Fluid distillation apparatus and method for circulating process fluid

Abstract

A recirculation circuit for a processing vessel is configured to process a load with a process fluid. The recirculation circuit includes a first circuit portion configured to recirculate a first portion of the process fluid through the vessel. The first circuit portion includes a first pump having a first flow rate and a first output pressure and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first pump. A second circuit portion is configured to recirculate a second portion of the process fluid through the vessel. The second circuit portion includes a second pump having a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate and a second output pressure lower than the first output pressure.

Description

Background technique [0001] Overpressure retorts are used for in-container preservation of food products, such as for pasteurization or commercial sterilization treatments (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "load treatment", "treatment load" or similar treatments). Typically, these machines use a combination of pressure and temperature according to a predetermined schedule to commercially sterilize packaged food. [0002] Additional overpressure for handling food containers can be achieved in jet stills where container water or another suitable process fluid (hereinafter "process fluid") is pumped from the top (and optionally also from the sides) of the container ) spray the load through the container. The water can be heated by external means, or alternatively, steam can be injected directly into the container. [0003] figure 1 A prior art steam-water spray (SWS) distillation system 10 is illustrated. Prior art SWS distillation systems 10 typically use di...

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Problems solved by technology

This larger heat exchanger and corresponding piping also affects the distillation arrangement

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