Device for treating food

Abstract

Device (1) for treating foodstuffs, comprising: - a smokehouse (2) for smoking food (23), - a flue gas generator (3) which is connected by means of a first pipe (4) to an inlet (5) of the smoking chamber (2) for supplying a flue gas stream (6) into the smoking chamber (2), wherein the flue gas generator (3) has a combustion chamber (14), characterized by - a system for providing ozonated water, which is connected to at least one first nozzle (13) arranged to spray ozonated water droplets into the flue gas stream (6) in the first pipeline (4).

Description

AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for treating food.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a device for treating foodstuffs, which comprises a smoking chamber for smoking smoked goods and a smoke gas generator which is connected by means of a first pipe to an inlet of the smoking chamber for supplying a smoke gas stream into the smoking chamber. BACKGROUND

[0003] Foods such as meat, sausages, and fish are often smoked to increase their shelf life and achieve a desired flavor. The food is placed in a smoking chamber and exposed to smoke gas. On an industrial scale, the smoking chamber is often designed as a smoking cabinet into which the food is inserted through a door. Such smoking cabinets can be designed in various sizes, for example, for 50 kg to 1000 kg of food. The smoke gas for the smoking process is generated, for example, in a smoke gas generator by burning or carbonizing wood chips or wood pellets and is piped into the smoking cabinet. During the smoking process, the food is exposed to the smoke gas. The smoke gas is then piped out of the smoking cabinet.

[0004] In known food processing devices, the exhaust gases from the smoking chamber are usually treated to prevent or at least reduce the release of pollutants into the environment.

[0005] Furthermore, particles contained in the flue gas can settle in parts of such a device and increase the risk of fire.

[0006] Furthermore, the flue gas may contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are considered carcinogenic to humans.

[0007] The present invention is based on the object of providing a device for treating foodstuffs, which device comprises a smoking chamber for smoking smoked goods and a smoke gas generator with a combustion chamber, wherein the device is intended to eliminate or at least reduce at least some of the disadvantages mentioned above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention is defined by the features of the independent claim. Some specific embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for treating food is provided, comprising a smoking chamber for smoking smoked goods, a smoke gas generator connected by means of a first conduit to an inlet of the smoking chamber for supplying a smoke gas stream into the smoking chamber, the smoke gas generator having a combustion chamber, and a system for providing ozonated water, which is connected to at least one first nozzle arranged to spray ozonated water droplets into the smoke gas stream in the first conduit.

[0010] Various embodiments of the first aspect may include one or more features from the following list: • the at least one first nozzle is designed to spray ozonated water droplets with a diameter in the range of 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm • the system for providing ozonated water comprises a water tank and a water circulation line, an ozone generator arranged to supply ozone to a mixing device arranged at least partially in the water circulation line, and a second pipe from the water tank to the at least one first nozzle • the mixing device comprises a rotatable substrate arranged at a distance from a stationary substrate in the water circulation line • the rotatable substrate has a plurality of outlet openings for supplying ozone into a water stream in the water circulation line • The rotatable substrate is driven by a servo motor via a rotatable axis • the rotatable axis comprises an ozone line to a plurality of channels of the rotatable substrate • the rotating axis is hollow • The rotation speed of the rotatable substrate is in the range of 2500 to 6000 revolutions per minute for mixing ozone and water • the rotatable substrate and the stationary substrate are parallel • the rotatable substrate and the stationary substrate are arranged in the flow direction • the system for providing ozonated water is connected to at least one second nozzle arranged to spray ozonated water droplets into an exhaust gas stream from the smoking chamber • the at least one second nozzle is designed to spray ozonated water droplets with a diameter in the range of 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm

[0011] Considerable advantages can be achieved with the help of the present invention. In particular, a device for treating food is provided which comprises a smoking chamber for smoking smoked goods and a smoke gas generator. The device comprises at least one first nozzle, by means of which ozonized water droplets can be sprayed into the smoke gas stream in the first pipe. The diameter of the ozonized water droplets is preferably in the range of 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm, in particular in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm. In this case, the smoke gas stream is already cleaned before it is introduced into the smoking chamber. Post-treatment of exhaust gases from the smoking chamber is therefore no longer necessary or can at least be reduced. Furthermore, the deposition of particles contained in the smoke gas, such as tar, in at least some parts of the device is avoided or at least reduced, thus increasing fire safety.Furthermore, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained in the flue gas can be removed or at least reduced, so that the smoked product prepared in the smokehouse does not come into contact with such polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or at least the contact is reduced. Furthermore, exhaust gases from the smokehouse do not require any post-treatment or only minimal post-treatment.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the system for providing ozonated water, if required, is also connected to at least one second nozzle arranged to spray ozonated water droplets into an exhaust gas stream from the smokehouse. This allows the exhaust gas stream to be post-treated. Deposition of particles contained in the exhaust gas, such as tar, in at least some parts of the device can thus be avoided or at least reduced, thus increasing fire safety.

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention can be used in both cold smoking and hot smoking. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the following, certain exemplary embodiments will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for treating food according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a mixing device of a food processing apparatus according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, and Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of another food processing apparatus according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. EMBODIMENTS

[0015] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a food processing device 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. The food processing device 1 comprises a smoking chamber 2 for smoking the food. The smoking chamber 2 can, for example, be designed in the form of a smoking cabinet into which the food is introduced through a door. Such a smoking cabinet can be designed in various sizes, for example, for 50 kg to 1000 kg of food.

[0016] The device 1 further comprises a flue gas generator 3 for generating flue gas. The flue gas generator 3 comprises a combustion chamber 14. The flue gas generator 3 is connected to an inlet 5 of the smoking chamber 2 by means of a first pipe 4 for supplying a flue gas stream 6 into the smoking chamber 2. The flue gas stream 6 is generated by burning plant-based material, such as wood chips or wood pellets, in the combustion chamber 14. The combustion of the plant-based material takes place, for example, by means of an electric heating system (not shown).

[0017] Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a system for providing ozonated water, which is connected to at least one first nozzle 13 arranged to spray ozonated water droplets into the flue gas stream 6 in the first pipe 4. In other words, the at least one first nozzle 13 is arranged upstream of the inlet 5 of the smoking chamber 2 for spraying ozonated water droplets into the flue gas stream 6 in the first pipe 4 for cleaning the flue gas stream 6.

[0018] The system for providing ozonated water comprises, for example, a water tank 7 and a water circulation line 8. Water, H2O, can be circulated from the water tank 7 via the water circulation line 8 by means of a pump back into the water tank 7.

[0019] The exemplary system for providing ozonated water also includes an ozone generator 9 for generating ozone 10, O3. The ozone generator 9 is arranged to supply ozone 10 to a mixing device 11. The mixing device is arranged at least partially in the water circulation line 8. By mixing the circulating water stream 18 with ozone 10 by means of the mixing device 11, ozonated water, H2O3, is provided. An exemplary mixing device 11 is shown in Fig. 2 shown.

[0020] In addition, the exemplary system for providing ozonated water comprises a second pipeline 12 from the water tank 7 to the at least one first nozzle 13.

[0021] The diameter of an ozonated water droplet is typically in the range of 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm, for example, in the range between 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm. When the flue gas stream 6 enters the smoke chamber 2, the ozone has typically evaporated, i.e., ozone 10 is typically not supplied to the smoke chamber.

[0022] The first pipe 4 can also be connected to a collecting container or basin (not shown). This allows water from the flue gas cleaning process to be removed from the first pipe 4 along with contaminants such as tar from the device 1. Exhaust gases 24 can be removed from the smoking chamber 2 via an outlet.

[0023] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a mixing device 11 of a food treatment device 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. The mixing device is at least partially disposed in the water circulation line 8. By mixing the circulating water stream 18 with ozone 10 provided by the ozone generator 9 by means of the mixing device 11, ozonized water, H2O3, is produced.

[0024] The mixing device 11 comprises a rotatable substrate 15, which is arranged at a distance from a stationary substrate 16 in the water circulation line 8. The rotatable substrate 15 has a plurality of outlet openings 17 for supplying ozone into a water stream 18 in the water circulation line 8. The rotatable substrate 15 can, for example, be designed in the shape of a circular disk. The rotatable substrate 15 and the stationary substrate 16 are usually arranged parallel to one another. According to some embodiments, short pieces of pipe or hoses protrude from the outlet openings of the rotatable substrate 15. The rotatable substrate 15 is usually driven by a servomotor 19 via an axis 20. The axis 20 can be hollow and include an ozone channel. Ozone 10 can be fed from the ozone generator 9 into the ozone channel via a connection 22. The connection 22 is usually arranged near the servomotor 19.The rotational speed of the rotatable substrate 15 is, for example, in the range of 2500 to 6000 revolutions per minute for mixing ozone and water, so that ozonized water is provided and circulated back into the water tank. The rotatable substrate 15 and the stationary substrate 16 are typically arranged in the flow direction.

[0025] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic view of another device 1 for treating food according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. The device 1 includes the device described in connection with Fig.1. Furthermore, the system for providing ozonated water is connected to at least one second nozzle 25 arranged to spray ozonated water droplets into the exhaust gas stream 24 from the smoking chamber 2. In other words, the at least one second nozzle 25 is arranged downstream of an outlet of the smoking chamber 2 for spraying ozonated water droplets into the exhaust gas stream 24 from the smoking chamber 2 to purify the exhaust gas stream 24.

[0026] The at least one second nozzle 25 is typically designed to spray ozonated water droplets with a diameter in the range of 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0027] It should be understood that embodiments of the disclosed invention are not limited to the particular structures, method steps, or materials disclosed herein, but extend to equivalents thereof as would be known to those skilled in the relevant arts. Furthermore, it should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0028] When reference is made in this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment," it means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the appearance of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0029] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and / or materials may be listed in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as if each item of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique item. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, no individual item should be construed as a factual equivalent of any other item of the same list solely based on occurrence in a common group of such a list. Furthermore, various embodiments and examples of the present invention may be referred to herein, along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It should be understood that these embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as factual equivalents of one another, but are to be considered separate and autonomous examples of the present invention.

[0030] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Numerous specific details are set forth in the description, such as example lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with different methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or processes are not set forth or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0031] While the foregoing examples illustrate the principles of the present invention in one or more specific applications, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications in form, use, and details of implementation are possible without inventiveness or departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the claims set forth below.

[0032] The verbs "comprise" and "include" are used in this document as open-ended limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of further features not explicitly recited. The features recited in the dependent claims may be freely combined with each other unless explicitly excluded. Furthermore, it should be understood that the use of "a / s," a singular form, within this document does not exclude the plural. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 device 2 smoking chambers 3 flue gas generator 4 first pipeline 5 Inlet of the smokehouse 6 Flue gas flow 7 Water tank 8 Water circulation line 9 Ozone generator 10 Ozon 11 Mixing device 12 second pipeline 13 first nozzle 14 Combustion chamber 15 rotatable substrate 16 stationary substrate 17 Exit opening 18 Water stream 19 Servo motor 20 axis 21 channel 22 connection 23 Smoked goods 24 exhaust 25 second nozzle

Claims

[1] Device (1) for treating food, comprising: - a smoking chamber (2) for smoking food (23), - a smoke gas generator (3) which is connected by means of a first pipe (4) to an inlet (5) of the smoking chamber (2) for supplying a smoke gas stream (6) into the smoking chamber (2), wherein the smoke gas generator (3) has a combustion chamber (14), characterized by - a system for providing ozonated water, which is connected to at least one first nozzle (13) arranged to spray ozonated water droplets into the flue gas stream (6) in the first pipe (4). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first nozzle (13) is designed to spray ozonated water droplets having a diameter in the range of 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm. [3] Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the system for providing ozonated water comprises: - a water tank (7) and a water circulation pipe (8), - an ozone generator (9) arranged to supply ozone (10) to a mixing device (11) arranged at least partially in the water circulation line (8), and - a second pipe (12) from the water tank (7) to the at least one first nozzle (13). [4] Device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the mixing device (11) comprises a rotatable substrate (15) arranged at a distance from a stationary substrate (16) in the water circulation line (8). [5] Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the rotatable substrate (15) has a plurality of outlet openings (17) for supplying ozone into a water stream (18) in the water circulation line (8). [6] Device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the rotatable substrate (15) is to be driven by a servo motor (19) via a rotatable axis (20). [7] Device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the rotatable axis (20) comprises an ozone line to a plurality of channels (21) of the rotatable substrate (15). [8] Device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the rotatable axis (20) is hollow. [9] Device (1) according to one of the claims 6-8, wherein the rotational speed of the rotatable substrate (15) is in the range of 2500 to 6000 revolutions per minute for mixing ozone and water. [10] Device (1) according to one of the claims 4-9, wherein the rotatable substrate (15) and the stationary substrate (16) are parallel. [11] Device (1) according to one of the claims 4-10, wherein the rotatable substrate (15) and the stationary substrate (16) are arranged in the flow direction. [12] Device (1) according to one of the claims 1-11, wherein the system for providing ozonated water is connected to at least one second nozzle (25) arranged to spray ozonated water droplets into an exhaust gas stream (24) from the smoking chamber (2). [13] Device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the at least one second nozzle (25) is designed to spray ozonated water droplets having a diameter in the range of 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm.

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