Degumming Reactor with Annular Obstruction for Oil Purification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing degumming processes for vegetable oils face challenges with high shear requirements and undesirable degassing issues, leading to oil yield losses and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A reactor design featuring a tubular housing with an annular obstruction and circumferential spacers that create a series of ring gaps with decreasing cross-sectional areas, utilizing explosive decompression to achieve effective degumming without cavitation, ensuring efficient separation of phosphatides and free fatty acids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high shear devices (Ultra-Turax rotor/stator, hydrodynamic cavitation) are used for degumming, then phosphatide removal efficiency is improved, but cavitation occurs causing gas extraction and oil yield losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephosphatide removal efficiencyVSAvoidoil yield loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful cavitation phenomenon into a beneficial high-shear mixing mechanism. By designing a specialized flow path with a contraction section and a chamber that forces fluid through a small opening, the system generates controlled cavitation bubbles that collapse to produce high-shear forces for effective phosphatide removal, while preventing the harmful effects of uncontrolled cavitation such as gas extraction and oil yield losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the flow system by creating a specific geometry with a contraction ratio and controlled opening size. This modifies the flow dynamics to generate high shear forces through controlled pressure differential and fluid acceleration, achieving effective degumming without the harmful side effects of conventional high-shear devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If conventional high-shear devices are used to achieve fine dispersion, then mass transfer is improved, but complex device structure and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass transfer efficiencyVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the flow path into distinct functional zones: an inlet section, a contraction section, a chamber with a small opening, and an outlet section. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure compared to multi-component high-shear devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex rotating high-shear devices to generate shear forces, the patent inverts the approach by using a static flow path design that generates shear forces through controlled fluid acceleration and pressure differential. The high shear is achieved through the geometry-induced flow dynamics rather than mechanical rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If hydrodynamic cavitation is used for degumming, then phosphatide removal is enhanced, but dissolved gases are extracted creating flotation and entrapment issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephosphatide removalVSAvoidgas extraction and flotation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a controlled environment within the flow path that prevents gas extraction. By designing a sealed flow path with controlled opening and using the specific contraction geometry to generate high shear through pressure differential rather than violent cavitation, the system maintains an inert-like environment that prevents dissolved gases from being extracted and creating flotation problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The reactor effectively removes impurities by subjecting the oil to controlled compression and decompression stages, preventing cavitation and degassing, resulting in a refined oil product with low residual phosphatide content and improved mass transfer processes.

Implementation Method 1

The reactor effectively removes impurities by subjecting the oil to controlled compression and decompression stages

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

utilizing explosive decompression to achieve effective degumming without cavitation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExplosive decompression: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 3

improved mass transfer processes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMass transfer: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS9290717B1Reactor for degumming

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO

AI summary

A reactor is used for degumming vegetable oil to increase yield and reduce phosphatides. The reactor includes an annular obstruction with multiple circumferential spacers that form ring gaps around a center body having a tapered surface. The circumferential spacers and ring gaps form decompression stages for explosively mixing the oil with degumming agents. Impurities are transferred to the degumming agents and further separation of the components can be carried out to produce a refined oil product.