Steam Flow Regulation for Defatting Light 3D Snack Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing defatting apparatuses face difficulties in processing light-weight, three-dimensional snack products due to the whirling-up and blowing-out effects caused by the flow of superheated steam, leading to reduced efficiency and challenges in reducing the fat content of deep-fried snack products.
Innovation Solution
A defatting apparatus equipped with a flow regulating device comprising a throughflow plate and an angling plate, which regulates the flow of superheated steam to prevent whirling-up and blowing-out of snack products, allowing for a higher flow rate and efficiency by directing the steam flow in a manner that facilitates the introduction of products into the apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a high flow rate of superheated steam is used for defatting, then the defatting efficiency is improved, but light-weight snack products are whirled up and blown away from the inlet
Solution Approach 1:
A flow regulating device is introduced as an intermediary component between the steam source and the snack products. This device controls and moderates the steam flow, allowing high flow rates for defatting efficiency while preventing the direct whirling-up effect that would blow away light products at the inlet
2Ease of operation
If the flow rate of superheated steam is reduced to prevent whirling-up of products, then product supply stability is improved, but defatting efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flow regulating device creates local differences in steam flow characteristics. Near the inlet, the flow is controlled to be gentle enough to prevent whirling-up, while in other regions of the defatting chamber, the steam flow maintains high velocity and turbulence necessary for effective fat removal from the snack products
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 solution enables efficient defatting of light-weight snack products by reducing turbulence and regulating steam flow, allowing for a higher flow rate of superheated steam, thereby improving the defatting process and reducing the fat content of snack products by 30-50%.
Implementation Method 1
a flow of superheated steam at a rate of about 8-12 m/s is circulated in a chamber toward the snack products for sucking out of excess fat
Implementation Method 2
A flow regulating device arranged in the inlet comprises a throughflow plate which is movably arranged adjacent to the inlet above the conveyor belt, and which is arranged to regulate the flow of superheated steam toward the products by moving the throughflow plate in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt into and out of the inlet
Implementation Method 3
This involves processing with superheated steam which removes surface fat from the potato pieces, while at the same time keeping the temperature of the potato pieces. As a result, the penetration of the fat into the potato pieces is counteracted and made difficult
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a defatting apparatus for reducing the fat content of deep-fried snack products by sucking out excess fat. The defatting apparatus comprises a flow regulating device (1) arranged in the inlet (13) and comprising a throughflow plate (101) which is movably arranged adjacent to the inlet (13) above the conveyor belt (10). The throughflow plate is arranged to regulate the flow of superheated steam toward the products (2) by moving the throughflow plate (101) in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt (10) into and out of the inlet (13). Further the invention concerns a method for facilitating supply of deep-fried snack products 2 through an inlet (13) of a defatting apparatus for reducing their fat content by a flow of superheated steam.