JP2015098019A - Steam distillation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steam distillation device capable of efficiently obtaining an essential oil better than the prior art from a stock solution prepared using naturally derived base material as a raw material.SOLUTION: A steam distillation device 1 comprises: a rotation cylinder 5; a distillation chamber 2 having an internal wall surface 4 surrounding the cylinder 5; stock solution supply means 101 introducing a stock solution into the distillation chamber 2 and supplying the solution to the upper part 21 of the internal wall surface; first heating means 103 heating the stock solution flowing down an internal wall surface portion 22 facing the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5; stock solution derivation means 108 deriving the stock solution flown down the internal wall surface portion 22 and passed the internal wall surface portion 22 to the outside of the distillation chamber 2; a gas shielding member 109 closing a hollow part 50 so that steam does not pass the hollow part 50 of the cylinder 5; condensation means 105 deriving and condensing steam from the inside of the distillation chamber 2; a stock solution reservoir part 107 temporarily reserving the stock solution passing the internal wall surface portion 22 and reaching the stock solution derivation means 108; and second heating means 104 heating the stock solution reserved in th stock solution reservoir part 107.

Description

  The present invention relates to a steam distillation apparatus, for example, a steam distillation apparatus for obtaining essential oil from a stock solution prepared using a raw material derived from a natural product as a raw material.

  Essential oils are volatile oils obtained from natural products. Steam distillation has been performed to obtain essential oils from natural products. On the other hand, there is a method called thin film evaporation in which a stock solution containing essential oil is heated in the form of a thin film, and the essential oil is evaporated from the stock solution. When thin film evaporation and steam distillation are performed in combination, essential oil can be efficiently obtained from the stock solution.

  As an apparatus for performing a combination of thin film evaporation and steam distillation, an apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is known. The apparatus includes a cylinder that rotates around an axis, a distillation chamber having an inner wall that contains the cylinder and surrounds the cylinder, and a stock solution supply unit that introduces the stock solution from the outside of the distillation chamber into the distillation chamber to supply the upper part of the inner wall surface, Heating means for heating the stock solution supplied by the stock solution supply means and flowing down the inner wall surface portion facing the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder, and relatively moving the inner wall surface section in the circumferential direction as the cylinder rotates to flow down the inner wall surface section A wiper that spreads the undiluted solution on the inner wall surface to form a thin film, a undiluted solution derivation means for deriving the undiluted solution that has flowed down the inner wall surface and passed through the inner wall surface portion, and discharges water vapor below the inner wall surface portion Thus, steam supply means for supplying water vapor from the outside of the distillation chamber to the distillation chamber, a gas blocking member that closes the upper opening of the cylinder so that the steam does not pass through the hollow portion of the cylinder, and the steam is led out from the distillation chamber for condensation Condensing means.

  According to the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the stock solution is introduced from the outside of the distillation chamber into the distillation chamber by the stock solution supply means and supplied to the upper portion of the inner wall surface, the stock solution supplied to the upper portion of the inner wall surface becomes the inner wall surface portion. Flow down. The stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface is made into a thin film by a wiper and heated by a heating means. When the thin stock solution is heated, the essential oil evaporates from the liquid surface.

  Further, the water vapor is discharged from below the inner wall surface portion by the water vapor supply means, so that the water is supplied from the outside of the distillation chamber to the distillation chamber. The water vapor released below the inner wall surface part rises in the distillation chamber due to its buoyancy, but rises in the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder and the inner wall surface part without passing through the cylinder by the gas blocking member. .

  Thereby, the water vapor | steam which raises a clearance gap and the thin film-form undiluted solution which flows down an inner wall surface part make countercurrent contact. Due to the countercurrent contact, the essential oil easily evaporates from the surface of the stock solution, and a mixed steam of water vapor and essential oil rising through the gap is generated. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, when the sum of the steam pressure of the steam and the essential oil contained in the mixed steam becomes equal to the internal pressure of the distillation chamber, the stock solution that makes countercurrent contact with the mixed steam boils, and the essential oil is extracted from the stock solution. It is thought that becomes easier to vaporize. The mixed vapor after passing upward through the gap is condensed by the condensing means to become a distillate. Since the distillate contains liquid essential oil, it can be obtained.

  On the other hand, the stock solution after flowing down the inner wall surface portion and passing downward through the inner wall surface portion is led out of the distillation chamber by the stock solution deriving means.

Shokai 58-186801 JP 61-274705 Japanese Patent No. 2690983

  However, not a few essential oils that could not be vaporized during the flow of the inner wall surface portion remain in the stock solution that has passed through the inner wall surface portion. Since this stock solution is derived as it is, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a low recovery efficiency of the essential oil from the stock solution.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the steam distillation apparatus which can obtain an essential oil from a stock solution more efficiently than the apparatus of patent document 1. FIG.

  In order to achieve the above object, a steam distillation apparatus according to the present invention includes a cylinder that rotates around an axis, a distillation chamber that includes the cylinder and has an inner wall that surrounds the cylinder, and a stock solution from outside the distillation chamber. A stock solution supplying means that is introduced into the distillation chamber and is supplied to the upper part of the inner wall surface; a first heating means that heats the stock solution that is supplied by the stock solution supplying means and flows down the inner wall surface portion facing the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder; A stock solution derivation means for deriving the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion and passing through the inner wall surface portion to the outside of the distillation chamber; a gas blocking member for closing the hollow portion so that steam does not pass through the hollow portion of the cylinder; A steam distillation apparatus comprising: a condensing unit for deriving and condensing steam from the distillation chamber, wherein a stock solution reservoir for temporarily storing a stock solution that passes through the inner wall surface part and reaches the stock solution deriving unit; Raw material stored in the stock solution reservoir It is configured to and a second heating means for heating the.

  Further, the second heating means is configured to remove the stock solution stored in the stock solution reservoir so that the temperature of the stock solution stored in the stock solution reservoir is higher than the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion. It is configured to heat.

  Further, the stock solution reservoir has an annular container bottom plate projecting inward from the inner wall surface, a container side plate standing on the inner edge of the container bottom plate, an inner wall portion facing the container side plate, An annular recess formed by the container side plate and the container bottom plate is configured as a stock solution storage container for temporarily storing the stock solution passing through the inner wall surface portion and reaching the stock solution deriving means.

  Further, the apparatus is configured to further include a water vapor supply means for supplying water vapor from the outside of the distillation chamber into the distillation chamber by discharging water vapor below the inner wall surface portion.

  In this case, the water vapor supply means is configured to release water vapor into the stock solution stored in the stock solution reservoir.

  According to the steam distillation apparatus according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, the steam rising in the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder and the inner wall surface portion and the thin-film stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion make countercurrent contact. . For this reason, essential oil evaporates from the undiluted | stock solution which flows down an inner wall surface part, and the sum of the vapor | steam pressure of water vapor | steam and essential oil increases with the vapor | steam which carries out countercurrent contact. Thereby, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion is likely to boil, and it is considered that the essential oil is efficiently vaporized from the stock solution.

  Furthermore, according to the steam distillation apparatus according to the present invention, the stock solution that passes through the inner wall surface of the distillation chamber and reaches the stock solution deriving means is temporarily stored in the stock solution reservoir. The accumulated stock solution is heated by the second heating means, and the essential oil is vaporized from the stock solution. Therefore, in the steam distillation apparatus according to the present invention, the essential oil can be obtained from the stock solution that will be derived as it is according to the apparatus of Patent Document 1.

  Moreover, according to the steam distillation apparatus according to the present invention, a mixed steam of steam and essential oil is generated from the stock solution heated by the second heating means. The mixed vapor rises in the gap and makes countercurrent contact with the thin film-like stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion. In other words, the steam that makes countercurrent contact is already mixed when the countercurrent contact is made for the first time at the lower end of the inner wall surface portion, and the sum of the steam pressures of steam and essential oil has been increased in advance. . For this reason, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, it is considered that the entire undiluted solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion, including the undiluted solution flowing down the lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion, is likely to boil at a low temperature. Also with this, in the steam distillation apparatus according to the present invention, it is considered that the essential oil is more efficiently vaporized from the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface than in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1.

  Therefore, according to this invention, the steam distillation apparatus which can obtain an essential oil from a stock solution more efficiently than the apparatus of patent document 1 is provided.

Sectional drawing of the steam distillation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing of the distillation chamber of the steam distillation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing of the stock solution storage container of the steam distillation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing of the steam distillation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. Sectional drawing of the bottom part of the distillation chamber of the steam distillation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. Sectional drawing of the steam distillation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3. Sectional drawing of the steam distillation apparatus which concerns on the comparative example 1 Sectional drawing of the distillation chamber of the steam distillation apparatus which concerns on the comparative example 1 Sectional drawing of the steam distillation apparatus which concerns on the comparative example 2 Sectional drawing of the distillation chamber of the steam distillation apparatus which concerns on the comparative example 2

[Embodiment 1]
The stock solution used in the steam distillation apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a suspension, emulsion, or colloidal solution containing a volatile component that does not mix with water. Examples of volatile components that do not mix with water include essential oils. For this reason, in the steam distillation apparatus 1, for example, a raw material suspension prepared by adding water to a raw material containing essential oil and crushing the raw material can be used as a stock solution.

  When the essential oil is obtained from the stock solution, the raw material of the stock solution contains the essential oil among materials produced by living organisms and materials derived from natural products such as foods and foods obtained by processing the material. Among the materials derived from natural products, those containing essential oils include plants such as crops that have been used as raw materials for essential oils, and natural fragrance-based raw materials list (October 20, 2010, Table 377) Among the materials exemplified in Appendix 2) “Declaration of additives based on the Food Sanitation Law” issued by the Deputy Director General of the Consumer Affairs Agency, those containing essential oils are listed. In addition, materials derived from natural products containing useful essential oils can be used as raw materials for stock solutions. When the raw material is a raw material having a high water content, for example, when the raw material is fruit juice, it can be handled as it is without adding water to the raw material or crushing the raw material.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the steam distillation apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The distillation chamber 2 is a hermetically sealed vessel and contains a cylinder 5. The vessel of the distillation chamber 2 includes a cylindrical side wall 3, a ceiling part 11 that closes the upper surface opening of the side wall 3, and a bottom part 8 that closes the lower surface opening of the side wall 3.

  The side wall 3 of the distillation chamber 2 has an outer wall surface 10 and an inner wall surface 4. The inner wall surface 4 includes an inner wall surface portion 22, an inner wall surface upper portion 21, and an inner wall surface lower end portion 26. The inner wall surface portion 22 is a portion of the inner wall surface 4 that surrounds the cylinder 5 and faces the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5. The inner wall surface upper portion 21 is a portion of the inner wall surface 4 in which a portion above the inner wall surface portion 22 and an upper end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22 are combined. The inner wall lower end portion 26 is a portion below the inner wall surface portion 22 in the inner wall surface 4.

  In the center of the ceiling part 11 of the distillation chamber 2, the rotation shaft 15 penetrates the ceiling part 11. A mechanical seal 14 is provided as a shaft seal member at the penetration portion.

  The bottom 8 of the distillation chamber 2 has an inner bottom surface 9 and an outer bottom surface 12 and is connected to the stock solution outlet tube 57. The bottom 8 is inclined so that the stock solution flows on the inner bottom surface 9 and reaches the opening 58 of the stock solution outlet tube 57. In the center of the bottom portion 8, a bearing portion 75 of the rotating shaft 15 is provided. The bearing portion 75 is provided with a mechanical seal 76 as a shaft seal member.

  The cylinder 5 is a vertical type and is attached to the rotary shaft 15 via an upper gas blocking member 19 and a lower gas blocking member 20. The rotating shaft 15 is supported by the bearing portion 75 at the lower end portion thereof, and the upper end portion thereof is fixed to the distillation chamber 2 by passing through the ceiling portion 11, and the upper end portion thereof is connected to the motor 13 outside the distillation chamber 2. doing. When the motor 13 is driven, the rotating shaft 15 rotates, so that the cylinder 5 rotates around the axis. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the distillation chamber 2 taken along line AA in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the gap 63 between the outer peripheral surface 6 and the inner wall surface portion 22 of the cylinder 5 is a cylindrical space having an annular cross section.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper gas blocking member 19 is an upward conical member that closes the upper surface opening of the cylinder 5. The stock solution introduction pipe 17 is a pipe that penetrates the ceiling portion 11 of the distillation chamber 2, and a backflow prevention valve 98 is provided outside the distillation chamber 2. The opening 18 of the stock solution introduction pipe 17 is provided in the distillation chamber 2 in the vicinity of the upper gas blocking member 19, and is arranged so that the lower part thereof is on the upper gas blocking member 19. The configuration in which the stock solution introduction pipe 17 and the upper gas blocking member 19 are combined functions as a stock solution supply means 101 that introduces the stock solution from the outside of the distillation chamber 2 into the distillation chamber 2 and supplies it to the upper inner wall surface 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of wipers 80 are provided on the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5, so that the weight distribution is not biased so that the center of gravity of the cylinder 5 does not shake when the cylinder 5 rotates. Provided. Further, the individual wipers 80 are provided side by side in the axial direction of the cylinder 5 from the upper edge to the lower edge of the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5. The wiper 80 includes a blade 81 that touches the inner wall surface portion 22, and a blade support portion 82 that supports the blade 81 and fixes the wiper 80 to the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5. With this configuration, the blade 81 of the wiper 80 moves relative to the inner wall surface portion 22 in the circumferential direction as the cylinder 5 rotates.

  The blade 81 of the wiper 80 is a flexible member made of, for example, a fluororesin, and bends when it touches the inner wall surface portion 22. The blade 81 can be removed from the blade support 82 and replaced. The blade support portion 82 is a metal fitting or an elastic member that supports the blade 81.

  The blade support portion 82 is provided in such an arrangement that when the blade 81 moves relative to the inner wall surface portion 22 in the circumferential direction, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is scooped up. In order to provide such an arrangement, the relationship between the positions at which the blade support portion 82 is fixed to the lower side, the upper side, and the middle of the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5 is important. Specifically, with respect to the position of the blade support portion 82 fixed in the middle of the outer peripheral surface 6, the blade support portion 82 fixed to the lower side of the outer peripheral surface 6 is on the side in which the cylinder 5 advances by rotation. It is fixed at a slightly shifted position. Further, the blade support portion 82 fixed to the upper side of the outer peripheral surface 6 is slightly shifted from the position of the blade support portion 82 fixed in the middle of the outer peripheral surface 6 to the opposite side to the direction in which the cylinder 5 advances by rotation. It is fixed at the position.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the stock solution outlet pipe 57 has one end passing through the bottom 8 of the distillation chamber 2 and having an opening 58 on the inner bottom surface 9. The pipe 60 is provided with a valve 60 and a liquid feed pump 59. With this configuration, the stock solution outlet pipe 57 functions as a stock solution derivation means 108 that guides the stock solution that has flowed down the inner wall surface portion 22 and passed through the inner wall surface portion 22 to the outside of the distillation chamber 2.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the stock solution reservoir 7 taken along line BB in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the stock solution reservoir 7 includes an annular container bottom plate 25 projecting inward from the lower end portion 26 of the inner wall surface, and a container side plate 24 erected on the inner edge of the container bottom plate 25. The stock solution reservoir 7 has a shape having an annular recess formed by an inner wall portion 23 facing the container side plate 24, the container side plate 24, and the container bottom plate 25. With this configuration, the stock solution reservoir 7 can store the stock solution.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a stock solution reflux pipe 77 is connected to the stock solution reservoir 7. Normally, since the valves (78, 97) provided in the stock solution reflux pipe 77 are closed, the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 7 does not flow into the stock solution reflux pipe 77. In this case, when the stock solution continues to flow into the stock solution reservoir 7, the stored stock solution 201 overflows from the stock solution reservoir 7. Therefore, the stock solution reservoir 7 functions as a stock solution reservoir 107 that temporarily stores the stock solution that passes through the inner wall surface portion 22 and reaches the stock solution outlet means 108.

  The internal volume of the stock solution storage container 7 (the volume of the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution storage container 7) is determined by the bottom area of the inner bottom of the container bottom plate 25 and the inner height of the container side plate 24. The internal volume of the stock solution reservoir 7 is appropriately designed according to the stock solution and the raw material of the stock solution so that the essential oil and water remaining in the stored stock solution 201 are efficiently vaporized.

  The heating jacket 99 surrounds and closely contacts the outer wall surface 10 and the outer bottom surface 12 of the distillation chamber 2, and is configured such that the heating medium rises inside the heating jacket 99. The heating jacket 99 includes a jacket lower end portion 83, a jacket intermediate portion 84, and a jacket upper end portion 85. The jacket lower end portion 83 is a portion of the heating jacket 99 that surrounds and closely contacts the outer bottom surface 12. The jacket intermediate portion 84 is a portion of the heating jacket 99 that surrounds and closely contacts the outer wall surface 10, and a spiral partition (not shown) is provided along the outer wall surface 10 inside thereof. The jacket upper end portion 85 is a portion of the heating jacket 99 that is above the region portion that overlaps the inner wall surface portion 22 when the distillation chamber 2 is viewed from the side.

  The steam boiler 94 heats water to generate water vapor as a heating medium. The heating medium introduction pipe 95 is a pipe that sends water vapor as a heating medium from the steam boiler 94 into the jacket lower end portion 83. The heating medium outlet pipe 96 is a pipe that guides the heating medium after rising from the jacket lower end portion 83 into the jacket upper end portion 85 to the outside of the heating jacket 99.

  The steam boiler 92 heats water to generate water vapor as a carrier gas. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, one end of the steam introduction pipe 72 is connected to the steam boiler 92 outside the distillation chamber 2, and an intermediate portion thereof penetrates the bottom 8 of the distillation chamber 2, and the other end. The end portion is a pipe connected to the water vapor discharge portion 74 through the connecting portion 73 in the distillation chamber 2. Further, the water vapor introduction pipe 72 is a pipe that is provided with a backflow prevention valve 93 at a portion outside the distillation chamber 2 and reaches a connecting portion 73 provided inside the stock solution reservoir 7.

  The water vapor discharge part 74 is an annular pipe that is connected to the other end of the water vapor introduction pipe 72 via the connection part 73 and is arranged in the raw liquid 201 stored in the raw liquid storage container 7. In addition, the water vapor discharge portion 74 is provided with a large number of openings (not shown) for discharging water vapor in the pipe so that the water vapor can be discharged to the entire stock solution 201 stored. The configuration in which the steam boiler 92, the water vapor introducing pipe 72, the connecting portion 73, and the water vapor releasing portion 74 described above are combined by releasing water vapor into the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7). It functions as a water vapor supply means 117 that supplies water vapor from outside the distillation chamber 2 into the distillation chamber 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lower gas blocking member 20 is a downward conical member that closes the lower surface opening of the cylinder 5. Each of the upper gas blocking member 19 and the lower gas blocking member 20 functions as a gas blocking member 109 that blocks the hollow portion 50 so that steam does not pass through the hollow portion 50 of the cylinder 5.

  The steam outlet pipe 29 is a pipe that guides the steam in the distillation chamber 2 from an opening 28 provided in the ceiling portion 11 of the distillation chamber 2. The condenser 27 includes a condensing pipe 33 into which the vapor led out of the distillation chamber 2 flows, a first cooling jacket 30 that cools and condenses the vapor that has flowed into the condensing pipe 33, and a condensate generated by the condensation. A second cooling jacket 31 for cooling the discharged liquid is included. A cooling water circulation device (not shown) causes the cooling water to flow from the cooling water inlet (34, 35) provided in the first cooling jacket 30 and the second cooling jacket 31 to the cooling water outlet (36, 37). The aforementioned cooling action is exhibited. The distillate lowering pipe 38 is a pipe for leading the distillate generated in the condenser pipe 33 out of the condenser 27. The configuration combining the vapor outlet pipe 29, the condenser 27, the distillate flow down pipe 38, and the like functions as a condensing unit 105 that extracts and condenses the vapor from the distillation chamber 2.

  The storage tank 40 is a water tank that is connected to the distillate downflow pipe 38 at the ceiling and stores the distillate therein. The storage tank 40 has a distillate discharge pipe (42, 44, 46) for discharging the distillate 202 and the like stored in the storage tank 40 to the outside of the apparatus at the upper part of the side wall, the lower part of the side wall, and the bottom part. ) Is provided. The distillate outlet pipes (42, 44, 46) are provided with valves (43, 45, 47) for preventing backflow, and a liquid feed pump 48 is also provided if necessary.

  The intake pipe 55 is a pipe that connects the vacuum pump 54 and the ceiling part of the storage tank 40 and is provided with a backflow prevention valve 56 at an intermediate part thereof. The configuration in which the vacuum pump 54 and the intake pipe 55 are combined functions as the decompression unit 115 that decompresses the inside of the distillation chamber 2.

  The stock solution preheating pipe 66 is provided with an opening 64 for introducing the stock solution at one end thereof, a liquid feed pump 67 is provided at an intermediate portion thereof, and the outside of the distillation chamber 2 of the stock solution introduction tube 17 at the other end thereof. It is piping connected with a part. The heating medium cooling pipe 68 is a pipe that is connected to the heating medium outlet pipe 96 at one end thereof, and is provided with an opening 69 that discharges the heating medium at the other end. The stock solution cooling pipe 70 is a pipe connected at one end to a portion of the stock solution outlet pipe 57 outside the distillation chamber 2 and provided with an opening 71 for discharging the stock solution at the other end. The heat exchanger 65 is a member that bundles the intermediate part of the stock solution preheating pipe 66, the intermediate part of the heating medium cooling pipe 68, and the intermediate part of the stock solution cooling pipe 70 so that they are closely aligned.

  The configuration in which the stock solution preheating pipe 66, the heating medium cooling pipe 68, the stock solution cooling pipe 70, and the heat exchanger 65 are combined includes a stock solution before being introduced into the distillation chamber 2 and a stock solution after being led out of the distillation chamber 2. It functions as a heat recovery means 111 that exchanges heat and exchanges heat between the undiluted solution before introduction in the distillation chamber 2 and the heating medium after being led out of the heating jacket 99.

  The stock solution reflux pipe 77 is a pipe that extracts the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 7 and sends the extracted stock solution into the stock solution supply pipe 17. The stock solution reflux pipe 77 is provided with a backflow prevention valve (78, 97) and a liquid feed pump 79. Therefore, when the valves (78, 97) are opened, the configuration in which the stock solution reflux pipe 77 and the stock solution supply means 101 are combined to extract the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 7 and supply the extracted stock solution to the stock solution. It functions as a stock solution reflux means 113 that is re-supplied to the upper part 21 of the inner wall surface by the means 101.

  Hereinafter, when steam distillation is performed using the steam distillation apparatus 1 to obtain the essential oil from the stock solution, how the stock solution, the heating medium, the steam of steam or the essential oil, and the distillate flow will be described with reference to FIG. explain.

  When the stock solution is introduced into the opening 64 after its preparation, it flows down through the stock solution preheating pipe 66 of the heat recovery means 111 and passes through the heat exchanger 65. When passing through the heat exchanger 65, the undiluted solution flowing down in the undiluted solution preheating tube 66 flows upward in the heating medium cooling tube 68 and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus, and the undiluted solution cooling tube. It is preliminarily heated by exchanging heat with the undiluted solution before flowing upward in 70 and being discharged out of the apparatus.

  The stock solution that has passed through the heat exchanger 65 is fed into the stock solution introduction pipe 17 of the stock solution supply means 101 by the pump 67. The stock solution fed into the stock solution introduction pipe 17 is introduced into the distillation chamber 2 from outside the distillation chamber 2 by dropping onto the upper gas blocking member 19 from the opening 18. The stock solution dropped on the upper gas blocking member 19 has the upper gas blocking member 19 having an upward conical surface shape and rotates together with the cylinder 5, so that the upper gas blocking is performed while moving around the rotating shaft 15 of the cylinder 5 in the circumferential direction. It flows down on the member 19. The stock solution that has flowed down on the upper gas blocking member 19 scatters from the upper edge of the cylinder 5 by centrifugal force and is supplied along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface upper portion 21.

  The stock solution supplied to the inner wall surface upper portion 21 flows down the inner wall surface portion 22. The stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is pressed against the inner wall surface portion 22 by the wind pressure generated by the rotation of the cylinder 5 and further spreads over the inner wall surface portion 22 by the wiper 80, so that the thin and uniform thin film is formed. It becomes. Alternatively, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is scraped up by the wiper 80. For this reason, the undiluted solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 becomes a thin film, and repeatedly flows down the inner wall surface portion 22 and is wiped up by the wiper 80.

  While repeatedly flowing down and being scooped up, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is heated and heated to exchange heat with the heating medium rising in the heating jacket 99. As the temperature rises, water and essential oil evaporate from the liquid surface of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22. At this time, it is considered that essential oil evaporates from the liquid surface more efficiently than water because steam having a high water vapor pressure comes into contact with the liquid surface. Accordingly, the amount of the essential oil contained in the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 gradually decreases during the flow down.

  The undiluted solution that has flowed down the inner wall surface portion 22 and passed through the inner wall surface portion 22 flows down the inner wall surface lower end portion 26 and flows into the undiluted solution storage container 7 provided in the inner wall surface lower end portion 26. Due to the shape and arrangement of the stock solution reservoir 7, all of the stock solution that has passed through the inner wall surface portion 22 flows into the stock solution reservoir 7. The stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution storage container 7) is heated and heated to exchange heat with the steam rising in the heating jacket 99. As a result, the water and essential oil remaining in the stored stock solution 201 are vaporized. Therefore, a mixed steam of water vapor and essential oil is generated from the stored stock solution 201. In addition, the amount of water and essential oil remaining in the stored stock solution 201 is reduced.

  The stock solution that has passed through the inner wall surface portion 22 flows into the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7) one after another. For this reason, when the valve | bulb (78, 97) of the stock solution recirculation | reflux pipe | tube 77 is closed, when the volume of the stored stock solution 201 exceeds the internal volume of the stock solution storage part 107 (stock solution storage container 7). The excess amount overflows from the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7). For this reason, the stock solution that has passed through the inner wall surface portion 22 is temporarily stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7), and then reaches the stock solution derivation means 108. Further, since the water and the essential oil remaining in the stored stock solution 201 are vaporized, the stock solution in which the amount of the remaining essential oil is further greatly reduced sequentially reaches the stock solution deriving means 108.

  The stock solution overflowing from the stock solution reservoir 7 is heated by exchanging heat with the heating medium immediately after being introduced into the jacket lower end 83 in the process of flowing on the inner bottom surface 9 and reaching the stock solution deriving means 108. Water left in the stock solution is vaporized. At this time, if the essential oil remains in the stock solution, the essential oil is also vaporized. The stock solution flowing on the inner bottom surface 9 and reaching the opening 58 of the stock solution deriving means 108 flows into the stock solution deriving tube 57 from the opening 58 and is led out of the distillation chamber 2.

  The stock solution after being led out of the distillation chamber 2 is fed from the stock solution lead-out tube 57 into the stock solution cooling tube 70 of the heat recovery means 111 by the pump 59 and is sent upward in the heat exchanger 65. Then, it is cooled by exchanging heat with the stock solution flowing down in the stock solution preheating pipe 66. The cooled stock solution is discharged from the opening 71 of the stock solution cooling pipe 70.

  When water is heated by the steam boiler 94, water vapor is generated as a heating medium. The generated water vapor is introduced into the jacket lower end portion 83 via the heating medium introduction pipe 95. The water vapor introduced into the lower end portion 83 of the jacket is cooled by exchanging heat with the stock solution flowing on the inner bottom surface 9. For this reason, in the jacket lower end part 83, a part of water vapor | steam condenses and it becomes a fine water droplet of hot water. The mixed fluid of water vapor and hot water generated thereby acts as a heating medium. The mixed fluid in the jacket lower end portion 83 rises in the jacket lower end portion 83 by the buoyancy of water vapor contained in the mixed fluid while being cooled by exchanging heat with the stock solution flowing on the inner bottom surface 9, and the jacket intermediate portion 84. Reach inside.

  The mixed fluid immediately after reaching the middle jacket portion 84 exchanges heat with the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution container 7), and heats the stock solution. Therefore, in the heating jacket 99, the region that overlaps with the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7) when the distillation chamber 2 is viewed from the side exclusively contains the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7). It functions as the second heating means 104 for heating. In addition, the mixed fluid immediately after reaching the inside of the jacket intermediate portion 84 is cooled by heat exchange with the stored stock solution 201, the proportion of water vapor contained in the mixed fluid is reduced, and the proportion of hot water is increased. Further, the mixed fluid rises spirally around the outer wall surface 10 along a partition (not shown) provided in the jacket intermediate portion 84.

  The mixed fluid that spirally rises around the outer wall surface 10 is a stock solution that flows down the inner wall lower end portion 26, a stock solution that flows down the inner wall surface portion 22, and a stock solution that has just been supplied to the upper inner wall surface 21 in the process of rising. Exchange heat in this order. Therefore, in the heating jacket 99, the region portion overlapping the inner wall surface portion 22 when the distillation chamber 2 is viewed from the side functions exclusively as the first heating means 103 for heating the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22. Moreover, since the mixed fluid that rises spirally around the distillation chamber 2 is cooled every time heat exchange is performed, the temperature becomes lower as the temperature rises, and the proportion of water vapor contained in the mixed fluid decreases. Increases the proportion of hot water.

  The mixed fluid that has been subjected to heat exchange with the stock solution immediately after being supplied to the inner wall upper portion 21 reaches the upper end portion 85 of the jacket. Most of the mixed fluid reaching the upper end portion 85 of the jacket is occupied by hot water, and is led out of the heating jacket 99 by the heating medium outlet tube 96.

  As described above, since the steam or the mixed fluid as the heating medium rises in the heating jacket 99 while being cooled by heat exchange, the stock solution in the distillation chamber 2 is heated by the higher-temperature heating medium as it flows down. It will be. More specifically, the stock solution flowing on the inner bottom surface 9 and the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7) are heated by the hottest heating medium. Next, the temperature of the heating medium becomes lower in the order of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall lower end portion 26, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22, and the stock solution immediately after being supplied to the inner wall surface upper part 21. Therefore, the stock solution reservoir portion is adjusted so that the temperature of the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution storage container 7) is higher than the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 by the second heating means 104. The stock solution 201 stored in 107 (stock solution reservoir 7) is heated.

  The mixed fluid led out of the heating jacket 99 flows in the heating medium cooling pipe 68 of the heat recovery means 111 through the heating medium outlet pipe 96. When the mixed fluid in the heating medium cooling pipe 68 flows upward in the heat exchanger 65, it exchanges heat with the raw liquid flowing down in the raw liquid preheating pipe 66. By the heat exchange in the heat exchanger 65, the mixed fluid as the heating medium is cooled, and almost all of the water vapor contained in the mixed fluid is condensed. For this reason, the mixed fluid is hot water or warm water. Hot water or hot water is discharged from the opening 69 of the heating medium cooling pipe 68.

  When water is heated by the steam boiler 92 of the water vapor supply means 117, water vapor is generated as a carrier gas. The generated water vapor flows through the water vapor introduction pipe 72 into the water vapor discharge part 74 shown in FIGS. The water vapor in the water vapor discharge part 74 is discharged from the plurality of openings provided in the pipe of the water vapor discharge part 74 to the whole of the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7). For this reason, bubbles of water vapor are ejected in the entire stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7). Therefore, water vapor is supplied by the water vapor supply means 117. The water vapor supplied into the distillation chamber 2 acts as a carrier gas for carrying the essential oil vapor.

  As a premise for explaining how steam and the like flow and act in the distillation chamber 2, thin film evaporation and steam distillation will be described. When thin film evaporation or steam distillation is performed, the essential oil can be obtained from the stock solution without heating the stock solution to a temperature higher than 100 ° C. Many of the essential oils have a normal boiling point exceeding 100 ° C and may be thermally denatured when heated at temperatures higher than 100 ° C, so thin film evaporation and steam distillation are suitable for obtaining essential oils without heat denaturation. It is a method.

  Thin film evaporation is a method in which an undiluted oil is evaporated from the liquid surface by heating a thin stock solution. When thin film evaporation is performed, the area of the liquid surface increases, so that the amount of essential oil evaporated from the liquid surface per unit time can be increased. However, when the amount of the essential oil contained in the stock solution decreases, the amount of the essential oil exposed to the liquid surface also decreases, so the amount of essential oil evaporated from the liquid surface per unit time is considered to decrease.

  Steam distillation is a method of distilling by lowering the boiling point of a substance having a high boiling point, and is applied when the target substance does not dissolve in water. Since essential oil does not dissolve in water, it can be a target substance for steam distillation. In the stock solution, water and essential oil are mixed, and water and essential oil exhibit the same vapor pressure as when each exists alone. For this reason, the undiluted solution boils at a temperature at which the sum of the vapor pressures of water vapor and essential oil is equal to the internal pressure of the distillation chamber. Therefore, for example, when the internal pressure is 1 atm, the stock solution in the distillation chamber 2 always boils at a temperature lower than 100 ° C.

  From the viewpoint of steam distillation, whether or not the stock solution boils depends on the sum of the steam pressure of the steam and the essential oil, and is independent of the amount of the essential oil contained in the stock solution. In other words, even when the amount of the essential oil contained in the stock solution is small, it is considered that if the mixed steam with the sum of the vapor pressures of water vapor and essential oil equals the internal pressure contacts the stock solution, the stock solution boils at a low temperature and the essential oil is efficiently vaporized. It is done. Further, when the stock solution boils, water and essential oil contained in the stock solution are vaporized from the whole stock solution including the liquid surface. For this reason, it is considered that the essential oil is more efficiently vaporized from the raw solution when the thin film is evaporated while boiling the raw solution by steam distillation than when only the thin film is evaporated.

  The water vapor pressure in the distillation chamber is easily increased to the saturated water vapor pressure when water vapor is supplied as a carrier gas into the distillation chamber. On the other hand, the amount of the essential oil contained in the stock solution is small, and the vapor of the essential oil generated from the stock solution is pushed away by the water vapor as the carrier gas, so the vapor pressure of the essential oil in the distillation chamber is unlikely to increase. From the viewpoint of steam distillation, in order to boil the stock solution at the lowest possible temperature, not only raise the steam pressure to the saturated steam pressure in the distillation chamber, but also provide an opportunity to actively increase the steam pressure of the essential oil. It is considered important to increase the sum of vapor pressures.

  Hereinafter, how water vapor and the like flow and act in the distillation chamber 2 will be described with reference to FIG. When water vapor bubbles are ejected from the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution storage container 7) by the steam supply means 117, the surface of the bubbles acts as a gas-liquid contact surface. For this reason, when bubbles are ejected, the gas-liquid contact area between the stock solution 201 and the water vapor in the bubbles is expanded. Since the steam exchanges heat with the stored stock solution 201 at the gas-liquid contact surface, the stock solution is efficiently heated. Furthermore, since the water vapor immediately after ejection does not include the essential oil vapor, the essential oil remaining in the accumulated stock solution 201 is likely to evaporate on the surface of the bubbles. As a result, the amount of steam of the essential oil increases in the bubbles, so that mixed steam having a high sum of the steam pressure of the steam and the essential oil is generated in the bubbles. Therefore, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, it is considered that the stored stock solution 201 is likely to boil at a low temperature, and the water and essential oil remaining in the stock solution are efficiently vaporized.

  The mixed vapor generated in the bubbles rises upward from the stored stock solution 201 due to its buoyancy. Since the hollow portion 50 of the cylinder 5 is blocked by the gas blocking member 109, the mixed vapor cannot pass through the hollow portion 50 upward, and the gap 63 between the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5 and the inner wall surface portion 22. Be guided to. Therefore, a situation in which the mixed vapor rises in the distillation chamber 2 through the hollow portion 50 can be avoided.

  The mixed vapor rises along the lower surface of the lower gas blocking member 20 of the gas blocking member 109 and is guided to rise in the gap 63. The mixed vapor immediately before being guided to the gap 63 flows on the mixed vapor generated in the bubbles of the stored raw liquid 201, the mixed vapor generated by evaporating from the original liquid surface of the raw liquid, or on the inner bottom surface 9. Water vapor or the like generated by vaporization from the stock solution is joined. As a result, the amount of steam of the steam and the essential oil is increased, so that the mixed steam rising through the gap 63 is in a state in which the sum of the steam pressure of the steam and the essential oil is previously increased before being guided to the gap 63.

  The mixed steam rising through the gap 63 makes countercurrent contact with the thin film-like stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 in a state where the flow velocity is increased by the wind pressure generated by the rotation of the cylinder 5. For this reason, the mixed steam of water vapor and essential oil generated by evaporation from the liquid surface of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is pushed upward from the liquid surface. Thereby, the vapor pressure of water vapor and essential oil falls on the liquid level. Further, the mixed steam rising through the gap 63 and the thin film-like stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 exchange heat at the liquid surface, and the stock solution is heated. Therefore, the thin-film stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is heated by exchanging heat with both the heating medium rising in the heating jacket 99 and the mixed steam rising in the gap 63. Therefore, at the liquid level, water and essential oil are easily evaporated from the stock solution.

  In addition, the mixed steam rising through the gap 63 is preliminarily increased in the sum of the vapor pressures of water vapor and essential oil. For this reason, it is considered that the stock solution flowing down the lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22 is likely to boil at a low temperature from the viewpoint of steam distillation when it makes countercurrent contact with the mixed steam. Thus, a mixed steam of water vapor and essential oil is efficiently generated from the stock solution flowing down the lower end of the inner wall surface portion 22, and the generated mixed steam joins the mixed steam rising in the gap 63. In this way, the mixed steam that rises in the gap 63 is considered to increase the vapor pressure of the essential oil as it rises.

  Therefore, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, it is considered that the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 tends to boil at a low temperature as a whole from the upper end portion to the lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22. Further, it is considered that the stock solution flowing down the range near the upper end of the inner wall surface portion 22 can come into contact with the mixed steam having a higher sum of the vapor pressures of the water vapor and the essential oil, and can boil at a lower temperature. When the stock solution flowing down the upper end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22 boils, the essential oil contained in the mixed steam rising up the upper end portion becomes difficult to condense. For this reason, the mixed steam after passing upward through the gap 63 is maintained in a state where the amount of steam of the essential oil is large.

  The mixed steam after passing upward through the gap 63 is led out from the distillation chamber 2 into the condensing pipe 33 through the opening 28 of the condensing means 105 and the steam outlet pipe 29. The mixed steam led out into the condensing pipe 33 is cooled by exchanging heat with the cooling water flowing in the first cooling jacket 30 and condensed to be a distillate. The distillate is further cooled by exchanging heat with the cooling water flowing in the second cooling jacket 31 when flowing down in the condensation pipe 33. Further, the cooled distillate flows from the condensing pipe 33 into the storage tank 40 of the separation and recovery means 119 via the distillate flow down pipe 38 and is stored in the storage tank 40.

  Most of the distillate 202 stored in the storage tank 40 is aromatic distilled water 204. The aromatic distilled water 204 is an aqueous solution of a by-product obtained when an essential oil is obtained from a stock solution by steam distillation. Since the liquid essential oil 203 contained in the collected distillate 202 does not mix with water, when the specific gravity is lighter than water, it floats on the upper layer of the aromatic distilled water 204 and separates from the aromatic distilled water 204. To do. Exceptionally, an essential oil having a specific gravity heavier than water, such as clove oil, sinks in the lower layer of the aromatic distilled water 204 and is separated from the aromatic distilled water 204.

  When the distillate 202 stored in the storage tank 40 is opened at one or more of the valves (43, 45, 47), the distillate 202 is passed through the distillate outlet pipe (42, 44, 46). Derived outside. Thereby, the collected distillate 202 can be collected. Further, depending on the water level of the liquid essential oil 203 and the aromatic distilled water 204 contained in the collected distillate 202, for example, from the distillate outlet pipe 42 provided at the upper part of the side wall of the storage tank 40, the liquid form is obtained. In some cases, only the essential oil 203 is recovered, and only the aromatic distilled water 204 can be recovered from the distillate outlet pipe 46 provided at the bottom of the storage tank 40. For this reason, the configuration in which the storage tank 40 and the distillate outlet pipe (42, 44, 46) are combined separates and recovers the liquid essential oil 203 from the distillate 202 stored in the storage tank 40. It functions as the separation and recovery means 119.

  When the valves (78, 97) of the stock solution reflux means 113 are opened, the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution storage container 7) is drawn into the stock solution reflux pipe 77. The extracted stock solution is fed from the stock solution reflux pipe 77 into the stock solution introduction pipe 17 by the pump 79, and re-supplied to the inner wall surface upper part 21 by the stock solution supply means 101.

  Further, when the valve 56 of the decompression means 115 is opened and the vacuum pump 54 is operated, the gas in the distillation chamber 2 is sucked, so that the inside of the distillation chamber 2 is decompressed. If distillation is performed under reduced pressure, the boiling point of the stock solution further decreases as the internal pressure of the distillation chamber 2 decreases, so that water and essential oil are more easily vaporized from the stock solution. Further, the intake air makes it easier for the vapor in the distillation chamber 2 to be led out of the distillation chamber 2 into the condensation pipe 33.

  Hereinafter, after pointing out the problem of the apparatus of patent document 1, the effect of the steam distillation apparatus 1 is demonstrated. When steam distillation is performed with the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, not a few essential oils that could not be vaporized during the flow down remained in the stock solution that flowed down the inner wall surface portion and passed through the inner wall surface portion. Since this stock solution is derived as it is, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a low recovery efficiency of the essential oil from the stock solution.

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is considered difficult to increase the recovery efficiency of the essential oil from the stock solution for the following reason. First, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the stock solution is not heated except for flowing down the inner wall surface, it is considered that there is not enough opportunity to vaporize the essential oil from the stock solution. In addition, since the area of the inner wall surface portion is limited, it is considered that the time during which the stock solution is heated cannot be provided sufficiently long only while the inner wall surface portion is flowing down.

  Furthermore, essential oil is a substance originally stored in plant cells as raw materials. When steam distillation is performed for the purpose of obtaining essential oil, the stock solution is prepared by crushing the raw material with a grinder. For this reason, unbroken plant cells are left in the stock solution. Therefore, a part of the essential oil contained in the stock solution is in a state of being stored in the plant cells left in the stock solution. In order to vaporize the essential oil in the plant cell, it is necessary to heat the stock solution sufficiently to break the cell wall and to leak the essential oil from the plant cell. However, since the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 cannot provide a sufficiently long time for heating the stock solution, the stock solution cannot be heated sufficiently to the extent that the cell wall can be broken. Therefore, with the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is considered difficult to obtain the essential oil left in the plant cell.

  Furthermore, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the water vapor immediately after being supplied into the distillation chamber by the water vapor supply means starts to rise as it is in the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder and the inner wall surface portion. It is the undiluted solution that flows down the lower end of the inner wall surface that the vapor that has started to rise in the gap first makes countercurrent contact. When the countercurrent contact is made for the first time, the steam that has started to rise in the gap has only a high water vapor pressure, but the vapor pressure of the essential oil is very low because it contains almost no vapor of the essential oil. For this reason, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, the stock solution flowing down the lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion is unlikely to boil at low temperatures.

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, steam that rises in the gap evaporates the essential oil from the liquid surface due to countercurrent contact, and thus becomes a mixed steam of water vapor and essential oil. It is thought that the vapor pressure increases. From the viewpoint of steam distillation, the stock solution in contact with the mixed steam is considered to boil when the mixed steam rises to some extent in the gap and the sum of the steam pressure of steam and essential oil becomes equal to the internal pressure of the distillation chamber. Therefore, it is considered that the stock solution is likely to boil at a low temperature only when the upper end portion and the intermediate portion of the inner wall surface portion are flowing down.

  Furthermore, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the essential oil that has flowed down the lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion is vaporized while flowing down the inner wall surface portion, the amount of essential oil contained in the undiluted solution is reduced. For this reason, in the stock solution which flows down the lower end part of an inner wall surface part, it is thought that the efficiency in which the essential oil from the liquid surface evaporates is not high. Therefore, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is considered that the essential oil is not sufficiently vaporized from the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion.

  With respect to the above-described problems, a measure for greatly increasing the amount of water vapor supplied from the outside of the distillation chamber into the distillation chamber with the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 can be considered. However, when such measures are taken, the fuel cost for heating water with a steam boiler to generate water vapor as a carrier gas is significantly increased. For this reason, such a measure is not practical in terms of profitability.

  Moreover, with respect to the above-mentioned problems, a measure for repeatedly distilling the same stock solution with the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 can be considered. However, when such measures are taken, it is necessary to increase the supply amount of water vapor in order to repeat distillation, and the fuel cost for generating water vapor is greatly increased. Further, as the number of repetitions of distillation increases, the amount of essential oil contained in the stock solution decreases, so that the recovery efficiency of the essential oil decreases. Furthermore, while the same stock solution is repeatedly distilled, the input of a new stock solution is limited, and it is difficult to continuously add a large amount of stock solution to the apparatus for distillation. For this reason, such a measure is not practical.

  Moreover, with respect to the above-described problems, a measure for extending the height of the side wall and the cylinder of the distillation chamber and expanding the area of the inner wall surface with the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 can be considered. However, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the amount of the essential oil contained in the stock solution decreases, the recovery efficiency of the essential oil decreases. For this reason, when it is going to expand the area of an inner wall surface part so that the collection | recovery efficiency of essential oil may become still higher, it is necessary to enlarge a side wall and a cylinder extremely. If the side walls are extremely large, it becomes difficult to handle the apparatus. Further, when the cylinder is enlarged, the energy cost required for rotating the cylinder is greatly increased. For this reason, such measures are not practical from the viewpoint of profitability.

  As a means for solving the above problems, in the steam distillation apparatus 1, the stock solution that has flowed down the inner wall surface portion 22 and passed through the inner wall surface portion 22 is temporarily stored in the stock solution reservoir 107, and the stored stock solution 201 is stored. Heating is performed by the second heating means 104. Thereby, in the steam distillation apparatus 1, the essential oil is further vaporized from the stock solution that is directly derived by the apparatus described in Patent Document 1. Moreover, in the steam distillation apparatus 1, since the length of time during which the stock solution is heated is significantly increased as compared with the device described in Patent Document 1, the stock solution is sufficiently heated so that the cell wall can be broken. It is considered possible. Thereby, it is thought that the essential oil stored in the plant cell vaporizes.

  Furthermore, according to the steam distillation apparatus 1, a mixed steam of steam and essential oil is generated from the stock solution heated by the second heating means 104. The mixed vapor rises through the gap 63 and makes countercurrent contact with the thin film-like stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22. That is, the steam that makes countercurrent contact is already mixed steam when making countercurrent contact for the first time, and the sum of the vapor pressures of water vapor and essential oil is in advance. For this reason, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, it is considered that the entire stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 including the stock solution flowing down the lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22 is likely to boil at a low temperature. Therefore, in the steam distillation apparatus 1, it is considered that the essential oil is efficiently vaporized from the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22, as compared with the apparatus described in Patent Document 1.

  Furthermore, in the steam distillation apparatus 1, when the water content of the stock solution is high, a large amount of water vapor is generated from the stored stock solution 201. In this case, even if the steam supply means 117 does not supply water vapor from outside the distillation chamber 2 into the distillation chamber 2, the water vapor generated from the stored stock solution 201 acts as a carrier gas, so that water vapor distillation can be performed. it can. The stock solution 201 stored is a stock solution after being heated while flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22. For this reason, when the stored stock solution 201 is heated, water vapor is generated from the stock solution even if the heating amount is small. Therefore, compared with the case where water vapor generated by heating water with a steam boiler in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is supplied into the distillation chamber, the steam distillation apparatus 1 can suppress the fuel cost for generating water vapor. it can.

  Further, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the steam distillation apparatus 1 is stored as compared with the case where the undiluted solution after being led out of the distillation chamber is heated to generate steam and the steam is supplied into the distillation chamber. Since the undiluted solution 201 is heated in the distillation chamber 2, it is considered that there is little heat loss and fuel cost can be suppressed.

  Moreover, since the steam distillation apparatus 1 does not involve the extreme enlargement of the side wall 3 as compared with the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, there is no problem that the handling of the apparatus becomes difficult. Furthermore, since the steam distillation apparatus 1 does not involve an increase in the size of the cylinder 5 as compared with the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, there is no problem that the energy cost required for the rotation of the cylinder 5 increases significantly.

  In the steam distillation apparatus 1, the amount of the stock solution 201 that has exceeded the internal volume of the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7) flows out of the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7), It is led out of the distillation chamber 2 by the stock solution lead-out means 108. For this reason, even if the stock solution reservoir 107 is provided, there is no problem in performing steam distillation by continuously charging a large amount of stock solution into the apparatus.

  In the steam distillation apparatus 1, the stock solution flows in and out of the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution storage container 7), and the stored stock solution 201 is heated by the second heating means 104, so that the stored stock solution Convection occurs in 201. When convection occurs, it is possible to avoid the residue from accumulating in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7). Thereby, it is possible to avoid the potato odor derived from the residue on the essential oil. Moreover, since heat is absorbed as the heat of vaporization along with the vaporization of water and essential oil, the stored stock solution 201 can be avoided from being burnt.

  Therefore, when steam distillation is performed using the steam distillation apparatus 1, it is possible to obtain essential oil from the stock solution more efficiently than using the apparatus described in Patent Document 1.

  Apart from the above-described problems and effects, the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution container 7) has a problem that the essential oil is less likely to vaporize than the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22. The problem is that, since the amount of essential oil remaining in the stored stock solution 201 is less than the amount of essential oil contained in the stock solution flowing down the inner wall portion 22, the essential oil 201 is less likely to evaporate in the stored stock solution 201. It depends. Further, since the mixed steam in contact with the stored stock solution 201 has a smaller amount of essential oil vapor than the mixed steam in countercurrent contact with the undiluted solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22, the sum of the steam pressure of the steam and the essential oil is reduced. It may not be raised sufficiently. For this reason, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, the stored stock solution 201 is considered to be less likely to boil at a lower temperature than the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22.

  As a means for solving the above-described problem, the steam distillation apparatus 1 uses the second heating means 104 to reduce the concentration of the stock solution in which the temperature of the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7) flows down the inner wall surface portion 22. The stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution storage container 7) can be heated so as to be higher than the temperature. Under these heating conditions, the stored stock solution 201 is easily boiled or the essential oil is easily evaporated from the liquid surface. In addition, it is considered that the possibility that the cell wall is broken by the stored stock solution 201 is further increased. Therefore, the essential oil remaining in the stored stock solution 201 is further vaporized, so that the amount of recovered essential oil can be further increased.

  Further, when the stored stock solution 201 is heated such that the temperature of the stored stock solution 201 is higher than the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22, the mixed steam of steam and essential oil generated from the stored stock solution 201. The amount of increases further. Thereby, the mixed steam which makes countercurrent contact will be in the state which further raised the sum of the vapor pressure of water vapor and essential oil previously. For this reason, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, it is considered that the entire stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is more likely to boil at a lower temperature. Further, since the amount of water vapor generated increases, the amount of water vapor supplied by the water vapor supply means 117 can be suppressed, so that the fuel cost for generating water vapor as a carrier gas can be suppressed.

  Apart from the problems and effects described above, there is a problem that the accumulated stock solution 201 should be avoided from being heated more than necessary by the second heating means 104. When the stock solution is heated more than necessary, the aromatic component of the essential oil is thermally denatured, and the fresh fragrance is lost from the essential oil obtained by steam distillation. In addition, when the stock solution is heated more than necessary, the components derived from the raw material of the stock solution are thermally denatured to generate volatile components that cause potato odor, boiled odor, and the like. When such undesirable volatile components are mixed in the essential oil obtained by steam distillation, the quality of the essential oil is deteriorated.

  As a means for solving the problem that should prevent the accumulated stock solution 201 from being heated more than necessary, the steam distillation apparatus 1 includes the stock solution reservoir 7 as the stock solution reservoir 107. When the stock solution storage container 7 is provided, the length of time for which the stock solution is stored in the stock solution storage container 7 falls within a certain range according to the flow rate of the stock solution supplied to the apparatus and the internal volume of the stock solution storage container 7. For this reason, when a large amount of undiluted solution is continuously charged into the apparatus and subjected to steam distillation, the time for the accumulated undiluted solution 201 to be heated by the second heating means 104 is longer than necessary. Can be avoided. Therefore, if the stock solution reservoir 7 is provided, it can be avoided that the freshness of the essential oil is impaired by thermal denaturation and the quality of the essential oil is deteriorated by preventing the stock solution from being heated more than necessary.

  Further, when the stock solution reservoir 7 is provided, it is not necessary to perform an operation of adjusting the length of time during which the stock solution is stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 when performing steam distillation. For this reason, the steam distillation apparatus 1 is provided with the stock solution reservoir 7, so that the operation for performing the steam distillation is not complicated. Therefore, in the steam distillation apparatus 1, by providing the stock solution reservoir 7, it is possible to easily avoid the deterioration of the quality of the essential oil by degrading the freshness of the essential oil due to thermal denaturation.

  Further, in the steam distillation apparatus 1, the steam is discharged into the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 by the steam supply means 117. It is considered that the gas-liquid contact area between the stored stock solution 201 and water vapor is expanded by the bubbles of water vapor, so that the stock solution is efficiently heated and the essential oil remaining in the stock solution is efficiently evaporated. Furthermore, it is considered that the sum of the vapor pressures of steam and essential oil increases, and from the viewpoint of steam distillation, the stored stock solution 201 is likely to boil at a low temperature, and the water and essential oil remaining in the stock solution are efficiently vaporized. .

  Furthermore, when water vapor is released into the stored stock solution 201, depending on conditions, the entire amount of essential oil remaining in the stored stock solution 201 can be vaporized. In this case, since the total amount of the remaining essential oil is vaporized, the stock solution that does not contain the essential oil sequentially reaches the stock solution deriving means 108.

  Furthermore, when water vapor is released into the stored stock solution 201, the stock solution is agitated by bubbles of water vapor, and the temperature and the distribution of essential oil are likely to be uniform. For this reason, even when the stock solution 201 stored contains a large amount of residue, it is difficult to cause scorching.

  Further, in the steam distillation apparatus 1, the stock solution before being introduced into the distillation chamber 2 is preliminarily heated by the heat recovery means 111. The stock solution flowing down the upper end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22 after the preliminary heating tends to boil immediately when heated by the first heating means 103. When the stock solution flowing down the upper end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22 boils, it is possible to suppress the vapor of the essential oil contained in the mixed steam from condensing and transferring to the stock solution. For this reason, the mixed steam led out from the inside of the distillation chamber 2 into the condensation pipe 33 is maintained in a state where the amount of steam of the essential oil is large. Thereby, the collection | recovery efficiency of the essential oil from stock solution can be improved.

  Further, the stock solution before being introduced into the distillation chamber 2 is heated by heat recovery means 111 by exchanging heat with the stock solution after being led out of the distillation chamber 2 and the heating medium after being led out of the heating jacket 99. . Thereby, the fuel cost which heats stock solution can be saved. In addition, the stock solution after being led out of the distillation chamber 2 and the heating medium after being led out of the heating jacket 99 are cooled and discharged outside the apparatus by the heat exchange means 111. Therefore, the trouble of cooling the drainage is saved, and the drainage process becomes easy.

  Further, in the stock solution supply means 101, the opening 18 of the stock solution introduction pipe 17 is provided in the vicinity of the upper gas blocking member 19. Thereby, since the drop between the opening and the upper gas blocking member 19 is small, it is possible to avoid the stock solution dripped from the opening 18 from being splashed and splashed on the upper gas blocking member 19. Thereby, it can prevent that the splash of stock solution mixes in the distillate 202 stored in the storage tank 40 as it is, and can avoid the quality deterioration of essential oil.

  Further, in the stock solution supply means 101, the upper gas blocking member 19 has an upward conical surface shape and rotates together with the cylinder 5. For this reason, the stock solution flowing down on the upper gas blocking member 19 is supplied along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface upper portion 21. As a result, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 after the supply is likely to become a thin and uniform thin film due to the wind pressure generated by the rotation of the cylinder 5, so that the essential oil is easily evaporated on the liquid surface.

  Moreover, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is spread on the inner wall surface portion 22 by the wiper 80. For this reason, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 becomes a thin and uniform thin film even when its fluidity is low. Further, since the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is stirred and renewed every time it is spread by the wiper 80, it is possible to prevent the amount of essential oil from locally decreasing on the liquid surface. Thereby, essential oil becomes easy to evaporate on a liquid level.

  In addition, when a large number of wipers 80 are provided, the frequency of spreading the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is increased as compared with the case where the number of wipers 80 is small. For this reason, even if the rotation speed of the cylinder 5 is slow, the stock solution tends to be a thin film. Therefore, the essential oil is easily evaporated on the liquid surface while suppressing the energy cost required for the rotation of the cylinder 5.

  When the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is lifted up by the wiper 80, the time for the stock solution to flow down the inner wall surface portion 22 increases. Therefore, the essential oil is easily vaporized by the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22. Even when the blade 81 of the wiper 80 is deteriorated, if the blade 81 is replaced, the above-described effect of the wiper 80 is maintained.

  The heating jacket 99 is a single jacket and has the functions of both the first heating means 103 and the second heating means 104. For this reason, compared with the apparatus in which the heating jacket of the 1st heating means and the heating jacket of the 2nd heating means were provided separately, the steam distillation apparatus 1 has a simple apparatus structure and is easy to operate.

  In addition, by exchanging heat with the heating medium immediately after being introduced into the jacket lower end 83, water and essential oil remaining in the stock solution flowing on the inner bottom surface 9 are vaporized. The mixed steam of the steam and the essential oil generated thereby merges with the mixed steam generated from the stored stock solution 201 before being guided to the gap 63. Therefore, the sum of the vapor pressures of water vapor and essential oil can be further increased before the mixed vapor makes countercurrent contact. Thereby, since the undiluted | stock solution becomes easy to boil at low temperature from a viewpoint of steam distillation, essential oil vaporizes more efficiently.

  The stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is heated by exchanging heat with a heating medium of about 90 ° C. to 100 ° C. of the first heating means 103, for example, and the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 is For example, the second heating means 104 is heated by exchanging heat with a heating medium of about 120 ° C. Examples of the heating medium at about 120 ° C. of the second heating unit 104 include superheated steam and a mixed fluid of superheated steam and hot water. Thus, when the stock solution is heated at a temperature higher than its boiling point by the first heating means 103 and the second heating means 104, the stock solution 201 and the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 continue to boil. , Essential oil vaporizes efficiently.

  Since the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 can come into contact with steam having a higher sum of steam pressures of steam and essential oil than the stock solution 201 stored, it can boil at a lower temperature from the viewpoint of steam distillation. it is conceivable that. Therefore, for example, even when the temperature of the heating medium of the second heating unit 104 is lower than the temperature of the heating medium of the first heating unit 103, the temperature of the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution storage unit 107 is internal. A state of boiling at a temperature higher than the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the wall surface portion 22 may occur. This state is considered to occur when the temperature of the heating medium of the first heating unit 103 and the temperature of the heating medium of the second heating unit 104 are higher than the boiling point of the stock solution heated by each heating medium. It is done.

  Further, the heating medium rising in the heating jacket 99 has the temperature of the stock solution immediately after being supplied to the inner wall surface upper portion 21, the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22, and the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall lower end portion 26. In order, the stock solution is heated so that the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface 4 becomes higher. Considering the fact that the stock solution is less likely to boil at low temperatures as it flows down the inner wall surface 4 and that the essential oil is less likely to evaporate due to the reduced amount of essential oil, heating the stock solution in this way vaporizes the essential oil from the stock solution. Heating efficiency is good in making it happen.

  Further, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall lower end portion 26 is heated at a higher temperature than the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 by the heating medium rising in the heating jacket 99. For this reason, a mixed steam of water vapor and essential oil is generated from the stock solution flowing down the inner wall lower end portion 26, and the mixed steam joins the mixed steam before induction in the gap 63. Thereby, before the mixed steam makes countercurrent contact, the sum of the vapor pressures of water vapor and essential oil is further increased in advance. Therefore, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is likely to boil at a low temperature, and the essential oil is more efficiently vaporized from the stock solution.

  Further, the mixed gas is guided to the gap 63 by the lower gas blocking member 20 without flowing into the hollow portion 50 of the cylinder 5. For this reason, the flow of the vapor | steam in the distillation chamber 2 becomes smooth, and the heat loss of the said vapor | steam is suppressed. Thereby, since the supply amount of water vapor | steam can be saved, the fuel cost which produces water vapor | steam can be suppressed.

  Further, the same stock solution can be repeatedly distilled by the stock solution reflux means 113 as necessary. For example, since the cell wall derived from the raw material is thick and difficult to break, it may be difficult to obtain the total amount of essential oil remaining in the stock solution. Even in such a case, if the same stock solution is repeatedly distilled, the total amount of essential oil remaining in the stock solution can be obtained.

  Moreover, when the vacuum pump 54 is used, the internal pressure of the distillation chamber 2 can be lowered. Thereby, since the boiling point of the stock solution is lowered, essential oil and water are easily vaporized from the stock solution. Furthermore, even if it is not heated so that the temperature of the stock solution is about 100 ° C., the total amount of the essential oil contained in the stock solution can be vaporized, so that the freshness of the essential oil is impaired by thermal denaturation and the quality of the essential oil is deteriorated. Can be spared.

[Embodiment 2]
About the steam distillation apparatus 1a shown in FIG. 4, only a different structure and effect from the steam distillation apparatus 1 are demonstrated. Instead of the water vapor supply means 117 of the water vapor distillation apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the water vapor distillation apparatus 1a includes a water vapor supply means 117a.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom 8 of the distillation chamber 2a of the steam distillation apparatus 1a, taken along line CC in FIG. As shown in FIG.4 and FIG.5, as for the water vapor | steam introduction pipe | tube 72a, the one end part connects with the steam boiler 92 outside the distillation chamber 2a, the intermediate part penetrates the bottom part 8 of the distillation chamber 2a, and the other The end portion is a pipe connected to the water vapor discharge portion 74a through the connecting portion 73a in the distillation chamber 2a. Further, the water vapor introduction pipe 72a is provided with a backflow prevention valve 93 at a portion outside the distillation chamber 2a.

  The water vapor discharge part 74a is an annular pipe connected to the other end of the water vapor introduction pipe 72a through the connection part 73a. A large number of openings (not shown) for discharging water vapor are provided in the pipe of the water vapor discharge portion 74a. The other end of the water vapor introduction pipe 72a of the water vapor supply means 117a, the water vapor discharge part 74a, and these connecting parts 73a are arranged immediately below the container bottom plate 25 of the stock solution container 7 and stored. It is not stored in the stock solution 201. The configuration in which the steam boiler 92, the water vapor introducing pipe 72a, the connecting portion 73a, and the water vapor releasing portion 74a function as the water vapor supplying means 117a.

  The steam supply means 117a discharges the steam under the inner wall portion 22 and particularly under the stock solution reservoir 7. Thereby, water vapor is supplied from the outside of the distillation chamber 2a into the distillation chamber 2a. Therefore, even when the water content of the stock solution is low, a sufficient amount of water vapor can be supplied into the distillation chamber 2 for performing water vapor distillation. A part of the supplied water vapor contacts the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution storage container 7) in the process of rising in the distillation chamber 2a due to its buoyancy. Thereby, since the mixed steam of water vapor and essential oil is swept away at the liquid level of the stored stock solution 201, water and essential oil easily evaporate continuously at the liquid level. Therefore, the sum of the vapor pressures of the water vapor and the essential oil is further increased in advance before the mixed steam rising through the gap 63 makes countercurrent contact.

[Embodiment 3]
About the steam distillation apparatus 1b shown in FIG. 6, only a structure and an effect different from a steam distillation apparatus (1, 1a) are demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 6, instead of the distillation chamber 2 of the steam distillation apparatus 1, the stock solution deriving unit 101, the first heating unit 103, the second heating unit 104, the condensing unit 105, the stock solution deriving unit 108, and the steam supply unit 117. In addition, the steam distillation apparatus 1b includes a distillation chamber 2b, a stock solution introduction unit 101b, a first heating unit 103b, a second heating unit 104b, a condensing unit 105b, a stock solution deriving unit 108b, and a steam supply unit 117b. The steam distillation apparatus 1b does not include a heat recovery unit and a stock solution reflux unit.

  The bearing portion 75b of the distillation chamber 2b is provided on a beam (not shown) connected to the side wall 3b of the distillation chamber 2b. The stock solution introduction pipe 17b of the stock solution introduction means 101b penetrates the upper end of the side wall 3b. The stock solution outlet pipe 57b of the stock solution outlet means 108b is provided with an opening 71 for discharging the stock solution at the other end. The steam supply means 117b includes a steam boiler 92 and a steam introduction pipe 72b. The water vapor supply means 117b does not include a water vapor discharge part or a connection part. The other configuration of the water vapor supply means 117b is the same as that of the water vapor supply means 117a of the water vapor distillation apparatus 1a described above.

  The upper heating jacket 86 surrounds and closely contacts a region overlapping with the inner wall surface upper portion 21 and the inner wall surface portion 22 in the outer wall surface 10b when the distillation chamber 2b is viewed from the side. The upper heating jacket 86 is provided with a heating medium introduction port 88 at its lower end and a heating medium outlet 89 at its upper end. Furthermore, the heating medium introduction port 88 and the heating medium outlet port 89 of the upper heating jacket 86 are each connected to a heating medium circulation device (not shown) via a piping (not shown). With these configurations, when the heating medium circulation device is operated, hot water or hot water as a heating medium flows from the heating medium introduction port 88 into the heating medium outlet 89 through the upper heating jacket 86.

  The lower heating jacket 87 includes a lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22, an inner wall lower end portion 26, and a stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution storage container 7) in the outer wall surface 10 b as viewed from the side. Enclose and overlap the overlapping area. The lower heating jacket 87 is provided with a heating medium introduction port 90 at its lower end and a heating medium outlet 91 at its upper end. Furthermore, the heating medium introduction port 90 and the heating medium outlet port 91 of the lower heating jacket 87 are each connected to a heating medium circulation device (not shown) via a piping (not shown). With these configurations, when the heating medium circulation device is operated, water vapor as the heating medium or a mixed fluid of water vapor and hot water as the heating medium is heated from the heating medium introduction port 90 through the lower heating jacket 87. It flows to the medium outlet 91.

  As a result, the stock solution flowing down the upper end portion and the intermediate portion of the inner wall surface portion 22 is heated by exchanging heat with the heating medium flowing in the upper heating jacket 86. The stock solution flowing down the lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22 is heated by exchanging heat with the heating medium flowing through the upper end portion in the lower heating jacket 87. Therefore, in the upper heating jacket 86 and the lower heating jacket 87, the region portion overlapping the inner wall surface portion 22 when the distillation chamber 2b is viewed from the side functions exclusively as the first heating means 103b.

  Similarly, the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7) is heated by exchanging heat with the heating medium flowing through the lower end portion in the lower heating jacket 87. Therefore, in the lower heating jacket 87, a region portion that overlaps with the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution storage container 7) when the distillation chamber 2b is viewed from the side functions exclusively as the second heating means 104b.

  Further, the steam or mixed fluid as the heating medium flowing in the lower heating jacket 87 is higher in temperature than the hot water or hot water as the heating medium flowing in the upper heating jacket 86. Further, the heating medium flowing in the lower heating jacket 87 is cooled by heat exchange with the stock solution 201, and then rises in the jacket and exchanges heat with the stock solution flowing down the lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22. do. Therefore, the stock solution reservoir portion is set such that the temperature of the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7) is higher than the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 by the second heating means 104b. The stock solution 201 stored in 107 (stock solution reservoir 7) is heated.

  Further, due to the heating medium flowing in the upper heating jacket 86 and the heating medium flowing in the lower heating jacket 87, the undiluted solution in the distillation chamber 2b is the undiluted solution immediately after being supplied to the inner wall surface upper portion 21, the upper end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22, Distillation chamber in the order of the stock solution flowing down, the stock solution flowing down the lower end of the inner wall surface portion 22, the stock solution flowing down the lower end portion 26 of the inner wall surface, and the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution reservoir 7). The stock solution flowing down in 2 is heated to a higher temperature.

  The steam outlet pipe 29b is a pipe for leading the steam in the distillation chamber 2b from the opening 28b provided at the upper end of the inner wall surface 4 into the condenser pipe 33b built in the condenser 27b. The condenser 27b includes a condenser pipe 33b into which steam derived from the distillation chamber 2 flows, and a cooling tank 32 that cools and condenses the steam. Since the cooling water flows from the cooling water inlet 35b provided in the cooling tank 32 to the cooling water outlet 37b by a cooling device (not shown), the above-described cooling action is exhibited. The distillate downflow pipe 38b is a pipe for leading the distillate produced by condensation out of the condenser 27b. The configuration in which the vapor outlet pipe 29b, the condenser 27b, and the distillate lowering pipe 38b are combined functions as the condensing means 105b.

[Other Embodiments]
The steam distillation apparatus (1, 1a, 1b) shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 is a stock solution storage tank for storing a stock solution immediately after preparation, and a stock solution stored in the tank from the steam distillation apparatus (1, 1). You may provide the piping sent in 1a, 1b). With this configuration, it becomes easy to continuously feed the stock solution into the steam distillation apparatus (1, 1a, 1b).

  Moreover, the rotating shaft 15 may be connected to the motor 13 via a speed reducer or the like.

  The cylinder 5 may be an oblique type, a downward cone type, or a downward truncated cone type. Since the inner wall surface portion 22 faces the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5, the inner wall surface portion 22 may have an inclined cylindrical shape or a peripheral surface shape of a downward truncated cone depending on the shape of the cylinder 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the dimensions of the cylinder 5 are such that when the diameter of the cylinder 5 is R ₁ and the inner diameter of the inner wall surface portion 22 is R ₂ , R ₁ / R ₂ is 0.50 or more and 0.99 or less. It is preferable that When R ₁ / R ₂ is less than 0.5, the mixed vapor rising along the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5 does not make a countercurrent contact with the thin-film stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22. The essential oil contained in the stock solution is difficult to vaporize. When R ₁ / R ₂ exceeds 0.99, the mixed steam rising through the gap 63 and the undiluted solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 are less likely to pass through each other. Not proceed. Further, when the cylinder 5 rotates, the cylinder 5 may come into contact with the inner wall surface portion 22.

The rotational speed of the cylinder 5, for example, when the diameter _{R 1} of the tube 5 is 64 mm, preferably surface speed of the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5 is less than 2.4km / h or 12.1km / h . When the surface speed is less than 2.4 km / h when R ₁ is 64 mm, the wind pressure generated by the rotation is weak, so the efficiency of the essential oil evaporating from the liquid surface of the stock solution is low. Further, when the surface speed exceeds 12.1 km / h when R ₁ is 64 mm, the wind pressure is too strong to prevent the mixed steam from rising through the gap 63, and the inside of the distillation chamber (2, 2a, 2b). Is prevented from being led out to the condensing means (105, 105b).

The rotational speed of the cylinder 5, for example, when the diameter _{R 1} of the tube 5 is 1.25 m, that the surface speed of the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5 is less than 5km / h or 30 km / h preferable. The reason is the same as when R ₁ is 64 mm.

  Further, the blade 81 of the wiper 80 shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 may be provided so as to protrude further in the vertical direction beyond the vertical width in the axial direction of the cylinder 5. With this configuration, the stock solution immediately after being supplied to the inner wall surface upper portion 21 and the stock solution flowing down the lower end portion 26 of the inner wall surface are formed into a thin film by the wiper 80, so that the essential oil is easily evaporated from the stock solution. In this case, the blade 81 is prevented from touching the device configuration other than the blade support portion 82 and the inner wall surface 4.

  The stock solution reservoir 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 may be a bubble bell tray (bubble cap tray) connected to the water vapor introduction pipe 72 of the water vapor supply means 117. In this case, the container bottom plate 25 functions as a shelf for the bubble bell stage, and the container side plate 24 functions as a weir for storing the stock solution directly on the bubble bell stage. In this case, instead of the water vapor discharge part 74, water vapor is discharged from the water vapor introduction pipe 72 to the whole of the raw liquid 201 stored in the raw liquid storage container 7 through the bubble bell stage.

  Further, the stock solution derivation means (108, 108b) shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 includes a pressure adjusting section for returning the stock solution and the like led out of the distillation chamber (2, 2a, 2b) to normal pressure. Also good. The pressure adjusting unit is provided in a portion outside the distillation chamber (2, 2a, 2b) of the stock solution outlet pipe (57, 57b).

  The pressure adjusting unit includes a pressure adjusting tank for temporarily storing the stock solution and vapor led out of the distillation chamber (2, 2a, 2b), a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the tank, and a distillation chamber from the tank. (2, 2a, 2b) A valve for preventing backflow into the tank, an open valve for taking outside air into the tank, and a pressure for automatically adjusting the opening and closing of the valve and the open valve according to the pressure detected by the pressure sensor Includes control mechanism. When the pressure adjusting unit is provided, when the steam distillation is performed by reducing the pressure in the distillation chamber (2, 2a, 2b) by the pressure reducing means 115, the stock solution is continuously derived from the distillation chamber (2, 2a, 2b). It becomes easy.

  The stock solution reflux pipe 77 of the stock solution reflux means 113 may be connected to the stock solution lead-out pipe 57 of the stock solution lead-out means 108, and a backflow prevention valve may be provided at the connection site. With this configuration, when the same stock solution is repeatedly distilled, if the valve at the connection site is opened, the stock solution extracted in the stock solution reflux pipe 77 flows into the stock solution outlet pipe 57 and is discharged from the opening 71 to the outside of the apparatus. it can.

  The steam distillation apparatus (1, 1a) shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 includes a temperature sensor provided in the heating medium outlet pipe 96 and a valve provided in the heating medium introduction pipe 95. A control mechanism may be provided. When the heating medium flow rate control mechanism is provided, the temperature sensor detects the temperature of the heating medium flowing in the heating medium outlet pipe 96, and opens and closes the valve provided in the heating medium introduction pipe 95 according to the detected temperature. Is automatically adjusted to adjust the flow rate of the heating medium introduced into the lower end portion 83 of the jacket. For this reason, when steam distillation is performed, the temperature conditions under which the stock solution in the distillation chamber 2 is heated by the first heating means 103, the second heating means 104, and the like become stable.

  The steam distillation apparatus (1, 1a) may include a heating medium generation amount control mechanism including a temperature sensor provided in the heating medium outlet pipe 96 and a steam boiler 94. For example, when the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the heating medium flowing in the heating medium outlet pipe 96 exceeds about 95 ° C., the heating boiler generation amount control mechanism automatically heats the water in the steam boiler 94. Stop once. Thereby, it is possible to avoid scorching in the distillation chamber (2, 2a) and deterioration of the quality of the essential oil due to heat denaturation. Further, the fuel cost for generating water vapor can be saved.

  For example, when the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the heating medium flowing in the heating medium outlet pipe 96 has exceeded about 95 ° C., the valve provided in the heating medium introduction pipe 95 is closed, or in the steam boiler 94 When the heating of water is stopped, the high temperature heating medium remains in the heating jacket 99. For this reason, the inside of the distillation chamber 2 is kept warm by the heating medium remaining in the heating jacket 99. Further, even after the valve provided in the heating medium introduction pipe 95 is closed or after heating of the water is stopped by the steam boiler 94, the steam is continuously supplied into the distillation chamber 2 by the steam supply means (117, 117a). Then, the undiluted solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 and the accumulated undiluted solution 201 are heated by the steam supplied into the distillation chamber 2. For this reason, even after the valve provided in the heating medium introduction pipe 95 is closed or the heating of the steam boiler 94 is stopped, the essential oil is efficiently vaporized from the stock solution.

  The jacket lower end 83 may be provided with a steam trap. Thereby, the drain accumulated in the jacket lower end portion 83 can be discharged. Therefore, the flow of the heating medium in the heating jacket 99 can be made smooth to suppress heat loss, and the fuel cost for generating water vapor can be saved.

  Moreover, it replaces with the steam boiler 94 and a hot water boiler may be provided. In this case, hot water having a temperature higher than 60 ° C. and not higher than 100 ° C. flows upward as a heating medium in the heating jacket 99.

  Further, instead of the steam boiler 94, a silicon oil circulation device may be provided. In this case, in the heating jacket 99, for example, about 130 ° C. silicone oil flows upward as a heating medium. Since silicon oil is heated to a temperature higher than 100 ° C. by heating, the essential oil is efficiently vaporized from the stock solution heated by the first heating means 103 and the second heating means 104 when the silicon oil circulation device is included.

  Further, the first heating means (103, 103b) and the second heating means (104, 104b) shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 may be configured to directly heat the stock solution by a heater, induction heating or the like. . Further, the first heating means (103, 103b) and the second heating means (104, 104b) are divided into three or more pieces in place of the heating jacket 99 or the upper heating jacket 86 and the lower heating jacket 87. The structure including a jacket may be sufficient and the structure which wound the round pipe or the square pipe around the outer wall surface (10, 10b) may be sufficient.

  In addition to the heating jacket 99 or the lower heating jacket 87, as the second heating means (104, 104b), other heating jackets and heaters are provided in and near the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution container 7). It may be provided. With this configuration, heating can be performed so that the temperature of the stock solution heated by the first heating means (103, 103b) and the temperature of the stock solution heated by the second heating means (104, 104b) are greatly different. it can. Therefore, when steam distillation is performed, the heating conditions can be finely adjusted in order to efficiently vaporize the essential oil from the stock solution.

  Further, the gas blocking member 109 may not include the lower gas blocking member 20 as long as the upper gas blocking member 19 exists.

  The separation / recovery means 119 may include an oil / water separation tank for separating the liquid essential oil 203 and the aromatic distilled water 204 from the distillate 202 stored in the storage tank 40. The oil / water separation tank is connected to any one or more of the distillate outlet pipes (42, 44, 46). Further, the oil / water separation tank is provided with an essential oil recovery pipe for recovering liquid essential oil from the upper part in the oil / water separation tank and an aromatic distilled water recovery pipe for recovering aromatic distilled water from the bottom in the oil / water separation tank. The essential oil recovery pipe and the aromatic distilled water recovery pipe are provided with a backflow prevention valve and a liquid feed pump.

  When the oil / water separation tank is included, the distillate 202 stored in the storage tank 40 enters the oil / water separation tank via any one or more of the distillate outlet pipes (42, 44, 46). It flows in and is separated into liquid essential oil and aromatic distilled water in an oil / water separation tank. The separated liquid essential oil is recovered through an essential oil recovery tube, and the separated aromatic distilled water is recovered through an aromatic distilled water recovery tube. Therefore, when an oil-water separation tank is included, liquid essential oil and aromatic distilled water can be more efficiently separated before recovery.

  Further, the intake pipe 55 of the decompression means 115 may be provided with an open valve for returning the decompressed distillation chamber (2, 2a, 2b) to normal pressure, and further, a distillate downflow pipe (38, 38b) may be provided with a backflow prevention valve. If the valve provided in the distillate lowering pipe (38, 38b) is temporarily closed and the open valve provided in the intake pipe 55 is temporarily opened, the inside of the distillation chamber (2, 2a, 2b) is depressurized. In the state as it is, the inside of the storage tank 40 can be temporarily returned to normal pressure. Thereby, it is easy to recover the liquid essential oil 203 and the aromatic distilled water 204 from the distillate 202 stored in the storage tank 40 while performing steam distillation.

  The steam distillation apparatus (1, 1a, 1b) continuously feeds the stock solution into the apparatus by adjusting the opening and closing of various valves and open valves provided in the apparatus, and the distillation chamber (2, 2a, 2b) the stock solution derived from the inside and the heating medium derived from the inside of the heating jacket 99 are continuously discharged out of the apparatus, and the liquid essential oil 203 and aroma are extracted from the distillate 202 stored in the storage tank 40. Distilled water 204 can be continuously recovered. For this reason, the steam distillation apparatus (1, 1a, 1b) can perform steam distillation continuously or intermittently.

[Comparative test between Comparative Examples 1 and 2 and Embodiment 3]
[Test of Comparative Example 1]
A steam distillation apparatus 1c shown in FIG. 7 is an apparatus that the inventor of the present application prototyped in the course of completing the steam distillation apparatus according to the present invention. In the test of Comparative Example 1, steam distillation was performed using the steam distillation apparatus 1c. About the steam distillation apparatus 1c, only a different structure and operation | movement from the above-mentioned steam distillation apparatus 1b are demonstrated.

  In place of the distillation chamber 2b, cylinder 5, stock solution supply means 101b, first heating means 103b, stock solution reservoir 107, steam supply means 117b, decompression means 115, and separation and recovery means 119 of the steam distillation apparatus 1b, the steam distillation apparatus 1c , A distillation chamber 2c, a plate-like stirring blade 16, a stock solution supply means 101c, a first heating means 103c, a stock solution reservoir 107c, a decompression means 115c, a steam supply means 117c, and a separation and recovery means 119c. The steam distillation apparatus 1c does not include the second heating unit, the gas blocking member, and the wiper.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the distillation chamber 2 c is a sealed vessel and includes a plate-like stirring blade 16. When the motor 13 is driven, the stirring blade 16 rotates around the rotation shaft 15. The inner wall surface 4 of the distillation chamber 2c includes an inner wall surface portion 22c surrounding the stirring blade 16 and an inner wall surface upper portion 21c which is the upper end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22c.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the distillation chamber 2c, taken along the line DD in FIG. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, assuming a cylindrical rotating body that is generated when the stirring blade 16 is rotated, a gap 63 c between the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body and the inner wall surface portion 22 c has a cylindrical shape with an annular cross section. It becomes space. A hollow portion 50c is formed between the surface of the stirring blade 16 and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body. As shown in FIG. 8, the length B ₁ of the long side of the stirring blade 16 is 76 mm, the inner diameter R ₃ of the inner wall surface portion 22c is 78 mm, and the width of the gap 63c ((R ₃ −B ₁ ) / 2. ) Was 1 mm and B ₁ / R ₃ was about 0.97.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the stock solution introduction pipe penetrates the side wall of the distillation chamber 2c and has an opening in the inner wall upper portion 21c, and functions as the stock solution supply means 101c. The stock solution reservoir 107 c is provided below the inner wall surface 4. The water vapor supply pipe supplies water vapor from the outside of the distillation chamber 2c to the inside of the distillation chamber 2c by discharging water vapor generated by a water vapor generator (not shown) to a portion between the inner wall surface 4 and the stock solution reservoir 107c. It functions as the water vapor supply means 117c. Under the stock solution reservoir 107c, stock solution derivation means 108b is provided.

  The inner wall surface heating jacket 62 surrounds the outer wall surface 10b of the distillation chamber 2c and is in close contact with the outer wall surface 10b. With a hot water circulation device (not shown), hot water of about 60 ° C. is heated as a heating medium from a heating medium inlet 88 c provided at the lower end of the heating jacket 62 to a heating medium outlet 89 c provided at the upper end of the heating jacket 62. To flow. For this reason, in the inner wall surface heating jacket 62, the region portion overlapping the inner wall surface portion 22c when viewed from the side of the distillation chamber 2c functions exclusively as the first heating means 103c.

  The storage tank 40c functions as the separation / recovery means 119c. The intake pipe 55c is a pipe connecting the vacuum pump 54 and the distillate flowing down pipe 38b. The configuration in which the vacuum pump 54 and the intake pipe 55c are combined functions as the decompression unit 115c.

  Hereinafter, the flow of the stock solution and the like when steam distillation is performed in the test of Comparative Example 1 will be described. As a raw material, 2 kg of coconut peel was prepared. 2 kg of water was added to the raw material, the raw material was crushed and further ground with a grinder to prepare about 4 kg of the raw material suspension, and the raw material suspension was used as a stock solution. The vacuum pump 54 was operated to maintain the internal pressure of the distillation chamber 2c at 26.7 kPa (200 Torr).

  The stock solution immediately after preparation was put into the stock solution supply means 101c at a flow rate of 1.2 kg / h. The introduced stock solution was supplied to the inner wall surface upper portion 21c and flowed down the inner wall surface portion 22c. Since the stirring blade 16 was rotated at a rotational speed of 700 rpm in the distillation chamber 2c, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22c with the wind pressure generated by the rotation was pressed against the inner wall surface portion 22c to form a thin film. Further, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22c was heated by exchanging heat with hot water of about 60 ° C. which is the heating medium of the first heating means 103c. Thereby, water and essential oil evaporated from the liquid level of the undiluted stock solution.

  The stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22c and passing through the inner wall surface portion 22c flowed into the stock solution reservoir 107c and was temporarily stored in the stock solution reservoir 107c. The stored stock solution 201c was not heated. By opening the valve 60 of the stock solution outlet means 108b and operating the pump 59, the stored stock solution 201c was led out of the distillation chamber 2c through the stock solution lead-out pipe 57b.

  Water vapor as a carrier gas was generated by a water vapor generator (not shown) of the water vapor supply means 117c. The generated water vapor rose through the hollow portion 50c and the gap 63c in the distillation chamber 2c. At this time, the water vapor rising through the gap 63c made countercurrent contact with the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22c. Due to the countercurrent contact, steam of the essential oil was generated, resulting in a mixed steam of steam and essential oil. The mixed steam was led out from the distillation chamber 2c, cooled by the condensing means 105b, turned into a distillate, and stored in the storage tank 40c. After completion of the steam distillation, the storage tank 40c was removed from the condensing means 105b, and liquid essential oil 203 and aromatic distilled water 204 were recovered from the collected distillate 202.

[Test of Comparative Example 2]
A steam distillation apparatus 1d shown in FIG. 9 is an apparatus experimentally manufactured by the inventors of the present application until the completion of the steam distillation apparatus according to the present invention. In the test of Comparative Example 2, steam distillation was performed using the steam distillation apparatus 1d. Only the configuration and operation of the steam distillation apparatus 1d different from those of the steam distillation apparatuses (1b, 1c) described above will be described.

  In the steam distillation apparatus 1d, instead of the distillation chamber 2b, the stock solution supply means 101b, the first heating means 103b, the stock solution reservoir 107, the steam supply means 117b, the decompression means 115, and the separation and recovery means 119 of the steam distillation apparatus 1b, A chamber 2d, a stock solution supply means 101c, a first heating means 103c, a stock solution reservoir 107c, a decompression means 115c, a water vapor supply means 117c, and a separation and recovery means 119c are provided. The steam distillation apparatus 1d does not include the second heating unit and the wiper.

The distillation chamber 2d is a hermetically sealed vessel and contains the cylinder 5. The inner wall surface 4 of the distillation chamber 2 d has an inner wall surface portion 22 d that surrounds the tube 5 and faces the outer peripheral surface 6 of the tube 5. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the distillation chamber 2d taken along line EE in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, a gap 63d between the inner wall surface portion 22d and the outer peripheral surface 6 of the cylinder 5 is a cylindrical space having an annular cross section. The diameter R _{4 of the} cylinder 5 is 64 mm, the inner diameter R ₅ of the inner wall surface portion 22d is 78 mm, the width of the gap 63d ((R ₅ −R ₄ ) / 2) is 7 mm, and R ₄ / R ₅ is About 0.82.

  In the test of Comparative Example 2, the cylinder 5 was rotated at a rotation speed of 700 rpm. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 10, the undiluted solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22d was pressed against the inner wall surface portion 22d by the wind pressure generated by the rotation and became a thin film. Further, the water vapor supplied into the distillation chamber 2d by the water vapor supply means 117c is guided to the gap 63d by the gas blocking member 109, and makes a countercurrent contact with the undiluted solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22d in the process of raising the gap 63d. did. In the test of Comparative Example 2, steam distillation was performed under the same conditions as in the test of Comparative Example 1 for the other conditions.

[Test of Embodiment 3]
In the test of Embodiment 3, steam distillation was performed using the steam distillation apparatus 1b shown in FIG. The diameter of the cylinder 5 and the inner diameter of the inner wall surface portion 22 are the same as those in the test of Comparative Example 2. In the test of Embodiment 3, steam distillation was performed without closing the valve 93 of the steam introduction pipe 72b of the steam supply means 117b and supplying steam into the distillation chamber 2b.

  In the test of the third embodiment, hot water of about 60 ° C. was allowed to flow as a heating medium in the upper heating jacket 86. In addition, a mixed fluid of water vapor and hot water was introduced as a heating medium into the heating medium introduction port 90 of the lower heating jacket 87. The temperature of the heating medium at the time of introduction into the heating medium inlet 90 was 80 ° C. The heating medium immediately after being introduced into the lower heating jacket 87 was cooled by heat exchange with the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 (stock solution storage container 7), and became higher than 60 ° C. and lower than 80 ° C. The heating medium that is higher than 60 ° C. and lower than 80 ° C. moves up in the lower heating jacket 87 and exchanges heat with the stock solution flowing down the lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22 at the upper end portion in the lower heating jacket 87. . In the test of the third embodiment, steam distillation was performed under the same conditions as in the tests of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 for the other conditions.

[Test Results of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 and Embodiment 3]
Table 1 shows the test conditions of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 and Embodiment 3, and the test results thereof.

[Comparison and Discussion of Test Results of Comparative Examples 1 and 2]
As shown in Table 1, the amount of liquid essential oil recovered in the test of Comparative Example 1 was less than 1 ml, whereas in the test of Comparative Example 2, it was about 5 ml. The difference in the test results is considered to be due to the difference in the rotations built in the distillation chamber between the test of Comparative Example 1 and the test of Comparative Example 2.

  In the test of Comparative Example 1, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rotating body built in the distillation chamber 2 c was a plate-like stirring blade 16. For this reason, it is considered that most of the water vapor rising in the distillation chamber 2c passed through the hollow portion 50c without making countercurrent contact in the gap 63c. Therefore, it is considered that the essential oil was not efficiently vaporized from the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22c. On the other hand, in the test of Comparative Example 2, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the rotating object built in the distillation chamber 2 d was the cylinder 5 provided with the gas blocking member 109. For this reason, it is considered that most of the water vapor rising in the distillation chamber 2d made countercurrent contact in the gap 63d. Therefore, in the test of Comparative Example 2, it is considered that the essential oil was efficiently vaporized from the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22d as compared with the test of Comparative Example 1.

[Comparison and Consideration of Test Results of Comparative Example 2 and Embodiment 3]
As shown in Table 1, the amount of liquid essential oil recovered in the test of Comparative Example 2 was about 5 ml, whereas in the test of Embodiment 3, it was about 6 ml. This difference in the recovered amount is considered to be due to the presence or absence of the second heating means for heating the stock solution stored in the stock solution reservoir.

  In the test of Comparative Example 2, the stock solution 201c stored in the stock solution reservoir 107c shown in FIG. 9 was not heated by the second heating means. For this reason, it is considered that the essential oil remaining in the stock solution 201c collected in the test of Comparative Example 2 was hardly vaporized. On the other hand, in the test of Embodiment 3, the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 shown in FIG. 6 was heated by the second heating unit 104b. For this reason, it is considered that the essential oil remaining in the stock solution 201 accumulated in the test of Embodiment 3 was vaporized from the stock solution.

  Furthermore, in the test of Comparative Example 2, the water vapor supplied by the water vapor supply means 117c shown in FIG. 9 rose in the gap 63d in almost the same state and made countercurrent contact. On the other hand, in the test of Embodiment 3, the water vapor supplied by the water vapor supply means 117b shown in FIG. Flow contact was made. For this reason, in the test of Embodiment 3, compared with the test of the comparative example 2, the vapor | steam pressure of water vapor | steam and an essential oil was previously raised for the vapor | steam which carries out countercurrent contact. Therefore, in the test of Embodiment 3, compared with the test of Comparative Example 2, from the viewpoint of steam distillation, the whole stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is likely to boil at a low temperature, and the essential oil is efficiently vaporized from the stock solution. It is thought that.

  Furthermore, as shown in Table 1, in the test of Comparative Example 2, the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22d shown in FIG. 9 was heated at about 60 ° C. On the other hand, in the test of Embodiment 3, the stock solution flowing down near the upper end of the inner wall surface portion 22 shown in FIG. 6 is heated at 60 ° C., and then the stock solution flowing down near the lower end of the inner wall surface portion 22 is higher than 60 ° C. and 80 The stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution storage unit 107 was heated at 80 ° C. For this reason, in the test of Embodiment 3, the temperature of the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 is higher than the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22, and is stored in the stock solution reservoir 107. The stock solution 201 was heated. Due to this heating condition, in the test of Embodiment 3, it is considered that the essential oil was efficiently vaporized from the stock solution that flowed down the inner wall surface portion 22 and reduced the amount of essential oil in the test of Comparative Example 2.

  Furthermore, in the test of Comparative Example 2, it was necessary to supply water vapor into the distillation chamber 2d shown in FIG. 9 when performing water vapor distillation. On the other hand, in the test of Embodiment 3, steam distillation could be performed without supplying steam into the distillation chamber 2b shown in FIG. This is because, in the test of Embodiment 3, the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 107 is heated by the second heating means 104b to generate water vapor from the stock solution, and the generated water vapor acts as a carrier gas. . Furthermore, in the test of Embodiment 3, since the stock solution 201 was heated so that the temperature of the stock solution 201 was higher than the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall portion 22, the stock solution 201 was heated. It is thought that a large amount of water vapor was generated.

  Since the coconut peels account for about 90% of the composition, the stock solution used in the comparative test had a high water content. For this reason, in the test of Embodiment 3, water vapor | steam arises from the water | moisture content derived from a coconut peel, and it is thought that water vapor | steam distillation was able to be performed, without supplying water vapor | steam.

[Comparative test of Embodiments 1 and 2]
[Test of Embodiment 1]
In the test of Embodiment 1, steam distillation was performed using the steam distillation apparatus 1 shown in FIG. As a raw material, 1.2t of coconut peel was prepared. Water 1.2t was added to the raw material, the raw material was crushed and further ground with a grinder to prepare about 2.4t of raw material suspension, and the raw material suspension was used as a stock solution. The vacuum pump 54 was operated to maintain the internal pressure of the distillation chamber 2 at 53.3 kPa (400 Torr). The stock solution immediately after preparation was poured into the opening 64 at a flow rate of 0.25 t / h.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the test of the first embodiment, the diameter R ₁ of the cylinder 5 is 1.25 m, the inner diameter R ₂ of the inner wall surface portion 22 is 1.5 m, and the width of the gap 63 ((R ₂ -R ₁₎ / 2) is _{0.125m, R} 1 / R ₂ is about 0.83. The cylinder 5 was rotated at a rotation speed of 85 rpm. The internal volume of the stock solution storage container 7 was about 0.65 m ³ , and the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution storage container 7 was replaced with the stock solution later introduced into the apparatus in about 160 minutes.

  In the test of Embodiment 1, water was heated with the steam boiler 94 shown in FIG. 1, and superheated steam at about 120 ° C. was generated as a heating medium. The heating medium immediately after introduction into the jacket lower end 83 was about 120 ° C., and heat exchange was performed with the stock solution flowing on the inner bottom surface 9. The heating medium rising to the lower end portion in the jacket intermediate portion 84 was about 120 ° C., and heat exchange was performed with the stock solution 201 stored in the stock solution reservoir 7. The heating medium rising in the jacket intermediate portion 84 is about 100 ° C. at the lower end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22 and about 95 ° C. at the upper end portion of the inner wall surface portion 22, and each water vapor flows down the inner wall surface portion 22. Heat exchange with the stock solution.

  In the test of Embodiment 1, water was heated with the steam boiler 92 to generate saturated steam at about 100 ° C. as the carrier gas. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the saturated water vapor flows from the steam boiler 92 into the water vapor discharge part 74 through the water vapor introduction pipe 72 and the connecting part 73, and the raw solution is supplied from a plurality of openings provided in the water vapor discharge part 74. It was discharged into the whole of the stock solution 201 stored in the storage container 7. Thereby, water vapor was supplied into the distillation chamber 2 from the outside of the distillation chamber 2.

  In the test of the first embodiment, the heat recovery means 111 exchanges heat between the undiluted solution before being introduced into the distillation chamber 2 and the undiluted solution after being led out of the distilling chamber 2, and the undiluted solution and the heating jacket before being introduced into the distilling chamber 2. In addition, heat exchange was performed with the heating medium after being led out. The stock solution, which was about 25 ° C. when charged into the opening 64, was preheated to about 70 ° C. when passing through the heat exchanger 65. On the other hand, the undiluted solution which was about 100 ° C. when led out from the distillation chamber 2 was cooled to about 55 ° C. when discharged through the opening 71.

  In the test of Embodiment 1, the valve 43 provided in the distillate outlet pipe 42 of the storage tank 40 was opened after the steam distillation was finished. As a result, a part of the liquid essential oil 203 and the aromatic distilled water 204 stored in a range where the water level is higher than the distillate outlet pipe 42 out of the distillate 202 stored in the storage tank 40 is 120 kg in total. It was led out of the steam distillation apparatus 1 from the inside of the storage tank 40 through the distillate outlet pipe 42. About the derived distillate, liquid essential oil was separated from aromatic distilled water and recovered.

[Test of Embodiment 2]
In the test of Embodiment 2, steam distillation was performed using the steam distillation apparatus 1a shown in FIG. For the test of the second embodiment, only conditions different from the test of the first embodiment will be described. In the test of the second embodiment, saturated water vapor at about 100 ° C. as a carrier gas flows from the steam boiler 92 into the water vapor discharge part 74a through the water vapor introduction pipe 72a and the connection part 73a, and a plurality of water vapors provided in the water vapor discharge part 74a. Was discharged below the stock solution reservoir 7. Thereby, water vapor | steam was supplied into the distillation chamber 2a from the outside of the distillation chamber 2a by discharging | emitting water vapor | steam below the inner wall surface part 22. FIG.

[Test results of Embodiments 1 and 2]
Table 2 shows the test conditions in the first and second embodiments and the respective test results.

[Comparison and Examination of Test Results of Embodiments 1 and 2]
As shown in Table 2, the amount of liquid essential oil recovered in the test of Embodiment 1 was 6.0 kg, whereas it was 4.0 kg in the test of Embodiment 2. In the test of Embodiment 1, the essential oil could not be detected from the stock solution after being discharged out of the apparatus. For this reason, in the test of Embodiment 1, it is thought that it was able to vaporize and collect | recover the whole quantity of the essential oil contained in stock solution. The difference in the recovered amount between the test of the first embodiment and the test of the second embodiment is that the steam supplied from the outside of the distillation chamber (2, 2a) into the distillation chamber (2, 2a) by the steam supply means (117, 117a). Is considered to be caused by the difference between whether the liquid is discharged into the stored stock solution 201 or discharged out of the stored stock solution 201.

  In the test of Embodiment 2, since the water vapor after being supplied into the distillation chamber 2a shown in FIG. 4 is released out of the stock solution 201, it can only come into contact with the stock solution at the liquid level. For this reason, the essential oil remaining in the accumulated stock solution 201 can be evaporated only from the original liquid surface of the stock solution. Therefore, it is considered that the essential oil remaining in the stored stock solution 201 was not sufficiently vaporized. As a result, the sum of the steam pressure of the steam and the essential oil can be increased in advance before the steam makes countercurrent contact, but it is considered that the degree of the increase was not sufficient. Therefore, in the test of Embodiment 2, it is considered that the degree to which the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 is likely to boil is small.

  On the other hand, in the test of Embodiment 1, the water vapor immediately after being supplied into the distillation chamber 2 shown in FIG. 1 is released into the stock solution 201, and the surface of the bubbles acts as a gas-liquid contact surface. For this reason, in addition to the original liquid level of the stored stock solution 201, the gas-liquid contact area of the stock solution is expanded by the surface of the bubbles. Therefore, it is considered that the accumulated stock solution 201 is heated by efficiently exchanging heat with water vapor, and the essential oil remaining in the stock solution is efficiently evaporated into the bubbles. As a result, a mixed steam having a high sum of vapor pressures of water vapor and essential oil is generated in the bubbles, and from the viewpoint of water vapor distillation, the stored stock solution 201 is considered to be easily boiled at a low temperature. Therefore, in the test of the first embodiment, it is considered that the essential oil remaining in the stored stock solution 201 is more efficiently vaporized than in the test of the second embodiment.

  Further, for the same reason, in the test of Embodiment 1, it can be considered that the sum of the vapor pressures of water vapor and essential oil is sufficiently increased in advance before the vapor makes countercurrent contact. Therefore, in the test of Embodiment 1, compared with the test of Embodiment 2, it can be considered that the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 easily boiled at a low temperature from the viewpoint of steam distillation. Therefore, in the test of Embodiment 1, it is considered that the essential oil was more efficiently vaporized from the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion 22 than in the test of Embodiment 2.

  The present invention is used as a device for obtaining a volatile component from a stock solution, which is a suspension, emulsion or colloidal solution containing a volatile component that does not mix with water. The present invention is used, for example, as a device for obtaining essential oil from a raw material suspension prepared from a raw material derived from natural products such as agricultural products, wood, and processed foods.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steam distillation apparatus 2 Distillation chamber 4 Inner wall surface 5 Cylinder 6 Outer peripheral surface 7 Stock solution reservoir 21 Inner wall surface upper part 22 Inner wall surface part 50 Hollow part 101 Stock solution supply means 103 First heating means 104 Second heating means 105 Condensing means 107 Stock solution reservoir 108 Stock solution deriving means 109 Gas blocking member 201 Stock solution stored in stock solution reservoir

[Test results of Embodiments 1 and 2]
Table 2 shows the test conditions in the first and second embodiments and the respective test results.

Claims (5)

A cylinder that rotates around its axis;
A distillation chamber having an inner wall surface that contains the cylinder and surrounds the cylinder;
A stock solution supplying means for introducing a stock solution from outside the distillation chamber into the distillation chamber and supplying the stock solution to the upper part of the inner wall surface;
First heating means for heating the stock solution supplied by the stock solution supply means and flowing down the inner wall surface portion facing the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder;
Undiluted solution derivation means for deriving the undiluted solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion and passing through the inner wall surface portion to the outside of the distillation chamber;
A gas blocking member that blocks the hollow portion so that steam does not pass through the hollow portion of the cylinder;
Condensing means for deriving and condensing steam from the distillation chamber;
A steam distillation apparatus comprising:
A stock solution reservoir that temporarily stores a stock solution that passes through the inner wall surface and reaches the stock solution deriving means;
A second heating means for heating the stock solution stored in the stock solution reservoir;
Steam distillation apparatus equipped with.   The second heating means heats the stock solution stored in the stock solution reservoir so that the temperature of the stock solution stored in the stock solution reservoir is higher than the temperature of the stock solution flowing down the inner wall surface portion. The steam distillation apparatus according to claim 1.   The stock solution reservoir has an annular container bottom plate projecting inward from the inner wall surface, and a container side plate standing on the inner edge of the container bottom plate, and an inner wall portion, the container side plate, and the container facing the container side plate The steam distillation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the steam distillation apparatus is a stock solution storage container for temporarily storing a stock solution in an annular recess formed by a bottom plate.   The steam distillation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a steam supply means for supplying water vapor from outside the distillation chamber into the distillation chamber by discharging water vapor below the inner wall surface portion.   The steam distillation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the steam supply means releases steam into the stock solution stored in the stock solution reservoir.

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