Apparatus and method for steam deodorizing of fats and oils

Claim 1

IN A CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF DEODORIZING GLYCERIDE OILS AND FATS, THE STEPS WHICH COMPRISES CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING OIL TO BE DEODORIZED INTO THE UPPER PART OF A GENERALLY UPRIGHT STRIPPING COLUMN HAVING LIQUID AND VAPOR CONTACT MEANS THEREIN, PASING STRIPPING STEAM INTO THE LOWER PART OF SAID COLUMN, MAINTAINING SAID COLUMN UNDER VACUUM BY WITHDRAEING VAPORS FROM THE UPPER PART THEREOF, WHEREBY THE ABSOLUTE PRESSURE WITHIN THE COLUMN DECREASES SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE LOWER PART TO THE UPPER PART OF SAID COLUMN, WITHDRAWING DEODORIZED OIL FROM THE LOWER PART OF SAID COLUMN, AND WITHDRAWING FROM SAID COLUMN AT EACH OF A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED POINTS A QUANTITY OF STEAM NOT LESS THAN THE REQUIRED TO ENSURE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL KINETIC ENERGY PER CUBIC FOOT OF STRIPPING STEAM AND NOT MORE THAN THAT REQUIRED TO ENSURE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL VELOCITY OF STRIPPING STEAM THROUGHOUT THE COLUMN.