Back to results
US 5,915,815 AGranted
Method and apparatus for drying organic material
AssigneeResponsible Recycling Limited
InventorsPhilip Moore, David J Dickinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeResponsible Recycling Limited
InventorsPhilip Moore, David J Dickinson
Estimating the term…
An apparatus method of separating organic mass into its component parts in environmentally contained hygienic conditions at high thermal efficiency. One example is extraction of aromatic oils from citrus fruit. Organic materials derive from plants which contain (A) dry matter; (B) aqueous solutions and (C) secretions. The apparatus and method separates organic mass into these three components to create positive valuable products, frequently from negative value wastes. The apparatus and method utilizes a drying medium comprising a mixture of self derived superheated steam generated from part of the moisture given off by the material itself and air. The apparatus is fully enclosed, thus being environmentally benign and eliminating odors and deleterious emissions common to non-contained and/or direct fired dryers. Enclosure and use of superheated steam for drying, plus the combination of several processes in one operation, leads to higher thermal efficiency and lower operating costs than conventional drying or distillation processes.
An apparatus for drying organic material, comprising a substantially sealed chamber, means sealingly to admit said organic material and a predetermined amount of air thereto, means sealingly to discharge dried organic material therefrom, heat exchanger means to recirculate gases within the chamber back to the chamber at a higher temperature, means to extract a proportion of the gases, being essentially steam, air and essential oils, from said chamber, means to condense said extracted gases and separate said condensates into aqueous and organic fractions.
A method of drying organic materials comprising the steps of so feeding said organic material that only a predetermined amount of air is admitted therewith, heating the material by means of said air and steam generated by heating of the material, recirculating said air and steam to reheat it to a temperature between 120-250.degree. C. preferably in the region of 200.degree. C. and readmit it to the organic material,so removing dried organic material that substantially none of the air, steam and any essential oils entrained therewith are removed therewith, removing a proportion of the air, steam and essential oil vapour, and condensing said removed proportion to separate it into its component parts.
A method of extracting aromatic oils from citrus fruit, its pulp, or its peel or other organic material, comprising passing the fruit into a substantially sealed processing means in such a manner that air is admitted at a controlled rate;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.