US2691665A - Method and apparatus for deodorizing oils - Google Patents

Description

A. E. BAILEY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEODORIZING OILS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 12, 1954 Filed Oct. 16, 1948 Suventor WRIT/hi7 Oct. 12, 1954 A. E. BAILEY 2,691,665

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEODORIZING OILS Filed Oct. 16, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ISnuentor Oct. 12, 1954 A. E. BAILEY 2,691,655

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEODORIZING OILS Filed Oct. 16, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Snnentor Oct. 12, 1954 A. E. BAILEY 2,691,665

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEODORIZING OILS Filed Oct. 16, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I l L l l l I I l i l Inventor v attorney 5 Patented Oct. 12, 1954 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEODIORIZING OILS Alton E. Bailey, Louisville, Ky., assignor, by mesne assignments, to National Cylinder Gas Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application October 16, 1948, Serial No. 54,967 19 Claims. (01. 260-428) This invention relates to treatment of fatty oils and fats. More specifically, the invention is concerned with novel equipment and also with a novel method for effecting deodorization of fatty oils and fats.

The invention is of especial importance in connection with the treatment of oils and fats to be employed in edible food products. It is highly desirable in the case of such edible products that the oil or fat employed be substantially free of objectionable odors.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a general object or purpose of the invention to increase the effectiveness of deodorization and thereby improve the quality of oils and fats to be employed in food products.

The invention is applicable to. quite a wide variety of oils and fats, for instance cotton seed oil, soya bean oil, and lard. Various of such materials are commonly used in the preparation of food products such as salad dressing, margarine, etc.

Fatty oils and fats behave similarly with respect to deodorization treatment. The fats and oils are esters having certain chemical similarities which need not be considered in detail herein and, moreover, the fats, though more or lesssolid at room temperature are oily liquids at the temperatures employed for deodorization. For convem'ence all such materials are herein referred to as oils or fatty oils.

It is well known that various of these oils in their more or less crude state contain small percentages of certain constituents which impart to the oil an objectionable odor; and a number of processes have been developed for effecting deodorization of such oils.

In the deodorization techniques already known, it has been common to utilize heat, reduced pressure and stripping steam. In a typical prior treatment a batch of oil is heated in a simple tank having a vacuum connection at the top, while introducing stripping steam into the body of the oil.

An important object of the present invention is to greatly increase the efficiency of the stripping action of the steam, as compared with prior techniques.

A further object of the invention is to increase the efliciency of the treatment with reference to drawing the vacuum desirably established in the treament equipment.

A further object of the invention relates to improvements in the structure of deodorization equipment.

The above and many other objects and advantages can best be understood following a description of the equipment used and further reference is therefore made herebelow to such objects and advantages.

The drawings illustrate a preferred form of equipment and in these drawings Figure 1 is a schematic View of an oil deodorization system constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a treatment column incorporating improvements of the invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of certain baffles used in association with oil treatment trays according to the invention, this view being taken as indicated by the line 33 on Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken as indicated by the line 4-4 on Figure 3, illustrating the upper portion of an oil treatment tray and. baffles associated therewith;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through a part of the shell of the treatment column shown in Figure 2, showing certain parts in plan outline; and

Figure v6 is a fragmentary view taken as indicated by the line 66 on Figure 5.

In accordance with the present invention, the oil to be treated is successively delivered to a series of treatment zones defined by superimposed trays mounted within the treatment column. A given batch of oil is retained in each treatment zonefor a predetermined time interval and is thereafter delivered to the next treatment zone where it is again retained for the same time interval. Following the treatment in the second zone the batch is delivered to a third treatment zone, and so forth, throughout the series. In addition, as soon as one batch has been discharged from the first treatment zone, a new batch is introduced into the first zone, so that all zones of treatment are in concurrent operation,

the batch in each zone being of the same size and being treated for the same period of time. In the preferred form of equipment, as fully described herebelow, there are five treatment zones through which each batch of oil is delivered, the respective treatments effected in each of these five zones being: first, heating of the oil to a temperature below effective deodorization temperature, with accompanying deaeration of the oil; second, further heating of the oil to effective deodorization temperature; third, deodorization by steam stripping; fourth, deodorization by steam stripping; and fifth, cooling.

With the foregoing brief description in mind, attention is now directed to the schematic view of Figure 1. As there seen oil is delivered from a supply A to a measuring tank B and from there to the several zones of treatment within the treatment column C. From the bottom of the column the oil is discharged-into a drop tank-or storage vessel D. If desired, the oil may thenbe delivered to a point of use through a filter E.

Reduced pressure is maintained within the col-- umn C by means of a steam jet ejector System15 having a connection F with the columnC near the top thereof. The ejector system for pressure reduction within the column C may be of: known type and the details thereof need not be considered herein.

The regions of the several treatment zones within the column C are indicated by the brackets numbered i to 5 inclusive, in Figure 1. Stripping steam is adapted to be introduced into each of the treatment zones from asteam supplyconnection 6 having branches 1, 8, 9, l and. eX-- tended to perforated steam inlet pipes l2," I3, 14,. I and iii. Zone I has-heatercoils ll thereinv adapted to be heated by circulation ofsteam therethrough. Similarly,-each of zones 2 and l is provided with'heater coils; as shown at andv 2i. These-heater coils are-adapted to the circulation of a heat exchange medium, for instance the vapor of a eutectic mixture of diplienyl and diplienyl oxide. This heating vapor may be supplied fromtheboiler G through a supply con.- nection 22 having branches 23 and 26,: the medium being returned to the boiler through pipes 25 and 26 and the return line 21.

Zone 5 is providedwith a cooling coil 28 through which a cooling medium, such as water, may be. circulated.

Condensate may bedrained'from the shell of columnC through a valve drainage connection 3 l. delivering into a drainage tank 32.

Figures 2 to 5 illustrate various features of construction of the column C shown in Figure 1. This column comprises ashell 33 preferably of cylindricalform arranged with its axis vertically disposed. The column is closed at the top by'a head member 34 and at the bottom the column. has a downwardly dished closure-wall 35 with which the drainage pipe 3! is associated.

The'several zones of treatment withinthe column are defined by vertically superimposed traysindicated by arrows numbered I tot-inclusive,- corresponding to the numbering of the zones in Figure 1. These trays are all of similar construc-. tion and a full detailed description of each one will therefore-be unnecessary. Consider for ex-- ample the top tray, which appears in Figures-2, 3 and 4. This trayhas abottom wall 36 and four upright side walls 31, thereby forming a square tray as clearly appears in Figure 3." The sidewalls of this trayare spaced appreciably from the shell wall and the angled corners thereof project ,to. points closely adjacent to theshellwall to receive support from bracketssuch asindicated in Figure 5 at 38.

Toward the topof the tray a system of baffles is provided, thesebeing best shown in Figures 3 and4. As there seena multiplicity of baffle platesl8 and i9 are assembled inthe pattern of open squares nested one within another, beinginterconnected in spaced relationship by spaced angle pieces 29,, to provide a tortuous pathfor the.es cape of vapors from thetray. The .bafile plates. are further braced bystraps 39 secured to .the side walls of the tray and also to the center piece a to which the innermost of the baflie plates Illa are secured. The outermost of the plates I8 are connected with the side walls of the tray by plates 19a. Plates I812 at the side walls of the tray complete the bafiie system. In addition to the function of providing a tortuous path for escape of vapors from. the tray,the bafiie system further constitutes an efiective means for breaking up or splattering the oil which is thrown upwardly against the bafiies in the manner described herebelow, while at the same time preventing escape of oil particles from the tray. The splattering of the oil is of importance in enhancing the stripping emciency of the steam, as will further appear.

Above the baffle system is a peaked hood 3 9 carryingv a depending square skirt 40 projectin downto a level somewhat below the top edges of the tray walls 37 and cooperating therewith and also with the baflle plates [8b to define a tortuous exit passage for vapors leaving the tray into-:the shell spacesurrounding the trays:. In eifect, the: plates l8b (which project inwardly fromthesidee walls of the tray) form a deflector ringunderlying the skirt 40, which depends from thehood.39.-; Drainage ports are preferably provided through the plates lflb near-the outer edges thereof for: returnof small amounts of oil which. may work. their way to the region above the plates I811. The hood 39 is supported bystraps M and. the edges of the hood advantageously project somewhat beyond the side-walls of the tray so that any condensate which may drip from the edge of the hood will be delivered into the-shell space, rather than-into the interior of the tray.

A depressed corner portion 42 is provided at one top corner of each tray, being walled off from the baffle system, and this portion is aperturedto pass, the oil-inlet pipes for the several trays. Thus, for the toptraythe oil inlet pipe 43 (receiv-- ing oil from the measuring tank B) extends into the toptray through the peaked hood 39 and the corner portion 42; A typical batch of oil will be ofa size to fill the tray to the level indicated at L;

A drop or, discharge valve 46 communicateswith the bottom of tray 1 and provides for delivery oi the batchof ,oil therefrom downwardlyinto tray 2 through the delivery pipe 47; Trays 2 to 5 inclusive are of essentially the same construction as that fully described above, eachtray having bottom and side walls, hood andbaflle's, as is shown in Figure 2.. Delivery of oil from'tray 2.to tray 3 is effected by valve and discharge pipe 49. Valve 50 and pipe 51 serve to deliveroil from tray 3 to -tray.4. Oil isdelivered from tray 4 to tray 5 by valve '52 and discharge pipe- 53. At the bottom of tray 5 a discharge valve '54" is provided which controls the flow into the final discharge pipe 55 extending downwardly througha connection 56 passing through the bottom '35 of the shell. Pipe 55 serves to discharge the oil from tray 5 into the drop tank D (see Figure 1). Connection 56 with the drop tank provides for-communication between the .vacuum space of the shell and the drop tank Dto thereby efiect'reduction of pressure in the drop tank.

Shell C'is provided with a'series'ofmanholes-'- each of which is located-adjacent one -of-*the* valves 46,18; 50,"52:and 54. The manholes are provided with covers 51, 58 5 9, Hand H which- ,1 between the vertically superimposed trays.

Further features of the tray arrangement inthe shell and of the arrangement of the drop valves between trays is shown in Figures and 6. The general arrangement of parts is similar so that not all of them need be described. The showing of Figure 5 illustrates in plan the top of tray 2 and the drop valve 46 between tray 1 and tray 2. This figure shows that an appreciable space is provided within the shell around the trays. Figures 5 and 6 further show drop valve operating mechanism including flexibly jointed shafting 44 penetrating the shell wall 33 and connected with a valve operating motor 45 which may be mounted on the outside of the shell.

In a typical installation and operation thereof each tray has an oil capacity of 2500 pounds. A measured 2500 pound batch of oil, for instance cotton seed oil, is introduced from the measuring tank B into tray I. The batch is held in tray I for a period of one-half hour, during which time it is heated by the coils 11 and is subjected'to the stripping action of steam introduced through the perforated pipe l2. The steam ejector is of course placed in operation prior to introduction of any oil into the column and a low pressure is established within the column, for instance a pressure of 6 mm. Hg. Each tray is placed in communication with the vacuum zone ofthe shell through the baffled passages at the top, so that the reduced pressure is effective with reference to the interior of all trays.

In the typical treatment, the temperature is raised in tray l to about 320 F. Incidental to this increase in the temperature of the oil part way to effective deodorization temperature, the oil is deaerated, the air passing off with the stripping steam'into the vacuum zone in the shell and finally out through the vacuum connection F. At the conclusion of the half-hour treatment in tray l, the batch of oil is delivered to tray 2 and is retained in tray 2 for an additional onehalf hour period during which time it is subjected to the action of stripping steam, and the temperature is raised by the heater coil 20 to an appropriate value for deod'crization, for instance 460 F. During this second one-half hour period, another batch is introduced into tray l and is treated as above described to increase the temperature of the oil to a point below effective 'deodorization temperature and to effect deaeration.

Following the second one-half hour period the batch in tray 2 is delivered to tray 3 and is held therein for a third treatment period of one-half hour, during which time deodorization is effected under the infiuence of stripping steam introduced through the perforated pipe l4. The drop valves are then again operated to effect delivery of the batch from tray 3 to tray 4, and to advance the batches in trays I and 2. In tray 4 the batch is retained for a fourth period of one-half hour, during which time it is further heated by the heater coil 2| so as to maintain this batch at an effective deodorization temperature. Stripping steam is also here introduced through the perforated pipe l5, and further deodorization takes place.

At the conclusion of the fourth one-half hour period the drop valves are operated to deliver the batch from tray 4 to tray 5, and also to advance the following batches. In tray 5 the batch is again retained for a period of one-half hour during which time it is subjected to the action of stripping steam introduced through pipes l6 and also the cooling action of the cooler coil 28. This cooling coil is adapted to drop the temperature of the oil to about F., so that upon discharge of the oil following the fifth one-half hour treat.- ment period, the oil is at a temperature well below that at which any appreciable oxidation would occur. Upon discharge of the batch from tray 5 it mingles with the oil in the tank D and will be pumped therefrom to the filter E.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the sequence of treatments provided constitutes in ef feet a semi-continuous treatment, all phases of which are occurring concurrently, each batch of the oil being sequentially advanced through each treatment zone.

While the foregoing constitutes the description of the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that various other arrangements of thetrays may be used. Ordinarily it will be advantageous to employ two heating trays as described above, wherein the oil is heated with steam and thereafter with diphenyl and diphenyl oxide vapor, or other high temperature heating medium, as thereby the size and cost of the boiler for high temperature heatin is minimized. However, alternatively, heating to effective deodoriz- 'ing temperature may be effected wholly by means of the high temperature medium, without the use of heating steam, in one or more heating trays. Similarly, in some cases one of the deodorizing trays may be eliminated, although ordinarily optimum dimensions in the apparatus will be achieved with two trays. In the five-tray arrangement, the heater coils in tray 4 may not al- Ways be required, or, in some cases, it may be advantageous to provide heating coils in both trays 3 and 4. The preferred arrangement of heating coils in trays 3 and 4 will be dictated primarily by the temperatures required for different portions of the deodorization period;

The distribution of stripping steam to the different trays is not critical and good results may be obtained with a wide variety of steaming rates, provided that sufiicient steam is injected into the deodorizing trays to provide the required removal of volatile odoriferous materials. However, for reasons of economy, it is preferable to inject the greater part of the total stripping steam into the deodorizing trays, providing the heating and cooling trays with only enough stripping steam to effectively deaerate the fresh oil and to agitate the oil sufiiciently to give good heat transfer from the heating or cooling coils. For example, in the typical apparatus described in the foregoing, with a capacity of 5000 pounds of oil per hour, '75 pounds per hour of stripping steam may be injected into each of the deodorizing trays 3 and 4, as compared with 25 pounds per hour injected into each of the heating trays l and 2 and the cooling tray 5.

It will be understood that the temperatures employed in the several stages of treatment'will necessarily vary according to the particular oil being treated and according to other factors, such as the degree of deodorization treatment necessary to substantially eliminate objectionable odors.

In considering various of the objects and advantages of the system as above described, attention is first called to the fact that vaporization or stripping efficiency is a factor of prime importance in the operation of any deodorization equipment or process. When the stripping steam isintroduced into a body of oil under reduced pressure the steam bubbles expand and apparently absorb the constituents or odor bodies which it is desired to remove. When the steam is carried "away; such constituents: are married ..Withl.it..

Eflicient :operationv therefore requires bringing all: partswofl :the. mass l of :the oil. into ..contact with: the strippin steamasirapidly and thoroughly. as.

possible;

The equipment of the present invention is ,out-xstanding with reference to stripping efliciency. Thissisiduein large part to: the, employment, of thesbafile. or splash plates 18,119, etc., which are located: above but relatively; close to the surface Ofzthb=i1ill each'ofthe trays. The kinetic energy-'- otithe rapidly expanding bubbles of steam rising through the batch in each tray acts tolift. masses of:v :the {011. and; to 1 violently splash 1 the oil against the b'afiles, with: the result. that'theoil is'eff'ectivelysplattered in relatively fine drops or masses, thereby greatlyenhancing the-access-of the stripe ping steam-.to all parts of the oilinthe, tray.

It :will be-observed that the-baffles are so are ranged-'atthetop of each tray thatonly very:

small. quantitiesof the oilz'are carried above the bafllesduring treatment. The'hood 39.-andskirt arranged over the'top of each tray present-a surface for catching and returning to the tray the small quantities of oil-which escape through the bafli'es; Moreover, both the baflles andjtheskirt.

400(cooperating with the side walls'of the tray) serve :to define tortuous passages which prevents oili'iromiescaping from-the tray notwithstanding the violent splashing of the oil against the baflles.

The hoodw just mentioned also acts'to prevent any volatile materials distilledfrom the oil which" condense upon the :shell or other relatively cold portions of the apparatus, from-running. back into the oiL being deodorized. Any such condensate willaultimately drain downward-within th shell and accumulate in thebottom of the shell, from which it may be withdrawn through the drainage pipe-3l:.

Asa consequence-of the efiicient stripping ob tained by splashing of oil-against the baflle plates.

and theefiective prevention of reflux of distilled materialback into the oil, it has been found'that thesteam. required for stripping is greatly reduced as compared with the well knownbatch deodorizer of the prior art. For example, only'4.5 pounds of stripping-steam per 100 pounds of oil deodorized are requiredfor many edible fat prod ucts, including hydrogenated cottonseed .and soy bean oils, ascompared with about25 pounds ordinarily used in batchdeodorization.

Since the 'oil' treatment zones are substantially completely isolated within the trays and outof contact with the-structure of the shell, it ispossible'to fabricate the shell of steelyevenordinary carbonsteel, without adversely; ailectingthe oil being. treated. According to :the invention, thev trays, bafiles and associated parts coming-moon tact-2' with the oil are preferably.- fabricatedof nickelor aluminum, since-it has. been found thatv these two-metals are substantiallyinert with ref erence to their pro-oxidative effect on iatty oils and fats under deodorization conditions. In prior attempts to avoid adverse influence of metal-to,-- oil contact in deodorization equipment, itv has.

been proposed to .fabricate a treatment tank or shell of a metalsuch as nickel orsaluminum for, theareason that insuch prior equipmentthe-ar rangement of. the treatment zone-or zones was such as to bring the oilintocontactwith theshell, either, at the-side walls of. the. shell ore-by virtue of refluxing from the top of the. shell or both; This proposal, however, would resultiri a. very expensive shell structure, particularly in View of the fact that a highvacuum must be main tained withintthewshell. *1 An: important -featureof: the present invention,therefore, is the-rabricae 1 tilonuofuthe shellof an inexpensiv and strong. metal-rsuch as carbon steel; andthe fabrication of the=trays and associated parts of nickel or alumi'-- numgthe physicalarrangement of the trays, baffles,: etc.-, being suchas to substantially eliminate contact of the oil-being treated with any part of theshell structure... Fabrication of the trays from- .m'ckeloraluminum is not excessively, costlyparti'cular-ly since :the trays need not withstand a: largemressure difierential and therefore may be made of thin gauge-sheeting.

Still another .feature of great importance is the employment ottrayshaving side wallsspaced appreciably from the-insidewalloi the shell. This provides a vacuum .spacesurrounding the trays and. extending throughout the height of the In the first place,- the,

the height ofthe .column, together with the particular. arrangement of trays provides independent communication of each tray with the vacuum space and thereby reduces pressure-losses which. would. otherwise occur were the vacuum drawn serially through the oil in the several treatment zones. In this, way, substantially the same lowyacuumis maintained on the oil throughout the treatment period.

Aiurther desirable feature of the vacuum space between the trays and theshellis that this method.of construction renders it. impossible for air; leaking accidentally into the shell, to pass through theoilin process of deodorization, It is well known that air leaking, into. the deodorizer and reacting with the hot oil therein, is a prime cause of trouble invth'e, operation of batch deodorizers. or. oth'erdeodorizers of conventional.construction.

Itwillbe observed that the vacuum space surrounding. the trays is. provided by employment of trays .whichare square, rather than circular in horizontal.section. This is of advantage for several. reasons including the fact that the square or'angular tray construction greatly sim-. plifies the fabrication of the trays, bailies, etc. Moreovenwith the trays andshell proportioned inthe manner clearlyappearing in Figures 3 and 5, thecornersof the traysextendto positions adjacent the shell wall. and this simplifies the problem of mounting the, trays within the shell.

Still another advantage oithe equipment disclosed'is that a change in the stock of oil beingtrleated need not necessarilyresult in intermixing'of one. stock Withanothen. This is avoidedsince thegoilistreatedin batches which are advanced through successive treatment zones in amanner .to handle such batches completely independently of each other, so that a change in the oilbe ing treated maveven be effected without interrupting the operation of the column. All that is required for this purpose is that when the lastbatch'cf one stock has been discharged from the lasttreatr'nent zone, the first batch of.

thefdifierent 'oil'be divertedto a separate storage or drop 'tankafter it' has been subjected to thetreatment in the last treatment zone.

In .operating-the equipment disclosed herein, it. is preferred .to establisha pressure in the column atleastasldw-aslO1mm. Hg; In zones 1 and2 it is preferred to heat the oil at such a rate that upon leaving zone 2 the oil is at a temperature between 400 F. and 500 F. After the slight temperature drop which may occur in zone 3, the temperature is preferably brought back again to the desired temperature in the range between 400 F. and 500 F. by the heater in zone 4. The cooling in zone preferably effects a temperature drop to a point below 150 F.

Because of the fact that the oil is preliminarily deaerated in zone 1 and further because of the fact that the oil is treated in all zones without coming in contact with metals which would adversely influence the oil, it is practicable to effect deodorization (principally in zones 3 and 4) at relatively high and therefore very effective deodorization temperatures. More rapid deodorization is therefore achieved.

In considering the nature of the treatment which occurs in each of the several zones, it should be noted that as the temperature approaches deodorization temperature in zone 2, some preliminary deodorization will also take place.

The processing of oil in the equipment herein disclosed will also serve to remove free fatty acids from the oil being treated, this being of great importance, particularly where the treated oil consists of a fat, such as lard, which does not require alkali refining to remove pigments or other impurities.

I claim:

1. Equipment for use in deodorizing fatty oils and fats comprising a shell having a vacuum connection, a series of vertically superimposed trays in the shell including a first or upper tray, a second or intermediate tray and a third or lower tray, normally closed connections from tray to tray having discharge valves providing for sequential delivery of a batch of oil introduced into the uppermost tray downwardly from tray to tray, each tray having communication with the vacuum space in the shell independently of other trays, a heater for a batch of oil in the first tray providing for heating of such batch to a temperature appreciably below deodorizing temperature, a heater for a batch of oil in the second tray providing for heating of such batch to deodorizing temperature, and an inlet for introducing stripping steam into a batch of oil in the third tray to effect appreciable deodorization of such batch in the lower tray.

2. A construction according to claim 1 and further including a fourth tray in the shell below said third tray, a cooler for cooling a batch of oil in the fourth tray, and a normally closed connection having a discharge valve for delivering a batch of deodorized oil from the third tray to the fourth tray,

3. A construction according to claim 1 and further including a fourth tray in the shell below said third tray also in communication with the vacuum space in the shell, a normally closed conne tion having a discharge valve for delivering a batch of oil from the third tray to the fourth tray, an inlet for introducing stripping steam into a batch of oil in the fourth tray to effect further deodorization of such batch in the fourth tray, and a heater in at least one of the third and fourth trays for maintaining deodorization temperature of the oil therein.

4. A construction according to claim 3 and further including a fifth tray in the shell below said fourth tray, a cooler for cooling a batch of oil in the fifth tray, and a normally closed con- 10 nection having a discharge valve, for delivering a batch of deodorized oil from the fourth tray to the fifth tray.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 1 and further including a fourth tray in the shell below said third tray also in communication with the vacuum. space in the shell, a normally closed connection having a discharge valve for delivering a batch of oil from the third tray to the fourth tray, an inlet for introducing stripping steam into a batch of oil in the fourth tray to effect further deodorization of such batch in the fourth tray, a fifth tray in the shell below said fourth tray, a cooler for cooling a batch of oil in the fifth tray, and a normally closed connection having a discharge valve, for delivering a batch of deodorized oil from the fourth tray to the fifth tray.

6. Equipment for use in deodorizing fatty oils and fats comprising a shell having a vacuum connection, a series of vertically superimposed trays in the shell, including an upper tray, an intermediate tray and a lower tray, normally closed connections from tray to tray having discharge valves providing for sequential delivery of oil from each tray to the next lower tray in the series, each tray having communication with the vacuum space in the shell independently of the other trays, a heater for a batch of oil in said upper tray providing for heating such batch to deodorizing temperature, a heater for a batch of oil in said intermediate tray providing for maintaining a batch of oil at deodorizing temperature, and a cooler for a batch of oil in said lower tray, each of said trays being provided with an inlet for introducing steam into the oil in said tray.

7. Equipment for use in deodorizing fatty oils and fats comprising a shell of circular horizontal section, a seriesof vertically superimposed trays in the shell each being of angular horizontal section and having superimposed angular corners adjacent the shell wall, oil discharge connections extended from tray to tray in said superimposed angular corners, valves in said connections, valve operating means providing for serial delivery of a batch of oil from tray to tray and normally closed access ports in the shell wall adjacent said connections.

8. Equipment for use in deodorizing fatty oils and fats, comprising a series of trays for the oil to be treated, a shell surrounding the trays in spaced relation thereto to provide shell space between the shell wall and the trays, in which construction any air leakage from the exterior of the shell to the interior thereof enters the shell space between the shell wall and the trays, the upper portion of each tray being open to the shell space to provide for the discharge of vapors therefrom into the shell space, and the shell having an offtake connection for evacuating the shell space and for withdrawing vapors and leakage air out of the shell space without contact with the oil in the trays, and steam supply means for introducing steam into the oil in at least certain trays of said series including a separate steam inlet in each such tray for the introduction of fresh steam into the oil in each such tray independently of the introduction of steam into other of such trays and without contamination with vapors withdrawn from other trays or with leakage air in the shell space.

9. A process for deodorizing fatty oils and fats in a treating column comprising a plurality of trays for the oil to be treated, and a shell surrounding the trays in spaced relation toprovide 1 l shell space between the shell wall and the trays, the upper portion of each tray being open to the shell space to provide for the discharge of vapors therefrom into the shell space, in which construction any air leakage from the exterior of the shell to the interior thereof enters the shell space between the shell wall and the trays, which process comprises heating the oil in certain of said trays, introducing fresh steam into the oil in each of said trays, and withdrawing the vapors from each tray through the shell space and discharging all of the withdrawn vapors, together with any leakage air, externally of the shell without recontact of said withdrawn vapors or contact of said air with the oil in any of the trays.

10. Equipment for use in deodorizing fatty oils and fats, comprising a plurality of vertically superimposed trays for the oil to be treated, a shell surrounding the trays in spaced relation thereto to provide shell space between the shell wall and the trays, each tray being upwardly open for discharge of vapors therefrom into the shell space, and each tray being provided with a normally closed oil discharge connection the inlet end of which communicates with the interior of the tray through the bottom thereof to provide for substantially complete discharge of all of the oil in the tray, the discharge connection for an upper tray being extended to deliver the oil therefrom to the next subjacent tray and the discharge connection for the lowermost tray being extended out of the shell, and the discharge connections having discharge valves providing for sequential delivery of a batch of oil initially introduced into the uppermost tray downwardly from one tray to another.

11. Equipment for use in deodorizing fatty oils and fats comprising a shell having a vacuum connection, a series of at least three trays in the shell each having side walls spaced from the shell wall to provide a vacuum zone at least in large part surrounding the trays, at least the second and third of said trays being provided with stripping steam inlets, each tray being upwardly open for discharge of vapors therefrom into the shell space, a heater in the first tray of said series for raising the temperature of the oil to effective deodorization temperature, an oil discharge connection for delivering a batch of oil from the first tray to the second tray and having its inlet end communicating with the interior of the first tray through the bottom thereof to provide for substantially complete discharge of all of the oil in the tray, a similarly arranged oil discharge connection extended between the second tray and the third tray, normally closed valves in said discharge connections, and valve operating means providing for serial delivery of a batch of heated oil from the first tray to the second tray for deodorization therein and thereafter from the second tray to the third tray for further deodorization therein.

12. Equipment for use in deodorizing fatty oils and fats comprising a shell of circular horizontal section having a vacuum connection, a series of vertically superimposed trays in the shell, each tray being of angular horizontal section with side walls spaced appreciably from the shell wall to provide a vacuum zone in the shell at least in large part surrounding the tray, each tray also having a normally closed connection in the bottom thereof providing for sequential delivery of oil from tray to tray, the angular corners of all the trays lying adjacent the shell wall, and tray supporting devices located at said corners and 12 connected with the shell for support of the trays within the shell.

13. Equipment for use in deodorizing fatty oils and fats comprising a shell defining a closed chamber and having a vacuum outlet connection for removing vapors from said chamber, a series of trays mounted within said chamber, each tray being adapted to contain a body of oil and having an outlet for vapors released from said body of oil, said trays also being spaced from said shell to provide a common vacuum space within the chamber for receiving vapors directly from the vapor outlets of all of said trays, a normally closed oil discharge connection for the last tray of said series extended outside said shell, normally closed oil discharge connections providing for gravity delivery of oil from each of the other trays in the series to the next tray in the series, and discharge valves in all of said discharge connections operable to provide for sequential delivery of a batch of oil, initially introduced into the first tray, from tray to tray in the series.

14. Equipment according to claim 13 and further comprising oil heating means including a heater in one tray connected to a source of relatively low temperature heating fluid and a heater in another tray connected to a source of relatively high temperature heating fluid, said heaters being operable to heat simultaneously batches of oil in said two trays.

15. Equipment for use in deodorizing fatty oils and fats comprising a shell defining a chamber and having a vacuum connection for the removal of vapors from said chamber, tray structure mounted within said chamber and having. side walls spaced from, said shell to define therewith a vapor space at least in large part surrounding said tray structure, said side walls also defining a tray space adapted to contain a body of oil, means for introducing gaseous medium into the body of oil in said tray structure below the surface of the oil, and fluid deflecting structure overlying said body of oil and operative to intercept dripping condensate and to deflect such condensate laterally of the tray structure into said surrounding vapor space, said tray space being in communication with said surrounding vapor space at an elevation above the level of said body of oil but below said deflecting structure to provide for flow of vapors from the tray space into the surrounding vapor space.

16. A construction according to claim 15 in which the condensate deflecting structure comprises a hood spaced above the tray structure and extended laterally beyond the side walls thereof.

17. A construction according to claim 15 and further including vapor deflecting means below the condensate deflecting structure defining a tortuous passage in the path of flow of vapors from the body of oil in the tray structure to the region of communication with the surrounding vapor space in the shell.

18. Equipment according to claim 15 and further including means in the region of vapor flow from the tray space into the surrounding vapor space providing a tortuous vapor flow path and comprising a vapor deflecting element extending downwardly from the region of the condensate deflecting structure, and a cooperating element projecting inwardly from the region of a side wall of the tray structure, said elements being spaced and relatively positioned to cooperate in establishing said tortuous flow path.

19. Equipment for use in deodorizing fatty oils 13 and fats comprising a shell having a vacuum connection, a series of oil treatment tray structures in the shell each having side walls spaced from the shell wall to provide shell space at least in large part surrounding the tray structures, means 5 for introducing gaseous medium into the oil in at least one tray of the series, an oil supply connection penetrating the shell wall and providing for delivery of oil into the first tray of the series, connections within the shell from one tray to another in the series providing for gravity delivery of oil sequentially from tray to tray in the series, and an oil discharge connection penetrating the shell wall and providing for discharge of the oil from the last tray of the series, the tray structures having means overlying the oil therein and serving to intercept dripping condensate and to deflect such condensate laterally of the tray structures into the surrounding shell space, and each tray structure having lateral communication with said surrounding shell space at an elevation between the level of oil in said tray structure and the condensate deflection means to provide a lateral path of discharge of References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 664,015 Denaeyer Dec. 18, 1900 1,296,013 Schlossstein March 4, 1919 1,543,853 Hunziker June 30, 1925 1,582,899 Cassidy May 4, 1926 1,605,265 Millard Nov. 2, 1926 1,638,451 Nixon Aug. 9, 1927 1,920,623 Becker Aug. 1, 1933 2,048,179 Chandler July 21, 1936 2,280,896 Dean Apr. 28, 1942 2,303,811 Badenhausen Dec. 1, 1942 2,422,185 Dean June 17, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 242,316 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1925 277,085 Great Britain Sept. 7, 1927

Claims (2)

1. EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN DEODORIZING FATTY OILS AND FACTS COMPRISING SHELL HAVING A VACUUM CONNECTION, A SERIES OF VERTICALLY SUPERIMPOSED TRAYS IN THE SHELL INCLUDING A FIRST OR UPPER TRAY, A SECOND OR INTERMEDIATE TRAY AND A THIRD OF LOWER TRAY, NORMALLY CLOSED CONNECTIONS FROM TRAY TO TRAY HAVING DISCHARGE VALVES PROVIDING FOR SEQUENTIAL DELIVERY OF A BATCH OF OIL INTRODUCED INTO THE UPPERMOST TRAY DOWNWARDLY FROM TRAY TO TRAY, EACH TRAY HAVEING COMMUNICATION WITH THE VARUUM SPACE IN THE SHELL INDEPENDENTLY OF OTHER TRAYS, A HEATER FOR A BATCH OF OIL IN THE FIRST TRAY PROVIDING FOR HEATING OF SUCH BATCH TO A TEMPERATURE APPRICIABLY BELOW DEODORIZING TEMPERATURE, A HEATER FOR A BATCH OF OIL IN THE SECOND TRAY PROVIDING FOR HEATING OF SUCH BATCH TO DEODORIZING TEMPERATURE, AND AN INLET FOR INTRODUCING STRIPPING STEAM INTO A BATCH OF OIL IN THE THIRD TRAY TO EFFECT APPRICIABLE DEODORIZATION OF SUCH BATCH IN THE LOWER TRAY,

9. A PROCESS FOR DEODORIZING FATTY OILS AND FATS IN A TREATING COLUMN COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF TRAYS FOR THE OIL TO BE TREATED, AND S SHELL SURROUDNING THE TRAYS IN SPACED RELATION TO PROVIDE SHELL SPACE BETWEEN THE SHELL WALL AND THE TRAYS, THE UPPER PORTION OF EACH TRAY BEING OPEN TO THE SHELL SPACE TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISCHARGE OF VAPORS THEREFROM INTO THE SHELL SPACE, IN WHICH CONSTRUCTION ANY AIR LEAKAGE FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE SHELL TO THE INTERIOR THEREOF ENTERS THE SHELL SPACE BETWEEN THE SHELL WALL AND THE TRAYS, WHICH PROCESS COMPRISES HEATING THE OIL IN CERTAIN OF SAID TRAYS, INTRODUCING FRESH STEAM INTO THE OIL IN EACH TRAY THROUGH THE SHELL SPACE AND DISCHARGING ALL OF THE WITHDRAWN VAPORS, TOGETHER CHARGING ALL OF THE WITHDRAWN VAPORS, TOGETHER WITH ANY LEAKAGE AIR, EXTERNALLY OF THE SHELL WITHOUT RECONTACT OF SAID WITHDRAWN VAPORS OR CONTACT OF SAID AIR WITH THE OIL IN ANY OF THE TRAYS.

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