EP4122590A1 - Preconditioner for laboratory or testing, in particular for treating dry food or feedstuffs - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a preconditioner (1) for laboratory or test operation, in particular for treating dry food or feed, comprising a housing (2) with a mixing chamber (3), the quotient of the length of the mixing chamber and the inside diameter of the clear cross-section of the mixing chamber is between 12 and 15.

Description

The invention relates to a preconditioner for laboratory or experimental operation, in particular for treating dry food or feed, comprising a housing with a mixing chamber, the quotient of the length of the mixing chamber and the inside diameter of the clear cross section of the mixing chamber being between 12 and 15 . In addition, the invention has variable design options for the process length and dosing positions.

The conditioning of e.g. food and feed serves to hydrate the raw material mixture and/or to introduce thermal energy, e.g. in the form of steam, into the product. A preconditioner is intended to achieve the best quality and improved bioavailability of food and feed. At the same time, the treatment serves to prepare for subsequent process steps, such as pelleting using an extruder downstream of the preconditioner. A preconditioner can be used to achieve an effective and at the same time cost-effective mixing and heat treatment of such foodstuffs and feedstuffs.

• Verarbeitung von Rohmaterialien mit unerwünschten Eigenschaften, wie niedrige Schüttdichte, hochviskose und feuchte Materialien,
• Verbesserung der Bioverfügbarkeit von Inhaltsstoffen,
• Erhöhung des Massenstroms der kompletten Verarbeitungsanlage,
• Dosieren von temperaturempfindlichen Rohmaterialien und/oder Zusatzstoffen,
• Verbesserte Prozessstabilität.

The pre-treatment in the pre-conditioner results in the following advantages for the manufacturing process:

• processing of raw materials with undesirable properties, such as low bulk density, highly viscous and moist materials,
• improving the bioavailability of ingredients,
• increasing the mass flow of the complete processing plant,
• Dosing of temperature-sensitive raw materials and/or additives,
• Improved process stability.

Due to the flexible design of the pre-conditioner, both bulk materials and water, steam and other liquids, some of which are highly viscous, can be metered into the starting product at different positions along the process area in a firmly defined ratio of residence time and throughput. On precisely defined degree of filling achieves the best results in the area of adsorption and absorption of additives. In this way, ideal product treatment of the individual ingredients is achieved, with exact compliance with the operating parameters such as residence time, temperature and water content.

Prior art industrial preconditioners are designed for throughput. This means that they have comparatively large dimensions, i.e. relatively large-volume mixing chambers in order to treat as much material as possible in the shortest possible time. Mass flows of 0.3 to 30 tons per hour are common. However, it is problematic if the production of new products is to be tested on such systems. Correspondingly large test quantities of food and feed to be treated are then necessary. In the tests on these industrial plants, the corresponding process parameters often have to be tested and adjusted for the new product. This usually requires several test runs with correspondingly large quantities of raw material. This means that a lot of waste is produced in the test operation, which then has to be disposed of as waste. Setting up, starting up and shutting down as well as cleaning such industrial plants also involves considerable effort.

The present invention relates to the objects mentioned at the outset.

Based on this, there is therefore the task of specifying a preconditioner for laboratory or experimental operation, by means of which experiments in the conditioning of, in particular, foodstuffs and feedstuffs can be carried out without large amounts of rejects and the associated waste being produced. In addition, due to the variable arrangement of the dosing positions for solid and liquid dosing, different raw materials can be added to the process at different times. This results in various advantages. On the one hand, temperature-sensitive raw materials can be added to the process at a later point in time. Furthermore, native raw materials can be introduced into a matrix that is already subject to thermal and mechanical stress. In this way, interaction effects between the raw materials can be controlled in a more targeted manner. In addition to the aspects mentioned, the dwell time of the process can be adjusted due to the variable process length. For that he will Raw material introduced at a dosing opening oriented further to the discharge. The cleaning of such a device should also be simplified considerably.

When, according to the invention, dosing opening is mentioned, this also means a feed for additives to the mixing chamber of the preconditioner.

The object on which the invention is based is achieved by a preconditioner for laboratory or experimental operation, in particular for treating dry food or feed, comprising a housing with a mixing chamber, the quotient of the length of the mixing chamber and the inside diameter of the clear cross section of the Mixing chamber between 12 and 15, preferably between 13 and 14 and more preferably between 13.5 and 13.8 is dissolved. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, which can optionally be combined with one another.

The inventors have recognized that a skilful choice of the quotient of the length of the mixing chamber and the inside diameter of the clear cross section of the mixing chamber results in particularly optimal treatment, above all thorough mixing of the material treated in the preconditioner. On the other hand, it and its individual parts are particularly easy to handle, e.g. when cleaning. According to the invention, the stated quotient is between 12 and 15, preferably between 13 and 14 and particularly preferably between 13.5 and 13.8. The length of the mixing chamber can be between 90 and 120 cm and preferably between 90 and 100 cm, with the inside diameter of the clear cross-section being between 6 and 10 cm, preferably between 6 and 8 cm.

The inventors have further recognized that a mere miniaturization of known industrial systems to the laboratory or bench scale did not produce the desired result. It has been shown that the way in which media, such as steam or water, are fed and metered into the mixing chamber of the pre-conditioner cannot be adopted by industrial systems either. For example, water cannot be fed to a laboratory-scale preconditioner by means of gravity pressure or by means of line pressure, since the amount of water fed in is significantly smaller and is also more difficult to dose. In addition, a combination of steam and water in the form of a two-substance nozzle is disadvantageous, since with such a design, the steam escapes through the opening of the solids metering and this blocked. The water nebulized by the nozzle forms a barrier for the water vapour. Therefore, the mixing chamber preferably comprises at least three connections for water or steam in combination with a dosing opening for solids to feed the same to the mixing chamber, wherein the connections can be arranged at the periphery, preferably at the top of the mixing chamber. A nozzle can be connected to the connection in order to supply water to the mixing chamber, with the nozzle being designed as an atomizer nozzle, such as a two-component nozzle, in order to supply water to the mixing chamber using atomizer air, with the nozzle preferably being set up in such a way that the mixing chamber has 5 to 80 g of water per liter, preferably 10 to 50 g of water per liter of the volume of the mixing chamber can be supplied. A quantity sensor, such as a flow meter, can be connected upstream of the connection in order to detect or set the quantity of water or steam supplied to the mixing chamber. Such low amounts of water can only be supplied to the mixing chamber with such a nozzle and such a flow rate meter.

If according to the invention there is talk of laboratory or test operation, that is to say the preconditioner is set up according to the invention in such a way that it can in principle be operated on a laboratory bench. This means that it is set up in such a way that the dwell time of the material in the preconditioner can be flexibly adjusted depending on the length of the process. Thus, the dwell time is between 300 and 800 seconds when the process length (position 14) is fully utilized, at the dosing opening 17 between 240 and 470 seconds and at the dosing opening 18 at 170 and 400 seconds. The bulk density of the material to be treated is between 300 and 800 g/l, preferably between 400 and 600 g/l. During operation, the mixing chamber is filled to a maximum of one third, so that the material quantities in the mixing chamber range from 1 to 3 kg. If the process length is shortened, a cut-off disc can be attached to the mixing and conveying screw. This prevents the sample material from being pushed back into the rear space and the uncontrolled escape of steam. About 5 to 15 kg of material per hour can be treated in such a preconditioner. The amount of water vapor to be supplied to the mixing chamber can be 10 to 50 percent by weight, preferably 20 to 40 percent by weight, and the water content to be supplied can be 5 to 80 percent by weight, preferably 15 to 40 percent by weight of the material.

Advantageously, the mixing chamber can be essentially cylindrical on the inside, so that inexpensive round material can be used for the preconditioner.

A shaft is preferably arranged in the mixing chamber, with a multiplicity of paddles arranged on the circumference of the shaft. Such paddles, which serve as mixer or conveyor screws, are inexpensive to produce and optimally convey and mix the material added to the mixing chamber.

The shaft can be mounted at each of its axial ends by means of radial bearings, the radial bearings being supported directly or indirectly on the housing and preferably being accommodated in openings in the housing. A simple, cost-effective construction of the preconditioner can also be specified in which wearing parts, such as the radial bearings, can be easily replaced.

The shaft can be driven in rotation via a drive assigned to the preconditioner, with a controller being assigned to the drive, by means of which the speed of the shaft can be adjusted in order to keep the food or feed in the mixing chamber between 300 and 800 seconds at the dosing opening 17 between 240 and 470 seconds and at the dosing opening 18 at 170 and 400 seconds. It has been shown that these are the optimal process parameters.

In order to also detect and monitor the other process parameters, namely the temperature of the material to be treated or the housing of the preconditioner, a sensor for recording the temperature in the mixing chamber or the housing can be assigned to it.

Further measures improving the invention are presented in more detail below together with the description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1a, b

je eine schematische Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Vorkonditionierers gemäß zweier unterschiedlicher Ausführungsformen;

Fig. 2

eine mögliche Ausführungsform der Welle des Vorkonditionierers aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht auf die Lagerung der Welle aus Fig. 2.

Show it:

Fig. 1a, b

each a schematic side view of a preconditioner according to the invention according to two different embodiments;

2

a possible embodiment of the shaft of the preconditioner 1 ;

3

a side view of the bearing of the shaft 2 .

Figures 1a and 1b show a preconditioner 1 according to the invention in a highly schematic and therefore not to scale side view. This comprises a housing 2 in which a mixing chamber 3 is accommodated. The preconditioner 1 has a plurality of feeds 14, 17, 18 in order to feed the material to be treated, such as food or feed, to the mixing chamber 3 and a discharge 15 in order to discharge the material from this again after it has been treated. In the present case, the feed 14 and the discharge 15 are arranged on the circumference of the housing 2 . In the housing 2, more precisely, in the mixing chamber 3, a shaft 4 (see 2 ) arranged. This comprises a multiplicity of paddles 5 arranged on the circumference of the shaft 4. The shaft 4 can be driven by means of a drive 7, to which a controller 8 is assigned for setting its speed. Thus, the material supplied to the mixing chamber 3 via the feed 14 is mixed along the length L of the mixing chamber by the rotationally driven shaft 4 and the paddle 5 and discharged from the latter again via the discharge 15 . In addition, a cutting disc 19 (see Fig 3 ) to be attached. This separates the mixing chamber 3 into two separate chambers that are separate from one another. With this, the L/D ratio according to the invention for the mixing and conveying screw, ie the shaft 4 equipped with paddles 5, can be adjusted. In this way, the dwell time of the raw material in the mixing chamber 3 can be controlled in a more targeted manner. At the same time, the separating disc 19 prevents the sample material (raw material possibly with other additives) from being pressed back into the second chamber (rear space) and the uncontrolled escape of steam from it.

As in 3 shown, the shaft 4 can be mounted at both of its axial ends in or on the housing 2 by means of radial bearings 6 .

A plurality of connections 9, 10 for water and steam are distributed around the circumference of the housing between the feed 14 and the discharge 15. Connections 9 are for steam and connection 10 is for water.

The connections 10 for water connect directly to the single supply 14 ( Fig. 1a ) and the three feeders 14, 17 and 18 ( Fig. 1b ) on. At this a nozzle 11 for water is connected as well as a quantity sensor 12. In the flow direction of the water, the quantity sensor 12, such as a flow meter and then the nozzle 11, flows through first, before the water flows through the connection 10 into the Mixing chamber 3 is reached, for example, by nebulization. For this purpose, the nozzle 11 is preferably designed as a two-component nozzle, wherein it has a compressed air connection (not shown) in order to supply atomizing air to the nozzle 11 . In this way, 10 to 50 g of water per liter of the volume of the mixing chamber 3 can be supplied to the mixing chamber in a comparatively simple manner. Excess water vapor can escape upwards into the environment via the chimney 16 . Each connection 9 for steam can also be preceded by a corresponding quantity sensor 12 for adjusting the quantity of steam to be fed into the mixing chamber 3, although this is only shown for one connection 9 . The material within the mixing chamber 3 can be warmed up or heated by means of the steam supply via the connections 9 . Alternatively or additionally, an electric heater would also be conceivable in order to supply thermal energy to the material along the mixing chamber 3 .

The modular design results in advantages in the variability of the process control. Thus, further additives (solids, water, oil, etc.) can be metered into the mixing chamber 3 at the same time through the feeds 14, 17 and 18 solids metering and metering pumps. As a result, temperature- and/or shear-sensitive materials (fats, enzymes, vitamins, hormones, etc.) can be added to the process at a later point in time, which are processed more gently in the process. In principle, one of the other additions could be made Fig. 1b serve as a chimney in order to dissipate thermal energy in the form of steam from the preconditioner 1 at an early stage.

In the present case, a sensor 13 for recording the temperature in the mixing chamber 3 or that of the housing 2 is assigned to the central connection 9 for steam. Another sensor 13 can also be arranged in the area of the drop 15 . The sensors 13 are intended to detect the temperature of the material to be treated in the mixing chamber 3 .

The preconditioner 1 is dimensioned according to the invention such that the quotient of the length L of the mixing chamber 3 and the inner diameter of the clear cross section D of the mixing chamber 3 is between 12 and 15, preferably between 13 and 14 and particularly preferably between 13.5 and 13.8 lies. The preconditioner 1 can thus be dimensioned so small that it fits on a laboratory bench, but at the same time includes all the functions of a corresponding industrial plant. With one provided for laboratory or test operation Preconditioner 1 comparatively small test quantities of food and feedstuffs to be treated can be processed. In the test operation, there is comparatively much less waste that has to be disposed of as waste. The set-up, start-up and shut-down as well as the cleaning of such a pre-conditioner also involves significantly less effort than is the case with industrial systems.

Reference sign

1

preconditioner

2

Housing

3

mixing chamber

4

Wave

5

paddle

6

radial bearing

7

drive

8th

steering

9, 10

connection

11

jet

12

quantity sensor

13

temperature sensor

14

feeding

15

Release

16

chimney

17

feeding

18

feeding

19

cut-off wheel

D

Inner diameter of the clear cross-section

L

length of the mixing chamber

Claims (12)

Preconditioner (1) for laboratory or test operation, in particular for treating dry food or feed as raw material, comprising a housing (2) with a mixing chamber (3), the quotient of the length (L) of the mixing chamber (3) and the inner diameter of the clear cross section (D) of the mixing chamber (3) is between 12 and 15, preferably between 13 and 14 and particularly preferably between 13.5 and 13.8. Preconditioner (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the mixing chamber (3) is between 90 and 120 cm and preferably between 90 and 100 cm, with the inner diameter of the clear cross-section (D) being preferably between 6 and 10 cm is between 6 and 8 cm. Preconditioner (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mixing chamber (3) is essentially cylindrical on the inside. Preconditioner (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a shaft (4) is arranged in the mixing chamber (3) with a large number of paddles (5) arranged on the circumference of the shaft. Preconditioner (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a separating disc (19) can be placed on the shaft (4) in the mixing chamber (3), which divides the mixing chamber (3) into two chambers in order to To vary the process length and the quotient of the length (L) of the mixing chamber (3) and the inner diameter of the clear cross section (D) of the mixing chamber (3). Preconditioner (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the shaft (4) is mounted at each of its axial ends by means of radial bearings (6), the radial bearings (6) being supported directly or indirectly on the housing (2) and preferably in Openings of the housing (2) are included. Preconditioner (1) according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the shaft (4) can be driven in rotation via a drive (7) assigned to the preconditioner (1), a controller (8) being assigned to the drive (7), by means of which the speed of the shaft (4) can be adjusted in order to set the dwell time of the food or feed in the mixing chamber (3) to between 300 and 800 seconds, preferably between 240 and 470 seconds and particularly preferably between 170 and 400 seconds. Preconditioner (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the preconditioner (1) comprises a plurality of feeds (14, 17, 18) in order to supply the mixing chamber (3) with raw material or the material already present in the mixing chamber (3), raw material to be treated to supply further additives, such as solids or liquids. Preconditioner (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the mixing chamber (3) comprises at least three connections (9, 10) for water or steam to supply the same to the mixing chamber (3), the at least three connections ( 9, 10) on the circumference of the mixing chamber (3), preferably on its upper side, and preferably in the embodiment according to claim 8, between the plurality of feeds (14, 17, 18). Preconditioner (1) according to Claim 9, characterized in that a nozzle (11) can be connected to the connection (9, 10) in order to supply water to the mixing chamber (3), the nozzle (11) being designed as an atomizer nozzle, such as a two-component nozzle in order to supply water to the mixing chamber (3) by means of atomizing air, the nozzle (11) preferably being set up in such a way that the mixing chamber can be supplied with 5 to 80 percent by weight, preferably 10 to 50 g, of water per liter of the volume of the mixing chamber (3). Preconditioner (1) according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one connection (9, 10) is preceded by a quantity sensor (12), such as a flow meter, in order to detect or set the quantity of water or steam supplied to the mixing chamber. Preconditioner (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the preconditioner (1) is assigned a sensor (13) for recording the temperature in the mixing chamber (3) or the housing (2).

Images