Constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger

Abstract

The present invention relates to a constant temperature and high humidity storage system for storing ginger. The constant temperature and high humidity storage system for storing ginger according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a unit cooler positioned along the path of a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle and communicating fluidly with the internal space to introduce cold air at a temperature lower than the internal space of the storage facility into the internal space, for forming a first humidity condition and a first temperature condition for curing damaged ginger at the initial stage of storing ginger in the storage facility, and for forming a second humidity condition and a second temperature condition for ginger growth after a certain period of time has elapsed since the implementation of the curing stage; and a heater positioned in the internal space of the storage facility to selectively raise the temperature of the internal space, which operates in an ON state during the curing stage to raise the temperature of the internal space so that the humidity corresponds to the first humidity condition, and in an OFF state during the growth stage after the curing stage so that the humidity corresponds to the second humidity condition.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a constant temperature and high humidity storage system for storing ginger, and more specifically, to a structurally improved constant temperature and high humidity storage system for storing ginger that allows the relative humidity to be maintained at a first humidity and first temperature suitable for ginger curing during the initial storage stage of ginger to improve the quality of the stored ginger, and allows the relative humidity to be maintained at a second humidity higher than the first humidity suitable for ginger curing and a second temperature lower than the first temperature during the subsequent storage stage of ginger after the curing stage to inhibit mold and thereby enable the long-term storage of high-quality ginger. Background Technology

[0002] Since the traditional underground cellar storage method poses a risk of suffocation accidents, there is a need to support ginger farmers with alternative storage technologies.

[0003] According to the traditional underground storage method for ginger, a separation of layers occurs between the cold air inside the cave and the outside air that has warmed up since spring; this leads to suffocation accidents due to the lowered oxygen concentration and increased carbon dioxide concentration caused by the ginger's respiration.

[0004] It is known that ginger suffers cold damage at temperatures below 10°C and sprouts at temperatures above 15°C, so the optimal storage temperature is 12–14°C. Generally, mold on agricultural products occurs in high humidity, but in the case of ginger, mold is uniquely inhibited at high humidity levels of 96% or higher. For this reason, ginger is sometimes stored in underground caves where water flows down in Japan.

[0005] Ultimately, there is an urgent need to devise measures to prevent suffocation accidents among ginger farmers and facilitate storage by eliminating the risks of underground cave storage and developing and distributing storage technology that replicates the constant temperature and high humidity environment of such caves. Prior art literature

[0006] Republic of Korea Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1304223 The problem to be solved

[0007] The present invention has been devised to solve the aforementioned problems. The objective of the present invention is to provide a constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger that enhances the ginger curing effect during the initial storage stage to improve the quality of the stored ginger, and enables mold inhibition through relative humidity control during the ginger storage stage after the curing stage, thereby allowing high-quality ginger to be stored for a long time. means of solving the problem

[0008] A constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger storage according to the present invention for achieving the above objective comprises: a unit cooler positioned along the path of a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle and communicating fluidly with the internal space to introduce cold air at a temperature lower than the internal space of the storage facility into the internal space, wherein the system is configured to form a first humidity condition and a first temperature condition for curing damaged ginger at the initial stage of storing ginger in the storage facility, and to form a second humidity condition and a second temperature condition for ginger growth after a certain period of time has elapsed since the implementation of the curing stage; and a heater positioned in the internal space of the storage facility to selectively raise the temperature of the internal space, wherein the heater is operated in an ON state during the curing stage to raise the temperature of the internal space so that the humidity corresponds to the first humidity condition, and is turned OFF state during the growth stage after the curing stage so that the humidity corresponds to the second humidity condition.

[0009] The present invention is characterized by further including: a sensor for sensing the temperature of the internal space of the storage tank; and a control device for turning the heater ON / OFF based on data transmitted from the sensor.

[0010] The above unit cooler includes a blower fan rotatably installed in a case fixed in the internal space of a storage tank, and further includes an installation bracket installed in the internal space so as to be positioned in front of the case, having an open frame structure so as not to obstruct the movement of cold air discharged by the blower fan, and it is preferable that the heater is installed across an open portion formed immediately in front of the blower fan of the installation bracket.

[0011] It is preferable that the above refrigeration cycle includes a first cycle unit that forms a circulation path of a primary refrigerant to reduce the temperature difference of the cold air discharged through the unit cooler, and a second cycle unit that forms a circulation path of a secondary refrigerant that exchanges heat with the heat exchanger of the first cycle unit.

[0012] The first cycle unit comprises a condenser, a compressor, an expansion valve, and the heat exchanger, and the second cycle unit comprises: a storage tank in which a secondary refrigerant is stored; a pump installed on a first circulation pipe path between the storage tank and the unit cooler for pumping the secondary refrigerant stored in the storage tank toward the unit cooler; a first solenoid valve provided between the pump and the unit cooler; and a second circulation pipe connecting the unit cooler and the heat exchanger in a fluidly movable manner. It is preferable to include a second solenoid valve provided on the bypass pipe path between the first circulation pipe and the second circulation pipe, so that when the temperature of the internal space of the storage tank does not reach a target value and cooling is required, the first solenoid valve is opened and the second solenoid valve is closed based on a control command of the control device so that the secondary refrigerant flows into the unit cooler side without being bypassed to the bypass pipe side, and when the temperature of the internal space of the storage tank reaches a target value, the first solenoid valve is closed and the second solenoid valve is opened based on a control command of the control device so that the secondary refrigerant flows into the heat exchanger side through the bypass pipe and the second circulation pipe without flowing into the unit cooler side. Effects of the invention

[0013] The constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger storage according to the present invention, having the configuration described above, enables the internal temperature of the storage facility for ginger storage to be maintained at a constant level by utilizing a unit cooler, and also enables the internal temperature of the storage facility to be raised through a heater for a certain period of time to a temperature suitable for the curing conditions of ginger by considering the increase in humidity caused by the respiration of ginger during the initial stage of ginger storage, and after curing, the operation of the heater is stopped to create temperature and humidity conditions suitable for maintaining the quality of ginger. By doing so, the quality of the stored ginger can be improved by enhancing the ginger curing effect during the initial stage of storage through the organic combination of the unit cooler and the heater placed in the storage facility, and mold can be inhibited by controlling relative humidity during the ginger storage stage after the curing stage, thereby producing the effect of enabling the storage of high-quality ginger for a long time. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0014] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating the configuration of a constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger storage according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the configuration shown in direction A of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the control flow of an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 4 to 6 are drawings for illustrating a secondary refrigerant flow path of an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0015] In order to clarify the understanding of the present invention in the following description, descriptions of known technologies regarding the features of the present invention will be omitted. The following embodiments are detailed descriptions to aid in understanding the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the rights of the present invention. Accordingly, equivalent inventions that perform the same function as the present invention will also fall within the scope of the rights of the present invention.

[0016] Furthermore, in the following description, identical identification symbols denote identical configurations, and unnecessary redundant descriptions and descriptions of known technologies are omitted. Additionally, descriptions of each embodiment of the present invention below that overlap with the description of the technology forming the background of the invention are also omitted.

[0017] Hereinafter, a constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger storage according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger storage according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the configuration shown in direction A of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the control flow of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 to 6 are diagrams illustrating the secondary refrigerant flow path of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a constant temperature and high humidity storage system for storing ginger according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to form a first humidity condition (93 to 95% or less) and a first temperature condition (25 ± 0.3℃) for curing damaged ginger when initially storing ginger in a storage tank (1), and to form a second humidity condition (96% or more) and a second temperature condition (12.5 ± 0.3℃) for ginger growth when a certain amount of time has elapsed after the curing step is implemented, and comprises a unit cooler (2) and a heater (3).

[0020] Here, the function of curing damaged ginger during the initial stages of ginger storage is described as follows. That is, ginger is known to have a self-healing function within a relative humidity range of 93–95%. Theoretically, air with 100% relative humidity at 24°C becomes 95% relative humidity when its temperature rises to 25°C, and the relative humidity can be adjusted to 95% by heating the air that has passed through the 24°C unit cooler (2) to 25°C using a heater (3). Experimentally, because there is moisture released by the respiration of ginger, if the unit cooler (2) temperature is set to 21°C and heated to 25°C, the relative humidity does not become 80% but is maintained at approximately 93–95%.

[0021] To perform this function, the unit cooler (2) employed in this embodiment is positioned on the path of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle and communicates fluidly with the internal space (10), thereby enabling cold air at a temperature lower than the temperature of the internal space (10) of the storage tank (1) (e.g. 21°C) to be introduced into the internal space (10).

[0022] The heater (3) is placed in the internal space (10) of the storage tank (1) to selectively raise the temperature of the internal space (10). It is operated in the ON state during the curing stage according to a control command of a control device (6) based on data measured by a temperature sensor (7), thereby raising the temperature of the internal space (10) to, for example, 25°C so that the humidity corresponds to the first humidity condition (range of 93-95%), and in the storage stage after the curing stage, it is turned OFF so that the humidity corresponds to the second humidity condition (96% or higher). At this time, the indoor temperature is set and maintained at 12.5°C.

[0023] A constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger storage according to one embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration can maintain the internal temperature of a storage tank (1) for ginger storage at a constant level by utilizing a unit cooler (2), and can also raise the internal temperature of the storage tank (1) to a temperature and humidity suitable for the curing conditions of ginger by using a heater (3) for a certain period of time, taking into account the increase in humidity caused by the respiration of ginger in the initial stage of ginger storage, and can stop the operation of the heater (3) after curing to create temperature and humidity conditions suitable for maintaining the quality of ginger. By doing so, the quality of the stored ginger can be improved by enhancing the ginger curing effect in the initial stage of storage through the organic combination of the unit cooler (2) and the heater (3) placed in the storage tank (1), and can also be improved by enabling mold inhibition by controlling relative humidity in the ginger storage stage after the curing stage, thereby having the advantage of being able to store ginger of excellent quality for a long time.

[0024] As clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, this embodiment comprises a sensor (7) and a control device (6) for controlling relative humidity through the heater (3). The sensor (7) is responsible for sensing the temperature of the internal space (10) of the storage tank (1), and the control device (6) is responsible for turning the heater (3) ON / OFF based on data transmitted from the sensor (7).

[0025] The unit cooler (2) employed in this embodiment includes a blower fan (22) that is rotatably installed in a case (21) that is fixed in the internal space (10) of the storage tank (1), and this embodiment further includes an installation bracket (4) that is installed in the internal space (10) of the storage tank (1) so that a heater (3) can be positioned in front of the blower fan (22).

[0026] That is, the installation bracket (4) is installed in the internal space (10) so as to be positioned in front of the case (21), and is formed with an open frame structure so as not to obstruct the movement of cold air discharged by the blower fan (22), and the heater (3) is installed across the open portion formed right in front of the blower fan (22) of the installation bracket (4).

[0027] The present embodiment having such a configuration allows cold air to be introduced into the internal space (10) of the storage tank (1) through a blower fan (22) to maintain the internal space (10) at a temperature suitable for storing ginger. By installing a heater (3) on an installation bracket (4) located in front of the blower fan (22), the cold air is directly heated by the heater (3) and introduced into the internal space (10) in a heated state. This configuration allows for a reduction in the operating time of the heater (3) to lower the humidity to a level suitable for ginger curing, thereby increasing energy efficiency and enabling the ginger to be cured quickly.

[0028] The refrigeration cycle employed in this embodiment comprises a first cycle unit (51) that forms a circulation path for a primary refrigerant and a second cycle unit (52) that forms a circulation path for a secondary refrigerant, so as to maintain a constant internal temperature of the storage tank (1) using a secondary refrigerant. Here, the secondary refrigerant exchanges heat with a heat exchanger (514) provided in the first cycle unit (51) and may be brine or a heat transfer fluid.

[0029] In contrast to the comparative example which forms cold air using a primary refrigerant without utilizing a secondary refrigerant, the present embodiment having such a configuration is configured so that cold air is formed through heat exchange between the secondary refrigerant and the primary refrigerant, thereby reducing the temperature difference of the cold air discharged through the unit cooler (2), and thus has the advantage of being able to maintain a relative humidity of 96% or higher during the ginger storage stage where the operation of the heater (3) is not required.

[0030] Meanwhile, below, with reference to FIGS. 4 and FIGS. 5, the functions and advantages exhibited by the configuration adopted in the second cycle unit (52) will be explained in detail.

[0031] The first cycle unit (51) above is composed of a condenser (511), a compressor (512), an expansion valve (513), and a heat exchanger (514) to form a general refrigeration cycle.

[0032] The above second cycle unit (52) is configured such that the storage tank (521), pump (522), first solenoid valve (523), second circulation pipe (527), and second solenoid valve (524) are organically combined to maintain a constant internal temperature of the storage tank (1).

[0033] That is, secondary refrigerant is stored in the storage tank (521), and the pump (522) is installed on the path of the first circulation pipe (525) between the storage tank (521) and the unit cooler (2) and serves to pump the secondary refrigerant stored in the storage tank (521) toward the unit cooler (2).

[0034] The first solenoid valve (523) is provided between the pump (522) and the unit cooler (2) to selectively allow secondary refrigerant to flow into the unit cooler (2) according to the valve opening and closing operation, and the second circulation pipe (527) serves to connect the unit cooler (2) and the heat exchanger (514) so ​​as to allow fluid movement, and the second solenoid valve (524) is provided on the path of the bypass pipe (526) between the first circulation pipe (525) and the second circulation pipe (527) to allow secondary refrigerant to flow into either the first circulation pipe (525) or the bypass pipe (526) according to the valve opening and closing operation.

[0035] In this embodiment having such a configuration, when cooling is required because the temperature of the internal space (10) of the storage tank (1) has not reached a target value, the first solenoid valve (523) is opened and the second solenoid valve (524) is closed based on a control command of the control device (6), as clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, so that the secondary refrigerant flows into the unit cooler (2) side without being diverted to the bypass pipe (526); and when the temperature of the internal space (10) of the storage tank (1) reaches a target value, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 5, the first solenoid valve (523) is closed and the second solenoid valve (524) is opened based on a control command of the control device (6), so that the secondary refrigerant flows into the heat exchanger (514) side through the bypass pipe (526) and the second circulation pipe (527) without flowing into the unit cooler (2), thereby allowing the internal temperature of the storage tank (1) to be maintained at a constant level without significant deviation. And, by suppressing the load generated by the On / Off of the pump (522), the product can be used for a long time.

[0036] In other words, a standard refrigeration unit cools the room by liquefying the refrigerant outdoors and vaporizing it indoors, utilizing the transfer of latent heat resulting from the liquefaction and vaporization. However, since the vaporization of the refrigerant cannot be stopped immediately even after reaching the set temperature, an overshoot phenomenon occurs where the temperature continues to drop. Generally, even when attempting to control the temperature to ±1°C of the target temperature, a phenomenon with an amplitude of approximately 5°C appears, resulting in temperatures that are 4°C lower and 1°C higher than the target temperature. When lowering the temperature of the heat transfer fluid using such a standard refrigeration unit, a large overshoot does not occur due to the specific heat of the heat transfer fluid itself, unlike when in contact with air, but an amplitude of about 3°C ​​is observed. In order to maintain the indoor temperature amplitude within 0.5°C while the temperature of the heat transfer fluid changes by a range of 3°C, a method can be used to circulate the heat transfer fluid by turning the pump (522) on and off and then stopping when the target temperature is reached. However, if the fluid flow is stopped and then resumed, a heavy load is placed on the pump (522), leading to frequent failures.

[0037] However, according to the present embodiment, the secondary refrigerant is configured to be circulated in an appropriate path to meet the target temperature conditions by utilizing the first solenoid valve (523) and the second solenoid valve (524) while maintaining the operation of the pump (522). Thus, when the temperature of the internal space (10) of the storage tank (1) reaches the target temperature, the secondary refrigerant does not flow into the room but flows to the heat exchanger (514) through the bypass pipe (526), ​​thereby preventing failure of the pump (522), which is expected to have an advantage.

[0038] In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, this embodiment has the advantage of minimizing shock due to inertia by opening both solenoid valves (first and second solenoid valves) for 10 seconds during switching, even though there is high resistance when suddenly making fluid flow in a pipe where the secondary refrigerant was not flowing.

[0039] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments and the drawings attached to this specification merely clearly illustrate a part of the technical concept included in the present invention. It is obvious that variations and specific embodiments that can be easily deduced by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the technical concept included in the specification and drawings of the present invention are all included within the scope of the rights of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0040] 1: Storage 10: Internal space 2: Unit Cooler 21: Case 22:Blower fan 3:Heater 4: Installation bracket 51: First cycle unit 511:Condenser 512:Compressor 513: Expansion valve 514: Heat exchanger 52: 2nd Cycle Unit 521: Storage Tank 522: Pump 523: First solenoid valve 524: 2nd solenoid valve 525: 1st circulation pipe 526: Bypass 527: 2nd Circular Road 6: Control unit 7: Sensor

Claims

Claim 1 A unit cooler positioned along the path of a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle and communicating fluidly with the internal space, so as to be able to introduce cold air at a temperature lower than the internal space of the storage facility into the internal space, wherein, in the initial stage of storing ginger in the storage facility, first humidity conditions and first temperature conditions are formed for curing damaged ginger, and at a point in time after a certain period has elapsed since the implementation of the curing stage, second humidity conditions and second temperature conditions are formed for ginger growth; A constant temperature, high humidity storage for ginger storage, comprising: a heater disposed in the internal space of the storage unit to selectively raise the temperature of the internal space, which operates in an ON state during the curing stage to raise the temperature of the internal space so that the humidity corresponds to the first humidity condition, and in the growth stage after the curing stage, turns OFF so that the humidity corresponds to the second humidity condition; wherein the unit cooler comprises a blower fan rotatably installed in a case fixed to the internal space of the storage unit, and further comprises an installation bracket installed in the internal space to be positioned in front of the case, having an open frame structure so as not to obstruct the movement of cold air discharged by the blower fan, wherein the heater is installed across an open portion formed immediately in front of the blower fan of the installation bracket, wherein the installation bracket is disposed spaced apart from the blower fan to form a gap in front of the blower fan, and the heater is formed in a multi-stage structure forming a gap in the open portion, and wherein the movement of cold air is possible through the gap. System. Claim 2 A constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger storage according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensor for sensing the temperature of the internal space of the storage facility; and a control device for turning the heater ON / OFF based on data transmitted from the sensor. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 A constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger storage according to claim 2, wherein the refrigeration cycle comprises a first cycle unit that forms a circulation path of a primary refrigerant to reduce the temperature difference of the cold air discharged through the unit cooler, and a second cycle unit that forms a circulation path of a secondary refrigerant that exchanges heat with the heat exchanger of the first cycle unit. Claim 5 In paragraph 4, the first cycle unit comprises a condenser, a compressor, an expansion valve, and the heat exchanger, and the second cycle unit comprises: a storage tank in which a secondary refrigerant is stored; a pump installed on a first circulation pipe path between the storage tank and the unit cooler for pumping the secondary refrigerant stored in the storage tank toward the unit cooler; a first solenoid valve provided between the pump and the unit cooler; and a second circulation pipe connecting the unit cooler and the heat exchanger in a fluidly movable manner. A constant temperature and high humidity storage system for ginger storage, comprising: a second solenoid valve provided on a bypass pipe path between the first circulation pipe and the second circulation pipe; wherein, when the temperature of the internal space of the storage tank does not reach a target value and cooling is required, the first solenoid valve is opened and the second solenoid valve is closed based on a control command of the control device so that the secondary refrigerant flows into the unit cooler side without being bypassed to the bypass pipe side, and when the temperature of the internal space of the storage tank reaches a target value, the first solenoid valve is closed and the second solenoid valve is opened based on a control command of the control device so that the secondary refrigerant flows into the heat exchanger side through the bypass pipe and the second circulation pipe without flowing into the unit cooler side.

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