Foods and beverages: apparatus – Subjecting food to an enclosed modified atmosphere – Including means to influence movement of gas within enclosure
Patent
1995-11-27
1996-12-03
Simone, Timothy F.
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Subjecting food to an enclosed modified atmosphere
Including means to influence movement of gas within enclosure
99467, 99485, 99516, 72 60, 72271, 366267, A23L 100, A23L 3015, A47J 2700, B01J 302
Patent
active
055796826
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a device for high-pressure treatment of substances, in particular liquid substances which contain components with a consistency different from that of the liquid, comprising at least one cylinder member, a first and a second end member, a high-pressure piston which is displaceably arranged in the cylinder member and which extends through a first cylinder bore which is provided in the first end member, and at least two high-pressure seals, whereby the cylinder member, the high-pressure piston, the high-pressure seals and at least the second end member are adapted to form a high-pressure chamber when the substance is subjected to pressure, as well as connection means comprising channels and valve members for transporting the substance to and from the cylinder member.
The device is especially suitable for use in high-pressure treatment of, for example, sauces and other liquid substances which contain sensitive components such as pieces of tomatoes, pulp (in fruit) or forcemeat balls (quenelles), which run the risk of being damaged when the substance is transported at high rates of flow through the treatment plant.
BACKGROUND ART
For some time now, high-pressure treatment is being used as a method for, among other things, inactivating microorganisms and certain enzymes in foodstuffs. The advantage of high-pressure treatment as compared with the more frequently used heat-treatment method is that the microorganisms and the degrading enzymes in the foodstuff are killed or inactivated without destroying vitamins and flavouring. During heat treatment, on the other hand, the taste and the vitamin contents are changed, which requires additives to restore, as far as possible, the nutritive value and taste of the substance.
During high-pressure treatment of, for example, foodstuffs, a so-called pressure intensifier is used. By pressure intensifier is meant here a device which has a high-pressure chamber in which the substance to be treated is pressurized. The pressurization can be accomplished, for example, by designing one of the end walls of the high-pressure chamber to accommodate a high-pressure piston with a certain area, which is insertable into the high-pressure chamber. Outside of the high-pressure chamber this piston is secured to a low-pressure piston with a larger area, arranged in a low-pressure chamber. By applying a certain pressure to the low-pressure piston, for example hydraulically, a higher pressure is thus obtained inside the high-pressure chamber. In high-pressure treatment of foodstuffs, it is common for the pressure in the high-pressure chamber to be set at about 1000-15000 bar.
The development of the technique for high-pressure treatment has led to two different, fundamental types of processes. According to one of these types, referred to here as the batch process, the high-pressure treatment is carried out in batches. In this case, the total amount of the substance to be treated is divided into batches, which are normally enclosed in a flexible package. When one batch is to be treated, the pressure intensifier is first opened and the batch is lifted into the cylinder member, whereafter the pressure intensifier is closed, and the high pressure is applied for a certain period of time. When the treatment is completed, the pressure intensifier is opened, the finished batch is removed from the cylinder member and a new batch can be placed therein. This process type is used above all for treatment of solid substances and other substances which cannot be transported in pipelines.
The other process type, here referred to as the semicontinuous process, is used above all for treatment of liquid substances which do not contain sensitive components. The substance to be treated is conducted in the pressure intensifier through a pipeline which is connected to the interior of the cylinder member via an inflow valve. When the inflow valve is opened, the cylinder member is filled with the substance. Then the inflow valve is closed and the high pressure applie
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Bergman Carl
Malmberg Bertil
Asea Brown Boveri AB
Simone Timothy F.
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