IES66992B2 - An apparatus and a method for heating a sugar solution - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for heating a sugar solution. The apparatus comprises mixing chamber adapted to receive a first gas from a first gas source and a second gas from a second gas source, the first gas containing oxygen and the second gas comprising a fuel, and to mix the first and second gases to form a mixture of gases; first and second means for controlling the respective flow rates of the first and second gases into the mixing chamber; means for regulating the flow rate of the mixture of gases from the mixing chamber; and ignition means, downstream of the regulating means, adapted to ignite the mixture of gases.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a * method for heating a sugar solution.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for heating a sugar solution, the apparatus comprising a mixing chamber adapted to receive a first gas from a first gas source and a second gas from a second gas source, the first gas containing oxygen and the second gas comprising a fuel and to mix the first and second gases to form a mixture of gases; first and second means for controlling the respective flow rates of the first and second gases into the mixing chamber; means for regulating the flow rate of the mixture of gases from the mixing chamber; and ignition means, downstream of the regulating means, adapted to ignite the mixture of gases.

Preferably, the first gas is compressed air.

Alternatively, the first gas is air at atmospheric pressure and the apparatus is additionally provided with a pump means, upstream of the first control means.

More preferably, the second gas is a natural gas.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for heating a %l sugar solution, the method comprising supplying a desired volume of a first gas, the first gas containing - 2 oxygen, and a second gas, the second gas comprising a fuel, into a mixing chamber; mixing the first and second gases to form a mixture of gases; and igniting the mixture of gases.

Preferably, the first gas is compressed air. Alternatively, the first gas is air at atmospheric pressure and the apparatus is additionally provided with a pump means, upstream of the first control means.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic view of an apparatus for heating a sugar solution according to the present invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated an apparatus for heating a sugar solution generally indicated at 10 according to the present invention.

The apparatus 10 includes a second gas or natural gas source 12 and a first gas or air source 13, downstream of which is a pump means 14.

The pump means 14 is connected to a mixing chamber 16 via a first control means 20 adapted to generate a first gas flow rate of, desirably, 1-2 lbs per square inch.

The second gas source 12 is connected to the mixing chamber 16 via a second control means 18 which is adapted, desirably, to yield a second gas flow rate of 1/3 lb per square inch.

The mixing chamber is provided with a fan (not shown) to effect mixing of the first and second gases in the mixing chamber 16. When the first and second gases are fed into the mixing chamber at their respective desired flow rates, the resultant mixture of gases comprises a 3-6:1 (v-.v) ratio of the first and second gases .

The mixing chamber 16 is connected to an ignition means or ignition chamber 22 via a regulating means 24. A baffle 26 is provided on the ignition chamber 22.

The apparatus 10 according to the present invention operates in the following manner. Natural gas and air are introduced into the mixing chamber 16, from the natural gas source 12 and the air source 13/pump means 14, through their respective second and first control means 18, 20. This ensures that the natural gas and air are introduced into the mixing chamber 16 where they are circulated within the mixing chamber 16 to form a natural gas/air mixture. The natural gas/air mixture is then fed into the ignition chamber 22 via the regulating means 24 and the natural gas/air mixture is ignited within the ignition chamber 22 using, for example, an electronic sparking means (not shown) or the like. The provision of the baffle 26 serves to direct and define the flame output (not shown) from the ignition chamber 22.

It will be appreciated that the second and first control means 18, 20 and the regulating means 24 serve to regulate the flow rates of the natural gas, air and mixture of natural gas/air, respectively, throughout the apparatus 10 according to the present invention. An automatic pressure regulating’ valve (not shown) may be connected to the mixing chamber 16 to compensate for any flow rate imbalances between the inputs and the output of the mixing chamber 16.

It will also be appreciated that the air source 13 and the pump means 14 may be replaced by a supply of compressed air.

The apparatus 10 according to the present invention is used to heat a sugar solution, by placing the desired sugar solution on the baffle 26.

Depending on the specific application of the sugar solution, the desired boiling temperature will vary, for example, when it is intended to make boiled sweets from a sugar solution, the desired boiling temperature is 140°C. Alternatively, when the sugar solution is intended to produce fudge/toffee or chews, the desired boiling temperatures are 125°C and 127°C, respectively.

The mixture of gases fed from the mixing chamber 16 into the ignition chamber 22 ignites at a higher temperature than the second gas alone. Accordingly, the sugar solution reaches its desired temperature more rapidly, when the apparatus 10 according to the present invention is employed. Specifically, it has been determined that a sugar solution intended for producing boiled sweets will reach the desired temperature within 45 minutes using an apparatus 10 according to the present invention, whereas such a sugar solution would require 135 minutes to achieve the desired temperature using a conventional apparatus for heating a sugar , solution. Similarly, a sugar solution intended for producing fudge/toffee or chews will reach their v respective desired temperatures within one hour using an apparatus 10 according to the present invention and, in contrast, will require three hours of heating to achieve the desired temperature using a conventional apparatus for heating a sugar solution.

It will be appreciated that this time saving is of considerable importance from a labour point of view and, in addition, results in a not insubstantial saving of natural gas.

It has been determined that the apparatus 10 according to the present invention heats a sugar solution at approximately three times the rate observed with a conventional apparatus for heating a sugar solution. It has, therefore, been necessary to specify the order of addition of ingredients to prevent burning of individual components as the sugar solution is being heated. Thus, in general, the sugar is heated to, or almost to, the desired temperature, before the remaining ingredients are added.

Specifically, it has been determined, where the sugar solution is intended to produce boiled sweets, that the ingredients be added in the following order: water, sugar, glucose, flavouring agent(s), citric acid. Where the sugar solution is intended to produce fudge, the following order of ingredients is desired: water, sugar, glucose, hard palm kernel oil, glyceryl monostearate, fondant, butter, milk and flavouring agent(s). When the sugar solution is intended to produce toffee or chews, the desired order of addition of ingredients is water, sugar, hard palm kernel oil, brown sugar, glyceryl monostearate, milk, butter and flavouring agent(s).

Claims (5)

1. An apparatus for heating a sugar solution, the apparatus comprising a mixing chamber adapted to receive a first gas from a first gas source and a second gas from a second gas source, the first gas containing oxygen and the second gas comprising a fuel and to mix the first and second gases to form a mixture of gases; first and second means for controlling the respective flow rates of the first and second gases into the mixing chamber; means for regulating the flow rate of the mixture of gases from the mixing chamber; and ignition means, downstream of the regulating means, adapted to ignite the mixture of gases.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the first gas is air at atmospheric pressure and the apparatus is provided with a pump means, upstream of the first control means.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the second gas is a natural gas.

4. A method for heating a sugar solution, the method comprising supplying a desired volume of a first gas, the first gas containing oxygen, and a second gas, the second gas comprising a fuel, into a mixing chamber; mixing the first and second gases to form a mixture of gases; and igniting the mixture of gases .

5. A method according to Claim 4, in which the first gas is air at atmospheric pressure and the apparatus is provided with a pump means, upstream of the first control means.