Multistage drying equipment for sophorolipid production

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of sophorolipid production, and concretely relates to a multistage drying equipment for sophorolipid production, which comprises an inclined drying cylinder, the drying cylinder is divided into a first drying zone, a second drying zone and a third drying zone by a partition, a through groove is formed in the top surface of the drying cylinder and the partition is in sliding sealing with the through groove; hot air is circulated in the first drying zone, the second drying zone and the third drying zone, and an exhaust valve is arranged on the top of the drying cylinder; the top of the first drying zone and the bottom of the third drying zone are respectively provided with an inlet and an outlet controlled by a valve. The use of the present application can realize the segmented drying of sophorolipid, avoid the drying of all sophorolipid together, and thus improve the drying efficiency and avoid the performance failure of sophorolipid caused by overheating.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of sophorolipid production technology, specifically a multi-stage drying equipment for sophorolipid production. Background Technology

[0002] Sophorolipids are glycolipid biosurfactants produced by yeast fermentation. They have excellent surface activity and biocompatibility and are widely used in daily chemicals, petroleum, environmental protection, pharmaceuticals and food.

[0003] In the production process of sophorolipids, the crude product obtained after extraction from the fermentation broth needs to be dried to obtain solid powdered sophorolipids. Currently, oven drying is the most common drying method.

[0004] During the drying process, materials are often piled up in the drying oven all at once, resulting in a large material layer. This makes it difficult for hot air to penetrate the material layer evenly. Consequently, the surface layer of sophorolipids is already in a state of rapid drying before the inner layer is completely dried. At the same time, since sophorolipids are partially heat-sensitive, it is often necessary to extend the drying time to ensure that both the inner and outer layers are dried. This can lead to the surface layer of sophorolipids, which is almost dried, still needing to be heated for a long time, causing the decomposition or denaturation of the active ingredients in sophorolipids and affecting the performance of the final product. Utility Model Content

[0005] This invention provides a multi-stage drying equipment for the production of sophorolipids, which addresses the deficiencies in the prior art.

[0006] This utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: A multi-stage drying device for the production of sophorolipids includes an inclined drying cylinder, which is divided into a primary drying zone, a secondary drying zone, and a tertiary drying zone by a partition. The top surface of the drying cylinder has a through-hole through which the partition passes, and the partition and the through-hole are slidably sealed. Hot air is circulated in the primary, secondary, and tertiary drying zones, and an exhaust valve is provided at the top. The top of the primary drying zone and the bottom of the tertiary drying zone are respectively provided with a feed inlet and a discharge outlet controlled by valves.

[0007] In use, one-third of the material is first fed into the primary drying zone. After heating for a certain period, the corresponding partition is opened, and the material falls into the secondary drying zone under gravity. Then, one-third of the material is fed into the primary drying zone. After the sophorolipid in the secondary drying zone is heated for a certain period, the corresponding partition is opened, allowing it to enter the tertiary drying zone for thorough drying. The material in the primary drying zone then enters the secondary drying zone. Simultaneously, one-third of the sophorolipid is fed into the primary drying zone, and this cycle is repeated. This reduces the amount of material fed into the zone each time, ensuring consistent heating of the sophorolipid within the same area and preventing overheating. This not only improves efficiency but also prevents some properties of the sophorolipid from failing due to overheating.

[0008] Preferably, a rotating shaft is installed inside the drying cylinder. Driven by a motor, the shaft rotates along its axis. A lever is installed in each of the primary, secondary, and tertiary drying zones. A baffle is vertically connected to the inner wall of the bottom of the drying cylinder, and a rubber ring is fixedly installed on the top surface of the baffle. The rotating shaft passes through the rubber ring and rotates in a sealed manner with it. A strip-shaped groove is formed on the bottom surface of the baffle, through which the rubber ring passes. Sliding grooves are formed on both sides of the baffle, and the end faces of the strip-shaped grooves slide along the corresponding sliding grooves. The drive motor drives the rotation of the rotating shaft, which in turn drives the levers to rotate, thus agitating the internal sophorolipids. The strip-shaped grooves ensure smooth up-and-down movement of the baffle, while the baffles seal the strip-shaped grooves, preventing leakage. Preferably, the rotating shaft has a tubular structure with one end closed and the other end extending through the drying cylinder and connected to a hot air pipe via a sealed bearing. The hot air pipe is connected to the air outlet of the heating equipment. Several air jet holes are provided along the length of the rotating shaft. A driven gear is fixedly sleeved on the outer end of the rotating shaft, and a drive motor is fixedly connected to the outside of the drying cylinder. A driving gear that meshes with the driven gear is fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft of the drive motor. The rotation of the drive motor shaft drives the rotation of the driving gear, which in turn drives the rotation of the driven gear, thereby rotating the rotating shaft. The heat generated by the heating equipment enters the rotating shaft through the hot air pipe and is ejected from the air jet holes.

[0009] Preferably, the lever in the three-stage drying zone is also vertically connected to a scraper, which is in contact with the inner wall of the drying cylinder, so as to scrape off the sophorol resin that is stuck to the wall after drying, thus preventing it from sticking to the wall.

[0010] Preferably, one end of an electric telescopic rod is fixedly installed on the top surface of the drying cylinder, and the other end of the electric telescopic rod is vertically connected to a horizontal plate. The horizontal plate is fixedly connected to the top surface of the partition, and the extension and retraction of the electric telescopic rod can drive the partition to rise and fall.

[0011] Preferably, slide rails are fixedly connected to both sides of the inner wall of the drying cylinder, and the slide rails extend upward to the inner wall of the top surface of the drying cylinder, with the partition plates arranged inside the slide rails on both sides.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: the use of this application can realize the segmented drying of sophorolipids, avoiding the accumulation of all sophorolipids together for drying, thereby not only improving the drying efficiency, but also avoiding the failure of some properties of sophorolipids due to overheating. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of direction A; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the partition.

[0015] As shown in the figure: 1. Drying drum; 2. Baffle; 3. Primary drying zone; 4. Secondary drying zone; 5. Tertiary drying zone; 6. Lever; 7. Baffle; 8. Rubber ring; 9. Drive gear; 10. Driven gear; 11. Drive motor; 12. Air jet; 13. Electric telescopic rod; 14. Slot; 15. Scraper. Detailed Implementation

[0016] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0017] A multi-stage drying device for the production of sophorolipids, such as Figures 1-3As shown, the drying cylinder 1 is inclined and divided into a primary drying zone 3, a secondary drying zone 4, and a tertiary drying zone 5 by a partition 2. The top surface of the drying cylinder 1 has a through-hole groove through which the partition 2 passes, and the partition 2 and the through-hole are slidably sealed. Specifically, slide rails are fixedly connected to both sides of the inner wall of the drying cylinder 1, extending upwards to the inner wall of the top surface of the drying cylinder 1. The partition 2 is positioned within the slide rails on both sides. A sealing ring is fitted onto the partition 2 and fixedly positioned at the through-hole of the drying cylinder 1 to ensure a sliding seal. Hot air flows through the primary drying zone 3, the secondary drying zone 4, and the tertiary drying zone 5, and an exhaust valve is installed at the top. The top of the primary drying zone 3 and the bottom of the tertiary drying zone 5 of the drying cylinder 1 have valve-controlled inlets and outlets, respectively.

[0018] In use, one-third of the material is first fed into the primary drying zone 3. After heating for a certain period of time, the corresponding partition 2 is opened, and the material falls into the secondary drying zone 4 under gravity. Then, one-third of the material is fed into the primary drying zone 3. After the sophorolipid in the secondary drying zone 4 is heated for a certain period of time, the corresponding partition 2 is opened, allowing it to enter the tertiary drying zone 5 and be thoroughly dried in the tertiary drying zone 5. The material from the primary drying zone 3 then enters the secondary drying zone 4. At the same time, one-third of the sophorolipid is fed into the primary drying zone 3, and this cycle is repeated. This reduces the amount of material fed into the zone each time, ensuring that the sophorolipid in the same area is heated to a consistent degree, avoiding overheating, improving efficiency, and preventing some properties of the sophorolipid from failing due to overheating.

[0019] A rotating shaft is installed inside the drying cylinder 1. Driven by a motor 11, the shaft rotates along its axis. A lever 6 is installed in each of the primary drying zone 3, secondary drying zone 4, and tertiary drying zone 5. A baffle 7 is vertically connected to the inner wall of the bottom surface of the drying cylinder 1, and a rubber ring 8 is fixedly installed on the top surface of the baffle 7. The rotating shaft passes through the rubber ring 8 and rotates in a sealed manner with it. A strip-shaped groove 14 is formed on the bottom surface of the partition 2, through which the rubber ring 8 passes. Sliding grooves are formed on both sides of the baffle 7, and the end faces of the strip-shaped groove 14 slide along the corresponding sliding grooves. The drive motor 11 drives the rotation of the rotating shaft, which in turn drives the lever 6 to rotate, thus stirring the internal sophorolipids and achieving more uniform heating. The strip-shaped groove ensures smooth up-and-down movement of the partition 2, while the baffle 7 seals the strip-shaped groove, preventing leakage. The rotating shaft has a tubular structure with one end closed and the other end extending through the drying cylinder 1 and connected to a hot air pipe via a sealed bearing. The hot air pipe is connected to the air outlet of the heating equipment. Several air jet holes 12 are provided along the length of the rotating shaft. A driven gear 10 is fixedly sleeved on the outer end of the rotating shaft. A drive motor 11 is fixedly connected to the outside of the drying cylinder 1. A drive gear 9 that meshes with the driven gear 10 is fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft of the drive motor 11. The rotation of the drive motor 11's rotating shaft drives the rotation of the drive gear 9, which in turn drives the rotation of the driven gear 10, thereby realizing the rotation of the rotating shaft. The heat generated by the heating equipment enters the rotating shaft from the hot air pipe and is ejected from the air jet holes 12.

[0020] The lever 6 in the three-stage drying zone 5 is also vertically connected to a scraper 15. The scraper 15 is in contact with the inner wall of the drying cylinder 1, so as to scrape off the sophorose resin that is stuck to the wall after drying, thus preventing it from sticking to the wall.

[0021] One end of an electric telescopic rod 13 is fixedly installed on the top surface of the drying cylinder 1, and the other end of the electric telescopic rod 13 is vertically connected to a horizontal plate. The horizontal plate is fixedly connected to the top surface of the partition 2. The extension and retraction of the electric telescopic rod 13 can drive the partition 2 to rise and fall.

[0022] The use of this application enables segmented drying of sophorolipids, avoiding the accumulation of all sophorolipids together during drying, thereby not only improving drying efficiency but also preventing some performance failures caused by overheating of sophorolipids.

[0023] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and not to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. A multi-stage drying equipment for the production of sophorolipids, characterized in that: The device includes an inclined drying cylinder, which is divided into a primary drying zone, a secondary drying zone, and a tertiary drying zone by a partition. The top surface of the drying cylinder has a through-hole through which the partition passes, and the partition and the through-hole are slidably sealed. Hot air is circulated in the primary, secondary, and tertiary drying zones, and an exhaust valve is provided at the top. The top of the primary drying zone and the bottom of the tertiary drying zone of the drying cylinder are respectively provided with a feed inlet and a discharge outlet controlled by valves.

2. The multi-stage drying equipment for the production of sophorolipids according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drying cylinder is equipped with a rotating shaft, which is driven by a drive motor to rotate along its axis. The rotating shaft is equipped with levers in the primary drying zone, the secondary drying zone, and the tertiary drying zone. A baffle is vertically connected to the inner wall of the bottom surface of the drying cylinder. A rubber ring is fixedly installed on the top surface of the baffle. The rotating shaft passes through the rubber ring and rotates and seals with the rubber ring. The bottom surface of the baffle has a strip groove through which the rubber ring passes. Sliding grooves are opened on both sides of the side of the baffle. The end faces of the strip grooves slide along the corresponding sliding grooves.

3. The multi-stage drying equipment for the production of sophorolipids according to claim 2, characterized in that: The rotating shaft is a tubular structure with one end closed and the other end passing through the drying cylinder and connected to the hot air pipe through a sealed bearing. The hot air pipe is connected to the air outlet of the heating equipment. Several air jet holes are opened along the length of the rotating shaft. A driven gear is fixedly sleeved on the outer end of the rotating shaft. A drive motor is fixedly connected to the outside of the drying cylinder. The rotating shaft of the drive motor is fixedly sleeved with a driving gear that meshes with the driven gear.

4. The multi-stage drying equipment for the production of sophorolipids according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lever in the three-stage drying zone is also vertically connected to a scraper, which is in contact with the inner wall of the drying cylinder.

5. The multi-stage drying equipment for the production of sophorolipids according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of an electric telescopic rod is fixedly installed on the top surface of the drying cylinder, and the other end of the electric telescopic rod is vertically connected to a horizontal plate, which is fixedly connected to the top surface of the partition.

6. The multi-stage drying equipment for the production of sophorolipids according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner walls of the drying cylinder are fixedly connected to slide tracks on both sides, which extend upward to the inner wall of the top surface of the drying cylinder. The partition plates are set inside the slide tracks on both sides.

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