WO2006131800A1

WO2006131800A1 - Food processing machine : aduk mixing unit

Info

Publication number: WO2006131800A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/001443
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Sa
Priority date: 2005-06-06
Filing date: 2006-06-02
Publication date: 2006-12-14

Abstract

The invention related to food and beverage processing machine that able to mix milk powder or other solid material to liquid form in an energy efficient and superior improved mixing in a short time, at least to prevent the minimal air presented into the liquid and that close to one hundred percent perfect mixing result, which milk powder become susceptible of being dissolved and residue removal of milk powder or another residue which is cannot doing the same . The machine has a flexible design where its has a construction and design, that combine the mixing and homogenizing process as well.

Description

FOOD PROCESSING MACHINE : ADUK MIXING UNIT

Field of the Invention

The invention related to food and beverage processing machine that able to dissolve milk powder or other Solid material to the liquid in an energy efficient and within in a short time, at least to prevent the minimal introduced air into the liquid and that close to one hundred percent perfect mixing result, which is the milk powder complete dissolved to the liquid without any remain un-dissolved milk powder or other liquid.

Background of the Invention

The dissolving processing machines are well-known and widely applied, nevertheless unable to accomplish a further efficient level, where the other machine has the high complexity in design, required -high energy and longer mixing time with low quality product output, un- compact and un-rigid machine within unexpected time the machine is out of order and has to be repaired.

Considering the above problems, it is preferable to construct a machine design that is able to process solid material, by means of mechanically mixing process with water into certain liquid, the liquid can be in the form of water or oil/cream. The mixing-, dissolving-, emulsifying-, dispersing- and homogenizing- technique are carried out simply in single machine system. The unexpected things in mixing process are aeration process where the liquid product be composed of air particle resulting volume- and weight- failure, the liquid product has a poor quality as well, foamy and easy to decompose. Another unexpected thing is the present of agglomeration wherein particle of the product become an agglomerate as a result of less improved mixing process.

This present processing machine can be covered all of the above process parameter, to obtain the high quality- product. From the above input data, the mixing unit must be able to control in certain level the turbulence flow. When the turbulence flow is extremely high, then built cavity, with result increased the power of the machine, worn out the machine part and the machine become noisy. According to CE marking, the machine is not allowed to be utilized, due to less environmental friendly and the air intake on the result of the product . When the magnitude of turbulence is extremely low where laminar flow is take place, this will get less mixing quality. On the other hands, the noticeably resulting flow rate of the machine must be calculated, since the flow rate-, pressure- and power- drop can occur, due to machine parts, those are restrict the liquid flow as well as built back pressure , the product flow rate must be calculated in specific rate. Brief Description of the Invention

The objective of the invention is to construct the processing machine that able to mix milk powder or other substance in a short time, utilizing in an energy efficient with high quality product output, that fulfill the CE marking and safety regulation.

The processing machine according to this invention has superiorities i.e. mixing efficiency in a short time, high pumping capacity with flow rate of 40 m³/ϊiour and built a pressure higher than 1 bar, direct drive motor and a simple design that required less frequent maintenance.

Detailed Description of the Drawing

Figure 1 show a side and a top view of processing machine of invention. The process machine includes liquid accommodation container (1) , a flow pipe (2) , a processing machine support (3) , homogenizing head system (4) , a guiding pipe and a baffle (5) , driving motor (6) and motor starter (7) .

Figure 2 show a (1) of the processing machine of the invention.

Figure 3 show a flow pipe (2) of the processing machine of the invention. On the flow pipe (2) , attached 3 pieces of butterfly valves (2, 2), (2, 4) and. (2, 6)

Figure 4 show a processing machine support (3) of the invention. On the processing machine support (3), mounted a driving motor (6) and a control panel.

Figure 5 show a homogenizing head system (4) of the processing machine of the invention. Figure 5 shown that the portions on a stator-rotor system and a driving motor

(6). The portion comprising o-rings (4, 1), 4, 3), (4, 5),

(4, 7), (4, 8), and (4, 16); an inner and outer part of the rotor (4, 2); a mechanical seal (4, 9); a SHC bolt (4,

10); a electric motor (4, 11); a cooling fan (4, 12); of a motor cover (4, 13); a motor cover and its bolt (4, 14); a

PS-seal (4, 15); a fixed bolt cover (4, 17); a mechanical seal cover (4, 18); a reducer (4, 19), a upper clamp (4,

20); a inner and outer stator (4, 21); a propeller (4, 22) and a upper clamp (4, 23) .

Figure 6 show a rotor (4, 2) on the rotor-stator system of the invention. The rotor included the three inner propellers and six outer propellers.

Figure 7 show a inner and outer stator (4, 21) with the two in one construction according to the invention.

Figure 8 show a propeller (4, 22) of the invention.

Figure 9 show a electric motor (4, 11) as a rotor (4, 2) and a propeller (4, 22) with the special construction of the invention.

Figure 10 show a guiding pipe and baffle guide pipe and a baffle (5) of the invention.

Figure 11 show an integrated system which further utilized in food and beverage industry. In addition to mixing unit, a pump for send back the product from the accommodation container, a flow meter, pressure meter and the temperature scale is included. In this figure shown the driving motor and portions of stator-rotor as well. Figure 12 show flow pattern that present in the accommodation container according to the invention

Detailed Description of the Invention

The processing machine of the invention includes a mixing container (1) , a flow pipe (2) , a processing machine support (3) , a homogenizing head system (4) , a guide pipe wth a baffle (5) , a driving motor (6) and a motor starter (7) .

The sanitary mixing container (1) made in stainless steel material with bottom conical shape, suitable to process of food and beverage product, as mixing container to dissolve milk powder and other solid material without any contamination to the product.

The return flow pipe (2) as liquid transferred pipe and which transfer the liquid from dispersing head back to the mixing container (4) , (1) . The butterfly valves (2, 2), (2, 4), (2, 6) to control the right flow direction, such as liquid flows from dispersing head return back to liquid mixing container or to the other direction for drain (1) . The dimension of a flow pipe is calculated (2) depend on a flow rate- and fluid speed- level , the inlet end pipe is bigger in size compare to other pipe part, in order to reduce the product flow rate, which is back to liquid mixing container (1) .

The processing machine support (3) made of stainless steel. To obtain the right height for the operator, an operator floor plate made of slip free plate material.

The rotor (4, 2) made of stainless steel material suitable for food and beverage application. The dimension of rotor (4, 2) calculate in order to obtain the desirable flow rate, this depend on the rotor (4, 2) size and the speed of motor (6) per minute. The rotor is (4, 2) fixed to the electric motor (4, 11) by means of keyway the power of the motor is transferred to the rotor (4, 2) , (6) . In order to avoid contamination, of the gap between driving motor shaft (6) and rotor (4, 2) installed o-ring made of material suitable material for food and beverage application. The dimension of inner rotor blade is calculated to minimize the liquid back flow to inlet direction so that during draining of product without any problem and no remain product in mixing container (1) . The design of rotor blade in such way to get the right turbulence value, which is reduced the noise and as well to get the right shear rate value .

The two in one construction inner and outer stator (4, 21) made of a stainless steel material is suitable for food and beverage application. The inner stator has a number of teeths and the holes shape of outer stator with a number of surface opening to obtain the desirable turbulence and shear rate magnitude, thus accomplish the qualified product output. With one integrated unit inner and outer stator design, a high precision is obtained where the extremely narrow gap between rotor (4, 2) and inner and outer stator (4, 21) . The design of dispersing unit is calculated for the product with a medium and low viscosity. The o-ring is installed between the machine parts is to prevent contamination of product which is still remaining product in the gap between the machine parts, which is unable to be clean and flushed out.

The propeller (4, 22) made of stainless steel material. The design of propeller (4, 22) in such a way has an angle to get particular flow direction i.e., axial and radial flow of liquid. The propeller (4, 22) located in guiding pipe at a specific level, utilized as pre dissolver and the size of propeller determine the right flow rate (4, 22) The assembling of o-ring between the machine parts is to prevent contamination of remaining product that unable to be clean up.

The electric motor (4, 11) rotor (4, 2) and propeller (4, 22) are made of stainless steel material with a special design. The electric motor (4, 11) drived the rotor (4, 2) and the propeller (4, 22) directly, this do not need any other part like V-belt . With this design, the required power of the mixing unit is extremely low and reduces the vibration that could interfere with the system. The speed rotation of this motor is in such way that the tip speed achieved required for mixing on the rotor to mix and homogenize the product liquid and in order to obtain the required shear rate.

The guide pipe and a baffle (5) are made of stainless steel material. The length and diameter are calculated to determine a required liquid flow to dissolve milk powder. On this mixing container they are three baffles, welded directly to the guide pipe and bottom part of container to control turbulence rate required in the mixing container.

This invention is a result of the drawback analysis and the improved processing requirement of the machine. Result from the test are conducted, that on the machine parts systematically, calculations and losses were gradually improved.

The raw material used herewith may vary considering the limitation of the machine capability. Of the above, in order to produce milk from milk powder dissolved with water, include a number stages of the processing machine i.e., mixing process, e.g, dissolved a solid in a liquid material to get a granule/particle which spread uniformly. The amount of the water required for milk powder put into liquid mixing container (1) , the ratio of the amount of the water and milk powder determine the quality of final product. Milk powder that incomplete mixed will float on the liquid surface causing cologation where the milk powder unable to mix properly like fish eye. Other process is air intake and emulsification as well, where different type of liquid is able to spread stably and evenly with the granule. Since the product that contains air, will easy to decompose, the preferred air intake will as minimized as possible. This invention is an integrated mixing system comprising dissolving, emulsifying and homogenizing. The homogenizing is with a product feed flow from guide pipe. In Such process, the liquid is further mixed resulting liquid particle division. In this process, particle spread and emulsifying process occurred. Since the liquid pass through a narrow stator gap (in the stator-rotor system) and due to the propulsion from rotor

(4, 2) which rotate, the particle diminution hence the output particle become smaller. On the liquid mixing container (1) fixed a guide pipe with the diameter in the range of 100 to 120 mm and length of 100 to 130 mm, in which the propeller/mixing fan attached in the inner part to reach vacuum condition in the range if -0, 4 bar to - 0.6 bar and liquid pressure condition approximately 1 bar above the propeller (4, 22) and on the liquid surface as well, pressure condition below propeller (4, 22). Either liquid or powder milk that put to liquid mixing container

(1) will be sucked and mixed at an earlier time, directly sucked on the guide pipe in which fixed on the center of liquid mixing container (1) . In addition, a gap in the range of 20 to 30 mm on a lower pipe and a side liquid mixing container (1) that liquid is able to flow in specific speed and pressure, 30% of the liquid will flow through this gap and return back to liquid surface on the side liquid mixing container (1) followed by flow to the center of liquid mixing container (1) back to guide pipe in such a way, therefore creating, a unique flow pattern uniformly on the surrounding of liquid accommodation container (1) , 70% of the liquid will put to homogenizing head system (4) with the high acceleration that produced from rotation of the rotor (4, 2), the liquid will pass through a homogenizer component teeth that breaks the particle into smaller size as well as dissolved and uniformly spread granule result.

With the specific flow pattern and unique turbulence, the powder milk or other solid material will directly sucked into the guide pipe and in additional such mixing and homogenizing on the stator-rotor system is about to take place. The guide pipe will optimize a radial flow into an axial flow.

Example 25 kg of milk powder or other solid material put into an mixing container, where on the container presented, water will flow trough the homogenizer and transferred into mixing container. Since the flow that occurred is unique, milk powder becomes able to dissolve in water rapidly and completely. Furthermore the liquid will flow directly through guide pipe, with the present of propeller in guide pipe, vacuum condition and vortex created on the and below the surface. Such powder will be mixed and initial dissolve is about to take place, indicating that the product is mixed but need to be in smaller particle. The liquid condition after propeller position is in pressure condition where the liquid will flow rapidly through the gap between the guide pipes at certain level with a lower part of the mixing container side. The flow of the liquid then transferred to liquid surface at specific speed which occurred on the container wall side pass through center portion, subsequently being sucked by the propeller in a unique way. Such process will be continued uniformly until milk powder being self- dissolved. Since the liquid and particle distribution far from expectation, consequently the remaining of liquid will be passed through stator-rotor by the propeller. By means of propeller on the inner part and outer part, the received liquid acceleration will be increased, being transferred from inner part of the stator to the outer part of the stator teeth and outer part of stator hole/opening. Due to extremely narrow gap existed between inner and outer stator to the rotor, as a result, the particle undergoing this process become smaller with certain shear rate. Without the integration of guide pipe and homogenizing unit, this process far from expectation and satisfaction.

Claims

Claim

1. A processing machine which is able to mix a milk powder or other solid material to liquid form In a short time with an energy efficient and superior output product, which machine comprise of a guiding pipe made of stainless steel material is suitable for food and beverage process with diameter in the range of 100 to 120 mm and length of 100 to 130 mm, the guiding pipe located above the homogenizing unit on the lower location of the mixing container, the gap between guiding pipe and a lower bottom side part of mixing container with the distance approximate 20 to 30 mm, a propeller in the guiding pipe is rotate along with the homogenizer rotor , a propeller is fixed in such a way that to obtain. a vacuum condition approximately - 0.4 bar to -0.6 bar and a liquid pressure condition approximately 1 bar, an associated guide pipe which mounted above the rotor-stator system wherein the propeller attached, causing the flow of the liquid in the guide pipe becomes faster compared to the flow in to the mixer along the existing gap, resulting in a return flow upwardly to the surface of the container that unique and uniform thus milk powder on the surface will be directly sucked in to a guide pipe.