Modular Heat Exchange Machine with Segmented Scraper Blades
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchange machines for products, such as foods and sludge, face challenges including variable residence time due to uneven chamber dimensions, limited capacity, product adherence to walls, and difficulty in heat transmission, as well as inflexible modular assembly and incomplete scraping of thermally conditioned walls.
Innovation Solution
A modular heat exchange machine with a vat and rotating shaft, featuring adjustable separators and scraper blades to maximize the ratio of heated surface to volume, allowing for flexible configuration and effective cleaning and mixing of products, including U-shaped structures with inner and outer scraper blades for thorough product handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the ratio between heated surface and volume is maximized to simulate traditional cooking, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the vat capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple independent elements (first element, second element, third element) that can be individually positioned along the vat. This segmentation allows the heated surface area to be maximized without requiring a single large-volume chamber, thereby maintaining high heat transfer efficiency while accommodating appropriate vat capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional single-chamber design to a multi-element vertical arrangement along the vat axis. By distributing heating elements along the length of the vat rather than using a single large horizontal chamber, the system achieves high surface-to-volume ratio while maintaining adequate processing capacity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If scraper blades are used to prevent product adherence, then heat transmission is improved, but the scraper blades wear out and require maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper blades are designed to be automatically replaceable by the operator without requiring specialized tools or complex disassembly. The simple attachment mechanism allows operators to quickly remove worn blades and install new ones during routine maintenance, making the repair process self-service oriented and minimizing downtime.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the machine is designed as a modular assembly with multiple elements, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into discrete modular elements (first element, second element, third element) that can be independently positioned and configured along the vat. Each element functions as an independent module, allowing flexible arrangement to meet different processing requirements while maintaining relatively simple individual component designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple heating elements are designed with uniform, standardized structures that can serve the same heating function at different positions along the vat. This universality allows the same component design to be repeated multiple times, reducing the complexity of designing and manufacturing different specialized parts while maintaining modular flexibility.
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 effectively simulates traditional cooking by optimizing heat transfer and surface-to-volume ratio, ensuring thorough product treatment and efficient heat exchange processes, including heating, cooling, and drying, while allowing for modular expansion and complete scraping of surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a first element (6), a second element (6) and a third element (6), which are elements for heating or cooling the product
Implementation Method 2
Said scraper blade will be located tightly between two elements in order to scrape the surface of the elements and thus detach the adhered product
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a machine for heat exchange with a product comprising a vat (1), with a first end (2), a second end (3) and an outer surface (4), for containing the product to be treated, a shaft (5), at least one element (6) for heating or cooling a product and for being coupled in the shaft (5) and at least one scraper blade (7, 8). The machine for heat exchange with a product additionally comprises a plurality of separators (9) configured to be coupled in the shaft (5), at least one separator (9) being located between two contiguous elements (6). Between two contiguous elements (6) there may be located inner scraper blades (7) anchored in structures (18) fixed to the shaft (5) of the machine at their ends, which in their rotation movement will scrape the outer surfaces of the elements (6) and separators (9). Additionally, outer scraper blades (8) may be arranged between the structures (18) and the vat (1) to scrape the inner surface of said vat (1).