Cryogenic Powder Cooling with Thermal Mass Synchronized Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic treatment systems for fine powders face challenges such as inefficient cooling capacity due to pumps, health risks from powder clogging, and difficulty in achieving precise temperature control, especially for high-throughput and varying temperature conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a vibrating support with two independently controllable cryogenic liquid inflows, where the first precools the support and the second sprays cryogenic liquid on the powders, coupled with real-time thermal mass determination and control systems to maintain precise temperature control and prevent adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a pump is used to circulate cryogenic liquid in a closed circuit, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the system complexity increases and the pump becomes a vulnerable element that limits cooling capacity at high throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the pump from the cryogenic liquid circulation system. Instead of using a pump to circulate liquid nitrogen, the system allows the cryogenic liquid to flow naturally or use passive circulation methods, eliminating the vulnerable pumping component that limited cooling capacity and increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service circulation of cryogenic liquid without mechanical pumping. The cryogenic liquid naturally circulates through the system using density differences, gravity, or thermal convection, allowing the system to maintain cooling capacity without the limitations imposed by pump capacity.
2Productivity
If a closed circuit system with pump is used for cryogenic treatment, then cooling efficiency is improved, but health risks increase due to powder clogging in the circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the closed circuit configuration that caused powder clogging. By opening the system or using a different flow path that doesn't require fine screens and pumps, fine powders can be treated without the risk of clogging, eliminating the health hazard while maintaining cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vibrating support as an intermediary element between the cryogenic liquid and the powder. This vibrating support prevents powder adhesion to surfaces and ensures continuous flow without clogging, allowing efficient cooling of fine powders without the health risks associated with closed circuit systems.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If cryogenic liquid is sprayed on the support, then powder adhesion is prevented, but temperature control precision becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the cryogenic liquid application into two independent systems: one for adhesion prevention (spraying on the support) and another for temperature control (spraying on the powder). This segmentation allows each function to be optimized independently, maintaining both adhesion prevention and temperature control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies cryogenic liquid with different characteristics to different locations: the support receives spray for adhesion prevention, while the powder receives controlled spray for temperature regulation. This local quality approach ensures that each area receives the appropriate amount and type of cryogenic liquid for its specific function.
4Stability of the object's composition
If excessive cryogenic liquid is used for cooling, then powder crystallization is ensured, but energy consumption increases and water vapour condensation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements feedback control where the amount of cryogenic liquid sprayed on the powder is adjusted based on real-time monitoring of powder temperature and crystallization progress. This feedback mechanism ensures that only the necessary amount of cryogenic liquid is used to achieve crystallization, preventing energy waste and avoiding water vapour condensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies partial action by using just enough cryogenic liquid to achieve the required crystallization without excessive cooling. The controlled spray system delivers the minimum necessary amount of cryogenic liquid to stabilize the powder structure, avoiding the energy consumption and condensation problems associated with over-cooling.
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
This approach ensures efficient and precise cooling of fine powders, preventing caking and achieving accurate temperature control, reducing energy consumption and health risks while maintaining product quality.
Implementation Method 1
the first spraying cryogenic liquid on the support upstream of a point where the powder is deposited on the support
Implementation Method 2
precools the support
Implementation Method 3
the second consisting of the use of at least one jet for spraying cryogenic liquid on the powders along their route in the tunnel
Implementation Method 4
ensures efficient and precise cooling of fine powders
Implementation Method 5
cooling tunnels with 'vibrating supports' can offer an advantageous solution to the technical problems listed above
Implementation Method 6
the thermal mass of powder entering the equipment is determined
Implementation Method 7
real-time thermal mass determination and control systems to maintain precise temperature control
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for cooling a powder in a tunnel with a vibrating support with at least two independently controllable cryogenic liquid inflows into the tunnel. It includes the following steps. A thermal mass of powder entering the tunnel is determined. The arrival of the powder at the tunnel inlet is detected. The thermal mass measurement previously obtained is synchronized with the detection of the arrival of the powder at the tunnel inlet, according to a known or predefined response time of the means for controlling the said cryogenic liquid inflows into the tunnel. The synchronization data is transmitted to a data acquisition and processing unit, which is able to retroact, if necessary, on the basis of this data, on all or part of the parameters governing the operation of the tunnel. The method is especially applicable to the cooling or deep-freezing treatments of food products or chemicals.