. Steam outlet valve 641 is also fixedly connected to steam pipe 64. A first branch 633 and a second branch 634 branch off from the end of water supply pipe 63. The end of the first branch 633 connects to water supply pipe 111, and the end of the second branch 634 connects to the lower end of jacket 12. A first pulse pump 632 pumps water from the first water tank 61 into the drying chamber 1.

[0034] Reference Figures 1-3The discharge pipe 66 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the jacket 12. A one-way valve (not shown in the figure) is fixedly connected inside the discharge pipe 66. The one-way valve is used to restrict the water flow direction to flow only from the drying chamber 1 to the first water tank 61, preventing reverse flow. The other end of the discharge pipe 66 is fixedly connected to the upper part of the first water tank 61. During system operation, when the water level in the jacket 12 rises to the set height, the excess water flows back to the first water tank 61 through the discharge pipe 66. Subsequently, the water collected in the first water tank 61 is pumped into the water supply pipe 63 by the first pulse pump 632 and flows through the first plate heat exchanger 23. Here, the first plate heat exchanger 23 uses steam delivered by the steam pipe 64 to heat the water flow, and then the heated water is transported back to the drying chamber 1. Thus, the water forms a closed circulation water circuit between the first water tank 61, the first pulse pump 632, the first plate heat exchanger 23, and the drying chamber 1, and is repeatedly heated in this process. The main purpose of this design is to: on the one hand, continuously and uniformly heat the interior of the drying chamber 1 by circulating hot water in the jacket 12; on the other hand, since the water entering the water storage chamber of each discharge plate 11 from the first branch 633 through the water supply pipe 111 is an independent water path that does not participate in the above circulation, the hot water circulating in the jacket 12 can also play an auxiliary heating or heat preservation role for the water in the discharge plate 11 and its internal water storage chamber, thereby improving the heat utilization efficiency of the entire system and ensuring that the Chinese medicinal materials are heated stably and uniformly during the drying process.

[0035] Reference Figure 3 One end of the return water pipe 65 is fixedly connected to the junction of the first branch 633 and the second branch 634, and both the first branch 633 and the second branch 634 are connected to the return water pipe 65. A return water valve 651, a second pulse pump 653, and an inlet valve 652 are sequentially fixedly connected to the return water pipe 65 along the water flow direction. The end of the return water pipe 65 is fixedly connected to the first water tank 61. The second pulse pump 653 is used to pump water from the drying chamber 1 into the first water tank 61.

[0036] Reference Figure 3 A water supply pump 62 is installed on one side of the first water tank 61. A water supply pipe 621 is provided between the water supply pump 62 and the first water tank 61. One end of the water supply pipe 621 is fixedly connected to the water supply pump 62, and the other end is fixedly connected to the first water tank 61. The water supply pump 62 is used to inject water from outside the system into the first water tank 61 through the water supply pipe 621. A water supply valve 6211 is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe 621. A water tank drain pipe 611 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the first water tank 61, and a water tank drain valve is fixedly connected to the water tank drain pipe 611.

[0037] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3When forced cooling of the drying chamber 1 is required, first close the drain valve 631 and stop the operation of the first pulse pump 632. Then, open the return water valve 651 and the inlet water valve 652, and start the second pulse pump 653. After the second pulse pump 653 starts running, it draws water from the drying chamber 1 and discharges it into the first water tank 61. Since the water in the drying chamber 1 is hot, the temperature of the water collected in the first water tank 61 rises accordingly. Next, open the drain valve of the water tank to completely discharge the hot water in the first water tank 61 to the outside of the system. After the water in the first water tank 61 is drained, open the water supply valve 6211 and start the water supply pump 62. The water supply pump 62 injects cold water into the first water tank 61 through the water supply pipe 621. After the water filling is completed, the drying chamber 1 can be rapidly cooled by the drying chamber cooling assembly 2.

[0038] Reference Figure 4 The drying chamber cooling assembly 2 includes a chiller 21, an outlet pipe 22, and a return pipe 24. The chiller 21 is located on one side of the drying chamber 1. One end of the outlet pipe 22 is fixedly connected to the chiller 21, and an outlet valve 221 is fixedly connected to the outlet pipe 22. The other end of the outlet pipe 22 is fixedly connected to the first plate heat exchanger 23. One end of the return pipe 24 is fixedly connected to the first plate heat exchanger 23, and a return valve 241 is fixedly connected to the return pipe 24. The other end of the return pipe 24 is fixedly connected to the chiller 21. A buffer tank 26 and a water valve 27 are fixedly connected to the return pipe 24, with the water valve 27 located behind the buffer tank 26. A cooling jacket 25 is fixedly connected to the buffer tank 26. A cold water inlet pipe 251 and a cold water return pipe 252 are fixedly connected to the cooling jacket 25. The end of the cold water inlet pipe 251 is fixedly connected to the outlet pipe 22. A control valve 2511 is also fixedly connected to the cold water inlet pipe 251. The end of the cold water return pipe 252 is fixedly connected to the return pipe 24. A temperature sensor 261 is fixedly connected to the buffer tank 26. Specifically, one end of the temperature sensor 261 extends into the buffer tank 26; the other end of the temperature sensor 261 extends out of the buffer tank 26, and a temperature display 262 is provided at the other end of the temperature sensor 261.

[0039] Reference Figures 3-4During the cooling process, chilled water generated by chiller 21 flows through outlet pipe 22 to the first plate heat exchanger 23, where it exchanges heat with the water in water supply pipe 63, raising its temperature. The heated chilled water then flows through return pipe 24 into buffer tank 26 for temporary storage. To reduce the heat load on chiller 21, control valve 2511 is opened, allowing some of the chilled water generated by chiller 21 to flow through chilled water inlet pipe 251 into cooling jacket 25, providing auxiliary cooling for the water in buffer tank 26. The water in cooling jacket 25 then flows back through chilled water return pipe 252 to return pipe 24, ultimately returning to chiller 21 for reuse. Through the synergistic effect of buffer tank 26 and cooling jacket 25, effective heat dispersion and rapid cooling of the return water system are achieved, improving cooling efficiency. By observing temperature display 262, once the water temperature in buffer tank 26 reaches a certain range, water valve 27 is opened to drain the water from buffer tank 26 into chiller 21.

[0040] Reference Figures 3-4 In this embodiment, the first plate heat exchanger 23 has a dual function: heating the water discharged from the first water tank 61 into the drying chamber 1, and cooling the water discharged from the first water tank 61 into the drying chamber 1. The specific operation is as follows: When it is necessary to heat the water discharged from the first water tank 61 into the drying chamber 1, the outlet valve 221 and the return valve 241 are closed, while the drain valve 631 is opened. At this time, the water in the first water tank 61 flows to the drying chamber 1 through the water supply pipe 63. During this process, the steam in the steam pipe 64 flows through the first plate heat exchanger 23, heating the water in the water supply pipe 63, thereby delivering the hot water to the drying chamber 1 to achieve the evaporation treatment of the Chinese medicinal materials. When it is necessary to cool the drying chamber 1, the water in the first water tank 61 is first drained, then new cold water is injected through the water replenishment machine, then the steam outlet valve 641 is closed, while the outlet valve 221 and the return valve 241 are opened. The chilled water generated by the chiller 21 flows through the outlet pipe 22 to the first plate heat exchanger 23, where it exchanges heat with the water in the water supply pipe 63 flowing through the first plate heat exchanger 23, thus cooling the water in the water supply pipe 63. After heat exchange, the chilled water first flows back to the buffer tank 26 and then back to the chiller 21. The cooled water enters the drying chamber 1, absorbs heat from the chamber, and then flows back to the first water tank 61 through the discharge pipe 66, forming a cooling cycle. This process achieves rapid cooling of the drying chamber 1, shortens the production cycle, and ensures the stability of the active ingredients in the Chinese medicinal materials.

[0041] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 5A vacuum pump assembly 3 is provided on one side of the drying chamber 1. The vacuum pump assembly 3 includes a vacuum pump 31, a first vacuum pipe 32, a condenser 33, a buffer tank 34, and a second vacuum pipe 35. In this embodiment, the vacuum pump 31 is a Roots-water ring vacuum unit composed of a Roots pump 311 and a water ring pump 312, with the Roots pump 311 on top and the water ring pump 312 on the bottom. The vacuum pump 31 is located on one side of the drying chamber 1, and the condenser 33 and the buffer tank 34 are located on the same side as the vacuum pump 31. The condenser 33 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the buffer tank 34 and is also connected to the buffer tank 34. One end of the first vacuum pipe 32 is fixedly connected to the drying chamber 1 and is connected to the interior of the drying chamber 1. A vacuum valve 321 is fixedly connected to the first vacuum pipe 32, and the other end of the first vacuum pipe 32 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the condenser 33 and is connected to the condenser 33. One end of the second suction pipe 35 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the buffer tank 34, and the second suction pipe 35 communicates with the buffer tank 34. The other end of the second suction pipe 35 is connected to the Roots pump 311, and the second suction pipe 35 communicates with the Roots pump 311. The vacuum pump 31 extracts the high-temperature gas from the drying chamber 1 through the path formed by the first suction pipe 32, the condenser 33, the buffer tank 34, and the second suction pipe 35. The high-temperature gas first enters the condenser 33 and is cooled, where most of the water vapor condenses into liquid water. Subsequently, the gas-liquid mixture enters the buffer tank 34 for separation: the liquid water collects at the bottom of the tank, while the cooled gas is extracted from the top of the tank by the vacuum pump 31.

[0042] Reference Figures 1-2 A gas replenishment assembly 5 is also provided on one side of the drying chamber 1. The gas replenishment assembly 5 includes a gas replenisher 51 and an outlet pipe 52. The gas replenisher 51 is located on one side of the drying chamber 1. One end of the outlet pipe 52 is fixedly connected to the gas replenisher 51, and the other end of the outlet pipe 52 branches into a first gas replenishment pipe 521 and a second gas replenishment pipe 522. The ends of the first gas replenishment pipe 521 and the second gas replenishment pipe 522 are both fixedly connected to the input end of the inlet pipe 53. The output end of the inlet pipe 53 is fixedly connected to the drying chamber 1, and the inlet pipe 53 is also connected to the drying chamber 1. In this embodiment, the first gas replenishment pipe 521 can intermittently replenish gas to the drying chamber 1, and the second gas replenishment pipe 522 can continuously replenish gas to the drying chamber 1. Specifically, a pulse valve 5211 and a heater 5212 are fixedly connected to the first gas replenishment pipe 521. The heater 5212 is located behind the pulse valve 5211 and is used for gas heating. A manual valve 5221 is fixedly connected to the second air supply pipe 522.

[0043] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 5This application achieves effective optimization of the drying process through the coordinated operation of the extraction component 3 and the gas replenishment component 5. The extraction component 3 establishes and maintains a stable low-pressure environment by extracting gas from the drying chamber 1. Under this low-pressure environment, the boiling point of the material decreases accordingly, meaning that the moisture can obtain the energy required for vaporization and evaporate rapidly without the need for the high temperatures required by traditional drying processes, thus avoiding damage to the medicinal materials due to overheating. At the same time, the gas replenishment component 5 delivers preheated drying gas into the drying chamber 1, an operation with multiple positive effects. The continuously replenished hot gas can form a gentle airflow inside the chamber, helping to dissipate the saturated water vapor layer on the surface of the material, improving the efficiency of moisture removal, and promoting uniform heat distribution inside the chamber. By coordinating and controlling the extraction and replenishment rates, the system can precisely stabilize the vacuum level inside the drying chamber 1 within the preset process range.

[0044] Refer to 1 and Figure 5 A vacuum pump cooling assembly 4 is provided on one side of the vacuum pump 31. The vacuum pump cooling assembly 4 includes a second plate heat exchanger 41, a second water tank 42, and a cooling pipe 43. The second plate heat exchanger 41 is fixedly connected to the outlet water pipe 22. The cooling pipe 43 is used to assist the condenser 33. Specifically, one end of the cooling pipe 43 is fixedly connected to the outlet water pipe 22, and the other end of the cooling pipe 43 first enters from the lower end of the condenser 33, then exits from the upper end of the condenser 33, and then is fixedly connected to the return water pipe 24.

[0045] Reference Figure 5 A second water tank 42 is located on one side of the vacuum pump 31. A drain pipe 421 and an inlet pipe 422 are fixedly connected to the second water tank 42. The end of the drain pipe 421 passes through the second plate heat exchanger 41 and is fixedly connected to the water ring pump 312. The end of the inlet pipe 422 is also fixedly connected to the water ring pump 312. The drain pipe 421 is used to transfer water from the second water tank 42 to the vacuum pump 31, and the inlet pipe 422 is used to transfer water from the vacuum pump 31 to the second water tank 42. The second plate heat exchanger 41 is used to cool the water discharged from the second water tank 42.

[0046] The implementation principle of a traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function according to an embodiment of this application is as follows: When drying traditional Chinese medicine materials, the water supply component 6 is first activated. The first pulse pump 632 pumps water from the first water tank 61 into the water supply pipe 63. When the water flows through the first plate heat exchanger 23, it is heated by the steam delivered by the steam pipe 64. The hot water then enters the water storage chamber of the discharge plate 11 through the first branch 633, and enters the jacket 12 of the drying chamber 1 through the second branch 634. The hot water in the jacket 12 keeps the drying chamber 1 warm, while the hot water in the discharge plate 11 directly heats the medicinal materials, promoting the evaporation of sugars and other moisture. The vacuum pump 31 in the air extraction component 3 extracts the water vapor generated by evaporation in the drying chamber 1 through the first air extraction pipe 32, the condenser 33, and the buffer tank 34 to maintain a suitable low-pressure environment inside the chamber. The gas replenishing unit 51 in the gas replenishing component 5 replenishes the drying chamber 1 with gas preheated by the heater 5212 through the gas outlet pipe 52, the first gas replenishing pipe 521 or the second gas replenishing pipe 522, which helps to remove moisture from the surface of the material and maintain a uniform temperature inside the chamber.

[0047] When the evaporation stage is complete and the cooling stage is approaching, the system operates as follows: The drain valve 631 is closed, the first pulse pump 632 is stopped, and the steam outlet valve 641 is closed to stop the steam supply. The return water valve 651 and the inlet water valve 652 are opened, and the second pulse pump 653 is started to pump the hot water from the drying chamber 1, jacket 12, and discharge plate 11 back to the first water tank 61. Subsequently, the hot water in the first water tank 61 is discharged from the system through the water tank drain pipe 611. Next, the makeup water pump 62 injects cold water into the first water tank 61 through the makeup water pipe 621. After water injection is complete, the outlet valve 221 and the return water valve 241 are opened. The chiller 21 starts working, and the generated cold water is transported through the outlet pipe 22 to the first plate heat exchanger 23 to cool the cold water currently flowing through the heat exchanger from the first water tank 61 to the drying chamber 1. The deeply cooled water enters the drying chamber 1, absorbs heat from the chamber, and its temperature rises. It then returns to the first water tank 61 via the discharge pipe 66, thus forming a continuous active cooling cycle. At the same time, the vacuum pump cooling assembly 4 also starts to work. The second plate heat exchanger 41 cools the circulating water flowing to the vacuum pump 31, ensuring that the vacuum pump 31 operates at a high-efficiency temperature.

[0048] This application establishes an active and controllable rapid cooling mechanism through the drying oven cooling assembly 2, particularly the chiller 21, the first plate heat exchanger 23, and the associated piping and water circulation system. This mechanism effectively shortens the time required for the drying oven 1 to cool from a high-temperature operating state to an operable temperature, directly resulting in a shorter production cycle and improved equipment utilization. The accelerated cooling rate also helps reduce the exposure time of heat-sensitive active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine materials to high temperatures, playing a positive role in maintaining the expected efficacy and stability of the medicines.

[0049] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A traditional Chinese medicine drying device with a cooling function, characterized in that: It includes a drying chamber (1), a drying chamber cooling assembly (2) and a water supply assembly (6). The drying chamber cooling assembly (2) includes a chiller (21), a water outlet pipe (22), a water return pipe (24) and a first plate heat exchanger (23). The chiller (21) is located on one side of the drying box (1), the outlet pipe (22) is located on the chiller (21), the first plate heat exchanger (23) is located at the end of the outlet pipe (22), and the return pipe (24) is located between the first plate heat exchanger (23) and the chiller (21). The water supply assembly (6) includes a first water tank (61), a water supply pipe (63), and a discharge pipe (66). The first water tank (61) is located on one side of the drying chamber (1). The water supply pipe (63) is located between the first water tank (61) and the drying chamber (1). The water supply pipe (63) also passes through the first plate heat exchanger (23). The water supply pipe (63) is also equipped with a first pulse pump (632). The discharge pipe (66) is disposed between the drying box (1) and the first water tank (61); The return water pipe (24) is provided with a buffer box (26), the buffer box (26) is provided with a cooling jacket (25), the cooling jacket (25) is provided with a cold water inlet pipe (251) and a cold water return pipe (252), the end of the cold water inlet pipe (251) is provided on the outlet pipe (22), and the end of the cold water return pipe (252) is provided on the return water pipe (24).

2. The traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water supply assembly (6) also includes a steam pipe (64). A steam boiler is provided on one side of the drying box (1). One end of the steam pipe (64) is set on the steam boiler, and the other end of the steam pipe (64) passes through the first plate heat exchanger (23) and is then set on the steam boiler. The outlet pipe (22) is equipped with an outlet valve (221), and the return pipe (24) is equipped with a return valve (241).

3. A traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water supply assembly (6) also includes a return water pipe (65), which is located between the drying box (1) and the first water tank (61), and a second pulse pump (653) is provided on the return water pipe (65); The first pulse pump (632) is used to pump water from the first water tank (61) into the drying chamber (1), and the second pulse pump (653) is used to pump water from the drying chamber (1) into the first water tank (61).

4. A traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The buffer box (26) is provided with a temperature detection rod (261), one end of which extends into the buffer box (26); the other end of which extends out of the buffer box (26), and a temperature display meter (262) is provided at the other end of the temperature detection rod (261).

5. A traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drying chamber (1) is provided with an air extraction assembly (3) on one side. The air extraction assembly (3) includes a vacuum pump (31) and a first air extraction pipe (32). The first air extraction pipe (32) is disposed between the vacuum pump (31) and the drying chamber (1).

6. A traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function according to claim 5, characterized in that: The extraction assembly (3) further includes a second extraction pipe (35), a condenser (33) and a buffer tank (34). The condenser (33) is disposed on one side of the drying chamber (1), and the first extraction pipe (32) connects the drying chamber (1) to the condenser (33). The buffer tank (34) is disposed at the lower end of the condenser (33). The second suction pipe (35) connects the buffer tank (34) to the vacuum pump (31).

7. A traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function according to claim 6, characterized in that: A vacuum pump cooling assembly (4) is provided on one side of the vacuum pump (31). The vacuum pump cooling assembly (4) includes a second plate heat exchanger (41) and a second water tank (42). The second plate heat exchanger (41) is located on the water outlet pipe (22). The second water tank (42) is located on one side of the vacuum pump (31). A drain pipe (421) is provided on the second water tank (42). The end of the drain pipe (421) is located on the vacuum pump (31). The drain pipe (421) also passes through the second plate heat exchanger (41). The second water tank (42) is also provided with a water inlet pipe (422), and the end of the water inlet pipe (422) is also provided on the vacuum pump (31); The drain pipe (421) is used to transfer water from the second water tank (42) to the vacuum pump (31), and the inlet pipe (422) is used to transfer water from the vacuum pump (31) to the second water tank (42).

8. A traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function according to claim 7, characterized in that: The vacuum pump cooling assembly (4) also includes a cooling pipe (43), one end of which is connected to the outlet pipe (22), and the other end of which is connected to the return pipe (24) after passing through the condenser (33).

9. A traditional Chinese medicine drying device with cooling function according to claim 1, characterized in that: A gas replenishment assembly (5) is also provided on one side of the drying chamber (1). The gas replenishment assembly (5) includes a gas replenisher (51) and an air outlet pipe (52). The gas replenisher (51) is located on one side of the drying chamber (1), and the air outlet pipe (52) is located between the gas replenisher (51) and the drying chamber (1). The air outlet pipe (52) is equipped with a pulse valve (5211) and a heater (5212), the heater (5212) being used to heat the air discharged from the air replenishment machine (51).

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