Patent GB-1409444-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for the treatment of solid substances with a volatile  liquid
IPC: A23L5/41
Filed: 1972-10-03
Abstract: 1409444 Treating foodstuffs S P LIPOMA 3 Oct 1972 [13 Oct 1971 18 Oct 1971 1 Dec 1971] 45567/72 Heading A2D [Also in Division F4] An apparatus for contacting a solid substance with a volatile liquid fluorocarbon comprises (a) a contact vessel having an inlet and an outlet in an upper portion thereof and adapted to hold a body of liquid florocarbon with a vapour space thereabove; (b) entry means for continuously introducing the solid substance which it is desired to treat into the inlet of said contact vessel, said means including a liquid seal through which the solid substance passes to the inlet of said vessel; (c) means for continuously conveying the solid substance from the inlet of said vessel through said body of fluorocarbon in submerged relation thereto and thence upwardly and through said outlet; and (d) exit means for continuously transporting the solid substance after treatment away from the outlet to a delivery point, the exit means including a liquid seal through which said solid substance passes between outlet and delivery point. The contact vessel may be equipped with means to condense fluorocarbon vapour. A suitable apparatus is shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and, in this apparatus, solid material to be treated passes into the apparatus on conveyor 16. The material is passed through a first liquid seal comprising a tunnel 14 containing a body of liquid. This liquid may be water or oil which may be heated so that, if the solid material is a food product, it may be cooked whilst being conveyed through the first liquid seal and in this case the contact portion 10 of the apparatus may be adapted to remove oil from the food product by use of the fluorocarbon, purification means being provided to separate dissolved oil from the fluorocarbon. After passing through this seal, the solid material is passed by conveyors 26, 32-34 and 36 to contact portion 10 of the apparatus.The conveyors 26 and 32-34 may be vibrated to remove adhered water. Further, conveyor 32-34 may be provided with a sponge outer surface 34 (Fig. 2, not shown) to absorb shaken-off water. This absorbed water may be squeezed out of layer 34 by rollers 33A. In the contact portion 10, the solid material is carried by conveyor 46 down into the body of liquid 49 and thence up to the outlet 45. Refrigerating coils 51 are provided in the contact portion 10 to cool and condense vapours emanating from the body of liquid 49. The outlet 45 is associated with a further liquid seal which consists of a tank 54 holding a body of liquid 61. This liquid may be water or oil maintained at room temperature. After passing through the second liquid seal, the solid material is removed from the apparatus by conveyor 59. The contact portion 10 is connected via vapour inlet and outlet pipes 69 and 68 respectively to a means to control the vapour pressure in the space above the body of liquid 49. There is also provided means 90 for purifying, e.g. filtering, the body of liquid 49. The apparatus may be used (a) to cool or freeze articles, particularly food products, (b) to apply a sterilizing agent, germicidal, bactericidal, fungicidal or bacteriostatic agent, an antioxidant, an insecticidal agent, a flavourant or a colourant to food products, and (c) to extract oil from food products, such as potato chips.