Hydrator

A hydrator comprising:

• a dry module including a vertically oriented tube having a central axis, an interior, an upper inlet aperture, a lower outlet, and an inlet section including a dry inlet;
• a mixing segment including a vertically oriented tube having an interior wall, a mixing-segment inlet at an upper end thereof, and a mixing-segment outlet at a lower end thereof, the mixing segment being vertically aligned with and sealingly connected to the outlet of the dry module;
• a rotating hydrator shaft with a liquid channel and a longitudinal axis aligned with the central axis of the dry module;
• a plurality of spaced apart dry blades disposed on and secured to rotate with the hydrator shaft in the mixing segment;
• a hydrator nozzle disposed on and secured to rotate with the hydrator shaft and having a plurality of outlets in fluid communication with the liquid channel, the outlets being open to the mixing segment of the hydrator for discharging a liquid from the liquid channel;
• and
• a plurality of spaced apart fan blades disposed on and secured to rotate with the hydrator shaft in the inlet section of the dry module.

A hydrator comprising:

• a dry module including a vertically oriented tube having a central axis, an interior, an upper inlet aperture, a lower outlet, and an inlet section including a dry inlet;
• a mixing segment including a vertically oriented tube having an interior wall, a mixing-segment inlet at an upper end thereof, and a mixing-segment outlet at a lower end thereof, the mixing segment being vertically aligned with and sealingly connected to the outlet of the dry module;
• a rotating hydrator shaft with a liquid channel and a longitudinal axis aligned with the central axis of the dry module;
• a plurality of spaced apart dry blades disposed on and secured to rotate with the hydrator shaft in the mixing segment;
• a hydrator nozzle disposed on and secured to rotate with the hydrator shaft and having a plurality of outlets in fluid communication with the liquid channel, the outlets being open to the mixing segment of the hydrator for discharging a liquid from the liquid channel;
• and
• a liquid reservoir including a body surrounding and sealingly engaged with a portion of the hydrator shaft, and a liquid inlet for admitting liquid into the body,
• wherein the hydrator shaft has a liquid passage disposed within the portion of the hydrator shaft surrounded by the liquid reservoir, the liquid passage passing through a side wall of the hydrator shaft such that the liquid channel is fluidly connected with the liquid reservoir, so that a liquid under pressure in the liquid reservoir flows into the liquid channel.

A method of hydration, comprising:

• providing a hydrator comprising:
• a dry module including a vertically oriented tube having a central axis, an interior, an upper inlet aperture, a lower outlet, and an inlet section including a dry inlet;
• a mixing segment including a vertically oriented tube having an interior wall, a mixing-segment inlet at an upper end thereof, and a mixing-segment outlet at a lower end thereof, the mixing segment being vertically aligned with and sealingly connected to the outlet of the dry module;
• a rotating hydrator shaft with a liquid channel and a longitudinal axis aligned with the central axis of the dry module;
• a plurality of spaced apart dry blades disposed on and secured to rotate with the hydrator shaft in the mixing segment;
• and
• a hydrator nozzle disposed on and secured to rotate with the hydrator shaft and having a plurality of outlets in fluid communication with the liquid channel, the outlets being open to the mixing segment of the hydrator for discharging a liquid from the liquid channel, the hydrator nozzle and the outlets thereof being located below each of the plurality of spaced apart dry blades;
• introducing a dry product into the dry module through the dry inlet;
• rotating the hydrator shaft at between 1500 and 1900 revolutions per minute, thereby rotating the dry blades in the mixing segment;
• supplying a liquid to the bore such that the liquid flows through plurality of outlets of the hydrator nozzle and the liquid is discharged into the mixing section of the hydrator,
• thereby producing a uniform, well-combined dough or paste product that has not been subjected to mechanical stirring or kneading.