Patent GB-1232111-A (GB)
IPC: A23L5/20
Filed: 1968-04-25
Abstract: 1,232,111. Heating, de-solventizing and de-odorizing solvent-treated particles. BLAWKNOX CO. 25 April, 1968, No. 19689/68. Heading A2Q. In a process and apparatus for heating, desolventizing and deodorizing solventtreated, e.g. solvent-extracted, soled particles, such as hexane-extracted soyabean flakes, the particles are fed, as by a screw-conveyer 6, Fig. 1, through a dome 9 into a horizontal, cylindrical desolventizing tank 9, through which they are cascaded and carried, as by a rotating spiral-cage conveyer 8 to an outlet pipe 27a. A blower 13 extracts solvent vapour from the tank through pipes 11 and 12 and returns the vapour to the tank through a steam-heated heater 14 and a dome 15. In the case of hexane vapour, the temperature of the solvent vapour arriving in the dome 15 may be between 270‹ and 330‹F. Excess solvent vapour is discharged from the dome 9, through a pipe 16, a scrubber 17 and a pipe 18, to a condenser (not shown). Heated solvent is sprayed into the upper part of the scrubber through nozzles 29 at the ends of pipes 20 branching from a solvent supply pipe 26, from which solvent may be fed into the discharge tube 13b of the blower, e.g. when starting desolventization. Solvent passes from the bottom of the scrubber 17, through a pipe 23, a pump 24 and a pipe 25, into the top of the dome 15. Desolventized particles pass, through the pipe 27a, a rotating valve 27, Fig. 2, a moistening chamber 28 and a rotating valve 30, into a horizontal, cylindrical deodorizing tank 33, preferably heated by steam passing through a jacket 33b. The particles are carried through the tank 33 as by a rotating agitating conveyer 34 having a rotating central, longitudinal shaft 34a provided with radical arms 34b having pivotally attached scoops 34c at their free ends, each scoop being adjustable, about its attaching pivot, so that each scoop can be set to make a desired angle with the shaft 34a. Deodorized particles are discharged, through adjustable discharge openings 33c and 33d and a rotating valve 35, into bin 66. Live steam is fed into the tank 33 through bottom openings 40. A mixture of steam and solvent vapour is discharged from the tank 33, through a substantially central dome 41, a pipe 42, a cyclone scrubber 43 (into which water is sprayed through nozzles 45), a pipe 44 and a separating tank 56 connected to a condenser 58, into a discharge pipe 59. By opening a valve 60a the pipe 59 can be connected to a vent pipe 61, e.g. leading to solvent recovery apparatus (not shown). By opening a valve 59a and closing the valve 60a the pipe 59 can be connected to an exhaust pump 62. Liquid (mainly water) passes from the base of the cyclone scrubber 43 and from the base of the tank 56 into a pipe 46. When deodorizing is effected at normal atmospheric pressure in the tank 33, said liquid passes through the pipe 46, a pipe 48, an open valve 48a and pipes 52 and 55 to a water-stripper (not shown). When deodorizing is effected at super-atmospheric pressure, valves 48a and 53a are closed, and said liquid passes, through a variable pressure valve 52a and pipes 52 and 55, to said water-stripper. When deodorizing is effected at sub-atmospheric pressure, the valves 48a and 52a are closed and said liquid passes through the opened valve 53a, a pipe 53, a positive displacement pump 54 and the pipe 55 to said water-stripper.