Reactor for degumming
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A reactor for degumming oil, the reactor comprising:
- a housing having a flow path, the flow path having an a surface and the flow path comprising an upstream portion for receiving oil and a downstream portion for receiving processed oil;
an annular obstruction attached to the surface of the flow path for reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow path, the obstruction having an opening;
a frusto-conical body or a portion thereof positioned in the opening of the annular obstruction, the frusto-conical body having a surface and being positioned along the centerline of the flow path of the housing;
the annular obstruction having two or more circumferential spacers in series positioned around the surface of the frusto-conical body; and
the two or more circumferential spacers in series positioned around the surface of the frusto-conical body form ring gaps around the surface of the frusto-conical body for guiding oil through the flow path, wherein the cross-sectional area of each ring gap (Ax) is less than that of the next downstream ring gap (Ax+1) according to the following equation;
1.2≦
(Ax+1)/Ax≦
1.4, where x=1, 2, 3.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reactor is used for degumming vegetable oil to increase yield and reduce phosphatides. The reactor includes an annular obstruction with multiple circumferential spacers that form ring gaps around a center body having a tapered surface. The circumferential spacers and ring gaps form decompression stages for explosively mixing the oil with degumming agents. Impurities are transferred to the degumming agents and further separation of the components can be carried out to produce a refined oil product.
36 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A reactor for degumming oil, the reactor comprising:
- a housing having a flow path, the flow path having an a surface and the flow path comprising an upstream portion for receiving oil and a downstream portion for receiving processed oil;
an annular obstruction attached to the surface of the flow path for reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow path, the obstruction having an opening;
a frusto-conical body or a portion thereof positioned in the opening of the annular obstruction, the frusto-conical body having a surface and being positioned along the centerline of the flow path of the housing;
the annular obstruction having two or more circumferential spacers in series positioned around the surface of the frusto-conical body; and
the two or more circumferential spacers in series positioned around the surface of the frusto-conical body form ring gaps around the surface of the frusto-conical body for guiding oil through the flow path, wherein the cross-sectional area of each ring gap (Ax) is less than that of the next downstream ring gap (Ax+1) according to the following equation;
1.2≦
(Ax+1)/Ax≦
1.4, where x=1, 2, 3. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a housing having a flow path, the flow path having an a surface and the flow path comprising an upstream portion for receiving oil and a downstream portion for receiving processed oil;
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11. A reactor for degumming vegetable oil in the absence of cavitation, the reactor comprising:
- a tubular housing having a flow path, the flow path having comprising an upstream portion for receiving oil and a downstream portion for receiving processed oil;
the tubular housing having an annular obstruction for reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow path, the annular obstruction comprising a series of two or more circumferential spacers in series, wherein the two or more circumferential spacers each form a circular 13 opening such that the diameter of the opening of each circumferential spacer with each consecutive downstream circumferential spacer;
a body or a portion thereof positioned in the circular openings of the two or more circumferential spacers in series, the body having a tapered surface that forms ring gaps between the two or more circumferential spacers and the tapered surface, wherein the ring gaps provide a flow path for the vegetable oil, wherein the cross-sectional area of each ring gap (Ax) is less than that of the next downstream ring gap (Ax+1) according to the following equation;
1.2≦
(Ax+1)/Ax≦
1.4, where x=1, 2, 3; and
the two or more circumferential spacers having a surface facing towards the upstream portion of the flow path, wherein the surface facing towards the upstream portion forms an angle between 900 and 1000 with the tapered surface of the body positioned in the circular openings of the two or more circumferential spacers in series and the two or more circumferential spacers having an angled surface facing towards the downstream portion of the flow path, wherein the angled surface facing towards the downstream portion forms an angle between 500 and 800 with the centerline of the flow path through the upstream portion of the tubular housing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- a tubular housing having a flow path, the flow path having comprising an upstream portion for receiving oil and a downstream portion for receiving processed oil;
Specification