An apparatus for providing energy savings and reducing drying process duration by using ultrasonic sound waves in a drying cabinet of a drying machine for food products, industrial products, or laundry

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing energy savings and reducing drying process duration by using ultrasonic sound waves in a drying cabinet of a drying machine for food products, industrial products, or laundry, wherein said apparatus is suitable for use in all sectors employing a drying system, including food drying applications (nuts, legumes, fruits, and vegetables), industrial product drying applications (wood, timber), and particularly laundry drying applications.

Description

[0001] AN APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ENERGY SAVINGS AND REDUCING DRYING PROCESS DURATION BY USING ULTRASONIC SOUND WAVES IN A DRYING CABINET OF A DRYING MACHINE FOR FOOD PRODUCTS, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, OR LAUNDRY

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing energy savings and reducing drying process duration by using ultrasonic sound waves in a drying cabinet of a drying machine for food products, industrial products, or laundry, wherein said apparatus is suitable for use in all sectors employing a drying system, including food drying applications (nuts, legumes, fruits, and vegetables), industrial product drying applications (wood, timber), and particularly laundry drying applications.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] In the prior art, various drying methods are known, including drying by hot air circulation, vacuum drying, freeze drying of the liquid-phase water contained in the product, and microwave drying.

[0006] Drying by Hot Air Circulation: Due to its technological simplicity, this method is widely used in industrial applications, wherein conditioned air (at a thermodynamically controlled temperature and humidity) is directed onto the products to be dried. The conditioned air is typically passed over an electric resistance heater to achieve a certain temperature and humidity level. The main drawback of this method lies in the relatively low efficiency of heat transfer, even when cogeneration systems are employed. In simple terms, the principal disadvantage of this method is the discharge of a significant portion of the heat supplied to the air to a heat sink, such as the atmosphere or water. Consequently, a large portion of the energy consumed remains unused, and the method is therefore regarded as having low efficiency.

[0007] Vacuum Drying: Vacuum drying is a technically more complex drying method. In this method, the products are placed within a high-strength tank, and the internal pressure of the tank is substantially reduced. As a result, a boiling temperature at which the liquid-phasewater contained in the products transitions to the vapor phase is lowered. Compared to hot air drying, the products can be dried to a desired moisture content using air circulation at a relatively lower temperature. However, in this method, the equipment required to establish a vacuum environment involves high initial investment costs, and the vacuum pump used to sustain negative pressure continuously imposes a significant energy load on the system.

[0008] Freeze Drying: Freeze drying requires advanced technology and high investment costs. It is primarily used for drying food products. In this method, the products are first frozen so that the liquid-phase water contained therein transitions to the solid phase. The frozen products are then transferred to a vacuum environment, where, under low pressure, the solid-phase water sublimates directly into the vapor phase without undergoing a liquidphase transition. The vapor-phase water is subsequently removed from the environment. The disadvantages of this method include its limited applicability to specific products and its high cost.

[0009] Microwave Drying: Microwave drying operates on the same basic principle as a microwave oven. This method is also associated with high initial investment and operating costs. According to the microwave drying, the products to be dried are placed within an electromagnetic field, and microwave radiation is directed directly onto the products. However, the potential adverse effects of this method on human health have also been the subject of discussion.

[0010] The disadvantages associated with the existing methods in the prior art demonstrate the need for new and economical alternatives, particularly in view of the growing requirement for effective and efficient energy utilization.

[0011] Description of the Invention

[0012] In the present description, the apparatus for providing energy savings and reducing drying process duration by using ultrasonic sound waves in a drying cabinet of a drying machine for food products, industrial products, or laundry is provided solely for facilitating a clearer understanding of the subject matter, without any intention to impose a limiting effect.

[0013] The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing energy savings and reducing drying process duration by using ultrasonic sound waves in a drying cabinet of a dryingmachine for food products, industrial products, or laundry, the apparatus satisfying the aforementioned requirements, eliminating existing disadvantages, and providing additional advantages.

[0014] The primary object of the invention is to reduce the drying process duration and provide energy savings by using an ultrasonic sound wave apparatus in a drying cabinet of a drying machine in all sectors employing a drying systems.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to reduce the drying process duration and provide energy savings by using ultrasonic sound waves in a drying cabinet of a drying machine for food products, industrial products, or laundry, wherein said apparatus is suitable for use in food drying applications (nuts, legumes, fruits, and vegetables), industrial product drying applications (wood, timber), and particularly laundry drying applications.

[0016] The invention provides an apparatus for providing energy savings and reducing drying process duration by using ultrasonic sound waves in a drying cabinet of a drying machine for industrial products or laundry, wherein said apparatus is suitable for use in all sectors employing a drying system.

[0017] Most preferably, the invention provides an apparatus for providing energy savings and reducing drying process duration by using ultrasonic sound waves in a drying cabinet of a drying machine for food products, industrial products, or laundry, wherein said apparatus is suitable for use in food drying applications (nuts, legumes, fruits, and vegetables), industrial product drying applications (wood, timber), and particularly laundry drying applications.

[0018] When incorporated into existing drying systems at low cost, the invention, referred to as the “Ultrasonic Drying Support Unit,” provides energy and time savings. The invention employs components that generate ultrasonic sound waves without posing any risk to human health. These components are cost-effective and have a long service life. Although its geometry may vary depending on the type of product to be dried and the drying device used, a perforated stainless-steel tube is typically placed inside the drying cabinet, together with ultrasonic wave-generating components fixed therein.A frequency and wavelength of the ultrasonic sound waves are selected according to the type of product to be dried. Parameters including the frequency, wavelength, and power of the ultrasonic sound waves are adjusted by means of a circuit board.

[0019] The invention comprises an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic generator power supply module, and a perforated stainless-steel tube, wherein an operating principle thereof is described below.

[0020] • Ultrasonic Transducer: Within the scope of the invention, ultrasonic transducers with varying power levels are used for drying different products. Electrical energy in the form of direct current supplied from the power source is converted by the ultrasonic transducer into wave energy at ultrasonic frequencies. These ultrasonic waves interact with the liquid-phase water molecules contained in the products to be dried, rapidly increasing their energy. As a result of this energy increase, the water molecules transition rapidly into the vapor phase without an accompanying increase in temperature.

[0021] • Ultrasonic Generator Power Supply Module: Within the scope of the invention, the varying power levels of the ultrasonic waves generated for drying different products are regulated by the ultrasonic generator power supply module.

[0022] • Perforated Stainless-Steel Tube: Within the scope of the invention, the perforated stainless-steel tube is used to position the ultrasonic transducer elements within the drying cabinet. The tube may have a cylindrical or square cross-section and is perforated to allow ultrasonic waves to be transmitted to the products without attenuation. In addition, liquid-phase water passing through the perforations and potentially reaching the ultrasonic transducer due to gravity is caused to rapidly transition into the vapor phase.

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of the apparatus for providing energy savings and reducing drying process duration by using ultrasonic sound waves in the drying cabinet of the drying machine for food products, industrial products, or laundry, wherein an ultrasonic transducer element (buzzer) (1) of the ultrasonic transducer element is formed as a thin cylinder having an outer diameter of 22 mm. The silicone buzzer holder illustrated in Figure 2 (Figure 1 (2)), the perforated stainless-steel tube illustrated in Figure 3 (Figure 1 (3)), the holder illustrated in Figure 4 (Figure 1 (4)), the seal illustrated in Figure 5 (Figure 1 (5)), the seal illustrated in Figure 6 (Figure 1 (6)), the reverse-threaded intermediate elementillustrated in Figure 7 (Figure 1 (7)), and the flange illustrated in Figure 8 (Figure 1 (8)) together constitute the components of the apparatus.

[0024] In the manufacture of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the ultrasonic transducers (1) are first positioned and fixed within the perforated stainless-steel tube (3), thereby forming the main body of the ultrasonic drying support unit. Subsequently, the connection cables of the ultrasonic transducers are routed through the tube toward a rear portion of the drying machine and connected to the ultrasonic generator power supply module (2). The ultrasonic drying support unit thus obtained is positioned coaxially with a drum of the drying machine to support the drying process.

[0025] The apparatus for providing energy savings and reducing drying process duration by using ultrasonic sound waves in a drying cabinet of a drying machine for food products, industrial products, or laundry can be mounted onto existing drying machines to support the drying process. Accordingly, once the products are placed in the drying machine, the apparatus operates actively during the drying process. In terms of timing, power is supplied to the ultrasonic transducers to activate ultrasonic sound frequencies only when the drying machine directs hot air onto the products. The temperature and moisture content of the products to be dried do not have any effect that would positively or negatively influence the operation of the apparatus.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for providing energy savings and reducing drying process duration by using ultrasonic sound waves in a drying cabinet of a drying machine for food products, industrial products, or laundry, said apparatus being suitable for use in all sectors employing a drying system, including food drying applications, industrial product drying applications, and particularly laundry drying applications, characterized in that the apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic generator power supply module, and a perforated stainless-steel tube.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus is manufactured by assembling an ultrasonic transducer element (buzzer), a silicone buzzer holder, a perforated stainless-steel tube, a holder, a seal, a reverse-threaded intermediate element, and a flange.

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