Design of a Pilot Plant for Vacuum Infusion of High Lipoidal Liquids into Dried Foods
Abstract
The objective of this contract was to design an automatic semicontinuous pilot plant scale vacuum infusion system complete with specifications and engineering and construction drawings. Also included are recommendations for commercially available equipment and estimated cost of construction. The design was based on laboratory work conducted at Natick, where vacuum infusion of high lipoidal liquids in void spaces of dried food stuffs produced high caloric-dense ration items, was successfully demonstrated. The design also provides for manual operation as well as automatic. A typical infusion cycle using the designed system is as follows: the food matrix tray is placed in a vacuum chamber by a delivery conveyor; the vacuum is reduced to a predetermined level; the lipoidal liquid is drawn into the chamber and envelopes the matrices; the liquid is drained, and vacuum released; then the infused matrices are removed and cooled on a conveyor belt equipped with a chiller hood. Keywords: Kitchen equipment and supplies; Food trays; Dehydrated foods; Military rations; Vacuum chambers; Experimental design; Infusions; Pilot plants; Liquids; Food processing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA200503
Entities
People
- George R. Sydnor