Degumming and deacidification system for grease

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of grease production, and discloses a grease degumming and deacidification system which comprises an acid refining system, a deacidification system, a deacidification system and a deacidification system which are sequentially connected, the alkali refining system is used for reacting alkali with the crude oil to remove free fatty acid; the separation system is used for separating crude oil from colloid, wax and acid; the washing system is used for further cleaning the crude oil and removing fatty acid salt (soap), residual acid, residual alkali and part of water-soluble impurities; the degassing system is used for removing residual peculiar smell substances in the grease; the acid refining system is internally provided with a pipeline reactor for sufficient reaction of acid and crude oil, and the pipeline reactor is vertically arranged. The system provided by the invention can realize continuous feeding, guarantee the continuous reaction of the system, improve the reaction efficiency and improve the purity of the reacted product oil.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of oil production technology, and more specifically to a degumming and deacidification system for oils. Background Technology

[0002] The statements in this section are provided only as background information in relation to the disclosure of this application and do not constitute prior art.

[0003] Fish oil and algal oil are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids such as DHA and EPA, which are extremely beneficial to human health, and are widely used in food, medical, and nutritional supplement fields. However, crude fish oil and crude algal oil extracted from raw materials contain various saturated fatty acids and other impurities. They usually need to undergo degumming and deacidification processes to remove these impurities and initially improve the quality and stability of the oil.

[0004] The main purpose of degumming is to remove pectin-soluble impurities such as phospholipids, proteins, and sugars from oils; the main purpose of deacidification is to remove free fatty acids present in oils; through degumming and deacidification treatments, the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in oils can be increased, thereby improving the quality and stability of oils.

[0005] Existing degumming and deacidification production lines for crude fish oil, crude algae oil, and other oils are usually carried out in a mixing tank. The crude oil and phosphoric acid are added to the mixing tank and mixed to react, thereby degumming the crude oil. In order to ensure complete degumming, the mixing reaction can only be carried out in a single batch, and continuous production cannot be achieved.

[0006] Existing technology CN104388189A discloses a low-temperature alkali refining method for crude oil, including acid reaction, alkali reaction, water washing, separation and drying steps, which improves the oil production yield. It also discloses installing heat exchangers 11 at the oil inlet and outlet pipes to achieve heat exchange between the input crude oil and the output neutral oil; subsequently, the temperature is raised to 80°C to react with phosphoric acid, then cooled to 65°C to react with alkali, and finally raised again to 85°C for two centrifugations, followed by drying to obtain oil with improved purity.

[0007] The comparative document contains multiple heating, cooling, and reheating processes, resulting in significant heat loss. Furthermore, in continuous production, the centrifuges operate continuously for extended periods, causing their temperatures to rise. This triggers the centrifuges' self-protection mechanisms, leading to shutdown and cooling. Excessive temperatures also cause oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and other substances in the crude oil, hindering continuous production and reducing crude oil processing efficiency. In addition, existing crude oil processing lines typically use reaction tanks for acid refining and alkali refining. After each acid or alkali refining process, all materials must be transferred to the next stage before proceeding, resulting in extremely low processing efficiency.

[0008] In view of this, it is indeed necessary to provide a degumming and deacidification system for oils and fats to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing crude oil degumming and deacidification systems by providing a degumming and deacidification system for oils, thereby solving problems such as the inability to achieve continuous production, low centrifuge processing efficiency, and low oil processing efficiency in the prior art.

[0010] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: This application provides a degumming and deacidification system for oils and fats, comprising: (The system is described in part) Acid refining system: used for reacting acids with gums in oils and fats; Alkali refining system: used to react acidic substances in oils and fats after acid refining with alkali; Separation system: used to separate impurities from oils and fats after alkali refining; Water washing system: Used to clean the separated grease and remove water-soluble impurities; Degassing system: Used to remove residual moisture and odor substances from grease after washing.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the acid refining system is equipped with a pipeline reactor for the acid and crude oil to react fully. The pipeline reactor is vertically positioned, allowing the reaction liquid to gradually fill under gravity for a more thorough reaction, while also saving installation space. Furthermore, acid and crude oil may produce flocculent material after the reaction. When using a vertical reaction tank, this flocculent material settles downwards, potentially causing blockages at the tank outlet or flowing into the pipeline and clogging it, reducing the discharge rate and delaying production during maintenance. However, in this application, both acid and crude oil react simultaneously within the pipeline reactor, eliminating the opportunity for flocculent material to settle. The material flows continuously in small amounts within the pipeline, reducing the likelihood of accumulation and blockage, while also enabling continuous operation. The pipeline reactor's diameter is generally greater than 1 cm, preventing effective blockage by flocculent material. Additionally, by installing a third pump before the pipeline reactor, the acid and crude oil mixture entering the reactor is pressurized, further preventing flocculent blockage.

[0012] Preferably, the acid refining system also includes an acid mixing tank for premixing acid and crude oil. The acid mixing tank is connected to the front end of the pipeline reactor and communicates with the pipeline reactor. The premixed acid and crude oil in the acid mixing tank are transported to the pipeline reactor for further reaction. The combined arrangement of the acid mixing tank and the pipeline reactor enables continuous material addition, continuous feeding, and continuous reaction, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0013] Preferably, the acid mixing tank of the acid refining system is further connected to an acid storage tank and a second pump to receive the fed acid and crude oil and premix them.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the degumming and deacidification system for oils and fats of this application further includes a pretreatment system disposed before the acid refining system for pretreating crude oil and a post-treatment system disposed in the separation system for secondary waste treatment. The pretreatment system includes a crude oil storage tank, a first pump, a first flow meter, and a first heat exchanger connected in sequence by pipelines. The first heat exchanger is used to heat the crude oil, and the rotational speed of the first pump is controlled by the data from the first flow meter, thereby controlling the crude oil flow rate.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the separation system includes at least two centrifuges (a first centrifuge and a second centrifuge connected in sequence); it also includes a water circulation system connected to the centrifuges for cooling the centrifuges, preventing the high temperatures generated by continuous operation of the centrifuges from affecting their normal operation, avoiding downtime, and extending the service life of the centrifuges; at the same time, it can prevent the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and other substances in crude oil caused by the high temperatures generated by continuous operation of the centrifuges, further improving production efficiency.

[0016] Preferably, the water circulation system includes a cold water storage tank, a refrigeration device, and a tenth pump. The water in the cold water storage tank is cooled by the refrigeration device and then pumped by the tenth pump through pipelines to the inlet of each centrifuge. The outlet of the centrifuge is further connected to the cold water storage tank through pipelines so that the water after heat exchange flows back to the cold water storage tank to cool down each centrifuge, maintain the normal operation of the centrifuge, and realize water circulation.

[0017] Preferably, the cooling medium water in the water circulation system can also be replaced with other cooling media with heat exchange capabilities, such as heat exchange oil.

[0018] Preferably, the crude oil is crude fish oil or crude algae oil.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the alkali refining system includes an alkali storage tank, a fourth pump, and an alkali mixing tank connected sequentially by pipelines. The outlet of the pipeline reactor in the acid refining system is connected to the inlet of the alkali mixing tank to transport the acid-refined crude oil into the alkali mixing tank for mixing and reaction with alkali. This neutralizes the acid in the reaction solution, which includes unreacted phosphoric acid from the acid storage tank and free fatty acids from the crude oil. The alkali and free fatty acids neutralize each other to produce soap residue, adsorbing some impurities in the crude oil for subsequent centrifugal separation. The alkali is preferably an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the washing system includes a water storage tank connected by a pipeline, a fifth pump connected to the outlet of the water storage tank, a second flow meter, a washing mixing tank, a sixth pump connected to the outlet of the washing mixing tank, a third centrifuge, and / or a light phase storage tank.

[0021] The water washing mixing tank and the water storage tank are connected via a fifth pump and a second flow meter. The washing mixing tank and the third centrifuge are connected by a sixth pump, and the outlet of the third centrifuge is connected to the light phase storage tank.

[0022] In this separation system, the second light phase obtained after separation by the second centrifuge is fed into a washing mixing tank and mixed with water for washing. The washed product is then connected to the inlet of the third centrifuge via a sixth pump. After centrifugation, a third light phase and a third heavy phase are obtained. The third light phase is then fed into a light phase storage tank for storage.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the degassing system includes a seventh pump, a second heat exchanger, a degassing tank, an eighth pump, a third heat exchanger, and a finished oil storage tank. The light phase in the light phase storage tank is connected to the second heat exchanger via the seventh pump. The second heat exchanger heats the light phase, and the heated light phase is then fed into the degassing tank for vacuum degassing to remove water. After water removal, the light phase is fed into the third heat exchanger via the eighth pump for cooling. The cooled finished oil is then stored, for example, in a finished oil storage tank.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are connected to a hot water circulation system, which includes a hot water storage tank and a heating device. The water in the hot water storage tank is heated by the heating device and then sent to the first heat exchanger to exchange heat with the input crude oil to preheat the crude oil to the temperature required for the reaction in the acid refining system; or it is sent to the second heat exchanger to reheat the light phase input to the third centrifuge to the temperature required for degassing in the degassing tank.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the post-treatment system includes a citric acid storage tank, a mixing tank, and a degummed acidified oil storage tank. The heavy phase outlets of the first and second centrifuges are connected to the mixing tank to allow the first and second heavy phases to be fed into the mixing tank for further mixing and reaction with acid. The water produced in the reaction is discharged, and the product is stored in the degummed acidified oil storage tank. By adding citric acid to the heavy phase for reaction, degummed acidified oil is obtained, directly generating economic benefits, avoiding waste, conforming to the basic principles of green chemistry, and simultaneously reducing production costs.

[0026] The post-treatment system also includes a waste storage tank (sewage treatment station) connected to the third centrifuge to process the heavy phase after centrifugation by the third centrifuge before discharging it to the outside.

[0027] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are: 1. A degumming and deacidification system for oils, which uses a pipeline reactor in the acid refining reaction instead of a traditional reaction tank, making the reaction more complete, the removal efficiency of impurities in crude oil higher, and enabling continuous feeding, thereby improving production efficiency; 2. A degumming and deacidification system for oils and fats, which connects multiple centrifuges to a cooling water circulation system. The water circulation system physically cools the centrifuges, transferring the temperature in a timely manner during operation to prevent the centrifuges from generating high temperatures. This avoids triggering the centrifuges' self-protection mechanism and causing production stoppages, and also prevents the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and other substances in the crude oil due to high temperatures. This system enables continuous operation of the degumming and deacidification production line, improves production efficiency, and ensures product quality. 3. A degumming and deacidification system for oils, which uses three centrifuges for three centrifugation processes to achieve more thorough degumming and deacidification. Specifically, after alkali refining, two centrifuges are used for continuous centrifugation to ensure that impurities in the crude oil are completely removed, avoiding unnecessary impact of impurities on subsequent production steps and improving the impurity removal rate. 4. A degumming and deacidification system for oils, which uses an external mixing tank to perform a secondary acid reaction on the output heavy phase, recovers the degummed acidified oil, saves resources, avoids the waste of some heavy phase resources, generates certain economic value, and improves the economic efficiency of the system. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a degumming and deacidification system for oils.

[0029] Reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1-Crude oil storage tank, 2-First pump, 3-First flow meter, 4-First heat exchanger, 5-Acid mixing tank, 6-Acid storage tank, 7-Second pump, 8-Third pump, 9-Pipeline reactor, 10-Alkali mixing tank, 11-Alkali storage tank, 12-Fourth pump, 13-First centrifuge, 14-Second centrifuge, 15-Water washing mixing tank, 16-Second flow meter, 17-Water storage tank, 18-Fifth pump, 19-Sixth pump. 20-Third centrifuge, 21-Waste storage tank, 22-Light phase storage tank, 23-Seventh pump, 24-Second heat exchanger, 25-Degassing tank, 26-Eighth pump, 27-Third heat exchanger, 28-Finished oil storage tank, 29-Hot water storage tank, 30-Heating device, 31-Ninth pump, 32-Cold water storage tank, 33-Refrigeration device, 34-Tenth pump, 35-Mixing tank, 36-Citrate acid storage tank, 37-Degummed acidified oil storage tank. Detailed Implementation

[0030] It should be noted that relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0031] The features and performance of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

[0032] Example 1: A degumming and deacidification system for oils and fats like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a degumming and deacidification system for oils, which first includes a pretreatment system. The pretreatment system includes a crude oil storage tank 1, a first pump 2, a first flow meter 3, and a first heat exchanger 4. The crude oil in the crude oil storage tank 1 is transported to the first heat exchanger 4 by the first pump 2 for preheating to the temperature required for acid refining, thereby improving the efficiency of the acid refining reaction. The rotational speed of the first pump 2 is controlled by the data reading of the first flow meter 3, which controls the crude oil injection flow rate, and thus controls the overall production speed of the production line.

[0033] The crude oil processed by the pretreatment system is transported to the acid refining system. The acid refining system includes an acid storage tank 6, an acid mixing tank 5, a second pump 7, a third pump 8, and a pipeline reactor 9. The acid storage tank 6 is used to store acid feedstock, and the acid mixing tank 5 is used to supply acid and crude oil for homogeneous mixing. Preferably, the acid feedstock can be phosphoric acid. The pipeline reactor 9 is used to supply acid and crude oil for thorough reaction. The pretreated crude oil is transported to the acid mixing tank 5, and the second pump 7, connected to the outlet of the acid storage tank 6, also supplies acid feedstock to the acid mixing tank 5 for premixing with the pretreated crude oil. The homogeneously mixed acid-oil mixture is then transported by the third pump 8 to the pipeline reactor 9 for reaction. The coordinated arrangement of the acid mixing tank 5 and the pipeline reactor 9 enables continuous feeding and continuous reaction, thereby improving production efficiency. The pipeline reactor 9 is vertically positioned; this allows the reaction liquid to gradually fill under gravity, resulting in a more thorough reaction, and also saves installation space. In addition, when acid and crude oil react in pipeline reactor 9, flocculent matter may be generated. However, since both acid and crude oil flow and react in pipeline reactor, and the diameter of pipeline reactor is generally greater than 1 cm, flocculent matter cannot effectively block pipeline reactor 9. Furthermore, by setting a third pump 8 before pipeline reactor 9, the acid and crude oil mixture entering pipeline reactor 9 is given a certain pressure, which further prevents flocculent matter from blocking pipeline reactor 9.

[0034] After the acid refining system reaction is completed, the raw materials are then transported to the alkali refining system for further reaction. The alkali refining system includes an alkali storage tank 11, a fourth pump 12, and an alkali mixing tank 10, which are connected in sequence by pipelines. The outlet of the pipeline reactor 9 in the acid refining system is connected to the inlet of the alkali mixing tank 10 to transport the acid-refined crude oil into the alkali mixing tank 10. The fourth pump 12 also transports the alkali from the alkali storage tank 11 to the alkali mixing tank 10 to mix and react with the alkali to remove free fatty acids. The alkali stored in the alkali storage tank 11 is preferably an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide.

[0035] After the crude oil undergoes acid refining and alkali refining to dissolve the gums and neutralize acidic substances, it is transported to a separation system for further separation. The separation system includes at least two centrifuges (a first centrifuge 13 and a second centrifuge 14 connected sequentially); it also includes a water circulation system connected to the centrifuges. The water circulation system physically cools the centrifuges, preventing them from generating excessively high temperatures during operation. This avoids triggering the centrifuges' self-protection mechanisms and causing production stoppages, and also prevents the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and other substances in the crude oil due to high temperatures. This design enables continuous operation of the degumming and deacidification production line, improving production efficiency while ensuring product quality.

[0036] The water circulation system includes a cold water storage tank 32, a refrigeration unit 33, and a tenth pump 34. The water in the cold water storage tank 32 is cooled by the refrigeration unit and then pumped by the tenth pump 34 through pipelines to the inlet of each centrifuge. The outlet of the centrifuge is further connected to the cold water storage tank 32 through pipelines so that the water after heat exchange flows back to the cold water storage tank 32 to cool down each centrifuge, maintain the normal operation of the centrifuge, and realize water circulation.

[0037] Preferably, the cooling medium water in the water circulation system can also be replaced with other cooling media with heat exchange capabilities, such as heat exchange oil.

[0038] Specifically, the crude oil, after undergoing the acid refining and alkali refining processes, is fed into the first centrifuge 13 for centrifugation. After centrifugation, the dissolved gums and most impurities in the crude oil are located in the first heavy phase and are transferred to the post-processing system for further processing. EPA, DHA, some difficult-to-separate impurities, and some incompletely separated gums and impurities are located in the first light phase and are sent to the second centrifuge 14 for further centrifugation. This process further separates the second light phase and the second heavy phase, removing difficult-to-separate impurities and gum substances, preventing them from affecting subsequent reactions, and improving product quality. The second heavy phase separated by the second centrifuge 14 is also transferred to the post-processing system for further processing.

[0039] The second light phase separated by the second centrifuge 14 is transported to a washing system for washing. The washing system includes a water storage tank 17 connected by pipes, a fifth pump 18 connected to the outlet of the water storage tank 17, a second flow meter 16, a washing mixing tank 15, a sixth pump 19 connected to the outlet of the washing mixing tank 15, a third centrifuge 20, and / or a light phase storage tank 22. The second light phase obtained after separation by the second centrifuge 14 in the separation system is input into the washing mixing tank 15; the fifth pump 18 also transports water from the water storage tank 17 to the washing mixing tank 15 to wash the second light phase, removing salt and other water-soluble impurities. The washed product is connected to the inlet of the third centrifuge 20 via the sixth pump 19, and after centrifugation, a third light phase and a third heavy phase are obtained. The third light phase is input into the light phase storage tank 22 for storage. The third heavy phase is waste and is transported to the waste storage tank 21 for storage.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the degassing system includes a seventh pump 23, a second heat exchanger 24, a degassing tank 25, an eighth pump 26, a third heat exchanger 27, and a finished oil storage tank 28. The third light phase in the light phase storage tank 22 is connected to the second heat exchanger 24 via the seventh pump 23. The third light phase is heated by the second heat exchanger 24 and then fed into the degassing tank 25 for vacuum degassing to remove moisture and residual odor substances. After water removal, the light phase is fed into the third heat exchanger 27 via the eighth pump 26 for cooling. The cooled finished oil is then stored.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, the first heat exchanger 4 and the second heat exchanger 24 are connected to a hot water circulation system. The hot water circulation system includes a hot water storage tank 29 and a heating device 30. The water in the hot water storage tank 29 is heated by the heating device 30 and then sent to the first heat exchanger 4 to exchange heat with the input crude oil, preheating the crude oil to the temperature required for the reaction in the acid refining system; or it is sent to the second heat exchanger 24 to reheat the third light phase input to the third centrifuge 20 to the temperature required for degassing in the degassing tank 25.

[0042] According to a preferred embodiment, the post-processing system includes a citric acid storage tank 36, a mixing tank 35, and a degummed acidified oil storage tank 37. The heavy phase outlets of the first centrifuge 13 and the second centrifuge 14 are connected to the mixing tank 35 to allow the first and second heavy phases to be fed into the mixing tank 35 for further mixing and reaction with citric acid. The water produced in the reaction is discharged, and the product is stored in the degummed acidified oil storage tank 37. By adding citric acid to the heavy phase for reaction, degummed acidified oil is obtained, directly generating economic benefits, avoiding waste, conforming to the basic principles of green chemistry, and simultaneously reducing production costs.

[0043] The post-treatment system also includes a waste storage tank 21 (sewage treatment station) connected to the third centrifuge 20, so as to process the heavy phase after centrifugation by the third centrifuge 20 and discharge it to the outside world to avoid environmental pollution.

[0044] The embodiments described above merely illustrate specific implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are detailed and specific, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the technical solution of this application, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A degumming and deacidification system of oil and fat, characterized by, Including sequentially connected Acid refining system: used to react acids with gums in crude oil; Alkali refining system: used to react acidic substances in crude oil after acid refining with alkali; Separation system: used to separate impurities from crude oil after alkali refining; Water washing system: used to clean the separated crude oil and remove water-soluble impurities; Degassing system: used to remove residual moisture and odor substances from grease after washing; The acid refining system is equipped with a pipeline reactor for the full reaction of acid and crude oil.

2. The oil degumming and deacidification system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acid refining system includes an acid mixing tank connected to the front end of the pipeline reactor. The acid and crude oil, which are initially mixed in the acid mixing tank, are transported through pipelines to the pipeline reactor for reaction.

3. The oil degumming and deacidification system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pipeline reactor is configured to be placed vertically.

4. The oil degumming and deacidification system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The separation system includes at least a first centrifuge and a second centrifuge connected in sequence; it also includes a water circulation system connected to the centrifuges for cooling the centrifuges.

5. The degumming and deacidification system of oil according to claim 4, characterized in that, The water circulation system includes a cold water storage tank, a refrigeration unit, and a tenth pump connected in sequence. The tenth pump is connected to the first centrifuge and the second centrifuge via a pipeline.

6. The oil degumming and deacidification system according to claim 5, wherein, The cold water storage tank stores a cooling medium, which is water or heat exchange oil.

7. The degumming and deacidification system for oils and fats according to claim 1, characterized in that, The alkali refining system includes an alkali storage tank, a fourth pump, and an alkali mixing tank connected in sequence by pipelines, wherein the outlet of the pipeline reactor is connected to the inlet of the alkali mixing tank.

8. The degumming and deacidification system for oils and fats according to claim 1, characterized in that, The washing system includes a water storage tank connected by pipelines, a fifth pump connected to the outlet of the water storage tank, a second flow meter, a washing mixing tank, a sixth pump connected to the outlet of the washing mixing tank, a third centrifuge, and a light phase storage tank. The water washing mixing tank and the water storage tank are connected via a fifth pump and a second flow meter. The washing mixing tank and the third centrifuge are connected by a sixth pump, and the outlet of the third centrifuge is connected to the light phase storage tank.

9. The degumming and deacidification system for oils and fats according to claim 1, characterized in that, The degassing system includes a seventh pump, a second heat exchanger, a degassing tank, an eighth pump, a third heat exchanger, and a finished oil storage tank. The light phase storage tank is connected to the second heat exchanger via the seventh pump. The second heat exchanger is connected to the inlet of the degassing tank. The outlet of the degassing tank is connected to the third heat exchanger via the eighth pump. The third heat exchanger is connected to the finished oil storage tank.

10. A degumming and deacidification system for oils and fats according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a pretreatment system installed before the acid refining system for pretreating crude oil and a post-treatment system installed in the separation system for secondary treatment of waste.

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