JPS63145398A - Apparatus for collecting plant essential oil - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a plant essential oil collection device for separating and collecting essential oil components from plant materials such as coniferous trees, and in particular, it relates to a plant essential oil collection device that separates and collects essential oil components from plant materials such as coniferous trees. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a plant essential oil collection device that collects essential oil components by distilling them together with a filling liquid such as alcohol.

(Prior Art) Plant essential oils are widely used as raw materials for the chemical industry as well as for fragrances, medicines, paints, etc. In general, such plant essential oils are refined from parts such as branches, leaves, flowers, and wood of essential oil plants such as mint.

By the way, in Japan, we are approaching a time when artificial forests need to be thinned, and there is a growing need for measures to deal with the thinned wood produced by the thinning. Many of these thinned timbers and forest residues discarded during logging contain large amounts of essential oil components.
As shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 5434, etc., a plant essential oil collection device that can collect plant essential oil from such unused materials has been proposed.

The plant essential oil collection device is designed to distill plant raw materials together with filled water. Shredded plant materials are put into the distillation pot.

The still is filled with water and heated by a heating furnace located below the still. The vapor containing the evaporated essential oil components is led to a cooler through a steam pipe connected to the top of the still, where it is cooled and liquefied. The liquefied liquid is then led to an oil-water separation tank, where the essential oil is separated and taken out.

In such a plant essential oil extraction device, it is necessary to discharge the plant material from the distillation pot after essential oil component extraction and to introduce new plant material into the distillation pot quite frequently.

Conventionally, such inputting or discharging of plant materials has been carried out by taking the plant materials in and out of a mesh basket through an opening of the distillation pot that is opened and closed by a door.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such a device where the door is opened to input and discharge plant materials, when the door is opened, high-temperature steam may come out from the distillation pot. Inputting plant materials/
Each time it is discharged, it is necessary to reduce the heating power of the heating furnace or, in some cases, to completely extinguish the fire. Therefore, a problem arises in that thermal efficiency is reduced.

In addition, the filling liquid that is distilled together with plant materials is not limited to water; other liquids such as alcohol are often used, but in such cases, when the door is opened, harmful exhaust gas enters the atmosphere. There is also the problem that the work environment deteriorates due to the dissipation.

Furthermore, the work of opening and closing the door to input and discharge plant materials must be done manually, which not only requires a lot of manpower but also limits the height of the still due to the working posture. Therefore, a large installation area is required.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and its purpose is to enable operations to input and discharge plant materials into and out of a distillation kettle without opening and closing the door. .

Another object of the invention is to enable the loading and unloading of wood by simple operations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a plant essential oil extracting device with high thermal efficiency.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve this objective, the present invention provides a raw material storage tank outside the 711 storage strainer for mixing and storing shredded plant raw materials and filling liquid. A suspension pump capable of pumping a suspension containing solids is used to pump the mixture of the plant material and the filling liquid to the still via a supply pipe.

Further, the plant material in the distillation pot after essential oil extraction is led together with the filling liquid to an external solid-liquid separator via a discharge pipe by a similar suspension pump. In the solid-liquid separator, solids in the suspension recovered from the still are separated and removed, and the separated filling liquid is led to the raw material storage tank.

(Function) With this configuration, the plant material can be introduced into the distillation pot simply by putting it into the external material storage tank and operating the suspension pump. Moreover, the plant material in the distillation pot is discharged to the outside simply by operating the suspension pump, and is separated by the solid-liquid separator.

Therefore, it is no longer necessary to open and close the door of the steamer to input and discharge plant materials, improving the working environment and making the work easier.

Further, the high-temperature filling liquid discharged from the still together with the plant material is separated by a solid-liquid separator and then returned to the still at high temperature together with new plant material. Therefore, heat loss is reduced and thermal efficiency is improved.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

In the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a plant essential oil extraction apparatus according to the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a front view thereof and FIG. 2 being a side view thereof.

As is clear from these figures, the spools 1 to 1 are cylindrical and are placed horizontally on a heating furnace 2 that serves as a heating device. The heating furnace 2 has a vertical rectangular cylindrical furnace wall, and a rotor 3 is provided inside the furnace wall. Also, on the wall of the furnace.

Smoke stack 4. A fire pit, an ash outlet (not shown), etc. are provided.

A steam pipe 5 is connected to the upper part of the distillation pot 1 to lead out the steam generated in the distillation pot 1.

This steam pipe 5 is inclined downward, and the other end is connected to a cooler 6. In this way, the extracted steam is cooled and liquefied by the cooler 6. The liquefied liquid is then led to an oil-water separation tank 7. At the top of this separation tank 7, an essential oil outlet 9 equipped with a cock 8 is provided. In addition, there is residual liquid at the bottom of the separation tank 7.

That is, a discharge pipe 11 for guiding the separated water to the tank 10 is connected to the separated water receiver.

A separated water return pipe 12 is connected to the lower part of the tank 10 of the separated water receiver. The other end of this return pipe 12 is connected to the distillation pot 1. And this forwarding er! A pump 13 and an on-off valve 14 are provided in the middle of the valve 12 . thus,
Separated water is returned to the distillation pot 1 by a pump 13. A portion of the return pipe 12 is made to surround the high portion of the steam pipe 5, thereby making it possible for the return pipe 12 to
Heat exchange is performed between the water inside the steam pipe 5 and the steam inside the steam pipe 5. That is, a heat exchanger 15 is configured between the one-time feed pipe 12 and the steam pipe 5.

A raw material processing column 16 is installed outside the distillation pot 1. A cage-shaped solid-liquid separator 17 whose bottom surface is covered with a wire mesh is provided at the top of the treatment tower 16 . This solid-liquid separator 17 can be drawn out from the treatment tower 16. The raw material processing tower 16 also includes a solid-liquid separator 17.
A raw material storage tank 18 is provided below. A raw material inlet 19 for inputting plant raw materials is provided at the upper part of this raw material storage tank 18. This raw material input port 19 is
It is opened and closed by opening and closing 420.

The distillation pot 1 and the raw material processing column 16 are connected to a pair of pipes 21 and 22.
They are made to communicate with each other. One end of one of the pipe lines 21 opens above the distillation pot 1, and the other end opens above the solid-liquid separator 17. In addition, one end of the other pipe line 22 opens to the lower part of the distillation pot 1, and the other end opens to the lower part of the raw material storage tank 18. These pipe lines 21 and 22 are connected to each other by a common pipe 23 at an intermediate portion.

Opening/closing valves 24, 25; 26 are provided on both sides of the connection portion of the pipe lines 21, 22 with the common pipe 23, respectively.

27 are provided. Among these on-off valves 24 to 27, a pair located diagonally, that is, on-off valves 24 and 27
The on-off valves 25 and 26 are opened and closed at the same time. In this way, the on-off valve 2 of one pipe line 21
4 side, the common pipe 23, and the opening/closing valve 27 side part of the other pipe line 22 connect the upper part of the distillation pot 1 and the raw material storage tank 1.
A supply pipe 28 is configured to connect the lower part of the pipe line 2 to the lower part of the pipe line 2.
A discharge pipe 29 connecting the lower part of the distillation pot 1 and the upper part of the solid-liquid separator 17 is constituted by the part of the first on-off valve 25 side, the common pipe 23, and the part of the other pipe line 22 on the on-off valve 26 side. ing.

In the middle of the common pipe 23, a suspension pump 30 such as a bladeless pump or a paddle pump is provided which can pump a liquid containing solids. This pump 3
0 is intended to force-feed the suspension in one direction from the pipe line 22 side to the pipe line 21 side.

One end surface of the still 1 can be opened and closed by a door 31 for cleaning or inspecting the inside.

In addition, a water supply pipe 33. Drain valve 34. Piping or valves such as an overflow valve 35 and a safety valve 36, and instruments such as a thermometer and a water level gauge are provided.

Next, the operation of the plant essential oil collecting device configured as described above will be explained.

As a plant material, for example, thinned coniferous wood.

Alternatively, branches, leaves, etc. of clear-cut wood shredded into pieces of about 0.1 to 3 cm+ are used. The plant raw material is charged into the raw material storage tank 18 from the raw material input port 19 of the raw material processing tower 16 . At this time, the raw material storage Jfi 18 is also filled with water as a filling liquid. As a result, the plant material put into the material storage tank 18 is mixed with the water and becomes a suspension.

In this state ff, the on-off valves 24.27 and overflow valve 35 are opened, and the on-off valves 25.26 and drain valve 34 are closed. Then, the suspension pump 30 is activated. Then, the mixture of plant materials and water in the raw material storage tank 18 is sucked and fed under pressure to the distillation pot 1 through the supply pipe 28. Water is further supplied into the distillation pot l from a water supply pipe 33. distillation pot l
When the predetermined amount of plant material and water are filled into the pump 30
The on-off valves 24 and 27, the water supply valve 32, and the overflow valve 35 are all closed.

When the preparations are completed in this way, fuel such as firewood is burned on the rosdol 3 in the heating furnace 2 to heat the distillation pot 1. Then, the essential oil contained in the plant material evaporates together with the filling water, and the steam is led out through the steam pipe 5. Then, the vapor is cooled by the cooler 6 and liquefied to become a liquid mixture of plant essential oil and water. This liquid mixture is separated into essential oil and water in the separation tank 7 due to the difference in specific gravity. The separated water accumulated in the lower part of the separation tank 7 is then led to the tank 10 and returned to the distillation pot 1 through the return pipe 12 by the pump 13.

At this time, the water returned to the distillation pot 1 is heated by the steam in the steam pipe 5 in the heat exchanger 15 provided between the return pipe 12 and the steam pipe 5. Therefore, the cooled water is not returned to the distillation pot 1 as it is, and heat loss due to the supply of water is reduced. On the other hand, the steam in the steam pipe 5 is cooled in the heat exchanger 15. Therefore, in subsequent cycles, the steam led out through the steam pipe 5 is first cooled by the heat exchanger 15, a portion of which is condensed, and then further cooled by the cooler 6. In other words, two coolers are provided, and the steam is completely liquefied.

Then, the distillation pot 1 is replenished with water corresponding to the amount of water reduced by evaporation. Therefore, the water level in the distillation pot 1 is always kept almost constant.
When a certain amount of vegetable essential oil has accumulated inside, the cock 8 is opened and the essential oil is taken out from the essential oil outlet 9. At that time, if the water level in the still pot 1 drops, that amount of water is replenished from the water supply pipe 33. . Only a small amount is required.

In this way, the residual liquid from which the essential oil has been separated in the separation tank 7, that is, the separated water, is returned to the distillation pot 1.

Then, it is distilled again in a 4-distillation kettle. Therefore, most of the plant essential oil is recovered, and the yield is extremely high.

After completing the distillation for a predetermined period of time, the on-off valves 25 and 26 and the overflow valve 35 are opened. And suspension pump 30
Activate. Then, the plant material from which the essential oil has been extracted in the distillation pot 1 is sucked together with the filled water, and is pumped to the solid-liquid separator 17 through the discharge pipe 29.

In the solid-liquid separator 17, the solid plant material is separated by being blocked by a wire mesh at the bottom, and the filled water falls and is collected in the raw material storage tank 18 below. And the filling water is
It is mixed with new plant material put into the raw material storage tank 18.

In this way, when the plant material and the filled water in the still pot 1 are discharged, the on-off valves 25 and 26 are closed again, and the on-off valves 24 and 27 are closed again.
is opened, whereby the mixture of fresh plant material and water in the raw material storage tank 18 is pumped into the still 1 . Therefore,
The pump 30 is stopped, and the on-off valves 24, 27 and overflow valve 35 are closed. The next distillation cycle is started in still pot 1.

In this way, the plant material in the distillation pot 1 is exchanged. Since the replacement is completed in a short time by the pump 30, there is no need to reduce the thermal power of the heating furnace 2 during that time.
In addition, the replacement work requires only the activation/stopping of the pump 30 and the opening/closing of each valve, which can significantly save labor. Furthermore, it is easy to automate this process.

The high-temperature filling water discharged from the distillation pot 1 together with the plant material is mixed with new plant material and returned to the distillation pot 1 at high temperature within a short period of time. Therefore, its heat loss is also reduced.

New plant materials can be put into the raw material storage tank 18 outside the distillation pot 1, and once the plant materials after essential oil extraction have accumulated to some extent in the solid-liquid separator 17 outside the distillation pot 1. The solid-liquid separator 17 can be pulled out from the raw material processing tower 16 and disposed of. Therefore, there is no need to open the door 31 of the distillation pot 1 for inputting and discharging the plant raw material.

As a result, deterioration of the working environment due to the ejection of steam in the distillation pot 1 is prevented, and heat radiation due to opening of the door 31 is also prevented.

In this way, a plant essential oil extraction device with high thermal efficiency can be obtained.

Inputting the plant material into the raw material storage tank 18 and discarding the plant material from the solid-liquid separator 17 can be performed regardless of the timing of replacing the plant material in the distillation pot 1. Therefore, the operation can be carried out at room temperature after the temperature of the raw material processing tower 16 has sufficiently decreased.

Furthermore, since the input and discharge of plant materials are performed in the raw material processing tower 16, the raw material processing tower 16 can be set at a height that is easy to work with, and the distillation pot 1 can be set at any height. You will be able to do this. That is, it is also possible to install the distillation pot 1 vertically.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an embodiment of the plant essential oil extraction apparatus according to the present invention in which the distillation pot is installed vertically.

In this embodiment, the basic structure is exactly the same as that shown in FIG. 1.2, so corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and their explanation will be omitted.

As is clear from FIG. 3, the cylindrical distillation pot 1 is placed vertically, with its lower end inserted into a heating furnace 2 having a vertical cylindrical furnace wall. A door 31 for opening and closing the pot 1 is provided on its upper end surface.

With this configuration, the installation area of the entire device can be reduced. Also, distillation pot 1
Since convection is effectively generated inside the casing, thermal efficiency is further improved.

Since the door 31 of the distillation pot 1 is opened and closed only when cleaning or inspecting the inside, there is no particular problem even if it is installed at a high position.

The solid-liquid separator 17 in the raw material processing tower 16 can be installed sufficiently low by extending the open end of the discharge pipe 29 downward.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the supply pipe 28 and the discharge pipe 29
share a common pipe 23, and a pump 30 is installed in the common pipe 23.
However, the supply pipe 28 and the discharge pipe 29 may be made independent, and each may be provided with a suspension pump. If you do that, you will need two pumps, but the on-off valve 24
~27 can be reduced. Furthermore, there is no possibility that the plant material from which the essential oil has been extracted is mixed with the new plant material.

Further, in the above embodiment, water is used as the filling liquid to be distilled together with the plant material, but the same structure can be used when alcohol or the like is used as the filling liquid.

Furthermore, although both the solid-liquid separator 17 and the raw material storage tank 18 are provided in the raw material processing tower 16, they are installed separately, and the filling liquid separated by the solid-liquid separator 17 is transferred to an appropriate pipe. The material may be guided to the raw material storage tank 18 by a channel.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a distillation pot, a raw material storage tank and a solid-liquid separator provided outside the distillation pot are connected to each other by a supply pipe and a discharge pipe, respectively. The plant material and filling liquid in the raw material storage tank are connected to the distillation tank, and the plant material and filling liquid in the distillation tank are pumped to the solid-liquid separator using a suspension pump. This makes it possible to exchange plant materials while keeping the still door closed. Therefore, the steam in the grass pot does not blow out and come into contact with the worker or deteriorate the working environment, and heat dissipation due to opening of the door is prevented.

Moreover, since there is no need to lower the heating temperature of the heating device when inputting and discharging plant materials, continuous operation becomes possible.

Moreover, the filling liquid collected from the still is separated by a solid-liquid separator and then mixed with new plant materials and returned to the still, so the filling liquid is introduced into the still at a high temperature. will be done.

Therefore, this plant essential oil extraction device has extremely high thermal efficiency.

Inputting and discharging the plant material into the distillation pot is performed only by activating and stopping the suspension pump and opening and closing several valves, which simplifies the operation.

Furthermore, since the frequency of opening and closing of the door of the 78 distiller is reduced, it becomes possible to use a vertical still with the door provided at the top, and the installation footprint can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a plant essential oil extraction device according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a side view of the plant essential oil extraction device, Figure 3 is
FIG. 3 is a front view showing another embodiment of the plant essential oil extraction device H according to the present invention. l... Distillation pot 2... Heating furnace (heating device) 5... Steam A tube 6... Cooler 7...
・Separation tank 17...Solid-liquid separator 18...
Raw material storage tank 19... Raw material input port 28... Supply pipe 29... Discharge pipe 30... Suspension pump 31... Door Fig. 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A distillation pot into which shredded plant materials and a filling liquid are introduced and heated by a heating device, a steam pipe connected to the upper part of the distillation pot, and steam led out through the steam pipe. In a plant essential oil collecting apparatus equipped with a cooler for cooling and liquefying the plant essential oil, and a separation tank for separating the plant essential oil from the liquid liquefied by the cooler; It has a solid-liquid separator capable of separating and removing solids in a suspension of raw materials and filling liquid, and a raw material input port for inputting new shredded plant materials, and the plant materials and the solid-liquid A raw material storage tank for mixing and storing the filling liquid separated by the separator is provided, and these raw material storage tanks and the solid-liquid separator are connected to the distillation pot by a supply pipe and a discharge pipe, respectively. A plant essential oil collection device comprising a suspension pump capable of pumping the mixture of the plant material and the filling liquid through a pipe and a discharge pipe.