SI21519A - Drying chamber and drying process - Google Patents

Abstract

The drying chamber and drying process solve the problem of simple, effective and environment-friendly drying of natural fruit and plants by using a simple, compact and adequately sealed drying unit (19), which is integrated into the drying chamber (6) assembly. They can be used either in the individual but also industrial drying processes as an independent unit or a series of interconnected units. The drying unit (10) consists of two vertical perforated walls (15) with a certain spacing in-between featuring openings (25), which are attached to the internal walls of the vertical partitioning wall (14) and enclosure (7). This way they form two lateral empty and separated chambers with corresponding pairs of supply and exhaust channels (12.1, 12.3, or 12.2, 12.4) for the supply and removal of hot air through openings (25) into or from the central area, where a trolley (30) with trays (31) and drying material is located.

Description

ZRS BISTRA Ptuj

Slovenian Square 6

2250 Ptuj

Slovenia

DRYING CHAMBER AND DRYING PROCEDURE

The subject of the invention is a drying chamber and a drying process, preferably drying of natural fruits and plants, with a composition for the laughing of heated air inside the chamber, or more precisely directing and circulation of heated air in closed systems for drying fruits and vegetables and other, including forest fruits and plants.

According to the international patent classification, the invention is classified in F 26B 21/02 and additionally in A23N12 / 08 tervF26B 3/04.

A technical problem solved by the invention is such a drying chamber, in which the preparation of fresh air and directing the heated air inside the drying chamber will allow for isothermal conditions and thus an increased quality of drying, with optimum final humidity of dried fruits, with minimal energy consumption and significantly reduced load the environment with harmful combustion products, while the design of the drying chamber will be compact, solidly sealed and simple \ Tia, and applicable to both individual and industrial methods of drying natural fruits.

There are quite a few devices for drying natural fruits. According to document SI 9600253, a closed fruit drying system is known which solves the problem of the length of the drying process and the high energy consumption. For this purpose, the air flow to the drying unit is limited in dosage by means of an air vent and evaporator regulator. The air is preheated and heated in a special chamber, inside which is installed a wind turbine, which swirls the air, and through the nozzles of the cover, steam is regulated to the environment.

According to document SI 9800094, a wood drying dryer is known, in which the door is provided with a flap, and the drying cell allows the installation of one or more drying frames with vertical and horizontal spacers.

According to document WO 97/17131, a process for hydrothermal curing and drying of CSH molded bodies is known, as well as a device for carrying out the process. The device is made in the form of an autoclave and consists of a steam rail for fresh steam and elements for installing blocks of molded bodies, and heat sources are provided in the area of the side walls. The distance between the mounting elements shall be such that a flow channel is provided for the circulation of steam between the blocks above which at least one upper steam rail is located.

According to DE 201095, a known air purifier, which makes the fruit and vegetables more durable, is known and is produced by district heating. The heating lining is designed as a cabinet with two drawers near the air filter.

DE 219851 discloses a process for convection drying with a heat-controlled desiccant pump for controlled removal of energy. A certain amount of moisture is discharged from the dryer through a certain amount of dried fresh air to produce a metered amount of air thus changed. It is used for drying agricultural and forest fruits.

From SI 20126 and PCT SI99 / 00025, an energy tile is known, which solves the problem of heating domestic hot water by means of solar energy, without classic solar panels, while covering the roof. The system of these roof tiles is connected in a Thelman mode to a heat exchanger located at a higher level to allow thermosyphon circulation and connected to a heat accumulator. The heat transfer from the exchanger to the heat accumulator is via a circulation pump controlled by a differential thermostat via thermistors.

-3 A common feature of all the known known solutions is the high energy consumption for heating the air in the chambers by means of special, conventional heat sources and the free circulation of air through the drying chamber, as well as unwanted and delayed interventions in the drying process, which are the result of uneven distribution of air flow and temperature. differences in drying space. Furthermore, their common feature is also the discharge of harmful combustion products and excess steam into the environment and their usefulness for larger drying capacities in larger, fully dedicated facilities. The problem that remains to be solved is the uneven circulation of heated air through the drying chamber, further the loss of thermal energy and the environmental burden of harmful combustion products, as well as the usability of smaller, convenient drying systems and processes.

According to the invention, the problem is solved by a drying chamber and a drying process that uses a renewable and environmentally friendly energy source for its operation and can be installed inside smaller spaces in existing buildings or new buildings and which is divided into an air preparation and control unit and a drying unit with a directional and dispersive inlet heated air assembly, and having inlet and outlet ducts fitted with flaps for regulating fresh air supply, for controlling the humid air being blown, and for supplying a mixture of fresh and circulating air. The invention will be described in the embodiment and in the drawings illustrating FIG. 1 shows a drying chamber with a schematic view of the energy background; 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drying chamber, in orthogonal view; 3 drying chamber in cross section A-A

In the drying chamber of the invention, the source of renewable heat for heating the water required to heat the air, or to heat the interior of the drying chamber 6, consists of a combination of a classic central heating system and solar tiles 1. The central heating system consists of a hot water boiler 3 and a water heater 2 from which hot water is fed into the heat exchanger 5 and the drying air is heated, which is passed through the radial fan 34 and through the inlet duct 16, the suction duct 20, the pressure duct 21 and through the corresponding pair of inlet ducts 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4 feeds inside the drying chamber 6. In solar tiles 1, water is heated by solar energy. All initial and final solar roof tiles 1 are connected in parallel and flow through one another and are thus also connected to the heat exchanger 4. In solar roof tiles 1, heated water can be used in two ways. In the first mode, it is fed into the heat exchanger 4 and it is used to heat the air, which is fed to the drying chamber 6 via the radial fan 34 and through the channel 16. In the second mode, it can be fed into the boiler 3 and thus reduce fuel consumption up to 50%, preferably using oilseed rape.

In another embodiment, which is not shown, the drying chamber 6 may have its own firebox with an oil burner.

However, for both embodiments described above, several drying chambers 6 may be connected in parallel or in series, using a common energy source to which only the first drying chamber 6 is connected directly. All other drying chambers 6 in a row are warm. they receive air through additional heat exchangers with fans.

The drying chamber 6 consists of a control unit 9 for the preparation and control of heated air and a drying unit 10 for drying fruits or plants which are via the suction duct 20, the pressure duct 21, the distribution chamber 13 and the inlet ducts 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4, interconnected. Each of the inlet ducts 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4 contains at least one unmarked control flap, independently controlled by its own control device and the corresponding program. The control unit 9 and the drying unit 10 are separated spatially by an intermediate vertical partition wall 8, and both are enclosed by a housing 7 which is made in the area of the drying unit 10 by thermal insulation 11, which is equally true of partition wall 8.

Within the drying unit 10, or within its lateral walls of the housing 7, vertical perforated walls 15 are provided at a distance between them, which are slightly offset from the lateral walls of the housing 7 and are welded or otherwise secured to the internal contact surfaces of the housing 7. Perforation vertical walls 15 are made with holes 25 whose size, shape, distance and positioning are arbitrary. Preferably, the holes 25 in the vertical walls 15 are made in several horizontal and parallel series, which follow in a vertical sequence and are spaced apart from each other. Preferably, the pairs of arrays of holes 25 in both vertical walls 15 are positioned at the height of the individual trays 31 on cart 30.

Openings are made into the outer front wall of the housing 7 of the control unit 9. Through these openings, a feed duct 16 for supplying heated air from the heat exchanger 5, a supply pipe 24 for supplying hot water from the boiler 2, a discharge pipe 26 for the return of water to the boiler 2, and a supply pipe 28 and a discharge pipe 29 for inlet or outflow of hot water into or out of the heater 18. λ ^ζ inlet duct 16 a control flap 19 is installed to control the supply of fresh, cold or heated air to the inlet duct 20.

As described above, there is a suction channel 20 in the control unit 9, which is flow-connected to the pressure channel 21 via a fan 17. Inside the suction channel 20, which is also flow-connected to the feed channel 16 and the discharge channel 22, a control flap 27 is inserted to control the amount of intake warm air. A water heater 18 is integrated into the pressure duct 21 for additional heating of the drying air en route through the pressure duct 21. The uniform pressure duct 21 splits into four, slightly narrower divisions, in the area of the distribution chamber 13, which pass through the vertical barrier 14 inside. drying units 10 as inlet ducts 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

Through the partition wall 8, an outlet duct 22 is provided opposite the inlet duct 16 with a control flap 23, which flows into the distribution chamber 13 on one side and into the suction duct 20 on the other.

In the drying unit 10, between the two vertically perforated walls 15, there is an empty space for mounting a trolley 30 with an arbitrary number of trays 31 whose dimensions are determined by the size of the trolley 30 and are spaced apart from each other so as to form intermediate chambers. 35.

The front wall of the drying unit 10 is designed as a door 32, with an observation window 33. The door 32 is of a size and shape appropriate to the size and shape of the trolley 30, their construction is arbitrary, but they must be properly sealed.

As previously described, the drying air for the drying chamber 6 is heated in a heat exchanger 5 in which hot water circulates in a conventional central heating system consisting of a boiler 3 and a water heater 2. Additionally, the drying air is heated in a heat exchanger. to the exchanger 4 in which the hot water is circulated, heated by the solar roof tiles 1, or by solar energy. Solar roof tiles 1 are hollow designs and water circulates in a closed system based on the principle of thermosyphonic operation. Fans 17 and 34 are designed to move the hot air required to heat the interior of the drying unit 10 and to remove evaporated moisture from the dried fruits.

The process of drying with heated air in the drying chamber 6 is carried out in two directions, in the inlet direction as inlet and in the outlet direction as inlet.

Dry and heated air is fed into the drying chamber 6 through a suction duct 20, from which a fan 17 is pushed into the pressure duct 21 by the heat exchanger. If necessary, the heated air can be further heated by the heater 18 through which it travels. The pressure duct 21 travels the heated air all the way to the distribution chamber 13, in which the distribution and the intake of heated and dry air into the drying unit 10 is then effected through a corresponding pair of supply ducts 12.1 and 12.4 or 12.1 and 12.3 or 12.2 and 12.4 or through 12.2 and 12.3. from which it is blown into the side empty spaces between the vertical perforated walls 15 and between the sole sidewall of the housing 7. The blowing of the heated air is then continued from said empty space and through the holes 25 in the vertical perforated wall 15 into the central space between the two vertical perforated walls 15, which previously houses a trolley 30 with trays 31 on which the drying material is housed. Exhausting of warm and moist air from said central area, or from the drying unit 10, is carried out in the opposite direction, also through a corresponding pair of inlet ducts 12.2 and 12.3 or 12.2 and 12.4 or 12.1 and 12.3 or through 12.1 and 12.4. It follows from the foregoing that the inlet and outlet of warm air into or from the drying unit 10 of the drying chamber 6 can be carried out using at least four basic combinations. Thus, in the first combination, the inlet passes through the inlet ducts 12.1 and 12.4, and the outlet through the inlet outlet ducts 12.2 and 12.3. In the second combination, the inlet through the inlet ducts 12.1 and 12.3 and the outlet through 12.2 and 12.4. In the third combination, inlet through the inlet outlet ducts 12.2 and 12. 4, and the exhaust through 12.1 and 12.3. In the fourth possible combination, the inlet is drawn through the inlet ducts 12.2 and 12.3, and the outlet through 12.1 and 12.4. Depending on the combination selected, one and the same selected channel may in one possible combination have the function of an inlet duct, that is, an inlet duct, and in another possible combination, a function of an outlet duct, that is, an exhaust duct. Pursuant to the blow, the pressure of the heated air into the drying unit 10 and the exhaust to suck in warm air from the drying unit 10.

Blown out or, from the drying unit 10, the sucked in warm and moist air through the outlet duct 22 returns back to the control unit 9 or to the inlet duct 20. Fresh air, which is drawn out but still warm, is heated by the inlet duct. 16 is guided to control unit 9. In this way, during the drying process, in control unit 9 and on the path through ducts 20, 21 and the heater 18, the return waste air is only additionally reheated if necessary, which is a great energy saving on one and reduced emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere, on the other hand. For this purpose, in the hot water boiler 3, the use of oilseed rape is preferable, and in all other cases, all other available fuels are used.

Claims (9)

PATENT APPLICATIONS A drying chamber consisting of a control unit with a suction and pressure duct, an intermediate fan and an air heater, and further comprising a drying unit with a transport trolley with trays, separated by a vertical partition wall, characterized in that between the partition wall (8) ) and at least one vertical partition wall (14) with at least one inlet duct (12.1) and (12.2) and (12.3) and (12.4) additionally transversely mounted between the drying unit (10) at any distance; that at least two vertical perforated walls (15) are provided inside and along the drying chamber (10) and preferably in parallel with holes (25) attached to the partition wall (14) and the inner walls of the housing (7). Drying chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that the pairs of inlet ducts (12.1) and (12.3) or (12.2) and (12.4) are located between the corresponding vertically perforated wall (15) and the sole inner wall of the housing (7). ), preferably, such that the inlet drainage channel (12.3) lies below (12.1) or the inlet drainage channel (12.4) below (12.2) and are at any distance from each other. Drying chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the two vertically perforated walls (15) is arbitrary and preferably determined by the width of the trolley (30). Drying chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that the holes (25) in the two vertically perforated walls (15) are preferably made in individual horizontal spaced strings, with each row as a rule lying in the height of the corresponding tray (31) ) on a trolley (30). Drying chamber according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one control flap with its own control program is installed in each supply duct (12.2, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4). Drying chamber according to claim 4, characterized in that the length of the individual sets of holes (25) is equal to, greater than or less than the length of the trays (31). 7. Drying process in a drying chamber, characterized in that, when drying in the drying unit (10), according to the intended drying process, the fresh air and the heated air are required to be sucked in and forced therein, and the already used, humidified air is exhausted or sucked in. from it, there can be four basic combinations of inlet duct pairs, namely (12.1, 12.4) for exhaust and (12.2, 12.3) for exhaust, further (12.1, 12.3) for exhaust and (12.2, 12.4) for exhaust, further (12.2, 12.4) for inlet and (12.1, 12.3) for inlet and on (12.2, 12,3) for inlet and (12.1, 12.4) for inlet. Drying process according to claim 7, characterized in that the blown heated air is forced into and sucked out of the central space by a trolley (30) and trays (31) with drying material, through holes (25) in vertical perforated walls (15). . A drying process according to claim 7, characterized in that the amount of intake and exhaust air is determined by the control flaps within the inlet ducts (12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4), each individually, according to its own control program.