Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A citrus fruit processing system comprising a juice extractor adapted to receive the citrus fruit and having a juice output and a wet peel and pulp output, a means for removing liquor from the wet pulp and peel output coupled to said juice extractor and adapted to receive the wet pulp and peel therefrom, said means for removing liquor having a liquor output and a press cake output, a dryer coupled to said press cake output and having a dried solids output and a steam output, a heat exchanger coupled to said steam output and having a superheated steam output, said heat exchanger having an isolated combustion chamber which operates to transfer heat to steam passing therethrough without contact between said steam and combustion products produced in said chamber, said superheated steam output being coupled to said dryer whereby wet peel and pulp introduced into said dryer is heated by superheated steam until a major portion of the moisture therein is vaporized and emitted through said steam output, a juice evaporator coupled to said juice output and to said steam output of said dryer, and having a concentrated juice output, said juice evaporator operating to dehydrate the juice, means for preheating liquor coupled to said means for removing liquor, said means for preheating being connected to receive the exhaust combustion products from said heat exchanger combustion chamber whereby the liquor is preheated by the combustion products, and, a second evaporator coupled to said means for preheating liquor and to said steam output of the dryer, said second evaporator operating to dehydrate the liquor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
A citrus fruit processing system comprising a juice extractor adapted to receive the citrus fruit and having a juice output and a wet peel and pulp output, a means for removing liquor from the wet pulp and peel output coupled to said juice extractor and adapted to receive the wet pulp and peel therefrom, said means for removing liquor having a liquor output and a press cake output, a dryer coupled to said press cake output and having a dried solids output and a steam output, a heat exchanger coupled to said steam output and having a superheated steam output, said heat exchanger having an isolated combustion chamber which operates to transfer heat to steam passing therethrough without contact between said steam and combustion products produced in said chamber, said superheated steam output being coupled to said dryer whereby wet peel and pulp introduced into said dryer is heated by superheated steam until a major portion of the moisture therein is vaporized and emitted through said steam output, a juice evaporator coupled to said juice output and to said steam output of said dryer, and having a concentrated juice output, said juice evaporator operating to dehydrate the juice, means for preheating liquor coupled to said means for removing liquor, said means for preheating being connected to receive the exhaust combustion products from said heat exchanger combustion chamber whereby the liquor is preheated by the combustion products, and, a second evaporator coupled to said means for preheating liquor and to said steam output of the dryer, said second evaporator operating to dehydrate the liquor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A citrus fruit processing system as in claim 1 together with means coupled to said press liquor preheater for recycling a portion of the preheated press liquor to said press, whereby peel and pulp introduced into said dryer is preheated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A citrus fruit processing system as in claim 1 wherein steam passing through said steam output of the dryer is at a temperature of approximately 300° F. and superheated steam passing into said dryer from said superheated steam output of the heat exchanger is at a temperature of approximately 600° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A citrus fruit processing system as in claim 1 wherein said evaporator includes means for condensing all of the steam therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A citrus fruit processing system as in claim 1 wherein both said juice evaporator and said second evaporator include means for condensing all of the steam therein.