초록 ▼

An apparatus for heating fluids to a relatively high temperature, such as sterilization temperature, in which the fluid, such as a liquid, is heated by direct contact with steam while it is in the form of a very thin, free-falling film or a continuous falling stream so that heating of the fluid is a

An apparatus for heating fluids to a relatively high temperature, such as sterilization temperature, in which the fluid, such as a liquid, is heated by direct contact with steam while it is in the form of a very thin, free-falling film or a continuous falling stream so that heating of the fluid is accomplished without the fluid coming into contact with any surface and particularly metal surfaces which are hotter than the fluid product being heated and with minimum agitation and turbulence of the fluid product. This procedure enables maximum and uniform heat penetration in a minimum time interval with the film or stream being maintained as thin as possible and unbroken by introducing steam at a relatively low velocity in a large volume vessel. A flow control is incorporated into the apparatus to maintain a constant flow rate of fluid and to maintain a constant and critical fluid level in the bottom portion of the large volume vessel with the flow characteristics of the apparatus and the internal forces produced by the apparatus serving to counterbalance each other to provide a relatively simple but yet accurate flow rate and liquid level controls for the fluid being heated.

대표청구항 ▼

A dispensing head for forming a fluid product into a thin, continuous isolated film comprising: an elongated tubular head means for forming a chamber for receiving a quantity of said fluent material, said head means having an elongated discharge aperture extending parallel to a longitudinal axis the

A dispensing head for forming a fluid product into a thin, continuous isolated film comprising: an elongated tubular head means for forming a chamber for receiving a quantity of said fluent material, said head means having an elongated discharge aperture extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof; supply means coupled to said elongated head means at a position opposite to said discharge aperture for supplying a quantity of said fluent material to said chamber, distributing means positioned within said chamber for distributing substantially equal quantities of said fluent material to each linear segment of said discharge aperture, said distribution means dividing said chamber into upper and lower segments interconnected exclusively by a plurality of apertures formed within said discharge means, said plurality of apertures distributed to form a progressively smaller net opening through said distribution means in a direction along said longitudinal axis of said head extending outwardly from said coupling position of said supply means, a sheet of flexible, chemically inert plastic material wrapped around said distribution means and having the free ends thereof extend through said discharge aperture to form a distribution guide for said fluent material. A system for processing fluent materials comprising: fluent material supply means for delivering a flow of said fluent material, preheating means coupled to said fluent material supply means for providing initial heating to said fluent material, high temperature sterilizer means coupled to said preheating means for subjecting said fluent material to a sterilization temperature for a short interval of time, balanced force control means coupled to said sterilizer means for maintaining a stable fluid level therein independent of changes in system dynamics, cascaded pressure, temperature control means coupled to said high temperature sterilizer means for controlling the pressure and temperature therein; flash cooling chamber means coupled to said high temperatue sterilizer means for cooling said fluent material after sterilization; further comprising: heated gas supply valve means for supplying a heated gas under pressure to said high temperature sterilizer means, pressure sensing means coupled to said high temperature sterilizing means for sensing gas pressure therein, temperature sensing means coupled to said high temperature sterilizing means for sensing fluent material temperature therein; and wherein said cascaded pressure, temperature control means is coupled to said valve means for controlling the supply of said heated gas delivered to said high temperature sterilizing means, in response to temperature and pressure measurements.