A valve comprising: a housing (1); a valve body (2) having a fluid inlet (5) and a fluid outlet (6), the valve body (2) comprising a first valve element (3) and a second valve element (4) arranged in the housing (1); a gap (14) being formed between the valve elements (3, 4), the first valve element (3) being conformed as a sleeve (3) with an inner surface that tapers at least in sections towards the fluid outlet (6), the second valve element (4) being conformed as a cone (4) mounted in the sleeve (3), with the same inclination as the inner surface of the sleeve (3) so as to form the gap (14), an annular space (8) open to the fluid outlet (6) is formed between the sleeve (3) and the inner surface of the housing (1), the sleeve (3) has through holes (10) towards the annular space (8) and the cone (4) has through openings (9) towards the fluid inlet (5), the sleeve (3) and the cone (4) being axially adjustable relative to one another.
F16K 47/04 - Means in valves for absorbing fluid energy for decreasing pressure, the throttle being incorporated in the closure member
F16K 47/16 - Means in valves for absorbing fluid energy for decreasing pressure and having a throttling member separate from the closure member the throttling member being a cone
F16K 3/32 - Means for additional adjustment of the rate of flow
F16K 47/08 - Means in valves for absorbing fluid energy for decreasing pressure and having a throttling member separate from the closure member
B01F 25/441 - Mixers in which the components are pressed through slits characterised by the configuration of the surfaces forming the slits
B01F 25/442 - Mixers in which the components are pressed through slits characterised by the relative position of the surfaces during operation
A membrane-based piston pump (1) for use in a homogenising apparatus (100), comprising: - a membrane means (2) separating a product side for a fluid product (P1) from a hydraulic side for a hydraulic fluid (P2); - a reciprocating piston (3) operatively active on the hydraulic fluid (P2); - valve means (4) configured to establish a selective fluid communication between the hydraulic side and a tank (10) containing the hydraulic fluid (P2), wherein said valve means (4) comprise: - a first valve arrangement (5, 6) that, in a working condition of the piston pump (1), is configured to discharge the hydraulic fluid (P2) having a pressure over a first predefined threshold from the hydraulic side towards the tank (10) and to draw the hydraulic fluid (P2) from the tank (10) to the hydraulic side in response to a pressure in the hydraulic 15 side dropping below a second predefined threshold; - a second valve arrangement (7, 8) that, in at least one non-working condition of the piston pump (1), is configured to discharge the hydraulic fluid (P2) having a pressure over a third predefined threshold from the hydraulic side towards the tank (10).
F04B 49/22 - Control of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups by means of valves
A method for validating a homogenizing valve (1), comprising the steps of: - preparing an emulsion having a hydrophilic phase comprising, in weight percentage on the total weight: from 55% to 74% demineralized water, from 10% to 20% glycerin and from 3% to 4,2% butylene glycol, and a lipophilic phase comprising, in weight percentage on the total weight: from 5.1% to 5.9% squalane, from 7.2% to 8.8% caprylic acid alkyl ester and from 0.665% to 0.735% cetyl alcohol; - subjecting the emulsion to forced passage within the homogenizing valve (1) from a high pressure zone (HP) to a low pressure zone (LP) a plurality of times.
Method for detecting leakages of a service fluid (P3) housed within two membranes (6, 16) that separate a hydraulic section containing a hydraulic fluid (P2) from a working section containing a fluid product (P1) to homogenise in a double membrane pump (1), the method comprising the steps of: detecting a physical magnitude (S) representing a property of the fluid contained within the membranes (6, 16); and establishing if the physical magnitude (S) detected is associated with a first condition that is indicative of the mixing of the service fluid (P3) with said fluid product (P1), or if it is associated with a second condition that is indicative of the mixing of the service fluid (P3) with the hydraulic fluid (P2), or if it is associated with a third condition that is indicative of the mixing of the service fluid (P3) both with the fluid product (PI) and the hydraulic fluid (P2).
HIGH-PRESSURE HOMOGENISING VALVE AND PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NANO-STRUCTURED, CARBON- BASED MATERIALS, IN PARTICULAR GRAPHENE AND CARBON NANOTUBES
A homogenising valve (1) at high pressure, comprising: a valve body (2) defining a through hole having axial development with respect to the valve body (2); a piston housed in said through-hole; an inlet for fluid at high pressure; an outlet for homogenised fluid at low pressure; a lower annular chamber which receives the fluid at high pressure from the inlet; an upper annular chamber that provides the fluid at low pressure to the outlet; an annular passage head (10) interposed between the lower annular chamber and the upper annular chamber and made at least partially of ceramic material; a striking head (11) integrally coupled to the piston and having at least one outer layer (12) made of polycrystalline diamond or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride.
High-pressure homogeniser (100) comprising: a volumetric piston pump (1) comprising a plurality of pumping pistons (10); a homogenising valve (20) arranged downstream of the volumetric piston pump (1); linear motion transmission means (5) of the electro-hydrostatic type, comprising an electric motor (6) and a pump (7) directly driven by the electric motor (6), the pump (7) being operatively active on the pistons (10); a control unit (40) configured to control the linear motion transmission means (5) such that a reciprocating motion is imposed to each piston (10) according to a law of motion which is pre-established and independent from the laws of motion of the other pistons (10).
F04B 9/02 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being mechanical
F04B 9/103 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being liquid having only one pumping chamber
F04B 9/109 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being liquid having plural pumping chambers
F04B 9/123 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being elastic, e.g. steam or air having only one pumping chamber
F04B 9/129 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being elastic, e.g. steam or air having plural pumping chambers
F04B 15/02 - Pumps adapted to handle specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts the fluids being viscous or non-homogeneous
F04B 17/03 - Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors driven by electric motors
7.
FOOD FAT COMPOSITION OF THE MARGARINE TYPE AND METHOD FOR PREPARING IT
Method for preparing an edible fat composition of the margarine type, comprising the steps of: preparing an emulsion by mixing 10 parts of food oil of vegetable origin, 7 to 10 parts of aqueous phase and one part of powdered vegetable fibres; homogenizing the emulsion at a pressure of at least 50 bar; pasteurizing the emulsion after homogenizing it.
A23D 7/005 - Edible oil or fat compositions containing an aqueous phase, e.g. margarines characterised by ingredients other than fatty acid triglycerides
A23L 29/206 - Foods or foodstuffs containing additives; Preparation or treatment thereof containing gelling or thickening agents of vegetable origin
A23L 33/21 - Addition of substantially indigestible substances, e.g. dietary fibres
8.
METHOD FOR MAKING YOGURT OR ANOTHER FERMENTED MILK-BASED PRODUCT
Method for making yogurt or another fermented milk-based product comprising the steps of: adding to the milk an enzyme preparation based on transglutaminase at a concentration of 0.5-3 units per gram of protein contained in the milk, the transglutaminase being supported on vegetable fibres; homogenising the milk by forcing it through a gap afforded between a lower annular chamber (9) and an upper annular chamber (10) of a homogenising valve (1).
A flushing apparatus (1) for flushing aseptic chambers (100) of a highpressure homogenizer or pump, comprising: a steam injector (2), in which non-sterile water and aqueous vapour are mixed; a double-wall heat exchanger (15) having a sterile side (15b) that receives water leaving the injector (2) and supplies sterile water to the aseptic chambers (100); a first temperature transducer (3) that detects the temperature of the superheated water leaving the injector (2); a first controller (4) which, based on the temperature detected by the first transducer (3), controls a first regulating valve (5) regulating the flow rate of aqueous vapour entering the injector (2); a second temperature transducer (17) that detects the temperature of the sterile water leaving the heat exchanger (15); a second controller (18) which, in response to the temperature detected by the second transducer (17), controls a second regulating valve (19) regulating the flow rate of water to a non-sterile side (15a) of the exchanger (15).
Homogenising valve (1) at high pressure, particularly for application to fibrous fluids, comprising: a valve body (2); a passage head (15) integrally joined to the valve body (2); an assembled organ (27) formed of two pistons (5, 6) and a striking head (16), which is axially mobile inside a through hole of the valve body (2), so that the striking head (16) defines with the passage head (15) an interspace (18) of passage of the fluid, the assembled organ (27) being rotatable thanks to the lower cogged profile which engages in a cogged tool (20).
A high-pressure homogenizer, comprising: a plurality of pumping pistons (2a, 2b), for feeding a liquid to be homogenized toward a manifold (6), each piston being associated with a respective oil hydraulic cylinder; a homogenizing valve positioned downstream of said pumping pistons (2a, 2b); and an electronic system (5) for controlling and regulating said pumping pistons (2a, 2b), which controls the law of motion of each individual piston (2a, 2b) independently. Said electronic regulation system (5) is connected to a transducer placed on the manifold (6) to regulate the delivery of oil to the individual cylinders (3a, 3b) according to the pressure, sensed in the manifold (6), of the liquid to be homogenized pumped by said pistons (2a, 2b) in order to maintain a stable flow rate and pressure.
F04B 9/10 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being liquid
F04B 11/00 - Equalisation of pulses, e.g. by use of air vessels; Counteracting cavitation
A homogenizing apparatus (1) comprising: - an inlet (2) for receiving a pressurized fluid, possibly also containing solid particles; - a zone wherein homogenization of the fluid takes place; - an outlet (10) for the fluid at a lower pressure with respect to the inlet pressure, wherein, in the homogenization zone, the fluid passes from a zone having a larger diameter (or volume) to a zone having a smaller diameter (or volume), the homogenization zone comprising an interacting element (9) shared by a first stage (equipped with a first deflector plug (6)) and a second stage suitable for creating back pressure (equipped with a second deflector plug (12)), where the deflector plugs (6 and 12) operate with the interacting element (9) they share, generating an increase in the shear rate within the first stage. The invention also concerns a homogenization process.
A procedure for thermal treatment of water with regeneration for flushing aseptic chambers of high-pressure homogenisers or pumps, wherein water or another suitable fluid is heated from a traditional supply temperature of about 15-20 °C to a sterilisation temperature of about 130- 150°, provides for the following steps: - maintenance of the sterilisation temperature for a time t from 0.2 s to 30s; - cooling of the sterile fluid by surrender of heat to a double-wall/plate heat exchanger (8), producing a corresponding pre-heating of the non-sterile fluid incoming to said exchanger (8); - flushing of the aseptic chambers of the homogeniser by means of the cooled sterile fluid. An apparatus that realises the procedure comprises, originally, a double- wall/plate heat exchanger.
A high pressure mechanical safety valve (1), of the type comprising a body (2) housing elastic means (3) acting on a shutter element (4) normally maintained in a closing position when the pressure in a high pressure area beyond an aperture (6) is lower than the pressure, settable to a fixed calibration value, exerted by the elastic means (3). The safety valve comprises mechanical means for remote control of the valve, interposed between the elastic means (3) and the shutter element (4) to allow both a forced opening or a forced closing of the valve (1) The safety valve may also comprise an optional position sensor for signalling the open or closed status of the valve.
A high-pressure homogenizer comprising: - a fixed body (7) housing a rotating crankshaft (10); - a motor (3) for driving the crankshaft (10); - a reduction gear unit (4) interconnected between the crankshaft and transmission means {(5, 6), characterised in that the reduction gear unit (4) is an epicyclic reduction gear unit. Preferably there is provided a lubricant feed line (15) which passes through the fixed body and reaches the epicyclic reduction gear unit (4). Preferably the epicyclic reduction gear unit (4) is constructed integrally with the fixed body (4). Said solution enables reductions in overall dimensions, weights and costs and an improved load distribution.
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