Multipurpose blast chiller with reversible cycle, with high efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multipurpose blast chillers for food have inefficiencies in heating, including suboptimal defrosting systems, limited maximum temperature, high electrical energy consumption, and poor overall efficiency, which restrict their operational range and safety in professional catering settings.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a reversible refrigeration cycle that allows the hot gas to directly enter the evaporator for heating, combined with a secondary energy efficiency line to balance heat exchanges and protect electronic components, enabling efficient heating up to +60°C without electrical resistances and extending the temperature range to +110°C.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a conventional refrigeration cycle is used for heating in multipurpose blast chillers, then the system can provide heating function, but the electrical energy consumption is excessively high due to reliance on electrical heating resistances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional refrigeration cycle by reversing the flow direction of the refrigerant. Instead of the refrigerant flowing from compressor to condenser to evaporator to expansion device, the reversed cycle sends hot gas directly from the compressor to the evaporator (now acting as a heater) and then to the expansion device. This inversion allows the system to provide heating function using the refrigeration cycle itself rather than electrical resistances, dramatically reducing electrical energy consumption while maintaining heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration cycle serves dual purposes: it provides refrigeration during cooling mode and provides heating during heating mode through cycle reversal. The system uses its own refrigerant and compressor to generate heat for the heating function, making the system self-sufficient for both cooling and heating without requiring separate heating elements or external energy sources, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
2Loss of energy
If the refrigeration cycle is reversed for heating, then energy efficiency improves, but the heat exchange balance between condenser and evaporator becomes unbalanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating process into two distinct paths: a primary path where hot gas flows directly from the compressor to the evaporator for rapid heating, and a secondary path where refrigerant flows through the condenser for gradual heat exchange. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for rapid heating response while maintaining overall heat exchange balance, preventing the condenser from becoming overloaded or unbalanced.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the refrigerant flow distribution between the primary and secondary paths based on real-time heating demands and temperature conditions. By making the flow path dynamic rather than fixed, the system can maintain optimal heat exchange balance between the condenser and evaporator while achieving high energy efficiency, adapting to varying operational conditions without becoming unbalanced.
3Temperature
If the maximum temperature is increased beyond conventional limits, then the temperature range for food treatments is expanded, but the electronic components may overheat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary cooling path that acts as an intermediary between the high-temperature heating process and the electronic components. This secondary path allows excess heat to be dissipated through the condenser before the refrigerant returns to the compressor, effectively mediating the temperature differential and protecting electronic components from overheating while still allowing the evaporator to reach high temperatures for expanded food treatment capabilities.
4Temperature
If a hybrid heating system with hot gas and electrical resistances is used, then the temperature range is extended to +110°C, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the refrigeration cycle universally applicable for multiple functions: refrigeration, defrosting, and heating across an extended temperature range. By enabling the same cycle to serve multiple purposes through reversible operation and strategic use of electrical resistances only when necessary (for temperatures above +60°C), the system achieves multi-functionality without proportionally increasing complexity. The electrical resistances serve as a supplemental universal heating element rather than a dedicated separate system.
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 enhances energy efficiency, reduces electrical energy consumption, and expands the temperature range for food treatments, providing a hybrid heating system that automatically defrosts and thaws without electrical input, while protecting electronic components and improving heat exchange homogeneity.
Implementation Method 1
the hot gas leaving the compressor proceeds with opposite flow to enter the evaporator directly and heat the cell without the help of electrical resistances
Implementation Method 2
the gas is deviated to a secondary energy efficiency line suitable for balancing the heat exchanges and protecting the motor of the fans from overheating
Implementation Method 3
said secondary line envelops the motor of the fan with a capillary network in such a way as to protect the electronic components housed inside it
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1d
Figure 2
AI summary
Multipurpose blast chiller (10) for food, provided with a refrigeration circuit of reversible type (100a - 100b) with a differentiated path in the two circulation directions (115, 116), to carry out treatments in the cell (105) with temperature values between -40 °C and +110 °C, with high energy efficiency. A reverse cycle (100b) is provided for heating purposes, where the hot gas leaves the compressor (101) and proceeds with opposite flow (116) with respect to the refrigeration (100a, 115), to enter the evaporator (104) directly and heat the cell (105) without the help of electrical resistances (106) up to a temperature value equal to approximately + 60 °C. Before entering the condenser (102), in the reverse cycle, the gas is deviated to a secondary energy efficiency line (109), suitable for balancing the heat exchanges (102, 104) and protecting the motor (108) of the fans (107) from overheating, enveloping it with capillaries (110).