US3656534A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Concentration by continuous flash evaporation
Assignee: Blaw Knox Co
•
Filing: 1969-10-29
•
Granted: 1972-04-18
•
Expires: 1989-10-29
Abstract
Abstract In the embodiments of the invention described herein, a liquid such as gelatin or an egg constituent having heat degradation or fouling tendencies is concentrated by passing it through a platetype heater while maintaining sufficient pressure to prevent boiling and keeping the temperature of the liquid below the temperature at which the liquid thermally degrades or tends to foul the heating surfaces. The heated liquid is thereafter passed through an unheated portion of the plate heater at reduced pressure, allowing vapor to form, and creating a homogeneous mixture of concentrated liquid and vapor. The concentrated liquid is extracted in a separator, and in the case of egg, may be frozen or spray dried.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Lindsay Bain
- 👤 Douglas Leslie Leonard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:22
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B5/00; A23B5/02; A23B5/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A process for concentrating liquids comprising passing a liquid through a first heated tortuous flow path at a velocity sufficient to maintain turbulent flow therein, applying heat to the liquid therein, maintaining the pressure within said tortuous flow path high enough to prevent the liquid from vaporizing therein, directly thereafter passing the heated liquid into a second unheated tortuous flow path arranged to maintain turbulent flow and to allow the pressure therein to drop below the vapor pressure of the liquid, thereby flashing the liquid material in a relatively gradual and continuous manner while maintaining turbulence and forming a homogeneous liquid-vapor mixture therein, and finally separating the concentrated liquid and the vapor in a separator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A process for concentrating liquids comprising passing a liquid through a first heated tortuous flow path at a velocity sufficient to maintain turbulent flow therein, applying heat to the liquid therein, maintaining the pressure within said tortuous flow path high enough to prevent the liquid from vaporizing therein, directly thereafter passing the heated liquid into a second unheated tortuous flow path arranged to maintain turbulent flow and to allow the pressure therein to drop below the vapor pressure of the liquid, thereby flashing the liquid material in a relatively gradual and continuous manner while maintaining turbulence and forming a homogeneous liquid-vapor mixture therein, and finally separating the concentrated liquid and the vapor in a separator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process aCcording to claim 1 wherein the tortuous flow paths are in a plate type evaporator and the liquid material is heated by circulating a heating fluid in indirect heat exchange relation with the liquid material only in the first tortuous flow path in the evaporator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the separator is maintained at a pressure below the pressure at the end of the unheated flow path, without substantial instantaneous flashing in the separator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 3 including the step of maintaining the separator at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 1 including the step of admixing a portion of the concentrated liquid from the separator with liquid to be concentrated and recycling the admixture so as to increase the concentration of the resulting product.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, liquid whole egg, egg albumen, egg yolk, and corn steep liquor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid is an egg constituent having a total solids content of from about 5 to about 55 percent, heating the liquid to a maximum temperature no greater than about 145* F., maintaining said pressure in said first turbulent flow path at 1.0 psia therein to prevent the liquid from boiling, said liquid egg concentrate having a total solids content between about 20 and 70 percent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 7 including the step of drying the egg concentrate to produce a dried egg product.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 7 including the step of freezing the egg concentrate at a temperature below about 25* F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
A frozen egg concentrate prepared according to the process of claim 9.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1562309A
Cited
US2467769A
Cited
US2572857A
Cited
US2710057A
Cited
US2853127A
Cited
US3010832A
Cited
US3113872A
Cited
US3195613A
Cited
US3073380A
Cited
US3170804A
Cited
US3453184A
Cited
US3345182A
Cited
US3431655A
Cited
US3469617A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-18 | 1975-10-18 | 1976-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-18 | 1979-10-18 | 1980-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-18 | 1983-10-18 | 1984-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |