Edible enzyme sterilization device

Abstract

The edible enzyme sterilization device comprises a tubular sterilization mechanism and a control system, the tubular sterilization mechanism comprises a sterilization pipeline, a propelling stirring assembly and a driving unit, and the control system is electrically connected with the driving unit. The propelling stirring assembly is coaxially arranged in the linear section of the sterilization pipeline and comprises a stirring shaft and a spiral fan blade. By arranging the propelling stirring assembly in the sterilization pipeline, the driving unit drives the stirring shaft to rotate, and the spiral fan blade forcibly pushes the viscous material to flow, breaks the poor flow problem of the material caused by the viscosity, uniformly disperses the material, and ensures the uniformity of the sterilization temperature; the propelling action of the spiral fan blade increases the material flow rate, improves the feeding flow, shortens the sterilization time, and improves the sterilization efficiency; the control system adjusts the stirring rotating speed according to the temperature sensor signal, realizes accurate temperature control in cooperation with the heating jacket, and stabilizes the sterilization effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of sterilization technology, and in particular to an edible enzyme sterilization device. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of food processing equipment, especially in the production of viscous edible enzymes, UHT (ultra-high temperature instantaneous) sterilization is a crucial step in ensuring product quality. Traditional UHT sterilizers face several problems that urgently need to be addressed when processing highly viscous enzymes.

[0003] First, viscous materials have poor fluidity, making it difficult to maintain uniform temperature across different areas of the pipe during sterilization. Some areas may not reach sufficient temperature to completely kill microorganisms, affecting the safety and shelf life of the enzyme product. Second, the high resistance of viscous materials flowing through the pipe leads to a lower feed rate. This reduced flow rate not only prolongs sterilization time but may also negatively impact the retention of bioactive components in the enzyme due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, thus adversely affecting product quality. Third, traditional tubular sterilizers use a single-pipe structure, relying on natural material flow, which cannot effectively control temperature fluctuations. Frequent localized overheating or underheating not only affects the stability of sterilization effects but may also lead to inconsistent product quality, increasing the difficulty of quality control during production.

[0004] In existing technologies, tubular sterilizers have some applications in the food processing field, but for special materials such as viscous edible enzymes, problems such as uneven sterilization temperature, low feed flow rate, and large temperature fluctuations have not been properly solved. The Chinese utility model patent application number 202422067344.6 (authorization announcement number CN222929161U) discloses a heating device for UHT sterilization of fruit juice. Although it improves heat exchange efficiency through the design of a heating chamber and a serpentine heat-conducting pipe, and uses a rotating shaft to drive the heat-conducting pipe to rotate and stir the material, it still has significant shortcomings when processing highly viscous enzymes: the stirring structure (rotating heat-conducting pipe) of this device cannot effectively overcome material resistance when facing highly viscous enzymes, resulting in uneven stirring and temperature dead zones in some areas; at the same time, its reliance on steam pressure to drive material flow easily causes unstable flow rates in viscous materials, and the bending structure of the serpentine heat-conducting pipe easily leads to material residue, increasing cleaning difficulty and making it difficult to meet the continuous sterilization requirements of high-viscosity enzymes.

[0005] In summary, the core problem with existing technologies for UHT sterilization of viscous edible enzymes lies in their inability to effectively address issues such as insufficient temperature uniformity, low flow rate, and large temperature fluctuations caused by the poor flowability of viscous materials. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a sterilization device specifically designed for viscous edible enzymes to achieve uniform heating, increased flow rate, and stable sterilization results. Utility Model Content

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide an edible enzyme sterilization device that, by adding a propeller-type agitator inside the sterilization pipeline, can achieve uniform heating of viscous materials, increase feed flow rate and sterilization efficiency, in light of the above-mentioned existing technology.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problem is as follows: the edible enzyme sterilization device includes a tubular sterilization mechanism and a control system, characterized in that: the tubular sterilization mechanism includes...

[0008] The sterilization pipe shall be at least one of a straight pipe or a U-shaped pipe;

[0009] A propulsion stirring assembly is coaxially arranged within the straight section of the sterilization pipe, including a stirring shaft and spiral fan blades disposed on the stirring shaft;

[0010] The drive unit is electrically connected to the control system and is also connected to the stirring shaft drive.

[0011] To ensure effective dispersion and propulsion of viscous materials, preferably, at least two sets of spiral blades are arranged axially on the stirring shaft, with each set of spiral blades distributed at a predetermined interval.

[0012] To adapt to the structural characteristics of the U-shaped sterilization pipe and ensure that the material can flow stably in the set direction in each section of the pipe, preferably, when the sterilization pipe is U-shaped, it includes at least two horizontal straight sections, and the propulsion stirring component is respectively set in each horizontal straight section; and the propulsion direction of the spiral fan blades in each horizontal straight section is consistent with the flow direction of the material in that horizontal straight section.

[0013] To avoid material residue and facilitate cleaning, while ensuring the structural strength and hygiene standards of the mixing assembly, preferably, an annular gap is formed between the outer periphery of the spiral fan blades of the propulsion mixing assembly and the inner wall of the sterilization pipe, and the propulsion mixing assembly adopts a weld-free integral stainless steel structure.

[0014] In order to provide stable driving power and achieve precise control of stirring speed, preferably, the driving unit includes a servo motor, which is fixed on a motor mounting bracket located outside the sterilization pipe.

[0015] To meet the needs of large-scale production and improve sterilization efficiency and processing capacity, preferably, the tubular sterilization mechanism includes multiple sets of spaced sterilization pipes, each set of sterilization pipes is equipped with an independent propulsion stirring assembly, and each set of propulsion stirring assembly includes the stirring shaft, spiral fan blades and servo motor.

[0016] To achieve coordinated control of temperature and stirring speed, and to ensure the accuracy and stability of the sterilization process, the control system preferably includes a PLC controller and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is located inside the sterilization pipe and is signal-connected to the PLC controller. The PLC controller is configured to adjust the speed of the drive unit according to the detection signal from the temperature sensor.

[0017] In order to achieve uniform heating of the material inside the sterilization pipe, preferably, the outer periphery of the sterilization pipe wall is provided with a heating jacket, which has a hot water inlet and a hot water outlet for introducing high-temperature hot water to heat the material inside the sterilization pipe.

[0018] To enhance the auxiliary functions of the sterilization device and ensure coordinated operation of all systems, preferably, an auxiliary system connected to the tubular sterilization mechanism is also included. This auxiliary system includes...

[0019] A hot water tank is connected to the hot water inlet and hot water outlet of the heating jacket via pipes;

[0020] A steam heat exchanger is provided with a steam inlet and a heat exchange medium outlet, wherein the heat exchange medium outlet is connected to a hot water tank;

[0021] The purified water pipeline is equipped with branch pipelines that connect to the material inlet end of the sterilization pipeline and the hot water tank;

[0022] The balance tank is connected to the inlet of the material pump via a conveying pipeline;

[0023] The material pump has its outlet connected to the material inlet of the sterilization pipeline via a material pipeline;

[0024] Chilled water pipes connected to a cooling device at the outlet of the sterilization pipes;

[0025] The material pump is a positive displacement pump.

[0026] To improve the stability of the stirring shaft and avoid vibration and deformation caused by cantilever support, preferably, the distal end of the stirring shaft is limited by a support assembly fixed to the inner wall of the sterilization pipe, the support assembly including an annular bracket and a bearing located at the center of the annular bracket.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are as follows: By coaxially setting a propulsion stirring component in the sterilization pipeline and electrically connecting the drive unit of the propulsion stirring component to the control system to drive the stirring shaft to rotate, the spiral blades on the stirring shaft can forcefully push the viscous material to flow, thus overcoming the problem of poor flowability caused by the viscosity of the material, making the material evenly dispersed in the pipeline, avoiding local insufficient or overheating, and ensuring uniform sterilization temperature; and because the propulsion action of the spiral blades can increase the material flow rate, it can solve the problem of low feed flow rate in traditional devices, shorten sterilization time, and improve sterilization efficiency; at the same time, the control system can adjust the stirring speed according to the temperature sensor signal, and cooperate with the heating jacket to achieve precise temperature control, thereby stabilizing the sterilization effect and solving the problem of large temperature fluctuations in the prior art. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure after the tubular sterilization mechanism and the auxiliary system are connected in this embodiment;

[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Another structural diagram from a different angle;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the tubular sterilization mechanism in this embodiment;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the decomposed state structure of the tubular sterilization mechanism in this embodiment;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the tubular sterilization mechanism in this embodiment;

[0033] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the support component in this embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Figures 1-6 The figure shown is the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The specific implementation of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] The edible enzyme sterilization device in this embodiment mainly includes a tubular sterilization mechanism 1, a control system 2, and an auxiliary system 3 that works in conjunction with the tubular sterilization mechanism.

[0036] The specific structure and connection method of each component in this embodiment are as follows:

[0037] Tubular sterilization mechanism 1: Reference Figures 3 to 5As shown, the tubular sterilization mechanism 1 includes a sterilization pipe 1a, a propulsion stirring assembly 1b, and a drive unit 1c. In this embodiment, the sterilization pipe 1a has a U-shaped structure, which includes two horizontal straight sections 1a1. The propulsion stirring assembly 1b is coaxially arranged in each horizontal straight section 1a1. A heating jacket 1e is also provided on the outer periphery of the pipe wall of the sterilization pipe 1a. A jacket for injecting hot water or other heating media is formed between the heating jacket 1e and the sterilization pipe 1a. The heating jacket 1e has a hot water inlet 1e1 and a hot water outlet 1e2. Here, the heating jacket 1e is generally set in the horizontal straight section 1a1 of the U-shaped sterilization pipe 1a. It can be integrally formed on the sterilization pipe 1a by welding. Of course, the heating jacket 1e can also be fixed on the sterilization pipe 1a by other fixing methods. The propeller-type mixing assembly 1b is made of food-grade stainless steel and includes a mixing shaft 1b1 and a spiral fan blade 1b2. The mixing shaft 1b1 and the spiral fan blade 1b2 can be a seamless, integral stainless steel structure. An annular gap 1d is formed between the outer periphery of the spiral fan blade 1b2 and the inner wall of the sterilization pipe 1a. The propulsion direction of the spiral fan blade 1b2 in each horizontal straight section 1a1 is consistent with the flow direction of the material in that horizontal straight section 1a1. The drive unit 1c is electrically connected to the control system 2 and can be driven by the mixing shaft 1b1 through a coupling to control the rotation of the propeller-type mixing assembly 1b.

[0038] The drive unit 1c here includes a servo motor 1c1, which is bolted to a motor mounting bracket 1c2 located outside the sterilization pipe 1a. The output shaft of the servo motor 1c1 is connected to the drive end (near end) of the stirring shaft 1b1 via a coupling with an internal shock absorber. This coupling can compensate for the coaxiality deviation between the stirring shaft 1b1 and the motor output shaft, while reducing vibration and noise during rotation. The drive end of the stirring shaft 1b1 passes through a through hole with a diameter slightly larger than the stirring shaft 1b1, which is opened in the sterilization pipe 1a and the heating jacket 1e. The through-hole is equipped with a mechanical seal assembly made of food-grade stainless steel and corrosion-resistant rubber. The mechanical seal assembly includes a stationary ring fixed to the sterilization pipe 1a and the heating jacket 1e by multiple evenly distributed bolts and a moving ring that rotates synchronously with the stirring shaft by a set screw. The two fit together to form a sealing surface and are preloaded by a spring to ensure no leakage under the set working pressure. Its structural design facilitates disassembly and cleaning and meets hygiene standards. When the equipment is running, the torque of the servo motor 1c1 is transmitted to the stirring shaft 1b1 through the coupling 1c3. The mechanical seal assembly ensures the free rotation of the stirring shaft 1b1 while preventing material spillage and the entry of external contaminants. Of course, other sealing methods can also be used between the through hole and the stirring shaft 1b1, but since these are all existing technologies, they will not be elaborated on here.

[0039] One more thing, for reference Figure 5As shown, if the stirring shaft 1b1 is too long during operation, resulting in unstable operation, it can be limited at the far end of the stirring shaft 1b1 by a support assembly 1f fixed to the inner wall of the pipe. The support assembly 1f includes an annular bracket 1f1 and a bearing 1f2 located at the center of the bracket.

[0040] Control System 2: Reference Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the control system 2 includes a PLC controller 2a and a temperature sensor 2b. The temperature sensor 2b is located inside the sterilization pipe 1a and is connected to the PLC controller 2a via a signal. The PLC controller 2a is used to adjust the rotation speed of the drive unit 1c according to the temperature signal.

[0041] Auxiliary System 3: Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, auxiliary system 3 mainly includes hot water tank 3a, steam heat exchanger 3b, purified water pipeline 3c, balance tank 3d, material pump 3e, and chilled water pipeline 3f, etc. The components of auxiliary system 3 and their connection relationships are described below:

[0042] Hot water tank 3a is connected to the hot water inlet 1e1 and hot water outlet 1e2 of the heating jacket 1e outside the sterilization pipe 1a via a pipe. It is used to store high-temperature hot water and continuously provide a heat source to the sterilization pipe. The hot water is heated by steam heat exchanger 3b and then circulated to the sterilization pipe to achieve heating and sterilization of materials. The inlet end of steam heat exchanger 3b is connected to a steam source, and the outlet end is connected to the inside of hot water tank 3a via a pipe. The water temperature is increased by heat exchange between steam and the water in the tank, forming a circulating heating system. One end of purified water pipe 3c is connected to a purified water source, and the other end branches to the inlet of sterilization pipe 1a and hot water tank 3a respectively. It is used to flush the inside of the pipe before and after sterilization, and to heat the hot water tank 3a. Water replenishment; the balance tank 3d is connected to the inlet of the sterilization pipe 1a via a material pipe. The top of the tank is open to the atmosphere or equipped with a pressure balancing device. The bottom is connected to the inlet of the material pump 3e via a pipe to stabilize the material level and balance the system pressure. The inlet of the material pump 3e is connected to the bottom of the balance tank 3d via a pipe, and the outlet is connected to the inlet of the sterilization pipe 1a via a material pipe. It adopts a positive displacement pump structure to transport viscous materials in the balance tank to the sterilization pipe. The chilled water pipe 3f is connected to the cooling heat exchanger at the outlet of the sterilization pipe 1a via a pipe. The chilled water exchanges heat with the sterilized high-temperature material through the heat exchanger to achieve rapid cooling of the material. The chilled water after heat exchange can be recycled or discharged.

[0043] It is also necessary to explain further here that the auxiliary system 3 is existing technology. The main improvement in this embodiment is the tubular sterilization mechanism 1 in the edible enzyme sterilization device. Therefore, only a simple layout diagram of the main components in the auxiliary system 3 is provided, and the complete pipeline connection structure is omitted.

[0044] The working principle of the edible enzyme sterilization device in this embodiment is as follows:

[0045] Viscous materials are transported from the balance tank 3d to the sterilization pipeline 1a via the material pump 3e. The drive unit 1c drives the stirring shaft 1b1 to rotate, and the spiral fan blades 1b2 propel the material flow to ensure uniform heating. The steam heat exchanger 3b heats the water in the hot water tank 3a, and the material is sterilized at ultra-high temperature through the heating jacket 1e. The temperature sensor 2b monitors the temperature in real time and feeds it back to the PLC controller 2a, which automatically adjusts the stirring speed to ensure the sterilization effect. The sterilized material is cooled by the chilled water pipeline 3f, while the purified water pipeline 3c is used for equipment cleaning and replenishing the hot water tank 3a to ensure hygiene standards.

[0046] It should be noted that in the description of this embodiment, the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "upper," and "lower," etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are merely for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. The terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal connection of two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

Claims

1. An edible enzyme sterilization device, comprising a tubular sterilization mechanism (1) and a control system (2), characterized in that: The tubular sterilization mechanism (1) includes The sterilization pipe (1a) is at least one of a straight pipe or a U-shaped pipe; A propulsion stirring assembly (1b) is coaxially arranged within the straight section of the sterilization pipe (1a), including a stirring shaft (1b1) and a spiral fan blade (1b2) disposed on the stirring shaft (1b1); The drive unit (1c) is electrically connected to the control system (2) and is driven to the stirring shaft (1b1).

2. The edible enzyme sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least two sets of spiral fan blades (1b2) are arranged along the axial direction on the stirring shaft (1b1), and the sets of spiral fan blades (1b2) are distributed at predetermined intervals.

3. The edible enzyme sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the sterilization pipe (1a) has a U-shaped structure, it includes at least two horizontal straight sections (1a1), and the propulsion stirring assembly (1b) is respectively arranged in each horizontal straight section (1a1); and the propulsion direction of the spiral fan blade (1b2) in each horizontal straight section (1a1) is consistent with the flow direction of the material in that horizontal straight section (1a1).

4. The edible enzyme sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An annular gap (1d) is formed between the outer periphery of the spiral fan blade (1b2) and the inner wall of the sterilization pipe (1a), and the propulsion stirring assembly (1b) adopts an integral stainless steel structure without welding.

5. The edible enzyme sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive unit (1c) includes a servo motor (1c1), which is fixed on a motor mounting bracket (1c2) located outside the sterilization pipe (1a).

6. The edible enzyme sterilization device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The tubular sterilization mechanism (1) includes multiple sets of spaced sterilization pipes (1a), each set of sterilization pipes (1a) is equipped with an independent propulsion stirring assembly (1b), and each set of propulsion stirring assembly (1b) includes the stirring shaft (1b1), spiral fan blades (1b2) and servo motor (1c1).

7. The edible enzyme sterilization device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The control system (2) includes a PLC controller (2a) and a temperature sensor (2b). The temperature sensor (2b) is located inside the sterilization pipe (1a) and is connected to the PLC controller (2a) via a signal. The PLC controller (2a) is configured to adjust the rotation speed of the drive unit (1c) according to the detection signal of the temperature sensor (2b).

8. The edible enzyme sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sterilization pipe (1a) has a heating jacket (1e) on its outer periphery, and the heating jacket (1e) has a hot water inlet (1e1) and a hot water outlet (1e2).

9. The edible enzyme sterilization device according to claim 8, characterized in that: It also includes an auxiliary system (3) connected to the tubular sterilization mechanism (1), the auxiliary system (3) including A hot water tank (3a) is connected to the hot water inlet (1e1) and hot water outlet (1e2) of the heating jacket (1e) via pipes; A steam heat exchanger (3b) is connected to a hot water tank (3a) via a pipe; Purified water pipe (3c) is connected to the material inlet end of sterilization pipe (1a) and hot water tank (3a); The balance tank (3d) is connected to the inlet of the material pump (3e) via the conveying pipe (3d1); The material pump (3e) has its outlet connected to the material inlet of the sterilization pipe (1a) via a material pipe; Chilled water pipe (3f) is connected to a cooling device at the outlet of sterilization pipe (1a); The material pump (3e) is a positive displacement pump.

10. The edible enzyme sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The distal end of the stirring shaft (1b1) is limited by a support assembly (1f) fixed to the inner wall of the sterilization pipe (1a). The support assembly (1f) includes an annular bracket (1f1) and a bearing (1f2) located at the center of the annular bracket (1f1).

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