Novel fruit juice degassing equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses novel fruit juice degassing equipment, which is characterized in that the exterior of a tank top is connected with a vacuum machine to extract air in a tank. A liquid inlet in the tank top is connected with a filter box, a graphite net in the filter box adsorbs oxygen in fruit juice, the fruit juice is conveyed to the tank bottom in a mist spraying mode through a spraying nozzle, a circle of hollow fiber breathable film surrounds the inner wall of a tank body, the contact area between the fruit juice and air is increased, and the dissolved oxygen precipitation amount is increased. The motor is connected with the bottom stirring shaft, the stirring shaft is connected with the stirring rod, and the stirring rod is connected with the cleaning brush. The motor drives the stirring shaft to rotate, the stirring shaft drives the stirring rod to rotate, fruit juice is evenly stirred, and the cleaning brush at the tail end of the stirring rod washes pulp on the hollow fiber degassing film. The bottom of the tank is connected with a one-way valve which is connected with a drainage pump. The liquid level of fruit juice in the tank is observed through the observation window, when the liquid level of the fruit juice is high, the one-way valve is opened, and the degassed fruit juice is conveyed to a subsequent process along the liquid outlet pipe through the liquid discharge pump.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of beverage degassing equipment, and specifically relates to a new type of degassing equipment for fruit juice beverages. Background Art

[0002] A fruit juice degasser is a device used in the fruit juice production process. Its main function is to remove gases (such as oxygen and carbon dioxide) from the fruit juice to extend the shelf life of the fruit juice and maintain its color and flavor. During the squeezing process, the fruit juice will adsorb air, leading to oxidation reactions, which will affect the quality of the fruit juice, resulting in browning and flavor deterioration. Therefore, the degassing process is particularly important in fruit juice production.

[0003] The dissolved oxygen in the fruit juice will cause the degradation of nutrients such as vitamin C and promote the oxidation reaction of the fruit juice, affecting its flavor and color. Degassing can effectively reduce the oxygen content, thus slowing down these reactions.

[0004] The main degassing methods include vacuum degassing and gas replacement degassing. Vacuum degassing is to reduce the air pressure on the liquid surface so that the gas escapes from the liquid; gas replacement degassing is to replace the air in the fruit juice with an inert gas (such as nitrogen).

[0005] There are various types of degassers on the market, including vacuum degassers, membrane degassers, and ultrasonic degassers, etc. These devices have their own advantages and disadvantages and are suitable for different production scales and process requirements.

[0006] Degassers are widely used in the production of fruit juice, beverages, sauces, dairy products, and other liquid foods. Especially before processes such as high-pressure sterilization and heat treatment, degassing is an important link to ensure product quality.

[0007] With the development of technology, the design and function of fruit juice degassers have been continuously improved, and high-efficiency, energy-saving, and highly automated devices have emerged, improving production efficiency and product quality.

[0008] All in all, the fruit juice degasser plays a crucial role in the fruit juice production process and is one of the key devices to ensure the quality of fruit juice and extend its shelf life.

[0009] The problem of pulp sticking to the inner wall of the juice deaerator is one of the common challenges in the juice production process. During the deaeration process, pulp may adhere to the inner wall of the equipment due to factors such as temperature, pressure, and flow state. This not only affects the deaeration effect but also may cause difficulties in cleaning and maintaining the equipment. The pulp texture of some juice raw materials is relatively viscous, containing more cellulose and pectin, and is prone to adhesion on the inner wall of the equipment. If the inner wall of the deaerator has an uneven or rough surface, it is easy to cause pulp adhesion. In addition, the hydrodynamic design of the equipment (such as flow rate, flow direction, etc.) may also affect the deposition of pulp. Improper setting of temperature and pressure during the deaeration process may make the pulp more likely to form deposits on the inner wall of the equipment. For example, too low a temperature may cause the pulp to flow poorly, increasing the possibility of adhesion.

[0010] During the process of removing oxygen from the juice, the juice deaerator may encounter the problem that oxygen is not easily removed. If the design of the deaerator is not reasonable, the gas may not be effectively pumped out, resulting in oxygen residue. For example, the pump performance of the vacuum system is insufficient or the air valve is not sealed. The viscosity and fluidity of the juice may affect the deaeration efficiency. High-viscosity juice may cause poor bubble formation and difficulty for oxygen to escape. Too short a deaeration time may not be sufficient to remove all oxygen, especially when dealing with high-viscosity juice. Improper setting of temperature and pressure during the deaeration process affects the solubility of the gas. For example, the solubility of oxygen is higher at low temperatures and is not easily removed. If the gas replacement method is used, insufficient or uneven flow rate of the replacement gas (such as nitrogen) may cause the oxygen not to be completely replaced. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of the present utility model is to provide a new type of juice deaeration equipment. The outside of the tank top is connected to a vacuum machine to extract the air in the tank. The liquid inlet at the tank top is connected to a filter box. The graphite net inside the filter box adsorbs the oxygen in the juice. The juice is evenly stirred through a spray nozzle and a stirring rod. There is a hollow fiber deaeration membrane near the side wall of the tank body, forming a gas chamber inside the tank body. The cleaning brush at the end of the stirring rod flushes the pulp on the hollow fiber deaeration membrane; through the above design, a solution is given to solve the problems raised in the background technology.

[0012] To achieve the above purpose, the present utility model provides the following technical solutions:

[0013] A novel juice degassing device, comprising a tank body, wherein a ring-shaped hollow fiber degassing membrane is installed inside the tank body close to the side wall surface, and a ring-shaped gas chamber is formed by enclosing the hollow fiber degassing membrane and the inner side wall of the tank body. An inlet pipe and a first air pipe are arranged at the top end of the tank body. One end of the first air pipe inside the tank body is communicated with the gas chamber, and the other end of the first air pipe outside the tank body is communicated with a vacuum machine. The tank body is provided with a rotatable stirring shaft, a stirring rod is arranged on the stirring shaft, a cleaning brush is connected to one end of the stirring rod away from the stirring shaft, and the cleaning brush contacts the hollow fiber degassing membrane.

[0014] Preferably, the first air pipe is also communicated with a pressure gauge.

[0015] Preferably, an observation window is arranged at the upper part of the tank body.

[0016] Preferably, four support columns are connected to the bottom of the tank body, a motor is connected to the bottom of the tank body, and the bottom of the tank body is connected to a one-way valve through a first liquid outlet pipe.

[0017] Preferably, the one-way valve is connected to a second liquid outlet pipe, the second liquid outlet pipe is connected to a liquid discharge pump, and the liquid discharge pump is connected to a liquid outlet pipe.

[0018] Preferably, the inlet pipe is connected to a filter box inside the tank body, a graphite net is arranged in the middle of the filter box, and a spray nozzle is connected to the bottom of the filter box.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present utility model are as follows:

[0020] In the present utility model, by providing an inlet pipe which is connected to a filter box, a graphite net is arranged in the middle of the filter box. Juice flows from the inlet into the graphite net in the middle of the filter box, and the graphite net adsorbs the dissolved oxygen in the juice. A spray nozzle is arranged at the bottom of the filter box, so that the juice is sprayed into the tank body to increase the contact area with air, facilitating the precipitation of dissolved oxygen. The hollow fiber permeable membrane isolates a gas chamber inside the tank body, increasing the area for air precipitation. The vacuum pump pumps away the precipitated air. A motor is installed at the bottom of the degassing tank, the motor is connected to and rotates the stirring shaft at the bottom of the degassing tank, the stirring shaft is connected to a stirring rod, and a cleaning brush is connected to the end of the stirring rod to clean the pulp on the inner wall surface of the degassing tank.

[0021] The principle of degassing with a hollow fiber degassing membrane is that the permeation rates of gas and water in the membrane phase are different. Currently, hydrophobic polypropylene hollow fiber membranes are commonly used. This porous membrane provides an interface for gas-liquid contact. Due to the hydrophobicity of the membrane, only gas can be transferred from one side of the membrane to the other, while water cannot pass through the membrane. The gas passing through the membrane is then evacuated by vacuum. Since the fruit juice is rich in viscous media, in the present utility model, the hollow fiber degassing membrane is continuously cleaned by the cleaning brush on the stirring rod, achieving the effect of reducing the mass transfer resistance. In addition, the hollow fiber degassing membrane above the liquid level can evacuate the inside of the tank. After reducing the pressure inside the tank, the gas in the fruit juice forms bubbles in the liquid and converges towards the hollow fiber degassing membrane along with the fruit juice under the centrifugal action of the continuous stirring of the stirring shaft and the stirring rod. Since the hollow fiber degassing membrane has a large specific surface area and high tension, it is conducive to the attachment of bubbles. The bubbles attached to the hollow fiber degassing membrane are drawn out of the tank after passing through the hollow fiber degassing membrane, while the liquid remains in the tank. The design of the present utility model, which combines material stirring centrifugation and cleaning brush cleaning of the hollow fiber degassing membrane, enhances the gas-liquid separation effect and improves the degassing rate and efficiency of the fruit juice. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the degassing tank of the present utility model;

[0024] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the stirring blade of the present utility model;

[0025] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the spray nozzle of the present utility model;

[0026] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the graphite mesh of the present utility model.

[0027] In the figure: 1, tank body; 2, liquid inlet pipe; 3, motor; 4, observation window; 5, pressure gauge; 6, air pipe 1; 7, check valve; 8, support; 9, liquid outlet pipe 1; 10, liquid outlet pipe 2; 11, drainage pump; 12, liquid outlet pipe 3; 13, air pipe 2; 14, vacuum machine; 15, filter box; 16, graphite mesh; 17, spray nozzle; 18, stirring shaft; 19, stirring rod; 20, cleaning brush; 21, hollow fiber degassing membrane; 22, gas chamber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0029] Please refer to Figures 1-5 , the present invention provides a technical solution:

[0030] A new type of fruit juice degassing device includes a tank body 1. A liquid inlet pipe 2 is provided at the top of the tank body 1. The liquid inlet pipe 2 is connected to a filter box 15 inside the tank body 1, and a graphite mesh 16 is installed inside the filter box 15.

[0031] An observation window 4 is provided outside the tank body 1; the liquid level height inside the tank body 1 can be observed through the observation window 4.

[0032] A layer of annular hollow fiber air-permeable membrane 21 is provided inside the tank body 1 near the inner wall of the tank body 1. The hollow fiber air-permeable membrane 21 can only allow air to pass through and cannot allow water molecules to pass through. The hollow fiber air-permeable membrane 21 and the inner wall of the tank body 1 enclose an annular gas chamber 22, and the annular gas chamber 22 is connected to a vacuum machine 14 through a pipeline.

[0033] Four support columns 8 are connected to the bottom of the tank body 1, and the support columns 8 play a role in supporting and fixing the tank body 1.

[0034] A motor 3 is provided at the bottom of the tank body 1. The motor 3 is used to drive a stirring shaft 18 inside the tank body 1. Stirring rods 19 are fixed on the stirring shaft 18, and a cleaning brush 20 is fixedly connected to one end of the stirring shaft 19 away from the stirring shaft 18.

[0035] Exemplarily, the motor 3 drives the stirring shaft 18 to rotate. When the stirring shaft 18 rotates, it drives the stirring rods 19 to rotate. When the stirring rods 19 rotate, they drive the cleaning brush 20 to rotate.

[0036] An air pipe 6 is provided at the top of the tank body 1. One end of the air pipe 6 is connected to a pressure gauge 5, and the other end is connected to the gas chamber 22. One end of the pressure gauge 5 is connected to an air pipe 13, and one end of the air pipe 13 is fixedly connected to a vacuum machine 14.

[0037] Exemplarily, when the vacuum machine 14 works, the vacuum machine 14 evacuates the air inside the gas chamber 22 through the air pipe 6 and the air pipe 13. The pressure gauge 5 shows the air pressure inside the tank and the gas chamber 22. When the air pressure inside the tank drops to the vacuum pressure, the vacuum machine 14 stops working.

[0038] A liquid outlet pipe 9 is connected to the bottom of the tank body 1. The liquid outlet pipe 9 is connected to a one-way valve 7. The one-way valve 7 is connected to a liquid outlet pipe 10. One end of the liquid outlet pipe 10 is connected to a liquid discharge pump 11. One end of the liquid discharge pump 11 is connected to a liquid outlet pipe 13.

[0039] Exemplarily, the juice inside the tank body 1 flows through the liquid outlet pipe 9 to the one-way valve 7. The one-way valve 7 is opened, and the juice flows through the liquid outlet pipe 10 to the liquid discharge pump 11. The liquid discharge pump 11 provides power to transport the juice through the liquid outlet pipe 12 to the subsequent process.

[0040] Working principle: When the present utility model is in use, the juice enters the filtration tank 15 from the liquid inlet 2. The juice flows through the graphite net 16 inside the filtration tank 15. The graphite net 16 adsorbs the dissolved oxygen in the juice. The juice flows from the bottom of the filtration tank 15 to the spray nozzle 17, and the juice flows into the bottom of the tank body 1 in a spray form;

[0041] The motor 3 is turned on to drive the stirring shaft 18 to rotate. The stirring shaft 18 drives the side wall stirring rod 19 to rotate. The cleaning brush 20 at the end of the stirring rod 19 cleans the pulp on the hollow fiber breathable membrane 21 to prevent the pulp from adhering to the hollow fiber breathable membrane 21;

[0042] The vacuum machine 14 is turned on. The air inside the tank body 1 and the gas chamber 22 is pumped out through the air pipe 6 and the air pipe 13. By observing the pressure gauge 5, when the air pressure inside the tank body 1 is close to the vacuum pressure, the vacuum machine 14 is turned off.

[0043] The liquid level of the juice in the tank is judged through the observation window 4. When the liquid level rises to a relatively high level, the one-way valve 7 is opened. The juice flows through the liquid outlet pipe, the one-way valve 7, and the liquid outlet pipe 10 to the liquid discharge pump 11. The liquid discharge pump 11 provides power to send the juice through the liquid outlet pipe 12 to the subsequent process.

[0044] Although the embodiments of the present utility model have been shown and described, for those of ordinary skill in the art, it can be understood that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the present utility model. The scope of the present utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A novel juice degassing device, comprising a tank body (1), characterized in that: An annular hollow fiber degassing membrane (21) is installed near the side wall surface inside the tank body (1), and the hollow fiber degassing membrane (21) and the inner side wall of the tank body (1) enclose an annular gas chamber (22). The top of the tank body (1) is provided with a liquid inlet (2) and an air pipe (6). The air pipe (6) is connected to the gas chamber (22) at one end of the tank body (1), and the other end of the air pipe (6) is connected to a vacuum machine (14) outside the tank body (1). The tank body (1) is provided with a rotatable stirring shaft (18), and a stirring rod (19) is provided on the stirring shaft (18). A cleaning brush (20) is connected to the end of the stirring rod (19) away from the stirring shaft (18), and the cleaning brush (20) is in contact with the hollow fiber degassing membrane (21).

2. A novel juice degassing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air pipe 1 (6) is also connected to the pressure gauge (5).

3. A novel juice degassing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An observation window (4) is provided on the upper part of the tank body (1).

4. A novel juice degassing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the tank body (1) is connected to four pillars (8), the bottom of the tank body (1) is connected to a motor (3), and the bottom of the tank body (1) is connected to a one-way valve (7) via a liquid outlet pipe (9).

5. A novel juice degassing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The one-way valve (7) is connected to a second liquid outlet pipe (10), the second liquid outlet pipe (10) is connected to a liquid discharge pump (11), and the liquid discharge pump (11) is connected to a liquid outlet pipe (12).

6. A novel juice degassing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The liquid inlet (2) is connected to a filter box (15) inside the tank body (1), a graphite mesh (16) is arranged in the middle of the filter box (15), and a spray nozzle (17) is connected to the bottom of the filter box (15).

Images