Sterilization-Pasteurization Device with Heat Pump Circuit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterilization-pasteurization systems for foods face high energy consumption, safety risks, and environmental pollution due to the use of high-temperature agent fluids, which complicates hygiene maintenance and increases operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization-pasteurization device utilizing a cooling circuit with a condenser for heating and an evaporator for cooling, along with a throttle valve, compressor, and a pre-heating chamber, that employs phase changes to manage fluid temperature, supplemented by an optional electrical heater and temperature monitoring system to optimize energy use and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If high-temperature agent fluids are used for heating in pasteurization systems, then heating efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating and cooling circuits into a single integrated system where the condenser from the cooling circuit provides heating functionality. This eliminates the need for separate high-temperature heating equipment, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining heating efficiency through waste heat utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the waste heat from the cooling circuit into a useful heating source through the condenser. The heat that would otherwise be discarded is now utilized for pasteurization, transforming a harmful waste product into a beneficial resource and eliminating the need for additional energy-intensive heating systems.
2Reliability
If high-temperature agent fluids are used for heating, then pasteurization effectiveness is improved, but safety risks and environmental pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates harmful high-temperature agent fluids by using the condenser's controlled phase change process instead. The harmful factor (high-temperature fluids requiring safety measures) is replaced with a controlled thermal process that achieves pasteurization effectiveness without the associated safety risks.
3Ease of operation
If separate heating and cooling equipment is used, then process control is improved, but device complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate heating and cooling functions into a single integrated pasteurization system. The cooling circuit's condenser serves dual purposes: cooling during normal operation and heating during pasteurization. This reduces equipment plurality while maintaining process control through the unified system design.
Solution Approach 2:
The condenser is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a cooling component during refrigeration cycles and as a heating source during pasteurization cycles. This universal component eliminates the need for separate dedicated heating equipment, simplifying the overall system while preserving operational flexibility.
4Temperature
If high-temperature agent fluids are used, then heating capability is improved, but hygiene maintenance and sanitary costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the hygiene maintenance burden associated with high-temperature agent fluid systems by using the condenser's controlled thermal process. The harmful aspect (complex hygiene requirements) is converted into a benefit (simplified sanitation) through the integrated design that eliminates separate heating equipment and fluid handling systems.
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 system achieves low energy loss, enhanced safety, and reduced environmental impact by using phase changes for heating and cooling, while ensuring effective pasteurization and sterilization with reduced operational and sanitary costs.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid is heated and cooled by means of phase changes which occur depending on the operation principles of the cooling circuit
Implementation Method 2
at least one condenser for increasing the heat of the fluid in the heating chamber in said flow line
Implementation Method 3
The fluid is heated and cooled by means of phase changes which occur depending on the operation principles of the cooling circuit
Implementation Method 4
at least one evaporator for absorbing the heat of the fluid in the cooling chamber
Implementation Method 5
at least one compressor for providing circulation of the cooling fluid in said cooling line
Implementation Method 6
at least one throttle valve for keeping the pressure of the cooling fluid in the desired interval between said evaporator and said condenser
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention is at least one sterilization-pasteurization device (1) for sterilizing/pasteurizing a fluid (13) and having at least one heating chamber (30) where the fluid (13) flows through at least one flow line (10) by passing through at least one fluid inlet (11), at least one heater (32) for increasing the heat of the fluid (13) in said heating chamber (30), at least one cooling chamber (20) whereto the fluid (13) flows for absorption of the heat thereof after the fluid (13) passes through the heating chamber (30), at least one fluid outlet (12) where the fluid (13) flows by passing to said cooling chamber (20). An improvement of the present invention is that the subject matter sterilization-pasteurization device (1) comprises at least one condenser (41) for increasing the heat of the fluid (13) in the heating chamber (30) in said flow line (10), at least one evaporator (42) for absorbing the heat of the fluid (13) in the cooling chamber (20), at least one throttle valve (44) for keeping the pressure of the cooling fluid in the desired interval between said evaporator (42) and said condenser (41), at least one cooling line (45) connecting said throttle valve (44), the evaporator (42) and the condenser (41) in between, at least one compressor (43) for providing circulation of the cooling fluid in said cooling line (45).