Gas and liquid contact apparatus – Fluid distribution – Systems
Patent
1994-09-26
1996-09-24
Miles, Tim R.
Gas and liquid contact apparatus
Fluid distribution
Systems
261116, 261DIG76, 426511, 426522, B01F 304
Patent
active
055588190
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a device for briefly heating a liquid, comprising: a pressure chamber, at least one liquid supply channel, opening out into the pressure chamber, for supplying the liquid at a first temperature to the pressure chamber at a predetermined first level; at least one liquid discharge channel, originating in the pressure chamber, for discharging the liquid from the pressure chamber from a predetermined second level lying lower than the first level; and at least one steam supply channel, opening out into the pressure chamber, for supplying steam under pressure to the pressure chamber, the steam temperature being higher than the first temperature of the liquid.
Such a device is generally known and is used in, for example, the food industry for reducing the number of disease germs in liquid foods such as milk through brief heating. In this case the liquid is supplied under pressure from the liquid supply channel to the pressure chamber, where the liquid is brought into contact with the steam. This causes the liquid to heat up very quickly during a free fall thereof through the pressure chamber to a liquid discharge channel. Prior to the discharge of the liquid from the pressure chamber, the liquid is collected for some time still in the pressure chamber, in order to ensure that all liquid brought into the pressure chamber reaches a certain temperature. The liquid is then discharged to a cooling device for cooling down the liquid and if necessary evaporating any water absorbed by the liquid as a result of the heat treatment by means of steam.
In the known devices the liquid to be heated is brought into the pressure chamber in the form of films. Although in this case there is a relatively large contact face for the exchange of heat between the liquid and the steam, uniform distribution of the steam along the films is difficult to achieve and maintain. Furthermore, such a device can be used only for certain liquids and in a limited working field, because the films must be prevented from breaking or, after the liquid has fallen over a certain height, from deforming too much, which greatly reduces the effectiveness of the heat transfer from the steam to the liquid.
Another commonly occurring problem in the known heater devices is the soiling gradually occurring therein as a result of the precipitation of constituents of the liquid on parts of the pressure chamber heated by the steam, in particular where the liquid is brought out of the liquid supply channel into the pressure chamber. If such precipitations can occur, they constitute a serious threat to good progression of the heating process as such and, furthermore, specifically in the processing of liquid foods, undesirable off-flavours may result. Any precipitations which may occur are difficult to remove from the heater plant, which has to be taken out of operation for this purpose, and in some cases even has to be partially dismantled.
Finally, it should be pointed out that too long a residence time in the pressure chamber in the case of liquid foods may likewise lead to undesirable off-flavours, and also to an unacceptable denaturation.
The object of the invention is to provide a downflow heater plant in which a liquid can be heated to a high temperature in a very short time.
Another object of the invention is to provide a downflow heater plant which can be used for heating numerous liquids, including highly viscous liquids.
A further object of the invention is to provide a downflow heater plant which can be adapted simply to the desired operating conditions, such as capacity, heating duration, maximum heating temperature and the like.
Another object of the invention is to provide a downflow heater plant in which the precipitation of constituents of the liquid to be heated is largely prevented.
For this purpose the downflow heater plant according to the invention is characterised in that a supply plate provided with a number of plate channels for forming a number of liquid jets in the pressure chamber is placed in the mouth of the liquid s
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patent: 4394139 (1983-07-01), Board
patent: 4461780 (1984-07-01), Menacci
"Direct sterilization of Heat-Sensitive Fluids by a Free-Falling-Film Sterilizer", Institute of Food Technologists, vol. 34, No. 9, pp. 49-55, Sep. 1980, Chicago by J. E. Nahra et al.
Den Hollander Engineering B.V.
Miles Tim R.
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