System and process for palm oil extraction by cracking, threshing and dynamic sterilization of the fresh fruit

{
  "publication_number": "US9862911B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "System and process for palm oil extraction by cracking, threshing and dynamic sterilization of the fresh fruit",
  "abstract": "The present invention patent application belongs to the field of mechanical engineering and consists of a system and process for palm oil extraction integrally configured for processing the entire fresh fruit (rachis, spikes and seeds or fruits) by stages of cracking, threshing, dynamic sterilization and subsequent pressing. Said disclosed system and process allow increasing the percentage of oil extraction with less equipment and a smaller workspace compared to that required by the already known conventional processes, as well as using smaller amounts of water and energy. Additionally, the disclosed system and process allow obtaining sterilized plant material with low humidity, which may be used as organic matter for composting or as fuel of the extraction system itself.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for palm oil extraction characterized by comprising: a metering hopper for fresh fruit, having an outlet for delivering a result to a conveyor configured for delivering fruits to a cracking apparatus, after which cracked material is transferred to a grid separating detached fruits and delivers cracked bunches to a threshing apparatus as a previous step for cracked and threshed material to be transported by a conveyor to a battery of dynamic sterilizers, inside which there is a combined system of augers that by rotation deliver at an outlet of sterilizers sterilized and digested material to a helical auger type conveyor having an outlet through which sterilized product goes to an inclined conveyor.",
    "2. The system for extracting oil of claim 1, further characterized in that the dynamic sterilizers, have inputs arranged for injecting steam and outlets for condensate discharge that are delivered to pre-clarifier as wells as steam evacuation outlets that are discharged into a steam condenser.",
    "3. The system for extracting oil of claim 1 further characterized in that the inclined conveyor includes an output which delivers received material to a live bottom vessel, which in turn delivers a product to a red oil extraction press, wherein a processed material is fractionated into its liquid and solid phase.",
    "4. The system for extracting oil of claim 1, further characterized by comprising a cake conveyor dryer for drying a cake, and a vibrating screen which is configured for screening a press liquor and is further configured to obtain solids that are reprocessed and screened to obtain a press liquor that is discharged to a pre-clarifier.",
    "5. The system for extracting oil of claim 1, characterized by comprising an air separation column, for fibers and nuts that obtains fibers in a cyclone and nuts in a polishing drum.",
    "6. The system for extracting palm oil of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a pre-clarification system where palm oil and muddy waters for treatment are obtained.",
    "7. The system for extracting palm oil of claim 1, characterized in that the sterilizer contains on an inside a set of helical augers with two different sizes and orientations that allows bringing a product to a continuous movement during the sterilization process.",
    "8. The system for extracting palm oil of claim 1 characterized in that the cracking apparatus comprises two rotating shafts and a central blade that allows cracking a whole bunch and the threshing apparatus is equipped with a set of shafts with metallic nails that rotate on themselves at a big difference in speeds allowing to thresh fruits from cracked bunches.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, characterized in that a sterilization is performed using an amount of sterilizers that are necessary to achieve a continuous sterilization process.",
    "10. A process for palm oil extraction comprising the stages of: a) receiving and dosing a whole fruit to a conveyor by means of a hopper; b) providing bunches from the conveyor of step a) to a bunch cracking apparatus; c) passing the cracked material of step b) through a fixed grid, separating detached fruits and cracked bunches; d) threshing cracked bunches of step c); e) transporting 100% of the product obtained in step d) and the detached fruits of step c) to a battery of sterilizers; f) sterilizing threshed fruit along with chopped rachis with constant dynamic movements in dynamic sterilizers; p) perform in the dynamic sterilizers of step f) a digestion process; and h) supplying sterilized and digested fruit of step g) to one or more presses for oil extraction for obtaining press liquor and press cake.",
    "11. The process of claim 10 characterized in that comprises cracking a whole bunch and threshing the whole bunch.",
    "12. The process of claim 10, characterized in that a sterilization and digestion of cracked and threshed fruit is performed under temperature conditions between 110 to 150 centigrade degrees and pressure between 30 to 60 psi.",
    "13. The process of claim 10, characterized by comprising a stage of pre-clarification of the press liquor for obtaining oil and muddy waters.",
    "14. The process of claim 10, characterized by comprising the cake drying and separation of fibers and nuts.",
    "15. The process of claim 10, characterized in that the sterilization and digestion of the fruit is made simultaneously in the dynamic sterilizers.",
    "16. The process of claim 10, characterized in that a pressing for palm oil extraction is made to 100% of the fruit.",
    "17. The process of claim 10, characterized in that a dynamic sterilization is carried out using an amount of sterilizers necessary for achieving a continuous sterilization process."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Field Mechanical Engineering. Production of vegetable oils by raw material pressing or by extracting waste material (C11B 1/00). Technical Background The marked importance of palm oil as raw material in the manufacture of food products, personal care products and in the production of biodiesel, among others, has led the extraction process of the palm fruit to be subject of permanent research, and therefore diverse systems and processes for palm oil extraction are currently known in the state of the art. In this manner, for instance, nowadays the called ‘conventional systems’ are known for the palm oil extraction, which are basically characterized in that: The sterilization process is performed statically and with the whole fruit (formed by the rachis and the seeds) by deposit in rail wagons for introduction into the sterilizer, which requires large areas for handling this equipment. Additionally, said static sterilization is characterized by involving water consumption in the range between 800 liters and 1000 liters per processed tonne, sterilization times between 60 and 70 minutes, and an intermediate step between the sterilization and digestion processes that consists in separating fruits from rachis, already sterilized in rotating drums that contain the rachis with high levels of oil impregnation and attached fruit, fact that undoubtedly represents a high percentage of oil loss and also becomes an element of environmental pollution.",
  "cpc": [
    "C11B 1/10",
    "A23N 5/004",
    "A61L 2/07",
    "B02C 13/00",
    "B65G 65/30",
    "C11B 7/0075",
    "C11B 7/0083"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A23N 5/00",
    "A61L 2/07",
    "B02C 13/00",
    "B65G 65/30",
    "C11B 1/10",
    "C11B 7/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "PHINA BIOSOLUCIONES S A S",
    "IND ACUÑA LTDA"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "ACUNA LLANES ANGEL CUSTODIO"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-03-18",
  "publication_date": "2018-01-09",
  "grant_date": "2018-01-09",
  "priority_date": "2013-09-30",
  "application_number": "US-201615074516-A",
  "family_id": "50489454",
  "citations": [
    "GB1474367A",
    "GB2421169A",
    "US5039455A",
    "WO2012096561A2"
  ]
}