Stork Amsterdam B.v.

Willem F Hermans

Louwrens J Van Eijk

During a heat treatment in continuous flow of a product mixture consisting of a liquid containing solid particulates, the mixture is heated to a certain desired temperature in one or more heat exchange sections, held at this temperature in a heat-holding section for a certain time, and then cooled to the desired end temperature in one or more heat exchange sections. The residence time of the solid particulates in the heat-holding section is regulated separately and independently of the residence time of the liquid in the heat-holding section, while the solid particulates are constantly flowed round by the liquid. If there are solid particulates of various sizes in the liquid, the residence time of the various size fractions of solid particulates is regulated separately depending on the size of the solid particulates in a particular fraction. With this fraction-specific heat treatment it can be achieved that both the solid particulates of differing size and the liquid in the product mixture acquire a minimum required processing value, while at the same time it is prevented that one or more of the size fractions of solid particulates or the liquid is exposed to a high temperature for an unnecessarily long time, which can lead to deteroriation of the quality of the product mixture. The device for carrying out the process comprises a heat-holding device with one or more retaining devices. Each retaining device is designed for retaining solid particulates of a certain size and larger during a certain time and allowing the smaller particulates and the liquid to pass.

Process and device for heat treatment in continuous flow of a product

An apparatus comprises a cylindrical vessel provided at one end with an inlet and at the other end with an outlet for the mixture. A conveyor mechanism acting selectively on the solid pieces in the mixture is disposed in the vessel. The conveyor mechanism has a rotor in the form of a shaft coaxially rotatable in the vessel and provided with at least one series of rotor arms on the shaft, extending radially and lying substantially next to one another and spaced apart in the axial direction. The conveyor mechanism also has a stator in the form of at least one series of stator arms extending radially inwards from the wall of the vessel and lying substantially next to one another and spaced apart in the axial direction. The stator arms extend between the rotor arms and reach to a point close to the rotor shaft. The mutual distance between the rotor arms and the mutual distance between the stator arms, in the axial direction, varies from the inlet to the outlet, the variation occurring mainly in one direction. In the case both of the rotor arms and of the stator arms a radially extending side edge of an arm is, viewed in the axial direction of the rotor and the stator, adjacent to or situated within the periphery of a following arm, so that a solid piece moving through the vessel can pass through between two neighbouring arms only transversely to the axial direction of the vessel.

Apparatus for keeping at a determined temperature a product mixture

When maintaining a flow of a mixture of products consisting of a liquid of low to medium viscosity incorporating solid particles at a certain temperature and for a certain period of time the mixture remains for some time in a vessel of a substantially cylindrical shape. The residence time in the vessel of the solid particles mixed with the liquid is controlled separately from the liquid in that the solid particles are carried through the vessel at a regulable speed, independently of the speed of flow of the liquid through the vessel, with the aid of a rotatable conveyor means which is permeable to liquid but not to the solid particles and whose axis of rotation coincides with the axis of the vessel. The solid particles remain mixed with the liquid. The residence time of the solid particles is regulated such that the core of the solid particles attains the same temeprature as the liquid, without the liquid remaining for too long a time at the desired end temperature.

Method and apparatus for maintaining a mixture of products at a certain

When maintaining a flow of a mixture of products consisting of a liquid of low to medium viscosity incorporating solid particles at a certain temperature and for a certain period of time the mixture remains for some time in a vessel of a substantially cylindrical shape. The residence time in the vessel of the solid particles mixed with the liquid is controlled separately from the liquid in that the solid particles are carried through the vessel at a regulable speed, independently of the speed of flow of the liquid through the vessel, with the aid of a rotatable conveyor means which is permeable to liquid but not to the solid particles and whose axis of rotation coincides with the axis of the vessel. The solid particles remain mixed with the liquid. The residence time of the solid particles is regulated such that the core of the solid particles attains the same temperature as the liquid, without the liquid remaining for too long a time at the desired end temperature.

A method and apparatus for the thermal treatment of a liquid, in particular for the sterilization of milk, in which said liquid is brought to a predetermined temperature and pressure, means being provided for a rapid adaptation of the heat supply dependent upon both the temperature of the treated liquid and the supply rate of the fresh liquid.

Method for adjustably heating a liquid

An apparatus for sterilizing a liquid by means of steam injection, comprising a conduit with a liquid supply, at least one steam injector, a pressure reducing valve and an expansion vessel. The valve consists of a circular plate with a spindle extending through the wall of the conduit by means of two sealings between which a chamber is formed having an inlet and an outlet for a sterilizing medium.

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Amstelveen, Netherlands

Willem F Hermans