Refrigerant Cycle Inversion for Milk Pasteurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for preparing refrigerated products like ice-creams are unable to efficiently produce milk-based ice-creams from basic ingredients and lack control over product characteristics, with known solutions being incomplete and not economically viable.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a pasteurization cycle for milk in a containment tank, where the refrigerant cycle of the cooling device is inverted to heat the milk to an ideal pasteurization temperature, followed by a reversal to cool it for adding additional ingredients, controlled through a touch screen interface for optimal product preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling device is used to prepare refrigerated products, then the product can be cooled to the appropriate temperature, but the device cannot heat the milk to pasteurization temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by reversing the refrigerant cycle of the cooling device to enable heating function. The refrigeration cycle is inverted so that the evaporator becomes a heater, allowing the milk to be heated to pasteurization temperature (typically 63-72°C) using the existing cooling device's refrigerant system, thus eliminating the need for a separate heating device.
2Reliability
If a separate heating device is added for pasteurization, then milk can be pasteurized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the multi-functionality principle by enabling the cooling device to perform both cooling and heating functions. The refrigeration system is designed to operate in reverse mode for heating during pasteurization, and then return to normal cooling mode for product preparation, thus one device serves multiple purposes and no additional heating equipment is needed.
3Temperature
If the refrigerant cycle is inverted for heating, then pasteurization can be achieved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the energy recovery principle by utilizing the refrigerant's thermal energy during cycle inversion. Instead of discarding the energy required to reverse the refrigerant cycle, the system recovers and uses this energy for the pasteurization process, heating the milk efficiently. After pasteurization, the cycle returns to normal cooling mode, and the system prepares the next batch, thereby recovering and reusing thermal energy throughout the operation.
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
Enables the production of milk-based ice-creams with controlled characteristics, ensuring product quality and versatility, while maintaining a simple, reliable, and cost-effective apparatus design.
Implementation Method 1
the inversion of the refrigerant cycle provided by the apparatus for preparing the refrigerated products
Implementation Method 2
the inversion of the refrigerant cycle of the cooling device is again performed for cooling the pasteurized milk
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The process for preparing refrigerated products provides to activate by means of the cooling device (4) of the apparatus a pasteurization cycle of milk introduced in the containment tank (2) for the product, by setting the value of ideal pasteurization temperature (Tp). Upon reaching the pasteurization temperature (Tp), the inversion of the refrigerant cycle is activated for cooling the pasteurized milk, until the ideal temperature (Tad) for adding the additional ingredients.