Low calorie essence low temperature vacuum concentration device

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of low-heat essence low-temperature pressure-reducing concentration device, belong to food processing technical field, and the low-heat essence low-temperature pressure-reducing concentration device includes concentration cavity, condensing pipeline, vacuum suction assembly and material collector;The top of the concentration cavity is provided with feed inlet, the bottom of the concentration cavity is provided with discharge port, and steam discharge passage is opened on the sidewall of the concentration cavity;One end of the condensing pipeline is sealingly connected with the steam discharge passage, the condensing pipeline is spirally coiled, the thickness of the pipe wall of the condensing pipeline gradually decreases along the material flow direction, and the other end of the condensing pipeline is communicated with the liquid inlet of the material collector;The utility model can solve the technical problem that the condensation efficiency of the existing essence concentration device is not balanced during low-temperature pressure-reducing concentration, which leads to serious loss of heat-sensitive flavor substances in essence.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of food processing technology, and specifically relates to a low-calorie flavoring low-temperature vacuum concentration device. Background Technology

[0002] Low-calorie flavorings have broad application prospects in the food, beverage, and daily chemical industries, and the concentration process directly affects product quality and cost. Traditional flavoring concentration methods mainly employ atmospheric pressure heating or simple vacuum concentration. These methods have significant shortcomings when processing low-calorie flavorings containing a large amount of heat-sensitive flavor compounds. Atmospheric pressure heating concentration requires high temperatures to evaporate the solvent. High-temperature environments can cause thermal decomposition or oxidative deterioration of volatile flavor components such as aldehydes and esters in the flavoring, resulting in the loss of characteristic aromas and the generation of unpleasant off-odors. Although simple vacuum concentration lowers the boiling point, existing condensation systems typically use straight-tube heat exchangers, resulting in uniform condensation intensity. This makes it impossible to differentiate the processing of different boiling point components in the flavoring, leading to insufficient condensation of low-boiling-point components, which are lost with the exhaust gas. Meanwhile, high-boiling-point components, due to excessively rapid condensation, carry solvent into the collector, affecting the concentration ratio and product purity. Furthermore, in existing concentration devices, the vacuum system suction ports are mostly located on the sidewalls of the chamber, resulting in uneven vacuum distribution within the chamber. Areas near the suction port experience excessively high vacuum, causing violent boiling and even material surging, while areas further away have insufficient vacuum, leading to slow concentration and overall low concentration efficiency. Regarding material collection, the inlet of the collector in existing devices is typically directly connected to the condenser tube. High-speed condensate directly impacts the bottom of the collector, causing splashing. Simultaneously, the collector's structural design does not consider its geometric fit with the concentration chamber, resulting in some concentrate remaining at the bottom of the chamber and failing to flow completely into the collector, leading to waste of active ingredients. These technical problems severely restrict the production efficiency and product quality of low-calorie flavorings, necessitating a low-temperature vacuum concentration device capable of gradient condensation, uniform decompression, and efficient collection to solve these issues. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device, which can solve the technical problem that the uneven condensation efficiency in the low-temperature vacuum concentration process of existing flavor concentration devices leads to serious loss of heat-sensitive flavor substances in the flavor.

[0004] This utility model is implemented as follows:

[0005] This utility model provides a low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device, including a concentration chamber, a condenser pipe, a vacuum suction assembly, and a material collector. The concentration chamber has an inlet at its top and an outlet at its bottom, with a steam discharge channel on its side wall. One end of the condenser pipe is sealed to the steam discharge channel, and the condenser pipe is arranged in a spiral coil, with its wall thickness gradually decreasing along the material flow direction. The other end of the condenser pipe is connected to the liquid inlet of the material collector. The vacuum suction assembly is fixedly installed on the top of the concentration chamber and sealed to the top of the concentration chamber via a flange. The suction port of the vacuum suction assembly is aligned with the center of the inner cavity of the concentration chamber. The bottom of the material collector has a tapered constriction structure, and the cone angle of the tapered bottom of the material collector is greater than the cone angle of the bottom of the concentration chamber.

[0006] The technical effects of the low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device provided by this utility model are as follows: By setting the condenser pipes in a spiral coiled shape and gradually reducing the pipe wall thickness along the material flow direction, the residence time of steam in the condenser pipes can be extended. At the same time, the condensation efficiency is gradually enhanced as the pipe wall thickness decreases, so that the volatile components in the flavor material can be fully condensed and recovered. By setting the suction port of the vacuum suction component to be aligned with the center of the concentration chamber, a uniform negative pressure distribution can be formed in the concentration chamber, avoiding uneven material boiling caused by uneven local pressure. By configuring the bottom cone angle of the material collector to be larger than the bottom cone angle of the concentration chamber, a secondary aggregation effect can be formed in the material collection stage, improving the collection efficiency of the concentrated flavor material and reducing material residue loss.

[0007] Based on the above technical solution, the low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device of this utility model can be further improved as follows:

[0008] The condenser pipe has 8 to 12 spiral turns, and the spiral diameter of the condenser pipe gradually increases along the material flow direction.

[0009] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned improvement scheme are as follows: by limiting the number of spiral coils in the condenser pipe to 8 to 12 turns, the overall size of the device can be controlled while ensuring sufficient condensation effect, avoiding the problems of excessive space occupation due to too many coils or insufficient condensation due to too few coils; by designing the spiral diameter to gradually increase along the material flow direction, the flow velocity in the pipe can be gradually reduced as the condensation process proceeds, prolonging the contact time of the condensate in the pipe, allowing flavor components with different boiling points to be condensed in stages, and improving the purity and quality of the concentrated flavor.

[0010] Furthermore, the inner wall of the concentration chamber is provided with multiple vertical guide channels, which are evenly distributed along the circumference of the concentration chamber, and the included angle between two adjacent vertical guide channels is 60°~90°.

[0011] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned improvement scheme are as follows: by setting multiple vertical guide channels on the inner wall of the concentration chamber and distributing them evenly along the circumference, the condensate on the inner wall of the chamber can be guided to flow smoothly downward, preventing the condensate from forming a liquid film on the inner wall and hindering heat transfer; by limiting the included angle between adjacent guide channels to 60°~90°, the distribution density of the guide channels can be ensured to be moderate, which not only ensures the guiding effect but also avoids the processing difficulties and cleaning inconvenience caused by excessive density. At the same time, this angle range can make the steam flow in the chamber form an orderly spiral upward path, improving the contact efficiency between steam and condensation pipes.

[0012] Furthermore, the cross-section of the steam discharge channel is elliptical, the major axis of the steam discharge channel is perpendicular to the axial direction of the concentration chamber, and the minor axis of the steam discharge channel is less than 1 / 2 of the major axis.

[0013] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned improvement scheme are as follows: by designing the cross-section of the steam discharge channel as an ellipse and making the major axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the concentration chamber, the lateral cross-sectional area of ​​the steam discharge can be increased, the steam flow velocity can be reduced, and the phenomenon of steam entrainment of liquid droplets can be reduced; by limiting the length of the minor axis to less than 1 / 2 of the length of the major axis, a flat exhaust channel can be formed, so that the steam flows in a laminar state in the channel, avoiding pressure fluctuations caused by turbulence. At the same time, this elliptical cross-section structure can reduce the opening height of the channel on the side wall of the concentration chamber while ensuring exhaust efficiency, thus maintaining the structural strength of the chamber.

[0014] Furthermore, the outer surface of the condenser pipe is provided with heat dissipation fins, which are arranged radially and the height of the heat dissipation fins varies in a wavy shape along the spiral direction of the condenser pipe.

[0015] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned improvement scheme are as follows: by setting heat dissipation fins on the outer surface of the condenser pipe and arranging them radially, the heat dissipation area of ​​the condenser pipe can be significantly increased, the condensation rate of the steam in the pipe can be accelerated, and the working efficiency of the concentration device can be improved; by making the height of the heat dissipation fins vary in a wavy manner along the spiral direction, different heat dissipation intensities can be formed at different positions of the pipe, which, in conjunction with the variation trend of the pipe wall thickness, achieves a gradient condensation effect. At the same time, the wavy fin height variation can enhance the turbulence of the surrounding air, destroy the thermal boundary layer, and further improve the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0016] Furthermore, a baffle plate is provided at the liquid inlet of the material collector. The surface of the baffle plate has an arc-shaped concave structure, and the arc-shaped concave surface of the baffle plate faces the inside of the liquid inlet.

[0017] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned improvement scheme are as follows: by setting a baffle at the liquid inlet of the material collector, the condensate entering the collector at high speed can be buffered and decelerated, preventing the condensate from directly impacting the bottom of the collector and causing splashing and material loss; by making the surface of the baffle plate into an arc-shaped concave structure and making the concave surface face the inside of the liquid inlet, the condensate can be smoothly slid down along the surface of the baffle plate by utilizing the guiding effect of the arc-shaped surface, forming a uniform liquid film flow, avoiding liquid flow dispersion. At the same time, the arc-shaped concave structure can gather and guide the incoming condensate, guiding it to spiral down along the inner wall of the collector, reducing disturbance to the collected material.

[0018] Furthermore, the suction port edge of the vacuum suction assembly is provided with an annular flange, which extends toward the inner cavity of the concentration chamber, and the radial width of the annular flange is greater than the wall thickness of the vacuum suction assembly.

[0019] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned improvement scheme are as follows: by setting an annular flange extending towards the inner cavity of the concentration chamber at the edge of the suction port of the vacuum suction assembly, the effective range of the suction port can be expanded, the suction effect on the upper space of the concentration chamber can be enhanced, and the dead zone area with insufficient vacuum at the top of the chamber can be prevented; by limiting the radial width of the annular flange to be greater than the wall thickness of the vacuum suction assembly, the annular flange can have sufficient strength to withstand the deformation stress under negative pressure, and the wider flange can rectify the rising steam flow in the chamber, so that the steam is more evenly sucked into the suction port and the suction efficiency is improved.

[0020] Furthermore, the feed inlet of the concentration chamber is provided with a locking ring, which is threadedly connected to the outer wall of the feed inlet, and the inner conical surface of the locking ring mates with the outer conical surface of the feed inlet.

[0021] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned improvement scheme are as follows: by setting a locking ring at the feed inlet of the concentration chamber and connecting it to the outer wall of the feed inlet by threads, a reliable seal of the feed inlet can be achieved and it is easy to disassemble, which facilitates the cleaning and maintenance of the device; by making the inner conical surface of the locking ring match the outer conical surface of the feed inlet, a conical self-locking effect can be formed during the thread tightening process. As the tightening force increases, the contact area of ​​the conical surface gradually increases, and the sealing effect gradually improves. At the same time, the conical surface matching structure has an automatic centering function, which can compensate for processing errors, ensure sealing reliability, and prevent air leakage at the feed inlet under negative pressure.

[0022] Furthermore, the condenser tube is made of stainless steel, the concentration chamber is made of borosilicate glass, and the material collector is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0023] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned improvement scheme are as follows: By using stainless steel to make the condenser pipes, the excellent thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance of stainless steel can be utilized to ensure that the condenser pipes maintain stable heat transfer efficiency during long-term use and are not corroded by trace acidic or alkaline components in the fragrance materials; By using borosilicate glass to make the concentration chamber, the transparency of borosilicate glass can be used to facilitate observation of the concentration state of the materials in the chamber, and at the same time, borosilicate glass has a low coefficient of thermal expansion and good temperature difference resistance, making it suitable for low-temperature decompression conditions; By using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to make the material collector, the excellent non-stick and chemical stability of the material can be utilized to prevent the fragrance materials from adhering to the inner wall of the collector, facilitating complete collection and cleaning of the materials.

[0024] Furthermore, the outer wall of the concentration chamber is covered with a heat insulation layer, the thickness of which is 20mm to 30mm, and a gap is provided between the heat insulation layer and the outer wall of the concentration chamber, the width of which is 5mm to 10mm.

[0025] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned improvement scheme are as follows: by covering the outer wall of the concentration chamber with a heat insulation layer with a thickness of 20mm to 30mm, the heat loss of the concentration chamber to the outside can be effectively reduced, and the energy consumption required to maintain the low temperature operating condition can be reduced. At the same time, the heat insulation layer can make the temperature distribution of the inner wall of the chamber more uniform, and avoid material solidification caused by local overcooling. By setting a gap with a width of 5mm to 10mm between the heat insulation layer and the outer wall of the concentration chamber, a static air layer can be formed. The low thermal conductivity of air can be used to further enhance the heat insulation effect. At the same time, this gap can buffer the stress caused by the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the heat insulation layer and the chamber, prevent the heat insulation layer from cracking or falling off, and extend the service life of the heat insulation structure.

[0026] Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of this invention's low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device are as follows: This invention achieves gradient condensation of steam by setting up a spiral-coiled condenser pipe with a wall thickness that gradually decreases along the flow direction. This allows flavor components with different boiling points to be targeted for condensation at different locations within the pipe, avoiding the problems of excessively fast or slow condensation caused by traditional straight-tube condensers. This effectively protects heat-sensitive flavor substances in the flavor and improves the quality of the concentrated flavor. Furthermore, by aligning the suction port of the vacuum suction component with the center of the concentration chamber and using a ring-shaped flange structure, a uniform and stable negative pressure environment is formed within the chamber, causing the material to boil uniformly at low temperatures and preventing the decomposition of flavor components caused by localized overheating. It reduces heat loss during the concentration process; the differentiated design of the bottom cone angle of the material collector being larger than that of the bottom cone angle of the concentration chamber creates a secondary aggregation effect during the collection stage. Combined with the buffering and guiding effect of the arc-shaped baffle, it significantly reduces the residue and splash loss of concentrated material, thereby improving the collection rate of flavorings; by setting vertical guide grooves on the inner wall of the concentration chamber and corrugated heat dissipation fins on the outer surface of the condenser pipe, it enhances the steam flow organization within the chamber and the heat dissipation efficiency outside the pipe, shortening the concentration cycle and improving production efficiency; the overall structure consists of only four main components: the concentration chamber, the condenser pipe, the vacuum suction assembly, and the material collector. The structure is simple and reliable, easy to operate and maintain, and suitable for the actual application needs of flavoring production enterprises. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this utility model will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 A front view of a low-calorie flavoring low-temperature vacuum concentration apparatus;

[0029] Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of a low-calorie flavoring low-temperature vacuum concentration device;

[0030] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the concentration chamber of a low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device;

[0031] The attached diagram lists the components represented by each number as follows:

[0032] 10. Concentration chamber; 11. Feed inlet; 12. Discharge outlet; 13. Steam exhaust channel; 14. Vertical guide channel; 20. Condensation pipe; 21. Heat dissipation fins; 30. Vacuum suction assembly; 40. Material collector; 50. Baffle plate; 60. Locking ring. Detailed Implementation

[0033] 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.

[0034] like Figure 1-3 The diagram illustrates an embodiment of a low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device provided by this utility model. This embodiment includes a concentration chamber 10, a condenser pipe 20, a vacuum suction assembly 30, and a material collector 40. The concentration chamber has an inlet 11 at its top and an outlet 12 at its bottom. A steam discharge channel 13 is provided on the side wall of the concentration chamber. One end of the condenser pipe is sealed to the steam discharge channel. The condenser pipe is arranged in a spiral coil, and its wall thickness gradually decreases along the material flow direction. The other end of the condenser pipe is connected to the liquid inlet of the material collector. The vacuum suction assembly 30 is fixedly installed on the top of the concentration chamber 10 and is sealed to the top of the concentration chamber via a flange. The suction port of the vacuum suction assembly 30 is aligned with the center of the inner cavity of the concentration chamber. The bottom of the material collector has a tapered constriction structure, and the cone angle of the tapered bottom of the material collector 40 is greater than the cone angle of the bottom of the concentration chamber.

[0035] In the above technical solution, the spiral of the condenser pipe has 8 to 12 turns, and the spiral diameter of the condenser pipe gradually increases along the material flow direction.

[0036] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the inner wall of the concentration chamber is provided with multiple vertical guide channels 14, which are evenly distributed along the circumference of the concentration chamber, and the included angle between two adjacent vertical guide channels is 60°~90°.

[0037] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the cross-section of the steam discharge channel is elliptical, the major axis of the steam discharge channel is perpendicular to the axial direction of the concentration chamber, and the minor axis of the steam discharge channel is less than 1 / 2 of the major axis.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the outer surface of the condenser pipe is provided with heat dissipation fins 21, which are arranged radially and the height of the heat dissipation fins varies in a wave-like shape along the spiral direction of the condenser pipe.

[0039] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, a baffle plate 50 is provided at the liquid inlet of the material collector. The surface of the baffle plate has an arc-shaped concave structure, and the arc-shaped concave surface of the baffle plate faces the inside of the liquid inlet.

[0040] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the suction port edge of the vacuum suction assembly is provided with an annular flange, which extends toward the inner cavity of the concentration chamber, and the radial width of the annular flange is greater than the wall thickness of the vacuum suction assembly.

[0041] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, a locking ring 60 is provided at the feed inlet of the concentration chamber. The locking ring is threadedly connected to the outer wall of the feed inlet, and the inner conical surface of the locking ring matches the outer conical surface of the feed inlet.

[0042] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the condenser tube is made of stainless steel, the concentration chamber is made of borosilicate glass, and the material collector is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0043] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the outer wall of the concentration chamber is covered with a heat insulation layer, the thickness of which is 20mm~30mm, and a gap is provided between the heat insulation layer and the outer wall of the concentration chamber, the width of which is 5mm~10mm.

[0044] Before use, check the sealing of all connections. Tighten the locking ring on the feed inlet of the concentration chamber with a wrench to ensure a tight, leak-free conical fit. Start the vacuum suction assembly. Once the vacuum in the concentration chamber stabilizes, inject the flavoring material to be concentrated into the concentration chamber through the feed inlet. The amount of material should be controlled to 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the effective volume of the concentration chamber. Close the locking ring at the feed inlet and adjust the suction intensity of the vacuum suction assembly to maintain the pressure in the concentration chamber within the preset decompression range. At this point, the material begins to boil at a low temperature. The vapor formed by solvent evaporation is guided upwards in a spiral shape through the vertical guide channels on the inner wall of the concentration chamber, and enters the spirally wound condenser pipe through the elliptical cross-section vapor discharge channel. As the wall thickness and spiral diameter of the steam gradually decrease in the condenser pipe, the flow rate gradually decreases. Flavor components with different boiling points condense into liquid at different locations within the pipe. High-boiling-point components precipitate at the front of the pipe, while low-boiling-point components are fully captured at the rear. The condensate flows into the material collector at the end of the condenser pipe and smoothly enters the conical area at the bottom of the collector under the buffering and guiding effect of the arc-shaped baffle. During concentration, the concentration of the material in the chamber gradually increases due to continuous solvent evaporation. When the material concentration reaches the predetermined requirement, vacuum suction is stopped. After the pressure in the chamber returns to normal, the locking ring is loosened to open the inlet, and the concentrated flavor material is discharged through the outlet at the bottom of the concentration chamber. Simultaneously, the condensed and recovered solvent is collected from the drain outlet at the bottom of the material collector. The entire operation maintains a low-temperature environment, effectively protecting the heat-sensitive flavor substances in the flavor.

[0045] The following is a specific embodiment 1 of this utility model: In this embodiment, the concentration chamber is made of borosilicate glass, and the chamber has a cylindrical structure with an inner diameter of 150 mm, a height of 400 mm, and a wall thickness of 5 mm. The coefficient of thermal expansion of borosilicate glass is 3.3 × 10⁻⁶. 6It can withstand temperature changes without cracking. The top of the concentration chamber has a 50mm inner diameter inlet, with an outer conical surface machined to the outer wall of the inlet at a taper of 1:10. A locking ring made of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is fitted with this ring; the inner conical surface of the locking ring has the same taper as the outer conical surface of the inlet. The outer circumference of the locking ring is machined with a trapezoidal thread with a pitch of 3mm. Rotating the locking ring ensures a reliable seal at the inlet. The bottom of the concentration chamber has a tapered, conical structure with a 45° taper angle, and a 20mm inner diameter outlet is located at the center of the bottom. A steam exhaust channel is located 100mm from the top on the side wall of the concentration chamber. This channel has an elliptical cross-section with a major axis of 40mm and a minor axis of 15mm. The major axis is perpendicular to the chamber's axial direction, and the inner wall of the channel is smooth and burr-free. The inner wall of the concentration chamber is uniformly machined with six vertical guide grooves along its circumference. The included angle between adjacent guide grooves is 60°. Each guide groove is 3mm wide and 2mm deep, extending from the top of the chamber to the starting position of the conical bottom. The bottom of the guide groove is arc-shaped with a radius of 1mm. The surface of the guide groove is polished, with a roughness of less than 0.8 micrometers. The condensation pipeline is made of 304 stainless steel and is spirally wound with 10 turns. The initial diameter of the spiral is 80mm, and the final diameter is 120mm. The spiral diameter increases uniformly along the material flow direction, with an increase of 4mm per turn. The initial wall thickness of the pipeline is 2mm, and the final wall thickness is 0.8mm. The wall thickness decreases uniformly along the flow direction, with a reduction of 0.12mm per turn. The inner diameter of the pipeline remains constant at 10mm. Eight heat dissipation fins are evenly welded along the circumference of the outer surface of the condenser pipe. The fins are arranged radially and are made of copper with a thickness of 0.5 mm. The height of the fins varies sinusoidally along the spiral direction, with a maximum height of 15 mm and a minimum height of 8 mm. The wavelength is the circumference of one spiral turn. The fins are welded to the outer surface of the pipe using silver soldering to ensure good thermal conductivity. One end of the condenser pipe is sealed to the steam exhaust channel via a flange. A high-temperature resistant silicone sealing ring is placed between the flanges, and the flanges are fastened with six evenly distributed stainless steel bolts. The vacuum suction assembly is made of stainless steel tubing with a diameter of 40mm and a wall thickness of 3mm. The vacuum suction assembly is fixed to the top center of the concentration chamber by an 80mm diameter flange. A rubber sealing ring is placed between the flange and the top of the chamber. The flange is fastened with 8 stainless steel bolts. The distance between the suction port and the bottom of the chamber is 350mm. The lower edge of the suction port extends into the chamber with an annular flange. The radial width of the flange is 5mm, and the thickness of the flange is the same as that of the tube wall, which is 3mm. The flange is connected to the tube wall at a 90° right angle.The material collector is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) through machining. It is cylindrical with an inner diameter of 100mm, a height of 200mm, and a wall thickness of 8mm. The top of the collector has a 12mm inner diameter inlet. An arc-shaped baffle, also made of PTFE, is installed inside the inlet. The baffle's surface is a hemispherical concave depression with a radius of 15mm, facing inwards towards the inlet. The baffle is fixed to the edge of the inlet by three stainless steel support rods evenly distributed at 120° intervals, with a diameter of 2mm. The bottom of the material collector has a tapered constriction structure with a cone angle of 60°. A 15mm inner diameter drain port is located at the center of the bottom, equipped with a PTFE stopcock valve to control material discharge. The end of the condenser pipe is connected to the inlet of the material collector via a flexible hose made of food-grade silicone material, with an inner diameter of 12mm and a length of 200mm. Both ends of the hose are secured with stainless steel clamps to ensure a tight seal. The outer wall of the concentration chamber is covered with a 25mm thick insulation layer made of aluminum silicate fiber felt with a density of 150kg / m³. 3 The thermal conductivity is 0.05 W / m / Kelvin. An 8mm gap is provided between the insulation layer and the outer wall of the cavity. This gap is achieved by welding stainless steel support rings to the outer wall of the cavity. The support rings are 8mm high and 5mm wide, with one ring every 50mm along the cavity height. The insulation layer is wrapped and fixed with a 0.3mm thick stainless steel sheet. In use, 5L of low-calorie flavor concentrate with a solids concentration of 8% is injected into the concentration cavity through the inlet. The locking ring is tightened to seal the inlet. The vacuum suction assembly is activated to reduce the pressure inside the cavity to 5 kPa. At this point, the material begins to boil at a low temperature of 25℃. The vapor formed by solvent evaporation is guided spirally upwards along the vertical guide channel and enters the condenser pipe through the elliptical vapor discharge channel. During the spiral flow in the condenser pipe, the high-boiling-point flavor components in the vapor gradually precipitate out in the front section of the pipe due to the larger wall thickness and slower condensation. The low-boiling-point components are fully captured in the rear section of the pipe due to the thinner wall thickness and enhanced condensation. The condensate is then... After being buffered by the arc-shaped baffle, the material flows into the bottom of the material collector and accumulates. After 120 minutes of continuous concentration, the material concentration in the chamber reaches 32%. The concentrated flavor material is discharged through the outlet with a volume of approximately 1.2L. The volume of solvent recovered in the collector is approximately 3.7L. Throughout the concentration process, the temperature in the chamber is maintained within the range of 25℃~30℃. The characteristic aroma of the flavor is well preserved, and the color does not change significantly. The content of the main flavor components in the concentrated flavor is more than 95% higher than that of the initial liquid, and the material residue rate is less than 2%, showing good concentration effect and collection efficiency.

[0046] The following is another specific embodiment 2 of this utility model: Embodiment 2 is based on Embodiment 1, but the number of spiral turns in the condenser pipe is adjusted to 12, the starting diameter of the spiral is adjusted to 70mm, the ending diameter is adjusted to 130mm, the diameter increment per turn is 5mm, the starting wall thickness of the pipe is adjusted to 2.5mm, the ending wall thickness is adjusted to 0.6mm, the wall thickness decreases along the flow direction by a larger gradient, and the thickness decreases by 0.158mm per turn. The number of heat dissipation fins on the outer surface of the condenser pipe is increased by 12, the wavy variation of the fin height is increased, the maximum height is adjusted to 18mm, the minimum height is adjusted to 6mm, and the wavelength is adjusted to half the circumference of a spiral turn, thus doubling the frequency of heat dissipation intensity variation. By increasing the number of spiral turns and increasing the wall thickness gradient, the residence time of steam in the condenser is further extended, and the gradient condensation effect is more significant. It is particularly suitable for processing complex flavor systems containing multiple components with different boiling points. Under the same operating conditions, the concentration time is shortened to 100 minutes, the retention rate of the main flavor components is increased by more than 97%, the recovery rate of low-boiling-point components that are easily lost is significantly improved, the aroma of the concentrated flavor is richer and fuller, and the product quality is further improved.

[0047] The following is another specific embodiment 3 of this utility model: Embodiment 3 is based on Embodiment 1, but the number of vertical guide channels on the inner wall of the concentration chamber is increased to 8, the included angle between adjacent guide channels is adjusted to 45°, the width of each guide channel is increased to 4mm, the depth is increased to 3mm, and the bottom radius of the guide channel is increased to 1.5mm. The elliptical cross-sectional dimensions of the steam discharge channel are adjusted to a major axis length of 50mm and a minor axis length of 18mm, increasing the channel cross-sectional area by approximately 36%. The cone angle at the bottom of the material collector is adjusted to 70 degrees, increasing the difference between it and the cone angle at the bottom of the concentration chamber by approximately 25 degrees, further enhancing the secondary aggregation effect. The gap width between the insulation layer and the outer wall of the chamber is increased to 10mm, and the insulation layer thickness is increased to 30mm, significantly improving the insulation effect. By increasing the number of guide channels and enlarging the channel cross-section, the flow of steam in the cavity is smoother, the pressure distribution is more uniform, and the boiling state of the material is more stable. By increasing the cone angle difference at the bottom of the collector and strengthening the insulation measures, the material collection efficiency is increased to over 99%, the residue rate is reduced to below 1%, and energy consumption is reduced by about 15%. It is particularly suitable for use in production sites with low ambient temperatures, or for processing high-end flavor products that are more sensitive to temperature fluctuations. At the same concentration ratio, the sensory quality score of the product is improved, and its market competitiveness is enhanced.

[0048] Specifically, the principle of this invention is as follows: This device utilizes the principles of fluid mechanics and heat transfer to extend the steam flow path through the spiral winding structure of the condensing pipe, increasing the contact time and contact area between the steam and the cooling medium. At the same time, the pipe wall thickness gradually decreases along the flow direction, resulting in a gradual reduction in thermal resistance. Different condensation intensity gradients are formed at different locations in the pipe. High-boiling-point components are gradually precipitated in the front section of the pipe due to the thicker pipe wall and slower condensation, while low-boiling-point components are fully captured in the rear section of the pipe due to the thinner pipe wall and enhanced condensation. This achieves graded condensation and recovery of various flavor components. The gradual increase in the spiral diameter further reduces the flow velocity inside the pipe, providing sufficient phase change time for components with different boiling points and avoiding quality deterioration caused by rapid condensation. The vacuum suction assembly's suction port is aligned with the center of the concentration chamber. Utilizing the principle of axisymmetric suction, it creates a centripetally contracting, uniform negative pressure field within the chamber. Combined with the annular flange at the edge of the suction port's rectification effect on the rising steam flow, this eliminates the uneven pressure gradient problem caused by traditional sidewall suction. This ensures uniform boiling of materials at all locations within the chamber under the same vacuum level, preventing localized overheating and material slugging. Vertical guide channels on the inner wall of the concentration chamber utilize capillary action and gravity to guide the condensate downwards rapidly, preventing liquid film accumulation that could impair heat transfer. Simultaneously, the circumferentially uniform distribution of these guide channels creates a spiral upward flow of steam within the chamber, enhancing the contact efficiency between the steam and the steam discharge channel. The elliptical cross-section of the steam discharge channel utilizes the principle of velocity reduction and diffusion in fluid mechanics to reduce the steam velocity while maintaining sufficient discharge volume, minimizing droplet entrainment. Furthermore, the flattened channel shape allows the steam to enter the condenser pipe in a laminar flow state, creating favorable flow conditions for subsequent gradient condensation. The design of the material collector's bottom cone angle being larger than that of the concentration chamber utilizes the principle of geometric convergence. When condensate flows from the bottom of the concentration chamber with the smaller cone angle to the bottom of the collector with the larger cone angle, the sudden expansion of the flow cross-section slows down the liquid flow and converges towards the center, forming a secondary aggregation effect and reducing wall residue. The buffering effect of the arc-shaped baffle further converts the liquid kinetic energy into tangential flow along the wall, avoiding splashing losses. The corrugated heat dissipation fins on the outer surface of the condenser pipe enhance natural convection heat dissipation through the dual effects of increasing surface area and disrupting the thermal boundary layer. Combined with the variation in pipe wall thickness, this achieves a synergistic match between external heat dissipation and internal condensation. The air gap between the insulation layer and the outer wall of the chamber utilizes the low thermal conductivity of air to create additional thermal resistance. Combined with the insulation effect of the insulation material itself, this effectively maintains the low-temperature environment inside the chamber, reducing energy consumption. At the same time, the existence of the gap eliminates thermal stress and ensures the long-term stability of the insulation structure. The structural design and positional configuration of the above components work together to achieve efficient gradient condensation, uniform concentration, and complete collection of flavoring materials under low-temperature and low-pressure conditions.

[0049] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A low-calorie flavoring low-temperature vacuum concentration device, comprising a concentration chamber, a condenser pipe, a vacuum suction assembly, and a material collector; the concentration chamber has an inlet at its top and an outlet at its bottom, and a steam discharge channel is provided on the side wall of the concentration chamber; one end of the condenser pipe is sealed to the steam discharge channel, the condenser pipe is arranged in a spiral coil, the wall thickness of the condenser pipe gradually decreases along the material flow direction, and the other end of the condenser pipe is connected to the liquid inlet of the material collector; the vacuum suction assembly is fixedly installed on the top of the concentration chamber, and the vacuum suction assembly is sealed to the top of the concentration chamber through a flange, the suction port of the vacuum suction assembly is aligned with the center of the inner cavity of the concentration chamber; the bottom of the material collector has a conical contraction structure, and the cone angle of the conical bottom of the material collector is larger than the cone angle of the bottom of the concentration chamber.

2. The low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spiral of the condenser pipe has 8 to 12 turns, and the spiral diameter of the condenser pipe gradually increases along the material flow direction.

3. The low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner wall of the concentration chamber is provided with multiple vertical guide channels, which are evenly distributed along the circumference of the concentration chamber, and the included angle between two adjacent vertical guide channels is 60°~90°.

4. The low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cross-section of the steam discharge channel is elliptical, the major axis of the steam discharge channel is perpendicular to the axial direction of the concentration chamber, and the minor axis of the steam discharge channel is less than 1 / 2 of the major axis.

5. The low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The outer surface of the condenser pipe is provided with heat dissipation fins, which are arranged radially and the height of the heat dissipation fins varies in a wave-like shape along the spiral direction of the condenser pipe.

6. The low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, A baffle plate is provided at the liquid inlet of the material collector. The surface of the baffle plate has an arc-shaped concave structure, and the arc-shaped concave surface of the baffle plate faces the inside of the liquid inlet.

7. The low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The vacuum suction assembly has an annular flange at the edge of its suction port. The annular flange extends toward the inner cavity of the concentration chamber, and the radial width of the annular flange is greater than the wall thickness of the vacuum suction assembly.

8. The low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, The inlet of the concentration chamber is equipped with a locking ring, which is threadedly connected to the outer wall of the inlet. The inner conical surface of the locking ring mates with the outer conical surface of the inlet.

9. The low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The condenser tube is made of stainless steel, the concentration chamber is made of borosilicate glass, and the material collector is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. A low-calorie flavor low-temperature vacuum concentration apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, The outer wall of the concentration chamber is covered with a heat insulation layer with a thickness of 20mm to 30mm. A gap with a width of 5mm to 10mm is provided between the heat insulation layer and the outer wall of the concentration chamber.

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