JP2627580B2 - Equipment for continuous freezing of goods - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a continuous freezing apparatus for freezing (freezing) foods and other articles in the process of continuously transporting them.

[0002]

BACKGROUND ART As a facility for mass-producing frozen foods, a belt freezer that continuously freezes raw foods while conveying the raw foods in a freezing space by a belt has attracted attention. In this case, it is necessary not only to freeze the product but also to treat it aseptically and dust-free.

[0003]

In the belt freezer, there is a problem that frost is generated due to dew condensation of moisture in the air.
For this reason, when purifying low-temperature air using a high-performance filter capable of collecting dust and fungi in the air, problems such as freezing of moisture absorbed by the filter and clogging of the filter material occur.

[0004] Further, even if dry air whose dew point temperature is lower than the set dry bulb temperature is circulated through the belt freezer equipment,
In a belt freezer, products enter and exit the equipment,
There is a problem that intrusion of ambient air and leakage of dry air inevitably occur through the entrance and exit, making it difficult to form a dust-free and sterile environment. In addition, moisture generated in the equipment may cause various troubles.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to provide a thermoeconomic facility for continuously producing frozen articles such as frozen foods in a dust-free and sterile environment.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a continuous freezing apparatus for articles that freezes while continuously transporting articles by a belt transporter to a freezer space maintained in a low-temperature environment. (Belt freezer), a fan passage unit for continuously blowing low-temperature dry air toward the article being conveyed is formed in the freezer space by a fan filter unit continuously provided along the belt direction above the belt conveyor. Formed and dried with a desiccant as the low-temperature dry air.
The use of dry air that removes moisture and cools
Characterized by using a high-performance filter as filter of the fan filter unit. In addition, a dry air generator and an air cooler that remove moisture using a moisture absorbent are installed outside the belt freezer, and low-temperature dry air that has passed through the dry air generator and the air cooler is continuously fed into the freezer space. The freezer space is formed as a low-temperature dry air ventilation space by blowing air, and a blowing path for continuously blowing the low-temperature dry air in the space toward articles being conveyed is formed. A high-performance filter is installed.

Here, the high performance file used in the present invention
Filter is better than what is called a medium-performance filter.
Also means those having high performance. For example, "air conditioning
Raw Technology Data Book ”, edited by Ryowa Chonen Kogyo Co., Ltd., Morikita
Publishing Co., Ltd., issued on October 21, 1981, No. 79
Adaptable dust as described on page D-175.
Particle size: 1 μm or less, adaptive dust concentration 0.3 mg / m ³
Below, the dust collection efficiency is more than 95% by DOP method, etc.
That have high performance are distinguished from medium-performance filters.
"HEPA filter" (High
efficiency particulate ai
r filter) also raises this level
It is clear enough, and the ULPA filter (UL
tra low penetration airf
What is called ilter) is at a higher level.
The high-performance filter used in the present invention is thus neutral.
High performance filters that exceed the level of Noh filters
(Including HEPA filters and ULPA filters)
I do. In addition, low-temperature dry air means that air
Moisture in the freezer space
Air cooled to a temperature that can be maintained in a warm environment
Means .

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the equipment of the present invention, wherein 1 is a freezer space (freezing room), 2 is a belt conveyor, and articles 3 are moved by the belt conveyor 2 to the freezer space. 1 passes continuously and freezes during this time (frozen)
Is done. 4 is a cooler unit. The air cooled by the cooler unit 4 is forcibly circulated in the freezer space 1 by a blower (not shown). On the other hand, low-temperature dry air produced outside the space is continuously introduced into the freezer space 1 from the dry air introduction port 5, and the air in the freezer space is continuously discharged from the exhaust port 6. The air volume of the low-temperature dry air introduced from the inlet 5 is made slightly larger than the exhaust air volume. This prevents the ambient air from entering the freezer space, and the freezer space is kept in a low-temperature dry state.

In the facility of the present invention, an air passage is formed for forcibly blowing low-temperature dry air in the freezer space to the article 2 conveyed by the belt conveyor 2 in the freezer space.
In the example shown in the figure, this air passage is formed by a large number of fan filter units 7 connected in the belt direction above the belt conveyor 2. Each fan filter unit 7 is a unit in which a high-performance filter (HEPA filter) 8 and a fan 9 are mounted in a casing. Such a fan filter unit is equivalent to that used to obtain clean air in a clean room or the like for manufacturing semiconductors, and a HEPA is provided in a lower opening of a rectangular casing.
The filter 8 is stretched over, and the surrounding air is introduced into the space inside the casing behind the HEPA filter 8 by the fan 9. Therefore, when the fan 9 is driven, clean air is blown out in a plane through the HEPA filter 8 for each unit.

The fan filter units 7 are connected to each other above the belt conveyor 2 along the belt direction with the blowout surface of the HEPA filter 8 facing downward, so that each fan filter unit 7 can separate the HEPA filter 8 from the HEPA filter 8. The low-temperature dry air purified in step 8 descends toward the article 3 being conveyed,
Articles freeze under a dust-free and sterile atmosphere.

Although the inside of the freezer space 1 is cooled by the cooler unit 4 as described above, the low-temperature dry air is continuously supplied from the outside to the freezer space from the inlet 5 and is continuously discharged from the outlet 6. Thus, the room is always maintained in the state of the circulating flow of the low-temperature dry air. Low-temperature dry air continuously supplied to the freezer space 1 is produced by a dry air generator 10 and an air cooler 11.

The dry air generator 10 comprises a dry dehumidifier in which a rotor 12 impregnated with a moisture absorbent is rotatably disposed across a dehumidification path 13 and a regeneration path 14. The outside air 15 and the return air from the freezer space 1 are introduced into the dehumidification path 13, and the air is filtered.
After passing through 16, the rotor 12 passes through the rotor 12, and moisture is absorbed and removed by the moisture absorbent impregnated in the rotor 12. Outside air 17 is introduced into the regeneration path 14 and is heated by a heater 18, passes through the rotor 12, and desorbs moisture adsorbed on the desiccant by the heated air. Is discharged. 19 and 20 are fans located on each path,
Reference numeral 21 denotes a filter of the reproduction path.

The air cooler 11 is an ordinary fin tube heat exchanger, in which the brine produced by the refrigerator unit 23 is circulated and supplied, and exchanges heat with the air passing outside the tube to exchange the air. To cool. This air cooler
The dry air produced by the dry air generator 10 is passed through 11. At that time, a heat exchanger 24 is provided for pre-cooling the dry air before entering the air cooler 11 by exchanging heat with the low-temperature return air exiting the freezer space 1.

As described above, a low-temperature dry air production facility is installed outside the belt freezer facility. First, return air exiting from the exhaust port 6 of the freezer space 1 enters the heat exchanger 24 via the wind path 25, and is returned there. After the heat exchange with the dry air, the air is introduced into the dehumidification path of the dry air generator 10 through the air passage 26 while being mixed with the outside air 15. At that time, a reheater
27 ° C, even after passing through heat exchanger 24
If it is less than or equal to 0 ° C
Mix with 15. This is because if air having a temperature of 0 ° C. or less is directly mixed with the outside air, moisture in the outside air is condensed to generate frost, which may adhere to the wall surface of the dry air generator 10 and cause trouble. Dry air generator
The dry air that has exited 10 is precooled by a low-temperature return air in a heat exchanger 24, then cooled by an air cooler 11, and introduced into the freezer space 1 through an inlet 5. 28 indicates an exhaust fan and 29 indicates an air supply fan.

[0015]

According to the equipment of the present invention, articles continuously entering and leaving the freezer space (freezer compartment) can be continuously frozen (frozen) in a dust-free and aseptic state during transportation. HEPA filters used to create a dust-free and sterile clean environment avoid troubles such as clogging due to frost generation because the low-temperature air supplied here is dry air. The HEPA filter is unitized as a fan filter unit, and since this unit is installed near the article being transported, it is possible to create a clean environment only in the local area where the article passes, making the entire freezer space a clean area. Efficiency is better than. In addition, the low-temperature dry air produced outside the freezer space is continuously supplied to the space, and the new low-temperature dry air constantly circulates in the space, so that moisture generated in the belt freezer can be removed. Therefore, troubles in the equipment due to moisture can be avoided. In addition, the continuous circulation of dry air prevents the air from staying in the freezer space, prevents the accumulation of dust due to the air stay, and the unevenness of the temperature distribution, and allows the article to be frozen under the same conditions. Further, in the production of dry air, the return air is reused as it is and the cold energy of the return air is also recovered, so that the energy for producing the dry air is largely saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an equipment arrangement system diagram showing an embodiment of a continuous freezing facility for articles according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Freezer space (freezing room) 2 Belt transporter 3 Article to be frozen 4 Cooler unit 5 Dry air inlet 6 Outlet 7 Fan filter unit 8 HEPA filter 9 Fan 10 Dry air generator 11 Air cooler 12 Moisture absorbent impregnated rotor 18 Air heater 23 Refrigerator unit 24 Heat exchanger for return air and dry air 27 Reheater

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] In a continuous freezing apparatus for freezing articles while continuously transporting articles by a belt transporter to a freezer space maintained in a low-temperature environment, low-temperature dry air is continuously blown toward the articles being transported. the air blast path for, by continuously provided by the fan filter units along above the belt conveyor to the belt direction, is formed in the freezer space, said
Remove moisture with a desiccant as low temperature dry air and
A continuous freezing facility for articles, characterized by using cooled dry air and using a high-performance filter as a filter of a fan filter unit. 2. A continuous freezing equipment articles to freeze while transporting articles successively with a belt conveyor to the freezer space maintained at a low temperature environment, moisture in the outside of the continuous freezing facilities
Agents established a dry air generator and air <br/> air cooler for removing moisture by using a continuously to air cold dry air passing through the dry air generator and the air cooler in the freezer space The freezer space is formed as a low-temperature dry air ventilation space, and an air passage for continuously blowing the low-temperature dry air toward the article being conveyed is formed. A high-performance filter is provided in this air passage. A continuous freezing facility for articles that has been installed. 3. The freezer space has an inlet and an outlet for low-temperature dry air, and the low-temperature dry air introduced into the space through the inlet is mixed with the agitated air in the space and the fan filter unit. The continuous freezing equipment according to claim 1, wherein air is blown to the article being transported. 4. The continuous freezing equipment according to claim 2, wherein the dry air produced by the dry air generator is sent to the air cooler after being heat-exchanged with return air taken out from an exhaust port of a freezer space. 5. The continuous freezing equipment according to claim 2, wherein the dry air generating device receives return air and outside air taken out from an exhaust port of the freezer space. 6. The continuous freezing equipment according to claim 2, wherein the dry air generator is a dry dehumidifier in which a rotor impregnated with a hygroscopic agent is rotatably arranged across a dehumidification path and a regeneration path.