US5112489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and unit for clarification of liquids
Assignee: Bucher Guyer AG
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Filing: 1991-07-03
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Granted: 1992-05-12
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Expires: 2011-07-03
Abstract
Abstract In a process for clarification of liquids, especially raw juice by continuous crosscurrent filtration, which for improvement of the filtration output is run with a high solid portion in the retentate circulating circuit, during the starting phase an additional retentate discharge from the retentate circulating circuit takes place, which is relatively small in comparison with the retentate discharge taking place during the stationary operating phase. By this measure, a further improvement of the filtration output is achieved.
Inventors
- 👤 Eduard Hartmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:04
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/14; B01D61/147; A; A23; A23L; A23L2/00; A23L2/70; A23L2/72; A23L2/74; B01D61/145; B01D61/146; B01D61/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
Process for clarification of liquids, especially raw juice from plant products and products produced by bioengineering, by continuous crosscurrent filtration, especially microfiltration and ultrafiltration with a high solid portion in the retentate circulating circuit, characterized in that during the starting phase at least one additional retentate discharge from the retentate circulating circuit takes place, which is relatively small in comparison with retentate discharge occurring during the stationary operating phase sufficient to renew the retentate in the retentate circulating circuit during the starting phase for improving filtration output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
Process for clarification of liquids, especially raw juice from plant products and products produced by bioengineering, by continuous crosscurrent filtration, especially microfiltration and ultrafiltration with a high solid portion in the retentate circulating circuit, characterized in that during the starting phase at least one additional retentate discharge from the retentate circulating circuit takes place, which is relatively small in comparison with retentate discharge occurring during the stationary operating phase sufficient to renew the retentate in the retentate circulating circuit during the starting phase for improving filtration output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the retentate discharge during the stationary operating phase to the retentate discharge during the starting phase preferably is greater than 10, e.g., 30.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein a separate retentate discharge each is preferably provided for the starting phase and the stationary operating phase.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the retentate discharge during the starting phase can take place at any spot in the retentate circulating circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the retentate discharge during the stationary operating phase preferably takes place in the low-pressure part of the retentate circulating circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the regulation of the amount of discharged retentate takes place in a stationary or pulsed manner during the starting phase as a function of the permeate output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the regulation of the amount of discharged retentate takes place in a stationary or pulsed manner during the starting phase preferably as a function of the time change of the permeate output.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the continuous crosscurrent filtration device is designed in one or several stages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process according to claim 8, wherein with multistage systems preferably all retentate discharges during the starting phase are discharged outward from the individual stages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
Process according to claim 8, wherein the transfer of retentate in multistage systems takes place from one stage to the next stage respectively from low-pressure side to low-pressure side of the individual retentate circulating circuits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Process according to claim 10, wherein the next stage preferably is operated at least on the low-pressure side with a little lower pressure than the preceding stage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 10, wherein a relatively small pressureless buffer tank is placed between the individual stages.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process according to claim 10, wherein the higher stages are equipped with modules, which exhibit basically enlarged ducts and/or are suitable for operating at higher pressures, e.g., metal membranes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein at least a parallel filtration is performed as an alternative for multistage filtration.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for the clarification of liquids, particularly raw juices from plant products and products produced by bioengineering, comprising a cross current filtration device having at least one stage and having a retentate side and a permeate side, a retentate circuit connected to said retentate side of said cross current filtration device, a source of raw juice connected to said retentate circuit, a first retentate discharge pipe connected to said retentate circuit adjacent its outlet from the cross current filtration device to remove retentate during a stationary operating phase, a second retentate discharge pipe connected to said retentate circuit downstream of said first retentate discharge pipe, the cross sectional area of said first retentate discharge pipe being several times greater than that of the second retentate discharge pipe such that a limited amount of retentate is removed through said second retentate pipe during the starting phase sufficient to renew the retentate in the retentate circulating circuit during the starting phase for improving filtration output.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for the clarification of liquids, particularly raw juices from plant products and products produced by bioengineering, comprising a cross current filtration device having at least one stage and having a retentate side and a permeate side, a retentate circuit connected to said retentate side of said cross current filtration device, a source of raw juice connected to said retentate circuit, a first retentate discharge pipe connected to said retentate circuit adjacent its outlet from the cross current filtration device to remove retentate during a stationary operating phase, a second retentate discharge pipe connected to said retentate circuit downstream of said first retentate discharge pipe, the cross sectional area of said first retentate discharge pipe being several times greater than that of the second retentate discharge pipe such that a limited amount of retentate is removed through said second retentate pipe during the starting phase sufficient to renew the retentate in the retentate circulating circuit during the starting phase for improving filtration output.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
Unit according to claim 15, wherein the ratio of the pipe cross sections of retentate discharge pipe of the stationary operating phase to the retentate discharge pipe of the starting phase is greater than 10, e.g., 30.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
Unit according to claim 15, wherein the retentate discharge from the pipe for the starting phase takes place automatically by feed pumps, especially membrane feed pumps, pulse-controlled valves or other control units suitable for the removal of the relatively small amounts of liquid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
Unit according to claim 17, wherein the control of the control units for removal of the retentate takes place by a controller, and as measuring value preferably the permeate output or the differential according to its time derived from it or the corresponding difference quotient is used.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4689153A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-12 | 1995-11-11 | 1996-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-12 | 1999-11-11 | 2000-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-12 | 2003-11-11 | 2004-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |