Heating / cooling device and heating / cooling method

Abstract

To provide a heating and cooling device and a heating and cooling method which enhance energy efficiency of heating and cooling treatment of a treatment object while preventing a negative influence of cooling water on a steam generation device.SOLUTION: A heating and cooling device comprises: a treatment tank; a heat exchanger; a steam supply device which supplies heating steam to a primary flow passage of the heat exchanger and recovers and recycles used heating steam; a cooling water supply device which supplies cooling water to the primary flow passage of the heat exchanger and recovers and recycles used cooling water; and a control device. The heating and cooling device is adapted to execute: a heating process to heat a treatment object stored in the treatment tank through a heat medium heated with heating steam in the heat exchanger; a cooling process to cool the treatment object through the heat medium cooled with cooling water in the heat exchanger after the heating process; and a discharge and cleaning process to discharge the cooling water remained in the primary flow passage of the heat exchanger and to clean the primary flow passage with cleaning water after the cooling process.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating / cooling device and a heating / cooling method that are capable of recovering cooling water used when cooling an object to be treated after heating it in a treatment tank. [Background technology]

[0002] When producing processing objects such as retort pouch foods, a heating and cooling device is used to heat and then cool the processing object (see Patent Document 1). This heating and cooling device includes a processing tank equipped with a spray nozzle capable of spraying a heat medium onto the processing object contained therein, a boiler capable of supplying heated steam, and a cooling tower capable of supplying cooling water. The heating and cooling device also includes a heat exchanger to which the boiler or cooling tower is switchably connected to a primary flow path and to which a spray nozzle is connected to a secondary flow path. In this heating and cooling device, for example, the processing object is subjected to a heat sterilization treatment and then a cooling treatment, after which the processing object is removed from the processing tank, and the next processing object is placed in the processing tank, where the processing object is subjected to a heat sterilization treatment and a cooling treatment.

[0003] Specifically, in the heat sterilization treatment of the object to be treated, steam from a boiler is supplied to the primary flow path of a heat exchanger to heat the heat medium circulating through the secondary flow path of the heat exchanger, and the heated heat medium is sprayed from a spray nozzle toward the object to be treated. After the heat sterilization treatment is performed at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time, in the subsequent cooling treatment, cooling water cooled in a cooling tower is supplied to the primary flow path of the heat exchanger to cool the heat medium circulating through the secondary flow path of the heat exchanger, and the cooled heat medium is sprayed from a spray nozzle toward the object to be treated. Once the object to be treated has been cooled to a predetermined temperature, it is removed from the treatment tank, and the next object to be treated is placed in the treatment tank.

[0004] In the thermal sterilization treatment of the next treatment object, the cooling water remaining in the primary flow path of the heat exchanger is discharged to the outside until a predetermined time has elapsed since steam began to be supplied from the boiler to the primary flow path of the heat exchanger. This is to prevent the cooling water, which contains chemicals such as scale inhibitors for the cooling tower, from flowing into the boiler and damaging it. After the predetermined time has elapsed, the drain generated in the primary flow path of the heat exchanger due to condensation of the steam no longer contains chemicals such as scale inhibitors and can be recovered by the boiler, so it is recovered and supplied to the boiler. Then, the treatment object is also cooled. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5737555 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the heating and cooling device, during the period from the start of steam supply until a predetermined time has elapsed, drainage discharged from the primary flow path of the heat exchanger is discharged to the outside together with cooling water, and the efficiency of recovering thermal energy is insufficient.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a heating / cooling apparatus and a heating / cooling method that improves energy efficiency in heating and cooling treatment of an object to be treated while preventing adverse effects of cooling water on a steam generating device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The heating and cooling device of the present invention comprises a treatment tank that accommodates an object to be treated and heats and cools the object to be treated with a heat medium; a heat exchanger having a primary side flow path and a secondary side flow path that can exchange heat with each other; a steam supply device that supplies heated steam to the primary side flow path of the heat exchanger and recovers and reuses used heated steam discharged from the primary side flow path; a cooling water supply device that supplies cooling water to the primary side flow path of the heat exchanger and recovers and reuses used cooling water discharged from the primary side flow path; and a control device, and is characterized by being configured to carry out a heating step in which the object to be treated accommodated in the treatment tank is heated in the heat exchanger with the heat medium heated by the heated steam; a cooling step in which, after the heating step, the object to be treated is cooled in the heat exchanger with the heat medium cooled by the cooling water; and a drainage and cleaning step in which, after the cooling step, the cooling water remaining in the primary side flow path of the heat exchanger is discharged and the primary side flow path is cleaned with cleaning water.

[0009] If the cooling water supply device is a so-called cooling tower, the cooling water contains a scale inhibitor. In the present invention, after the cooling process using this cooling water, a drainage and cleaning process is carried out in which the cooling water remaining in the primary flow path of the heat exchanger is drained and the primary flow path is cleaned with cleaning water. Therefore, in the subsequent heating process, condensed water can be recovered and reused in the steam supply device at the same time as steam is supplied, making it possible to improve energy efficiency compared to conventional methods.

[0010] Furthermore, the heating and cooling device may be configured such that, during the drainage cleaning process, the control device cools the heat medium in the heat exchanger using the cleaning water, supplies the heat medium from the heat exchanger to the treatment tank, and cools the object to be treated.

[0011] Generally, the clean water used as cleaning water in the wastewater cleaning process is at a lower temperature than the cooling water supplied from a cooling water supply device such as a cooling tower. Therefore, by using the cleaning water to clean the inside of the heat exchanger and at the same time cool the heat medium and the object to be treated, the time required for cooling can be shortened, and the processing time for one batch can be shortened.

[0012] The heating and cooling method of the present invention is a heating and cooling method for heating and cooling an object to be treated using a heating and cooling device comprising: a treatment tank that accommodates the object to be treated and heats and cools the object to be treated with a heat medium; a heat exchanger having a primary side flow path and a secondary side flow path that can exchange heat with each other; a steam supply device that supplies heated steam to the primary side flow path of the heat exchanger and recovers and reuses used heated steam discharged from the primary side flow path; and a cooling water supply device that supplies cooling water to the primary side flow path of the heat exchanger and recovers and reuses used cooling water discharged from the primary side flow path, and is characterized by comprising: a heating step of heating the object to be treated accommodated in the treatment tank with the heat medium heated by the heated steam in the heat exchanger; a cooling step of cooling the object to be treated with the heat medium cooled by the cooling water in the heat exchanger after the heating step; and a drainage and cleaning step of draining the cooling water remaining in the primary side flow path of the heat exchanger and cleaning the primary side flow path with cleaning water after the cooling step.

[0013] In this configuration, if the cooling water supply device is a so-called cooling tower, the cooling water contains a scale inhibitor. In the present invention, after the cooling process using this cooling water, a drainage and cleaning process is performed in which the cooling water remaining in the primary side flow path of the heat exchanger is drained and the primary side flow path is cleaned with cleaning water. Therefore, in the subsequent heating process, condensed water can be recovered and reused in the steam supply device at the same time as steam is supplied, making it possible to improve energy efficiency compared to conventional methods.

[0014] In the heating and cooling method, in the drainage cleaning process, the heat medium in the heat exchanger may be cooled by the cleaning water, and the heat medium may be supplied from the heat exchanger to the treatment tank to cool the object to be treated.

[0015] Generally, the clean water used as cleaning water in the cleaning process is at a lower temperature than the cooling water supplied from a cooling water supply device such as a cooling tower. Therefore, by using the clean water to clean the inside of the heat exchanger and at the same time cool the heat transfer medium and the object to be treated, the time required for cooling can be shortened, and the processing time for one batch can be shortened. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heating / cooling device and a heating / cooling method that improves energy efficiency in heating / cooling treatment of an object to be treated while preventing adverse effects of cooling water on a steam generating device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a heating and cooling device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the overall processing procedure of the heating and cooling method according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the specific procedure of the cooling step and the drainage cleaning step in the treatment procedure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 1, a heating and cooling device 1 according to this embodiment includes a treatment tank 2, a heat exchanger 3, a steam supply device 4, a cooling water supply device 5, and a control device 6. This heating and cooling device 1 also includes a water supply device 7.

[0019] The treatment tank 2 contains the object to be treated and heats and cools it with a heat medium. The object to be treated is, for example, food. Specifically, it is a retort food contained in an aluminum pouch. A plurality of spray nozzles are arranged in the treatment tank 2 to spray water as a heated or cooled heat medium onto the object to be treated. Furthermore, the treatment tank 2 is provided with a water level gauge that detects the water supply level in the treatment tank 2 and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature inside the treatment tank 2.

[0020] The heat exchanger 3 has a primary-side flow path 31 and a secondary-side flow path 32 that can exchange heat with each other. When heated steam is supplied to the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3, the heated steam heats the heat medium flowing in the secondary-side flow path 32. When cooling water is supplied to the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3, the cooling water cools the heat medium flowing in the secondary-side flow path 32. In the heating and cooling device 1 of this embodiment, the heat exchanger 3 is a plate-type heat exchanger having a plurality of overlapping heat transfer plates.

[0021] The steam supply device 4 generates steam for heating the heat medium flowing through the secondary-side flow path 32 of the heat exchanger 3. The steam supply device 4 also supplies heated steam to the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3, and recovers and reuses used heated steam (e.g., condensed water condensed in the primary-side flow path 31) discharged from the primary-side flow path 31. For example, the steam supply device 4 is a boiler.

[0022] The cooling water supply device 5 generates cooling water for cooling the heat medium flowing through the secondary-side flow path 32 of the heat exchanger 3. The cooling water supply device 5 also supplies cooling water to the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 and recovers and reuses used cooling water discharged from the primary-side flow path 31. For example, the cooling water supply device 5 is a cooling tower. This cooling tower may be an open type or a closed type. The cooling water contains a scale inhibitor.

[0023] The heat treatment apparatus 1 of this embodiment is provided with a pipe 320 connecting one end 32A of the secondary-side flow path 32 of the heat exchanger 3 to the treatment tank 2 (specifically, the multiple spray nozzles of the treatment tank 2). For example, the pipe 320 branches into two branches midway from upstream to downstream to accommodate treatment objects arranged at two different heights (upper and lower), and gate valves 102 and 103 are provided on each branch. Note that the pipe 320 does not necessarily have to branch. In this case, for example, one valve is provided midway between the upstream end and the downstream end. Furthermore, a pipe 321 is provided connecting the treatment tank 2 to the other end 32B of the secondary-side flow path 32 of the heat exchanger 3. A heat medium circulation pump P1 is provided in the pipe 321. These pipes 320 and 321 form a heat medium circulation flow path that circulates the heat medium between the treatment tank 2 and the heat exchanger 3 through the secondary-side flow path 32 of the heat exchanger 3. In addition, in the heat medium circulation flow path, the heat medium circulation pump P1 supplies the heat medium stored in the treatment tank 2 to the secondary side flow path 32 of the heat exchanger 3, and sprays it from multiple spray nozzles in the treatment tank 2 via piping 320.

[0024] A pipe 310 is provided that connects the steam supply device 4 to one end 31A of the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3. A temperature control steam valve 104 is disposed in the pipe 310. The pipe 310 constitutes a steam supply flow path that supplies steam generated by the steam supply device 4 to the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3.

[0025] A pipe 311 is provided that connects the other end 31B of the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 to the steam supply device 4. A steam trap valve 105 is disposed in the pipe 311. The pipe 311 constitutes a drain recovery flow path that returns used heated steam discharged from the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 (for example, condensed water (drain) condensed in the primary-side flow path 31) to the steam supply device 4.

[0026] A pipe 312 is provided that connects the cooling water supply device 5 to one end 31A of the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3. A temperature control cooling valve 107 is disposed in the pipe 312. In addition, a pipe 313 is provided that connects the other end 31B of the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 to the cooling water supply device 5. A cooling water outlet valve 106 is disposed in the pipe 313. The pipes 312 and 313 constitute a cooling water circulation flow path that supplies the cooling water generated by the cooling water supply device 5 to the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 and recovers the cooling water that has passed through the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 to the cooling water supply device 5.

[0027] Pipe 322 is provided to connect water supply device 7 to a point on pipe 321 upstream of circulation pump P1. In pipe 322, from the upstream side, water supply pump P2 and water supply valve 101 are arranged. The temperature of the water as a heat medium supplied to pipe 322 is, for example, 20°C.

[0028] A pipe 323 is provided that connects the water supply device 7 to a point on the pipe 313 between the other end 31B of the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 and the cooling water outlet valve 106. A water supply pump P2 and an injection valve 110 are arranged in the pipe 323, from the upstream side. A pipe 314 is provided that connects one end 31A of the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 to the outside of the heating and cooling device 1. A steam shutoff valve 111 is arranged in the pipe 314. The pipes 323 and 314 form a cleaning flow path that cleans the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 with cleaning water.

[0029] A pipe 315 is provided that connects the outside of this heating and cooling device 1 to one end 31A of the primary side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3. An air push valve 108 is disposed in the pipe 315. A pipe 316 is provided that connects the other end 31B of the primary side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 to the outside of the heating and cooling device 1. A residual water blow-out valve 109 is disposed in the pipe 316. The pipes 315 and 316 form a residual water discharge flow path that discharges the cooling water and cleaning water remaining in the primary side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 (specifically, discharges it to the outside of the heating and cooling device 1).

[0030] The control device 6 is configured to control each component included in the heating and cooling device 1. Specifically, by controlling each component included in the heating and cooling device 1 by the control device 6, the heating and cooling device 1 is configured to perform a heating step in which the object to be treated stored in the treatment tank 2 is heat-treated with a heat medium heated by heating steam in the heat exchanger 3, a cooling step in which the object to be treated is cooled with a heat medium cooled by cooling water in the heat exchanger 3 after the heating step, and a drainage and cleaning step in which the cooling water remaining in the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 is discharged and the primary-side flow path is cleaned with cleaning water after the cooling step.

[0031] In addition, by controlling each component of the heating and cooling device 1 using the control device 6, the heating and cooling device 1 is configured to cool the heat medium in the heat exchanger 3 using cleaning water during the drainage cleaning process, supply the heat medium from the heat exchanger 3 to the treatment tank 2, and cool the object to be treated.

[0032] The control device 6 includes a control panel that controls valves and pumps, such as the water supply valve 101, water supply pump P2, heat medium circulation pump P1, temperature control steam valve 104, temperature control cooling valve 107, and cooling water outlet valve 106, in accordance with the heating and cooling treatment procedure for the object to be treated. The control device 6 is also configured to monitor the temperature in the treatment tank 2 detected by a temperature sensor and determine whether this temperature has reached a predetermined set temperature. In the heating and cooling device 1 of this embodiment, the control device 6 is configured to monitor the water supply level in the treatment tank 2 detected by a water level gauge and determine whether this water supply level has reached a predetermined water level.

[0033] This control panel can be configured, for example, by a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes a CPU, a storage unit for storing a control program, etc. The CPU executes the control program, causing the control device 6 to perform the above-mentioned control.

[0034] Next, a heating / cooling method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. This heating / cooling method heats and cools an object to be treated using a heating / cooling apparatus 1 including: a treatment tank 2 that accommodates the object to be treated and heats and cools it using a heat medium; a heat exchanger 3 having a primary-side flow path 31 and a secondary-side flow path 32 that can exchange heat with each other; a steam supplying device 4 that supplies heated steam to the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 and recovers condensed water condensed in the primary-side flow path 31; and a cooling water supplying device 5 that supplies cooling water to the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 and recovers it. Specifically, the heating / cooling method using the above-described heat treatment apparatus 1 will be described below. As shown in Figure 2, this heating / cooling method includes the following steps. 1) A heating step S1 in which the object to be treated contained in the treatment tank 2 is heated in the heat exchanger 3 with a heat medium heated by heating steam. 2) After the heating step S1, a cooling step S2 is performed in which the object to be treated is cooled in a heat exchanger 3 with a heat medium cooled by cooling water. 3) After the cooling step S2, a drainage and cleaning step S3 is performed in which the cooling water remaining in the primary flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 is drained and the primary flow path is cleaned with cleaning water. 4) A cleaning water draining process S4 in which cleaning water remaining in the primary side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 is drained after the draining and cleaning process S3.

[0035] In the heating step S1, the control device 6 starts the heat medium circulating pump P1, opens the temperature control steam valve 104, and closes the temperature control cooling valve 107, thereby starting the supply of steam from the steam supply device 4 to the primary flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 and circulating the heat medium in the treatment tank 2 through the secondary flow path 32 of the heat exchanger 3 into the treatment tank 2. As a result, the object to be treated accommodated in the treatment tank 2 is heated by the heat medium heated by the heating steam in the heat exchanger 3. At this time, the used heating steam discharged from the primary flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 (e.g., condensed water (drain) condensed in the primary flow path 31) is recovered in the drain recovery flow path and returned to the steam supply device 4. In the heat treatment method of this embodiment, the set temperature in the treatment tank 2 is 120°C, and the pressure in the treatment tank 2 is set higher than atmospheric pressure. In addition, this heating method cooks and sterilizes the object to be treated.

[0036] Furthermore, the control device 6 determines whether the temperature in the treatment tank 2 has reached a predetermined set temperature based on the detection signal from the temperature sensor. Here, if the temperature in the treatment tank 2 has not reached the set temperature, the control device 6 keeps the temperature control steam valve 104 open and the heat medium circulation pump P1 operating. On the other hand, if the temperature in the treatment tank 2 has reached the set temperature and a predetermined set time (e.g., 20 to 30 minutes) has elapsed, the control device 6 closes the temperature control steam valve 104 and stops the heat medium circulation pump P1, thereby terminating the heating step S1.

[0037] In the heating and cooling method of this embodiment, in the cooling water circulation step S21, the control device 6 closes the temperature control steam valve 104 and opens the temperature control cooling valve 107 and the cooling water outlet valve 106, thereby starting the supply of cooling water from the cooling water supply device 5 to the primary flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 and circulating the heat medium in the treatment tank 2 through the secondary flow path 32 of the heat exchanger 3 into the treatment tank 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 3 ). As a result, the object to be treated is cooled by the heat medium cooled by the cooling water in the heat exchanger 3. At this time, the cooling water discharged from the primary flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 is recovered and returned to the cooling water supply device 5. The temperature of the cooling water supplied from the cooling water supply device 5 is approximately 30°C to 40°C, and the temperature of the cooling water that has passed through the primary flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 drops from approximately 70°C to approximately 35°C.

[0038] The control device 6 performs the cooling water circulation step S21 until the temperature in the treatment tank 2 reaches a predetermined switching temperature based on the detection signal from the temperature sensor. When the temperature in the treatment tank 2 reaches the switching temperature (Yes in step S22), the drainage and cleaning step S3 (specifically, the cooling water discharge step of the cleaning step S3, which will be described later) is performed. This switching temperature is, for example, 40 to 45°C.

[0039] In the heating and cooling method of the present embodiment, the drainage and cleaning step S3 includes, for example, a cooling water discharge step S31 in which cooling water remaining in the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 is discharged, and a cleaning step S32 in which the cleaning flow path is used to clean the primary-side flow path 31 with cleaning water. In this heating and cooling method, in the drainage and cleaning step S3 (cleaning step S32 in the present embodiment), the control device 6 circulates the heat medium through the heat medium circulation flow path, thereby supplying the heat medium cooled in the heat exchanger 3 by the cleaning water from the heat exchanger 3 to the treatment tank 2 and cooling the object to be treated.

[0040] Specifically, in the cooling water discharge step S31, air blowing may be performed when discharging the cooling water remaining in the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3. In this case, in the cooling water discharge step S31, the control device 6 closes the temperature adjustment cooling valve 107 and the cooling water outlet valve 106 and opens the air push valve 108 and the residual water blow-out valve 109 to start supplying air from the air supply device to the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 from outside the heating and cooling device 1, thereby discharging the cooling water remaining in the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 via the residual water discharge flow path by air blowing.

[0041] Next, in the cleaning step S32, the control device 6 closes the air push valve 108 and the residual water blow-off valve 109, starts the water supply pump P2, and opens the injection valve 110 and the steam shut-off valve 111, thereby supplying water from the water supply device 7 to the primary side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3, i.e., supplying cleaning water. At this time, the cleaning water via the pipe 323 is discharged via the pipe 314 to clean the primary side flow path 31 from the bottom side, thereby making it difficult for cooling water to remain in the primary side flow path 31. Note that in the cleaning step S32, the cleaning effect may be further improved by bubbling the primary side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3.

[0042] The control device 6 carries out the cleaning process S32 until a predetermined time (cleaning stop time) is reached. At this time, the control device 6 keeps the feedwater pump P2 running and keeps the injection valve 110 and the steam shutoff valve 111 open. This cleaning stop time is, for example, 3 minutes. When the execution time of the cleaning process S32 reaches the predetermined time (cleaning stop time) (Yes in step S33), the control device 6 carries out the cleaning water draining process S4. In this way, the cleaning process S32 is carried out by time control, but the cleaning process S32 may also be temperature controlled (controlled to be carried out until the temperature in the treatment tank 2 reaches a predetermined cooling stop temperature).

[0043] In the cleaning water drainage step S4, the control device 6 stops the water supply pump P2, closes the injection valve 110 and the steam shutoff valve 111, and opens the air push valve 108 and the residual water blow-out valve 109, thereby starting to supply air from the air supply device to the primary side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3, and drains the cleaning water remaining in the primary side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 via the residual water discharge flow path.

[0044] Furthermore, when the heating and cooling process of this embodiment is repeatedly performed, a series of processes (steps S1 to S4) are performed on a specified object to be treated, followed by discharging the heat medium from the treatment tank 2, bringing the pressure inside the treatment tank 2 to atmospheric pressure, removing the object to be treated, etc., and then placing the next object to be subjected to the heating and cooling process into the treatment tank 2, and performing the series of processes (steps S1 to S4) on the next object to be treated.

[0045] According to the above heating and cooling apparatus 1, as described above, if the cooling water supply device 5 is a so-called cooling tower, the cooling water contains a scale inhibitor. If this cooling water flows into the steam supply device 4, such as a boiler, there is a risk of damaging the steam supply device 4. For this reason, it is difficult to recover drainage containing cooling water and supply it to the steam supply device 4. In this embodiment, after the cooling step using this cooling water, a drainage and cleaning step is performed in which the cooling water remaining in the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 is discharged and the primary-side flow path 31 is cleaned with cleaning water. Therefore, in the next heating step, condensed water can be recovered and reused in the steam supply device 4 at the same time as steam is supplied, making it possible to improve energy efficiency compared to conventional methods.

[0046] In the heating and cooling device 1 of this embodiment, the clean water used as cleaning water in the drainage cleaning process is generally at a lower temperature than the cooling water supplied from a cooling water supply device 5 such as a cooling tower. Therefore, by using the cleaning water to clean the inside of the heat exchanger 3 while simultaneously cooling the heat medium and cooling the object to be treated, it is possible to shorten the time required for cooling and the processing time for one batch.

[0047] The heating and cooling device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the configuration of one embodiment can be added to the configuration of another embodiment, or part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. Furthermore, part of the configuration of one embodiment can be deleted.

[0048] For example, in the heat treatment device of the above embodiment, the drain recovered by the drain recovery passage is returned to the steam supply device 4, but this drain may be used for another purpose. For example, this drain may be supplied to the cooling water supply device 5, in which case the drain recovery passage may be connected to the cooling water circulation passage.

[0049] In the heat treatment method of the above embodiment, the control device 6 performs the cooling step S2 until the temperature (switching temperature) is reached before the cooling stop temperature (the set temperature to which the object to be treated should be cooled). However, the cooling step S2 may be performed until the cooling stop temperature is reached. In this case, the control device 6 may perform the cleaning step S32 in the drainage and cleaning step S3 for a predetermined time set in advance so that the primary-side flow path 31 of the heat exchanger 3 is cleaned to the extent that no cooling water remains. Furthermore, when the cleaning step S32 is performed and heating and cooling treatments are repeated, during the cleaning water drainage step S4, the heat medium stored in the treatment tank 2 is discharged, the pressurized air in the treatment tank 2 is discharged to the outside of the treatment tank 2 to restore atmospheric pressure inside the treatment tank 2, the object to be treated in the treatment tank 2 is removed, and the next object to be subjected to the heating and cooling treatment is placed in the treatment tank 2. Furthermore, after the cleaning water drainage step S4 is completed, the series of treatments (steps S1 to S4) may be performed on the next object to be treated. This shortens the treatment time when heating and cooling treatments are repeated.

[0050] In the heat treatment device of the above embodiment, the object to be treated is food, but the object to be treated may be medicine, etc. Also, in the embodiment, the object to be treated is cooked and sterilized in the heat treatment step S1, but the object to be treated may be cooked only or sterilized only in the heat treatment step S1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1...heating / cooling device, 2...treatment tank, 3...heat exchanger, 4...steam supply device, 5...cooling water supply device, 6...control device, 7...water supply tank, 8...air supply device, 9...residual water blower, 20...piping, 31...primary side flow path, 31A...one end, 31B...other end, 32...secondary side flow path, 32A...one end, 32B...other end, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 3 16, 320, 321, 322, 323...Piping, 101...Water supply valve, 102, 103...Gate valve, 104...Temperature control steam valve, 105...Steam trap valve, 106...Cooling water outlet valve, 107...Temperature control cooling valve, 108...Air push valve, 109...Residual water blow-off valve, 110...Injection valve, 111...Steam shut-off valve, P1...Heat medium circulation pump, P2...Water supply pump

Claims

1. a treatment tank that accommodates an object to be treated and heats and cools the object to be treated using a heat medium; a heat exchanger having a primary flow path and a secondary flow path capable of exchanging heat with each other; a steam supply device that supplies heating steam to a primary side flow path of the heat exchanger and recovers and reuses used heating steam discharged from the primary side flow path; a cooling water supply device that supplies cooling water to a primary flow path of the heat exchanger and recovers and reuses used cooling water discharged from the primary flow path; a control device; a heating step of heating the object to be treated contained in the treatment tank with the heat medium heated by the heating steam in the heat exchanger; a cooling step of cooling the object to be treated with the heat medium cooled by the cooling water in the heat exchanger after the heating step; A heating and cooling device characterized in that, after the cooling process, a drainage and cleaning process is carried out in which the cooling water remaining in the primary side flow path of the heat exchanger is drained and the primary side flow path is cleaned with cleaning water.

2. 2. The heating and cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to cool the heat medium in the heat exchanger using the cleaning water during the drainage cleaning process, supply the heat medium from the heat exchanger to the treatment tank, and cool the object to be treated.

3. a treatment tank that accommodates an object to be treated and heats and cools the object to be treated using a heat medium; a heat exchanger having a primary flow path and a secondary flow path capable of exchanging heat with each other; a steam supply device that supplies heating steam to a primary flow path of the heat exchanger and recovers and reuses used heating steam discharged from the primary flow path; a cooling water supply device that supplies cooling water to a primary flow path of the heat exchanger and recovers and reuses used cooling water discharged from the primary flow path; A heating and cooling method for heating and cooling an object to be processed using a heating and cooling device comprising: a heating step of heating the object to be treated contained in the treatment tank with the heat medium heated by the heating steam in the heat exchanger; a cooling step of cooling the object to be treated with the heat medium cooled by the cooling water in the heat exchanger after the heating step; a drainage and cleaning step of draining the cooling water remaining in the primary side flow path of the heat exchanger and cleaning the primary side flow path with cleaning water after the cooling step.

4. 4. The heating and cooling method according to claim 3, wherein in the drainage and cleaning step, the heat medium in the heat exchanger is cooled by the cleaning water, and the heat medium is supplied from the heat exchanger to the treatment tank to cool the object to be treated.

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