Closed Food Drying System Humidity Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying systems for elongated food products, such as sausages, face inefficiencies in energy use due to increasing humidity from reused heated air, leading to a less efficient drying process, and the discharge of used heated air is necessary to mitigate this, but results in an energy less efficient process.
Innovation Solution
A closed processing system with a housing, feed and discharge openings, a transport path, airflow generator, conditioner, and detector to control relative humidity by adjusting airflow speed, temperature, and humidity, allowing for constant climate control without air discharge, thereby enhancing energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If heated air is re-used in the drying system, then energy efficiency is improved, but the humidity of the air increases resulting in a less efficient drying process
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a detector to continuously monitor the relative humidity in the process space and feeds this information back to the control system. Based on the detected humidity level, the controller dynamically adjusts the airflow generator and conditioner parameters to maintain optimal drying conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and drying effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static airflow parameters to dynamic adjustment of airflow speed, temperature, and humidity based on real-time humidity detection. This allows the system to adapt to changing conditions within the closed loop, maintaining high drying efficiency while reusing heated air for energy conservation.
2Quantity of substance
If used heated air is discharged from the drying device, then the humidity of the climate is reduced, but the process becomes less energy efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The detector continuously monitors relative humidity and provides feedback to the controller, which adjusts airflow parameters dynamically. This eliminates the need for periodic discharge of humid air while maintaining effective drying conditions, thus preserving energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the reused air (temperature, humidity, flow rate) through the airflow conditioner based on detected humidity levels. This transforms the quality of the air to maintain drying effectiveness without requiring discharge, resolving the contradiction between humidity control and energy efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the climate in the drying device is controlled by re-using heated air, then energy efficiency is improved, but the climate changes slowly resulting in reduced drying efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts airflow parameters based on real-time humidity detection, enabling rapid response to changing conditions. This dynamic control maintains high drying efficiency while continuing to reuse heated air for energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism allows the system to detect humidity changes and immediately adjust airflow parameters accordingly, preventing the slow climate change problem. This maintains both energy efficiency and high drying productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system maintains optimal process conditions with reduced need for air discharge, achieving a more energy-efficient drying process by dynamically controlling airflow parameters based on detected humidity, ensuring prolonged constant climate and improved drying efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one airflow generator for generating an airflow in the process space
Implementation Method 2
at least one airflow conditioner for conditioning the generated airflow
Implementation Method 3
conditioning the generated airflow based on the detected relative humidity
Implementation Method 4
at least one detector for detecting process conditions in the process space, wherein the detected process conditions comprise at least the relative humidity
Implementation Method 5
the system is arranged to control the process conditions by adjusting the at least one airflow generator and/or at least one airflow conditioner based on the detected relative humidity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a closed processing system for treating elongated food products comprising a housing bounding a process space, a transport path for displacing the elongated food products through the process space, at least one airflow generator for generating an airflow in the process space, at least one airflow conditioner for conditioning the generated airflow, and at least one detector for detecting process conditions in the process space, wherein the detected process conditions include at least the relative humidity and wherein the system is arranged to control the process conditions by adjusting the at least one airflow generator and/or at least one airflow conditioner based on the detected relative humidity. The present invention further relates to a method for treating elongated food products.