IPC분류정보
| 국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
| 국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
| 출원번호 |
US-0279065
(2011-10-21)
|
| 등록번호 |
US-8293018
(2012-10-23)
|
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Koenig, Peter M.
- Kimball, Gregory J.
- Phillips, David Lonnie
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| 출원인 / 주소 |
|
| 대리인 / 주소 |
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| 인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
44 |
초록
▼
Systems and processes may be used for continuously processing a solid material such as a solid starch-bearing material at a non-atmospheric pressure. In some examples, the material is delivered to a process vessel at substantially the same non-atmospheric pressure condition as the process vessel so
Systems and processes may be used for continuously processing a solid material such as a solid starch-bearing material at a non-atmospheric pressure. In some examples, the material is delivered to a process vessel at substantially the same non-atmospheric pressure condition as the process vessel so as to avoid shearing the material. In some examples, the solid material is continuously fed into a process vessel, continuously processed in the process vessel, and continuously discharged from the process vessel.
대표청구항
▼
1. A method for continuously treating a starch-bearing material at a non-atmospheric pressure, the method comprising: delivering a starch-bearing material to a hydration control apparatus;at least one of increasing or decreasing an amount of moisture in the starch-bearing material within the hydrati
1. A method for continuously treating a starch-bearing material at a non-atmospheric pressure, the method comprising: delivering a starch-bearing material to a hydration control apparatus;at least one of increasing or decreasing an amount of moisture in the starch-bearing material within the hydration control apparatus;delivering the starch-bearing material from the hydration control apparatus to a material delivery apparatus, the material delivery apparatus including a chamber that defines a feed end and a discharge end, a first valve proximate the feed end of the chamber, and a second valve proximate the discharge end of the chamber, wherein delivering the starch-bearing material to the material delivery apparatus comprises delivering the starch-bearing material to the chamber of the material delivery apparatus with the first valve open and the second valve closed;closing the first valve of the material delivery apparatus so as to pressure isolate the starch-bearing material within the chamber of the material delivery apparatus;adjusting a pressure within the chamber of the material delivery apparatus to a non-atmospheric pressure that is substantially equal to a non-atmospheric pressure in a process vessel downstream of the material delivery apparatus;opening the second valve of the material delivery apparatus and delivering the starch-bearing material from the chamber of the material delivery apparatus to the process vessel; andheating the starch-bearing material within the process vessel. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the starch-bearing material comprises at least one of a wheat, a bran, an oat, or a corn. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of increasing or decreasing the amount of moisture in the starch-bearing material comprises at least one of increasing or decreasing the amount of moisture in the starch-bearing material until the starch-bearing material exhibits a moisture content ranging from 14 wt % water to 55 wt % water. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the hydration control apparatus comprises a mixer. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the pressure within the chamber of the material delivery apparatus comprises increasing the pressure with the chamber until the pressure ranges from 10 psig to 55 psig. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting the pressure within the chamber comprises injecting steam into the chamber. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein heating the starch-bearing material within the process vessel comprises indirectly heating the starch-bearing material within the process vessel to a temperature ranging from 200 degrees F. to 300 degrees F. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein opening the second valve of the material delivery apparatus and delivering the starch-bearing material from the chamber of the material delivery apparatus to the process vessel comprises delivering the starch bearing to a second chamber positioned between the discharge end of the chamber and the process vessel such that the starch-bearing material substantially blocks fluid communication between the chamber and the process vessel, thereby establishing a gas composition at the discharge end of the chamber that is different than a gas composition in the process vessel. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the material delivery apparatus comprises a first material delivery apparatus and further comprising a second material delivery apparatus positioned downstream of the process vessel, the second material delivery apparatus comprising a chamber that defines a feed end and a discharge end, a first valve proximate the feed end of the chamber, and a second valve proximate the discharge end of the chamber, the method comprising delivering the starch-bearing material from the process vessel to the second material delivery apparatus with the first valve open and the second valve closed. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising drying the starch-bearing material until the starch-bearing material exhibits a moisture content less than 14 wt % water, and cooling the starch-bearing material to a temperature less than 100 degrees F. 11. A method for continuous treatment of a material containing a solid component at a non-atmospheric pressure, the method comprising: delivering at a substantially atmospheric pressure the material containing the solid component to a first chamber having a feed end and a discharge end;closing a first valve proximate the feed end of the first chamber;adjusting a pressure of the first chamber to a non-atmospheric pressure substantially equal to a non-atmospheric pressure in a second chamber, the second chamber having a feed end and a discharge end, the second chamber being separated from the first chamber by a second valve located proximate the feed end of the second chamber and the discharge end of the first chamber;opening the second valve;delivering the material containing the solid component to the second chamber through the second valve;continuously delivering the material containing the solid component from the second chamber to a process vessel in delivery communication with the second chamber, the process vessel operating at a non-atmospheric pressure, the second chamber being at substantially the same non-atmospheric pressure as the process vessel; andcontinuously processing the material containing the solid component in the process vessel. 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method includes the step of opening the first valve before the material is delivered to the first chamber. 13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method includes the step of closing the second valve after the material has been delivered to the second chamber. 14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the material containing the solid component is in the form of particulate solids, pulverized solids, wetted solids, wet cake, paste or slurry. 15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the solid component includes one or more of a botanical, a herb, a spice, a pulse, a flour component, a whole grain bran fraction, a germ fraction, an endosperm fraction, and a starch. 16. A method according to claim 11, wherein continuously delivering the material containing the solid component from the second chamber to a process vessel step includes delivering the material from the second chamber to a feed metering mechanism and from the feed metering mechanism to the process vessel, the feed metering mechanism being at substantially the same non-atmospheric pressure as the second chamber and the process vessel. 17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the continuously processing includes one or more of pasteurization, sterilization, enzyme deactivation, starch modification, starch gelatinization, flavor modification, and material texture modification.
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