The present invention relates to a method for purifying steam that comprises one or more contaminants.

In many industrial processes products are contacted with an excess of steam or superheated steam during which processes the steam is contaminated with one or more components of the products. As a result of this, the excess of steam needs to be purified before it can be re-used, because these contaminants, such as fat and/or oil, may affect the functioning of equipment due to deposition of contaminants on equipment parts.

It is known that contaminated steam can be purified by means of a process wherein the contaminated steam is condensated, and the heat thus released is used to generate hot water for use elsewhere. Subsequently, the contaminants are separated from the water by means of physical separation. A drawback of such processes is, however, the relative complexity of the equipment to be used, whereas in addition such processes leave much room in terms of efficient use of energy.

Object of the present invention is to provide a method for purifying steam, which method is energy friendly and which method enables at the same time the use of relatively simple equipment.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that this can be established by means of a simple method wherein use is made of particular condensation step which is followed by a steam generation step.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for purifying steam that comprises one or more contaminants, which method comprises the steps of: (a) dispersing steam that comprises one or more contaminants as bubbles in a water column that is contained in a first vessel;

(b) introducing a flow of water into the water column of the first vessel below the location where the steam is dispersed as bubbles in the water thereby causing water in the first vessel to flow upwards whereby complete

condensation of the bubbles as obtained in step (a) occurs, whereby Q _s = Qw, wherein

Qw is the heat adsorbed by the water flow in step (b) which equals (m _w * c _p * delta T), and Q _s is the heat generated by condensation of the bubbles which equals ( m _s * delta H); and niw is the mass flow of water (kg);

Cp is the heat capacity of water (kJ/kg.K); delta T is the temperature difference of the water in the water column before and after contact with the dispersed steam bubbles (K); nis is the mass flow of the steam in step (a) (kg); and delta H is the heat of condensation (kJ/kg), and allowing the heated water so obtained to flow upward, thereby establishing a pressure drop in the water column as a result of which purified steam is generated, which purified steam is in essence free of the one or more contaminants; (c) allowing the purified steam as generated in step (b) to separate from water that comprises the one or more contaminants;

(d) collecting the purified steam;

(e) passing the water that comprises the one or more contaminants to a second vessel; (f) removing the one or more contaminants from the water by physical separation and/or converting the one or more contaminants into non- volatile components; and (g) withdrawing the water obtained in step (f) from the second vessel.

It will be understood that complete condensation of the bubbles will be accomplished when the temperature of the water after the dispersion of steam is below the boiling point.

In accordance with the present invention, a variety of contaminants can be removed from contaminated steam. Such contaminants include ammonia, carbon ^' dioxide, fatty acids, amines, phenol, oxygen, fat and oil.

Preferably, the one or more contaminants are volatile contaminants. More preferably, the one or more contaminants are fat and/or oil.

The amount of contaminants in the contaminated steam can vary within wide ranges. The steam may comprise the one or more contaminants in an amount in the range of from 1 ppb to 10 %wt, based on total steam. Preferably, the steam comprises the one or more contaminants in an amount in the range of from 1 to 5000 ppm, based on total steam.

The purified steam as generated in accordance with the present invention is in essence free of the one or more contaminants, which means that the amount of contaminants has been reduced by a factor m _w :m _s . Preferably, the amount of contaminants has been reduced by a factor of at least 200.

Suitably, in the method according to the present invention the steam comprising the one or more contaminants is introduced into the first vessel by means of an inlet means which is arranged in such a way that the steam disperses as bubbles in water at a lower part of the first vessel.

In accordance with the present invention, the purified steam is collected at an upper part of the vessel, which upper part of the vessel is arranged above the location where the purified steam allowed to separate from the water that comprises the one or more contaminants. Suitably, in step (e) the water is passed to an upper part of the second vessel.

In step (g) the water is suitably withdrawn from a lower part of the second vessel. Preferably, the water withdrawn in step (g) is returned directly or indirectly to the first vessel and re-used in step (b). More preferably, the water withdrawn in step (g) is directly returned to the first vessel and re-used in step (b). Suitably, the contaminated steam to be dispersed as bubbles in step (a) has a temperature in the range of from 40 to 400 °C. Preferably, the contaminated steam to be dispersed as bubbles in step (a) has a temperature in the range of from 95 to 100 ⁰ C, more preferably the temperature is 100 ⁰ C.

Suitably, the bubbles in step (a) have an average diameter in the range of from 20 to 5000 μm, preferably in the range of from 200 to 1000 μm. Suitably, the water to be introduced at the bottom of the first vessel in step (b) is introduced at a pressure in the range of from 0.1 to 100 bar, preferably at a pressure of 1 bar.

Suitably, the water to be introduced at the bottom of the first vessel in step (b) has a temperature in the range of from .1.. to 350 °C, preferably in the range of from 97- 99°C.

Preferably, the upflowing water in the water column of the first vessel has a turbulent flow.

Preferably, in step (c) of the present invention use is made of an overflow system. In such system the water that comprises the one or more contaminants will flow over an edge of the first vessel into the second vessel, whereas the steam that is essentially free of the one or more contaminants will be collected separately at the upper part of the first vessel. The steam so collected can subsequently be re-used in industrial processes requiring the use of steam.

In step (f) the one or more contaminants are removed from the water by physical separation and/or converting the one or more contaminants into non- volatile components. The physical separation will usually be based on the difference between the density of water and the densities of the one or more insoluble contaminants. Suitable physical separation processes include settling, filtration, centrifugation or the use of hydrocyclones. Preferably, the physical separation is carried out by means of settling. Alternatively, the one or more contaminants are removed from the water by converting the one or more contaminants into non-volatile components that remain in the water. Suitable examples of contaminants that can be converted into non-volatile components are ammonia, fatty acids, carbon dioxide, oxygen, phenols and amines. The conversion of the one or more contaminants can be established by means of creating an acid or alkali solution (i.e. pH adaptation) or by addition

of oxygen scavengers. Preferably, such conversion is established by means of pH adaptation.

Preferably, the water to be introduced in step (b) is free or in essence free of contaminants. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the first vessel is placed in the second vessel. In that case, the second vessel is preferably closed. The steam can either be dispersed into the water by creating an overpressure by means of an ejector or fan at the contaminated steam stream, or by creating an underpressure at the purified steam side. Preferably the latter option is chosen.

Examples

Example 1

Natural cocoa nibs were steam roasted in a counter current manner. During the process the steam got contaminated with a mixture of water soluble contaminants. The steam was then pumped in a first vessel 1 of the steam purification system as shown in Figure 1 via a line 2. The steam is dispersed in fine bubbles by means of the steam distributor 3 into the water in vessel 1. The bubbles condensate in the water. A continuous supply of colder water is introduced underneath the steam distributor by means of a pipe 4. Before or at the top of vessel 1 the boiling point of the heated water is surpassed causing formation of new gas bubbles. These bubbles escape from the water by means of the overflow system 6 into the head space of a second vessel 8. A fan 5 sucks the gas out of the head space. The water with the contaminants from the steam is kept alkali, by addition of sodium hydroxide (9), thereby transforming the volatile fatty acids into their non-volatile ions. At the bottom of the second vessel 8 an outlet 7 is made, through with the water is sucked by means of a pump 10. The pump returns the water to pipe 4.

Example 2

Basil leaves were sterilized by means of superheated steam. During the process the steam got contaminated with basil oil. The steam was then purified using the steam purification system as described in Example 1. The oil was accumulated at the top of the liquid in the second vessel, and via the line 11 the oil was collected.

Example 3

Peanuts were steam roasted using superheated steam. During the process the superheated steam got contaminated with peanut fat. The steam was then purified in the steam purification system as described in Example 1. The fat

was then collected at the top of the liquid in the second vessel, and it was collected via the line 11.

Example 4 Shrimp crackers pellets were steam baked. During the process the steam got contaminated with fat. The steam was then purified and the fat was collected at the top of the liquid in the second vessel and removed via the line 11.

Example 5 Alkalized cocoa nibs were steam roasted. During the process the steam got contaminated with ammonia. The steam was then purified in the steam purifier by adding nitric acid via line 9. In that way the ammonia was effectively transformed into NH ₄ ⁺ ions, which are non-volatile