One of the most basic duties in the processing of fruit juices and drinks involves the economical, sanitary heating or cooling of products. These may be liquids or fluids of high viscosity or those containing particulate matter or pulp. The most commonly used forms of heat transfer equipment for these duties are the plate and tubular heat exchangers. Each is available in many different configurations and designs. Each is tailored to perform a variety of process duties while reducing fuel, water, and power consumption in keeping with the urgent need for better management of natural resources. Paper published with permission.

A process used to concentrate orange juice and other citrus juices by using an APV Gaulin homogenizer within the T.A.S.T.E. Evaporator. The purpose of this process is to reduce viscosity, eliminate defects, reduce bottom pulp, increase yields, and provide for a smoother operation of the evaporator, subsequent to homogenization. This process, equipment and benefits are the basis of U.S. Patent #4,886,574 issued September 5, 1989, and application #339,171, pending. Paper published with permission.

Units of mass, length, and time constitute the basis of all physical measurement. As a fundamental standard of measurement, mass does not derive its units of measure from any other source. A pound is always a pound and is not affected by changes in temperature, pressure, density, or viscosity. This consistency makes mass an ideal property to measure. Paper published with permission.

The rheological behavior of concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) has been shown to be shear-thinning in several recent studies. Concentric cylinder viscometers have been used to obtain the rheological data in these studies. The effect of temperature, soluble solids, and pulp content has been described quantitatively. To estimate the pumping power requirements of FCOJ, the mechanical energy balance equation is used together with the necessary estimates of pressure drop due to friction in pipes and fittings estimated from empirical equations. Empirical equations are available to calculate power consumption during agitation of concentrated orange juice in terms of the dimensionless groups: power and agitator Reynolds numbers for several types of agitators. Paper published with permission.

The main objective of this work was to investigate a new agitation system, which would improve the standard process for concentrated juice after evaporation. The commonly used agitators for this kind of application were analyzed, including anchor agitators with tangential flow and pitched-blade agitators with axial flow. A pilot unit was installed “in company.” The results of the pilot test were scaled-up to an industrial size agitator with pitched-blade impellers. Three impellers, each with four blades at a 45° angle, were mounted on an off-center shaft. Better results were obtained in all the aspects analyzed. Process time was reduced by a factor often, power consumption was reduced by a factor of five, without air incorporation into the product. The new system had less internal surface area to be cleaned than the old system with an anchor impeller. Additionally, the new equipment was only one-fourth the cost of a similar installation with an anchor impeller. This innovative solution demonstrates the practical substitution of pitched-blade impellers for an anchor impeller in viscous fluids. Paper published with permission.

Usually a Citrus Engineering Conference presentation before this group is done to report some advance in citrus related technology. This paper, however, is limited to suggesting an area where significant benefits might result from further study and testing. This paper has to do with improving the thermal efficiency of citrus feedmills. The idea presented can also help reduce cleaning expenses. The concept has to do with filtering press liquor ahead of a Waste Heat Evaporator (WHE). Work done so far is not definitive, and it is clear that further testing is required. The paper is focused on a machine known variously as the Turbo Filter or Fiber Filter. This is unfortunate because other filtration equipment may be even more effective or commercially justifiable. The basic premise of this paper, which needs to be demonstrated, is that improved filtration of press liquor results in lower viscosity fluid in the WHE. In turn this allows the WHE to produce higher Brix molasses. The result of this are improved thermal efficiency of the citrus feedmill. Paper published with permission.

High-density citrus pulp is becoming increasingly popular in the beverage industry; however, its unique rheological behavior poses some challenges for its processing in heat exchangers, including high pressures resulting from its high viscosity and the difficulties producing an even mixture. The rheological behavior of 850 g/l citrus pulp has been studied at different temperatures between 20 °C and 80 °C and applied to computerized fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of flow in circular pipes and annular heat exchangers in order to determine flow characteristics and solutions for pulp mixing. Paper published with permission.