Sugar – starch – and carbohydrates – Apparatus – Treating sacchariferous material
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-10
2001-02-20
Brunsman, David (Department: 1755)
Sugar, starch, and carbohydrates
Apparatus
Treating sacchariferous material
C127S063000, C137S602000, C366S131000, C366S132000, C366S163200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190461
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the liquification of sugar and, more particularly, to a system which is capable of continuously mixing dry particulate sugar with a liquid, such as water, to form a liquid solution, and continuously pumping the solution to a location where it is stored or used.
Liquified sugar is commonly used in the food industry. Heretofore, liquification has been carried out using a batch process in which dry sugar is conveyed to a tank of hot liquid (e.g., hot water) and mechanically mixed with the liquid to form a batch of sugar solution. After the batch is finished, it is pumped from the tank, usually to a remote location for storage or use in a food processing operation. The process is then repeated to complete the next batch. This type of system has several drawbacks, including relatively slow liquification rates, high equipment costs, high wear on the conveying and mixing equipment due to the granular nature of the sugar, clogging of the dry sugar conveying equipment due to steam and moisture in the area of the mixing tank, high equipment maintenance costs, and other disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of a system and process for liquifying sugar on a “continuous” rather than “batch” basis to achieve higher liquification rates; the provision of such a system and process which has lower equipment costs; the provision of such a system and process which is easier and less costly to maintain than conventional systems; the provision of such a system and process which operates at lower temperatures; the provision of such a system and process in which the sugar concentration of the solution can be selectively varied according to need; the provision of such a system and process which can automatically adjust to the rate of dry sugar feed and/or water flow rate; the provision of such a system and process which recirculates liquified sugar thereby maintaining continuous and accurate control of the sugar concentration of the solution; and the provision of a continuous steady-state mixing system having applications other than the liquification of sugar, such as the mixing of ingredients used for beverages, pharmaceuticals, paper coating and filling, food, paints, inks, coatings, thickeners and catalyst mixes.
In general, a sugar liquification system of the present invention comprises an eductor-mixer, a tank system, a working fluid circuit, a heater, a measuring device, a control system and a finished solution outfeed line. The eductor-mixer has a first inlet for receiving dry particulate sugar from a sugar feed system, a second inlet for receiving a pressurized working liquid adapted to mix with the dry particulate sugar to form a liquified sugar solution, and a discharge adapted for discharging the solution. The tank system receives solution discharged from the eductor-mixer. The working fluid circuit conducts pressurized working fluid to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer. The working fluid circuit includes a solution recycle line for conducting solution from the tank system to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer and a water supply line for adding water to the solution conducted to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer. A heater adds heat to the system to increase the temperature of the solution to a temperature at or above a specified temperature. The measuring device measures the sugar content of the solution. The control system automatically adjusts the amount of sugar supplied to the first inlet of the eductor-mixer and/or the amount of water added to the solution supplied as working fluid to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer if the sugar content of the solution, as measured by the measuring device, is different from a target sugar content. The finished solution outfeed line conducts finished solution from the tank system to a desired location when the sugar content of the solution is substantially at the target sugar content.
A sugar liquification process of this invention comprises the steps of:
a) continuously feeding dry particulate sugar to a first inlet of an eductor-mixer,
b) continuously pumping a pressurized working fluid including water to a second inlet of the eductor-mixer to enable mixing of the working fluid and the sugar in the eductor-mixer to form a liquified sugar solution,
c) delivering solution from the eductor-mixer to a tank system,
d) measuring the sugar content of solution discharged by the eductor-mixer and comparing the measured sugar content of the solution to a target sugar content,
e) if the measured sugar content is different from the target sugar content, automatically adjusting the amount of sugar fed to the first inlet of the eductor-mixer and/or the amount of water in the working fluid fed to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer thereby to adjust the sugar content of the solution, and
f) if the measured sugar content is substantially equal to the target sugar content, continuously conducting finished solution from the holding tank to a desired location.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4186772 (1980-02-01), Handleman
patent: 4860959 (1989-08-01), Handleman
patent: 5544951 (1996-08-01), Alack
patent: 009610455A1 (1996-04-01), None
patent: 96/0455A1 (1996-11-01), None
Liquid Solids Control, Inc., “Process Refractometer Model 725 Brix, Spersaturation, and Seed Point Control,” undated, pp. 1-5 (admitted prior art) no month avail.
Semi-Bulk System, Inc., “The Air-Pallet® Ejector-Mixer system,” (1989,) no month avail. pp. 1-7.
Semi-Bulk Systems, Inc., “Show in Print Dry & Liquid Handling Systems with Dairy in Mind,”Dairy Foods®, Mid-(Oct. 1996) p. 33 (admitted prior art).
P. Lutz & C. Alack, “The Paint Plant for the 21stCentury,” Published (FEb., 1997), but the Dunn-Edwards installation Described therein was in public use prior to Oct. 28, 1996.
Brunsman David
Semi-Bulk Systems, Inc.
Senniger Powers Leavitt & Roedel
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