GB2359006A - High pressure superheated steam sterilising apparatus - Google Patents

High pressure superheated steam sterilising apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2359006A
GB2359006A GB0000362A GB0000362A GB2359006A GB 2359006 A GB2359006 A GB 2359006A GB 0000362 A GB0000362 A GB 0000362A GB 0000362 A GB0000362 A GB 0000362A GB 2359006 A GB2359006 A GB 2359006A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
heat treatment
treatment apparatus
target substance
steam
heat
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB0000362A
Other versions
GB0000362D0 (en
GB2359006B (en
Inventor
Alan Mole
Robert Austen Herbert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
RED DEER HERBS Ltd
Original Assignee
RED DEER HERBS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by RED DEER HERBS Ltd filed Critical RED DEER HERBS Ltd
Priority to GB0000362A priority Critical patent/GB2359006B/en
Publication of GB0000362D0 publication Critical patent/GB0000362D0/en
Publication of GB2359006A publication Critical patent/GB2359006A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2359006B publication Critical patent/GB2359006B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
    • A23L3/16—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating loose unpacked materials
    • A23L3/18—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating loose unpacked materials while they are progressively transported through the apparatus
    • A23L3/185—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating loose unpacked materials while they are progressively transported through the apparatus in solid state
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
    • A23B7/00—Preservation or chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables
    • A23B7/005—Preserving by heating
    • A23B7/0053—Preserving by heating by direct or indirect contact with heating gases or liquids

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Nutrition Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)

Abstract

A heat treatment apparatus comprises a high pressure plenum manifold 1 delivering sterilising superheated steam, superimposed over a conveyor 2 carrying a food stuff. The apparatus may have a means to control the distance A between the manifold and conveyor. Preferably the temperature of the heat treatment and rate of presentation of the food are controllable.

Description

1 HEAT TREATMENT APPARATUS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL STERILISATION OF FOOD AND
FOOD INGREDIENTS 2359006 This invention relates to a constant flow heat treatment apparatus for the Industrial sterilisation of food and food ingredients.
Heat treatment is a well-recognised method of industrial sterilisation of food and ingredients. "Pasteurisation" is the commonest form of heat treatment, which is capable of destroying vegetative micro-organisrns such as bacteria yeasts and moulds, without significantly altering the structure of the foodstuff or ingredient as would happen in cooking.
The application of heat treatment to heat sensitive material such as aromatic green leaves as in herbs, or aromatic ingredients such as spices has hitherto required sealed chambers to retain the aromatic oils and flavours volatilised by the heating process.
According to the present invention to carry the substance to be heat treated there is provided a conveyor system upon which is superimposed a manifold comprising a Plenum chamber with a perforated lower surface. This manifold is of sufficient width to encompass the width of the conveyor system and of a length not less than 500min. This manifold is connected to an independent supply of steam at a minimum pressure of 451bs per square inch above atmospheric pressure and is superimposed above the transport surface of the conveyor system above and directly adjacent to a monolayer of substance to be heat treated (the target) in such a way so that the steam released from the plenum chamber through the perforated lower surface impinges directly upon the target.
Adjustment of the steam pressure, the distance between the manifold and the target and the speed of the conveyor system is provided so that an infinite number of combinations can provide variable conditions which can by experimentation be adjusted to suit a variety of target substances.
The fall in pressure as the high-pressure steam leaves the plenum chamber releases energy as heat, which is directly transferred to the target substance upon which the steam impinges. This instantaneously raises the temperature of the target sufficient to destroy all vegetative organisms. The supply of target substance is continuously replenished by the conveying system, which moves heat-treated target on for further processing. The thickness of the monolayer is controlled by a depth control loading guide.
: 2 A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure one shows a transverse cross section through the centre of the heat treatment apparatus.
Figure two shows detail of the perforated lower surface of the plenum chamber. Referring to the drawings (1) Shows a plenum chamber constructed typically of stainless steel which is superimposed above a conveyor system (2) The plenum chamber (1) is connected via a steam pressure gauge (K) and valve 0) to a suitable high pressure steam supply capable of a constant supply of steam at or above 45psi. Opening the valve 0), releases steam into the plenum chamber (1) of the manifold at high pressure. The holes or perforations (F) and (G) in the lower surface (F) of the plenum allow steam to enter the saturated steam area (3) at which point the steam pressure drops to atmospheric pressure and the steam expands to become water vapour. This expansion releases energy in the form of heat, which is then absorbed by the any target substance present on the transport surface of the conveying system M. The temperature of the heat treatment is varied by adjusting the supply valve 0) and the exhaust valve (R) and the distance between the manifold (1) and the conveyor surface (M) represented by (A). The measurement of temperature at a multitude of points is indicated by a temperature-indicating device attached to thermocouples (V).
The substance to be heat treated ( the target) is loaded upon the conveyor (2) in such a way as to present a monolayer across the total transport surface (M) of the conveying system(2). then under the manifold lower surface where it is presented to the jets of steam issuing from the perforations (F) and (G) in the base of the plenum chamber (1) This area is the saturated steam area (3). The velocity at which the target is conveyed beneath the manifold is controlled by adjustment of the velocity of the conveyor system. By observation measurement and testing of the microbiological burden the optimum settings for any given target substance may be calculated.
3

Claims (1)

1] A heat treatment apparatus comprising a high pressure plenum manifold delivering a sterilising dose of hot steam superimposed over a moving conveying system carrying a target substance of food or ingredient upon which the sterilising steam impinges as the target passes beneath.
2] A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim one wherein the release of pressure from steam results in a discharge of energy in the form of heat being available for the sterilisation of a target substance.
31 A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the target substance is carried continuously through the apparatus on a conveying system 41 A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the temperature of the heat treatment is controllable 5] A heat treatment apparatus as claimed 'm claim 4 or claim 3 wherein the rate of presentation of target substance to the apparatus is controllable 61 A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1 claim 2 clairn3 claim 4 and claim 5 wherein vegetative micro-organisms situate upon and within the target substance are destroyed 7] A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein heat labile organic enzymes situate within the target substance are destroyed.
81 A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and claim 7 wherein heat labile aromatic substances extracted by the steam treatment may be recovered from condensing exhaust steam.
4 0 0 1 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 11 A heat treatment apparatus comprising a high pressure plenum manifold delivering a sterilising dose of superheated steam superimposed over a moving conveying system carrying a target substance of food or ingredient upon which the sterilising steam impinges as the target passes beneath.
21 A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a level guide controls the depth of the target substance.
3] A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the target substance is carried continuously through the apparatus on a conveying system 4] A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the temperature of the heat treatment is controllable 51 A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 3 wherein the rate of presentation of target substance to the apparatus is controllable 6] A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1 claim 2 claim3 claim 4 and claim 5 wherein vegetative micro-organisms situate upon and within the target substance are destroyed 7] A heat treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein heat labile organic enzymes situate within the target substance are destroyed.
81 A heat treatment apparatus as described in 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, above comprising a steam distribution plenum rhanifold of such designed shape as to maintain even steam pressure and temperature across the whole steam distribution area.
GB0000362A 2000-01-10 2000-01-10 Heat treatment apparatus for the industrial sterilisation of food and food ingredients Expired - Fee Related GB2359006B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0000362A GB2359006B (en) 2000-01-10 2000-01-10 Heat treatment apparatus for the industrial sterilisation of food and food ingredients

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0000362A GB2359006B (en) 2000-01-10 2000-01-10 Heat treatment apparatus for the industrial sterilisation of food and food ingredients

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0000362D0 GB0000362D0 (en) 2000-03-01
GB2359006A true GB2359006A (en) 2001-08-15
GB2359006B GB2359006B (en) 2002-08-28

Family

ID=9883360

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0000362A Expired - Fee Related GB2359006B (en) 2000-01-10 2000-01-10 Heat treatment apparatus for the industrial sterilisation of food and food ingredients

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2359006B (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2396546A (en) * 2002-12-24 2004-06-30 Red Deer Herbs Ltd Heat treatment apparatus for food
GB2402865A (en) * 2003-06-16 2004-12-22 Clive Edward Jewers De-infestation of agricultural produce
EP1591022A1 (en) * 2004-04-28 2005-11-02 Red Deer Herbs Limited Heat treatment apparatus, method and product obtained from same

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5072663A (en) * 1991-04-26 1991-12-17 Seafood Equipment Development Corporation Shrimp cooking apparatus
US5609095A (en) * 1993-07-01 1997-03-11 Stein, Inc. High performance cooking oven with steam chamber

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2221830B (en) * 1988-07-28 1992-08-26 Daniel Henry Dudek Means and method for sterilizing spices and like substances

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5072663A (en) * 1991-04-26 1991-12-17 Seafood Equipment Development Corporation Shrimp cooking apparatus
US5609095A (en) * 1993-07-01 1997-03-11 Stein, Inc. High performance cooking oven with steam chamber

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2396546A (en) * 2002-12-24 2004-06-30 Red Deer Herbs Ltd Heat treatment apparatus for food
GB2396546B (en) * 2002-12-24 2006-05-10 Red Deer Herbs Ltd Heat treatment apparatus method and produce
GB2402865A (en) * 2003-06-16 2004-12-22 Clive Edward Jewers De-infestation of agricultural produce
GB2402865B (en) * 2003-06-16 2006-02-15 Clive Edward Jewers De-Infestation method and apparatus
EP1591022A1 (en) * 2004-04-28 2005-11-02 Red Deer Herbs Limited Heat treatment apparatus, method and product obtained from same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0000362D0 (en) 2000-03-01
GB2359006B (en) 2002-08-28

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20060110