Smoking device and smoking method

Abstract

To provide a smoking device capable of shortening the time required to produce a smoked product.SOLUTION PART: A smoking device includes: an air compression unit that compresses air; a cold and warm air separation unit that receives supply of compressed air from the air compression unit and separates the compressed air into cold air and warm air by rotating the compressed air inside; a turbulence generation unit that receives supply of the cold air or warm air from the cold and warm air separation unit and generates turbulence; and a smoking processing unit that receives the turbulence from the turbulence generation unit and performs processing to convert food materials into a smoked product.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a smoking device and a smoking method. [Background technology]

[0002] Smoking devices are known for smoking food materials such as fish and meat. In smoking devices, food materials such as fish and meat are exposed to smoke (smoked smoke) generated by heating smoke chips (smoking materials) and the like. There are various types of smoking devices, ranging from large-scale devices to simple devices. Meanwhile, smoking methods can be categorized by smoking temperature, and there are three main methods: hot smoking, warm smoking, and cold smoking. Patent Document 1 discloses a smoking device that can produce smoked food at various smoking temperatures.

[0003] On the other hand, in smoking, the smoking time shortens as the smoking temperature increases. However, even if the smoking temperature is increased, the time required for smoking can still be long. Under these circumstances, Patent Document 2 discloses a smoking device that can shorten the time required for smoking by changing the pressure in the smoking container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 033388 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3117609 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the process for obtaining a smoked product includes not only the smoking process, in which food is exposed to smoke generated by heating smoking material, but also other processes, such as a process for drying the food before the smoking process and a process for cooling the food after the smoking process, etc. All of these processes can take several days, and even if the time for the smoking process can be shortened, the total time required to obtain a smoked product can still be long.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a smoking device that can shorten the time required to prepare a smoked product, thereby contributing to energy efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to the present invention, an air compression unit that compresses air; a cold / hot air separation unit that receives compressed air from the air compression unit and separates the compressed air into cold air and hot air by rotating the compressed air therein; a turbulence generating unit that receives the cold air or the hot air from the cold / hot air separating unit and generates a turbulent flow; A smoking device is provided, which includes a smoking processing section that receives the turbulent flow from the turbulence generating section and processes the food material to produce a smoked food. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a smoking device that can shorten the time required to prepare a smoked product. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a smoking device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a drying process in a smoking method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a smoking process in a smoking method according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a smoking process in a smoking method according to another embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a smoking process in a smoking method according to yet another embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the cooling process in the smoking method according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0011] <Smoking device according to this embodiment> The smoking device according to this embodiment includes an air compressor that compresses air; a cold / hot air separator that receives compressed air from the air compressor and rotates it internally to separate it into cold and hot air; a turbulence generator that receives the cold or hot air from the cold / hot air separator and generates turbulence; and a smoking processor that receives the turbulence from the turbulence generator and processes ingredients to produce smoked products. Because the smoking device includes a cold / hot air separator that can generate high-temperature and low-temperature air, it is possible to dry ingredients, smoke the ingredients, and cool the smoked products within a single smoking device, thereby shortening the time required for smoking. Furthermore, because the smoking device includes a turbulence generator that can dry ingredients, smoke the ingredients, and cool the smoked products using turbulence, it improves the efficiency of contact between the ingredients and the cold air, warm air, and smoked smoke, thereby shortening the time required for smoking. This smoking device according to this embodiment can produce smoked products in one or several hours.

[0012] 1 is a schematic diagram of a smoking device according to this embodiment. The smoking device 1000 has an air compression section 100, a cold / hot air separation section 200, a turbulence generation section 300, and a smoking processing section 400. The configuration of each section will be described below.

[0013] (Air compression section) The air compression unit 100 compresses air and may include a turbo compressor such as a centrifugal compressor or an axial compressor, or a positive displacement compressor such as a reciprocating compressor, a scroll compressor, or a rotary vane compressor. In one embodiment, the air compression unit 100 may be a centrifugal turbo compressor capable of increasing the pressure ratio. In a centrifugal turbo compressor, air is introduced into the axial direction of the impeller from pipe L1 and flows from the inside to the outside along the air passage of the impeller by the impeller rotated by the motor M, whereby the air is subjected to a large centrifugal force on the outside of the impeller. The air is then decelerated by a diffuser, and the speed is converted into pressure, increasing the air pressure, and the compressed air is then discharged into pipe L2.

[0014] 1, the motor M is shown separately from the air compression unit 100, but it may be provided within the air compression unit 100. Furthermore, although the external air is introduced into the air compression unit 100 from the pipe L1 via the valve V1 and the smoking processing unit 400, the external air may be supplied to the air compression unit 100 from the pipe L1 by providing an air inlet in the pipe L1, without passing through the smoking processing unit 400.

[0015] The pressure of the compressed air is not particularly limited, and can be 0.2 MPa or more in one embodiment, 0.3 MPa or more in another embodiment, and 0.35 MPa or more in yet another embodiment, and can be 1.0 MPa or less in one embodiment, 0.8 MPa or less in another embodiment, and 0.5 MPa or less in yet another embodiment. This allows the cold air and hot air to be efficiently separated in the cold / hot air separation unit 200. As an example, the compressed air can have a pressure of 0.2 to 0.5 MPa, a temperature of 10 to 20°C, and a flow rate of 140 to 170 L / min.

[0016] (Compressed air storage section) The smoking device 1000 may include a compressed air storage unit 500. The compressed air delivered from the air compression unit 100 may be supplied directly to the cold and hot air separation unit 200 via pipe L2, or may be supplied to the cold and hot air separation unit 200 via the compressed air storage unit 500 provided in pipe L2. The compressed air storage unit 500 can temporarily store the compressed air when adjusting the amount of compressed air supplied to the cold and hot air separation unit 200.

[0017] (Hot and cold air separation section) The cold and hot air separating unit 200 receives compressed air from the air compressing unit 100 via valve V2 and separates the compressed air into cold air and hot air by rotating the compressed air inside. The cold and hot air separating unit 200 has a separating unit 210, which in one embodiment can be a vortex tube that can easily obtain cold air and hot air.

[0018] In the vortex tube, a nozzle (not shown) is disposed near an inlet through which compressed air is supplied, and a swirling chamber is formed around the nozzle. The supplied compressed air forms a vortex in the swirling chamber and moves in the direction of arrow 211b from the cold air side 210a of the separation section 210 toward the hot air side 210b along the inner circumferential surface of the separation section 210. A control valve (not shown) is provided at the end of the hot air side 210b of the separation section 210, and when the vortex of the air reaches the control valve, part of the flow is discharged as hot air from the separation section 210 through the hot air outlet and valve V4 to pipe L3.

[0019] Meanwhile, the remaining air whose flow is blocked by the control valve swirls and forms a vortex, moving from the hot air side 210b of the separation unit 210 toward the cold air side 210a, along the central axis of the separation unit 210, as shown by arrow 211a. The vortex then leaves the separation unit 210 at the end of the cold air side 210a and is discharged as cold air from the cold air outlet. The cold air moves outside the separation unit 210, passes through valve V3, and is discharged from the cold / hot air separation unit 200 to pipe L3. In this way, the vortex tube is configured to separate the compressed air into warm air and cold air, which are then discharged in opposite directions.

[0020] In the vortex tube, the temperature of the cold air and the warm air can be adjusted by the pressure, temperature, flow rate, etc. of the compressed air supplied to the vortex tube, and the ratio of the flow rate of the cold air to the flow rate of the warm air, which is adjusted by a control valve provided at the end of the warm air side 210b of the separation section 210.

[0021] The temperature of the hot air is not particularly limited, and in one embodiment, it can be 50°C or higher, in another embodiment, 60°C or higher, and in yet another embodiment, 80°C or higher. In one embodiment, it can be 140°C or lower, in another embodiment, 120°C or lower, and in yet another embodiment, 100°C or lower. This allows for efficient drying and smoking of food. As one example, the hot air can have a temperature of 50 to 90°C and a flow rate of 30 to 50 L / min.

[0022] The temperature of the cold air is not particularly limited, and in one embodiment, it can be -10°C or higher, in another embodiment, 0°C or higher, and in yet another embodiment, 5°C or higher. In one embodiment, it can be 30°C or lower, in another embodiment, 20°C or lower, and in yet another embodiment, 10°C or lower. This allows the smoked product to be cooled efficiently. As one example, the cold air can have a temperature of -10°C to 10°C and a flow rate of 90 to 140 L / min.

[0023] (moisture separation section) The cold / hot air separation unit 200 may include a moisture separation unit 220. The hot air drawn out from the separation unit 210 may be supplied directly to the turbulence generation unit 300 via a pipe L3, or may be supplied to the turbulence generation unit 300 via the moisture separation unit 220 connected to a hot air outlet of the separation unit 210 via the pipe L3. The moisture separation unit 220 can separate the moisture from the hot air. As a result, the hot air is dry, and the drying time of ingredients can be shortened.

[0024] The moisture separating means in the moisture separating section 220 is not particularly limited. For example, a shielding member 221 that comes into contact with the warm air may be provided within the moisture separating section 210 to condense the moisture in the warm air and remove it from the warm air. The removed moisture is led to pipe L4 and discharged to the outside of the smoking apparatus 1000 via valve V5. The shielding member 221 is not particularly limited and may be made of an inorganic material such as metal, ceramic, or glass, or an organic material such as a polymer. The shape of the shielding member 221 is also not particularly limited and may be cylindrical, rectangular, or mesh-shaped, as long as it can come into contact with the warm air and guide the warm air to pipe L3. Alternatively, an adsorbent (not shown) that comes into contact with the warm air may be provided within the moisture separating section 210 to adsorb the moisture in the warm air and remove it from the warm air. The adsorbent may be any material that can remove moisture and can withstand the temperature of the warm air, such as silica gel, zeolite, or activated carbon.

[0025] (turbulence generation part) The turbulent flow generating section 300 receives a supply of cold or hot air from the cold / hot air separating section 200, and in some cases, receives a supply of air from the outside via valve V1, to generate turbulent flow within the smoking processing section 400, which will be described later. Compared to laminar flow, the turbulent flow generated by the turbulent flow generating section 300 increases the amount of contact between the food material and the air, and increases the amount of heat removed when cooling the food material, the amount of heat added when heating the food material, and the amount of moisture removed from the food material. This reduces the processing time required for cooling smoked products, drying food material, etc.

[0026] The turbulent flow generating section 300 can be a stepped structural member or a shielding member provided near the air (including cold air and warm air) inlet of the smoking processing section 400. The shielding member is not particularly limited, and can be a plate member with one or more through holes, a mesh member with multiple openings, or the like. Whether turbulence is occurring within the smoking processing section 400 can be determined by the Reynolds number; a Reynolds number greater than 4000 indicates turbulence.

[0027] (Smoked Food Processing Department) The smoking processing unit 400 can accommodate food ingredients and performs drying, smoking, and cooling processes on the food ingredients. The smoking processing unit 400 includes a processing container made of a metal or other material with heat resistance that can withstand each of the above processes. The processing container can also be configured to be pressure-resistant so that the food ingredients can be smoked at pressures higher than normal pressure. The processing container is not particularly limited, and can have a rectangular or cylindrical shape and have an opening and a door that allow food ingredients, smoking materials, etc. to be inserted and removed.

[0028] The processing container also has an ingredient placement section 410, a smoking material placement section 420, and a heating section 430. In FIG. 1, the ingredient placement section 410, the smoking material placement section 420, and the heating section 430 are all located within the same chamber in the processing container, but a partition may be provided between the ingredient placement section 410 and the smoking material placement section 420 and the heating section 430 to separate the processing container into a smoking chamber having the ingredient placement section 410 and a smoke generation chamber having the smoking material placement section 420 and the heating section 430. When the processing container is divided into a smoking chamber and a smoke generation chamber, a communication passage connecting the two chambers is provided in the partition to allow the movement of smoke. The processing container may also be equipped with a temperature sensor to detect the internal temperature. The number of temperature sensors may be one or more, and for example, a temperature sensor may be provided in each of foodstuff placement section 410, smoking material placement section 420, and heating section 430.

[0029] Food material placement section 410 is not particularly limited, and may be any material that includes a placement member on which food materials can be placed and through which smoke, air, etc. can pass. For example, it may be a plate-like member or a mesh-like member with through holes that is attached to the wall of the processing vessel, and may have a tray shape to prevent food materials from falling. Furthermore, food material placement section 410 may be a single-tier placement member, or may be configured with multiple tiers of placement members that are spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals.

[0030] The smoking material placement unit 420 is not particularly limited, as long as it includes a placement member on which the smoking material 421 can be placed and which easily transfers heat from the heating unit 430. For example, it may be a plate-like member made of metal or the like attached to the wall of the treatment container, and may have a tray shape to prevent the smoking material 421 from falling. The smoking material placement unit 420 may also be equipped with a temperature sensor, and the heater of the heating unit 430 (described below) may be adjusted based on the measurement results of the temperature sensor to produce the desired amount of smoke. The smoking material 421 placed on the smoking material placement unit 420 is not particularly limited, and chipped wood such as cherry, oak, beech, alder, linden, oak, zelkova, walnut, apple, oak, and hickory can be used.

[0031] Heating unit 430 is not particularly limited as long as it is disposed below smoking material placement unit 420 and is capable of heating smoking material 421. For example, heating unit 430 may include a sheath heater, a Milacron heater, a ceramic heater, or the like. Heating unit 430 may also be equipped with a temperature sensor, and the output of the heater or the like may be adjusted according to the measurement results of the temperature sensor so as to produce the desired smoke.

[0032] (Purification Department) The smoking device 1000 may further include a purifying unit 600. This reduces the impact of gases and other substances discharged from the smoking device 1000 on the surrounding environment. The purifying unit 600 is not particularly limited as long as it can purify gases and other substances containing air, smoke components, moisture, and other substances discharged from the hot and cold air separating unit 200 and the smoking processing unit 400. For example, the purifying unit 600 may include a capturing unit capable of capturing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, organic gases such as hydrocarbons and organic acids, and fine particles such as soot contained in the gas to be purified. For example, the capturing unit may be a filter, a liquid, or the like. The capturing unit may also include a catalyst or the like that promotes decomposition of the captured components, or an oxidizing agent or reducing agent that decomposes the captured components.

[0033] (Control device) The smoking device 1000 may further include a control device (not shown). The control device includes a processing unit, a memory unit such as RAM or ROM, and an interface unit that relays the transmission and reception of signals between an external device and the processing device. The processing unit is a processor, typified by a CPU, that executes programs stored in the memory unit and controls the configuration of the smoking device 1000. The memory unit stores various data in addition to the programs executed by the processing unit. The interface unit is provided with measurement results from various sensors, etc., and the processing unit controls valves V1 to V7, control valves, motor M, heating unit 430, etc. based on the provided measurement results. Specifically, the control device operates to execute each process in the smoking method according to this embodiment, which will be described later.

[0034] <Smoking method according to this embodiment> The smoking method according to this embodiment includes compressing air, rotating the compressed air to separate it into cold air and warm air, generating turbulence from the warm air to dry the food material, exposing the dried food material to smoke generated by heating the smoking material, and generating turbulence from the cold air to cool the smoked food material. Because the turbulence dries the food material, smokes the food material, and cools the smoked product, the efficiency of contact between the food material and the cold air, warm air, and smoked smoke is improved, thereby shortening the time required for smoking. The smoking method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 6.

[0035] (Drying process) 2 is a schematic diagram of the drying process in the smoking method according to this embodiment. To prepare smoked products, ingredients such as meat and fish are first salted, bones removed, and then shaped. The seasoned ingredients contain moisture on their surfaces, but removing the moisture suppresses the sourness, harshness, bitterness, and other flavors that arise from the reaction between the moisture and the smoke components, so the seasoned ingredients are dried. Such ingredients 411 are placed in ingredient placement section 410 of smoking processing section 400.

[0036] Compressed air generation To generate warm air for drying food material 411, air is taken into air compression section 100 from outside smoking apparatus 1000. The air passes through valve V1 and smoking processing section 400 and is introduced into air compression section 100 from pipe L1. The amount of air introduced is adjusted by valve V1, and after introduction, valve V1 is closed. Alternatively, air may be supplied to air compression section 100 from pipe L1 by providing an air inlet in pipe L1, without passing through smoking processing section 400. The air introduced into air compression section 100 is compressed to a pressure of 0.2 to 1.0 MPa within air compression section 100 and is then discharged to pipe L2.

[0037] Warm air generation Compressed air is supplied to the separation section 210 of the cold and hot air separation unit 200 via pipe L2. The amount of compressed air supplied is adjusted by valve V2. Alternatively, compressed air may be supplied to the separation section 210 of the cold and hot air separation unit 200 via a compressed air storage unit 500 provided in pipe L2. For convenience, separation section 210 will be described as a vortex tube. The compressed air supplied to separation section 210 forms a vortex flow along the inner circumferential surface of the separation section, moving as indicated by arrow 211b. A control valve (not shown) is provided at the end of the hot air side 210b of separation section 210. When the vortex flow of air reaches the control valve, a portion of the flow is discharged from separation section 210 as hot air through a hot air outlet via valve V4 to pipe L3. The temperature of the hot air can be adjusted by adjusting the ratio of the flow rates of cold air and hot air using this control valve, and is adjusted to a temperature required for drying ingredients, for example, 50 to 80°C.

[0038] In one embodiment, the warm air discharged from the separation unit 210 may be discharged to the pipe L3 via the moisture separation unit 220 connected to the warm air outlet of the separation unit 210 and the valve V4. This separates the moisture in the warm air in the moisture separation unit 220, resulting in dry warm air and shortening the drying time for the ingredients. The separated moisture is then discharged to the pipe L4.

[0039] On the other hand, the remaining air whose flow is blocked by the control valve forms a vortex along the central axis of separation section 210 and moves as shown by arrow 211a, becoming cool air, which moves outside separation section 210 and is introduced again into air compression section 100 via valve V6 and used as compressed air. Also, because valve V3 is closed, the cool air does not mix with the warm air.

[0040] Turbulence generation The hot air drawn out from the cold / hot air separation section 200 is supplied to the turbulent flow generation section 300 via the pipe L3. The supplied hot air becomes turbulent in the smoking processing section 400 due to the action of the shielding members and the like provided in the turbulent flow generation section 300.

[0041] food drying The turbulence generating unit 300 generates turbulent warm air within the smoking unit 400. The warm air heats the food material 411 to approximately 50 to 80°C. This turbulence dries the food material 411, improving contact efficiency between the food material 411 and the warm air and shortening the time required for smoking. Furthermore, the heating unit 430 provided in the smoking unit 400 may be operated to increase the ambient temperature within the smoking unit 400 and accelerate drying. In this case, the smoking material 421 is not placed in the smoking unit 400, but is placed before the smoking process described below. The drying time is not particularly limited and may be adjusted depending on the moisture content of the food material, the shape of the food material, the temperature of the warm air, the flow rate of the warm air, and other factors. Furthermore, because the valve V7 is closed, the warm air used for drying is not discharged to the outside but is instead reintroduced into the air compressor 100 via the pipe L1 and used as compressed air.

[0042] (Smoked) The smoking treatment in the smoking method according to this embodiment can include warm smoking / hot smoking, cold smoking, and vacuum / pressure smoking. Each of the smoking methods will be described below in turn.

[0043] Warm / hot smoked 3 is a schematic diagram of the smoking process in a smoking method according to one embodiment, showing warm smoking and hot smoking processes. Warm smoking is the most common smoking method, and involves smoking in a temperature environment of, for example, 30 to 80 degrees, while hot smoking involves smoking in a temperature environment of, for example, 120 to 140 degrees.

[0044] Smoking material 421 is placed on smoking material placement section 420 through an opening (not shown) in smoking processing section 400. If the drying process does not involve operating heating section 430 in smoking processing section 400 to dry the ingredients, smoking material 421 may be placed in smoking processing section 400 along with the ingredients 411 during the drying process. In this case, buffering and smoking processes can be performed consecutively without opening smoking processing section 400. After the door of smoking processing section 400 is closed, external air is introduced into smoking processing section 400 via valve V1 and turbulence generation section 300. The amount of gas discharged by exhaust section 700, such as a fan, is adjusted by the opening degree of valve V7. The pressure inside smoking processing section 400 is approximately normal pressure. The gas discharged by exhaust section 700 is purified by purification section 600. The air compression section 100 is not in operation, and there is almost no air movement within the hot / cold air separation section 200.

[0045] The smoking material 421 placed on the smoking material placement section 420 is heated by the heating section 430, causing the smoking material 421 to emit smoke. As described above, the smoking material 421 can be made from chipped pieces of wood such as cherry, oak, beech, alder, linden, oak, zelkova, walnut, apple, oak, and hickory. The heating time (smoking time) and heating temperature (smoking temperature) are not particularly limited and can be adjusted depending on the smoking material 421 and food material 411. Alternatively, the heating temperature can be adjusted by installing a temperature sensor in at least one of the smoking material placement section 420 and the heating section 430, and adjusting the heating section 430 based on the measurement result to produce the desired amount of smoke. The difference between warm smoking and hot smoking is the smoking temperature, so warm smoking and hot smoking can be performed by adjusting the output of heating section 430 or the opening of valve V7 to adjust the temperature of food ingredient 411. The temperature of food ingredient 411 can be determined from the measurement results of a temperature sensor provided in food ingredient placement section 410.

[0046] cold smoked FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a smoking process in a smoking method according to another embodiment, specifically, a cold smoking process. Cold smoking is a method of exposing food materials to smoke in a temperature environment of, for example, 30°C or below, and is a method of smoking food materials at a low temperature so as not to heat the food materials. Note that explanations of procedures similar to those described in "warm smoking / hot smoking" will be omitted. External air is introduced into the smoking processing unit 400 via valve V1 and turbulence generation unit 300. The amount of external air introduced into the smoking processing unit 400 and the amount of gas discharged by exhaust unit 700 are adjusted by the opening of valves V1 and V7 and the amount of compressed air generated by air compression unit 100. The gas discharged by exhaust unit 700 is purified by purification unit 600.

[0047] To generate cold air for cold smoking, external air is taken into the air compression section 100 from the smoking processing section 400. The air introduced into the air compression section 100 is compressed to a pressure of 0.2 to 1.0 MPa within the air compression section 100 and is then discharged into the pipe L2. When the smoking process begins, some of the cold air used in the smoking process is taken into the air compression section 100.

[0048] Compressed air is supplied to separation section 210 of cold and hot air separation unit 200 via pipe L2. The amount of compressed air supplied is adjusted by valve V2. The compressed air supplied to separation section 210 forms a vortex along the inner circumferential surface of the separation section, moving as indicated by arrow 211b. A control valve (not shown) is provided at the end of hot air side 210b of separation section 210, and when the vortex of air reaches the control valve, part of the flow is discharged from separation section 210 via pipe L4 and valve V5 and exhaust section 700. The warm air discharged by exhaust section 700 is purified by purification section 600.

[0049] Meanwhile, the remaining air whose flow is blocked by the control valve swirls along the central axis of separation section 210, moving as indicated by arrow 211a, becoming cool air, which moves around the outside of separation section 210 and is discharged into pipe L3 via valve V3. The temperature of the cool air can be adjusted by adjusting the ratio of the flow rate of cool air to the flow rate of warm air with the control valve, and is adjusted to a temperature required to cool the smoke, for example, between -10 and 30°C.

[0050] The cold air is supplied to the turbulence generating section 300, and becomes turbulent within the smoking processing section 400 due to the action of a shielding member or the like provided within the turbulence generating section 300. Meanwhile, the smoking material 421 placed in the smoking material placement section 420 is heated by the heating section 430, causing the smoking material 421 to emit smoke. The emitted smoke is cooled to, for example, 30°C or below by the turbulent cold air flow, and smokes the food material 411. In this way, the turbulence allows the food material 411 to be smoked, improving the contact efficiency between the food material 411 and the smoked smoke and shortening the time required for smoking. The smoking time and smoking temperature of the smoking material 421 are not particularly limited and may be adjusted depending on the temperature of the cold air, the smoking material 421, and the food material 411.

[0051] Furthermore, in smoking processing section 400, a cooling promotion member may be placed between food material placement section 410 and smoking material placement section 420. The cooling of the smoke is promoted by the smoke coming into contact with the cooling promotion member that has been cooled by cold air.

[0052] The cold air used in cold smoking is reintroduced into the air compression section 100 via pipe L1 and used as compressed air, but because valve V7 is not completely closed, some of it is discharged by the exhaust section 700 through the purification section 600.

[0053] Vacuum and pressure smoking 5 is a schematic diagram of the smoking process in a smoking method according to yet another embodiment, showing the schematic configuration of a reduced-pressure smoking process. Reduced-pressure smoking is a method of smoking food by first holding food in a reduced-pressure atmosphere (a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure) and then holding the food and smoking material in a higher-pressure atmosphere. Note that explanations of procedures similar to those explained in "warm smoking / hot smoking" and "cold smoking" will be omitted.

[0054] External air is introduced into smoking processing section 400 via valve V1 and turbulence generating section 300. At this time, the amount of external air introduced into smoking processing section 400 and the amount of gas discharged by exhaust section 700 are adjusted by the opening of valves V1 and V7 and the amount of compressed air by air compression section 100. In addition, the gas discharged by exhaust section 700 is purified by purification section 600.

[0055] To create a reduced pressure atmosphere (pressure lower than atmospheric pressure) within smoking processing unit 400, a certain amount of external air is taken in from smoking processing unit 400 into air compression unit 100, and the apertures of valves V1 and V7 are adjusted. With the supply of external air restricted, air is compressed by air compression unit 100. Furthermore, when the aperture of valve V2 is adjusted to restrict the amount of compressed air discharged from air compression unit 100, the pressure within smoking processing unit 400 is created as a reduced pressure atmosphere (pressure lower than atmospheric pressure). When food material 411 placed within smoking processing unit 400 is placed in a reduced pressure atmosphere (pressure lower than atmospheric pressure), moisture evaporates from food material 411, causing food material 411 to expand. Note that a reduced pressure pump may be connected to smoking processing unit 400 to create a reduced pressure atmosphere (pressure lower than atmospheric pressure) within smoking processing unit 400.

[0056] The pressure of the reduced pressure atmosphere in smoking processing unit 400 is not particularly limited, and can be 0.01 MPa or more in one embodiment, 0.03 MPa or more in another embodiment, and 0.05 MPa or more in yet another embodiment, or 0.10 MPa or less in one embodiment, 0.08 MPa or less in another embodiment, and 0.06 MPa or less in yet another embodiment. This allows moisture to evaporate from food material 411 and makes food material 411 more likely to expand.

[0057] Meanwhile, some of the compressed air may be supplied to separation section 210 to adjust the pressure within smoking processing section 400. However, the flow rate of the compressed air is adjusted by valve V2, and the air moves through separation section 210 without forming a vortex, or almost without forming a vortex, and is then discharged via valve V4 and pipe L3. The air is supplied to turbulence generation section 300, and becomes turbulent within smoking processing section 400 due to the action of a shielding member provided within turbulence generation section 300. In other words, the air circulates within smoking device 1000 as indicated by the black arrows.

[0058] When the smoking processing unit 400 is in a reduced pressure (lower than atmospheric pressure), the smoking material 421 placed in the smoking material placement unit 420 is heated by the heating unit 430, causing the smoking material 421 to emit smoke. The pressure inside the smoking processing unit 400 is then raised to a higher pressure (atmospheric pressure) than the reduced pressure. For example, the smoking processing unit 400 can be raised to a higher pressure (atmospheric pressure) than the reduced pressure by adjusting valve V1 to increase the supply of external air, adjusting valve V7 to limit the gas discharge, and / or adjusting the opening of valve V2 to increase the amount of compressed air discharged from the air compression unit 100. In this way, raising the smoking processing unit 400 to a higher pressure (atmospheric pressure) than the reduced pressure atmosphere causes rapid incomplete combustion of the smoking material, resulting in the generation of a large amount of smoke in a short period of time. As a result, the expanded food material 411 allows the smoke to penetrate more easily, and the large amount of smoke present shortens the smoking time.

[0059] The pressure higher than the reduced pressure atmosphere in the smoking processing unit 400 is not particularly limited, and can be 0.08 MPa or higher in one embodiment, 0.10 MPa or higher in another embodiment, and 0.11 MPa or higher in yet another embodiment, or 0.15 MPa or lower in one embodiment, 0.14 MPa or lower in another embodiment, and 0.13 MPa or lower in yet another embodiment. This tends to increase the amount of smoke generated from the smoking material.

[0060] (Cooling treatment) 6 is a schematic diagram of the cooling process in the smoking method according to this embodiment. The cooling process can be carried out in the same manner as cold smoking, except that smoke is not generated from the smoking material and the flow rate of cold air is adjusted. Therefore, explanations of the same procedures as those described for "cold smoking" will be omitted.

[0061] External air is introduced into smoking processing section 400 via valve V1 and turbulence generating section 300. At this time, the amount of external air introduced into smoking processing section 400 and the amount of gas discharged by exhaust section 700 are adjusted by the opening of valves V1 and V7 and the amount of compressed air by air compression section 100. In addition, the gas discharged by exhaust section 700 is purified by purification section 600.

[0062] To generate cold air for cooling food material 411, external air is taken into air compression section 100 from smoking processing section 400. The air introduced into air compression section 100 is compressed to a pressure of 0.2 to 1.0 MPa within air compression section 100 and is then discharged into pipe L2. When the cooling process begins, some of the cold air used for cooling is taken into air compression section 100.

[0063] Compressed air is supplied to separation section 210 of cold / hot air separation unit 200 via pipe L2. The amount of compressed air supplied is adjusted by valve V2. The compressed air supplied to separation section 210 forms a vortex flow along the outer peripheral surface within the separation section as shown by arrow 211b, and when the vortex flow of air reaches the control valve, part of the flow is discharged from separation section 210 via pipe L4 and valve V5 to exhaust section 700.

[0064] Meanwhile, the remaining air whose flow is blocked by the control valve forms a vortex along the central axis of separation section 210 and moves as indicated by arrow 211a, becoming cold air, which moves outside separation section 210 and is discharged into pipe L3 via valve V3. The temperature of the cold air can be adjusted by adjusting the ratio of the flow rate of cold air to the flow rate of warm air with the control valve, and is adjusted to a temperature required to cool the smoked products, for example, between 0 and 30°C.

[0065] The cold air is supplied to the turbulent flow generating section 300, and becomes turbulent within the smoking processing section 400 due to the action of a shielding member or the like provided within the turbulent flow generating section 300. The smoked product is cooled to, for example, 30°C or less by the turbulent flow of the cold air. In this way, the smoked product can be cooled by the turbulent flow, which improves the contact efficiency between the smoked product and the cold air and shortens the time required for smoking.

[0066] Each of the processes described above may be performed automatically by the control device controlling the valves V1 to V7, the control valves, the motor M, the heating unit 430, etc., or may be performed manually by the user adjusting the valves V1 to V7, the control valves, the motor M, the heating unit 430, etc.

[0067] <Summary of the embodiment> The above embodiments disclose at least the following smoking apparatus and smoking method.

[0068] 1. The smoking device of the above embodiment is an air compression unit (100) that compresses air; a cold / hot air separating section (200) that receives compressed air from the air compressing section (100) and separates the compressed air into cold air and hot air by rotating the compressed air therein; a turbulence generating section (300) that receives the supply of cold air or hot air from the cold / hot air separating section (200) and generates turbulence; and a smoking processing section (400) that receives the turbulent flow from the turbulence generating section (300) and processes the food material (411) to produce a smoked food. According to this embodiment, it is possible to dry ingredients, smoke ingredients, and cool the smoked products within a single smoking device, thereby shortening the time required for smoking production. Furthermore, the efficiency of contact between ingredients and cold air, warm air, and smoke is improved, thereby shortening the time required for smoking production.

[0069] 2. In the above embodiment, The food material is smoked at a pressure higher than normal pressure. It produces a lot of smoke, which shortens the smoking time.

[0070] 3. In the above embodiment, The cooking apparatus further includes a purification section (600) for purifying the gas discharged from the smoking section. According to this embodiment, the influence of gases and the like discharged from the smoking device on the surrounding environment is suppressed.

[0071] 4. In the above embodiment, The hot and cold air separating unit (200) includes a moisture separating unit (220) for separating moisture from the hot air. According to this embodiment, dry warm air is obtained, thereby shortening the drying time of ingredients.

[0072] 5. In the above embodiment, The hot / cold air separating unit (200) includes a vortex tube. According to this embodiment, cold and warm air can be easily obtained.

[0073] 6. In the above embodiment, The air compression section includes a centrifugal turbo compressor. According to this embodiment, the pressure ratio can be increased.

[0074] 7. In the smoking method of the above embodiment, 1. A method for smoking food, comprising: Compressing the air, Compressed air is separated into cold and warm air by rotating it. generating a turbulent flow from the warm air and drying the food material by the turbulent flow; Exposing the dried food material to smoke generated by heating a smoking material; generating turbulence from the cold air and cooling the smoked food material by the turbulence. According to this embodiment, the contact efficiency between the food material and the cold air, the warm air, and the smoke is improved, and the time required for smoking can be shortened.

[0075] 8. In the above embodiment, After drying the food material, the dried food material is kept in a pressure atmosphere lower than atmospheric pressure, The food material is exposed to smoke generated by heating the smoking material under a pressure atmosphere higher than the pressure atmosphere. According to this embodiment, the food expands, allowing the smoke to penetrate more easily into the food, and the presence of a large amount of smoke shortens the smoking time.

[0076] Although the embodiments of the invention have been described above, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 100 air compression section, 200 cold / hot air separation section, 300 turbulence generation section, 400 smoking processing section, 500 compressed air storage section, 600 purification section, 700 exhaust section, 1000 smoking device

Claims

1. an air compression unit that compresses air; a cold / hot air separation unit that receives compressed air from the air compression unit and separates the compressed air into cold air and hot air by rotating the compressed air therein; a turbulence generating unit that receives the cold air or the hot air from the cold / hot air separating unit and generates a turbulent flow; a smoking processing section that receives the turbulent flow from the turbulence generating section and processes the ingredients to produce smoked food.

2. 2. The smoking device according to claim 1, configured to smoke the food material at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.

3. The smoking device according to claim 1 , further comprising a purification unit that purifies the gas discharged from the smoking unit.

4. The smoking device according to claim 1 , wherein the hot and cold air separating section includes a moisture separating section that separates moisture from the hot air.

5. The smoking device according to claim 1 , wherein the hot and cold air separating section includes a vortex tube.

6. The smoking device according to claim 1 , wherein the air compression section includes a centrifugal turbo compressor.

7. 1. A method for smoking food, comprising: Compressing the air, Compressed air is separated into cold and warm air by rotating it. generating a turbulent flow from the warm air and drying the food material by the turbulent flow; Exposing the dried food material to smoke generated by heating a smoking material; generating turbulence from the cold air and cooling the smoked food material by the turbulence.

8. After drying the food material, the dried food material is kept in a pressure atmosphere lower than atmospheric pressure, The smoking method according to claim 7, wherein the food material is exposed to smoke generated by heating a smoking material under a pressure atmosphere higher than the pressure atmosphere.

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