US4009045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous crystallization process and apparatus
Assignee: Godchaux Sugars Inc
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Filing: 1976-04-21
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Granted: 1977-02-22
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Expires: 1996-04-21
Abstract
Abstract Sugar is continuously crystallized from a sugar bearing solution in a single stage vacuum pan by a method and apparatus comprising means for and the steps of continuously supplying a sugar bearing solution of a constant, desired purity to the vacuum pan by combining a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream with a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream while regulating the ratio of relatively low to relatively high purity sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream, continuously supplying sugar seed crystals having a relatively uniform crystal size distribution to the vacuum pan, continuously boiling at least a portion of the sugar bearing solution and sugar seed crystals in the vaccum pan to form a boiling massecuite, and continuously removing at least a portion of the massecuite from the vacuum pan. Sugar crystals of at least a predetermined desired size are then continuously separated from the massecuite in a continuous centrifugal separator and conventionally further processed while the supernatant sugar bearing solution and sugar crystals smaller than the desired size are stored in a run-off storage tank for later conventional further processing.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter H. Petri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:50
CPC Classifications
C; C13; C13B; C13B30/00; C13B30/02; C13B30/022; C13B30/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
An apparatus for continuously crystallizing sugar from a sugar bearing solution formed as a mixture of a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution and a relatively high bearing sugar solution, comprising: a single stage vacuum pan means for continuously boiling a sugar bearing solution and sugar seed crystals at a regulated temperature and pressure to form a massecuite, means for continuously supplying a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution to form a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream, means for continuously supplying a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution to form a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream, means for combining the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream with the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream to form a mixture of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution and the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution in a combined flow stream, a purity control means for controlling the purity of the sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream by regulating the ratio of the rate of flow of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream to the rate of flow of the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream into the combined flow stream, means for supplying the combined flow stream to the vacuum pan at a regulated rate, a sugar seed crystal supply means for supplying sugar seed crystals to the vacuum pan means at a regulated rate, means for removing at least a portion of the massecuite from the vacuum pan means at a regulated rate to maintain a constant level of massecuite in the vacuum pan means, and means for continuously separating product sugar crystals from the removed massecuite.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
284 words
An apparatus for continuously crystallizing sugar from a sugar bearing solution formed as a mixture of a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution and a relatively high bearing sugar solution, comprising: a single stage vacuum pan means for continuously boiling a sugar bearing solution and sugar seed crystals at a regulated temperature and pressure to form a massecuite, means for continuously supplying a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution to form a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream, means for continuously supplying a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution to form a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream, means for combining the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream with the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream to form a mixture of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution and the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution in a combined flow stream, a purity control means for controlling the purity of the sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream by regulating the ratio of the rate of flow of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream to the rate of flow of the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream into the combined flow stream, means for supplying the combined flow stream to the vacuum pan at a regulated rate, a sugar seed crystal supply means for supplying sugar seed crystals to the vacuum pan means at a regulated rate, means for removing at least a portion of the massecuite from the vacuum pan means at a regulated rate to maintain a constant level of massecuite in the vacuum pan means, and means for continuously separating product sugar crystals from the removed massecuite.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
216 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the purity control means comprises: a solution conductivity sensor means for sensing the conductivity of the sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream, a solution conductivity measuring means responsive to the conductivity of the sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream as sensed by the solution conductivity sensor means for measuring the conductivity of the sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream, a first flow rate measuring means for measuring the rate of flow of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution into the combined flow stream, a second flow rate measuring means for measuring the rate of flow of the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution into the combined flow stream, flow rate control means for directly controlling the rate of flow of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution into the combined flow stream, and a ratio control means responsive to the solution conductivity measuring means, the first flow rate measuring means, the second flow rate measuring means and a predetermined desired purity level, the ratio control means being operatively connected to the flow rate control means to alter the flow rate control means as required to maintain the purity of the sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream at a constant, desired level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for regulating the rate of supply of the combined flow stream to the vacuum pan means comprises: means for continuously measuring the density of the massecuite in the vacuum pan means, means for regulating the rate of flow of the combined flow stream into the vacuum pan means, and a tightness control means responsive to the density of the massecuite in the vacuum pan means as measured by the massecuite density measuring means and to a predetermined desired density level, the tightness controller being operatively connected to the means for regulating the rate of flow of the combined flow stream into the vacuum pan means to alter the regulating means necessary to maintain the density of the massecuite in the vacuum pan means at a predetermined desired level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sugar seed crystal supply means supplies the seed crystals to the vacuum pan means above the level of the massecuite in the vacuum pan means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for continuously removing at least a portion of the massecuite from the vacuum pan means is an overflow conduit providing fluid communication between the vacuum pan means and the means for continuously separating product sugar crystals from the removed massecuite, and a variable speed pump in an intermediate portion of the overflow conduit, the variable speed pump being adapted to regulate the rate of removal of the massecuite from the vacuum pan means to maintain a constant level of massecuite in the vacuum pan means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a massecuite mixer means intermediate the vacuum pan and the means for continuously separating product sugar crystals from the removed massecuite, for receiving the massecuite removed from the vacuum pan means and maintaining sugar crystals in suspension within the massecuite prior to transferring the massecuite to the means for continuously separating product sugar crystals from the removed massecuite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for continuously separating product sugar crystals from the massecuite is a centrifugal separator.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
243 words
A method of continuously crystallizing sugar from a sugar bearing solution formed as a mixture of a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution and a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution, comprising: supplying a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution to form a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream, supplying a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution to form a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream, combining the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream with the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream to form a combined flow stream, controlling the ratio of the rate of flow of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution to the rate of flow of the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution into the combined flow stream to obtain a sugar bearing solution of controlled purity in the combined flow stream, continuously supplying the combined flow stream to a vacuum pan at a regulated rate, continuously supplying sugar seed crystals to the vacuum pan at a regulated rate, continuously boiling the controlled purity sugar bearing solution and the sugar seed crystals into the vacuum pan at a regulated temperature and pressure to form a massecuite, continuously removing a portion of the massecuite from the vacuum pan at a regulated rate to maintain a constant level of massecuite in the vacuum pan, and continuously separating product sugar crystals of at least a desired size from the remainder of the removed massecuite.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
243 words
A method of continuously crystallizing sugar from a sugar bearing solution formed as a mixture of a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution and a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution, comprising: supplying a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution to form a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream, supplying a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution to form a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream, combining the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream with the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream to form a combined flow stream, controlling the ratio of the rate of flow of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution to the rate of flow of the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution into the combined flow stream to obtain a sugar bearing solution of controlled purity in the combined flow stream, continuously supplying the combined flow stream to a vacuum pan at a regulated rate, continuously supplying sugar seed crystals to the vacuum pan at a regulated rate, continuously boiling the controlled purity sugar bearing solution and the sugar seed crystals into the vacuum pan at a regulated temperature and pressure to form a massecuite, continuously removing a portion of the massecuite from the vacuum pan at a regulated rate to maintain a constant level of massecuite in the vacuum pan, and continuously separating product sugar crystals of at least a desired size from the remainder of the removed massecuite.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
183 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the ratio of the rate of flow of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution to the rate of flow of the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution into the combined flow stream is controlled by sensing the conductivity of the sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream, measuring the conductivity of the sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream in response to its sensed conductivity, measuring the rate of flow of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution into the combined flow stream, measuring the rate of flow of the relatively high purity sugar bearing solution into the combined flow stream, and directly controlling the rate of flow of the relatively low purity sugar bearing solution into the combined flow stream in response to the conductivity of the sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream, the rate of flow of relatively low purity sugar bearing solution into the combined flow stream, the rate of flow of relatively high purity sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream and a predetermined desired purity level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the rate at which the combined flow stream is continuously supplied to the vacuum pan is regulated by measuring the density of the massecuite in the vacuum pan and controlling the rate of supply of the combined flow stream to the vacuum pan in response to the density of the massecuite in the vacuum pan and a predetermined desired density level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 which further comprises supplying the sugar seed crystals to the vacuum pan at a point above the level of the massecuite in the vacuum pan.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 which further comprises mixing the massecuite to maintain the sugar crystals in suspension in the massecuite prior to continuously separating product sugar crystals from the massecuite.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the product sugar crystals are separated from the remainder of the massecuite by centrifugally separating the product sugar crystals from the remainder of the massecuite.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-02-22 | 1980-08-23 | 1981-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-22 | 1984-08-23 | 1985-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-22 | 1988-08-23 | 1989-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |