Refrigerating device for preparing frozen drink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerating devices for frozen drinks require frequent compressor start-ups, leading to reduced service life and increased energy consumption, while also prolonging refrigeration time and complicating control systems, affecting the taste and efficiency of frozen drink production.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerating device with a pre-refrigeration unit and a main-refrigeration unit, utilizing a refrigeration system with evaporators and cool storage material units connected via heat pipes to efficiently pre-cool and further cool raw materials, reducing compressor frequency and enhancing energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the raw material is refrigerated to form the frozen drink in one step via the evaporator, then the frozen drink can be prepared, but the compressor is demanded to start and stop frequently, which influences service life of the compressor and adds energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration process is divided into two independent stages: a pre-refrigeration unit that pre-cools the raw material to a first temperature, and a main-refrigeration unit that further cools it to a second temperature. This segmentation allows the compressor to operate continuously at a stable state rather than frequent start-stop cycles, thereby extending compressor service life while maintaining production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-refrigeration unit performs preliminary cooling of the raw material before it enters the main-refrigeration unit. By pre-cooling the raw material in advance, the main-refrigeration unit requires less intensive cooling, allowing the compressor to operate more efficiently and continuously without frequent start-stop cycles, thus improving reliability.
2Productivity
If the raw material is refrigerated to form the frozen drink in one step via the evaporator, then the frozen drink can be prepared, but time for refrigeration is long, which influences a taste of the frozen drinks
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration system is segmented into a pre-refrigeration unit and a main-refrigeration unit operating in sequence. The pre-refrigeration unit quickly removes the majority of heat from the raw material, and the main-refrigeration unit completes the freezing process. This two-stage approach significantly reduces total refrigeration time compared to single-step refrigeration, thereby improving productivity and preserving taste quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-refrigeration unit performs preliminary cooling before the main freezing process. By removing a significant portion of the thermal load in advance, the subsequent freezing process in the main-refrigeration unit is accelerated, reducing overall refrigeration time and improving both productivity and product quality.
3Productivity
If the raw material is refrigerated to form the frozen drink in one step via the evaporator, then the frozen drink can be prepared, but the control of the refrigerating device is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into two independent control units: one for the pre-refrigeration unit and another for the main-refrigeration unit. Each control unit independently manages its respective stage, simplifying the overall control logic compared to managing a single complex one-step process. This segmentation makes the control system more manageable and easier to optimize for each specific stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-refrigeration unit performs preliminary cooling with its own independent control, preparing the raw material before it enters the main-refrigeration unit. This preliminary action with separate control simplifies the main freezing stage's control requirements, as the incoming material is already pre-cooled, reducing the complexity of temperature management in the final freezing process.
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 device achieves high refrigeration efficiency with low energy consumption, reducing compressor wear and tear, shortening refrigeration time, and improving the taste and quality of frozen drinks by optimizing the cooling process.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporator cool storage material unit is in communication with the pre-refrigeration cool storage material unit via a first heat pipe so that the first heat pipe transfers the refrigerating capacity of the evaporator cool storage material unit to the pre-refrigeration cool storage material unit
Implementation Method 2
the evaporator cool storage material unit is in communication with the main cool storage material unit via a second heat pipe so that the second heat pipe transfers the refrigerating capacity of the evaporator cool storage material unit to the main-refrigeration cool storage material unit
Implementation Method 3
The refrigeration system includes an evaporator, the cool storage material unit includes an evaporator cool storage material unit covering the evaporator
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A refrigerating device used to reduce a temperature of drinks is provided and a higher refrigerating efficiency can be obtained through a control method and a control system thereof. The refrigerating device includes a pre-refrigeration unit (1) used to pre-refrigerate a raw material; a main-refrigeration unit (2) in communication with the pre-refrigeration unit (4) and used to accommodate the pre-refrigerated raw material and refrigerate the raw material further; a dispenser (3) in communication with the main-refrigeration unit (2) and used to dispense the frozen drink in the main-refrigeration unit; and a refrigeration system (4) providing a refrigerating capacity to the pre-refrigeration unit (1) and the main-refrigeration unit (2).