GB514151A - Apparatus for the sterilization of food products - Google Patents

Abstract

514,151. Sterilizing liquids. HUGHES, C. L. (Little, Inc., A. D.). Feb. 28, 1938, No. 6173. [Class 49] Liquid food products are sterilized by first pre-heating the liquid and then subjecting it to a heat shock by subjecting a small moving portion of the liquid to the action of steam, which commingles therewith, the liquid being delivered to.the steaming zone at a pressure which prevents ebullition although the temperature is raised to above the normal boiling point. The liquid is drawn from a vat 10 to a sterilizer 12 having steam nozzles 13 which raise the temperature to 212‹-230‹F., the maximum temperature being held for a few seconds only. Steam 'escapes through the vent 14 and the liquid is delivered through the pipe 18 into a vacuum chamber 19 which is maintained under vacuum by the pipe 20. The liquid is then delivered by a pump 22 into a heat interchanging cooler 24 and from thence into a storage chamber 26. A pump 30 delivers the liquid to a rotary drum heater 31 supplied with steam through a valve 42 controlled by a pressure regulator 43. The pressure of liquid supply to the heater 31 is controlled by a relief valve 38 venting into a return pipe 35. A metering pump 45 delivers the material through a heater 50 into a chamber 51 in which excess steam and dissolved air are liberated. The sterilizer 60 is supplied with liquid by a turbine pump 61 which is operated at a speed in excess of requirements. The discharge pipe 62 of the pump is bifurcated at 64 to supply end spaces 66 of the sterilizer. The steam supply pipe 81 is likewise bifurcated and delivers steam through openings 73 into spaces 74. Tapered nozzles 75 are aligned with tapered nozzles 76 so that the liquid is entrained with the steam and delivered at a temperature of about 260‹F-280‹F. to a centre space 67. The liquid then ascends in a.chamber 70 having a plurality of plate baffles which agitate the liquid, and is discharged therefrom into a closed reservoir 98. from which it drops by gravity through a cock 100 having a removable perforated plate in its plug so that the escape aperture can be varied in size. The liquid passes into a chamber 108 in which the temperature is maintained below atmospheric, the steam so generated being released through the valve 109. The liquid is then delivered into packages 110 in the packing machine 112. A final sterilization mav be effected in the retort 114.