Device for vacuum evaporation and concentration of plant extract

Abstract

The utility model aims to provide a device for reduced-pressure evaporation and concentration of plant extract. The device comprises an evaporation and concentration tank, a liquid condenser, a buffer area, a dryer, a gas compressor, a temperature controller and a reflux receiver. The utility model solves the problems that the extracting solution is easy to discolor and generate peculiar smell in the production process; according to the device, oxidation reaction is avoided, effective components of the concentrated solution are reserved to the maximum extent, and the purpose of improving the concentration of the plant extracting solution is achieved. The device can be applied to concentration of various extracting solutions, and particularly can be used for concentration of extracting solutions containing thermally unstable components and easily oxidized components.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of concentrated processing of plant extracts, in particular to a device for concentrated plant extracts by reduced pressure evaporation. Background Art

[0002] Plant extracts are stable liquids obtained from functional plants through screening, washing, extraction, and impurity removal. In actual production and application, they typically require decolorization, deodorization, and concentration. Plant extracts contain a wide variety of active ingredients at high concentrations, resulting in unstable properties. Common concentration methods include atmospheric pressure evaporation, reduced pressure evaporation, thin-film evaporation, and multi-effect evaporation. Oxidation reactions often occur during the concentration process, altering the chemical composition of the extract (e.g., discoloration and odor), leading to changes in the active ingredients and reduced activity. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a device for concentrating plant extracts by reduced-pressure evaporation, addressing the problems of discoloration and odor generation during the production process. This device avoids oxidation reactions, retains the active ingredients of the concentrate to the greatest extent possible, and achieves the goal of increasing the concentration of the plant extract. It can be applied to the concentration of various extracts, particularly those containing thermally unstable and easily oxidized components.

[0004] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] A device for reducing pressure and evaporating and concentrating plant extracts, characterized in that it comprises an evaporation and concentration tank, a liquid condenser, a buffer zone, a dryer, a gas compressor, a temperature controller, and a reflux liquid receiver; wherein:

[0006] The evaporation and concentration tank has a feed inlet, a steam outlet, and a concentrated liquid outlet. The steam outlet of the evaporation and concentration tank is connected to the vapor inlet of a liquid condenser via a first pipeline. The liquid outlet of the liquid condenser is connected to a buffer zone via a second pipeline. The liquid outlet of the buffer zone is connected to a reflux liquid receiver. The vapor outlet of the buffer zone is connected to the vapor inlet of a dryer via a steam pipe. The liquid outlet of the dryer is connected to the buffer zone via a liquid outflow pipe. The dry gas outlet of the dryer is connected to the gas inlet of a gas compressor via a pipeline. The compressed gas outlet of the gas compressor is connected to the gas inlet of a temperature controller via a pipeline. The gas outlet of the temperature controller is connected to multiple gas inlets located at the lower part and / or bottom of the evaporation and concentration tank via a pipeline with a one-way valve. The gas inlet of the gas compressor is also connected to a first external gas inlet.

[0007] The device for reducing pressure and evaporating and concentrating plant extracts is characterized in that a gas buffer zone is provided on the pipeline between the dryer and the gas compressor; and the external gas inlet is provided on the gas buffer zone.

[0008] The device for reducing pressure and evaporating and concentrating plant extracts is characterized in that a buffer device is also connected to the first pipeline.

[0009] The device for reducing pressure and evaporating and concentrating plant extracts is characterized in that the liquid outlet of the buffer zone is also connected to a spare reflux liquid receiver.

[0010] The device for reducing pressure and evaporating and concentrating plant extracts is characterized in that an annular gas buffer is provided at the bottom of the evaporation and concentration tank, the gas inlet end of the gas buffer is connected to the gas outlet end of the one-way valve, and a plurality of gas inlets are distributed on the inner wall of the gas buffer.

[0011] The device for reducing pressure and evaporating and concentrating plant extracts is characterized in that a supporting base is provided at the bottom of the evaporating and concentrating tank.

[0012] The device for reducing pressure and evaporating and concentrating plant extracts is characterized in that a lighted visual eyepiece is provided on the evaporation and concentration tank.

[0013] The device for reducing pressure and evaporating and concentrating plant extracts is characterized in that the reflux liquid receiver is provided with a second external gas inlet and a first liquid discharge port having a gas detector.

[0014] The device for reducing pressure and evaporating and concentrating plant extracts is characterized in that the standby reflux liquid receiver is provided with a third external gas inlet and a second liquid discharge port with a gas detector.

[0015] The device for reducing pressure, evaporating and concentrating plant extracts is characterized in that a pressure alarm device is connected to the pipeline between the gas compressor and the temperature controller.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the present device can efficiently concentrate plant extracts. Gas drives the liquid in the evaporation and concentration tank to circulate. After entering the evaporation and concentration tank, the gas spirals upward to form saturated vapor, which is ultimately ejected from the extract surface and, combined with negative pressure, rapidly reaches the liquid condenser for liquefaction and outflow, thereby increasing the evaporation rate of the extract. During the concentration process, the device fills the evaporation and concentration tank with inert gas via a gas compressor and temperature controller, preventing oxidation reactions (and the resulting discoloration and odor of the extract during production), thereby preserving the active ingredients of the concentrate to the greatest extent possible. The device can be used to concentrate a variety of extracts, particularly those containing thermally unstable and easily oxidizable components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of the device of the utility model.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the gas inlet structure in the evaporation concentration tank in the utility model device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments.

[0020] See also Figure 1 、 2 The utility model discloses a device for reducing pressure and evaporating and concentrating plant extracts. As shown in the figure, it includes an evaporation and concentration tank 1, a liquid condenser 6, a buffer zone 9, a dryer 10, a gas compressor 14, a temperature controller 15, and a reflux liquid receiver 17; wherein:

[0021] The evaporation and concentration tank 1 has a feed inlet 3, a steam outlet 4, and a concentrated liquid outlet 27. The steam outlet 4 of the evaporation and concentration tank 1 is connected to the vapor inlet of a liquid condenser 6 via a first pipe 5. The liquid outlet of the liquid condenser 6 is connected to a buffer zone 9 via a second pipe 8. The liquid outlet of the buffer zone 9 is connected to a reflux liquid receiver 17. The vapor outlet of the buffer zone 9 is connected to the vapor inlet of a dryer 10 via a steam pipe 11. The liquid outlet of the dryer 10 is connected to the buffer zone 9 via a liquid outflow pipe 12. The dry gas outlet of the dryer 10 is connected to the gas inlet of a gas compressor 14 via a pipe. The compressed gas outlet of the gas compressor 14 is connected to the gas inlet of a temperature controller 15 via a pipe. The gas outlet of the temperature controller 15 is connected to a plurality of gas inlets 24 located at the lower portion and / or bottom of the evaporation and concentration tank 1 via a pipe with a one-way valve 16. The gas inlet of the gas compressor 14 is also connected to a first external gas inlet 28.

[0022] When the present device is in use, the evaporation and concentration tank 1 is filled with gas (e.g., nitrogen), and the plant extract to be concentrated is then injected through the feed port 3. The gas compressor 14 of the present device is activated to provide high-pressure nitrogen (which can be nitrogen supplied from an external gas inlet 28 or from the dry gas outlet of the dryer 10). This nitrogen, after being pressurized by the gas compressor 14 and then controlled in temperature by a temperature controller 15 (preferably within the range of 30-50°C, adjustable as needed), is ejected from several gas inlets 24 located at the lower portion and / or bottom of the evaporation and concentration tank 1, driving the circulation of the extract and the evaporation of saturated steam. The nitrogen pressure determines the speed of the extract's circulation, thereby controlling the evaporation and concentration rate. During the concentration process, the device fills the evaporation and concentration tank with inert gas via the gas compressor and temperature controller, preventing oxidation reactions (and the resulting discoloration and odor of the extract during production), thereby preserving the active ingredients of the concentrate to the greatest extent possible.

[0023] During the evaporation and concentration process of the present invention, steam enters the evaporation and concentration tank 1 from the steam outlet 4, passes through the first pipe 5, and reaches the liquid condenser 6. Within the liquid condenser 6, it undergoes a phase transition, transforming into a liquid state, and then flows through the second pipe 8 into the buffer zone 9. After the condensate reaches the buffer zone 9, the entrained steam enters the gas dryer 10 through the steam pipe 11, and the condensate flows into the reflux liquid receiver 17. The dried gas from the gas dryer 10 is connected to the gas inlet of the gas compressor 14 through a pipeline via the dry gas outlet. Liquid flows from the liquid outlet pipe 12 through the buffer zone 9 and into the reflux liquid receiver 17. The dry gas enters the evaporation and concentration tank 1 through the gas compressor 14 and the temperature controller 15 via a pipeline.

[0024] In the present invention, a gas buffer zone 13 is further provided on the pipeline between the dryer 10 and the gas compressor 14; the external gas inlet 28 is provided on the gas buffer zone 13. The gas buffer zone 13 can be used to temporarily store gas before compression.

[0025] In the present invention, the first pipe 5 is further connected to a buffer device 7 for receiving the boiling and foaming liquid to flow back to the evaporation concentration tank 1 to prevent it from entering the liquid condenser 6 .

[0026] In the present invention, the first pipe 5 has a characteristic of conveying steam from the evaporation concentration tank 1 to the liquid condenser 6 in a direction from coarse to fine and from low to high during the steam conveying process, which effectively prevents the plant extract from entering the liquid condenser 6.

[0027] In the present invention, the liquid outlet of the buffer zone 9 is also connected to a spare reflux liquid receiver 18 , which has the same structure as the reflux liquid receiver 17 and is used as a spare or in rotation.

[0028] In the present invention, an annular gas buffer 23 is provided at the bottom of the evaporation and concentration tank 1. The gas inlet of the gas buffer 23 is connected to the gas outlet of the one-way valve 16 via a gas pipeline 22. Several gas inlets 24 are distributed along the inner wall of the gas buffer 23. The evaporation and concentration tank 1 can be a Hubei Kaihong double-effect Chinese medicine concentrator KHZFQ, with the annular gas buffer 23 as described above added to it.

[0029] In the present invention, a supporting base 25 is provided at the bottom of the evaporation concentration tank 1 .

[0030] In the utility model, the evaporation concentration tank 1 is provided with a visual eyepiece 2 with a light.

[0031] In the present invention, the reflux liquid receiver 17 is equipped with a second external gas inlet 19 and a first liquid discharge port 20 equipped with a gas detector. During the discharge process from the first liquid discharge port 20, the second external gas inlet 19 must be opened to allow the reflux liquid to be discharged smoothly. The detector in the first liquid discharge port 20 is designed to detect when the system is filled with inert gas before concentration. When the evaporation and concentration tank 1 is full, the overflow will flow through the pipeline and eventually reach the reflux liquid receiver 17. Once the detector detects that the reflux liquid receiver 17 is full of gas, liquid injection into the evaporation and concentration tank 1 can begin.

[0032] In the present invention, the backup reflux liquid receiver 18 has a third external gas inlet 21 and a second liquid outlet 29 with a gas detector. The functions of the third external gas inlet 21 and the second liquid outlet 29 with a gas detector are similar to those of the second external gas inlet 19 and the first liquid outlet 20 with a gas detector on the reflux liquid receiver 17, and therefore will not be further described.

[0033] In the present invention, a pressure alarm device 26 is further connected to the pipeline between the gas compressor 14 and the temperature controller 15, which is used to set a pressure threshold to alarm or shut down the device when the pressure threshold is exceeded.

[0034] The liquid condenser 6 in this utility model can be a Shanghai Jiangxing tube-and-tube heat exchanger JXGLLC-3. The buffer device 7 can be a Hubei Kaihong double-effect Chinese medicine concentrator KHZFQ buffer. The gas dryer 10 can be a Baode refrigerated dryer DHFA-10. The gas compressor 14 can be a Shanghai OPEC nitrogen compressor VSD7.5A. The temperature controller 15 can be a Zhejiang Chuangge Electric thermostat KTS011. The reflux liquid receiver 17 and the backup reflux liquid receiver 18 can be Hubei Kaihong double-effect Chinese medicine concentrator KHZFQ reflux liquid collectors.

[0035] The above is only a preferred specific implementation method of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to this. Any technician familiar with the technical field within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention can make equivalent replacements or changes based on the technical solution and utility model concept of the present invention, which should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for concentrating plant extracts by reduced pressure evaporation, characterized in that: It comprises an evaporation concentration tank (1), a liquid condenser (6), a buffer zone (9), a dryer (10), a gas compressor (14), a temperature controller (15), and a reflux liquid receiver (17); wherein: The evaporation concentration tank (1) has a feed inlet (3), a steam outlet (4) and a concentrated liquid outlet (27); the steam outlet (4) of the evaporation concentration tank (1) is connected to the vapor inlet of a liquid condenser (6) through a first pipe (5); the liquid outlet of the liquid condenser (6) is connected to a buffer zone (9) through a second pipe (8); the liquid outlet of the buffer zone (9) is connected to a reflux liquid receiver (17); the steam outlet of the buffer zone (9) is connected to the steam inlet of a dryer (10) through a steam pipe (11); the liquid outlet of the dryer (10) is connected to the vapor inlet of a dryer (10) through a steam pipe (11). The buffer zone (9) is connected to the dryer (10) through a liquid outflow pipe (12); the dry gas outlet of the dryer (10) is connected to the gas inlet of a gas compressor (14) through a pipeline; the compressed gas outlet of the gas compressor (14) is connected to the gas inlet of a temperature controller (15) through a pipeline; the gas outlet of the temperature controller (15) is connected to a plurality of gas inlets (24) located at the lower part and / or the bottom of the evaporation concentration tank (1) through a pipeline with a one-way valve (16); the gas inlet of the gas compressor (14) is also connected to a first external gas inlet (28).

2. The device for concentrating plant extract by reduced pressure evaporation according to claim 1, characterized in that: A gas buffer zone (13) is also provided on the pipeline between the dryer (10) and the gas compressor (14); and the external gas inlet (28) is provided on the gas buffer zone (13).

3. The device for concentrating plant extract by reduced pressure evaporation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first pipeline (5) is also connected to a buffer device (7).

4. The device for concentrating plant extract by reduced pressure evaporation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid outlet of the buffer zone (9) is also connected to a spare reflux liquid receiver (18).

5. The device for reducing pressure evaporation and concentrating plant extracts according to claim 1, characterized in that: An annular gas buffer (23) is provided at the bottom of the evaporation concentration tank (1); a gas inlet end of the gas buffer (23) is connected to a gas outlet end of a one-way valve (16); and a plurality of gas inlets (24) are distributed on the inner wall of the gas buffer (23).

6. The device for reducing pressure evaporation and concentrating plant extracts according to claim 1, characterized in that: A supporting base (25) is provided at the bottom of the evaporation concentration tank (1).

7. The device for reducing pressure evaporation and concentrating plant extracts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The evaporation concentration tank (1) is provided with a visual eyepiece (2) with a light.

8. The device for reducing pressure evaporation and concentrating plant extracts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reflux liquid receiver (17) is provided with a second external gas inlet (19) and a first liquid discharge port (20) having a gas detector.

9. The device for reducing pressure evaporation and concentrating plant extracts according to claim 4, characterized in that: The standby reflux liquid receiver (18) is provided with a third external gas inlet (21) and a second liquid discharge port (29) having a gas detector.

10. The device for reducing pressure evaporation and concentrating plant extracts according to claim 1, characterized in that: A pressure alarm device (26) is also connected to the pipeline between the gas compressor (14) and the temperature controller (15).

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