AU608266B2 - Electroplasmolyser for treatment of vegetable raw material - Google Patents

Description

Signature of Deciarant(4 MirchaKiillovioh Bologa I To: The Commissioner of Patents SFP3 Director 11/8 1 I4JSERIIA (51)

PATENT

(43) AiA-- 827 oPrAHM4AUPTA P CT kHTEJ1EK1YAJ1bHOA C01CTBEHHOCT14 ME>KJIYHAPOZWAA 3ASIBKA, OHYE B O T 1 (51) Me~i~ayiapo0tHanii IacciibflKauifi Me%&H2&WOil J1HKVM: WO 89/01741 KB. 42 (SU) [PAUKOV, Jury Nikolaevich, Kishinev (22) 4aTa me~KWHap2tiiO noaxaqH: 14EBAHY BacHnfim rptiropbeBti4; Kimuil-eii a~ryCra 1987 (25.08.87) 277043, 6ynbsap COBeTCKOfI Apmri, at. 16, KB. 16 (SU) [CHEBANU, Vasily Grigorievich, Kishinev (71) 3a.rruejib: IIHCTI4TYT 71PH4KJIALIHOfI 01,43I4KH AKA,1EMMHH HAYK MOJLIABCKOf4 CCP [SU/ (74) Areirr: TOPrOBO-HIPOMbIIJIEHHAAI A-TATA KtiUJHHeB 277028, YjT. rpocynia, it. 5 (SU) [IN- CCCP; MOCKBa 103735, yni. KyA6b1LueBa,.ai. 5/2 (SU) STITUT PRIKLADNOI FIZIKI AKADEMII NAUK [THE USSR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND MOLDAVSKOI SSR, Kishinev INDUSTRY, Moscow (72) H3o6peTaTeJ9H: BOJIOFA M11pta KHpHJulBHtI; Kii- LUIHeB 277028, yii. rpocyna, &t 10, KB. 45 (SU) [BO- (81) YKa3auHib1e rocyllapCTBa: AU, BR, HU, JP, SE LOGA, Mircha Kirillovich, Kishinev BEP3OH CemeH EBniaTbeBM4; KiiwiiHeB 277045, MocKoBcKviRI np,,t 26, KB. 30 (SU) [BERZOI, Semen Ev- O11y6JluK0BRaa patievich, Kishinev F1Al1EJEHKO AHitpefx C oinyetnoMi o Me3xceyHapodno.4 noucxe AKoBneBwl; Kw111;HeB 277060, yri. Ee~nbcioro, at. 25/8, KB. 31 (SU) [PAPCHENKO, Andrei Yakovlevich, Kishinev IlAYKOB I0ptifi HHKon~ae- (54) Title: ELECTROPLASMOLYSER FOR TREATMENT OF VEGETABLE RAW MATERIAL (54) HaMaffie 113o6peTeHHA: DJIEKTPOrIJIA3MOJH143ATOP LW1I OBPAEOTKH4 PACTIITEJIboroO CL1PbA I /I

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AUSTRALIAN

31 MAR f989 PATENT OFFICE (57) Abstract An electroplasmolyser for treatment of a vegetable raw material comprises a casing of a cylindrical form, a first group of electrodes with flat contact surfaces, a second group of identical electrodes each pair of whicl'. is located between the electrodes of each pair of the first group. Each pair of the electrodes of the first grourK is oriented in relation to one another at a right angle. The axes of symmetry of the electrodes of each pair of the first group are located in the same plane, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing correspondingly to the axis of symmetry of the electrodes of each pair of the second group. Each pair of neighbouring electrodes (4) located along the casing is connected to different phases of a power source. The electrodes in each pair of the electrodes of the second group are connected to different phases of the power source.

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1 ELECTRIC PLASMOLYZER FOR TREATING VEGETABLE RAW MATERIAL Field of the Invention The invention relates to processing food products and, in particular, to an electric plasmolyzer for treating vegetable raw materials.

State of the Art Known in the art is an electric plasmolyzer for treating vegetable raw materials (SU,A, 428737), com- 10 prising a rectangular casing having inlet and outlet s* openings and accommodating two perforated plate electrodes extending in parallel with the longitudinal 0 axis. Spaces to be filled with juice are defined bet- 0 ween the side walls of the casing and perforated electrodes. Complete and uniform treatment of a comminuted vegetable raw material cannot be ensured in this plasmolyzer.

Known in the.art is an electric plasmolyzer for 0 treating vegetable raw materials (SU,A, 858732), com- 20 prising a casing having inlet and outlet openings and 00 accommodating annular electrodes between which there are provided electrodes which are installed pairwise and have a flat contact surface in contact with the raw 0: material. Each pair of electrodes having the flat contact surface in contact with the raw material being treated is spaced at one and the same distance from other pair and placed at 900 or 1200 with respect to each other.

This electric plasmolyzer cannot ensure uniform treatment of comminuted vegetable mass with electric current and high cell permeability cannot be ensured because of inadequate contact between the raw material being treated and the electrodes. Therefore, this electric plasmolyzer for treating a vegetable raw ma- *r 35 terial cannot provide high yield of juice.

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2 The most similar to the invention is an electric plasmolyzer for treating a vegetable raw material (US,A, 4608920), comprising a casing having inlet and outlet openings and accommodating a plurality of electrodes having a flat contact surface in contact with a raw material being treated which are uniformly spaced over its inner surface and which are connected to a three-phase power supply in such a manner that each pair of adjacent electrodes are connected to different phases of the three-phase power supply.

0 This electric plasmolyzer cannot ensure complete and 1 uniform treatment of comminuted vegetable mass since only a single-pass treatment can be carried out in such electric plasmolyzer. This electric plasmolyzer cannot 03.5 ensure an increase in cell permeability of vegetable mass 0 and high yield of juice either.

Disclosure of the Invention 20 The invention is to provide an electric plasmolyzer for treating vegetable raw material, comprising a casing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and accommodating a plurality of electrodes equally spaced i: over its inner surface each having a flat contact surface 25 in contact with the raw material being treated, which are 00.0 connected to a three-phase power supply in such a manner that each pair of adjacent electrodes are connected to different phases of the power supply, wherein the electrodes having a flat contact surface in contact with the raw material being treated form a first group of electrodes containing three pairs of identical electrodes extending along the casing which is cylindrical, each pair of the adjacent electrodes extending along the casing being connected to different phases of a three-phase power supply and the electrodes of each pair I of the first group being turned at 90° with respect to the next pair, and in that between the electrodes of each pair s/EM -3 of the first group having the flat contact surface there is provided one pair of identical electrodes forming a second group of electrodes, the electrodes in each pair of the second group being located opposite to each other, the axes of symmetry of the electrodes of the first, second and third pairs of electrodes of the first group and the axes of symmetry of the electrodes of the first, second and the third pair of electrodes of the second group being respectively in first, second, and third planes drawn at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the casing, the distance between end faces of the electrodes in any pair ••go of electrodes of the second group being equal to a distance from the periphery of the electrode of the first S .group having the flat contact surface in contact with the 0 raw material being treated in any pair of electrodes of :the first group to the periphery of the electrode of the of like pair of electrodes of the second group, in that the periphery of the electrode of each pair of electrodes of the second group is conjugated with its base by a surface :£0EO having a center of curvature located on the periphery of the electrode having the flat contact surface and a radius which is equal to the distance from the periphery of the electrode having the flat contact surface in contact with @0 the raw material being treated in any pair of electrodes of the first group to the periphery of the electrode in the like pair of the second group, the electrodes in each pair of electrodes of the second group being connected to different phases of the three-phase power supply, and each pair of adjacent electrodes spaced along a circle in a plane drawn at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the casing being connected to different phases of the power supply.

The end faces of all electrodes are preferably rounded.

h9 s/EM i 1 4 Owing to the employment of the electric plasmolyzer, e.g.

in a production line for primary processing apples to juice maximum possible destruction of cell cytoplasm takes place in cells that remained intact after a mechanical comminution of the raw material. Output of batch-action presses is thus increased, and the yield of apple juice increases by up to In treating mountain ash berries and tomatoes harvested by machines the yield of juice is up to 10% higher.

"10 As the juice yield increases, the apple husks contain less moisture so that fuel consumption is 10% lower in drying them and the rate of drying increases. Pulp is processed in the electric plasmolyzer in fractions of a second, and sugars, acids and vitamins of the feedstock *0* remain fully in the juice.

The electric action is very efficient in processing grape pulp and sugar beet cossette. Isabella varieties of grape (Vitis labrusca isabella) are pretreated with enzymes or heat during 12 to 48 hours and only after that :20 must is extracted. This process is associated with labour effort, employment of a large number of vessels and use of large production areas. The yield of gravity must increases by up to 6% with the electric treatment of grape, and the process of must extraction is carried out continuously in the flow.

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5 The electric treatment of cossette allows quality of diffusion juice to be improved, thermal energy consumption reduced, and juice yield increased by 0.1%.

The electric plasmolyzer does not require permanent monitoring of its operation and is reliable in use.

Brief Description of Drawings The invention will now be described with reference to a specific embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: 10 Figure 1 is a general view, in longitudinal section, of an electric plasmolyzer for treating a vegetable raw material embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the electric plasmolyzer for treating a vegetable raw material taken 15 along line II-II in Figure 1.

Figure 1; Figure 3 is an electrical diagram showing connection of electrodes to a three-phase power supply.

20 Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention An electric plasmolyzer for treating vegetable raw material comprises a cylindrical casing 1 (Figure 1) which is made of an insulating material. The casing 1 has an inlet opening 2 and an outlet opening 3. Three pairs of electrodes 4 having a flat contact surface in contact with a raw material being treated are provided on the inner surface along the casing 1 to form a first group of electrodes 4. Between each pair of electrodes 4 having the flat contact surface there is provided one pair of electrodes 5 forming a second group of electrodes 5, the electrodes 5 in each pair of the second group being located opposite to each other.

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0 C *0 pair of the first group are located opposite to each other and each pair is turned at 900 with respect to another pair. Each pair of the electrodes 5 of the second group is located between the electrodes 4 of the first group in such a manner that their axes of symmetry 6 are in one and the same plane drawn at right angles to a longitudinal axis 7 of the casing 1.

Arrow D shows the direction of flow of the vegetable raw material. An elongated adjustable treatment zone 10 is defined along the entire casing 1 by longitudinally elongated electrodes 4,5, the zone being defined by the surfaces of the electrodes 4,5, the ends 8 of the electrodes 4 and ends 9 of the electrodes 5 being rounded so as to lower hydraulic resistance to the raw 15 material flow.

Pipes 10,11 connected to the casing 1 tby flange joints 12,13 are provided at the .inlet and outlet openings 2,3 of the casing 1. The electric plasmolyzer is cut in a metal pulp line by welding the pipes 10 and 11 20 in the zone betwee.n a pump and a press (not shown in the drawings). The flange joints are connected to a common bus 14.

Figure 2 shows the electric plasmolyzer for treating a vegetable raw material in section taken 25 along line II-II in Figure 1, with the cylindrical casing 1 and with an electic diagram showing connection of the electrodes 4 and 5 to phases A,B,C of a three-phase power supply 15. Distance 16 between end faces of the electrodes 5 in each pair of electrodes of the second group is equal to a distance 17 between the peripheries of the electrodes 4 and 5. The periphery of each electrode 5 is conjugated with its base by a surface having its center of curvature located on the periphery of the electrode 4 having the flat contact surface and a radius 18 which is equal to the I I -7- 0 0

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*5 distance 17 between the peripheries of the electrodes 4 and 5. Each of the electrodes 5 and the pair of electrodes 4 are connected to different phases A,B,C of the three-phase power supply 15. Thus the electrode 5 (the upper in the center) is connected to the phase B, the next electrode 4 in the clockwise direction is connected to the phase A, and the electrode 5 next to it is connected to the phase C, the next electrode 4 being connected to the phase A.

Figure 3 shows an electric diagram of connection of the groups of electrodes 4 and 5 to the three-phase power supply 15. The electric diagram of connection of the electrodes 4 and 5 is so configured that each pair of adjacent electrodes 4 extending along the 15 casing 1 are connected to a different phase A,B,C of the power supply 15. The electrodes 4 and 5 having their axes of symmetry extending in one and the same plane drawn at right angles to the longitudinal axis 7 of the casing 1 are connected to one and different phases 20 phases A,B,C respectively, of the power supply 15. Thus, the first pair of electrodes 4 of the first group are connected to the phase A, and the electrodes 5 of the first pair of the second group are connected to the phases B and C; the second pair of electrodes 4 of the 25 first group are connected to the phase B, and the electrodes 5 of the second pair of the second group are cr.nnected to the phases A and C; the third pair of electrodes 4 of the first group are connected to the phase C, and the electrodes 5 of the third pair of the second group are connected to the phases A and B. This connection of the electrodes 4 and 5 ensures that one and the same number of electrodes 4,5 are connected to each phase A,B,C of the power supply 15. It will be apparent that the electrodes 5 in each pair of the second group are connected to different phases A,B,C.

-L 8 In the same manner, each pair of adjacent electrodes spaced along a circle in a plane drawn at right angles to the longitudinal axis 1 of the casing 1 are connected to different phases A,B,C of the power supply Operation of the electric plasmolyzer will now be described.

The electroplasmolyzer having the cylindrical casing 1 (Figure 1) functions with a pulp pump (not shown). A comminuted vegetable raw material, e.g. pulp, 10 is fed under pressure by a pulp pump into the casing 1, through the inlet opening 2 of the pipe 10 which is connected to the casing 1 of the electric plajmolyzer by the flange joint 12. The pulp flows around the 5 rounded ends 8 and 9 of the electrodes 4 and 5, respec- S 15 tively, to be uniformly distributed between the electrodes 4 and 5. As the vegetable raw material is being admitted to the treatment zone, each of the plurality of the electrodes 4 and 5 will come into play. Voltage is applied to the electrodes 4 and 5 from the three- 20 phase power supply 15 (Figure and the continuously flowing pulp is treated with electric current. Electricity acts simultaneously upon all vegetable cells that Sremained intact after the mechamical comminution of the vegetable tissue and, by virtue of translatory 25 oscillations of ions, protein coagulates in cytoplasms S* to form plasmoids and channels for the release of cell juice. Electric current treatment is carried out with a pre-set concentration of raw material and specific electric energy consumption. A change in concentration of the raw material in the electric treatment zone will change the intimacy of contact between the raw material and electrodes 4,5. Applying voltage to each pair of adjacent electrodes 4,5 from different phases A,B,C of the three-phase power supply 15 is carried out as the vegetable raw material is being fed into, and out -9of, the electric treatment zone. The plasm3lyzed pulp is discharged under pressure from the casing 1 through the outlet opening 3 of the pipe 11 with the flange joint 13 and is fed along a pipeline into a receptacle or a press (not shown). The pulp is treated in a closed plasmolysis chamber without an access of air oxygen so as to avoid burning of the raw material to the electrodes 4 and 5 and oxidation.

The number of the electrodes 4 and 5 of the 10 electric plasmolyzer is a multiple of three so that they are connected to the three phases A,B,C of the three-phase power supply 15 thus ensuring a short-time S treatment of pulp continuously in the flow, the cross- -sectional area of the casing (Figure 1) of the electric 15 plasmolyzer being enlarged by placing the electrodes between the electrodes 4 having the flat contact surface thus minimizing resistance offered by the electrode system to the flow of raw material and also enlarging the flat contact surface in contact with the raw ma- 20 terial being treated and increasing the output of the Sapparatus.

As a result of the electric treatment, permeability of cell tissue increases and the yield of juice also increases.

25 Therefore, connecting each pair of adjacent electrodes 4 of the first group having the flat contact surface to different phases A,B,C of the three-phase power supply, connecting the electrodes 5 in each pair of electrodes 5 of the second group to different phases A,B,C of the three-phase power supply, connecting each pair of adjacent electrodes 4,5 spaced along a circle in a plane drawn at right angles to the longitudinal axis 7 of the casing 1 to different phases A,B,C of the three phase power supply 15 and the rational position of the electrodes 4,5 result in the formation Ar A -0 *1T O, I I I II t -Li_ i 10 of a new electrode chamber having a larger contact surface thus ensuring uniform electric treatment of a comminuted vegetable raw material. Thus cell permeability of the comminuted raw material is increased and the yield of juice also increases.

The electric plasmolyzer with a rational arrangement of the electrodes 4,5 ensures efficient electric treatment of fruits, vegetables and root crops which give up juice and other nutrient substances without S 10 electric treatment with a lower yield. The electric plasmolyzer makes it possible to substantially increase the yield of juice from fruits and vegetables. The electric plasmolyzer is simple in structure, it is compact and easy to manufacture; it ensures free con- 15 veyanue and processing of raw materials, can be easily built in a production line, is reliable and safe in operation.

Industrial Applicability The invention may be used in production lines S 20 for processing fruit, vegetables and root plants for producing therefrom juice, pulp or plasmolyzed chip.

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Claims (1)

1. 9. third pair of electrodes of the second group being respectively in first, second, and third planes drawn at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the casing, the distance between end faces of the electrodes in any pair of electrodes of the second group being equal to a distance from the periphery of the electrode of the first group having the flat contact surface in contact with the raw material being treated in any pair of electrodes of the first group to the periphery of the electrode of the like pair of electrodes of the second group, in that the s/EM -C 1 12 periphery of the electrode of each pair of electrodes of the second group is conjugated with its base by a surface having a center of curvature located on the periphery of the electrode having the flat contact surface and a radius which is equal to the distance from the periphery of the electrode having the flat contact surface in contact with the raw material being treated in any pair of electrodes of the first group to the periphery of the electrode in the like pair of the second group, the electrodes in each 10 pair of electrodes of the second group being connected to different phases of the three-phase power supply, fee: and each pair of adjacent electrodes spaced along a circle in a plane drawn at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the casing being connected to .1:5 different phases of the power supply. 0* 0 2. An electric plasmolyzer for treating vegetable raw material according to claim 1, wherein the end faces of all electrodes are rounded. 0 3. An electric plasmolyzer substantially as herein I described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 28th day of December 1990 INSTITUT PRIKLADNOI FIZIKI AKADEMII NAUK MOLDAVSKOI SSR 000. 0. By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO.