U.S. patent application number 14/126506 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-24 for tubular heat exchanger.
The applicant listed for this patent is AURUM FOODS, S.L.. Invention is credited to Jes s Pagan Duran.
Application Number | 20140110094 14/126506 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47357542 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140110094 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pagan Duran; Jes s |
April 24, 2014 |
TUBULAR HEAT EXCHANGER
Abstract
The present specification describes a tubular heat exchanger (1)
comprising a tubular sleeve (2); a first plurality of tubes (3a)
carrying a heat transfer fluid which are located inside the tubular
sleeve (2); at least one diaphragm (4) located inside the tubular
sleeve (2) which divides the interior of the sleeve (2) into at
least two chambers, where said diaphragm comprises a central hole
(4a) configured for allowing the passage of the product, and where
said diaphragm (4) comprises a plurality of holes (4b) configured
for allowing the passage of the first plurality of tubes (3a); and
a piston (5) comprising a tubular shaft (5a) and at least two
plates (6) perpendicular to the tubular shaft (5a); where said
tubular shaft (5a) is configured for performing a longitudinal
reciprocating movement through the central hole (4a) of said at
least one diaphragm (4); improving the heat transfer of the
exchanger object of the invention.
Inventors: |
Pagan Duran; Jes s; (Murcia,
ES) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AURUM FOODS, S.L. |
Murcia |
|
ES |
|
|
Family ID: |
47357542 |
Appl. No.: |
14/126506 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
June 18, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/ES2012/070450 |
371 Date: |
December 16, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/172 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C23C 28/322 20130101;
F28D 7/12 20130101; F28D 2021/0042 20130101; F28F 19/008 20130101;
Y02E 10/40 20130101; C23C 28/321 20130101; F28F 9/02 20130101; F24S
70/25 20180501; F28D 7/1676 20130101; F28F 1/00 20130101; C02F
11/12 20130101; C02F 11/18 20130101; F28F 13/06 20130101; F28F
27/02 20130101; C23C 28/34 20130101; F28F 9/0229 20130101; F28G
1/08 20130101; C23C 28/3455 20130101; C23C 28/345 20130101; F28D
7/1646 20130101; F24S 70/30 20180501; F28F 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/172 |
International
Class: |
F28F 1/00 20060101
F28F001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 2011 |
ES |
P201131013 |
Claims
1. Tubular heat exchanger comprising a tubular sleeve comprising an
inlet for the entrance of a product to be thermally treated, and an
outlet for the exit of said thermally treated product; and a first
plurality of tubes carrying a heat transfer fluid which are located
inside the tubular sleeve; the exchanger comprising: at least one
diaphragm located inside the tubular sleeve which divides the
interior of the sleeve into at least two chambers, where said
diaphragm comprises a central hole configured for allowing the
passage of the product from the inlet to the outlet of the sleeve;
and where said diaphragm comprises a plurality of holes configured
for allowing the passage of the first plurality of tubes carrying
the heat transfer fluid through the different chambers of the
sleeve; and a piston comprising a tubular shaft and at least two
plates perpendicular to the tubular shaft; where said tubular shaft
is configured for performing a longitudinal reciprocating movement
through the central hole of said at least one diaphragm; where the
tubular shaft comprises a diameter smaller than the diameter of the
central hole and allows the passage of product through the annular
space defined between the diameter of the central hole and the
outer diameter of the tubular shaft; where each plate is located
inside each chamber of the sleeve, where each plate comprises at
least one hole configured for allowing the passage of the product
to be treated; and where each plate comprises a plurality of holes
configured for allowing the passage of the first plurality of tubes
carrying the heat transfer fluid through respective plates.
2. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one diaphragm comprises a pair of metal sheets, and an
elastomer sheet located between respective metal sheets.
3. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein each plate
of the piston comprises a pair of metal sheets and a polymer sheet
located between respective metal sheets.
4. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first
plurality of tubes carrying the heat transfer fluid are hollow
tubes and one of their ends is a blind end; where inside said first
plurality of tubes is coaxially coupled to each tube, respectively,
where both ends of this second plurality of tubes are open ends;
and where the heat transfer fluid enters through one of the ends of
the second plurality of tubes, circulates towards the second end,
contacts the blind end of each of the tubes of the first plurality
of tubes, and returns through the annular space comprised between
the outer surface of the second plurality of tubes and the inner
surface of the first plurality of tubes.
5. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the first
plurality of tubes is coupled to a first base comprising an outlet
for the exit of the heat transfer fluid; and the second plurality
of tubes is coupled to a second base comprising an inlet for the
entrance of the heat transfer fluid.
6. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one hole of each plate which is configured for allowing the
passage of the product to be treated is located in the perimeter of
each plate.
7. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein each plate
of the piston comprises a plurality of bars coupled to respective
plates such that the movement of the tubular shaft of the piston is
integral with the movement of each of the plates; and where said
bars go through a plurality of holes of said at least one
diaphragm.
8. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the inlet
for the entry of the product to be thermally treated is located on
a side surface of a first end of the sleeve; and the outlet for the
exit of the thermally treated product is located radially with
respect to a second end of the sleeve.
9. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve
comprises at least one draining hole located in the lower portion
of said sleeve.
10. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the
tubular shaft of the piston comprises a hydraulic rod.
11. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the
tubular sleeve comprises a U-shaped cross-section.
12. Tubular heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the
tubular sleeve comprises a cover coupled on one of the sides of
said tubular sleeve; where said cover closes the ends of the
U-shaped cross-section.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a tubular heat exchanger
configured for transferring heat from a heat transfer fluid to a
specific product, or vice versa; where said heat exchange includes
heating and cooling processes as well as drying processes; and
where the heat exchanger object of the invention is encompassed
within the field of food preservation and preparation.
[0002] The purpose of this heat exchanger is to perform tasks of
heating, cooling or drying products that can be both foods, in a
preferred embodiment, and any other type of products that must be
heated or cooled, such as sludge in waste water treatment plants,
for example. Said exchanger furthermore allows improving the energy
efficiency of heat transfer with respect to the exchangers known
until now, having a small and compact size, in addition to reducing
the heat treatment time depending on the type of product to be
treated.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] By way of introduction, the use of heat exchangers having a
tubular configuration intended for heating or cooling specific
products is known; in this sense, said heat exchangers seek to
provide a large contact surface between the heat transfer fluid and
the product to be treated to thus maximize the heat transfer
between them; to that end, a heat exchanger comprising a large
tubular sleeve with an inlet for the entrance of the product to be
treated, and an outlet for the exit of the already treated product
is commonly used; and internally housing a circuit or a plurality
of tubes physically isolating the heat transfer fluid from the
product to be treated allowing the heat transfer between them.
[0004] Depending on the amount of product to be treated, the sizes
of the sleeves vary greatly, even being able to take up very large
volumes which make positioning them in closed spaces difficult, and
it involves the reduction of space in factories.
[0005] In such tubular exchangers, the product to be treated enters
through one end of the sleeve, transfers thermal energy to the heat
transfer fluid and, is then removed through the area close to the
other end of the sleeve; but it is common to find dead areas inside
the sleeve, dead areas refer to areas where the product to be
treated is housed and remains motionless, or moves at a very low
speed through the inside of the sleeve; modifying the treatment
time and therefore obtaining products with unwanted or varied
temperatures depending on the area of the sleeve where it has been
treated.
[0006] Due to that drawback, the creation of compartments inside
the sleeve of the exchanger is known, where such compartments are
obtained by means of dividing with plates which comprise
strategically located holes so that the product to be treated must
compulsorily circulate through said holes, marking a specific
trajectory and improving the energy efficiency of the exchanger as
a whole.
[0007] However, even though this solution successfully improves the
heat transfer with respect to the exchanger that has no
compartments, the product does not flow through the entire volume
of said compartments inside the chamber, there being small dead
areas that, though being much smaller than in the exchanger that
has no compartments, continue to cause the production of a treated
product the thermal characteristics of which may not be the
initially desired characteristics.
[0008] Therefore, in view of the aforementioned drawbacks it is
necessary to provide a new tubular heat exchanger which allows
solving the aforementioned drawbacks in terms of accelerating
product heating or cooling time as a result of an improvement in
the heat transfer; in addition to reducing the size of the
components to not only reduce the manufacturing cost, but rather to
also aid in said heat transfer; as well as being formed by simple
elements that can be easily maintained and replaced in the event of
a breakdown or failure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention relates to a tubular heat exchanger
comprising the following technical features: [0010] a tubular
sleeve comprising an inlet for the entrance of a product to be
thermally treated, and an outlet for the exit of said thermally
treated product; [0011] a first plurality of tubes carrying a heat
transfer fluid which are located inside the tubular sleeve; where
said first plurality of tubes can be of one and the same tube wound
inside the exchanger, or can be part of independent tubes with a
common inlet for the entrance of the heat transfer fluid, and an
also common outlet for the exit of said heat transfer fluid; [0012]
at least one diaphragm located inside the tubular sleeve which
divides the interior of the sleeve into at least two chambers,
where said diaphragm comprises a central hole configured for
allowing the passage of the product from the inlet to the outlet of
the sleeve; and where said diaphragm comprises a plurality of holes
configured for allowing the passage of the first plurality of tubes
carrying the heat transfer fluid through the different chambers of
the sleeve; note that the product to be treated enters through the
inlet, mandatorily goes through the central hole of said at least
one diaphragm, and then leaves through the outlet of the sleeve;
and [0013] a piston comprising a tubular shaft and at least two
plates perpendicular to the tubular shaft; where said tubular shaft
is configured for performing a longitudinal reciprocating movement
through the central hole of said at least one diaphragm; where the
shaft comprises a diameter smaller than the diameter of the central
hole and allows the passage of product through the annular space
defined between the diameter of the central hole and the outer
diameter of the shaft; where each plate is located inside each
chamber of the sleeve, where each plate comprises at least one hole
configured for allowing the passage of the product to be treated;
and where each plate comprises a plurality of holes configured for
allowing the passage of the first plurality of tubes carrying the
heat transfer fluid through respective plates.
[0014] It is therefore observed that the exchanger object of the
invention comprises a piston that moves in a reciprocal manner
through the inside of the sleeve, and where said piston comprises a
shaft comprising at least one pair of plates, such that when the
shaft moves in a reciprocal manner, the plates preferably move
integrally with said shaft; and this causes a displacement of the
volume of the sub-chamber created inside each chamber, such that
the product to be treated is forced to move depending on the
reciprocating movement of the piston.
[0015] In this sense, the product to be treated enters through the
inlet of the chamber and contacts a chamber inside the sleeve, the
piston moves towards the inlet of the sleeve and forces the product
to look for alternative paths to reach the proximities of the
diaphragm, the product to be treated therefore circulates through
said at least one hole of each plate to reach the annular space
comprised between the diameter of the central hole of said at least
one diaphragm and the outer diameter of the shaft; subsequently,
the piston again moves in a reciprocal manner repeating the
sequence of movement and circulation of the product to be treated
through a second plate; and so on so forth to reach the outlet of
the sleeve.
[0016] Depending on the location of said at least one hole of each
plate for the passage of product to be treated, the product to be
treated is forced and directed through a specific path, preventing
dead areas and improving the energy efficiency of the heat
exchanger object of the invention; additionally reducing the size
of the heat exchanger since large surfaces are not needed to
achieve a high heat transfer, rather the piston itself increases
the heat transfer with its longitudinal reciprocating movement
inside the sleeve of the exchanger.
[0017] In this sense, the movement of the piston inside each
chamber forces the product to move to the side opposite the
movement of said piston. Therefore, the product closest to the
piston moves from the center of the exchanger towards the periphery
(towards the only escape route that it has), traversing the
plurality of tubes in a perpendicular manner. The heat transfer
that occurs is therefore very efficient since the product to be
treated is forced to travel on an indirect path between the tubes
through which the heat transfer fluid circulates to the inner
periphery of each chamber, the flow not being a laminar flow and a
significant turbulence that favors the heat transfer between the
product and the heat transfer fluid is produced.
[0018] In relation to the composition of both the diaphragm and of
the plates of the piston, the following possibilities that are
completely complementary to one another are contemplated: [0019]
said at least one diaphragm comprises a pair of metal sheets, and
an elastomer sheet located between respective metal sheets; and
[0020] each plate of the piston also comprises a pair of metal
sheets, and a polymer sheet located between respective metal sheets
the purpose of which is to scrape the inner surfaces of the
sleeve.
[0021] The elastomer assures the leak-tightness between the
corresponding chambers and sub-chambers created by the diaphragm
since it seals the space between the outer diameter of the
diaphragm and the inner surface of the sleeve, as well as the
spaces between the outer surface of the first plurality of tubes
carrying the heat transfer fluid and the holes of said at least one
diaphragm which said first plurality of tubes go through.
[0022] In relation to said first plurality of tubes carrying the
heat transfer fluid, the possibility of them being hollow and one
of their ends being a blind end is contemplated; where inside said
first plurality of tubes a second plurality of tubes is coaxially
coupled to each tube, respectively, where both ends of this second
plurality of tubes are open ends; and where the heat transfer fluid
enters through one of the ends of the second plurality of tubes,
circulates towards the second end, contacts the blind end of each
of the tubes of the first plurality of tubes, and returns through
the annular space comprised between the outer surface of the second
plurality of tubes and the inner surface of the first plurality of
tubes.
[0023] In other words, the first plurality of tubes internally
comprises the second plurality of tubes, between outer tube and
inner tube, respectively, such that the second plurality of tubes
(or tubes for the entry of service fluid) forms a tubular bundle
that is inserted into the first plurality of tubes (or blind
tubes); such that the heat transfer fluid (or service fluid),
reaches the end of each tube of the second plurality of tubes, and
contacts the blind end of each tube of the first plurality of
tubes, and is therefore forced to continue through the annular
space comprised between the outer diameter of each tube of the
second plurality of tubes and the inner diameter of each tube of
the first plurality of tubes, to reach an outlet.
[0024] In this sense, the following possibility is contemplated:
[0025] the first plurality of tubes is coupled to a first base
comprising an outlet for the exit of the heat transfer fluid; and
[0026] the second plurality of tubes is coupled to a second base
comprising an inlet for the entrance of the heat transfer
fluid.
[0027] Both bases can thus be hermetically coupled to one another
and to one of the ends of the sleeve, where in a preferred
embodiment: [0028] 1. the inlet for the entrance of the product to
be thermally treated is located on a side surface of a first end of
the sleeve; [0029] 2. the outlet for the exit of the thermally
treated product is located radially with respect to a second end of
the sleeve; and [0030] 3. the set of bases and therefore, the
assembly formed by the first and second plurality of tubes carrying
the heat transfer fluid are coupled to the second end of the sleeve
close to the outlet for the exit of the thermally treated product;
such that the space of the exchanger object of the invention is
optimized, and the coupling and manufacture thereof is
simplified.
[0031] In relation to the path which the product to be treated must
follow from its entrance into the sleeve to its exit, the
possibility of said at least one hole of each plate configured for
allowing the passage of the product to be treated being located in
the perimeter of each plate is contemplated; therefore and
according to the arrangement of the inlets and outlets of the
sleeve, and of the hole of said at least one diaphragm, the product
to be treated follows the following path or trajectory: [0032] the
product to be treated enters through the inlet located on a side
surface of a first end of the sleeve; [0033] the product to be
treated enters a first sub-chamber located between the first end of
the sleeve and the first plate of the piston inside the sleeve;
[0034] the piston moves towards the first end of the sleeve and the
product goes through the plurality of perimetral holes of said
first plate to reach a second sub-chamber located between the first
plate and the diaphragm; [0035] the product goes through the
annular space comprised between the outer surface of the shaft of
the piston and the hole of said diaphragm; [0036] the product
reaches a third sub-chamber located between the diaphragm and a
second plate; [0037] the piston moves towards the diaphragm, at
least one previous longitudinal reciprocating movement having been
performed, since respective plates are integral with the
longitudinal reciprocating movement of the piston; and the product
goes through the plurality of perimetral holes of said second plate
to reach a fourth sub-chamber located between the second plate and
the second end of the sleeve; and [0038] the treated product is
discharged by the outlet located radially with respect to a second
end of the sleeve.
[0039] The product to be treated thus follows a trajectory
travelling the entire periphery and center of the sleeve, assuring
the absence of dead areas; and greatly improving the heat transfer
between the product and the plurality of tubes since it has to
travel over a large surface and inner volume of the sleeve of the
exchanger object of the invention.
[0040] In relation to the integral reciprocating translational
movement between the shaft and the plates of the piston, the
possibility of each plate of the piston comprising a plurality of
bars coupled to respective plates is contemplated, such that the
movement of the shaft of the piston is integral with the movement
of each of the plates; and where said bars go through a plurality
of holes of said at least one diaphragm.
[0041] It is therefore observed that the plurality of holes of the
diaphragm can be used both for the passage of the first plurality
of tubes, and of the plurality of bars connecting respective plates
of the piston, causing both plates to move integrally with said
piston in a simple manner.
[0042] Additionally, the possibility of the sleeve comprising at
least one draining hole located in the lower portion of said sleeve
is contemplated.
[0043] Furthermore, in a particular embodiment the possibility of
the tubular sleeve comprising a U-shaped cross-section is
contemplated; in the form of a tank or vessel which is open at one
of its ends, where the plurality of tubes of the heat transfer
fluid, the piston with the corresponding plates perpendicular to
the shaft of the piston and the diaphragm system are thus located
inside said sleeve in the form of a tank. Additionally, the
possibility of the tubular sleeve comprising a cover coupled on one
of the sides of said tubular sleeve is contemplated; where said
cover closes the ends of the U-shaped cross-section and allows
sealing the space inside the sleeve, once the product to be treated
is poured therein from the upper portion of the sleeve and the
inlets for the entrance of the product to be treated can therefore
be dispensed with, the existence of holes in the lower portion for
subsequent discharge being contemplated.
[0044] Finally, the possibility of the shaft of the piston
comprising a hydraulic rod is contemplated; such that a correct
operation in the reciprocating translational movement of the shaft
of the piston is assured; and where the shaft preferably comprises
a gasket having at least one fish tape and a catch to assure the
absence of product or heat transfer fluid leaks to the outside of
the sleeve of the tubular heat exchanger object of the
invention.
[0045] Therefore, according to the described invention the tubular
heat exchanger constitutes a significant novelty in heat exchangers
used today and it allows: [0046] 1) accelerating product heating or
cooling time as a result of an improvement in the heat transfer;
[0047] 2) simplifying component design to not only reduce the
manufacturing cost, but rather to also aid in said heat transfer;
[0048] 3) obtaining a scraper system for scraping the heat transfer
surfaces in contact with the product; [0049] 4) reducing the heat
treatment time in the event of heat-sensitive products such as in
food applications, for example; [0050] 5) reducing the use of steel
due to its thermal efficiency level; [0051] 6) without viscosity
limitations; [0052] 7) reducing the ratio of heat transfer and
pumping power compared to the exchangers existing on the market;
[0053] 8) allowing energy recovery at high viscosities; [0054] 9)
obtaining long continuous working times due to the scraped surface
thereof; [0055] 10) assuring thermal homogeneity; [0056] 11)
reducing space in factory; and [0057] 12) allowing crystallization
by freezing, using direct expansion of refrigerant gases.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0058] To complement the description that is being made and for the
purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the
invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a
series of drawings is attached as an integral part of said
description in which the following is depicted with illustrative
and non-limiting character:
[0059] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the sleeve and
the diaphragm internally located with respect to said sleeve.
[0060] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the diaphragm
with respective end metal sheets and the intermediate elastomer
sheet.
[0061] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the leak-tightness achieved with
the elastomer sheet of said diaphragm.
[0062] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the passage of the first plurality
of tubes carrying the heat transfer fluid through said diaphragm of
the exchanger object of the invention.
[0063] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the piston formed by the
tubular shaft and respective plates.
[0064] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C show three positions where the piston
can be seen inside the sleeve, defining different sub-chambers
depending on said position.
[0065] FIGS. 7A and 7B show the possible movements of the product
to be treated inside the sleeve of the tubular heat exchanger
object of the invention.
[0066] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the heat exchanger
without including the pluralities of tubes carrying the heat
transfer fluid.
[0067] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the first and second
plurality of tubes carrying the heat transfer fluid.
[0068] FIG. 10 shows a detail of the travel of the heat transfer
fluid from the second plurality of tubes to the first plurality of
tubes.
[0069] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the entire tubular heat
exchanger object of the invention.
[0070] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the entire tubular heat
exchanger object of the invention in a particular embodiment where
the sleeve comprises a U-shaped cross-section.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0071] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 11, the tubular heat exchanger
(1) described by the invention comprises: [0072] a tubular sleeve
(2) comprising an inlet (2a) for the entrance of a product to be
thermally treated, an outlet (2b) for the exit of said thermally
treated product, and a pair of draining holes (2c) located in the
lower portion of said sleeve (2); [0073] a first plurality of tubes
(3a) carrying a heat transfer fluid which are located inside the
tubular sleeve (2); [0074] a diaphragm (4) located inside the
tubular sleeve (2) which divides the interior of the sleeve (2)
into two chambers, where said diaphragm comprises a central hole
(4a) configured for allowing the passage of the product from the
inlet (2a) to the outlet (2b) of the sleeve (2); and where said
diaphragm (4) comprises a plurality of holes (4b) configured for
allowing the passage of the first plurality of tubes (3a) carrying
the heat transfer fluid through the different chambers of the
sleeve (2); and [0075] a piston (5) comprising a tubular shaft (5a)
and two plates (6) perpendicular to the tubular shaft (5a) and
integral with the movement of said tubular shaft (5a) since said
tubular shaft (5a) is configured for performing a longitudinal
reciprocating movement through the central hole (4a) of said
diaphragm (4); where the tubular shaft (5a) comprises a diameter
smaller than the diameter of the central hole (5a) and allows the
passage of product through the annular space defined between the
diameter of the central hole (4a) and the outer diameter of the
tubular shaft (5a); where each plate (6) is located inside each
chamber of the sleeve (2), where each plate (6) comprises a
plurality of holes (6a) configured for allowing the passage of the
product to be treated, such that said plurality of holes (6a) are
located in the periphery of each plate (6); and where each plate
comprises another plurality of holes (6b) configured for allowing
the passage of the first plurality of tubes (3a) carrying the heat
transfer fluid through respective plates (6).
[0076] It is observed in FIG. 2 that the diaphragm (4) comprises a
pair of metal sheets (4a, 4b), and an elastomer sheet (4c) located
between respective metal sheets (4a, 4b); such that it can
withstand the great pressures existing inside the sleeve (2), and
additionally the elastomer (4c) acts as a leak-tight element
between the two chambers defined by the diaphragm (4).
[0077] Similarly, it is observed in FIG. 5 that each plate of the
piston comprises a pair of metal sheets (6c, 6d), and a polymer
sheet (6e) located between respective metal sheets (6c, 6d); where
the polymer sheet (6e) projects from the metal sheets (6a, 6b) and
therefore acts as a scraper element for scraping the product inside
each chamber of the sleeve (2), as it is a hard material.
[0078] In relation to the integral movement of each plate (6) with
the tubular shaft (5a) of the piston, it is observed that each
plate (6) comprises a plurality of bars (9) coupled to respective
plates (6) such that the movement of the tubular shaft (5a) of the
piston (5) is integral with the movement of each of the plates (6);
and where said bars (9) go through a plurality of holes (4c) of
said diaphragm (4), such that the movement of each plate (6) is
identical for the other plates (6), in this case two in number.
[0079] In relation to the tubes carrying the heat transfer fluid,
it can be observed in FIGS. 9 and 10 that the first plurality of
tubes (3a) carrying the heat transfer fluid are hollow tubes and
one of their ends is a blind end; where inside said first plurality
of tubes (3a) a second plurality of tubes (3b) is coaxially coupled
to each tube, respectively, where both ends of this second
plurality of tubes (3b) are open ends; and where the heat transfer
fluid enters through one of the ends of the second plurality of
tubes (3b), circulates towards the second end, contacts the blind
end of each of the tubes of the first plurality of tubes (3a), and
returns through the annular space comprised between the outer
surface of the second plurality of tubes (3b) and the inner surface
of the first plurality of tubes (3a).
[0080] Additionally, it is observed that the first plurality of
tubes (3a) is coupled to a first base (7) comprising an outlet (7a)
for the exit of the heat transfer fluid; and the second plurality
of tubes (3b) is coupled to a second base (8) comprising an inlet
(8a) for the entrance of the heat transfer fluid.
[0081] Furthermore, it can be observed in FIG. 11 that the tubular
shaft (5a) of the piston (5) comprises a hydraulic rod (5b) capable
of exerting the necessary pressure to enable performing the
reciprocating movement of the piston (5).
[0082] Furthermore, in view of the sequence of drawings shown in
FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A and 7B; it can be interpreted that the product
to be treated follows the following path or trajectory: [0083] the
product enters through the inlet (2a) of the sleeve (2); [0084]
enters a first sub-chamber located between the first end of the
sleeve (2) and the first plate (6) of the piston (5) inside the
sleeve; [0085] the piston (5) moves towards the first end of the
sleeve (2), and the product goes through the plurality of
perimetral holes (6a) of said first plate (6) to reach a second
sub-chamber located between the first plate (6) and the diaphragm
(4); [0086] the product goes through the annular space comprised
between the outer surface of the tubular shaft (5a) and the central
hole (4a) of said diaphragm (4); [0087] the product reaches a third
sub-chamber located between the diaphragm (4) and the second plate
(6); [0088] the piston (5) moves towards the diaphragm (4); [0089]
the product goes through the plurality of perimetral holes (6a) of
said second plate (6) to reach a fourth sub-chamber located between
the second plate (6) and the second end of the sleeve (2); and
[0090] the treated product is discharged through the outlet (2b)
located radially with respect to a second end of the sleeve
(2).
[0091] Finally, it can be observed in FIG. 12 that in a particular
embodiment the tubular sleeve (2) comprises a U-shaped
cross-section; said sleeve (2) is open at one of its ends and
allows pouring in the product to be treated, as well as discharging
the treated product from the open area of said sleeve (2); the
possibility of said tubular sleeve (2) comprising a cover coupled
on one of the sides of said tubular sleeve (2) being contemplated;
where said cover closes the ends of the U-shaped cross-section,
assuring the correct heat transfer between the product to be
treated and the heat transfer fluid.
[0092] In view of this description and set of drawings, the person
skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments of the
invention which have been described can be combined in many ways
within the object of the invention. The invention has been
described according to several preferred embodiments thereof, but
for the person skilled in the art it will be evident that multiple
variations can be introduced in said preferred embodiments without
exceeding the object of the claimed invention.
* * * * *