Method of accelerated water vapor removal from high sugar concentrates

摘要

A process of, and apparatus for, accelerated water vapor removal from molasses is provided. Raw molasses is preheated; continuously agitated while advancing at a flowrate of at least about 1.5 gpm through a cooking apparatus in the presence of a temperature greater than 310° F.; continuously agitated while advancing through a cooling apparatus at a reduced temperature, and while removing separated water vapor water from the cooked molasses to form a cooled molasses having a homogenous temperature profile. The molasses may be admixed with supplements. The product is then packaged. An orificed helical conveyor having a plurality of protrusions from the outer perimeter agitates the cooking molasses. An orificed helical conveyor having gaps in the perimeter of the conveyor alternating with protrusions along the perimeter of the conveyor agitates the cooling molasses.

主权项

1. An apparatus for accelerated water vapor removal from a liquid or semiliquid material comprising a saccharide, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a contained heat source; (b) preheat tubes positioned above the contained heat source for raising the temperature of the liquid or semiliquid material to a preheat temperature; (c) at least one cooking unit, positioned above the contained heat source and connected to the preheat tubes to receive preheated liquid or semiliquid material, comprising a cylindrical wall containing a cooking auger, wherein the cooking auger comprises:
a central core rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof;an orificed helical conveyor supported on the central core, wherein the orificed helical conveyor includes:
a plurality of auger flights, and each auger flight includes a plurality of orifices in a spaced-apart relationship with each other for providing a plurality of passages through which the preheated liquid or semi liquid material passes during a cooking cycle, wherein the plurality of orifices facilitates lateral movement of the liquid or semiliquid material along the central core for accelerated breaking of surface tension and water vapor removal therefrom;a plurality of angled supports attached to the circumference of the plurality of auger flights, in a spaced-apart relationship with each other; anda plurality of protrusions positioned in a spaced apart relationship with each other along the circumference of the plurality of auger flights, wherein a protrusion is attached to an angled support at an intersection of an auger flight and the angled support, wherein each protrusion is nonadherent to the liquid or semiliquid material for scrapping the liquid or semiliquid material from the inner surface of the cylindrical wall on rotation of the central core,wherein the cooking auger is effective to prevent charring of the liquid or semiliquid material while the exterior of the outer cylindrical wall is exposed to a temperature maintained above 400° F.; (d) at least one cooling unit, connected to the at least one cooking unit to receive cooked liquid or semiliquid material, comprising an outer perimeter wall and a cooling auger, wherein the cooling auger comprises:
a central core rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof;an orificed helical conveyor supported on the central core, wherein the orificed helical conveyor includes:
a plurality of auger flights;a plurality of orifices provided in a spaced-apart relationship with each other in the plurality of auger flights;a plurality of apertures provided in a spaced-apart relationship with each other along a circumference of the plurality of auger flights, wherein an aperture is formed by removing a small circumferential length of corresponding auger flights, and wherein the plurality of orifices and the apertures provide a plurality of passages through which the cooked liquid or semiliquid material passes during a cooling cycle and facilitates lateral movement of the liquid or semiliquid material along the central core for accelerated breaking of surface tension;a plurality of angled supports attached to the circumference of the plurality of auger flights, wherein an angled support is attached to an auger flight at a largest diameter of corresponding auger flight; anda plurality of protrusions disposed adjacent to the plurality of apertures along the circumference of the plurality of auger flights, wherein a protrusion is attached to an angled support along the circumference for collecting the semi liquid or liquid material as it cools on rotation of the central core and for effectively removing cooked liquid or semiliquid material from the inner surface of the outer perimeter wall; and, optionally (e) a heavy ribbon mixer effective to mix dry ingredients into cooled cooked liquid or semiliquid material.