Pan Chiller Liquid Coolant System for Upper-Lower Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pan chiller systems often overcool the lower portions of food pans, as they lose less heat to the ambient environment, leading to inadequate temperature control between the upper and lower portions.
Innovation Solution
A pan chiller system with hollow divider rails defining separate upper and lower rail flow paths, utilizing a chilled liquid coolant system to maintain different temperature conditions in each path, with a flow control arrangement to regulate coolant flow and maintain distinct temperature conditions in the upper and lower rail flow paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cooling system is used for both upper and lower portions of food pans, then the system structure is simple, but the lower portions are overcooled because they lose less heat to ambient environment
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into separate upper and lower cooling circuits with independent flow control. The upper cooling circuit cools the upper portions of food pans while the lower cooling circuit cools the lower portions, allowing independent temperature control for each region to prevent overcooling of lower portions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different temperature conditions are applied to different regions of the food pan. The lower cooling circuit maintains a higher temperature condition compared to the upper cooling circuit, matching the different heat loss characteristics of upper and lower portions to achieve uniform temperature distribution.
2Manufacturing precision
If different temperature conditions are maintained in upper and lower rail flow paths, then temperature control precision is improved, but the flow control arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control arrangement is segmented into separate control mechanisms for upper and lower cooling circuits. Independent flow control valves or regulators are provided for each circuit, enabling precise control of coolant flow rate and temperature in each path without interfering with the other circuit.
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 solution allows for precise control of cooling, ensuring that the upper and lower portions of food pans are maintained at desired temperatures, preventing overcooling and enhancing food preservation by maintaining a higher temperature in the lower rail flow path compared to the upper path.
Implementation Method 1
an upper rail flow path along a food pan well and in heat exchange relationship with upper portions of multiple food pans; providing a second rail flow path along the food pan well and in heat exchange relationship with lower portions of the multiple food pans
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a chilled liquid coolant system to chill a liquid coolant to a set temperature; delivering the liquid coolant to the upper rail flow path such that a first temperature condition is maintained along the upper rail flow path; delivering the liquid coolant to the lower rail flow path such that a second temperature condition is maintained along the lower rail flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A pan chiller system includes a pan chiller unit having a food well, with a plurality of hollow divider rails arranged within the food well to define at least one opening to receive one or more food pans to be cooled, where the plurality of divider rails define a first rail flow path and a second rail flow path. A chilled liquid coolant system chills liquid coolant and moves the chilled liquid coolant into both the first rail flow path and the second rail flow path. A control arrangement is configured for controlling chilled liquid coolant flow such that a first temperature condition maintained in the first rail flow path is different than a second temperature condition maintained in the second rail flow path.