Vacuum-Pressure Spray-Drying Apparatus for Heat-Sensitive Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum-pressure spray-drying methods face challenges in efficiently drying and powdering liquid raw materials susceptible to heat denaturation, such as food and medicine materials, due to issues with heat transfer efficiency, apparatus size, and difficulty in achieving high-volume production while maintaining low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum-pressure spray-drying method and apparatus that simultaneously sprays superheated water vapor and liquid raw material through a spray nozzle into a reduced-pressure environment, allowing for efficient atomization and heat exchange to dry and powder the material quickly, while minimizing heat transfer inefficiencies and apparatus size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a depressurized superheated vapor is introduced into the drying apparatus main body kept at reduced pressure, then the object to be dried is dried by heat exchange with the vapor, but the apparatus size is increased to ensure a large evaporating heating surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a spray nozzle to atomize liquid raw material into fine droplets and introduces superheated water vapor through the same nozzle. The atomized droplets are carried by the vapor current directly onto the heating surface, eliminating the need for large evaporating heating surfaces while maintaining efficient heat exchange. This pneumatic-hydraulic approach allows compact apparatus design.
2Productivity
If fluidized particles are used to form a fluidized state, then the object to be dried is dried efficiently, but the method is inappropriate for drying and powdering liquid raw materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spray nozzle to atomize liquid raw material into fine droplets and uses superheated water vapor as both the heating medium and the transporting fluid. The atomized droplets are carried by the vapor current through the drying chamber, achieving efficient drying and simultaneous powdering without requiring fluidized particles. This approach is specifically adapted for liquid raw materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to vapor through evaporation of the solvent in the atomized droplets. The superheated water vapor provides latent heat during condensation to dry the liquid raw material, while the phase change enables the material to transition from liquid droplets to powder particles, making it suitable for liquid raw materials.
3Device complexity
If heating means is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the vacuum chamber, then the structure is simple, but heat transfer efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces superheated water vapor as an intermediary heat transfer medium. Instead of direct contact between the heating means and the liquid raw material, the superheated vapor acts as a mediator that carries heat from the heating surface to the atomized droplets through convection and latent heat release during condensation, significantly improving heat transfer efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity.
4Temperature
If compressed air is sprayed into the drying tower, then the atomized fermented milk is dried, but it is difficult to blow off the fermented milk powder produced by drying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses superheated water vapor as both the heating medium and the transporting fluid. The vapor current created by introducing superheated vapor through the spray nozzle provides sufficient kinetic energy and upward flow to carry the produced powder particles out of the drying chamber, effectively solving the problem of powder removal while maintaining low drying temperatures.
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 method enables efficient drying and powdering of heat-sensitive materials at low temperatures, reducing the load on vacuum pumps and allowing for high-volume production without heat denaturation, while preventing adhesion to the apparatus walls.
Implementation Method 1
simultaneously sprays the superheated water vapor supplied from the superheated water vapor supplying means and the liquid raw material supplied from the liquid raw material supplying means through the spray nozzle into the apparatus main body so as to atomize the liquid raw material in the apparatus main body
Implementation Method 2
subjecting an atomized raw material, which is produced by atomizing the liquid raw material, to heat exchange with the superheated water vapor, to thereby dry and powder the liquid raw material
Implementation Method 3
the liquid raw material is atomized and changed into an atomized raw material in the apparatus main body, and then the produced atomize draw material is subjected to heat exchange with the superheated water vapor at reduced pressure, thus the liquid raw material is dried and powdered
Implementation Method 4
cooling means for cooling the superheated water vapor and a vapor resulting from volatilization of the liquid raw material being discharged from the apparatus main body, and then collecting, as condensed water
Implementation Method 5
pressure reducing means for keeping an inside of the apparatus main body at the reduced pressure through the cooling means
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a novel vacuum-pressure spray-drying method and a novel vacuum-pressure spray-drying apparatus suitable for drying and powdering a liquid raw material containing a substance susceptible to heat denaturation, such as a food raw material and a medicine raw material. The vacuum-pressure spray-drying method and the like include: an apparatus main body, which is kept at reduced pressure and includes a spray nozzle; superheated water vapor supplying means for supplying a superheated water vapor to the spray nozzle; liquid raw material supplying means for supplying a liquid raw material to the spray nozzle; cooling means for cooling the superheated water vapor and a vapor resulting from volatilization of the liquid raw material being discharged from the apparatus main body, and then collecting, as condensed water; pressure reducing means for keeping an inside of the apparatus main body at the reduced pressure through the cooling means; and product collecting means for collecting a powder product produced in the apparatus main body. The vacuum-pressure spray-drying method and the like include: simultaneously spraying the superheated water vapor supplied from the superheated water vapor supplying means and the liquid raw material supplied from the liquid raw material supplying means through the spray nozzle into the apparatus main body so as to atomize the liquid raw material in the apparatus main body; and subjecting an atomized raw material, which is produced by atomizing the liquid raw material, to heat exchange with the superheated water vapor, to thereby dry and powder the liquid raw material.