JPH10117725A - Continuous apparatus for pressurized steaming using water-cooled type rotary valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuous apparatus for pressurized steaming, using water-cooled type rotary valves and capable of carrying out the pressurized steaming treatment while continuously feeding and transferring a raw material. SOLUTION: This continuous apparatus for steaming treatment using water- cooled rotary valves is capable of sprinkling hot water over a raw material and carrying out the steaming treatment of the raw material. The apparatus is equipped with the water-cooled type rotary valves 4 and 5 arranged at a raw material charging inlet 2 or a raw material discharging outlet 3 of a pressurized steaming vessel 1 and obtained by composing a flow channel for producing the hot water with cooling water, passed through the rotary valves 4 and 5 and heated or a flow channel for converting the cooling water into the hot water after the heating. The flow channel is composed by providing a temperature measuring means or a flow measuring means 9 for obtaining measured values with time from the temperature or flow rate of cooling water after heating and a flow controlling means 10 for adjusting the flow rate of the cooling water based on the measured values.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a continuous pressurized steaming apparatus using a water-cooled rotary valve for performing a steaming process while continuously supplying and transferring raw materials.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Pressurized steaming is performed while sprinkling hot water at a certain temperature (hereinafter referred to as hot water for sprinkling) on defatted soybeans in soy sauce production, and heating while sprinkling hot water at a certain temperature on bran in enzyme production. In the case of pressure steaming or pressure steaming in natto production, a continuous pressure steaming apparatus (hereinafter, abbreviated as steaming apparatus) capable of continuously steaming while transferring raw materials is used in order to increase production efficiency. In this steaming apparatus, a rotary valve is provided at each of the raw material inlet and the raw material outlet of the pressurized steaming can in order to maintain the pressurized state by substantially closing the inside of the pressurized steaming can while continuously charging and discharging the raw materials. It is usually used. This rotary valve normally allows the rotor to be cooled.

[0003] The rotor of the rotary valve is cooled for the following reasons. The raw material to be steamed is pre-watered, or because hot water for sprinkling is sprinkled,
It easily adheres to the rotor of a rotary valve heated by hot air from a pressurized steaming can. When the raw material adheres to the rotor, it causes clogging of the raw material input port and the raw material discharge port, and causes a problem that the raw material continues to adhere to the rotor for a long time, causing discoloration and burning, thereby deteriorating the raw material quality after steaming. Particularly, in the case of defatted soybeans containing protein, the protein gels, increases in viscosity and easily adheres to the rotor, and the problem becomes serious. Therefore, the inside of the rotor of the rotary valve is cooled to condense water vapor on the rotor surface, and a thin film of water covering the rotor suppresses the adhesion of the raw material to the rotor, so that even if it adheres, the raw material can be easily separated. Air cooling may be considered as a cooling means inside the rotor, but a water-cooled type is preferable for efficiently cooling the rotor, and a water-cooled rotary valve is generally used at present. Conventionally, the flow path of the cooling water of the rotary valve and the flow path of the hot water for sprinkling water to the raw material in the apparatus have been naturally separated from each other due to the difference in their roles.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a conventional steaming apparatus,
Hot water for sprinkling water into the raw material is heated by steam through a steam pipe in a sprinkling tank where water is stored, or steam-water mixing
Hot water (mixing of steam and water, the same applies hereinafter) is sent to a sprinkling tank to generate water. As described above, the hot water for sprinkling water on the raw material and the cooling water for the rotary valve constitute a separate flow path.On the other hand, heated cooling water after cooling the rotor (hereinafter, cooling water after heating) is used. Was abandoned, while on the other hand it produced fresh hot water for sprinkling.

The relationship between the cooling water and the hot water for sprinkling can be said to be a very wasteful system from the viewpoint of energy use, but the cooling water and the hot water for watering cannot be treated in the same line. Because the main purpose of cooling water is to cool the rotor of the rotary valve, the flow rate is not constant, and the temperature of the cooling water fluctuates after heating, but the hot water for sprinkling needs to be constant and constant temperature Because. For this reason, conventionally, both had to be separated, and the energy of the cooling water after heating was not used.

[0006] In view of the above, for the purpose of improving the energy utilization of the entire steaming apparatus and saving energy, an attempt has been made to develop a steaming apparatus capable of reducing costs in terms of equipment and operation.

[0007]

As a result of the examination, what has been developed is an apparatus for sprinkling warm water for sprinkling water on a raw material and steaming the raw material. A water-cooled rotary valve is arranged in the flow path for generating hot water for sprinkling by using the cooling water after heating passed through the rotary valve or a flow path for using the cooling water after the heating as the hot water for spraying. It is a steaming apparatus using the water-cooled rotary valve thus configured. The hot water for sprinkling can be generated by heating the water using a heat exchanger and then indirectly raising the temperature of the water using cooling water. It is more efficient to use it as it is.

In the above apparatus, by controlling the flow rate or the temperature of the cooling water after the heating, the energy utilization rate can be increased, and the temperature of the hot water for sprinkling can be stably kept constant. Specifically, for a water-cooled rotary valve, (a)
A flow path comprising a temperature measuring means for acquiring a measured value over time from the temperature of the cooling water after heating passed through the rotary valve, and a flow control means for adjusting the flow rate of the cooling water based on the measured value (B) a flow path including flow rate measuring means for acquiring a measured value over time from the flow rate of cooling water passing through the rotary valve, and flow rate controlling means for adjusting the flow rate of cooling water based on the measured value Is a steaming apparatus using a water-cooled rotary valve. The cooling water for measuring the flow rate does not matter before or after passing through the rotary valve.

The flow control means includes a calculation unit (for example, a computer, a controller, etc., including a flow meter for feeding back the current flow rate, etc.) for determining the flow rate based on the measured value;
It comprises a flow control unit (for example, various open / close valves, a pump capable of increasing or decreasing the number of revolutions) driven and controlled by the calculation unit. The calculation unit and the flow rate adjustment unit may be integrated.

The measured value obtained by the temperature measuring means or the flow rate measuring means may be an analog value,
Regardless of digital value. For example, an electromagnetic flow meter (flow rate measuring means) is arranged in the middle of the pipe from the rotary valve to the watering tank, and the output of the electromagnetic flow meter, that is, the measured value
(Analog value) is a controller that operates an open / close valve of a pipe that sends cooling water to a rotary valve (flow control means: calculation unit)
Input to the controller and open / close valve on the controller
May be operated, or a value obtained by sampling the output of the electromagnetic flowmeter may be input as a measured value (digital value) to a computer or the like (flow control means), and the computer may control the opening of the on-off valve. The operating motor or the like may be controlled.

When the cooling water after heating is used to generate hot water for sprinkling, even if the cooling water after heating is set to an appropriate flow rate, there is a variation with time (a valve for opening and closing the flow path is used). Even if the flow path is fixed, the water pressure from the water source is not constant, so that the flow rate fluctuates as a result, for example). Also, if necessary, replenish water from an external water source, prepare a separate heating source, mix the cooling water with the replenished water after heating, and heat it.However, if the amount of replenished water is large, For example, there arises a problem that the temperature of the hot water for sprinkling drops temporarily. The flow rate control stabilizes the temperature of the cooling water after heating or the flow rate of the cooling water that fluctuates with time, and realizes the generation of hot water for sprinkling at a constant temperature by the cooling water after heating.

In a device for controlling the flow rate of the cooling water by measuring the temperature of the cooling water after the heating, for example, by increasing or decreasing the flow rate of the cooling water to adjust the amount of water with respect to the heat amount from the rotor, the cooling after the heating is performed. If the temperature of the water is made equal to the temperature of the hot water for sprinkling, a stable constant temperature can be achieved by simply adding the amount of water that is not enough for the required hot water for sprinkling and then adding it to the cooling water after heating. It is possible to secure hot water for watering.

In a device for controlling the flow rate of cooling water by measuring the flow rate of cooling water, for example, if the amount of cooling water is maintained at a required level after the heating, the temperature of the hot water for spraying decreases. In this case, it is possible to secure a stable and constant temperature of the sprinkling water simply by raising the temperature of the sprinkling water with steam or the like. As described above, the present invention enables efficient generation of hot water for sprinkling with a small temperature change by quantifying either the flow rate or the temperature of the cooling water after heating.

The above-mentioned cooling water flow rate control based on the measured value of the temperature of the cooling water or the flow rate of the cooling water after heating is performed by taking into account the pressurized steaming pressure, the pressurized steaming temperature, and the thermal expansion in consideration of the rotor and casing of the rotary valve. The amount of raw material on the surface of the rotor, etc. to achieve energy saving, for example, by suppressing the use of excessive energy, or to improve the performance of a steaming device It has a multifaceted effect such as being able to achieve.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a steaming apparatus for steaming defatted soybeans for producing soy sauce. The rotary valves 4 and 5 arranged at a raw material input port 2 and a raw material discharge port 3 of a pressurized steaming can 1 have flow rates. This constitutes a flow path for flow control by measurement. Both of the flow paths may be subjected to flow rate control by temperature measurement (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, cooling water is added to the water stored in the watering tank 6 after heating, and steam is added for temperature adjustment, and water is added for replenishing the amount of water.

The defatted soybeans are fed into the sprinkling screw 7 at a rate of 2 t / h, sprinkled with hot water at 70 ° C. for sprinkling at a rate of 2.6 t / h, and sent to the pressurized steaming can 1 via the preheating screw 8. It is. Rotary valves 4 and 5 are provided at the raw material input port 2 and the raw material discharge port 3 of the pressurized steaming can 1, respectively, to realize a substantially sealed state in the pressurized steaming can 1, and to supply 2 kg / kg of the charged raw material. Steam at cm ² G.

In this embodiment, the amount of the heated cooling water returned from the rotary valves 4 and 5 to the sprinkling tank 6 is 1.
We decided to keep it at 2t / h. That is, a total of 2.
After heating at 4t / h, the cooling water is returned. As a result, the temperature of the heated cooling water returned from each of the rotary valves 4 and 5 varies in the range of 65 to 70 ° C., but the ratio of the heated cooling water to the generated hot water for spraying (water spraying) In addition, steam for temperature adjustment and water for replenishing the amount of water are used for the generation of hot water, so that the temperature of the hot water for sprinkling can be easily adjusted only by adjusting the amount of steam to be added. Rather, the flow rate of the post-warming cooling water can be kept below the required amount of hot water for sprinkling.

In the flow rate control, the electromagnetic flow meter 9 measures the flow rate of the heated cooling water passing through the rotary valve 4 (5), and the measured value is sent to a controller (FIC in the figure) 10 which is a calculation unit. By outputting, the measured value is compared with a set value (a target value which is determined in advance and input to the controller) in the controller 10, and according to the difference, the controller 10 Opening / closing valve for piping that sends cooling water to valve 4 (5)
This is realized by opening and closing 11.

In the watering tank 6, after heating, steam and water are added to the cooling water to generate hot water for watering maintained at a constant temperature (70 ° C. in this example). Steam measures the temperature of the hot water for watering in the watering tank 6 with the temperature sensor 12, and the controller (TI in the figure)
C) 13 opens and closes the supply valve 14 to supply the required amount when the temperature is low. Water is replenished by an automatic water supply system using the float valve 17 when the amount of hot water for watering in the watering tank 6 becomes insufficient. The hot water for watering is drawn from the watering tank 6 by the supply pump 15 and is watered from the watering pipe 16 in the watering screw 7 toward the raw material.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a steaming apparatus of the present invention for steaming bran for the production of an enzyme.
The rotary valves 4 and 5 arranged at the raw material inlet 2 or the raw material discharge port 3 together constitute a flow path for flow control by temperature measurement. In the present embodiment, cooling water is added to the water stored in the watering tank 6 after heating, and hot water obtained by mixing air and water at 65 ° C. is added for replenishing the amount of water.

The bran is fed into the sprinkling screw 7 at a rate of 1 t / h, sprinkled with hot water for sprinkling at 65 ° C. at a rate of 1.4 t / h, and sent out to the pressurized steaming can 1 via the preheating screw 8. . Rotary valves 4 and 5 are provided at the raw material inlet 2 and the raw material outlet 3 of the pressurized steaming can 1, respectively, to realize a substantially closed state in the pressurized steaming can 1, and the charged raw material is 1.8 kg. Steam at / cm ² G.

In this embodiment, the temperature of the heated cooling water returned from the rotary valves 4 and 5 to the
° C. As a result, the amount of cooling water after heating returned from the rotary valves 4 and 5 is 0.50 each.
However, since the temperature of the cooling water returned to the watering tank 6 after heating is equal to 65 ° C., which is the temperature of the water for sprinkling, there is an advantage that temperature adjustment is almost unnecessary. is there. If the amount of the cooling water after the heating is set to be equal to or less than the required amount of the hot water for sprinkling, the cooling water after the heating will not be discarded unnecessarily. The opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 21 may be controlled by the level sensor 20 for monitoring the height, and hot water heated to 65 ° C., which is the same as the hot water for sprinkling, may be replenished by mixing air and water.

In the temperature control, the temperature sensor 18 measures the temperature of the cooling water after heating which has passed through the rotary valve 4 (5), and outputs the measured value to a controller (TIC in the figure) 19 which is a calculation unit. By doing so, the measured value is compared with a set value (a target value that is determined in advance and input to the controller) in the controller 19, and the controller 19 is a rotary valve that is a flow rate controller according to the difference. 4 (5) Open / close valve for piping that sends cooling water
11 is opened and closed to control the flow rate of the heated cooling water returned to the watering tank 6.

In the watering tank 6, warm water is added to the cooling water after heating by mixing air and water to generate warm water maintained at a constant temperature (65 ° C. in this example). Hot water resulting from the mixing of air and water is replenished when the amount of hot water for watering in the watering tank 6 becomes insufficient due to opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 21 controlled by the level sensor 20. The hot water for watering is drawn out of the watering tank 6 by the supply pump 15 and is watered from the watering pipe 16 in the watering screw 7 toward the raw material.

[0025]

According to the steaming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to effectively use the cooling water after heating which has passed through the rotary valve which has been merely discarded. That is, the operation cost is reduced by using the cooling water after the heating as the hot water for sprinkling or the hot water for sprinkling itself, and the facility cost is reduced by simplifying the flow path. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the temperature adjustment of the hot water for watering in the watering tank is simplified, and all the processes required for the temperature adjustment are realized by automatic control. As a result, the temperature fluctuation of the hot water for spraying is hardly observed, and the stable spraying of the temperature can be realized. As a result, the quality of the steamed product can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a steaming apparatus of the present invention for steaming defatted soybeans for producing soy sauce.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a steaming apparatus of the present invention for steaming bran for enzyme production.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pressurized steaming can 2 Raw material input port 3 Raw material discharge port 4 Rotary valve of raw material input port 5 Rotary valve of raw material discharge port 6 Sprinkling tank 7 Sprinkling screw 8 Preheating screw 9 Electromagnetic flow meter 10 Controller (FIC) 11 Opening / closing valve 12 Temperature sensor in watering tank 13 Controller (TIC) 14 Supply valve 15 Supply pump 16 Watering pipe 17 Float valve 18 Temperature sensor 19 Controller (TIC) 20 Level sensor (LC) 21 Solenoid valve

Claims (3)

[Claims] An apparatus for steaming a raw material by spraying hot water on the raw material, wherein a water-cooled rotary valve is disposed at a raw material input port or a raw material discharge port of a pressurized steaming can. A flow path for generating hot water to be sprayed on the raw material by using the cooling water that has passed through and heated, or a flow path for using the cooling water as the hot water, is used for continuous heating using a water-cooled rotary valve. Pressure steaming equipment. 2. A temperature measuring means for acquiring a temporally measured value from the temperature of the cooling water heated through the rotary valve with respect to the water-cooled rotary valve, and the cooling water based on the measured value. 2. The continuous pressurized steaming apparatus using a water-cooled rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow path includes a flow control means for adjusting a flow rate. 3. A flow rate measuring means for acquiring a time-dependent measured value from a flow rate of cooling water passing through the rotary valve for a water-cooled rotary valve, and a flow rate adjusting the flow rate of the cooling water based on the measured value. The continuous pressurized steaming apparatus using a water-cooled rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein a flow path provided with a control means is configured.