Equipment for treating arthropod larvae, in particular insects, more particularly dipteran larvae

Abstract

The present invention relates to an installation for processing arthropod larvae, in particular insect larvae, more particularly comminuted Diptera larvae, the installation comprising at least one device for producing glue water extracted from a mixture of comminuted larvae, the installation being characterised in that it comprises a glue water circuit providing a device for processing comminuted larvae, comprising a circuit for diluting the comminuted larvae and / or a glue water evaporator and / or a meal dryer.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to the field of industrial farming of arthropods, in particular insects, more particularly Diptera, for food production purposes.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to the field of arthropod husbandry, in particular insect husbandry, more particularly dipteran husbandry, in particular black soldier flies.

[0003] Arthropods have several characteristics that make them suitable for use in animal feed. They offer a high protein content while being rich in other beneficial nutrients such as fats, minerals and vitamins. The protein concentration levels of insect meals intended for animal feed vary between 55% and 75%. Insects are characterized by a high feed conversion rate and can therefore be a very valuable feed source for livestock. Insects are a natural component of the feed for animals such as carnivorous fish and poultry (for example, insects can provide up to 70% of the feed requirements of trout).

[0004] Moreover, these products also have a balanced nutritional profile that meets the food needs of humans.

[0005] These considerations have led to the development of large-scale automated production of food from arthropods, and more specifically, insect farming, on industrial sites organized into complementary spaces dedicated to the laying of eggs, hatching, rearing of mature animals, collection, and their processing to extract compounds of interest.

[0006] These industrial sites must be optimized to allow the industrialization of large quantities of larvae. One of the most important stages is the processing of live larvae, in particular those of the black soldier fly (Hermetia Illucens). The larvae are processed into protein food and high-quality oil. The rearing medium, called frass, in which the larvae evolve at the end of their growth cycle, is also recycled. Frass is a mixture of larval feces and uneaten substrate residues, dried and fermented.

[0007] This processing step comes after the steps of egg production under industrial conditions, collection of eggs laid by female insects and collection of larvae for rearing, since they need to be grouped together as homogeneously as possible, with all the newborn larvae in a given batch being at the same maturation stage. Generally, egg-laying is carried out in cages that confine the black soldier flies in an enclosed space, on which are placed collectors with an egg-laying surface, e.g., groove plates, on which the females lay their eggs. These collectors are removed to allow the eggs to hatch into newborn larvae, which are then injected into a nutrient medium in an insect rearing module. These newborn larvae are then raised to reach adulthood in a multi-stage growth module.

[0008] These larvae are finally deactivated by crushing and heat treatment and converted into a nutritious pulp which then undergoes further processing and finally undergoes a stage of extraction of the compounds of interest, in particular proteins and oily substances, using the equipment that is the subject of the present invention. [Background technology]

[0009] (Prior Art) Various solutions are known in the art for isolating compounds of interest from the paste obtained from the larvae.

[0010] US Pat. No. 5,399,633 describes a method for obtaining food and / or feed industrial products from insects and describes an apparatus equipped with a three-way decanting system. The insect pulp is separated into a fatty aqueous phase at a first outlet and into a solid phase at a second outlet. The fat-containing aqueous phase can then be separated into an aqueous phase and a fatty phase in a separator. This document specifies that the aqueous phase can be subjected in particular to drying in an evaporator.

[0011] US Patent No. 5,399,633 describes a method for converting insects or worms into nutrient streams, such as a fat-containing fraction, an aqueous protein-containing fraction, and a solids-containing fraction. The method includes the steps of (a) crushing the insects or worms to obtain a pulp, in which the insects or worms are reduced in size, (b) heating the pulp to a temperature of 70-100° C., and (c) subjecting the heated pulp to a physical separation step, preferably decanting and / or centrifuging.

[0012] Patent Document 3 describes a method for collecting oily waste and treating it using a three-phase separator, an oily waste agitation tank, and a two-phase stacked fluidizer, which is equipped with a blender and a heater in an oily waste collection pit, adds detergent to the oily waste, sludge, and water, and the sludge outlet is connected to the oily sludge agitation tank.

[0013] Patent document 4 relates to a method for producing an insect larvae oil with improved palatability, the method comprising: (a) Extraction of oil from insect larvae; (b) Acid treatment; (c) urea treatment, and (d) Addition and reaction of the adsorbent.

[0014] US Patent No. 5,399,633 relates to a method for converting insects or worms into nutrient streams such as a fat-containing fraction, an aqueous protein-containing fraction, and a solid-containing fraction. The method includes the steps of (a) crushing the insects or worms to obtain a pulp, (b) enzymatically hydrolyzing the pulp to obtain a hydrolysis mixture, (c) heating the hydrolysis mixture to a temperature of 70-100° C., and (d) physically separating the mixture, preferably by decanting and / or centrifuging. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0015] [Patent Document 1] International Patent Application No. 2020 / 011903 [Patent Document 2] International Patent Application No. 2014 / 123420 [Patent Document 3] China Utility Model No. 208843920 Specification [Patent Document 4] Korean Patent Publication No. 2020-0040330 [Patent Document 5] International Publication No. 2013 / 191548 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0016] (Disadvantages of the Prior Art) Conventional solutions require complex equipment that is often prone to breakdowns or contamination due to the multiple steps required to transfer the intermediate compound from one processing station to the next via a transfer mechanism that must operate in hostile environments (humidity, sticky substances, etc.).

[0017] Many of these solutions also require large amounts of water and energy consumption. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] (Solution provided by the present invention) The present invention relates to an installation for processing arthropod larvae, in particular insect larvae, more particularly comminuted Diptera larvae, according to claim 1.

[0019] The invention also relates to an installation for processing arthropod larvae, in particular insect larvae, more particularly comminuted Diptera larvae, the installation comprising a decanting system (12) for separating the solid and liquid phases of the comminuted larvae, the decanting system (12) comprising: a solid phase outlet connected to a meal dryer (60); a first liquid outlet feeding a glue water circuit; - providing an apparatus for treating comminuted larvae, the apparatus having three outlets, with a second liquid outlet feeding an oil recovery circuit, the glue water circuit comprising a circuit for diluting the comminuted larvae, and / or a glue water evaporator and / or a meal dryer.

[0020] Advantageously, the system also comprises: the outlet of the solid phase is connected directly to the meal dryer via a chute located below the outlet of the decanting system, allowing the three phases to be separated in accordance with gravity transport; - The meal dryer operates under vacuum, the meal dryer is equipped on the upstream side with a sealed transfer lock formed by two valves which are alternately opened and closed to maintain a vacuum in the meal dryer, - the vacuum meal dryer is isolated from the downstream part of the process by a sluice forming an airtight seal; the meal dryer comprises at its outlet a disk with an extraction scoop for directing the meal towards the outlet, The meal dryer is also characterised by being fed with concentrate from the glue water evaporator and / or glue water from a three-phase separation decant system, as well as being fed from an antioxidant injection line.

[0021] Advantageously, the installation comprises a condenser equipped with a plate heat exchanger for condensing the steam evaporated from the meal during drying, and means for draining the condensate.

[0022] Advantageously, the system also comprises: - the system includes a device for concentrating the glue water to 30-50% dry matter to form a concentrate which is reinjected upstream of the meal dryer and mixed with the cake from the three-phase separation decant system and dried in the meal dryer; the system comprises a three-way valve controlling the flow of oil from the second liquid outlet to a recycle tank (11) upstream of the three-phase separation and decant system or to a buffer tank, the valve being controlled by a means for measuring the quality of the oil from the three-phase separation and decant system; - Coming from the three-phase separation decant system, the means for measuring the quality of the oil is a turbidimeter, The system is characterized in that it comprises temperature regulating means which ensure that the temperature of the ground larvae pulp at the inlet to the three-phase separation decant system is between 80°C and 95°C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE NON-LIMITING EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a process for preparing pulp to undergo a separation process according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a separation process according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a three-phase decanter used for separation according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hammer mill according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] (General principle of the present invention) The present invention relates to the recovery of compounds of interest from the pulp of comminuted larvae of arthropods, preferably insects, more particularly Diptera, in particular Siberian black fly, obtained after the application of a deactivation treatment on live larvae, and to the sterilization of this pulp, when the method selected for the deactivation treatment is carried out at a temperature that is too low to ensure the death of all bacteria. The sterilization of this pulp can be carried out in a sterilization heat exchanger, whose function is to bring the product up to the target temperature of the heat treatment and then to maintain the product at the appropriate temperature for the desired time in a chamber.

[0025] The treatment of this pulp, which is the subject of the present invention, consists in particular in separating it into three phases: a solid phase, a heavy liquid phase and a light liquid phase. (Pretreatment of mature live larvae) Prior to this separation, which is encompassed by the present invention, the mature larvae are subjected to one or more pretreatments, including inactivating them by heat treatment in an aqueous medium, grinding the inactivated larvae and mixing them with water to prepare a nutritious pulp, and then pasteurizing the pulp.

[0026] Prior to the inactivation stage, the larvae are usually separated from the frass (a mixture of larval feces and inedible, dried and fermented substrate residues) through two size separation stages: the first stage is to separate live larvae from powdery frass using a trampoline strainer; the second stage is to separate live larvae from any clumped frass pellets using a circular screen.

[0027] The larvae fall by gravity into a parallelepiped tank, avoiding the need for complex equipment requiring pumps or motor-driven transfer systems. The larvae are mixed with water in a controlled ratio according to the larvae flow rate measured on a weighing belt. The water is used for many purposes. -Firstly, water is used as a transport medium, facilitating handling and transport of the larvae by pumps. -Water also acts as a thermal medium to thermally inactivate the larvae. - Water is further used to complete the washing of the larvae, constituting the third purification stage. The larvae have a relatively wet surface and frass "grains" can adhere to them. In this case, sieving with a trampoline strainer is not effective as the adhered frass remains attached to the larvae. In water, the frass can detach and pass into the aqueous phase.

[0028] The live larvae and residual frass are immersed in a tank containing hot water. The contents of this tank, i.e. the mixture of larvae, water and residual frass, are transferred by a membrane pump to an exchanger (1) which brings the mixture to a temperature of 55°C-95°C (preferably 75-80°C) in order to inactivate the larvae. The mixture of inactivated larvae, water and residual frass is then poured into a strainer (2) to separate the inactivated larvae from the bulk waste (water and residual frass). The larvae are transferred to a mill (3). The bulk waste is discharged into the dirty compartment of a decantation tank (4) to separate the frass, which is transferred to a frass compressor (5) and then to a frass recovery unit (10). The purified water obtained at the outlet of the frass compressor can then be reinjected into the clean compartment of the decantation tank in order to concentrate the residual frass in the dirty compartment. Additionally, purified water is removed from the clean compartment of the decantation tank and re-injected into the mixing tank.

[0029] The inactivated and clarified larvae from the strainer (2) are transferred using an eccentric rotor pump to two mills (3) connected in series. (Transportation of inactivated larval pulp) The eccentric rotor pump (7) pumps 4 m of water fed by the crusher (3). 3 From the delivery tank (6), the crushed larvae are passed through a heat exchanger (8), then a chamber (9) and a cooler (10) for a period of, for example, 15 m. 3 The mixture is transferred to a buffer tank (11) having a capacity of 1000 g. (Dilution of larvae) Just upstream of the second of the two mills in series (3), water is introduced to dilute the larvae. The flow rate of the larvae is measured by an electromagnetic flow meter (13) at the entrance to the treatment zone, upstream of the water addition. The flow rate of the water is also measured by an electromagnetic flow meter (16). The dilution ratio is maintained.

[0030] Depending on the actual flow rate of the crushed larvae, the water flow rate is adjusted to maintain the target dilution ratio (20-50%). The dilution ratio is selected in relation to the quality of phase separation in the three-phase separator (12) and the pressure losses in the piping and equipment. The ratio can be set by the operator.

[0031] The water added to the larvae comes from two different sources. On the one hand, the water used is glue water, recovered at the outlet of the three-phase decanter (12). The temperature of the glue water is above 70° C. The added glue water comes directly from the three-phase decanter and is therefore part of the same production batch. On the other hand, the water used comes from the PHW network (process hot water, a network which distributes hot water throughout the industrial plant from the heating of soft water). The temperature of the PHW is 55°C.

[0032] Two pilot valves (17, 18) control the respective flow rates of these two water sources in order to optimize energy consumption. When the line is started, water from the PHW network is added to the larvae upstream of the second mill (3). The switchover from the PHW network to glue water produced in a three-phase decanter (12) takes place at the end of the line start-up process.

[0033] The use of glue water produced by the three-phase decanter (12) is - Optimized energy consumption by mixing crushed larvae with hot water (approximately 70°C) - Makes it possible to optimize water consumption.

[0034] When using PHW, water is added to the system, but when using glue water, no additional water is introduced into the system, thus reducing the amount of glue water produced. This also represents a significant optimization of energy, since the glue water is evaporated and then dried. (separation of crushed larvae pulp) After the various treatments required to convert the live larvae into larvae pulp, which has been purified of frass residues and has been sterilized, we proceed to the isolation of the substances of interest contained in this pulp.

[0035] The main separation stage is carried out by a centrifugal three-phase decanter (12), which includes a rotating bowl (30) in the center of which also rotates a screw (31). It mechanically separates the pulp formed by the crushed larvae and the water introduced from the bowl (30) through a feed duct (35) into three phases. Phase 1: The defatted cake, which is still about 50% moisture, is sent to a vacuum disc dryer and is discharged by gravity from the first outlet (32). - Phase 2: glue water, a liquid loaded with soluble proteins, which is discharged via pipe (33) into a recovery tank connected to a lift pump. Phase 3: The oil that comes out of the bowl (30) is very pure (less than 1% impurities) and is sent to the conditioner via pipe (34).

[0036] The temperature at the inlet to the three-phase decanter (12) is at least 80° C. and preferably less than 95° C. for effective separation of the three phases.

[0037] The bowl speed and the differential speed, i.e. the difference between the speed of the bowl (30) and the speed of the screw (31), determine the yield / purity tradeoff and -Maximize protein recovery from cake and glue water - Maximize protein purity to obtain maximum protein content for defatting cake and glue water; -Secondarily, the goal is to limit the moisture in the cake in order to reduce the energy costs of drying the cake.

[0038] One solution is to start with the maximum bowl speed (30) and adjust the differential speed to find the best purity / yield compromise.

[0039] Another way to optimize the separation of the oil and glue water, and therefore minimize the amount of water in the oil, is to manually adjust the turbine of the three-phase decanter to position the oil / water interface at the separating disk inside the machine.

[0040] The parameters are preset at start-up and can then be controlled according to a quality analysis, in particular the moisture and fat content, of the products separated by the three outlets (32-34) of the three-phase decanter. (Meal Processing) The term "meal" refers to the cake from the three-phase decanter, to which gluewater or the concentrate from the evaporation of the gluewater may be added, which is then dried and ground.

[0041] Cake exiting the three-phase decanter (12) falls by gravity into a chute (62) that is located between the solids outlet of the three-phase decanter and the dryer feed (60). Because cake is a difficult product to handle and handling equipment is difficult to clean, the gravity system ensures efficient and economical transfer between the decanter (12) and the dryer feed (60).

[0042] The meal dryer (60) operates under vacuum. Between the three-phase decanter (12) and the dryer (60), two valves (61) alternately open and close to maintain the vacuum inside the dryer (60). These two valves (61) are never open at the same time, forming a sealed transfer lock. This chute (62) also transports the other two products, the concentrate leaving the evaporator (50) or the glue water leaving the three-phase decanter (12); -Delivers an infusion of antioxidants.

[0043] The addition of glue water or glue water concentrate is not essential to meal production, but it improves the quality of the meal. (Addition of antioxidants to meal) Before the meal is dried, antioxidants are added to ensure the meal remains well conditioned. A pass through the dryer (60) ensures that the antioxidants are thoroughly mixed with the meal.

[0044] The antioxidant concentration in the meal after drying is set at 800 ppm. An antioxidant feed pump pumps antioxidant from the antioxidant canister into a chute (62) between the three-phase decanter (12) and the dryer (60). The antioxidant pump flow rate is set by a programmable logic controller based on the prescribed concentration and the dryer inlet flow rate (60). The glue water flow rate and the concentrate flow rate are measured by flow meters. The cake flow rate is estimated by the programmable logic controller based on the milled larvae pulp flow rate at the inlet to the three-phase decanter (12). (Meal drying) The cake leaving the three-phase decanter (12) still contains 50% moisture. Similarly, the gluewater concentrate is also 50-70% moisture. The drying process is carried out by a vacuum disc dryer (60) which comprises a rotor on which discs rotate within a closed enclosure. These discs feature scoops, which are described below.

[0045] Steam from the network circulates through the disks, heating them. The steam condenses and the steam condensate leaving the dryer is sent to the boiler via the condensate network. There is no contact between the steam and the meal.

[0046] The meal circulates between the discs. Scoops on the discs allow the meal to move forward faster or slower, depending on the shape of the scoop.

[0047] As the product passes through the dryer the moisture content of the meal decreases. The moisture content at input is approximately 50-60% while the moisture content at exit is 5-7%. The disk speed is continuously monitored.

[0048] A sampling point is located at the dryer outlet (60). Meal samples are taken every 10 or 20 minutes by an operator for offline moisture analysis with a moisture analyzer. Once the moisture drops below 10%, samples are taken every 5 minutes. Alternatively, a moisture measurement sensor located at the dryer outlet allows for continuous moisture monitoring. Meal extraction is then performed automatically depending on the moisture.

[0049] Once the target moisture of 5%-7% is reached, the operator opens a valve located at the meal outlet (60) of the dryer. The shape of the scoop on the disk at the outlet directs the meal to an outlet on the side of the dryer. The scoop is wide and flat and perpendicular to the disk, lifting the meal from the bottom of the dryer to the outlet.

[0050] Four types of scoops are used in the dryer: a neutral scoop for brewing, a positive scoop for meal advancement, a negative scoop for improved drying, and an extraction scoop for pushing and extracting the meal from the meal dryer.

[0051] The steam evaporated from the meal leaves the top of the dryer (60). They are condensed against cold water in a plate heat exchanger. This water is cooled in an air cooler located on the roof of the conversion building. At the condenser outlet, the condensate is separated from the non-condensed steam and can be recycled or sent to a wastewater system.

[0052] The non-condensable steam is drawn in by a vacuum pump, which creates a vacuum inside the dryer. The vacuum pressure is 400 mbar. At this pressure, the boiling temperature of water is 75° C. This ensures a relatively low temperature inside the dryer, preserving the quality of the meal, especially its digestibility.

[0053] The dryer (60) is isolated from upstream and downstream equipment that is not under vacuum. Upstream of the dryer (60), isolation is provided by two valves, which cannot be opened simultaneously. Downstream, a sluice provides a watertight seal. (Meal cooling) The dryer outlet is gravity driven, rather than a screw as in the prior art, limiting the risk of condensation and bacterial contamination, as well as the risk of clogging.

[0054] The meal leaving the dryer (60) falls into a sluice and then flows into an insulated air conveyor (63) which carries the meal to a cooler (64). Transport at the exit of the dryer is by air conveyor (63) rather than a screw as in the prior art, limiting the risk of condensation and bacterial contamination. The meal is cooled to room temperature plus 10°C.

[0055] Ambient air is drawn around the cooler (64) and circulated in a countercurrent through the meal bed. The warm air is filtered and exhausted outside the building.

[0056] Once the meal bed has cooled to the target temperature, a flap located below the meal bed automatically opens, allowing the meal to flow by gravity into a mill (65) located below the cooler. (Structure of Mill (65)) The meal is ground in a hammer mill (65) shown in Figure 4. A hammer (70) positioned on the rotor strikes the meal through a grid (71) with a mesh size of, for example, 2 mm. The grain size of the meal at the outlet of the mill is therefore, for example, less than 2 mm.

[0057] A magnet is attached to the feed of the mill to protect the mill from damage caused by foreign metal objects. At the end of each production run, workers can disassemble the magnet, clean it, and then put it back together. Removing and cleaning the magnet - Evaluate whether metal materials have been stopped, and if so, quickly identify the cause upstream in the process, Prevents the magnet from becoming "full" and losing its effectiveness, This makes it possible.

[0058] The mill fan (72) is located downstream, 3 m 3 The meal is pneumatically transported to a buffer hopper (66), upstream of which a second magnet is attached to a pipe to capture any metal particles generated during the grinding process. (Meal packaging) The meals are packaged in 500 kg "Big Bag" (trade name) containers (67) suitable for food contact. The filling station is 3 m 3 The filling station is located below a buffer hopper (66) which stores the meal while an operator changes containers (67). The filling station sits on a load cell which is wired to a programmable logic controller.

[0059] An operator first places an empty container (67) at the filling station and then begins to inflate the container (67). Once inflation is complete, the operator presses another button to extend the container (67) and then a final button that sends a signal to the central programmable logic controller that the container (67) is ready to receive meals.

[0060] The filling sequence for the container (67) is then automatically initiated. The target weight set point entered into the programmable logic controller is 500 kg. The empty container (67) is weighed and then the sluice at the bottom of the buffer hopper and the vibrating bottom of the hopper are activated. When the target weight is reached, filling stops (sluice and vibrating bottom are stopped). An operator retrieves the container (67) and transports it to the finished product storage area. If any meal remains in the buffer hopper (66), the operator can place a new container (67).

[0061] It is also proposed to store the meal in bulk in silos and sell it through bulk trucks. (Glue water management) The gluewater produced by the three-phase decanter (12) consists of the water contained in the larvae, some water added in the process (left over from dehydration during hot water inactivation and / or dilution of the larvae), and a small amount of fat and dissolved solids.

[0062] Here, recovery of glue water as dilution medium is involved. The main advantages are reduced dilution water consumption and energy savings since it does not have to be heated to 80°C.

[0063] Separation by decantation is not complete, so some solids and fats remain in the gluewater. The solids that are passed to the gluewater are often good, highly soluble proteins, so there is strong interest in recycling them to increase overall line output and improve meal quality.

[0064] As mentioned above, in order to optimize separation and minimize hot water consumption, a portion of the glue water is recycled upstream of the separation process.

[0065] Alternatively, a small amount of glue water can be fed directly into the dryer and dried along with the cake. This step is optional and not necessary for the method to run smoothly.

[0066] Typically, the glue water is fed to a two-stage evaporator (50) (i.e. with two specific plate heat exchangers and two evaporation stages). The evaporator (50) allows the percentage of dry matter to be increased from 5% to 30%-50%. In the first stage, the glue water is pre-concentrated. Then, in the second stage, the concentration reaches the target value. The concentration is estimated by measuring the density, which is used as an indicator of the amount of dry matter. (Optimization of evaporation energy) To ensure the concentration of the gluewater, a significant amount of water is evaporated, therefore energy needs to be introduced.

[0067] The evaporator (50) has two possible energy sources: -Live steam, - steam recovery (i.e. the water evaporated from the glue water) which is mechanically recompressed to provide more energy; It is designed to work with

[0068] As soon as the vapor production by evaporation exceeds the minimum load point (turndown) of the compressor, mechanical recompression of the vapor is possible, known as MVR (Mechanical Vapor Recovery). Up to this point, live steam is used to heat the first work, and steam extracted from the first work heats the second work. Above this point, the vapors from the first and second works are recovered and recompressed to provide the required energy. In MVR mode, live steam is not used, except during the start-up of the evaporator (50).

[0069] Switching between MVR and live steam modes is done by turning a set of spectacle blinds, altering the steam and vapor circuits. Switching therefore necessarily takes place when no production is in progress. These two modes allow the evaporator (50) to be operated over a wide range of glue water flow rates. (Optimization of product quality) In order to limit the time / temperature coupling applied to the glue water, the evaporator (50) is evacuated so that the evaporation takes place at a temperature below 100° C. A vacuum pump maintains a vacuum of 400 mbar in the exchanger, ensuring a temperature of about 75° C. during the process. (Recovery of concentrate) After evaporation, the glue water is concentrated to about 30-50% dry matter to form the concentrate. The concentrate is pumped from the evaporator concentrate storage tank to the dryer feedlock by pump (51). The concentrate is only transferred when the three-phase decanter is running. The concentrate is a sticky product and cannot be dried by itself in the disc dryer as it may clog the discs. To prevent clogging, up to 20% concentrate is added to the cake. (Oil Production) The oil leaving the three-phase decanter flows by gravity from the bowl (30) through a pipe (34) into a small 100 L buffer tank (40), from where it is drawn off by a pump (41) and transferred to a storage tank (44) with a capacity of 30 m3. It is then packed into flexible or rigid (47) intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) or shipped in tank trucks transported by eccentric rotor pumps. (Oil quality) At the pump outlet (41), a turbidity sensor ensures that the oil sent to the storage tank (44) is pure. The probe measures the turbidity, or opacity, and obtains a moisture value. If the turbidity meter detects a moisture content above a threshold between 0.3% and 1%, the oil is recycled to the tank (11), upstream of the three-phase decanter (12).

[0070] The wet oil is recycled upstream of the three-phase decanter where it is mixed with the ground larvae pulp in agitation tank (11) before being separated again in the decanter.

[0071] A three-way valve (43), controlled by a turbidity meter (42), routes the oil either to a storage tank (44) or to the oil recycle tank (11).

[0072] When the line is started, the three-way valve (43) is in the oil recycle position, open to the tank (11) and closed to the storage tank (44). Before the decanter is stabilized in the three-phase decanter (12), the oil is loaded with water and therefore recycled through the buffer tank (11) and not sent to the storage tank (44).

[0073] When the oil is pure, the three-way valve (43) closes to the tank (11) and opens to the oil storage tank (44).

[0074] The magnet (46) and filter captures metallic foreign objects at the feed point of the storage tank (44) or at the IBC packing point or tanker downstream of the storage tank.

[0075] At the end of production, compressed air is injected into the pump outlet (41), which pushes the oil towards the storage tank (44) and empties the pipes. (Maintaining oil temperature) The buffer tank (40) at the outlet of the three-phase decanter (12) is insulated. All oil pipes are electrically traced and insulated to ensure that the oil remains liquid in the pipes and does not solidify. Oil solidifies at a relatively low temperature, around 30°C.

[0076] The storage tank (44) is maintained at temperature by a double jacket through which hot water is circulated without contacting the product. Temperature maintenance prevents oil from solidifying within the tank (44).

[0077] A hot water loop circulates inside the tank's double jacket. Water at a temperature of 58°C is heated in a plate heat exchanger using water at 60°C and circulated continuously through the circuit via a pump. (Oil packaging) The regulating pump (45) is 30m 3 The oil is drawn from the storage tank (44) and poured into a 1m 3 The oil is then transferred to an IBC (47). The IBC used to package the oil is suitable for contact with food.

[0078] An operator places an empty IBC container on a pallet truck that has a built-in scale, weighs it, and then places a hose connected to the outlet (45) of the packaging pump into the container.

[0079] The regulating pump (45) is 2m 3 / h, filling of the IBC container (47) requires 30 minutes. The first operator checks the weight of the IBC container (47) on a scale. Alternatively, a second pump can be used to draw oil from the storage tank and deliver it to a tanker truck. A flexible hose to the tanker truck parked outside the building is connected to the outlet of this pump. (Addition of antioxidants to oil) Antioxidants, especially tocopherol-type antioxidants, are added to the IBC (47) of the oil to prevent the development of a rancid odor or taste and to ensure a good shelf life of the oil.

[0080] The concentration of antioxidant in the oil is set at 800 ppm. When the container begins to fill with oil, the operator verifies the total amount of antioxidant to be added to the container being filled with oil. The antioxidant pump then automatically pumps the antioxidant from the canister into the container as the container fills with oil, promoting mixing and uniformity of the finished product.

[0081] Alternatively, the oil is pumped into an IBC container. Once complete, the oil is metered into the container and the antioxidant is added directly to the container depending on the amount of oil metered and the desired concentration. The mixture is then swirled to mix in the antioxidant.

[0082] Similarly, when a tanker truck is filled with oil, antioxidants are added to the oil piping.

Claims

1. 1. An installation for processing arthropod larvae, in particular insects, more particularly comminuted Diptera larvae, characterised in that it comprises at least one device for producing glue water, which is extracted from the mixture of comminuted larvae, and that it comprises a glue water circuit providing a device for processing comminuted larvae, comprising a circuit for diluting the comminuted larvae and / or a glue water evaporator and / or a meal dryer.

2. An installation for processing arthropod larvae, in particular insects, more particularly comminuted Diptera larvae, according to claim 1, comprising a decanting system (12) for separating the solid and liquid phases of the comminuted larvae, said decanting system (12) comprising: - a solid phase outlet connected to a meal dryer (60); a first liquid outlet feeding a glue water circuit; - has three outlets, with a second liquid outlet feeding an oil recovery circuit, The installation provides a device for treating comminuted larvae, the glue water circuit comprising a circuit for diluting the comminuted larvae and / or a glue water evaporator and / or the meal dryer.

3. 3. An installation for processing crushed larvae according to claim 2, characterized in that the outlet of the solid phase is connected directly to a meal dryer (60) via a chute (62) located below the outlet of the decanting system (12), allowing the three phases to be separated in accordance with gravity transport.

4. 3. An installation for processing crushed larvae according to claim 2, characterized in that the meal dryer (60) is of the vacuum type.

5. 5. An installation for processing crushed larvae according to claim 4, characterized in that the meal dryer (60) is provided on the upstream side with a hermetic transfer lock formed by two valves (61) which are alternately opened and closed in order to maintain the vacuum in the meal dryer (60).

6. 5. An installation for processing crushed larvae according to claim 4, characterized in that the installation comprises a sealed isolation sluice for the meal dryer, the meal dryer being kept under vacuum relative to parts of the downstream process.

7. 3. An installation for processing crushed larvae according to claim 2, characterized in that the meal dryer (60) has a disk at the outlet with an extraction scoop for directing the meal towards the outlet.

8. 3. An installation for processing crushed larvae according to claim 2, characterized in that the meal dryer (60) is additionally supplied with concentrate from a glue water evaporator (50) and / or glue water from a three-phase separation decant system (12) and is supplied from an antioxidant injection line.

9. 3. An installation for processing crushed larvae according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a condenser consisting of a plate exchanger for condensing the steam evaporated from the meal during drying, and means for discharging the condensate.

10. 3. An installation for processing crushed larvae according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a device for concentrating the glue water to 30-50% dry matter to form a concentrate which is reinjected upstream of the meal dryer, and means for mixing said concentrate with the cake from the decanting system (12).

11. 3. An installation for processing crushed larvae according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a three-way valve (43) whose inlet is connected to the second liquid outlet, one of whose outlets is connected to a tank (11) upstream of the decanting system (12) and another outlet is connected to a buffer tank (44), said installation further comprising means for measuring the quality of the oil coming from the decanting system (12) and for sending a signal to control said valve (43).

12. 12. An installation for processing crushed larvae according to claim 11, characterized in that the means for measuring the quality of the oil coming from the three-phase separation decant system (12) are turbidimeters.

13. 3. An installation for processing comminuted larvae according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises temperature regulating means for ensuring that the temperature of the comminuted larvae pulp is between 80°C and 95°C at the inlet of the three-phase separation decant system (12).

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