Abstract: A semi-continuous deodorizer for the deodorization of edible oils, comprising a vessel (10) divided into three zones (A,B,C), means for collecting oil to be deodorized in the first zone (A) and for receiving deodorized oil from the second zone (B), in the third zone (C), means for passing oil continuously to the first zone via a heat exchanger (15) where it is pre-heated by heat exchange with oil continuously withdrawn from the third zone, and an oil heater (18) for heating the oil to full process temperatures by circulating the oil through the oil heater and through said first zone making use of the gas lift principle with steam as the injected gas being introduced at (28) into the base of the oil heater.

Abstract: A first inductive coil in the form of a bifilar winding is wound on a ferrite ring core with the two sections of the bifilar winding connected in series, the junction of the two sections forming the center tap of the coil. A capacitor is connected across the first coil to form a parallel resonant circuit therewith. The two ends of the first coil are respectively connected to a predetermined capacitance and to an electrode adapted to form a capacitative element whose dielectric includes a fluid under test. The center tap of the first coil is connected to the output of an amplifier whose input is connected to a second, detector coil comprising a separate winding on the ferrite ring core located substantially at the mid-point between the ends of the bifilar winding. The second coil is arranged to be inductively coupled to said first coil such that the mutual inductance between the first coil and the detector coil completes a feedback loop for the amplifier.

Abstract: A deodorizer of the kind wherein consecutive batches of oil to be deodorized are progressed through a plurality of consecutive treatment vessels during which each batch is first heated, then subjected to the action of a stripping gas and finally cooled, all under a high degree of vacuum, each batch of oil having a period of residence in each such vessel, characterized in that means is provided whereby a batch of oil to be treated is partially heated by heat exchange with a fluid medium which is itself heated by heat exchange with a previously processed batch of oil for the purposes of cooling the latter.