Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B21/00—Arrangements for supplying or controlling air or other gases for drying solid materials or objects
  • F26B21/30—Controlling, e.g. regulating, parameters of gas supply
  • F26B21/33—Humidity
  • F26B21/331—Humidity by using sorbent or hygroscopic materials, e.g. chemical substances or molecular sieves
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B5/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat
  • F26B5/04—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum
  • F26B5/044—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum for drying materials in a batch operation in an enclosure having a plurality of shelves which may be heated
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B9/00—Machines or apparatus for drying solid materials or objects at rest or with only local agitation; Domestic airing cupboards
  • F26B9/06—Machines or apparatus for drying solid materials or objects at rest or with only local agitation; Domestic airing cupboards in stationary drums or chambers
  • F26B9/066—Machines or apparatus for drying solid materials or objects at rest or with only local agitation; Domestic airing cupboards in stationary drums or chambers the products to be dried being disposed on one or more containers, which may have at least partly gas-previous walls, e.g. trays or shelves in a stack

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a dehydration facility more particularly using zeolites as adsorption means 1.
• the invention is particularly intended for the dehydration of food products whose organoleptic qualities must be preserved.
• a zeolite is a material having pores with a diameter greater than the smallest dimension of a water molecule and electrical charges attracting water molecules. These characteristics give the zeolite power of 1 adsorption of water relich integrated in the field of dehydration.
• Dehydration by means of zeolites, or zeoling is generally carried out by means of an installation comprising an adjoining first enclosure and a second enclosure and in communication with each other.
• the first chamber is designed to receive products to be dewatered and the second chamber receives zeolites and is equipped with an air suction pump contained in the enclosures.
• the suction pump creates a vacuum in the enclosures which favors the evaporation of the water contained in the products which are possibly heated. Water vapor passes into the second chamber where it is trapped in zeolites.
• This type of dehydration is particularly effective. However, some of the aromas are still extracted from the products. These flavors are found in the second chamber before being removed by the pump. This results in an alteration of the organoleptic qualities of dehydrated products.
• a dehydration facility has been products, in particular food products, which is effective while causing only a minimal alteration of the qualities of the products and in particular the organoleptic properties in the case of food products.
• Such an installation comprises an enclosure, an air suction member contained in the enclosure, a product receptacle received in the enclosure and provided with an upper opening. opposite which extends a bottom, permeable to air and water, a cassette containing moisture adsbrption means.
• the cassette extends above the receptacle and defines therewith a compartment whose air is sucked through the adsorption means which maintain in the vicinity of the products the aromas which would escape during the evaporation of the water contained in the products.
• the subject of the invention is thus a product dehydration installation, comprising an enclosure, an air suction member contained in the enclosure, a product receptacle received in the enclosure and provided with an upper opening facing which extends a bottom, permeable to air and water, a cassette containing moisture adsorbing means, a seal extending between a periphery of the bottom of the cassette and an edge of the receptacle defining the opening.
• the seal prevents air passage between the cassette and the receptacle.
• a part of the aroma might escape by passing through such a passage, and that, however weak that part may be, this loss of aroma would be gustingly sensible.
• the seal is integral with a removable frame having surfaces of its lateral positioning on the receptacle and / or the cassette with, preferably, a lower peripheral rim to which belong the lateral positioning surfaces and / or a peripheral rim. to which belong the lateral positioning surfaces.
• the positioning means ensures that the seal is in a correct position to perform its function.
• the seal is made of a thermally insulating material.
• the seal then makes it possible to isolate the heating means from the cassette by limiting heat transfer by conduction from the cassette to the receptacle.
• a difference in temperature between the cassette and the products contained in the receptacle makes it possible to promote condensation of the aroma.
• the installation comprises means for relative movement of the cassette and the receptacle between a contact position of the seal with the cassette and the edge of the receptacle and a detachment position of the seal and the cassette; and / or the edge of the receptacle,
• the enclosure contains a shelf
• the receptacle and the cassette have side portions received in slides of a support
• the cassette being suspended under an upper flange of the slideways and the receptacle being movable between the contact position and the detachment position in which the lateral parts of the receptacle rest on lower wings of the slideways
• the support being movable between a high position in which the receptacle is detached from the shelf and rests by its lateral parts on the lower wings of the slides and a low position in which the receptacle rests on the shelf and is in position of contact with respect to the cassette
• the support is suspended from an upper rail, substantially horizontal, connected to a ceiling of the enclosure by at least one vertical displacement member of the upper rail between the high position and the low position,
• the shelf is associated with a heating means
• the enclosure contains a plurality of superposed shelves and the support is equipped with a plurality of superimposed slides and, preferably, the support comprises a central frame having a fixed upper end; a carriage sliding along the upper rail, the slides extending laterally projecting from two faces of the central armature opposite one another and substantially parallel to the rail, the shelves being arranged in two groups arranged in look on both sides of a passageway for 1 'central frame of the support; the central frame of the support preferably having a lower end arranged to cooperate with a lower rail fixed in the enclosure parallel to the upper rail.
• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an installation according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a partial view, in section along the line II - II of FIG. 7, of a receptacle / cassette assembly in contact position
• FIG. 3 is a partial view of this assembly in the detachment position
• Figure 4 is a partial view of the installation according to the sectional plane IV of Figure 1,
• FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V of FIG. 5;
• FIG. 6 is a detailed view of zone VI of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the support module receptacles or cassettes.
• the installation according to the invention comprises an enclosure generally designated at 1 which is delimited here by a blind tubular wall 2 having an open end sealingly closed by a door 3.
• the chamber 1 is associated with an evacuation member represented diagrammatically at 4, which comprises, in a manner known per se, a suction pump for the air contained in the enclosure 1.
• an evacuation member represented diagrammatically at 4, which comprises, in a manner known per se, a suction pump for the air contained in the enclosure 1.
• the shelves 20 are made of thermally conductive material, here stainless steel or aluminum, and have an opposite edge to passage 21 attached to a pipe 22 for transporting a coolant ( Figure 6).
• the pipes 22 are substantially horizontal and are interconnected by collecting pipes 23 to form a circuit connected to a device 24 for heating and circulation of the coolant disposed outside the enclosure 1.
• a generally dehydrated product and zeolite support module 5 is received in the enclosure 1.
• the support module 5 comprises a central armature 6 having two opposite faces 7 from which laterally projecting pairs of horizontal runners 8 having a C-shaped section with an upper wing 8.a and a lower wing 8.b (only one slide has been shown in Figures 2 and 3).
• Each pair of slides 8 receives a zeolite cassette 9.
• Each cassette 9 comprises a bottom and an upper wall between which lateral walls extending a height smaller than the distance separating the flanges 8a, 8b from the slideways 8 between which the cassette 9 is received. More specifically, each cassette 9 has two opposite edges suspended under the upper wings 8.a, 8.b of the pair of slides 8 corresponding.
• pins 10 extend from these projecting edges above the upper wall of the cassette 9 through openings 11 formed in the upper wings 8. a.
• the pins 10 have a shouldered head and helical springs 12 extend around the pins 10 between the shouldered head and the wing 8. a.
• the cassettes 9 receive unrepresented zeolites.
• the upper part and the bottom of the cassettes 9 are formed by a grid (the bottom is represented symbolically in FIGS. 2 and 3) having meshes holding the zeolites while allowing the passage of the air.
• the grid forming the bottom has mesh allowing the passage of water vapor.
• each receptacle 13 comprises a bottom and side walls of low height and has an upper opening 25 defined by an edge 26. Two of the side walls, opposite to each other, are provided opposite the bottom of a ledge 14 protruding outward.
• Each flange 14 extends between the lower flange 8.b and the corresponding cassette 9 so that the " - receptacle 13 extends under the cassette 9 and is vertically movable between two positions as will be explained later.
• Each cassette assembly 9 / receptacle 13 has a height less than the distance separating two shelves 20.
• the central armature 6 of the module 5 has an upper end secured to a carriage 15 suspended from an upper rail 16, parallel to the central axis of the enclosure 1, connected to the ceiling of the enclosure 1 by jacks 17 connected to a control unit, not visible in the figures, arranged to control the cylinders 17 so as to vertically move the rail 16 between a high position and a low position.
• the central armature 6 of the module 5 has a lower end provided with rollers 18, vertical axes, rolling on two opposite faces of a lower rail 19 fixed in the lower part of the enclosure 1 parallel to the upper rail 16 to guide laterally the lower end of the central frame 6 of the module 5 and prevent it from swinging in the enclosure 1.
• a seal holder frame 30 is removably received on each receptacle 13.
• the door frame -joint 30 comprises a soul 31, horizontal and shaped correspon-
• the seal 32 made of thermally insulating material such as a silicone elastomer, is encased on the inner periphery of the core 31.
• the receptacle 13 on which the seal carrier 30 rests via the seal 32 is vertically movable in the slides 8 between a (high) contact position of the seal 32 with the cassette 9 and the edge 26 ( Figure 2) and a position (low) of detachment of the seal 32 and the cassette 9, the receptacle then resting by its edges 14 on the lower wings 8.b of the slides 8 ( Figure 3).
• the operation of the installation will now be described.
• the receptacles 13 are loaded with products to be dehydrated outside the enclosure 1 to facilitate loading.
• a mobile gantry (not visible in the figures) provided with a rail which can be brought into the extension of the upper rail 16 so as to be able to completely out the module 5 of the enclosure 1.
• the receptacles 13 are extracted from the slides 8 of the module 5 suspended from the gantry and loaded with products to be dehydrated.
• the seal-holder frame 30 is put back in place on each receptacle 13 which is then put back between the slideways 8.
• the receptacles 13 are then in the detachment position.
• Module 5 is then introduced into the enclosure 1 by sliding it on the upper rail 16 in the high position so that below each shelf 20 extends a receptacle 13.
• the door 3 is then closed.
• the cylinders 17 are then controlled to bring the upper rail 16 in the low position.
• the receptacles 13 abut the shelves 20 and rest on them and the cassettes 9 are brought into contact with the seals 32.
• the receptacles are thus in the position of contact with respect to the cassettes 9. In the contact position, note that a portion of the weight of the cassette 9 is taken " by the slides 8 via the springs 12 and therefore does not bear on the receptacle 13 and therefore not on the corresponding shelf 20.
• the door 3 is then closed and the suction pump of the vacuum means 4 is put into operation.
• the air is then sucked into the enclosure 1.
• the air escapes from the receptacles 13 through the upper opening 25 thereof and through the bottom grid of the cassettes 9 before passing through the zeolites to flow into the space between the cassettes 9, the shelves 20 and the enclosure 1.
• the seal 31 is taken between the bottom of the cassette 9 and the flange 14 extending laterally outwardly from the edge 26 of the opening 25.
• the air is evacuated from the enclosure by the pump of the vacuum means 4.
• the water contained in the products evaporates.
• the water vapor thus created follows the same path as the air to the zeolites in the pores from which it is trapped.
• the products are thus progressively dehydrated. It will be noted that the air of the receptacle is sucked in through zeolites so that most of the flavors can not escape the receptacle 13, the zeolites limiting the passage thereof to the outside of the receptacle 13 in the manner of a molecular sieve. As the zeolites are very close to the products, the aromas are therefore maintained in the vicinity of the products.
• the shelves 20 are heated to prevent the products freeze under the effect of dehydration and pressure drop in the chamber 1. It is also possible to take advantage of the exothermic nature of the adsorption to heat the products or any at least to take account of it in the regulation of the heating temperature of the shelves 20.
• the adsorption of water indeed causes a temperature rise of the zeolites.
• the heat generated at the zeolites of the cassettes 9 is communicated in part to the products by radiation and by conduction via the slides 8 and the receptacles 13.
• the thermally insulating material used for the seal 32 makes it possible to better control this heat input. and to avoid excessive heating of the products.
• the heating of the products also makes it possible to increase the evaporation of the water.
• This heating is controlled by means of a thermal regulator according to the information provided by unrepresented temperature sensors disseminated in the module 5.
• These temperature sensors comprise, for example, temperature probes that pass through a portion of the cassettes to have a protruding end protruding into the receptacle and an opposite end which protrudes from the cassette and is electrically connected to the regulating member.
• each cassette comprises two passage openings of the temperature probes, at least one of which is provided with a seal.
• the temperature probe can cross the wall of the receptacle.
• the thermal regulator it is also possible to use the thermal regulator to maintain a temperature difference between the products and the immediate environment thereof. For example, a temperature of 20 ° at the product level and 70 ° at the environment thereof can be maintained. This difference in temperature causes condensation on the products of the aromas that are maintained in the compartment.
• manufacture of the installation is extremely simple. Since a cassette is associated with a receptacle and a shelf, the capacity of the installation depends on the number of cassettes, receptacles and shelves. Obtaining higher capacity installation can thus simply result from the junction of two speakers one behind the other and the use of several support modules. It is thus possible to manufacture higher capacity installations by simple homothutile installation described.
• the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and variants may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
• the installation may have a geometry different from that described.
• the cassettes may be fixed in the enclosure 1, as well as the support module, particularly when the installation is a relatively low capacity installation.
• the module may have a different number of receptacles.
• Shelves may not be associated with heating means.
• the vertical movement of the receptacles relative to the cassettes can be obtained by the use of dedicated actuators on board the modules or enclosure, acting directly on the receptacles and / or the cassettes, independently of an association with seals.
• the seal may be overmoulded or chased directly to a peripheral edge of the product receptacle or to a rim of the cassette.
• the grids of the cassettes 9 may be replaced by any structure (for example mesh or fabric) or material permeable to air and water.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Drying Of Gases (AREA)
• Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)

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• 2007
  • 2007-12-19 FR FR0708906A patent/FR2925662B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2008
  • 2008-12-11 BR BRPI0821293-7A patent/BRPI0821293A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-12-11 DK DK08872312.7T patent/DK2225518T3/en active
  • 2008-12-11 US US12/747,661 patent/US8316556B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-12-11 ES ES08872312.7T patent/ES2599930T3/es active Active
  • 2008-12-11 WO PCT/FR2008/001723 patent/WO2009101302A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2008-12-11 CN CN2008801222242A patent/CN101903728B/zh active Active
  • 2008-12-11 CA CA2709576A patent/CA2709576C/fr active Active
  • 2008-12-11 EP EP08872312.7A patent/EP2225518B1/de active Active
• 2010
  • 2010-06-17 CO CO10073189A patent/CO6311035A2/es active IP Right Grant

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