JPH11290043A - Apparatus for heat-treating liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for heat-treating a liquid capable of heating or cooling or thermally sterilizing the raw low-temperature liquid or the cooked high-temperature liquid containing relatively large solid materials such as an ingredient-containing sauce or retort curry in an aseptic state and then cooling the liquid. SOLUTION: This apparatus for heat-treating a liquid is composed of a hermetically sealed tank 3 for storing the liquid fed by a liquid feeding means A, a liquid heating means C comprising a multitubular heat exchanger having many vertical tubes, making the liquid in the hermetically sealed tank 3 flow down in the interior of the vertical tubes and heating the liquid flowing through the vertical tubes with an indirectly heating medium passing through the peripheries of the vertical tubes, a means D for keeping the liquid at a high temperature capable of making the heated liquid flow down in the many vertical tubes and keeping the liquid at the heating temperature only for a time required to make the liquid flow down, a means E for cooling the liquid equipped with a multitubular heat exchanger having the many vertical tubes, making the liquid flow from the vertical tubes down to the vertical tubes and cooling the liquid with cooling water passing through the peripheries of the vertical tubes and a means F for discharging the liquid capable of collecting the liquid flowing down through the vertical tubes in a hermetically sealed hopper and discharging the liquid with a discharging pump. Thereby, the liquid containing solid materials is heated or cooled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for aseptically heating or cooling raw low-temperature liquid or cooked high-temperature liquid containing relatively large solids, such as sauces and retort curry. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a liquid heat treatment apparatus for cooling after heat sterilization.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant has previously filed an application for an "indirect heating apparatus" (Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-26767) for indirectly heating and sterilizing a liquid, and has obtained a patent. This apparatus has a feature that it can efficiently and uniformly heat the liquid while stirring the liquid with a fixed stirrer installed in the heating pipe.

[0003]

However, in the case of a liquid in which solids such as meat pieces or ingredients are mixed, the liquid is caught by a fixed stirrer, closing the liquid path, or the liquid remains in the fixed stirrer part. There was a problem. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid heat treatment apparatus which has solved the above-mentioned problems.

[0004]

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a sealed tube for storing a liquid supplied by a liquid supply means and a multi-tube heat exchanger having a number of vertical tubes. A liquid cooling means for flowing down the liquid stored in the closed tank in the vertical pipe and cooling the liquid with cooling water flowing through the outer circumference thereof; and collecting the liquid flowing down in the vertical pipe of the liquid cooling means in a closed hopper. And a liquid discharging means for discharging by a discharge pump.

[0005] A second aspect of the present invention comprises a sealed tank for storing the liquid fed by the liquid feeding means, and a multi-tube heat exchanger having a number of vertical pipes. Liquid heating means for heating the liquid with a heating fluid flowing down the periphery thereof, and a multi-tube heat exchanger having a number of vertical pipes, and the liquid heated by the liquid heating means flows down in the vertical pipes. Liquid cooling means for cooling the liquid with cooling water flowing through the outer periphery thereof; and liquid discharging means for collecting the liquid flowing down the vertical pipe of the liquid cooling means into a closed hopper and discharging the liquid by a discharge pump. Features.

A third aspect of the present invention comprises a sealed tank for storing the liquid fed by the liquid feeding means, and a multi-tube heat exchanger having a number of vertical tubes. A liquid heating means for heating the liquid with a heating fluid flowing down the outer periphery thereof, and a liquid for flowing the liquid heated by the liquid heating means down into a number of vertical tubes and maintaining the liquid at the temperature of the heated liquid High-temperature holding means, a liquid cooling means comprising a multi-tube heat exchanger having a number of vertical pipes, the liquid cooling means for flowing down the liquid in the vertical pipes, and cooling the liquid with cooling water flowing through the outer periphery thereof, and And a liquid discharging means for collecting the liquid flowing down the vertical pipe in a closed hopper and discharging the collected liquid by a discharge pump.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a liquid containing solids such as meat pieces or vegetables, or a liquid having a high viscosity can be suitably treated, but ordinary liquids can also be treated.
Hereinafter, a liquid heat treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The liquid heat treatment apparatus includes a liquid feeding means A, a liquid stirring means B for storing and stirring the liquid in the closed tank 4, and a number of vertically installed vertical tubes 8d.
A multi-tube heat exchanger 8A having a liquid heating means C for heating the liquid, a liquid high temperature holding means D for flowing the liquid down into a number of vertically installed vertical pipes 12d, and a number of vertically installed liquids. Tube heat exchanger 14 having bent vertical tube 14a
A, 14B, 14C, and 14D are provided in four layers in a stacked state, and include a liquid cooling unit E for cooling the liquid, a liquid discharging unit F for collecting and discharging the liquid, and a controller G.

[0008] The liquid feeding means A can feed curry cooked in a cauldron (not shown) and other liquids having solids into the open hopper 1 to shut off the outside air and possibly to crush solids in the liquids. The liquid is supplied to the upper portion of the closed tank 4 of the liquid stirring means B through the pipe 3 by a feed pump 2 such as a rotary pump having no pump. The feed pump 2 supplies a predetermined flow rate of the liquid.

The liquid stirring means B includes a large-diameter cylinder 4a of the closed tank 4.
The ring flanges 4b, 4c are attached to the upper and lower ends of the upper ring flange, the upper ring flange 4b is covered with the end plate 4d, and is tightened and fixed with bolts and nuts 4e. The upper end plate 8b and the bolts and nuts 4f are tightened and fixed to form a honey-closed space. The stirring blade 6 is fixed to the lower end of the rotating shaft 5 whose upper end is pivotally supported at the center of the end plate 4d, and the output shaft of the motor 7 mounted on the upper surface of the end plate 4d and the upper end of the rotating shaft 5 are fixedly connected. ing. The stirring blade 6 is normally driven at a constant rotation speed. The stirring blade 6 stirs the liquid in the closed tank 8, prevents solidification of the liquid at the corners, uniformly distributes solids and the like in the liquid, and prevents solids from depositing on the end plate 8b, It serves to uniformly supply the liquid into the vertical pipe 8d of the liquid heating means C.

[0010] The liquid heating means C comprises a multi-tube heat exchanger 8A having a number of vertical tubes 8d. The multitubular heat exchanger 8A includes end plates 8b and 8c at upper and lower ends of a large-diameter cylinder 8a,
A large number of vertical pipes 8d whose upper and lower ends communicate with the closed vessel 4 and a vertical pipe 12d described later are inserted through small holes provided in the plates 8b and 8c. Then, in order to form a meandering space 8n meandering vertically in the space on the outer periphery of the vertical pipe 8d, a multistage partition plate 8e is horizontally installed on the inner wall of the large-diameter cylinder 8a, and provided on the multistage partition plate 8e. The vertical pipe 8d is inserted through the small hole. Further, an indirect heating medium inlet 8 is provided at each end of the large-diameter cylinder 8a at the lowermost part of the meandering space 8n and at the uppermost part of the space 8n.
f and an indirect heating medium outlet 8g are installed, and a temperature sensor 9 is attached downstream of the vertical pipe 8d. A drain 8h is provided below the large-diameter cylinder 8a. As the indirect heating medium used for the liquid heating means C, for example, hot water or steam is used. They are introduced into the closed vessel 8 from the line 10 via the control valve 11 and the indirect heating medium inlet 8f. The heating medium is a meandering space 8 of the large-diameter cylinder 8a.
n and discharged from the indirect heating medium outlet 8g. Thereby, the vertical pipe 8d is heated by the indirect heating medium, and the liquid flowing in the vertical pipe 8d is heated indirectly.

The controller G receives a signal from a temperature sensor 9 for detecting the temperature of the liquid at a downstream portion of the vertical pipe 8d, performs a comparison operation with a target value, adjusts a supply amount of the indirect heating medium by a control valve 11, and Control the temperature. The liquid heating means C allows the liquid containing a solid to pass through a number of vertical pipes 8d so that the liquid does not accumulate in the pipes 8d and flow down by its own weight, and the heated water flowing around the outer circumference of the vertical pipes 8d meanders. The flow is ascending and becomes a counterflow with respect to the liquid, so that high thermal efficiency is obtained.

The liquid high-temperature holding means D has end plates 12b and 12c attached to the upper and lower ends of the large-diameter cylinder 12a.
A large number of vertical tubes 12d whose upper and lower ends are opened are provided in small holes provided in 2c, the space around the vertical tube 12d in the large-diameter cylinder 12a is sealed, and heat exchange with the outside air is minimized. It becomes. The upper ends of the vertical pipes 12d of the liquid high-temperature holding means D communicate with the vertical pipes 8d of the liquid heating means C respectively as described above, and guide the liquid to continue flowing down. On the other hand, the lower end communicates with a vertical pipe 14a described later. Since the liquid flows down the vertical pipe 12d, there is no possibility that the liquid will accumulate in the pipe 12d. The temperature sensor 9 includes a vertical pipe 12d.
May be provided on the downstream side. The liquid high-temperature holding means D is formed by being combined with the upper end plate 12b and the lower end plate 8c of the liquid heating means C and being tightened and fixed by bolts and nuts 13 to control the temperature of the liquid flowing down the vertical pipe 12d. By keeping it, it plays a role of sterilization.

The liquid cooling means E includes, for example, four-stage multi-tube heat exchangers 14A to 14D having a number of vertical tubes 14a stacked and connected by bolts and nuts 15a to 15c. The uppermost tubular heat exchanger 14D is laminated below the liquid high temperature holding means D and connected to the means D by bolts and nuts 15c. Four-stage multi-tube heat exchanger 14A-
The plurality of vertical tubes 14a of the liquid high-temperature holding means D are in communication with each other, as described above.
2d, corresponding to each of them, and guiding the liquid to flow down continuously. On the other hand, the lower end of the vertical pipe 14a communicates with a sealed hopper 17 described later.

The multi-tube heat exchangers 14A to 14D have substantially the same structure as the multi-tube heat exchanger 8A of the liquid heating means C. That is, a meandering space 14m is formed by the partition plate 14n, and an indirect heating medium flows through the space 14m to indirectly heat the liquid. The cooling water outlet 14c of the first multi-tubular heat exchanger 14A located at the bottom and the cooling water inlet 14d of the second multi-tubular heat exchanger 14B thereover connect the first three-way valve 16a. Connected through. The cooling water outlet 14e of the second multitubular heat exchanger 14B and the cooling water inlet 14f of the third multitubular heat exchanger 14C thereon are connected via the second three-way valve 16b. ing. , And further, the cooling water outlet 14g of the third multitubular heat exchanger 14C
And the cooling water inlet 1 of the fourth multi-tube heat exchanger 14D thereon
4h is connected via a third three-way valve 16c.
Each of the multitubular heat exchangers 14A to 14D has a drain 14j.
have.

The liquid discharging means F collects the liquid flowing down the vertical pipe 14a of the first multi-tube heat exchanger 14A in the closed hopper 17, can shut off the upstream and downstream, and may crush solids in the liquid. A feeding pump 18 such as a rotary pump or the like is used to feed a filling and packaging machine (not shown) through a pipe 19. The closed hopper 17 is provided with a cooling jacket 20 that covers the conical surface as required.
The cooling jacket 20 has a cooling water inlet 20a at the bottom.
However, a cooling water outlet 20b is provided at the upper portion on the opposite side. The controller H receives a signal from the pressure sensor 21 that detects the pressure in the closed hopper 17 and performs a comparison operation with a target value pressure. When the signal is high, the flow rate of the feed pump 18 is increased. Control to reduce the flow rate. The ring flange 17a of the sealed hopper 17 and the end plate 14k of the multi-tube heat exchanger 14A are mounted on a gantry 26 and connected and fixed by bolts and nuts 15e.

The cooling water outlet 20b is connected by a pipe 22 to a cooling water inlet 14b of the first multi-tube heat exchanger 14A,
The cooling water inlet 20a is connected to a pump 23 and a cooling device 24 via a pipe 22, and the inlet of the cooling device 24 is
The first to third three-way valves 16 are returned by the return pipe 25.
a, 16b, 16c return ports 16d, 16e, 16
f, and the cooling water outlet 14i. The water cooled to, for example, about 10 ° C. by the cooling device 24 is supplied by the pump 23, flows into the cooling jacket 20, cools the liquid in the closed hopper 17, and then sequentially turns the first to fourth water. The liquid flows through the outer circumference of the vertical pipe 14a of the tubular heat exchangers 14A to 14D, and cools the liquid flowing down the vertical pipe 14a.

If the high-temperature holding time in the liquid high-temperature holding means D is too short, the fourth multitubular heat exchanger 14D can be used as the liquid high-temperature holding means. In this case, the third three-way valve 16c is operated and its return port 16f
And the cooling water outlet 14g of the third multi-tubular heat exchanger 14C, and the first to third multi-tubular heat exchangers 14A, 14A,
14B and 14C are connected to the first and second three-way valves 16a and 16b.
The cooling water is returned to the return pipe 25 on the way from the return port 16f of the third three-way valve 16c. When the multi-tube heat exchanger 14C is also used as the liquid high-temperature holding means, the second three-way valve 16b is also connected to the return port 1
6e and the cooling water outlet 14l of the second multi-tube heat exchanger 14B
To return the cooling water to the return pipe 25 from the return port 16e of the second three-way valve 16b. Further, when the multi-tubular heat exchanger 14B is also used as the liquid high-temperature holding means, the first three-way valve 16a also communicates the return port with the connection port of the first multi-tubular heat exchanger 14A, The cooling water is returned to the circulation path from the return port of the first three-way valve 16a. Therefore, this liquid cooling means E includes four stages of multi-tube heat exchangers in a stacked state, and uses the remaining heat exchangers 14B, 14C, and 14D excluding at least one stage from the lower side as the liquid high-temperature holding means. It is also possible to use it selectively.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the apparatus of the above-described embodiment in which the liquid is heated, the temperature is maintained for a certain period of time, sterilized, and then cooled. The present invention includes a device for cooling a liquid, in which case, heating water is not supplied to the liquid heating means C while the apparatus of FIG. It is assumed that the liquid high temperature holding means D is removed. The present invention includes a device that heats a liquid and then cools the liquid. In this case, it is assumed that the liquid high temperature holding means D is removed from the device of FIG. Further, in the present invention, the stirring blade 6 and the jacket 20 may be provided as needed. For example, when the jacket 20 is not installed, the pipe 22 and the cooling water inlet 14b are directly connected. The vertical tubes 8d, 12d, and 14a are preferably copper tubes having a high thermal conductivity ratio, but are preferably stainless steel tubes from the viewpoint of durability and rust prevention.

[0019]

The liquid in which solid matter such as meat pieces or ingredients is mixed is first stored in the open hopper 1 and then supplied to the closed tank 4 by the liquid supply pump 2. Then, while the liquid is stirred so as not to be separated from the solid, the liquid heating means C
Flows down through the vertical pipe 8d, and is heated and sterilized by the liquid heating means C. Thereafter, the liquid is held at a high temperature by the liquid high-temperature holding means D while flowing down the vertical pipes 12d and 14a, then cooled by the liquid cooling means E, and reaches the closed hopper 17. Thereafter, it is sent to the next step by the liquid supply pump 18. In the liquid heating means, the temperature of the liquid is controlled by a temperature controller G, and the pressure is controlled by a controller H, so that the liquid is always adjusted to fill the vertical tubes 8d, 12d, and 14a.

[0020]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to store a liquid and allow the liquid to flow down and cool down the liquid. Raw low-temperature liquid containing solids or cooked high-temperature liquid flows down the vertical pipe due to gravity action, which saves energy and does not cause a large amount of liquid to remain in the pipe, which is more economical than conventional equipment. . According to the second aspect, the liquid is stored and allowed to flow down, and during the flow, the liquid can be heated and then cooled. In particular, raw liquid containing relatively large solids, such as sauce and retort curry, can be used. Since the low-temperature liquid or the cooked high-temperature liquid flows down the vertical pipe by the action of gravity, energy is saved, and there is no fear that a large amount of liquid remains in the pipe, which is more economical than the conventional apparatus. Furthermore, according to the third aspect, the liquid is stored and allowed to flow, and during the flow, the liquid can be heated, maintained at a certain temperature for a certain period of time, sterilized, and then cooled, particularly in the case of sauce with sauce and retort curry. The raw low-temperature liquid or cooked high-temperature liquid containing a relatively large solid material flows down the vertical pipe due to the gravity action, which saves energy and there is no fear that a large amount of liquid remains in the pipe. It is economical. Furthermore, since nothing is installed in the vertical pipe,
After the work is completed, the entire amount of liquid can be discharged, and then the vertical pipe can be cleaned only by sending water.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a liquid heat treatment apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front sectional view of a liquid heating unit, a liquid heating unit, and a liquid high-temperature holding unit in the liquid heat treatment apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front sectional view of a liquid cooling unit and a liquid cooling unit in the liquid heat treatment apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A liquid feeding means B liquid stirring means C liquid heating means D liquid high temperature holding means E liquid cooling means F liquid discharging means 4 closed vessel 6 stirring blade 8d vertical pipe of liquid heating means 12d vertical pipe of high temperature liquid holding means 14a liquid cooling Vertical pipe of means 17 Sealed hopper 18 Discharge pump

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A closed vessel for storing a liquid fed by a liquid feeding means, and a multi-tube heat exchanger having a number of vertical tubes, wherein the liquid stored in the closed vessel flows down in the vertical pipes. Liquid cooling means for cooling the liquid with cooling water flowing through the outer periphery thereof; and liquid discharging means for collecting the liquid flowing down the vertical pipe of the liquid cooling means into a closed hopper and discharging the liquid by a discharge pump. Characteristic liquid heat treatment equipment. 2. A closed tube for storing a liquid fed by a liquid feeding means, and a multi-tube heat exchanger having a number of vertical tubes, wherein the liquid stored in the closed tank flows down in the vertical tubes. A liquid heating means for heating the liquid with a heating fluid flowing through the outer periphery thereof, and a multi-tube heat exchanger having a number of vertical pipes, the liquid heated by the liquid heating means flows down in the vertical pipes, and the outer circumference is formed. Liquid cooling means for cooling the liquid with flowing cooling water, and liquid discharging means for collecting the liquid flowing down the vertical pipe of the liquid cooling means into a closed hopper and discharging the liquid by a discharge pump. Liquid heat treatment equipment. 3. A closed tube for storing a liquid fed by a liquid feeding means, and a multi-tube heat exchanger having a number of vertical tubes, wherein the liquid stored in the closed tank flows down in the vertical tubes. A liquid heating means for heating the liquid with a heating fluid flowing through the outer periphery thereof; and a liquid high-temperature holding means for flowing the liquid heated by the liquid heating means into a number of vertical pipes and holding the liquid at the temperature of the heated liquid. A liquid cooling means comprising a multi-tube heat exchanger having a number of vertical pipes, in which the liquid flows down in the vertical pipes and cools the liquid with cooling water flowing through the outer periphery thereof, and a vertical pipe of the liquid cooling means. A liquid discharging means for collecting the flowing liquid in a closed hopper and discharging the liquid by a discharging pump. 4. The liquid cooling means is provided with two or more stages of multi-tube heat exchangers in a stacked state, and the remaining liquid cooling means excluding at least the first liquid cooling means from the lower side is maintained at the liquid high temperature. The liquid heat treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus can be selectively used as a means.