U.S. patent application number 15/586558 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-23 for apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms.
The applicant listed for this patent is COLD CHAIN, LLC. Invention is credited to Daniel Mark Aragon, Peter James Wachtell.
Application Number | 20170336095 15/586558 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49325514 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170336095 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aragon; Daniel Mark ; et
al. |
November 23, 2017 |
APPARATUS FOR REDUCING AIR FLOW THROUGH AN OPENING BETWEEN ADJACENT
ROOMS
Abstract
A system for maintaining thermal separation between first and
second adjacent rooms or spaces. The system includes a vestibule
with at least a first compartment, and other embodiments may
include two or more compartments, such that the vestibule provides
a passageway between the first and second rooms. At least one
blower draws air from the first room through an air intake, and
back into the first room through an exhaust. The system further
includes an exhaust port from the first compartment in fluid
communication with the exhaust, to exhaust air from the first
compartment into the first room. During operation, a vacuum is
formed within the first compartment that provides thermal
separation between the first and second adjacent rooms.
Inventors: |
Aragon; Daniel Mark;
(Meridian, ID) ; Wachtell; Peter James; (Boise,
ID) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
COLD CHAIN, LLC |
Boise |
ID |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49325514 |
Appl. No.: |
15/586558 |
Filed: |
May 4, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13827957 |
Mar 14, 2013 |
9671126 |
|
|
15586558 |
|
|
|
|
61625249 |
Apr 17, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 13/06 20130101;
F24F 13/20 20130101; F24F 13/26 20130101; F24F 7/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/20 20060101
F24F013/20; F24F 7/06 20060101 F24F007/06; F24F 13/26 20060101
F24F013/26 |
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10. A method for maintaining thermal separation between a first
enclosure and a second enclosure using a vestibule, the method
comprising: drawing air from the first enclosure through a
vestibule intake using a blower; exhausting the air through a
vacuum outlet and back into the first enclosure through a vestibule
exhaust; drawing air from a first compartment of the vestibule
through a first compartment exhaust, through the vacuum outlet, and
into the first enclosure through the vestibule exhaust, thereby
forming a vacuum within the vestibule first compartment using the
blower; drawing air from a second compartment of the vestibule,
through a first partial barrier that separates the first
compartment from the second compartment, and into the first
compartment using the blower; and drawing air from the second
enclosure, through a second partial barrier that separates the
second enclosure from the second compartment, and into the second
compartment using the blower.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: drawing air from
the first enclosure, through a third partial barrier that separates
the first enclosure from the first compartment, and into the first
compartment using the blower.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the blower is a variable speed
blower and the method further comprises: communicating a first
temperature from a first temperature sensor within the first
enclosure to a blower controller electrically coupled with the
blower; communicating a second temperature from a second
temperature sensor within the vacuum outlet to the blower
controller; and controlling a speed of the variable speed blower
using the blower controller, wherein the speed of the blower is
based on a differential between the first temperature and the
second temperature.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the second partial barrier
separates the second compartment from a third compartment, and the
method further comprises: drawing air from the second enclosure,
through a third partial barrier that separates the second enclosure
from the third compartment using the blower; and drawing air from
the third compartment, through the second partial barrier that
separates the second compartment from the third compartment, and
into the second compartment.
14. The method of claim 10, further comprising: supporting the
blower on an upper surface of the hollow duct platform; and drawing
air from the first compartment, through perforations in a bottom
surface of the hollow duct platform, and into the hollow duct
platform that forms the vacuum outlet using the blower, wherein the
perforations in the hollow duct platform form the first compartment
exhaust.
15-21. (canceled)
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/827,957, filed Mar. 14, 2014, which claims the benefit
of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/625,249, filed Apr.
17, 2012, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0002] The present teachings relate to the field of environmentally
controlled spaces and, more particularly, to efficient thermal,
particulate, and/or humidity control of enclosure spaces used, for
example, in industrial processes that require reducing the effect
of environmental conditions and/or contamination from one
processing stage to a subsequent stage when processing stages are
performed in adjacent spaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0003] In many types of production processes, the processing and
assembly of product occurs in separate enclosures, rooms, or
spaces. Each room may have a different and distinct environment
created to assist with an aspect of the manufacturing process
itself or that is tailored for the specific processing stage
performed in the particular room. As the product is created or
processed, it may be transported from one room to an adjacent room
using, for example, a conveyor belt that moves each product item
separately or a forklift, hand truck, or cart that moves an entire
production lot of product. Environmental conditions within each
room may be controlled separately. For example, a first processing
stage may occur within a first room at a relatively higher
temperature and a second processing stage occurs within a second
adjacent room at a relatively lower temperature. Other
environmental conditions such as humidity, airborne particulates,
etc., may also be controlled. When product is moved from the first
room to the second room, environmental air typically moves from the
first room to the second room along with the product. In many
manufacturing processes this movement of air along with the product
is undesirable and may create inefficiencies that increase costs
and decrease production.
[0004] For example, in the food processing industry, product such
as fruit and vegetables are heated and/or cooked during processing.
The heating process may include immersion of the product in hot
water, which increases the temperature and humidity of the air
within the room. If the product is heated without immersion in
water, the heated product may release moisture, thereby increasing
the temperature and humidity of the air within the room. Once a
food product has been heated and/or cooked, it is often transported
to a different, cooler room to be flash frozen to avoid bacterial
contamination and spoilage of the product.
[0005] At many food processing facilities, food cooking and/or
packaging occurs in a food processing room and flash freezing
and/or cold storage occurs in a flash freezer room (freezer)
located immediately adjacent to the processing room. The product
may be transported directly from the processing room to the freezer
using a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt transports the product in
bulk form or in boxes from the processing room, through a hole or
opening, and into the freezer. During transport of the processed
product, warm humid air from the processing facility is transported
into the freezer along with the processed product.
[0006] Once in the freezer, the warm air from the processing room
cools and water vapor may condense and freeze within the freezer
thereby resulting in a rapid buildup of frost within the freezer
space itself. To remove the frost buildup, a processing plant may
schedule equipment shutdowns to allow maintenance personnel time to
manually clear the frost buildup to prevent equipment failure,
which decreases production and increases labor costs. Food
processing plants can also use heat trace equipment to spot heat
certain locations within freezer space to prevent frost buildup,
which decreases cooling efficiency of the freezer and increases
costs.
[0007] To maintain temperature separation between rooms, high
velocity air may be directed across an opening. The high velocity
air may be prevented from flowing into a cold space using air
curtains. One drawback with this technology is that when an object
such as a vehicle, production personnel, or the product itself
passes through the air curtain, the high velocity air can be
deflected off of the object and into the room, space, or enclosure
(hereinafter, collectively, "room" or "enclosure space") that the
air is meant to protect.
[0008] Additionally, strip curtains are often used by themselves in
an attempt to minimize airflow from the production room into the
freezer. While strip curtains alone may provide a passive method to
decrease unwanted air flow from a production room into a freezer,
they provide only a modest improvement in efficiency.
[0009] Thus prior technologies used to maintain thermal separation
between adjacent rooms are inefficient and/or provide only a
minimum improvement. Heat and/or humidity introduced within the
freezer can be negated by increasing cooling, which increases
demand on the cooling systems, can result in an increase in
equipment failure and an increase in required maintenance, a
decrease in production, and thus increases costs.
[0010] A method and structure for providing improved thermal
separation, moisture separation, and/or particulate separation
between adjacent rooms such as a processing room and a freezer
would be desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The following presents a simplified summary in order to
provide a basic understanding of some aspects of one or more
embodiments of the present teachings. This summary is not an
extensive overview, nor is it intended to identify key or critical
elements of the present teachings nor to delineate the scope of the
disclosure. Rather, its primary purpose is merely to present one or
more concepts in simplified form as a prelude to the detailed
description presented later.
[0012] In an embodiment of the present teachings, a vestibule for
reducing the flow of air between a first enclosure and a second
enclosure can include at least a first compartment and a second
compartment, a first partial barrier that separates the first
enclosure from the first compartment, a second partial barrier that
separates the first compartment from the second compartment, and a
third partial barrier that separates the second compartment from
the second enclosure. The vestibule can further include a blower
configured to draw air from the first enclosure through a vestibule
intake and to return the air to the first enclosure through a
vestibule exhaust, and a first compartment exhaust port configured
such that the blower draws air from the first compartment through
the first compartment exhaust port and exhausts the air from the
first compartment through the vestibule exhaust into the first
enclosure.
[0013] In another embodiment of the present teachings, a method for
maintaining thermal separation between a first enclosure and a
second enclosure using a vestibule can include drawing air from the
first enclosure through a vestibule intake using a blower,
exhausting the air through a vacuum outlet and back into the first
enclosure through a vestibule exhaust, and drawing air from a first
compartment of the vestibule through a first compartment exhaust,
through the vacuum outlet, and into the first enclosure through the
vestibule exhaust, thereby forming a vacuum within the vestibule
first compartment using the blower. The method can further include
drawing air from a second compartment of the vestibule, through a
first partial barrier that separates the first compartment from the
second compartment, and into the first compartment using the
blower, and drawing air from the second enclosure, through a second
partial barrier that separates the second enclosure from the second
compartment, and into the second compartment using the blower.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the present teachings and together with the description, serve to
explain the principles of the disclosure. In the figures:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a cross section, and
FIG. 3 is an end view of a structure in accordance with an
embodiment of the present teachings, wherein the structure includes
a vestibule used to thermally separate a first room or area from a
second room or area;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective depiction of a vestibule
according to another embodiment of the present teachings;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a cross section of a simulated vestibule in
accordance with an embodiment of the present teachings depicting
simulated thermal airflow characteristics;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross section of a simulated vestibule in
accordance with an embodiment of the present teachings depicting
simulated isotherm characteristics; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view, and FIG. 8 is a cross section,
depicting a vestibule according to another embodiment of the
present teachings.
[0020] It should be noted that some details of the FIGS. have been
simplified and are drawn to facilitate understanding of the present
teachings rather than to maintain strict structural accuracy,
detail, and scale.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary
embodiments of the present teachings, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts. It is to be understood, however,
that embodiments of the present teachings may be embodied in
various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art
to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately
detailed system, structure or manner.
[0022] For purposes of the present teachings, unless otherwise
specified, the term "thermal separation" encompasses both complete
and partial thermal separation between two enclosures, spaces,
rooms, etc. While the present teachings are described below,
generally, with reference to thermal separation, it will be
understood that the present teachings may also be used to reduce
the transfer of moisture from one room to another, as water vapor
carries a significant component of thermal load in many cases.
Further, particulate separation between rooms may be better
maintained using an embodiment of the present teachings. In various
embodiments of the present teachings, some mixing of air from a
room with air from a second room may occur intentionally, for
example within a vestibule first compartment as described below.
Additionally, unless otherwise specified, the term "blower"
encompasses blowers, fans, or any device that is capable of moving
air from one location to another location.
[0023] A vestibule 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present teachings is depicted in the perspective view of FIG. 1,
the cross section of FIG. 2, and the end view of FIG. 3. The
vestibule 10 may provide an opening, door, or passageway between a
first room or space 12 (hereinafter, collectively, a "room") and a
second room 14 separated by a wall 16. In an embodiment, the first
room 12 is a processing room maintained at a relatively higher
temperature and the second room 14 is a freezer maintained at a
relatively lower temperature. In an embodiment, a product conveyor
belt 18 may move product 19 from the first room 12 to the second
room 14. In another embodiment, production personnel may move
product from the first room 12 to the second room 14 using, for
example, a forklift, a hand truck, etc.
[0024] The vestibule 10 may include an enclosed space including at
least a first compartment or airlock 20 and a second compartment or
airlock 22 provided between the first room 12 and the second room
14 that assists in maintaining thermal separation between the first
room 12 and the second room 14 as described below. In an
embodiment, a plurality of barriers may be employed to assist in
thermally separating the first room 12 from the second room 14. The
barriers 24A, 24B, 24C, as depicted in FIGS. 1-3, may include, for
example, rubber, plastic, or fabric flaps or strip curtains or any
other suitable type of barrier. The barriers are partial barriers,
as some air flow through each of the barriers is desirable;
however, each barrier reduces the flow of air between compartments
or enclosures compared to if the barrier was absent.
[0025] In an embodiment, barrier 24A separates the first room 12
from the first compartment 20, barrier 24B separates the first
compartment 20 from the second compartment 22, and barrier 24C
separates the second compartment 22 from the second room 14. Thus
the barriers 24A-24C separate the first room 12 from the second
room 14. In an embodiment, an area underneath conveyor belt 18 can
include seals 25 to further reduce airflow. The seals 25 can be
positioned as desired, such as in proximate vertical alignment with
the barriers 24A, 24B and/or 24C. As depicted in FIG. 3, the
vestibule 10 may also include a sloped floor 27 under the conveyor
to facilitate improved cleaning and sanitation.
[0026] In an embodiment, the vestibule 10 includes subassemblies as
described below that maintain the environments within the first
compartment 20 and the second compartment 22. In this embodiment,
the environment of the first compartment 20 is actively maintained
to emulate the environment of the first room 12, and the
environment of the second compartment 22 is passively maintained to
emulate the environment of the second room 14.
[0027] The vestibule 10 includes a vestibule intake 26 that takes
air into the vestibule from the first room 12, a blower 28 such as
a centrifugal fan housed within a blower box 30, and vestibule
exhaust 32 that exhausts air from the vestibule into the first room
12. The vestibule 10 further includes ductwork with a blower box
exhaust port 34 that exits out of, and exhausts air from, the
blower box 30. The vestibule 10 further includes a first
compartment exhaust port 36 in fluid communication with the blower
box exhaust port 34 that opens into, and exhausts air from, the
first compartment 20. The blower box exhaust port 34 and first
compartment exhaust port 36 are in fluid communication with a
vacuum outlet 37 that leads to the vestibule exhaust 32. The sizes
and shapes of the vestibule intake 26, the blower 28, the blower
box exhaust port 34, first compartment exhaust port 36, and
vestibule exhaust 32 are matched or sized such that, during
operation, the blower 28 creates a vacuum within the first
compartment 20 as described below.
[0028] In operation, the blower 28 draws air from the first room 12
through the vestibule intake 26 and into the blower box 30.
Further, the blower 28 directs air out of the blower box 30 through
the blower box exhaust port 34 and back into the first room 12
through the vestibule exhaust 32. Because the first compartment
exhaust port 36 that opens into the first compartment 20 is in
fluid communication with the blower box exhaust port 34, a vacuum
is created within the first compartment exhaust port 36 and within
the first compartment 20 resulting from Bernoulli and/or Venturi
effects. A controlled volume of air is also drawn from the second
room 14 through the third barrier 24C and the second barrier 24B,
and into the first compartment 20, which is then exhausted back
into the first room 12 through vestibule exhaust 32. This maintains
a balanced pressure differential between the first room 12 and the
second room 14 that maintains thermal separation between the two
rooms.
[0029] During operation, the vacuum within the first compartment 20
may draw air through the first barrier 24A and, in turn, from the
first compartment 20 to the second compartment 22 and into the
second room 14, which would reduce efficiency. To reduce or prevent
this, perforations 40 may be formed in the sides and/or or top of
the vestibule 10 at the first compartment 20, thus reducing the
overall vacuum forces on the first barrier 24A and the flow of air
mass between the first room 12 and the second room 14.
[0030] Further, if vacuum forces within the first compartment 20
are excessively strong, excessive air from the second room 14 can
be drawn into the vestibule 10, thus reducing efficiency. It is
desirable that some air is drawn by the vacuum in the first
compartment 20 from the second room 14 and into the second
compartment 22, with minimal air from the second compartment 22
moving through the second barrier 28B and into the first
compartment 20. Conversely, if the vacuum forces within the first
compartment 20 are too weak, the air flow through the first
compartment 20 will not be sufficient which can result in increased
air flow from the first room 12 through the vestibule 10 to the
second room 14.
[0031] In an embodiment, the apparatus of the present disclosure
can include a means for varying the vacuum force within the
vestibule 10. In an embodiment, the blower 28 can include a
variable speed blower controlled by a blower controller 42. The
blower controller 42 is electrically coupled with the blower 28,
and is configured to drive the blower 28 at any number of selected
speeds. The vacuum forces within the second compartment 20 are
proportional to blower 28 speed. In another embodiment, the speed
of the blower 28 can be controlled manually by an operator. In
either embodiment, the blower speed is controlled so that a
sufficient amount of air is moved through the second compartment 20
and that a sufficient but not excessive amount of air is drawn from
the second room 14 through the second curtain 28B and into the
first compartment 20.
[0032] In an embodiment, two or more temperature sensors in
communication with the blower controller 42 may be employed to
automatically adjust the speed of the blower 28. A first
temperature sensor 44 may be placed within the first room 12 and a
second temperature sensor 46 may be placed within the vacuum outlet
37 that leads to the vestibule exhaust 32. The blower controller 42
receives first temperature information relative to the first room
from the first temperature sensor 42 and receives second
temperature information relative to the vacuum outlet 37 from the
second temperature sensor 46, for example through a wired or
wireless connection. Based on a temperature differential between
the first temperature and the second temperature, the blower
controller 42 adjusts the speed of the blower 28. A temperature
differential that is too large would indicate that the vacuum
within the first compartment 20 is too great, and that excessive
air is being drawn into the first compartment 20 from the second
room 14. A temperature difference that is too small would indicate
that the vacuum within the first compartment 20 is too small, and
that insufficient air is being drawn into the second compartment 22
from the second room 14 by the vacuum in the first compartment 20.
The blower controller 42 would be programmed to maintain a constant
desired temperature differential between the first temperature
sensor 44 and the second temperature sensor 46.
[0033] The vestibule 10 can be scaled for any desired size. For
example, the vestibule 10 can be sized for transporting a smaller
product 19 from the first room 12, through the first barrier 24A to
the first compartment 20 within the vestibule 10, through the
second barrier 24B to the second compartment 22, and through the
third barrier 24C to the second room 14 using, for example, a
conveyor belt 18. The vestibule 10 may also be scaled to a larger
size so that production personnel can move the product 19 through
the vestibule 10 from the first room 12 to the second room 14
using, for example, a forklift, hand truck, cart, or other
transport. The system according to various embodiments of the
present teachings is well suited for any size or type of opening
where reducing airflow between two rooms or spaces is
beneficial.
[0034] It will be understood that the FIGS. are schematic views and
that a vestibule 10 in accordance with the present teachings can
include other elements that are not depicted for simplicity and
that other depicted elements can be removed or modified.
[0035] In another embodiment, a vestibule can include a single
compartment. This embodiment can include the various elements as
depicted in FIGS. 1-3, for example, in which the second compartment
22 and the third barrier 24C are omitted. The compartment 20 can
include first barrier 24A and second barrier 24B. Once a product 19
is transported from compartment 20 through the second barrier 24B,
it enters the second room 14. The blower 28 draws air from the
first room 12 through the vestibule intake 26, into the blower
compartment 30, and exhausts the air back into the first room 12
through the vestibule exhaust 32 to maintain thermal, moisture,
and/or particulate separation of the first room 12 and the second
room 14.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view depicting another
vestibule 50 embodiment including a first blower 52, a second
blower 54, a first compartment (e.g., airlock) 56, a second
compartment 58, a third compartment 60, a first barrier 62A, a
second barrier 62B, a third barrier 62C, and a fourth barrier 62D.
The blowers 52, 54 are placed on a top surface 64 of a hollow duct
platform 66. A bottom surface 68 of the hollow duct platform 66,
which forms a ceiling across an entire width of the first
compartment 56, includes a plurality of perforations 70 at a
location proximate to the second barrier 62B. The perforations 70,
which provide a first compartment exhaust port, are located only
toward the rear of the duct platform 66 behind the blowers 52, 54.
The perforations 70 are not located forward of the blowers 52, 54
to prevent air inside of the duct platform from being blown back
into the first compartment 56.
[0037] In operation, the vestibule 50 functions similar to the
embodiments described above. Air is drawn by the blowers 52, 54
from a first room 72 through a vestibule intake 74, and is
transported through the hollow duct platform 66 and out of an end
of the duct platform 66 which forms a vestibule exhaust 76, then
back into the first room 72. Through Bernoulli and/or Venturi
effects, air is drawn from the first compartment 56 through the
perforations 70 in the bottom surface 68 of the duct platform 66 by
the blowers 52, 54. The hollow duct platform provides a vacuum
outlet 78 in fluid communication with the perforations 70 and
blower box exhaust ports 80. A vestibule 50 including three
separate compartments 56, 58, 60, may have improved thermal
efficiency over a vestibule 10 that has two compartments 20, 22,
but uses additional materials and physical space. The vestibule 50
maintains thermal separation between the relatively warmer first
room 72 and a relatively cooler second room 82. The vestibule may
include a blower controller 42 and temperature sensors (not
individually depicted) that output temperature information to the
blower controller 42 in accordance with embodiments of the present
teachings discussed above. In an embodiment, instead of three
compartments the vestibule 50 includes only the two compartments 56
and 58.
[0038] FIG. 7 is a perspective view, and FIG. 8 is a cross section,
depicting a vestibule 90 according to another embodiment of the
present teachings. In this embodiment, a first room 92, for example
a relatively warmer room at ambient temperature, is separated from
a second room 94, for example a relatively cooler room below
freezing, by vestibule 90. The vestibule 90 includes a first
compartment 96, a second compartment 98, and a third compartment
100. A product conveyor belt 102 may be used to move a product 104
from the first room 92, through a first partial barrier 106A into
the first compartment 96, through a second partial barrier 106B
into the second compartment 98, through a third partial barrier
106C into the third compartment 100, and through a fourth partial
barrier 106D into the second room 94. In another embodiment, the
vestibule can be scaled to move product 104 through a similar path
using, for example, a forklift, a hand truck, etc.
[0039] In this embodiment, a blower 108 draws air from the first
room 92 through a vestibule intake 110 into a blower box 112, out
of the blower box 112 through a blower box exhaust port 114, and
through a vacuum outlet 116. The blower box exhaust port 114 and
the vacuum outlet 116 are in fluid communication with at least one
first compartment exhaust port 118 and at least one second
compartment exhaust port 120. As air is forced through the vacuum
outlet 116 by the blower 108, air is drawn from the first
compartment 96 through the first compartment exhaust port 118 and
from the second compartment 98 through the second compartment
exhaust port 120 through Venturi and/or Bernoulli forces, and into
the first room 92 through vestibule exhaust 122. As depicted in
FIG. 8, the blower 108 is configured to bypass the third
compartment 100 such that the blower 108 does not return air from
the third compartment 100 to the first room 92 through a third
compartment exhaust port 120. While the blower is configured to
bypass the third compartment 100, some air from the third
compartment 100 may be drawn by vacuum generated by the blower 108
within the second compartment 98 and through the third partial
barrier 106C. This air enters the second compartment 98 where it
may be drawn through the second compartment exhaust port 120,
through the vacuum outlet 116, and into the first room 92 through
the vestibule exhaust 122. While some air is thus drawn from the
second room 94 into the first room 92 through this effect, the net
effect is to better maintains thermal, moisture, and particulate
separation between the first room 92 and the second room 94 than
conventional systems.
[0040] In this embodiment, the first room 92 can be separated from
the second room by an insulated wall 124. Further, cold air is
drawn from second room 94, through the fourth partial barrier 106,
and into the third compartment 100. As this occurs, some cold air
is drawn through a gap 126 between the insulated wall 124 and the
conveyer belt 102, and across product 104 being transported through
the third compartment 100. This pre-cools the product 104 within
the third compartment 100 before it enters the second room 94, and
may thereby further increase thermal efficiency.
Simulation Example
[0041] A thermal simulation of an apparatus including a three
compartment vestibule such as that depicted in FIG. 4 was
performed, with results depicted in the thermal plots of FIGS. 5
and 6. The thermal plots of FIGS. 5 and 6 are approximations of
data plots which may be found in the provisional application and in
the informal FIGS. as filed.
[0042] FIG. 5 demonstrates that relatively warmer air is drawn in
from a warmer room 72 at the left side of FIG. 5, and that
relatively cooler air is drawn in from a cooler room 82 at the
right side of the FIG. 5. The vestibule maintains a balanced
pressure differential between the warmer room 72 and the cooler
room 82, thereby maintaining a cooler temperature within
compartments 58, 60, and a warmer temperature within compartment
56. In turn, this maintains thermal separation between the warmer
room 72 and the cooler room 82 at the right of FIG. 5.
[0043] FIG. 6 depicts a simulated isotherm plot of a three
compartment vestibule such as that depicted in FIG. 4. The isotherm
plot demonstrates that good thermal separation is maintained
between the first compartment 56 and the second compartment 58, and
thus good thermal separation would be maintained between the
relatively warmer room 72 and the relatively cooler room 82.
[0044] While the present teachings have been described in
connection with the above-referenced embodiments, this description
is not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings to the
particular form set forth herein. On the contrary, the present
teachings are intended to cover such alternatives, modifications,
and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of
the present teachings as defined by the appended claims. It will be
appreciated that structural components and/or processing stages can
be added or existing structural components and/or processing stages
can be removed or modified. Further, one or more of the acts
depicted herein may be carried out in one or more separate acts
and/or phases. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms
"including," "includes," "having," "has," "with," or variants
thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims,
such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the
term "comprising." The term "at least one of" is used to mean one
or more of the listed items can be selected. Additionally, in the
discussion and claims herein, the term "on" used with respect to
two materials, one "on" the other, means at least some contact
between the materials, while "over" means the materials are in
proximity, but possibly with one or more additional intervening
materials such that contact is possible but not required. Neither
"on" nor "over" implies any directionality as used herein. Other
embodiments of the present teachings will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and
practice of the disclosure herein.
* * * * *