Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for monitoring the vacuum conditions for the treatment of vegetable or animal oil. During the treatment, a number of processes, such as refining, bleaching and/or deodorization, are carried out under a vacuum. The vacuum is maintained by a vacuum system, comprised of at least one vacuum creating means and at least one condenser, and a pump arranged at the outlet of the condenser. The condenser is connected to a mass flow meter monitoring the flow of a gas and generates a signal receivable by a controller. The method of monitoring the vacuum system, using the above apparatus, includes the steps of sensing, and registering the mass flow of non-condensable gas out of the vacuum system. An alarm is triggered when the amount of gas exiting the vacuum system differs from a set value.

Abstract: An outlet valve is arranged in the bottom of a vessel intended to be filled with liquid and has a valve disc (1) connected to a piston rod (4) and a piston (5) actuated by a pressure medium. The valve disc (1) is movable between a first and a second position and is arranged to bear against a valve seat (2) in its first closed position. The piston (5) is arranged in an operating device (6) provided with a connection (7) to a source for pressure medium. The operating device (6) is designed as a unit sealed from the liquid and is arranged at such a distance from the valve seat (2) that the liquid, when the valve is open, passes a zone between the operating device (6) and the valve seat (2).

Abstract: An outlet valve is arranged in the bottom of a vessel intended to be filled with liquid comprising a valve disc (1) connected to a piston rod (4) and a piston (5) actuated by a pressure medium. The valve disc (1) is movable between a first and a second position and is arranged to bear against a valve seat (2) in its first closed position. The piston (5) is arranged in an operating device (6) provided with a connection (7) to a source for pressure medium. The operating device (6) is designed as a unit sealed from the liquid and is arranged at such a distance from the valve seat (2) that the liquid, when the valve is open, passes a zone between the operating device (6) and the valve seat (2).

Abstract: A mixer for liquid or suspensions comprises two mixing chambers each of which is provided with an outer inlet. The chambers are connected to each other in such a way that the first chamber leads to the second chamber. A number of mixing elements are arranged on a rotating axis which is common for the two chambers. The mixing elements have different shapes in the two chambers. In the first chamber the mixing elements are arranged to achieve mixing by means of large shear forces. In the second chamber the mixing elements are arranged to achieve mixing by stirring mainly without shear forces. A method for continuous mixing comprises mixing a little amount of a first liquid with a considerably larger amount of a second liquid in a first mixing chamber in which the mixing takes place by way of high shear forces. The obtained mixture is subjected to mixing by stirring mainly without shear forces in a second mixing chamber.

Abstract: A deodorisation plant for treatment of fatty oils comprises a vessel (1) connected to a vacuum source. In the vessel there is a distillation column filled with structured packing material through which column the oil which shall be deodorised is brought to flow under influence of gravity and to meet a deodorisation gas in counter-current. In the vessel there is also a number of trays for collection of oil provided with drainage outlets in their lower part. The oil is treated with deodorisation gas in a batchwise way in these trays. The vessel is provided with an inlet (7) for oil and a connection (2) to a vacuum source in its upper part. In its lower part there is an outlet (9) for oil.