EP4311854A1 - Olive paste mixer and olive pressing plant - Google Patents
Olive paste mixer and olive pressing plant Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4311854A1 EP4311854A1 EP23020355.6A EP23020355A EP4311854A1 EP 4311854 A1 EP4311854 A1 EP 4311854A1 EP 23020355 A EP23020355 A EP 23020355A EP 4311854 A1 EP4311854 A1 EP 4311854A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- container
- olive paste
- olive
- mixer
- paste
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
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- 240000007817 Olea europaea Species 0.000 title claims abstract description 192
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 title claims description 31
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 title claims description 24
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 52
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 241000207836 Olea <angiosperm> Species 0.000 claims description 15
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000004006 olive oil Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 235000008390 olive oil Nutrition 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000007790 solid phase Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 55
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 21
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 17
- 235000019198 oils Nutrition 0.000 description 17
- 235000019568 aromas Nutrition 0.000 description 15
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 12
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 11
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 11
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 10
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 10
- 238000006213 oxygenation reaction Methods 0.000 description 9
- 239000012071 phase Substances 0.000 description 9
- 102000003820 Lipoxygenases Human genes 0.000 description 8
- 108090000128 Lipoxygenases Proteins 0.000 description 8
- 239000000796 flavoring agent Substances 0.000 description 8
- 235000019634 flavors Nutrition 0.000 description 8
- 239000002304 perfume Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 3
- 235000013824 polyphenols Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000019658 bitter taste Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000000110 cooling liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002255 enzymatic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000010462 extra virgin olive oil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000021010 extra-virgin olive oil Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- ISWSIDIOOBJBQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N phenol group Chemical group C1(=CC=CC=C1)O ISWSIDIOOBJBQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000003118 aryl group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 238000009412 basement excavation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000019636 bitter flavor Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003750 conditioning effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004320 controlled atmosphere Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003205 fragrance Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 230000001339 gustatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000016709 nutrition Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000001706 oxygenating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002978 peroxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000008442 polyphenolic compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000019633 pungent taste Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000005070 ripening Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008786 sensory perception of smell Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000014860 sensory perception of taste Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000035943 smell Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019654 spicy taste Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000019640 taste Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000009827 uniform distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000021081 unsaturated fats Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
- B01F27/60—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
- B01F27/72—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with helices or sections of helices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
- B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
- B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
- B01F23/234—Surface aerating
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
- B01F25/20—Jet mixers, i.e. mixers using high-speed fluid streams
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
- B01F35/90—Heating or cooling systems
- B01F35/91—Heating or cooling systems using gas or liquid injected into the material, e.g. using liquefied carbon dioxide or steam
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
- B01F35/90—Heating or cooling systems
- B01F35/92—Heating or cooling systems for heating the outside of the receptacle, e.g. heated jackets or burners
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
- C11B1/00—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials
- C11B1/06—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials by pressing
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
- C11B1/00—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials
- C11B1/06—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials by pressing
- C11B1/08—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials by pressing by hot pressing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
- B01F35/90—Heating or cooling systems
- B01F2035/98—Cooling
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
- B01F35/90—Heating or cooling systems
- B01F2035/99—Heating
Definitions
- the present invention relates to the olive oil production sector and in particular to machinery for enhancing the aromas and flavours of the oil after pressing the olives.
- a traditional olive pressing plant comprises a crusher 40 into which olives 90 enter and an olive paste comes out which, in turn, enters a malaxer 60, as illustrated in Fig.1 .
- the olive paste also passes through a separator 70 and into a clarifier 80, from which olive oil 110 comes out collected in a container 120.
- the temperature of the olive paste overheats in the crusher 40, for this reason it is preferable to crush cold olives, for example during the night or by cooling them in cold rooms, and/or to cool the olive paste using a heat exchanger 55.
- the oxidation process must be able to be interrupted when the oxygenation obtained is sufficient for the desired perfume and aroma objectives.
- the oxygen that naturally dissolves in the olive paste during pressing is inactivated thanks to the introduction of inert gases.
- the oxidative phenomena on the unsaturated fat acids and on the polyphenolic substances of the olive paste are limited or eliminated.
- the oxidative phenomena must be controlled and not suppressed or limited.
- a first object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by means of an olive paste mixer comprising: an inspectable container through which the olive paste flows between one end of the container and the other; an actuator configured to advance and mix the olive paste in the container; a liquid heat exchanger arranged on a lower portion of the container and placed in thermal communication with the interior of the container to exchange heat with the olive paste through a lower wall of the container; at least one air injector configured to eject purified air into the container so that the air flows over the olive paste flowing into the container.
- the container is open at the top, and comprises a lid for closing the container. The lid is configured to allow full access to the inside of the container when the lid is opened.
- the at least one injector is arranged and oriented so that the air expelled from the injector flows on the free-surface surface of the olive paste.
- the mixer thus conceived allows to oxygenate most of the olive paste that passes through it. In fact, the free surface of the olive paste is completely touched by the air jet, thus creating a greater exchange surface. Furthermore, the injection of fresh air into the mixer allows to oxygenate the olive paste and at the same time to cool it.
- the at least one injector is located in the headspace. The injection of air directly from the upper portion of the container prevents the at least one injector from being clogged by the olive paste. Furthermore, this positioning allows the air to be expelled so that it invests the entire free-surface surface of the olive paste.
- the air introduced is at a lower temperature than the temperature of the olive paste, and therefore allows a cooling of the olive paste which faces the head space.
- the portion of olive paste that is not hit by the jet of fresh air is in any case cooled by the walls cooled by the heat exchanger placed in thermal contact with the mixer container.
- the actuator in addition to advancing the olive paste towards the mixer outlet, allows to remix the paste and bring the paste near the bottom of the container to the surface and vice versa. Since the container can be inspected by opening the lid, the container can be easily examined and cleaned by an operator. The possibility of being able to carry out a deep cleaning of the container allows to remove all the olive paste residues that could contaminate or degrade the subsequently processed olive paste. The operator who carries out the cleaning is able to see the inside of the container and therefore understand whether it is clean or not.
- the container can comprise an upwardly flared shape to increase the free-surface surface of the olive paste which is invested by the jet of air expelled from at least one injector and therefore the heat exchange between the ejected air and the olive paste.
- the shape of the container can be flared towards the top. This shape allows for a double effect.
- the exchange surface between the air ejected by the injector and the olive paste increases considerably, improving the cooling and oxygenation of the olive paste.
- a wider container access mouth allows better inspection of the container and therefore better cleaning of the same.
- the predetermined air temperature can be between -5°C and 15°C, preferably between 2°C and 10°C.
- the jet of air leaving the injector is cold to cool the olive paste. Thanks to the mixer thus conceived, the optimal environmental conditions are reproducible even where the olives reach an early ripening and the ambient temperature during the olive pressing period is higher than 25°C.
- the container can have an elongated shape and an inlet for receiving the olive paste at one end and an outlet for expelling the olive paste at the opposite end.
- a container with an elongated shape and opposite inlet and outlet allow the olive paste to flow in a simple way, without employing pipes as known in the state of the art. In this way, the so-called headspace, thus the space between the container and the olive paste increases considerably and with it the heat and gaseous exchange between the olive paste and the ejected air.
- the actuator can comprise a screw conveyor arranged in such a way that its axis of revolution is parallel to a longitudinal development direction of the container.
- the screw conveyor allows the olive paste to advance towards the mixer outlet and to mix it in order to bring the olive paste that is on the bottom to the surface.
- the heat exchanger can be arranged between the lower wall of the container and a jacket external to the lower portion of the container.
- the liquid flows against the current of the olive paste. Since the upper portion of the container can be inspected and includes a head space, the heat exchanger is arranged in the lower portion of the container, to cool the portion of olive paste which cannot be cooled and oxygenated by the air ejected by the injector.
- the container can be divided into one or more chambers by partitions inside the container arranged transversely to the longitudinal development direction of the container.
- partitions inside the container arranged transversely to the longitudinal development direction of the container.
- the mixer may include a second injector configured to eject carbon dioxide into the container such that the carbon dioxide flows onto the olive paste flowing into the container.
- a second injector configured to eject carbon dioxide into the container such that the carbon dioxide flows onto the olive paste flowing into the container.
- the mixer is designed to be able to control the oxidative process by introducing carbon dioxide into the container.
- Carbon dioxide is the inert gas which preserves the olive paste better than others.
- carbon dioxide unlike for example nitrogen, does not remove the aromas from the olive paste.
- Carbon dioxide is in fact naturally produced by the olive paste itself.
- the mixer can comprise one or more of the following types of sensors: oxygen sensor; temperature sensor; pressure sensor. These sensors allow to control the oxygen/pressure/temperature value present in the container or in its chambers, so as to be able to consequently adjust the predetermined temperature or the flow rate of the air leaving the injector.
- a second object of the present invention is represented by an olive pressing plant comprising at least a mixer in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, a crusher suitable for crushing the olives and a separator of the liquid phase from the solid one of the olive paste, wherein the mixer is arranged downstream of the crusher and upstream of the separator.
- the mixer according to the present invention allows to optimize an olive pressing plant. In fact, in a plant of this type the number of malaxers and exchangers required is reduced, as the cooling of the olive paste leaving the crusher is carried out by the mixer and the malaxer can even be eliminated.
- the olive pressing plant can also comprise a second container placed downstream of the mixer so that the olive paste leaving the mixer enters the second container directly.
- Said second container includes a third injector configured to eject carbon dioxide into the second container. This second container allows to interrupt the oxygenation process that took place in the mixer in a sudden way thanks to the use of carbon dioxide in a closed environment.
- the plant can also comprise a pump and a second heat exchanger, preferably of the tube-in-tube type, configured to heat the olive paste leaving the mixer or second container.
- the olive paste after the aromas and flavours have been suitably enhanced in the mixer, is pumped into a second exchanger which allows the temperature to increase up to an almost optimal temperature for oil extraction. Heating the olive paste also makes it possible to enhance the spicy and/or bitter taste of the oil when the paste has been suitably deprived of oxygen in the second container or in the mixer.
- the plant can include a malaxer arranged downstream of the second exchanger and upstream of the separator of the liquid phase from the solid phase of the olive paste, so as to receive the olive paste leaving the second exchanger.
- the malaxer is used as a buffer to stabilize the flow rate of olive paste entering the separator.
- the plant can also comprise a clarifier arranged downstream of the separator of the liquid phase from the solid phase of the olive paste and configured to separate the olive oil from the vegetation water.
- a clarifier arranged downstream of the separator of the liquid phase from the solid phase of the olive paste and configured to separate the olive oil from the vegetation water.
- a third object of the present invention is represented by an olive pressing method comprising a step of mixing an olive paste comprising the sub-steps of:
- the mixing step may comprise the further sub-phase of ejecting carbon dioxide into the container.
- the ejection of carbon dioxide avoids stripping, thus the removal of perfumes from the oil.
- the mixing phase can comprise the further sub-phase of regulating the speed of the actuator to vary the contact time of the olive paste with the air at said predetermined temperature.
- regulating the advancement speed of the olive paste it is possible to control the quantity of olive paste in the mixer and in its chambers and the contact time of the air flow with the surface of the olive paste.
- the mixing phase may include the further sub-phase of varying the flow rate of the ejected air to regulate the pressure inside the container.
- a slight increase in pressure, for example by 0,5 bar, in the container or in one of its chambers allows for an improvement in the dissolvability of the gases in the olive paste.
- the method can comprise the step of overheating the olive paste after the sub-step of ejecting the carbon dioxide into the container.
- the ejection of carbon dioxide makes it possible not to lose and preserve the aromas of the olive paste.
- the subsequent overheating of the olive paste makes it possible to reduce the viscosity of the olive paste and therefore facilitate the extraction of the oil and therefore the yield in terms of pressing the olives.
- the method may include the step of separating the solid phase from the liquid phase of the overheated olive paste.
- the method can also include the step of clarifying the olive oil from the vegetation water. These phases make it possible to obtain the olive oil from the olive paste.
- the mixer 10 comprises an openable container 1 equipped with an inlet 1G and an outlet 1H arranged at opposite ends of the container itself.
- the container 1 has an elongated and flared shape. In essence, the cross-sectional shape of container 1 is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
- the section of the lower portion 1C of the container 1 has a semi-cylindrical shape, while the section of the upper portion 1L of the container 1 has the shape of a trapezoid or inverted triangle, as shown in Fig. 3 .
- the container 1 can be cylindrical (not shown) or cylindrical at the bottom and squared at the top (not shown). Other shapes of the container 1 are possible.
- the container 1 also comprises an openable lid 1F which allows easy and complete access to the internal space 1D of the container 1.
- This lid 1F allows the container 1 to be washed and cleaned at the end of each mixing, in a complete and accurate manner.
- the shape of the container 1, together with the lid 1F allows easy access to the entire internal space 1D.
- a heat exchanger 3 is connected to the lower wall 1E of container 1 configured to be in thermal communication with the internal space 1D of container 1 via the lower wall 1E, so as to exchange heat with the olive paste 9 which is located in the lower portion 1C of container 1.
- the olive paste 9 which is located at the bottom (lower portion 1C) in container 1 is cooled by heat exchanger 3 which, by cooling the lower wall 1E, allows the olive paste 9 to cool.
- the conditioning allows the temperature of the olive paste to be stabilized between 19°C and 21°C, so as to favour a better lipoxygenase of the olive paste 9.
- the heat exchanger 3 can be of the tube-in-tube type, as schematized in Figs. 2 and 3 .
- a cooling liquid can flow in the interspace outside the lower wall 1E, for example water, which does not come into contact with the olive paste 9, but allows it to cool through the lower wall 1E.
- This cavity is made up of an external jacket 1J and a portion of the lower wall 1E of the container 1.
- the cooling liquid preferably flows counter-current in this cavity with respect to the advancement of the olive paste 9, as schematized in Figs. 2 and 3 .
- Other types of heat exchangers 3 are possible, for example a tube bundle and shell exchanger (not shown).
- the actuator 2 comprises a screw conveyor 2A and a motor 2C for driving the screw conveyor 2A.
- the screw conveyor 2A rotates, in a known manner, around its axis of revolution 2B, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 .
- the axis of revolution 2B of the screw conveyor 2A is preferably parallel to the longitudinal development of the container 1.
- the screw conveyor 2A can be shaped to move and mix the olive paste 9. In this way, the olive paste 9 not only advances from the inlet end 1A to the outlet end 1B of the container 1, but it is mixed to mix better with the air present in the head space as better described below.
- An olive paste 9 is introduced in the internal space 1D of container 1 via the inlet 1G, as schematized in Fig. 2 .
- the olive paste 9 is mixed with the actuator 2 and at the same time advances towards the outlet 1H of the container from which it comes out for further processing steps, as better described below.
- the olive paste 9 present in the container 1 does not fill it completely, leaving above the free surface of the olive paste 9, thus its free surface which delimits the moving mass at the top, a space which is used to operate a heat exchange and oxygenation, as better described below.
- the container 1 can be divided into several chambers 5 by one or more septa 6 arranged transversely inside 1D of the container 1, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 .
- the one or more septa 6 are orthogonal to the axis of revolution 2B of the screw conveyor 2A.
- the septa 6 are shaped in such a way as to allow the rotation of the screw conveyor 2A.
- the at least one septum 6 allows to separate the chambers 5 but also to favour the mixing of the air with the olive paste 9.
- the septum 6 has a shape complementary to the internal shape of the upper portion 1L of the container 1 and has a semi-circular excavation within which the screw conveyor 2A rotates, visible in Fig. 6 .
- the chambers 5 make it possible to reproduce different environmental conditions in the head space of the container 1, as better explained below.
- this solution implies higher costs than the solution with several chambers 5 in the same mixer 10.
- the container 1 comprises in its interior 1D an air injector 4 configured to eject air at a specific temperature.
- the injector 4 is arranged and oriented so that the air flow leaving the injector 4 touches the free-surface surface of the olive paste 9 which flows into the container 1.
- the jet of air leaving injector 4 is a jet of cold air, thus with a temperature between -5°C and 15°C, preferably between 2°C and 10°C. These temperature values allow the olive paste 9 which comes from the crusher 40 to be cooled and oxygenated, as shown in Fig. 4 .
- the temperature of the olive paste 9 when it comes out of the crusher 40 is a function of the ambient and conservation temperature of the olives. In warm regions, i.e. where the ambient temperature is higher than 25°C during the olive pressing period, the temperature at the outlet of the crusher 40 risks exceeding 27°C (temperature limit for obtaining extra virgin olive oil).
- the olive paste 9 it is necessary to cool the olive paste 9 to enhance the aromas of the oil, in order to maintain the temperature of the paste between 19°C and 21°C and guarantee the lipoxygenase, i.e. the enzymatic process of formation of volatile compounds by oxidation.
- the temperature of the air delivered by the injector 4 will be more or less cold to achieve the aforementioned optimal temperature range for the lipoxygenase.
- the oxygen supplied with the ejection of air into container 1 allows the lipoxygenase process to start.
- an optimal lipoxygenase requires oxygen, head space for the development of perfumes, and a stabilized temperature between 19°C and 21°C. Outside this temperature range, longer aromatic structures develop and are less pleasant to the sense of smell and taste.
- a temperature sensor 8B is arranged near the inlet 1G of the mixer 10 and a further temperature sensor 8B' is arranged near the outlet 1H of the mixer 10.
- the temperature sensors 8B, 8B' are configured to detect the temperature inside the olive paste 9, therefore they remain in contact with the latter.
- By monitoring the two temperature values detected by the sensors 8B, 8B' it is possible to regulate the temperature of the air expelled from the injector 4.
- With the same temperature values of the olive paste 9 it is also possible to regulate the temperature inside the heat exchanger 3. In this way, it is possible to decrease or increase the temperature of the olive paste 9 in order to obtain said optimal condition for the lipoxygenase.
- the air expelled from the injector 4 is previously filtered by a filter (not shown) configured to eliminate waste and bacteria potentially capable of altering the characteristics of the olive paste 9.
- a filter configured to eliminate waste and bacteria potentially capable of altering the characteristics of the olive paste 9.
- a HEPA filter can be used.
- the olive paste 9 has achieved the desired aromas. These aromas are then confirmed downstream of the pressing system, by tasting and laboratory analysis of the oil 110 obtained from said olive paste 9.
- the olive paste 9 can be inertized by a jet of carbon dioxide expelled from a second injector 7.
- the ejection of carbon dioxide also allows the increase of polyphenols and therefore of the nutritional values.
- the second injector 7, like the first injector 4, is configured to invest the upper surface of the olive paste 9 which faces the head space of the container 1.
- the container 1 of Fig. 2 comprises three chambers 5, while that of Fig.4 comprises two chambers 5.
- the number of chambers 5 can be even higher.
- Each chamber 5 comprises an air injector 4 and/or a second carbon dioxide injector 7.
- the chambers 5 are used to avoid having to purchase and install multiple mixers 10 and arrange them in cascade to each other.
- the chambers 5 in fact reproduce conditions similar to those which occur inside a single chamber mixer.
- the olive paste 9 longitudinally crosses the chambers 5 and the septa 6 separate the head spaces of the various chambers 5. In this way, for example, air at 2°C can be ejected into the first chamber 5 of Fig. 2 , air at 10°C can be ejected into the second chamber 5 and only carbon dioxide into the third chamber 5. Since the gap between the screw conveyor 2A and the septa 6 is minimal, the olive paste 9 which advances in each chamber 5 tends to fill this gap, isolating or almost isolating a chamber 5 from the neighbouring one.
- the mixer 10 comprises one or more oxygen sensors 8A.
- one or more of these chambers comprise an oxygen sensor 8A, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 .
- the pressure in the head space of the container 1 or in the chambers 5 is also monitored, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 .
- the pressure value is important for understanding the dissolvability of the gases in the olive paste 9, in particular due to the fact that the olive paste 9 has a large volume of air and/or carbon dioxide above the free surface of the olive paste 9.
- the olive paste it completely fills the tubes and there is no headspace, therefore there is no dissolution of gases in the olive paste.
- Figs. 5, 6 and 7 a particular embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.
- the lid 1F is hollow inside and the air flows through this cavity. The air then escapes from a plurality of holes made in the lower wall of the lid 1F, as illustrated in Fig. 7 , to have a uniform distribution of the air on the free surface of the olive paste 9.
- There are three lids 1F in the mixer 10 of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 and each one covers a respective chamber 5.
- Each lid is fluidly connected to an independent air cooling/heating system (not shown), therefore the temperature of the air flowing in each lid can have different flow rate and temperature.
- the screw conveyor 2A has no central axis, as better illustrated in Fig.8 .
- a plurality of support elements 2D are arranged between adjacent portions of the spiral of the scroll 2A.
- the support elements 2D are angularly spaced apart from each other, preferably by 120°.
- the support elements 2D make it possible to improve the mixing of the olive paste 9 when the screw conveyor 2A rotates.
- a motor 2C drives the actuator 2, thus the screw conveyor 2A, to move the olive paste from the inlet 1G to the outlet 1H.
- the mixer 10 is normally used in a plant 100 for pressing the olives 90, such as the one illustrated in Fig. 4 .
- This type of plant 100 in fact maximizes the effects achieved by the mixer 10 in terms of aromas and flavours.
- upstream and downstream are relative terms which refer to the direction of flow of the olive paste 9 in the plant 100.
- a crusher 40 is arranged upstream of the mixer 10.
- the crusher 40 is preferably directly connected to the mixer 10, so that the olive paste 9 produced by the olives 90 through the crusher 40 enters the mixer 10 without intermediate steps.
- the olive paste 9 After pressing, the olive paste 9 enters the mixer 10 which cools it and oxygenates it in order to bring out the perfumes and smells of the oil 110 which will come out of the system 100.
- the mixer 10 has the characteristics and advantages described above.
- a second container 20 Downstream of the mixer 10 there is a second container 20 into which the olive paste 9 coming out of the mixer 10 enters without any intermediate passage.
- the connection between the outlet 1H of the mixer 10 and the second container 20 is realized via a pipe, so as to avoid any contact with the ambient air, as shown in Fig. 4 .
- the second container 20 comprises a third injector 21 configured to eject carbon dioxide into the second container 20, in order to inertize the olive paste 9 coming out of the mixer 10.
- the second container 20 can be optional.
- the second heat exchanger 50 Downstream of the second container 20, or of the mixer 10, there is a second heat exchanger 50, which heats the olive paste 9.
- the olive paste 9 is taken from the second container 20, or from the mixer 10, by means of a pump 30, which pushes the olive paste 9 through the second heat exchanger 50, as illustrated in Fig. 4 .
- the olive paste 9 is preferably heated by about 10°C, until it reaches a temperature between 26°C and 27°C. At this temperature the phenolic substances of the olive paste increase 9 thus emphasizing the spicy and bitter flavours of the oil.
- the previously enhanced perfumes do not volatilize because the olive paste 9 has been inertized by carbon dioxide and the second heat exchanger 50 has no head space in which the perfumes could dissolve.
- the second heat exchanger 50 is preferably of the tube-in-tube type as illustrated in Fig. 4 .
- the oil paste 9 flows in the inner tube and a hot liquid flows in the outer tube. The hot liquid flows preferably against the current with respect to the
- the combination of the mixer 10, which cools and oxygenates the olive paste 9, with the inerting system, which blocks the oxidative process of the olive paste 9 via the second injector 7 of the mixer 10 or the third injector 21 of the second container 20, and with the second exchanger 50, which heats the olive paste 9, allows the aromas and flavours of the oil 110 to be enhanced as desired.
- a malaxer 60 is arranged downstream of the second exchanger 50, as shown in Fig. 4 .
- the malaxer 60 is of the known type and is not further described here.
- the malaxer 60 is used as a buffer to stabilize the flow rate of olive paste 9 before the separation of the oil 110 from the olive paste 9.
- the malaxer 60 can be optional in the pressing plant 100 of the present invention.
- the residence time of the olive paste 9 in the malaxer 60 is shorter. Since the process downstream of the malaxer 60 is discontinuous, while the one upstream of the malaxer 60 is continuous, the fact of decreasing the residence time of the olive paste 9 in the malaxer 60 makes the pressing process faster, minimizing its discontinuity.
- the pressing plant 100 further comprises a separator 70.
- the separator 70 is of a known type and is not further described here.
- the separator 70 is arranged downstream of the second exchanger 50 or of the malaxer 60, as illustrated in Fig. 4 , and is configured to separate the liquid phase from the solid phase of the olive paste 9.
- the pressing plant 100 also includes a clarifier 80 arranged downstream of the separator 70.
- the clarifier 70 is of a known type and is configured to separate the olive oil 110 from the vegetation water contained in the olives 90.
- the olive oil 110 thus pressed, it is stored in special containers 120.
- the pressing plant 100 thus conceived allows implementing a method of pressing the olives 90 with an innovative mixing phase of the olive paste 9 which comprises the sub-phases of ejecting air into a closed container 1 at a predetermined temperature via one or more injectors 4, mixing the olive paste 9 via an actuator 2, and regulating the temperature of the container 1 via a heat exchanger 3.
- the method therefore provides for cooling the olive paste 9 in two ways, thus by cooling the container 1 and ejecting fresh air into the container 1. In this way, a better oxygenation of the olive paste 9 is also obtained.
- the mixing step also includes the step of ejecting carbon dioxide into container 1 or into a second container 20 to inertize the olive paste 9.
- the olive paste 9 is rendered inert by varying the flow rate of the carbon dioxide ejected by the second injector(s) 7.
- the method also provides for the possibility of adjusting the speed of the actuator 2 and the flow rate of the ejected air.
- the speed of the actuator it is possible to change the residence time of the olive paste 9 in the container 1 and therefore the contact time of the olive paste 9 with the cooled air.
- the flow rate of the air ejected into container 1 since this is closed, it is possible to vary the pressure inside it.
- the method provides for the step of overheating the inerted olive paste 9 to bring out its bitterness and spiciness.
- the method provides for the step of separating the solid phase from the liquid phase of the overheated olive paste 9 and the further step of clarifying the liquid phase to separate the olive oil 110 from the vegetation water.
- the method thus conceived makes it possible to enhance the flavours and aromas of the 110 oil regardless of the ambient temperature in which the pressing is performed.
- the pressing method according to the present invention allows to optimize the olfactory and gustatory properties of the olive oil 110 by varying at least one of the mixing parameters in the mixer 1 and in particular at least one of: the rotation speed of the actuator 2; the temperature of the air ejected by injector 4, the temperature in the heat exchanger 3 and therefore the temperature of container 1, the flow rate of the air ejected by injector 4, the carbon dioxide rate ejected by the second injector 7. If, for example, the pressed oil 110 is not perfumed enough, it is possible to increase the air flow rate and lower its temperature. If, on the other hand, the aromas are too intense, it is possible to increase the flow of carbon dioxide. Otherwise, it is possible to adjust the speed of the actuator 2 to increase the exposure time of the olive paste 9 to the jet of cold air.
- the method of pressing the olives 90 according to the present invention further comprises the step of separating the solid phase from the liquid phase of the heated olive paste 9, and preferably also the step of clarifying the olive oil 110 from the vegetation water.
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Abstract
Mixer (10) for olive paste (9) comprising an open top container (1) through which the olive paste (9) flows and provided with a lid (1F); an actuator (2) configured to advance and mix the olive paste (9) in the container (1); a heat exchanger (3) arranged on a lower portion (1C) of the container (1) and placed in thermal communication with the interior (1D) of the container (1) to exchange heat with the olive paste (9) through a lower wall (1f) of the container (1); at least one air injector (4) configured to ejected air at a predetermined temperature into the container (1), the at least one air injector (4) is arranged and oriented so that the air ejected from the injector (4) flows over a free surface of the olive paste (9) that flows into the container (1).
Description
- The present invention relates to the olive oil production sector and in particular to machinery for enhancing the aromas and flavours of the oil after pressing the olives.
- A traditional olive pressing plant comprises a
crusher 40 into whicholives 90 enter and an olive paste comes out which, in turn, enters amalaxer 60, as illustrated inFig.1 . The olive paste also passes through aseparator 70 and into aclarifier 80, from whicholive oil 110 comes out collected in acontainer 120. - The temperature of the olive paste overheats in the
crusher 40, for this reason it is preferable to crush cold olives, for example during the night or by cooling them in cold rooms, and/or to cool the olive paste using aheat exchanger 55. - An example of a process for cooling the olive paste after pressing is described in the patent
EP3059298A1 . This solution aims to reduce the degradation of phenolic components and increase the formation of volatile components that affect the aroma. Nonetheless, in this solution, the olive paste that comes out of the crusher is pumped into a tube exchanger with the aim of rapidly cooling the olive paste without however oxygenating it, because only the olive paste flows through the tubes. The lack of oxygenation on the one hand reduces the formation of peroxides while on the other hand it reduces the intensity of the volatile compounds and therefore the more intense aromas in the oil. - To partially solve this problem, it is known to use a tube heat exchanger of the type described in the patent
EP3622833A1 , which comprises a tube in which the olive paste flows and in which oxygen can be inserted. However, this solution does not allow the development of optimal aromas from the olive paste. In fact, the olive paste is pumped at high pressure into the tube which, consequently, is full and has no headspace, thus an air zone that is required for the development of lipoxygenase. - Finally, the oxidation process must be able to be interrupted when the oxygenation obtained is sufficient for the desired perfume and aroma objectives. In this regard, it is known from document
EP2596707 to crush the olives or knead the olive paste in a controlled atmosphere. In the equipment described in this document, the oxygen that naturally dissolves in the olive paste during pressing is inactivated thanks to the introduction of inert gases. In this way, the oxidative phenomena on the unsaturated fat acids and on the polyphenolic substances of the olive paste are limited or eliminated. In reality, differently from what is described in this document, to obtain an oil rich in aroma and flavour, the oxidative phenomena must be controlled and not suppressed or limited. - A further solution is known from the technical paper entitled " Development of a prototype malaxer to investigate the influence of oxygen on extra-virgin olive oil quality and yield, to define a new design of machine". This document describes the importance of having a headspace above the olive paste and blowing oxygen into the olive paste via the malaxer shaft used to mix the olive paste. This solution does not suggest blowing cold or cool air over the top surface of the olive paste. This solution does not even describe an enclosure equipped with an openable lid that allows complete inspection of the same.
- Furthermore, none of the known solutions allows the machinery which mixes the olive paste to be cleaned completely and thoroughly. Known solutions in fact comprise closed ducts in which water is flown to clean them. In this way, however, the ducts are never clean enough and the olive paste that remains in the pipes can contaminate or degrade the olive paste processed subsequently.
- A first object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by means of an olive paste mixer comprising: an inspectable container through which the olive paste flows between one end of the container and the other; an actuator configured to advance and mix the olive paste in the container; a liquid heat exchanger arranged on a lower portion of the container and placed in thermal communication with the interior of the container to exchange heat with the olive paste through a lower wall of the container; at least one air injector configured to eject purified air into the container so that the air flows over the olive paste flowing into the container. The container is open at the top, and comprises a lid for closing the container. The lid is configured to allow full access to the inside of the container when the lid is opened. The at least one injector is arranged and oriented so that the air expelled from the injector flows on the free-surface surface of the olive paste. The mixer thus conceived allows to oxygenate most of the olive paste that passes through it. In fact, the free surface of the olive paste is completely touched by the air jet, thus creating a greater exchange surface. Furthermore, the injection of fresh air into the mixer allows to oxygenate the olive paste and at the same time to cool it. The at least one injector is located in the headspace. The injection of air directly from the upper portion of the container prevents the at least one injector from being clogged by the olive paste. Furthermore, this positioning allows the air to be expelled so that it invests the entire free-surface surface of the olive paste. The air introduced is at a lower temperature than the temperature of the olive paste, and therefore allows a cooling of the olive paste which faces the head space. The portion of olive paste that is not hit by the jet of fresh air is in any case cooled by the walls cooled by the heat exchanger placed in thermal contact with the mixer container. The actuator, in addition to advancing the olive paste towards the mixer outlet, allows to remix the paste and bring the paste near the bottom of the container to the surface and vice versa. Since the container can be inspected by opening the lid, the container can be easily examined and cleaned by an operator. The possibility of being able to carry out a deep cleaning of the container allows to remove all the olive paste residues that could contaminate or degrade the subsequently processed olive paste. The operator who carries out the cleaning is able to see the inside of the container and therefore understand whether it is clean or not.
- Preferably, the container can comprise an upwardly flared shape to increase the free-surface surface of the olive paste which is invested by the jet of air expelled from at least one injector and therefore the heat exchange between the ejected air and the olive paste.
- In particular, the shape of the container can be flared towards the top. This shape allows for a double effect. First of all, the exchange surface between the air ejected by the injector and the olive paste increases considerably, improving the cooling and oxygenation of the olive paste. After that, a wider container access mouth allows better inspection of the container and therefore better cleaning of the same.
- Advantageously, the predetermined air temperature can be between -5°C and 15°C, preferably between 2°C and 10°C. The jet of air leaving the injector is cold to cool the olive paste. Thanks to the mixer thus conceived, the optimal environmental conditions are reproducible even where the olives reach an early ripening and the ambient temperature during the olive pressing period is higher than 25°C.
- In particular, the container can have an elongated shape and an inlet for receiving the olive paste at one end and an outlet for expelling the olive paste at the opposite end. A container with an elongated shape and opposite inlet and outlet allow the olive paste to flow in a simple way, without employing pipes as known in the state of the art. In this way, the so-called headspace, thus the space between the container and the olive paste increases considerably and with it the heat and gaseous exchange between the olive paste and the ejected air.
- Advantageously, the actuator can comprise a screw conveyor arranged in such a way that its axis of revolution is parallel to a longitudinal development direction of the container. The screw conveyor allows the olive paste to advance towards the mixer outlet and to mix it in order to bring the olive paste that is on the bottom to the surface.
- In particular, the heat exchanger can be arranged between the lower wall of the container and a jacket external to the lower portion of the container. Preferably the liquid flows against the current of the olive paste. Since the upper portion of the container can be inspected and includes a head space, the heat exchanger is arranged in the lower portion of the container, to cool the portion of olive paste which cannot be cooled and oxygenated by the air ejected by the injector.
- Advantageously, the container can be divided into one or more chambers by partitions inside the container arranged transversely to the longitudinal development direction of the container. By dividing the container into several chambers, it is possible to reproduce different temperature, pressure and oxygenation conditions, depending on the desired effect on the olive paste.
- Preferably, the mixer may include a second injector configured to eject carbon dioxide into the container such that the carbon dioxide flows onto the olive paste flowing into the container. If the oxygenation is sufficient for the desired fragrance and flavour objectives, the mixer is designed to be able to control the oxidative process by introducing carbon dioxide into the container. Carbon dioxide is the inert gas which preserves the olive paste better than others. In fact, carbon dioxide, unlike for example nitrogen, does not remove the aromas from the olive paste. Carbon dioxide is in fact naturally produced by the olive paste itself.
- In particular, the mixer can comprise one or more of the following types of sensors: oxygen sensor; temperature sensor; pressure sensor. These sensors allow to control the oxygen/pressure/temperature value present in the container or in its chambers, so as to be able to consequently adjust the predetermined temperature or the flow rate of the air leaving the injector.
- A second object of the present invention is represented by an olive pressing plant comprising at least a mixer in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, a crusher suitable for crushing the olives and a separator of the liquid phase from the solid one of the olive paste, wherein the mixer is arranged downstream of the crusher and upstream of the separator. The mixer according to the present invention allows to optimize an olive pressing plant. In fact, in a plant of this type the number of malaxers and exchangers required is reduced, as the cooling of the olive paste leaving the crusher is carried out by the mixer and the malaxer can even be eliminated.
- Preferably, the olive pressing plant can also comprise a second container placed downstream of the mixer so that the olive paste leaving the mixer enters the second container directly. Said second container includes a third injector configured to eject carbon dioxide into the second container. This second container allows to interrupt the oxygenation process that took place in the mixer in a sudden way thanks to the use of carbon dioxide in a closed environment.
- Advantageously, the plant can also comprise a pump and a second heat exchanger, preferably of the tube-in-tube type, configured to heat the olive paste leaving the mixer or second container. The olive paste, after the aromas and flavours have been suitably enhanced in the mixer, is pumped into a second exchanger which allows the temperature to increase up to an almost optimal temperature for oil extraction. Heating the olive paste also makes it possible to enhance the spicy and/or bitter taste of the oil when the paste has been suitably deprived of oxygen in the second container or in the mixer.
- In particular, the plant can include a malaxer arranged downstream of the second exchanger and upstream of the separator of the liquid phase from the solid phase of the olive paste, so as to receive the olive paste leaving the second exchanger. In the plant according to the present invention, the malaxer is used as a buffer to stabilize the flow rate of olive paste entering the separator.
- Preferably, the plant can also comprise a clarifier arranged downstream of the separator of the liquid phase from the solid phase of the olive paste and configured to separate the olive oil from the vegetation water.
- A third object of the present invention is represented by an olive pressing method comprising a step of mixing an olive paste comprising the sub-steps of:
- ejecting air at a predetermined temperature into a container so that the air flows over the olive paste;
- mixing the olive paste with an actuator;
- regulating the temperature of the container by means of a heat exchanger and said ejected air. The method thus conceived makes it possible to enhance the flavours and aromas of the oil especially where the olives are pressed in places with high ambient temperatures during the pressing season.
- Preferably, the mixing step may comprise the further sub-phase of ejecting carbon dioxide into the container. The ejection of carbon dioxide avoids stripping, thus the removal of perfumes from the oil.
- Advantageously, the mixing phase can comprise the further sub-phase of regulating the speed of the actuator to vary the contact time of the olive paste with the air at said predetermined temperature. By regulating the advancement speed of the olive paste it is possible to control the quantity of olive paste in the mixer and in its chambers and the contact time of the air flow with the surface of the olive paste.
- In particular, the mixing phase may include the further sub-phase of varying the flow rate of the ejected air to regulate the pressure inside the container. A slight increase in pressure, for example by 0,5 bar, in the container or in one of its chambers allows for an improvement in the dissolvability of the gases in the olive paste.
- Advantageously, the method can comprise the step of overheating the olive paste after the sub-step of ejecting the carbon dioxide into the container. The ejection of carbon dioxide makes it possible not to lose and preserve the aromas of the olive paste. The subsequent overheating of the olive paste makes it possible to reduce the viscosity of the olive paste and therefore facilitate the extraction of the oil and therefore the yield in terms of pressing the olives.
- In particular, the method may include the step of separating the solid phase from the liquid phase of the overheated olive paste. Preferably, the method can also include the step of clarifying the olive oil from the vegetation water. These phases make it possible to obtain the olive oil from the olive paste.
- These and other advantages will become apparent in more detail from the description, given hereinafter, of an embodiment given by way of example and not of limitation with reference to the attached drawings.
- In the drawings:
-
Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a pressing plant of the known type; -
Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic side view in section of an olive paste mixer according to the present invention; -
Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic front sectional view of an olive paste mixer according to the present invention; -
Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic view of a pressing plant according to the present invention; -
Fig. 5 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the mixer for olive paste according to the present invention; -
Fig. 6 illustrates a side view of embodiment of the mixer for olive paste ofFig. 5 -
Fig. 7 illustrates a sectional view of the olive paste mixer ofFig. 6 , according to the plane A-A illustrated inFig. 6 ; -
Fig. 8 illustrates an axonometric view of a screw conveyor in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention. - The following description of one or more embodiments of the invention refers to the attached drawings. The same reference numbers in the drawings identify the same or similar elements. The object of the invention is defined by the attached claims. The technical details, structures or characteristics of the solutions described below can be combined with each other in any way.
- In
Figs. 2 and 3 , with thereference number 10, a mixer for olive paste is illustrated. Themixer 10 comprises anopenable container 1 equipped with aninlet 1G and anoutlet 1H arranged at opposite ends of the container itself. Thecontainer 1 has an elongated and flared shape. In essence, the cross-sectional shape ofcontainer 1 is narrower at the bottom than at the top. In particular, the section of thelower portion 1C of thecontainer 1 has a semi-cylindrical shape, while the section of theupper portion 1L of thecontainer 1 has the shape of a trapezoid or inverted triangle, as shown inFig. 3 . Alternatively, thecontainer 1 can be cylindrical (not shown) or cylindrical at the bottom and squared at the top (not shown). Other shapes of thecontainer 1 are possible. - The
container 1 also comprises anopenable lid 1F which allows easy and complete access to theinternal space 1D of thecontainer 1. Thislid 1F allows thecontainer 1 to be washed and cleaned at the end of each mixing, in a complete and accurate manner. In fact, the shape of thecontainer 1, together with thelid 1F, allows easy access to the entireinternal space 1D. - A
heat exchanger 3 is connected to thelower wall 1E ofcontainer 1 configured to be in thermal communication with theinternal space 1D ofcontainer 1 via thelower wall 1E, so as to exchange heat with theolive paste 9 which is located in thelower portion 1C ofcontainer 1. In practice, theolive paste 9 which is located at the bottom (lower portion 1C) incontainer 1 is cooled byheat exchanger 3 which, by cooling thelower wall 1E, allows theolive paste 9 to cool. The conditioning allows the temperature of the olive paste to be stabilized between 19°C and 21°C, so as to favour a better lipoxygenase of theolive paste 9. - The
heat exchanger 3 can be of the tube-in-tube type, as schematized inFigs. 2 and 3 . A cooling liquid can flow in the interspace outside thelower wall 1E, for example water, which does not come into contact with theolive paste 9, but allows it to cool through thelower wall 1E. This cavity is made up of anexternal jacket 1J and a portion of thelower wall 1E of thecontainer 1. The cooling liquid preferably flows counter-current in this cavity with respect to the advancement of theolive paste 9, as schematized inFigs. 2 and 3 . Other types ofheat exchangers 3 are possible, for example a tube bundle and shell exchanger (not shown). - Inside 1D of the
container 1 there is and acts an actuator 2. The actuator 2 comprises a screw conveyor 2A and amotor 2C for driving the screw conveyor 2A. The screw conveyor 2A rotates, in a known manner, around its axis ofrevolution 2B, as illustrated inFigs. 2 and 3 . The axis ofrevolution 2B of the screw conveyor 2A is preferably parallel to the longitudinal development of thecontainer 1. - The screw conveyor 2A can be shaped to move and mix the
olive paste 9. In this way, theolive paste 9 not only advances from theinlet end 1A to theoutlet end 1B of thecontainer 1, but it is mixed to mix better with the air present in the head space as better described below. - An
olive paste 9 is introduced in theinternal space 1D ofcontainer 1 via theinlet 1G, as schematized inFig. 2 . Theolive paste 9 is mixed with the actuator 2 and at the same time advances towards theoutlet 1H of the container from which it comes out for further processing steps, as better described below. - The
olive paste 9 present in thecontainer 1 does not fill it completely, leaving above the free surface of theolive paste 9, thus its free surface which delimits the moving mass at the top, a space which is used to operate a heat exchange and oxygenation, as better described below. - The
container 1 can be divided intoseveral chambers 5 by one ormore septa 6 arranged transversely inside 1D of thecontainer 1, as illustrated inFigs. 2, 3 and4 . In particular, the one ormore septa 6 are orthogonal to the axis ofrevolution 2B of the screw conveyor 2A. Thesepta 6 are shaped in such a way as to allow the rotation of the screw conveyor 2A. In this way, the at least oneseptum 6 allows to separate thechambers 5 but also to favour the mixing of the air with theolive paste 9. Preferably, theseptum 6 has a shape complementary to the internal shape of theupper portion 1L of thecontainer 1 and has a semi-circular excavation within which the screw conveyor 2A rotates, visible inFig. 6 . - The
chambers 5 make it possible to reproduce different environmental conditions in the head space of thecontainer 1, as better explained below. Alternatively, it is possible to arrangeseveral mixers 10 in cascade with one another with different operating conditions. However, this solution (not shown) implies higher costs than the solution withseveral chambers 5 in thesame mixer 10. - The
container 1 comprises in its interior 1D anair injector 4 configured to eject air at a specific temperature. Theinjector 4 is arranged and oriented so that the air flow leaving theinjector 4 touches the free-surface surface of theolive paste 9 which flows into thecontainer 1. - The jet of
air leaving injector 4 is a jet of cold air, thus with a temperature between -5°C and 15°C, preferably between 2°C and 10°C. These temperature values allow theolive paste 9 which comes from thecrusher 40 to be cooled and oxygenated, as shown inFig. 4 . The temperature of theolive paste 9 when it comes out of thecrusher 40 is a function of the ambient and conservation temperature of the olives. In warm regions, i.e. where the ambient temperature is higher than 25°C during the olive pressing period, the temperature at the outlet of thecrusher 40 risks exceeding 27°C (temperature limit for obtaining extra virgin olive oil). For this reason, in these places, it is necessary to cool theolive paste 9 to enhance the aromas of the oil, in order to maintain the temperature of the paste between 19°C and 21°C and guarantee the lipoxygenase, i.e. the enzymatic process of formation of volatile compounds by oxidation. Depending on the temperature of theolive paste 9 at the inlet of themixer 10, the temperature of the air delivered by theinjector 4 will be more or less cold to achieve the aforementioned optimal temperature range for the lipoxygenase. Furthermore, the oxygen supplied with the ejection of air intocontainer 1 allows the lipoxygenase process to start. In fact, an optimal lipoxygenase requires oxygen, head space for the development of perfumes, and a stabilized temperature between 19°C and 21°C. Outside this temperature range, longer aromatic structures develop and are less pleasant to the sense of smell and taste. - In order to monitor the temperature of the
olive paste 9, atemperature sensor 8B is arranged near theinlet 1G of themixer 10 and afurther temperature sensor 8B' is arranged near theoutlet 1H of themixer 10. Thetemperature sensors olive paste 9, therefore they remain in contact with the latter. By monitoring the two temperature values detected by thesensors injector 4. With the same temperature values of theolive paste 9 it is also possible to regulate the temperature inside theheat exchanger 3. In this way, it is possible to decrease or increase the temperature of theolive paste 9 in order to obtain said optimal condition for the lipoxygenase. - The air expelled from the
injector 4 is previously filtered by a filter (not shown) configured to eliminate waste and bacteria potentially capable of altering the characteristics of theolive paste 9. For example, a HEPA filter can be used. - Once the lipoxygenase process is achieved, the
olive paste 9 has achieved the desired aromas. These aromas are then confirmed downstream of the pressing system, by tasting and laboratory analysis of theoil 110 obtained from saidolive paste 9. In order to block the oxidative enzymatic activities which alter the aromas and prevent them from volatilizing, theolive paste 9 can be inertized by a jet of carbon dioxide expelled from asecond injector 7. The ejection of carbon dioxide also allows the increase of polyphenols and therefore of the nutritional values. Thesecond injector 7, like thefirst injector 4, is configured to invest the upper surface of theolive paste 9 which faces the head space of thecontainer 1. - The
container 1 ofFig. 2 comprises threechambers 5, while that ofFig.4 comprises twochambers 5. The number ofchambers 5 can be even higher. Eachchamber 5 comprises anair injector 4 and/or a secondcarbon dioxide injector 7. Thechambers 5 are used to avoid having to purchase and installmultiple mixers 10 and arrange them in cascade to each other. Thechambers 5 in fact reproduce conditions similar to those which occur inside a single chamber mixer. Theolive paste 9 longitudinally crosses thechambers 5 and thesepta 6 separate the head spaces of thevarious chambers 5. In this way, for example, air at 2°C can be ejected into thefirst chamber 5 ofFig. 2 , air at 10°C can be ejected into thesecond chamber 5 and only carbon dioxide into thethird chamber 5. Since the gap between the screw conveyor 2A and thesepta 6 is minimal, theolive paste 9 which advances in eachchamber 5 tends to fill this gap, isolating or almost isolating achamber 5 from the neighbouring one. - In order to monitor the oxygenation of the headspace the
mixer 10 comprises one ormore oxygen sensors 8A. In the event that thecontainer 1 is divided intoseveral chambers 5, one or more of these chambers comprise anoxygen sensor 8A, as illustrated inFigs. 2 and4 . - In the
mixer 10 the pressure in the head space of thecontainer 1 or in thechambers 5 is also monitored, as illustrated inFigs. 2 and4 . The pressure value is important for understanding the dissolvability of the gases in theolive paste 9, in particular due to the fact that theolive paste 9 has a large volume of air and/or carbon dioxide above the free surface of theolive paste 9. In the tubes of known heat exchangers, the olive paste it completely fills the tubes and there is no headspace, therefore there is no dissolution of gases in the olive paste. - In
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 a particular embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, thelid 1F is hollow inside and the air flows through this cavity. The air then escapes from a plurality of holes made in the lower wall of thelid 1F, as illustrated inFig. 7 , to have a uniform distribution of the air on the free surface of theolive paste 9. There are threelids 1F in themixer 10 ofFigs. 5, 6 and 7 , and each one covers arespective chamber 5. Each lid is fluidly connected to an independent air cooling/heating system (not shown), therefore the temperature of the air flowing in each lid can have different flow rate and temperature. - The screw conveyor 2A has no central axis, as better illustrated in
Fig.8 . To stiffen the scroll 2A and avoid bending in its intermediate portion, a plurality ofsupport elements 2D are arranged between adjacent portions of the spiral of the scroll 2A. Thesupport elements 2D are angularly spaced apart from each other, preferably by 120°. In addition to limiting the bending of the screw conveyor 2A, thesupport elements 2D make it possible to improve the mixing of theolive paste 9 when the screw conveyor 2A rotates. - The
inlet 1G andoutlet 1H of themixer 1 point downwards. Amotor 2C drives the actuator 2, thus the screw conveyor 2A, to move the olive paste from theinlet 1G to theoutlet 1H. - For the elements of the
mixer 10 of this embodiment not explicitly described, reference should be made, for reasons of conciseness, to what has been described above. - The
mixer 10 is normally used in aplant 100 for pressing theolives 90, such as the one illustrated inFig. 4 . This type ofplant 100 in fact maximizes the effects achieved by themixer 10 in terms of aromas and flavours. In the following, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are relative terms which refer to the direction of flow of theolive paste 9 in theplant 100. - As already mentioned, a
crusher 40 is arranged upstream of themixer 10. Thecrusher 40 is preferably directly connected to themixer 10, so that theolive paste 9 produced by theolives 90 through thecrusher 40 enters themixer 10 without intermediate steps. - After pressing, the
olive paste 9 enters themixer 10 which cools it and oxygenates it in order to bring out the perfumes and smells of theoil 110 which will come out of thesystem 100. Themixer 10 has the characteristics and advantages described above. - Downstream of the
mixer 10 there is asecond container 20 into which theolive paste 9 coming out of themixer 10 enters without any intermediate passage. Preferably, the connection between theoutlet 1H of themixer 10 and thesecond container 20 is realized via a pipe, so as to avoid any contact with the ambient air, as shown inFig. 4 . Thesecond container 20 comprises athird injector 21 configured to eject carbon dioxide into thesecond container 20, in order to inertize theolive paste 9 coming out of themixer 10. Thesecond container 20 can be optional. - Downstream of the
second container 20, or of themixer 10, there is asecond heat exchanger 50, which heats theolive paste 9. Theolive paste 9 is taken from thesecond container 20, or from themixer 10, by means of apump 30, which pushes theolive paste 9 through thesecond heat exchanger 50, as illustrated inFig. 4 . Theolive paste 9 is preferably heated by about 10°C, until it reaches a temperature between 26°C and 27°C. At this temperature the phenolic substances of theolive paste increase 9 thus emphasizing the spicy and bitter flavours of the oil. The previously enhanced perfumes do not volatilize because theolive paste 9 has been inertized by carbon dioxide and thesecond heat exchanger 50 has no head space in which the perfumes could dissolve. Thesecond heat exchanger 50 is preferably of the tube-in-tube type as illustrated inFig. 4 . Theoil paste 9 flows in the inner tube and a hot liquid flows in the outer tube. The hot liquid flows preferably against the current with respect to theolive paste 9. - The combination of the
mixer 10, which cools and oxygenates theolive paste 9, with the inerting system, which blocks the oxidative process of theolive paste 9 via thesecond injector 7 of themixer 10 or thethird injector 21 of thesecond container 20, and with thesecond exchanger 50, which heats theolive paste 9, allows the aromas and flavours of theoil 110 to be enhanced as desired. - A
malaxer 60 is arranged downstream of thesecond exchanger 50, as shown inFig. 4 . Themalaxer 60 is of the known type and is not further described here. Themalaxer 60 is used as a buffer to stabilize the flow rate ofolive paste 9 before the separation of theoil 110 from theolive paste 9. Themalaxer 60 can be optional in thepressing plant 100 of the present invention. Furthermore, since theolive paste 9 is already heated by thesecond exchanger 50, the residence time of theolive paste 9 in themalaxer 60 is shorter. Since the process downstream of themalaxer 60 is discontinuous, while the one upstream of themalaxer 60 is continuous, the fact of decreasing the residence time of theolive paste 9 in themalaxer 60 makes the pressing process faster, minimizing its discontinuity. - The
pressing plant 100 further comprises aseparator 70. Theseparator 70 is of a known type and is not further described here. Theseparator 70 is arranged downstream of thesecond exchanger 50 or of themalaxer 60, as illustrated inFig. 4 , and is configured to separate the liquid phase from the solid phase of theolive paste 9. - The
pressing plant 100 also includes aclarifier 80 arranged downstream of theseparator 70. Theclarifier 70 is of a known type and is configured to separate theolive oil 110 from the vegetation water contained in theolives 90. Theolive oil 110 thus pressed, it is stored inspecial containers 120. - The
pressing plant 100 thus conceived allows implementing a method of pressing theolives 90 with an innovative mixing phase of theolive paste 9 which comprises the sub-phases of ejecting air into aclosed container 1 at a predetermined temperature via one ormore injectors 4, mixing theolive paste 9 via an actuator 2, and regulating the temperature of thecontainer 1 via aheat exchanger 3. The method therefore provides for cooling theolive paste 9 in two ways, thus by cooling thecontainer 1 and ejecting fresh air into thecontainer 1. In this way, a better oxygenation of theolive paste 9 is also obtained. - The mixing step also includes the step of ejecting carbon dioxide into
container 1 or into asecond container 20 to inertize theolive paste 9. Theolive paste 9 is rendered inert by varying the flow rate of the carbon dioxide ejected by the second injector(s) 7. - In order to be able to adjust the operating parameters of the
mixer 1, the method also provides for the possibility of adjusting the speed of the actuator 2 and the flow rate of the ejected air. In this way, by varying the speed of the actuator, it is possible to change the residence time of theolive paste 9 in thecontainer 1 and therefore the contact time of theolive paste 9 with the cooled air. On the other hand, by varying the flow rate of the air ejected intocontainer 1, since this is closed, it is possible to vary the pressure inside it. - After the aforementioned inerting sub-phase of the
olive paste 9, the method provides for the step of overheating the inertedolive paste 9 to bring out its bitterness and spiciness. - Finally, the method provides for the step of separating the solid phase from the liquid phase of the overheated
olive paste 9 and the further step of clarifying the liquid phase to separate theolive oil 110 from the vegetation water. - The method thus conceived makes it possible to enhance the flavours and aromas of the 110 oil regardless of the ambient temperature in which the pressing is performed.
- The pressing method according to the present invention allows to optimize the olfactory and gustatory properties of the
olive oil 110 by varying at least one of the mixing parameters in themixer 1 and in particular at least one of: the rotation speed of the actuator 2; the temperature of the air ejected byinjector 4, the temperature in theheat exchanger 3 and therefore the temperature ofcontainer 1, the flow rate of the air ejected byinjector 4, the carbon dioxide rate ejected by thesecond injector 7. If, for example, the pressedoil 110 is not perfumed enough, it is possible to increase the air flow rate and lower its temperature. If, on the other hand, the aromas are too intense, it is possible to increase the flow of carbon dioxide. Otherwise, it is possible to adjust the speed of the actuator 2 to increase the exposure time of theolive paste 9 to the jet of cold air. - The method of pressing the
olives 90 according to the present invention further comprises the step of separating the solid phase from the liquid phase of the heatedolive paste 9, and preferably also the step of clarifying theolive oil 110 from the vegetation water. - In conclusion, it is clear that the invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications or variations, all covered by the invention; moreover all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the quantities may be varied according to technical requirements.
Claims (13)
- Mixer (10) for olive paste (9) comprising:- an open top container (1) through which the olive paste (9) flows, the container (1) comprises a lid (1F) configured to close the open top container (1) and, if it is opened, to allow a complete access inside (1D) of the container (1);- an actuator (2) configured to advance and mix the olive paste (9) in the container (1);- a heat exchanger (3) arranged on a lower portion (1C) of the container (1) and placed in thermal communication with the interior (1D) of the container (1) to exchange heat with the olive paste (9) through a lower wall (1E) of the container (1);- at least one air injector (4) configured to ejected air at a predetermined temperature into the container (1), the at least one air injector (4) is arranged and oriented so that the air ejected from the injector (4) flows over a free surface of the olive paste (9) that flows into the container (1).
- Mixer (10) according to claim 1, wherein the container (1) has an upward flared shape.
- Mixer (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined air temperature is between -5°C and 15°C, preferably between 2°C and 10°C.
- Mixer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (1) has an elongated shape comprising an inlet (1G) for receiving the olive paste (9) at one end (1A) and an outlet (1H) to expel the olive paste (9) at the opposite end (1B).
- Mixer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (2) comprises a screw conveyor (2A) arranged so that its rotation axis (2B) is parallel to a longitudinal development direction of the container (1).
- Mixer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (3) is a liquid exchanger arranged between the lower wall (1E) of the container (1) and a jacket (1J) external to the lower portion (1C) of the container (1) to exchange heat only the lower portion (1C) of the container (1), preferably the liquid flows counter-current with respect to the olive paste (9).
- Mixer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (1) is divided into several chambers (5) by one or more septa (6) transversely arranged inside the container (1) with respect to the longitudinal development direction of the container (1).
- Mixer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second injector (7) configured to eject carbon dioxide into the container (1) so that the carbon dioxide flows over the olive paste (9) flowing into the container (1).
- Mixer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more of the following types of sensors:- oxygen sensor (8A);- temperature sensor (8B, 8B');- pressure sensor (8C).
- Olive pressing plant (100) comprising at least a mixer (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, a crusher (40) suitable for crushing the olives (90) and a separator (70) of the liquid phase from the solid phase of the olive paste (9), wherein the mixer (10) is arranged downstream of the crusher (40) and upstream of the separator (70).
- Olive pressing plant (100) according to claim 10, further comprising a second container (20) arranged downstream of the mixer (10) so that the olive paste (9) coming out of the mixer (10) enters directly into the second container (20), wherein said second container (20) comprises a third injector (21) configured to eject carbon dioxide into the second container (20).
- Olive pressing plant (100) according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising a pump (30) and a second heat exchanger (50), preferably of the tube-in-tube type, configured to heat the olive paste (9) coming out of the mixer (10) or the second container (20), preferably the plant (100) comprises a malaxer (60) arranged downstream of the second exchanger (50) and upstream of the separator (70) for separating the liquid phase from the solid phase of the olive paste (9), so as to receive the olive paste (9) coming out of the second exchanger (50).
- Olive pressing plant (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising a clarifier (80) arranged downstream of the separator (70) for separating the liquid phase from the solid phase of the olive paste (9) and configured for separate the olive oil (110) from the vegetation water.
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IT202200015879 | 2022-07-27 |
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EP23020355.6A Pending EP4311854A1 (en) | 2022-07-27 | 2023-07-26 | Olive paste mixer and olive pressing plant |
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Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1553159A1 (en) * | 2004-01-08 | 2005-07-13 | Tenuta la Novella S.r.l. | Process for malaxation of olive paste |
EP2596707A1 (en) | 2011-11-25 | 2013-05-29 | Universita' Degli Studi di Bari | Method and apparatus for thermal conditioning of olives or other oleaginous fruits combined with a crushing and kneading system of olives or other oleaginous fruits in controlled or modified atmosphere |
EP3059298A1 (en) | 2015-09-02 | 2016-08-24 | Alfa Laval Corporate AB | Plant and process for producing virgin olive oil |
EP3203864B1 (en) * | 2014-12-04 | 2019-09-11 | Spyros Christodoulou | A system for extracting a substance from a commodity |
EP3622833A1 (en) | 2017-05-10 | 2020-03-18 | Gea Westfalia Separator Ibérica, S.A. | Device and method for continuous treatment of a food product |
-
2023
- 2023-07-26 EP EP23020355.6A patent/EP4311854A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP1553159A1 (en) * | 2004-01-08 | 2005-07-13 | Tenuta la Novella S.r.l. | Process for malaxation of olive paste |
EP2596707A1 (en) | 2011-11-25 | 2013-05-29 | Universita' Degli Studi di Bari | Method and apparatus for thermal conditioning of olives or other oleaginous fruits combined with a crushing and kneading system of olives or other oleaginous fruits in controlled or modified atmosphere |
EP3203864B1 (en) * | 2014-12-04 | 2019-09-11 | Spyros Christodoulou | A system for extracting a substance from a commodity |
EP3059298A1 (en) | 2015-09-02 | 2016-08-24 | Alfa Laval Corporate AB | Plant and process for producing virgin olive oil |
EP3622833A1 (en) | 2017-05-10 | 2020-03-18 | Gea Westfalia Separator Ibérica, S.A. | Device and method for continuous treatment of a food product |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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ALESSANDRO LEONE ET AL: "Development of a prototype malaxer to investigate the influence of oxygen on extra-virgin olive oil quality and yield, to define a new design of machine", BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING, vol. 118, 1 February 2014 (2014-02-01), pages 95 - 104, XP055144434, ISSN: 1537-5110, DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2013.12.002 * |
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