Machine and method for processing liquid or semi liquid food products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machines for thermally processing liquid or semi-liquid food products are inefficient and noisy due to constant high rotation speeds of fans, which leads to high energy consumption and reduced cooling performance in varying ambient temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A machine with a control unit that adjusts the rotation speed of the fan based on ambient conditions, using a temperature sensor to generate a speed signal that optimizes fan speed, reducing noise and energy consumption while maintaining efficient cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the fan rotates at constant high speed to ensure cooling performance at maximum ambient temperature, then the cooling performance is maintained, but noise and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fan speed is changed from constant to variable, allowing it to adapt dynamically to ambient temperature conditions. The control unit adjusts fan rotation speed based on real-time temperature sensor readings, enabling the system to maintain optimal cooling performance while consuming less energy when high-speed cooling is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation speed parameter of the fan is made variable rather than fixed. By changing the fan speed parameter according to ambient temperature conditions, the system achieves efficient cooling when needed while reducing energy consumption during milder conditions, directly resolving the contradiction between maintaining cooling performance and reducing energy use.
2Temperature
If the fan rotates at constant high speed to ensure cooling performance at maximum ambient temperature, then the cooling performance is maintained, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan operates dynamically with variable speed rather than constant high speed. The control unit modulates fan rotation based on actual cooling needs determined by temperature sensors, thereby maintaining cooling effectiveness while significantly reducing noise generation during periods when maximum cooling capacity is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation speed parameter of the fan is adjusted according to ambient temperature conditions. By varying this parameter, the system maintains adequate cooling performance while minimizing noise output, as the fan only operates at high speed when actually needed for heat dissipation.
3Power
If the fan speed is increased to improve heat exchange efficiency in the condenser, then the cooling capacity is enhanced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors provide continuous feedback to the control unit about ambient conditions and system performance. Based on this feedback, the control unit intelligently adjusts fan speed to optimize the balance between cooling capacity and energy consumption, ensuring the fan operates at the minimum necessary speed to achieve required heat exchange efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan speed is made dynamic and responsive to actual system needs rather than operating at fixed high speed. This allows the system to achieve adequate cooling capacity through variable speed operation, consuming energy only when and to the extent necessary for effective heat rejection at the condenser.
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 machine operates efficiently under varying ambient conditions, reducing noise and energy consumption while maintaining effective cooling performance by dynamically adjusting fan speed according to temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator which extracts heat from the product to be dispensed and transfers the heat to the refrigerant fluid
Implementation Method 2
a condenser which extracts heat therefrom by exchanging it with the ambient surroundings
Implementation Method 3
increasing the air flow in the condenser enables air that has already exchanged heat to be replaced with 'fresh' air at a lower temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for processing liquid or semi-liquid food products including a containing element for containing the product to be dispensed; a stirrer for stirring the product to be dispensed; a heat exchanger fluid flowing in a circuit in a direction of circulation through an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and a pressure reducing element; a fan rotating about an axis of rotation to force an air flow towards the condenser; a control unit connected to the fan to control the fan through a speed signal; a temperature sensor, located downstream of the condenser in the circulation direction to detect a condensation temperature and configured to send to the control unit a temperature signal as a function of which the control unit generates the speed signal.