EP2166065B1 - Coloured briquettes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a grill briquette for the preparation of food on open embers as lumpy agglomerate comprising fine-grained to powdered coal or coke.

The invention further relates to a method for producing such briquettes.

From the EP 03 856 65 A2 For example, a briquette for burning in an open fire is described which consists of a mixture of fine carbons of various degrees of incineration and various additives such as iron oxide or magnesium sulfate to improve the burning properties and an organic binder such as molasses, bitumen or starch. The binder should ensure as low as possible burnup. Such a briquette is not suitable as a fuel for the preparation of food, in particular because of the relatively high proportion of volatile constituents.

A grill briquette of the aforementioned type and a method for its production are for example from DE 199 61 325 C2 known. This grill briquette is intended to substitute conventional grill briquettes made of charcoal dust and an organic binder, since the production of charcoal is relatively complex and expensive. In addition, the production of charcoal is not necessarily desirable because of the associated hardwood consumption from an environmental point of view.

Colored barbecue briquettes are currently not or at least barely known. It is known to provide coal briquettes by immersion in dye baths with a colored coating.

The immersion of hard coal briquettes in dye baths is only possible because as a binder in such briquettes molasses is used, which does not lose its binding properties when soaking through. Dipping baths for coloring for example lignite coke briquettes are not suitable because these briquettes usually have water-soluble binders and are hygroscopic. As a result, brown coal coke briquettes can not be dyed in dipping baths because they would structurally decompose by absorbing water.

From the US 4,822,380 For example, a lumpy carbon-based fuel is known which is provided with a latex-based cleanliness coating which may, for example, be colored. This fuel is not suitable as a grill briquette because of the nature of the cleanliness coating and because of an addition in the form of kerosene as ignition and burning aid.

From the document GB 1,152,968 there is known a process for producing a particulate fuel in the form of briquettes, which is intended to provide the briquettes with a clean coating in the form of a film-forming synthetic resin coating.

The document FR 567.924 A relates to the production of low-smoke fuels based on anthracite, cokes and lignite, with dyes and fragrances being added to the briquetting mixture before compression. The exact composition of the fuel and the composition and nature of the colorants and fragrances are not mentioned in the document.

From the US 2,139,398 there is known a particulate carbon-based fuel provided with a titanium dioxide coating as a clean coating.

From the GB 1 365 338 A are coal briquettes with an aluminum-containing silvery protective coating known, the coal briquettes have substantially pitch as a binder and the protective coating is applied by dipping the briquettes in an aqueous dispersion or a latex of a polymer comprising aluminum flakes.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a grill briquette on the basis of fine-grained or pulverized coal or coke, especially a lignite coke briquette, which at least externally has a slightly shimmering or up to fully opaque color for promotional purposes, on hygienic harmless Way. The color should also be resistant to abrasion and be quick-drying if necessary in the production.

The object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

It is particularly preferred if the coloring pigment was sprayed onto the already finished, optionally dried grill briquette. In particular, such a pigment application has production-related and cost advantages, since the spray application can optionally be carried out together with other auxiliaries, such as, for example, fragrances and / or ignition aids.

As coloring pigments, those pigments are provided which comprise pigment-based particles based on minerals. The pigments must be harmless to food law.

According to the invention, mica coated with titanium dioxide, tin oxide, iron oxide or with a mixture of titanium dioxide / tin oxide or titanium dioxide / iron oxide is used as the coloring pigment.

A particularly preferred variant of the grill briquette according to the invention is characterized in that the coloring pigment has a sieve diameter of at least 5 .mu.m, preferably at least 10 .mu.m and more preferably in the range of 10 to 50 .mu.m, or an average diameter determined by laser light scattering of at least 5 μm, preferably at least 10 μm and particularly preferably in the range from 10 to 50 μm.

The proportion of the surface-applied pigment on the grill briquette may be 0.0005 to 2 wt%, preferably 0.001 to 1 wt%, more preferably 0.005 to 0.5 wt%, and most preferably 0.01 to 0 , 1 wt .-% amount.

Charcoal or lignite coke are preferably considered as coal or coke. Due to their composition, lignite or hard coal are not suitable for use in grill briquettes for the preparation of food in open flames for food law reasons.

A variant of the grill briquette according to the invention is characterized in that the grill briquette comprises an organic binder, preferably in the form of starch or based on starch. The strength can be in the form of

Corn, wheat or potato starch may be provided. As a starch, for example, native starch can be used, which is mixed with water mixed and then mixed with lignite coke. Alternatively, cold-swelling starch can be used, which is mixed after addition of water with lignite coke. Finally, native starch can be used which, after addition of dry sodium hydroxide, is mixed with water or which is mixed with sodium hydroxide in aqueous solution. The sodium hydroxide serves as a gelatinization aid (catalyst). By admixing sodium hydroxide, gelatinization can take place without additional heating. Instead of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide can also be used. This is widely authorized in the EU as a food additive called E 525 with no maximum limit for food.

Optionally, the grill briquette may comprise fragrance additives and / or an addition of an oxygen releasing oxidant and / or other adjuvants.

In this case, the fragrance additives and / or the addition of an oxygen-releasing oxidizing agent and / or the other auxiliaries may each be distributed homogeneously in the agglomerate or, optionally together with the coloring pigment, be applied to the surface of the agglomerate, preferably by spraying.

The grill briquette according to the invention preferably has a composition of 80-90 wt .-% lignite coke, 5-10 wt .-% of the binder and optionally 0.3-3 wt .-% of the applied on the surface additive of an oxygen-releasing oxidizing agent , In addition to the 0.0005 to 2 wt .-% of the applied on the surface of the coloring pigment and fragrance additives and / or other auxiliaries may optionally be incorporated into the grill briquettes or applied to the surface of the briquettes. A particularly preferred variant of the grill briquette according to the invention comprises more than 85% lignite coke, preferably lignite fine coke (average grain size ≤ 1 mm), 5 to 10 wt .-% of a hot or cold swelling binder such as corn, wheat or potato starch and optionally 0.3-3 Wt .-% of the applied on the surface additive of an oxygen-releasing oxidizing agent. Here as well, in addition to the 0.0005 to 2% by weight of the colorant pigment applied to the surface, fragrance additives and / or other auxiliaries may additionally be present or applied.

The lignite fine coke can be substituted with feinstkömiger charcoal in any proportions. This can improve the ignition and annealing behavior of brown coal coke grill briquettes. Naturally, such a grill briquette still has a slower igniting and Durchglühverhalten than a pure charcoal briquette, so that the addition of an additive of an oxygen-releasing oxidizing agent can be recommended. What is said here for lignite fine coke is also generally applicable to grill briquettes based on normal lignite coke.

• gegebenenfalls die Herstellung eines wässrigen Bindemittelansatzes, vorzugsweise eines Bindemittels wie oben beschrieben in Form von Stärke oder auf der Basis von Stärke,
• gegebenenfalls die Vermischung des Bindemittelansatzes oder eines beliebigen anderen Bindemittels mit feinkörniger bis staubförmiger Kohle oder Koks, vorzugsweise wie sie oben beschrieben ist, und gegebenenfalls mit Duftadditiven und/oder einem Zusatz eines Sauerstoff freisetzenden Oxidationsmittels und/oder anderen Hilfsstoffen,
• das Stückigmachen feinkörniger bis staubförmiger Kohle oder Koks oder der Mischung durch Pressagglomeration,
• das Trocknen der Pressformlinge und
• das Aufbringen eines farbgebenden Pigments, wie es oben beschrieben ist, und gegebenenfalls Duftadditive und/oder einen Zusatz eines Sauerstoff freisetzenden Oxidationsmittels und/oder andere Hilfsstoffe auf die getrockneten Pressformlinge.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing a grill briquette, in particular a grill briquette as described above, comprising the following method steps:

• if appropriate, the preparation of an aqueous binder formulation, preferably a binder as described above in the form of starch or based on starch,
• if appropriate, the mixing of the binder batch or of any other binder with fine-grained or pulverulent coal or coke, preferably as described above, and optionally with fragrance additives and / or an addition of an oxygen-releasing oxidizing agent and / or other auxiliaries,
• the fragmentation of fine-grained to pulverized coal or coke or the mixture by press agglomeration,
• the drying of the press molds and
• the application of a coloring pigment, as described above, and optionally fragrance additives and / or an addition of an oxygen-releasing oxidizing agent and / or other auxiliaries to the dried press moldings.

The application of the coloring pigment can basically be carried out by immersion in a bath containing the pigment, by spraying or by brushing in the broadest sense. As mentioned in the introduction, in the case of hygroscopic briquettes with hygroscopic properties, e.g. by the use of water-soluble binders, dipping is detrimental. The application by brushing is impractical on an industrial scale.

In a preferred variant of the method according to the invention, therefore, the coloring pigment is applied by spraying. It is particularly preferred if the application is applied to the dried molded articles by spraying a dispersion containing the pigment. Water is preferably used as the dispersing agent, since it is cost-effective, food safe and harmless.

• durch individuelles Besprühen jedes einzelnen Grillbriketts;
• durch kontinuierliches Vorbeiführen der Grillbriketts mittels Förderer, z.B. Gliederband, Wabenband, Netz- oder Gewebeband, an einer Sprühvorrichtung;
• durch chargenweises Besprühen der Grillbriketts in einer Trommel, z.B. des Typs Rowamat der Firma Walther Trowal Gmbh & Co. KG;
• durch kontinuierliches Besprühen der Grillbriketts in einer Trommel im Durchlaufverfahren, insbesondere einer Trommel wie nachfolgend beschrieben.

The spraying of the preferably aqueous dispersion containing the pigment onto the dried compacts can be carried out by various methods:

• by individually spraying each individual grill briquette;
• by continuously passing the grill briquettes by means of conveyors, eg link belt, honeycomb belt, mesh or fabric tape, to a spraying device;
• by batch spraying the grill briquettes in a drum, for example of the type Rowamat the company Walther Trowal Gmbh & Co. KG;
• by continuously spraying the grill briquettes in a drum in a continuous process, in particular a drum as described below.

In a particularly preferred variant of the method according to the invention, the spraying is carried out by continuously spraying the grill briquettes in a drum in a continuous process, namely in a continuous spraying device (1) for wetting solids with liquids with at least one rotatably mounted spray drum (3) at least a partial length has an approximately cylindrical or conical drum shell (6), which in each case has an inlet (10) and an outlet (11) at the front, wherein inside the spray drum (3) means for lifting and dropping the grill briquettes above the axis of rotation of the spray drum (3) are provided and wherein the spray drum (3) of at least one stationary spray bar (13) is penetrated.

The grill briquettes are given in the inventive continuous flow sprayer at the upstream of the material flow provided end face continuously and continuously withdrawn at the downstream end face. The spray drum is preferably open at both ends.

It is understood that the end faces of the spray drum can be provided with covers (rubber flaps or the like) for noise reduction.

Characterized in that the spray drum is penetrated by a fixedly mounted spray bar, around which the spray drum rotates continuously, the grill briquettes can be lifted and dropped with appropriate installations in the spray drum so that they are at least moved by the spray cone or spray of the liquid to be sprayed and on be fully wetted this way.

Conveniently, the spray bar extends parallel to the drum axis. For the purposes of the invention, it makes sense if the spray bar extends parallel to the axis of rotation but eccentrically arranged with respect to the cross section of the spray drum.

The spray bar may have a plurality of spaced apart spray nozzles. The mixing internals in the spray drum are expediently designed so that the grill briquettes are dropped off above the drum axis or axis of rotation of the spray drum. Gravity caused then fall the grill briquettes through the spray cone or.

In an expedient and advantageous variant according to the invention it is provided that the inclination of the spray drum with respect to a horizontal mounting plane is adjustable. Such adjustment can also be made during operation of the spraying device.

Preferably, the spray drum is arranged on a tilt-adjustable base frame. Under the basic framework according to the invention is not necessarily only a skeleton structure to understand, but this may also be a platform or a base that is adjustable in inclination. On the base frame, the drive of the spray drum and the spray bar can be fixed, so that, for example, the spray bar carries along each tilt adjustment of the base frame and its location is so clearly defined with respect to the drum axis.

If, as is provided according to the invention, the continuous spray device is used for mixing and wetting the abrasion-sensitive grill briquettes, it is expedient if the drum shell has at least partially sieves forming openings through which the abrasion can be removed.

The spray drum may have, for example, on the last third of their length in the transport direction of the grill briquettes several evenly distributed over its circumference arranged sieve openings. The sieves may be formed, for example, as a slot sieves.

Preferably, a plurality of axially extending guide and / or lifting plates are arranged in the interior of the spray drum. These axially extending internals fulfill both the function of lifting the grill briquettes and the guidance of the briquettes in the direction of the drum axis or in the direction of the axis of rotation. Preferably, the axially extending guide and lifting plates are arranged distributed at a constant distance from each other over the inner circumference of the drum shell.

In the transport direction of the grill briquettes to the axially extending guide and lifting plates can directly extending at an angle to the axis of rotation Baffles may be provided, which are preferably arranged in the region of the outlet of the spray drum. With these baffles the material discharge can be channeled, for example, so that the material can be selectively dropped onto a arranged below the outlet webbing conveyor.

The drum inlet, for example, a task chute, for example, be connected upstream as a half-shell slide.

It is advantageous if a collecting device for the grill briquettes is provided below the spray drum in the region of the screen openings. In particular, through the screen openings in the last third of the spray drum clogging of the same due to accumulating Brikettabrieb is reliably prevented.

The invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht der Durchlauf-Sprüheinrichtung gemäß der Erfindung,

Figur 2

eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linien II-II in Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linien III-II in Figur 1,

Figur 4

einen Längsschnitt durch die Sprühtrommel und

Figur 5

einen Schnitt entlang der Linien V-V in Figur 4.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a side view of the continuous spray device according to the invention,

FIG. 2

a sectional view taken along the lines II-II in Figure 1,

FIG. 3

a sectional view taken along the lines III-II in Figure 1,

FIG. 4

a longitudinal section through the spray drum and

FIG. 5

a section along the lines VV in Figure 4.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1. The continuous spray device according to the invention, designated 1, comprises a base frame 2 on which a spray drum 3 is rotatably mounted. The spray drum 3 is rotatably supported on the base frame 2 via a total of four non-driven rollers 4. The drive of the spray drum 3 via an electric motor 5, which is also arranged on the base frame 2. The electric motor 5 is designed as a mechanically adjustable geared motor, which is connected via a drive rack pinion with a stretched over the drum casing 6 roller chain 7 in engagement.

The base frame 2 is supported by feet 8 with a bottom plate 9 against the mounting plane.

As already mentioned above, the drum shell 6 is cylindrical and has a designated end face inlet 10 and a designated 11 opposite frontal outlet. Both end faces of the spray drum 3 are substantially open.

About one or both feet 8, the base frame 2 is adjustable in its inclination between 0 ° and about 10 °, even during operation of the continuous sprayer. For this purpose, one or both feet 8 via clamping spindles with trapezoidal thread in height adjustable.

The inlet 11 is fed via an unillustrated task chute, which is preferably designed as a half-shell chute and is centrally located at a chute angle of about 30 ° to 35 ° in the lower part of the inlet 11, with material. Below the outlet 11, for example, a conveyor belt is arranged, on which the material can be dropped. The inlet-side edge 12 of the spray drum 6 is conically tapered upstream of the flow of material to prevent backstroke briquettes from escaping the briquettes on the page in question.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2 and 4, a spray bar 13 is furthermore supported on the base frame 2 in a freestanding manner. The spray bar 13 is stationary on the base frame 2, ie also arranged rotationally fixed and passes through the spray drum 3 almost completely, which extends parallel to the axis of rotation and at a distance to this, so that the spray bar 13 is arranged off-center with respect to the cross section of the spray drum 3 , On the Spray bars 13 are spaced from each other four spray nozzles 14, from which a liquid can be added to the grill briquettes without the addition of atomizing air or the like.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 2, the spray bar 13 is arranged eccentrically so that the mixing internals referred to below can throw off the grill briquettes above the drum axis through the spray cone 15 of the spray nozzles.

As mixing internals 3 axially extending baffles 16 are arranged uniformly over the circumference of the spray drum 3 inside the spray drum inside. The guide plates 16 extend parallel to the drum axis or to the axis of rotation and are in the illustrated embodiment against the direction of rotation of the spray drum 3 (clockwise) angled.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 5, baffles 17 are further arranged in the region of the outlet end of the spray drum 3 in the interior of which further extends radially inwardly at an angle to the drum axis. These baffles 17 (8 in number) extend on the circumference of the spray drum 3 each between the baffles 16 (also a total of 8 pieces). The guide plates 17 are arranged so that the material flow is channeled in the region of the outlet 11 of the spray drum 3.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 4, a plurality of perforations 18, which are distributed over their circumference, are provided in the drum casing 6 approximately in the last third of the spraying drum 3.

Via the screen openings 18, which can be realized, for example, in the form of gap screens, material abrasion or briquette abrasion can be dissipated into a collecting trough 9 arranged below the spray drum 3 on the base frame 2.

In the direction of Grillbri8ketttransports the spray drum 3 is intercepted by a circumferential collar 20 against a centrally disposed on the base frame 2 support roller 21.

22, the spray drum 3 mutually enclosing safety grille is called.

Reference numerals:

1

Pass spray

2

base frame

3

spray drum

4

castors

5

electric motor

6

drum shell

7

roller chain

8th

feet

9

baseplate

10

enema

11

outlet

12

edge

13

spray

14

spray nozzles

15

spray cones

16

baffles

17

baffles

18

Siebdurchbrüche

19

drip tray

20

collar

21

supporting role

22

security bars

Claims (12)

1. Barbecue briquette for preparing meals on open embers as piece-like agglomerate comprising fine-grained to powdered coal or coke, comprising a colouring pigment which is applied to the surface of the agglomerate, wherein the colouring pigment comprises pigment-type mineral-based particles, the pigment-type mineral-based particles are substantially platelet-shaped, characterized in that the colouring pigment provided is mica coated with titanium dioxide, tin oxide, iron oxide or with mixtures of titanium dioxide/tin oxide or titanium dioxide/iron oxide.
2. Barbecue briquette according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pigment has a sieve diameter of at least 5 µm, or a median diameter determined by laser light scattering of at least 5 µm.
3. Barbecue briquette according to either of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fraction of the pigment on the barbecue briquette applied to the surface is 0.0005 to 2% by weight.
4. Barbecue briquette according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coal or coke is wood charcoal or brown coal coke.
5. Barbecue briquette according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the barbecue briquette comprises an organic binder, preferably in the form of starch or based on starch.
6. Barbecue briquette according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the barbecue briquette comprises fragrance additives and/or an addition of an oxygen-liberating oxidizer and/or other auxiliaries.
7. Barbecue briquette according to Claim 6, characterized in that the fragrance additives and/or the addition of an oxygen-liberating oxidizer and/or the other auxiliaries are each distributed homogeneously in the agglomerate independently of one another or are applied to the surface of the agglomerate.
8. Barbecue briquette according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized by a composition of 80-90% by weight of brown coal coke, 5-10% by weight of the binder, 0.0005 to 2% by weight of the colouring pigment applied to the surface, and optionally 0.3-3% by weight of the addition of an oxygen-liberating oxidizer applied to the surface and/or fragrance additives and/or other auxiliaries.
9. Process for producing a barbecue briquette according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, comprising the following process steps:

   - optionally producing an aqueous binder batch,

   - optionally mixing the binder batch or any desired other binder with fine-grained to powdered coal or coke and optionally with fragrance additives and/or an addition of an oxygen-liberating oxidizer and/or other auxiliaries,

   - making fine-grained to powdered coal or coke or the mixture into piece-form by compression agglomeration,

   - drying the compressed mouldings and

   - applying a colouring pigment in the form of platelet-shaped pigment-form mineral-based particles in the form of mica which is coated with titanium dioxide, tin oxide, iron oxide or with mixtures of titanium dioxide/tin oxide or titanium dioxide/iron oxide and optionally fragrance additives and/or an addition of an oxygen-liberating oxidizer and/or other auxiliaries to the dried compressed mouldings.
10. Process according to Claim 9, characterized in that the colouring pigment is applied by spraying a dispersion containing the pigment onto the dried compressed mouldings, wherein the dispersion is preferably an aqueous dispersion.
11. Process according to Claim 10, characterized in that the dispersion containing the pigment is sprayed onto the dried compressed mouldings by individual spraying of each individual barbecue briquette, by continuously conducting the barbecue briquette past a spray device by means of a conveyor, by batchwise spraying of the barbecue briquette in a drum, or by continuous spraying of the barbecue briquette in a drum in the continuous process.
12. Process according to Claim 11, characterized in that the spraying proceeds in a continuous spraying appliance (1) for wetting solid substances with liquids having at least one rotatably mounted spraying drum (3) which, over at least a partial length, has a roughly cylindrical or conical drum shell (6) which has one inlet (10) and one outlet (11) in each case at an end face, wherein, in the interior of the spraying drum (3), means for elevating and casting off the barbecue briquette are provided above the axis of rotation of the spraying drum (3), and wherein at least one stationary spraying beam (13) passes through the spraying drum (3).