Agitating – Having specified feed means – By suction
Patent
1999-08-09
2000-06-20
Soohoo, Tony G.
Agitating
Having specified feed means
By suction
3661671, B01F 1502
Patent
active
060769556
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method for mixing two flows, which consist of a first, larger flow and a second, smaller flow. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying the method into effect.
BACKGROUND ART
In the production of drinks such as fruit juices, nectars, still drinks (non-carbonated soft drinks) and the like, the intention is often to mix two or more flows of different characters with one another. Such mixtures may, for instance, consist of a mixture of a juice concentrate with water, sugar solution with a fruit juice, etc. After the mixing operation, the sugar content is measured in the product in Brix with the aid of a refractometer. In order that the Brix value of the product be as reliable as possible, the mixture must be as homogeneous as possible before the product reaches the refractometer.
Mixing can be put into effect in different ways. One method is batchwise mixing in a tank with agitators, this method being both expensive and requiring large areas of space. Another method is that the mixing operation takes place in a so-called static mixer, i.e. the two flows are forced to pass a device where a number of obliquely inclined plates or disks give rise to a turbulence in the flows and thereby a mixing of the flows. However, this method does not give an entirely reliable mixing and, when the flow reaches the refractometer for measuring the Brix value, the results obtained are not wholly satisfactory.
In most countries, juices and nectars have a stipulated minimum Brix value in order to be sold under each respective name. If there is incomplete mixing and thereby an unreliable Brix value in the subsequent measurement, it must be ensured that there is a margin to the lowest permitted Brix value, and this gives rise to increased raw materials costs in the production of specific products.
The flows in a mixing process of the above-described type also have large variations, depending upon the volume of the tanks, pump capacities and the like, for which reason it may be difficult using conventional mixing methods to obtain a reliable and efficient control of the production process.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to realise a method and an apparatus therefor which afford a continuous mixing of two liquid flows which is reliable and efficient.
A further object of the present invention is to obtain such a reliable and homogeneous mixing of the two flows that it is possible to control production in such a manner that this positively influences the consumption of raw materials in production, which substantially reduces costs.
SOLUTION
These and other objects have been attained according to the present invention in that the method and the apparatus of the type described by way of introduction have been given the characterizing feature that the mixing is carried out where the first flow passes a throttle and the second flow is introduced into the throttle in a direction opposite to the first flow.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention have further been given the characterizing features as set forth in the appended subclaims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
One preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of the apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line A--A in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram with one or more apparatuses according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows the apparatus I which consists of a conduit 2 for a first flow 3 and a conduit 4 for a second flow 5. The present invention presupposes that the first flow 3 is larger than the second flow 5.
In the conduit 2 for the first, larger flow 3, there is disposed a throttle 6, i.e. a section of the conduit 2 is of smaller diameter than the standard conduit 2. A branch pipe 7 is disposed in this throttle 6 in which b
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Soohoo Tony G.
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
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