FR2643792A1 - PROCESS AND PLANT FOR PREPARING EDIBLE BEVERAGES FROM WATER, INGREDIENTS AND A PULVERULENT SWEETENING MIXTURE - Google Patents

Abstract

Drink preparation. The preparation process according to the invention consists in: placing in a tank 15 a quantity Q1 of water less than that Q entering into the final composition of the compound syrup or of the drink to be obtained; - Pour, in this quantity Q1 and with stirring, a dose of the pulverulent mixture, in order to obtain a mother suspension; - homogenize the mother suspension by stirring; - put the mother suspension in relation to a quantity of water Q2 such that Q1 + Q2 = Q, the quantity Q2 being delivered to assume a first function of transfer to a capacity of the mother suspension in the form of a collodal dispersion . Application to the preparation of a sweetened drink.

Description

PROCESS AND PLANT FOR PREPARING EDIBLE BEVERAGES,

  FROM WATER, INGREDIENTS AND A PULVERULENT SWEETENING MIXTURE

  The present invention relates to the technical field of the preparation of a sweetened beverage from water and various ingredients to which can be added additives to

  usual function, well known in this type of preparation.

  A sweet drink also involves the addition of a proportion of natural sugar which is mixed with the various components by being distributed, brought or introduced under the

form of a syrup.

  The preparation of a traditional type of drink from the above components does not pose a real technical problem. Two methods can be implemented to ensure

such an elaboration.

  The first can be described as a continuous process, while the second relates to a batch method in which a high concentration of the various components is prepared. The preparation is then diluted

  with the addition of sufficient water in a mixing tank.

  The beverage is then withdrawn from this mixing tank to be directed to an installation, for example carbonation, bottling, etc. A drink obtained according to the traditional method may be considered perfectly satisfactory as regards the

  taste, conservation and economic cost of production.

  However, a reproach may be brought to the account of such a traditional drink which, undeniably, contains a

  proportion of sugar not insignificant.

  The needs of current dietetics require producers to provide commercially sweetened beverages in which this significant proportion of sugar is significantly reduced. A proposal to achieve such a result is to replace traditional sugar with an agent

synthetic sweetener.

  If such agents are known for these properties, their implementation for the preparation of sweet drinks, from traditional facilities, poses a difficult problem which,

  for the moment, still has not been resolved.

  The sweetening agent has a sweetening power very much higher than natural sugar, of the order of 100 to 200 times higher. A proportionally reduced amount should therefore be used. The sweetening agent has the characteristic of being in a powdery form, very sparingly soluble

in water.

  From the moment when the traditional sugar is abolished, it is necessary to take into account the need to be able to bring to the drink the characteristic of texture or viscosity which came, in the traditional drink, from the supply of a sugar syrup. . Since this initial texture or viscosity corresponds to a known taste perception, it is necessary to restore the presence of such a texture or

  viscosity by adding adjuvants associated with the sweetening agent.

  Such adjuvants incorporate, in particular, texturizing or gelling agents which have the characteristic of being also

hardly soluble in water.

  The problem is therefore to know how to proceed with the dissolution of such components with physicochemical characteristics unsuitable for this operation, knowing that, moreover, it should be considered that the preparation of a sweetened beverage must, for economic reasons, it can be carried out from the facilities designed and organized for the

  mixing and dissolving traditional sweet drinks.

  In view of the above problem, it could therefore be considered that one of the following three solutions makes it possible to solve it. The first would consist in dissolving the powder mixture, sweetening agent and various additives, in the total amount of water to be used, by causing this dissolution directly in the mixing tank of a conventional installation. This solution can not, in fact, be implemented, because the current tanks are not built to allow

  the supply of a puvelous product in a relatively small amount.

  The tanks also do not have satisfactory access opening or accessibility structure. Another obstacle is that the stirring device, normally provided inside these tanks, is totally unsuitable for producing the dissolution of the pulverulent mixture considered hardly soluble

  directly in the total liquid mass contained in the tank.

  A second solution that could be theoretically envisaged would be to produce the dissolution of the powder mixture continuously from an in-line installation traversed by a stream of water and receiving, upstream of the mixing tank, a distribution of

powdery product.

  It turns out that such a solution faces the difficulty of adjusting the respective flow rates of water and powder mixture. This results in an unacceptable fluctuating concentration due to the non-constant quality of the drink

  thus produced, in particular on the amplitude of the sugar value.

  In-line dissolution also runs up against the impossibility of producing the instantaneous solubilization of the hardly soluble powder mixture. This results in a suspension, as well as the formation of lumps which are unacceptable for the good quality of the drink to be produced, according to

the points mentioned above.

  A third solution that could be envisaged would be the production of a concentrated stock solution obtained by dissolving the pulverulent mixture in a fraction of the

  total amount of water to be used.

  Such a solution can not be considered because of the low solubility of the powder mixture that does not make it possible to obtain a solution that is sufficiently concentrated to allow the preparation of a drink from the installations.

traditional.

  The present invention aims to solve the above problem by proposing a new process for producing, from traditional instaLLations, a sweetened beverage from water, ingredients and a pulverulent mixture of a suitable sweetening agent. and by additives or

complementary adjuvants.

  The object of the invention is to propose, moreover, a method that can be implemented in traditional production facilities. continuously or discontinuously

sweet and / or sweetened drink.

  To achieve the above objectives, the process of the invention is characterized in that it consists in: placing in a tank a quantity Q1 of water less than that Q entering the final composition of the compound syrup or to obtain, in this quantity Q1 and with stirring, a dose of the powder mixture, in order to obtain a mother suspension with a solids concentration of at least 15%, homogenize the mother suspension by stirring, connecting the suspensionmaterial with a quantity of water Q2, such that Q1 + Q2 = Q, the quantity Q2 being delivered to assume a first transfer function to a capacity of the mother suspension in the form of a colloidal dispersion; refining during this transfer to become a perfectly homogenized solution and a second mixing function

  between this solution and the other ingredients.

  The invention also relates to an installation for carrying out the above method, an installation characterized in that it comprises: at least one tank for preparing a mother suspension incorporating means for supplying water and powder mixture, stirring means and means for

relative pressure.

  at least one mixing capacity, and transfer means between the tank and the capacity. Various other features emerge from the

  description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings which

  show, by way of non-limiting examples, forms of

  accomplishment of the object of the invention.

  Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a discontinuous operation type installation for the implementation of the object

of the invention.

  Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing a

  installation for the continuous production of a sweetened beverage.

  Fig. I shows a batch production plant of a sweetened beverage. Such an installation comprises a tank or mixing capacity 1 whose bottom 2 is connected to a withdrawal circuit 3 for transferring the contents of the tank I to a packaging installation and, for example, bottling. The tank 1 comprises, internally, a stirrer 4 mounted on a shaft 5 which can be carried either by the bottom 2 or by the lid 6. The shaft 5 is connected to a geared motor 7 which is adapted to the lid 6 in the example

illustrated.

  The tank 1 is connected to a supply line 8 of ingredients in a more or less viscous liquid form not falling within the scope of the invention. In the usual way, the pipe 8 comprises at least one valve 9 of

  control by all or nothing opening or proportional.

  The pipe 8 is preferably connected to the lid 6, which also supports a pipe 10 capable of supplying liquid additives inside the tank 1, or even water under relative pressure. either dilution or rinsing. The lid 6 also has a connection with a circuit 11 capable of delivering, inside the tank 1, a gas under pressure, such as compressed air, CO 2, etc. According to the invention, the tank 1 is also connected, in particular by connection on the lid 6, to a transfer pipe 12 resulting from a withdrawal pipe 13 provided in the bottom 14 of a preparation tank 15. the vessel 15 is to allow, as is apparent from what follows, the development of a mother suspension from the powder mixture formed by the sweetening product and the complementary adjuvants. The preparation tank 15 has a cover 16 provided with a manhole 17 and supporting a geared motor unit 18 capable of rotating a stirrer 19 located inside the tank 15. The stirrer 19 is, preferably of the defloculator type with a high shear rate. The cover 16 has a vent 20 controlled by a valve 21 controlled by a programmable controller 22. The vent 20 is also connected between the cover 16 and the valve 21 to a pipe 23 provided with a closing-opening valve 24 connected to a circuit 25 for dispensing a fluid under relative pressure, such as compressed air, CO 2, etc. The tank 15 is also connected to a pipe 26 for supplying water under pressure. This pipe 26 has a dispensing end provided with an apple 27 which is located inside the tank 15 at a height such that it is placed below an average level of filling. The pipe 26 is provided, between two valves 28 and 29, a bypass 30 controlled by a valve 31 and connected to the pipe 13 downstream

a valve 32.

  The valves 24, 28 and 32 are controlled by opening

  closing by the controller 22, like the valve 21.

  The discontinuous production facility described

  above implements the following preparation method.

  Firstly, the valves 24, 31 and 32 are closed before opening the valves 28, 29 and 21 to admit, in the tank 15, by the apple 27, a quantity of water Q1 less than

  quantity Q required for the production of the sweetened beverage.

  In all cases, the tank 15 is made so that this quantity Q1 determines a level of immersion of the agitator 19. The quantity Q1 is, for example, between 8 and 20% of the quantity Q. The valves 21 and 28 are then closed to proceed to the opening of the manhole 17 for discharging, inside the tank 15, the chosen dose of powder mixture composed of the sweetening agent and additional additives. The dose of mixture is chosen according to Q1 to obtain, subsequently, a mother suspension with a dry matter concentration of at least 15%. The manhole 17 is then closed, then the stirrer 19 is rotated by the geared motor unit 18. The agitator is rotated to a

  specific speed for the homogenization of the ingredients used.

  The agitation of the quantity of water Q1 and the dose of powder mixture is carried out for a variable duration depending on the dose of the powder mixture. For mixtures that can vary in a ratio of I to 5, the stirring times will be specific to the required homogeneity of the mother suspension to be obtained. Another phase of the process then consists in closing the valve 21, if it has not already been done, then opening the valve 28 and the valve 32, so as to admit, in the tank 15, water under pressure which It is distributed inside the mother-suspension by the apple 27. Because of the viscosity of the mother-suspension, the water supply distributed inside itself has the effect, all of first, to put in relative pressure the internal volume of the tank 15 and to produce, by different fluid streams passing through the mass of the mother-suspension, a colloidal dispersion effect of the latter with dissolution and continuous sampling as and when of the introduction, admission and circulation of the complementary quantity of water. Due to the opening of the valve 32, the solution produced continuously by the circulation of water inside the mass of the mother suspension borrows the tubing 13 and follows the transfer line 12 to be gradually introduced. in the mixing tank 1 in which the stirrer 4 is rotated. This transfer-dissolution-transfer phase is produced by involving an amount Q2 such that Q1 + Q2 = Q, ie the total amount to be retained for obtaining the sweetened syrup inside the mixing tank 1 in which, simultaneously or deferred or again

  anticipated, are introduced the additional ingredients.

  The process according to the invention thus involves a phase of preparation of a mother suspension from which a solution is produced by the effect of dilution, dissolution and transfer of the quantity Q2 inside the suspension for

ensure its colloidal suspension.

  Before the end of admission into the tank 15 of the total quantity Q2 'the valve 24 is opened to introduce, inside the tank 15, a gas under pressure contributing to ensure the final transfer of the residual amount of solution transferred pneumatically through the tubing 13 in the transfer line 12 to ensure total evacuation and complete emptying of the preparation tank 15, in order to meet the rate

  sweeteners present in the tank.

  At the end of emptying, the valves 24 and 21 are respectively closed and open to decompress the internal volume of the tank 15. After this preparatory phase, the valve 29 is closed, then the valves 28 and 31 are opened, so as to produce, by the bypass line 30, the rinsing of the

transfer pipeline 12.

  A rinsing phase of the vat 15 may also be carried out anteriorly or subsequently by administration of water or cleaning solution with internal distribution by

through the apple 27.

  An operating cycle identical to that described

  above can, then, again unfold.

  The method of the invention as described above makes it possible to solve the problem of the very low solubility of the powder mixture by proceeding by a first step of preparation of a mother suspension from which occurs, in the second step, by colloidal dispersion effect and being transferred from the tank 15 to the tank 1, a perfectly stabilized solution in a mixing tank where the other ingredients are

  brought together and homogenized.

  The method of the invention is implemented by an installation characterized by the existence of a booster module

  I formed by the tank 15 and by its various accessory organs.

  Such a module can be easily connected to an existing installation by only involving

  hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical connections.

  Such a module has the advantage of being able to be realized in the form of a unitary assembly carried by a frame 40 allowing implantation, storage and transport in

practical and easy conditions.

  Fig. 2 shows, schematically, an installation for the continuous production of a sweetened beverage with

  removal of mixing tank 1.

  The installation comprises, for example, a module I, of the type described above, the vessel 15 is connected by a withdrawal pipe 41 to a buffer tank 42 of mother-suspension which is taken by a metering pump 43 the leader to a mixer 44 which also receives water through a pipe 45, the concentrate via a pipe 47, optional additives via a pipe 48 and, if appropriate, the

  gas under pressure through a pipe 23.

  The colloidal dispersion phase during transfer takes place, in such a case, in the mixer 44 which may, if necessary, be provided with disrupters or baffle circuits 46 contributing to a homogenization of the solution before it is sent.

  towards an end use by a line 49. -

Claims (8)

  1 - Process for the preparation of a beverage from water, various ingredients and a pulverulent sweetening mixture, characterized in that it consists in: placing in a tank (15) a quantity (Q1) water less than that (Q) used in the final composition of the syrup compound or the drink to be obtained, - pour, in this amount (Q1) and with stirring, a dose of the powder mixture, in order to obtain a suspension- mother with a dry matter concentration of at least 15%, homogenise the mother suspension by stirring, - put the suspension in relation with a quantity of water (Q2) such that Q1 + Q2 = Q, the quantity (Q2) being delivered to assume a first function of transfer to a capacity of the mother suspension in the form of a colloidal dispersion which is refined during this transfer to become a perfectly homogenized solution and a second mixing function between this   solution and the other ingredients.   2 - Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the formation of the mother suspension and its transfer is carried out from the same preparation tank. 3 - Process according to claim 1, characterized in that: - the mother suspension is prepared which is transferred in a buffer tank.   the suspension-mother of this reservoir is continuously withdrawn by a metering pump feeding a mixer, and the quantity of water (Q2) is circulated continuously in the mixer to obtain a solution   directed to a user station.   4 - Process according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that carries out the dilution-dissolution-transfer by pressure phase.   5 - Process according to one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that, at the end of the dissolution dilution phase, the colloidal dispersion of the stock solution is transferred to the storage capacity by a gas under pressure. 6 - Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the mother suspension is subjected to stirring under pressure and ambient temperature for a specific duration to the required homogeneity of the mother suspension to be obtained with a stirrer type   defloculator with high shear rate.   7 - Process according to claim 1, characterized in that   the amount of water (Q1) is between 8 and 20% of (Q).   8 - Installation for the implementation of the method according to   one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises   - At least one tank (15) for preparing a mother-suspension incorporating means (26) for supplying water and a powder mixture, stirring means (19) and relative pressurizing means (23). ), at least one mixing capacity (1), and transfer means (12) between the tank and the capacity.   9 - InstalLation according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises, following Following at least one preparation tank (15), a buffer tank (12) associated with a means of withdrawal (43) continuously and a mixer (44) connected to the withdrawal means, to a continuous inflow (45) of water under pressure   relative and a user station.   - InstalLation according to claim 9, characterized in that the mixer (44) is connected to a circuit delivering a pressurized fluid (23).   11 - InstalLation according to claim 8, characterized in that the preparation tank (15) internally comprises a   inlet of pressurized water provided with a dispensing head (27).