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US 4,446,781 AGranted
Apparatus for the mechanical/thermal treatment, including sterilization and pasteurization, of fluids
AssigneeLuwa AG
InventorArmin Schmitt
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AssigneeLuwa AG
InventorArmin Schmitt
Estimating the term…
A process and apparatus for continuous mechanical/thermal treatment including sterilization of fluids and pastry masses such as cocoa masses. In accordance with the invention, a fluid or cocoa mass is subjected to a thin layer continuous treatment of deacidification, dehumidification and degasification in a thin layer device prior to delivery to a stow or sterilization reactor. Following sterilization and cooling, the treated cocoa mass is conveyed to a second thin layer device for residual deacidification, dehumidification and degasification, while in the stow or sterilization reactor, the cocoa mass is heated by internal friction, generating a temperature in the range of 100.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. (preferably 135.degree. C.) which is necessary for degermination. The degermination temperature is held at its average value by an external heat exchanger. The apparatus includes the stow or sterilization reactor placed between the two thin layer devices and connected to each one of them by conveyor lines. The heat exchanger is coupled to the reactor for adjusting any fluctuations in the degermination temperature so that it can be held at its average value. A cooling device is connected to the reactor at the outlet side thereof for cooling the treated cocoa mass to below 100.degree. C. before being conveyed to the second thin layer device for further treatment.
An apparatus for continuous mechanical/thermal treatment and sterilization of fluids including cocoa mass, with the cocoa mass being subjected to a thin layer deacidification, dehumidification and degasification treatment prior to and after the sterilization thereof, the apparatus comprising first and second spaced apart thin layer treatment systems, a degermination system placed between said first and second thin layer treatment systems and conveyor lines connecting said degermination system to said first and second thin layer treatment systems, said degermination system comprising a sterilization reactor for receiving and treating the cocoa mass flowing thereinto from said first thin layer treatment system, a heat exchanger placed outside of the sterilization reactor and coupled thereto for adjusting temperature fluctuations of the cocoa mass inside the reactor, and a cooling device coupled to the reactor for cooling the cocoa mass flowing out of the reactor and being directed to said second thin layer treatment system, the sterilization reactor being provided with an inlet opening at its top section and an outlet opening at its bottom section, and a branch line disposed on the outside thereof being connected to said outlet opening and terminating into its top section for partial recycling of treated cocoa mass therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.