Patent ID: 6173681
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: A01K,F24H,F28D,Y02E

Abstract:
A preheating system for preheating liquid feed nutrient, said system comprising:a hot water tank;water supply means for supplying water to said hot water tank;a water-heating element for said hot water tank;a tubular feed-transporting conduit immersed in said hot water tank and capable of independently containing and alternatively moving liquid nutrient or flushing water through said hot water tank;said conduit including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being provided with an inlet valve and said outlet being provided with an outlet shut-off valve;said feed transporting conduit further including a back-flow conduit section;said back-flow conduit section having a back-flow valve for controlling alternative fluid flow of liquid nutrient and flushing heated water from said tank through said back-flow conduit and said feed transporting conduit;said inlet shut-off valve being arranged for alternatively controlling fluid flow within said feed transporting conduit and within said back-flow conduit;storage means for retrieving said nutrient;pump means for supplying and forcing fluid flow of said nutrient from said storage means into said feed-transporting conduit; anda normally closed on-demand valve communicating with said back-flow conduit section, said on-demand valve being arranged for external supply of heated water directly from said hot water tank.