Apparatus for concentrating processed vegetable and fruit products by reverse osmosis

Abstract

An apparatus for concentrating a vegetable and/or fruit product has a concentration unit having a plurality of tubular membrane modules connected in series, a single-axis eccentric screw pump connected to its inlet for supplying the product and another single-axis eccentric screw pump connected to its outlet for discharging the product concentrated by reverse osmosis by the concentration unit. The product is supplied under a high-pressure condition such that the pressure at the inlet is within a specified range, and the apparatus is operated such that the pressure at the outlet is also within another specified range and the pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet be greater than a certain minimum pressure value.

1 . An apparatus for concentrating a vegetable-fruit product, said apparatus comprising: 
 a concentration unit having an inlet, an outlet and a plurality of tubular membrane modules connected in series;    a single-axis eccentric screw pump connected to said inlet of said concentration unit for supplying the vegetable-fruit product to said concentration unit; and    another single-axis eccentric screw pump connected to said outlet of said concentration unit for discharging the vegetable-fruit product from said tubular membrane modules, said apparatus serving to cause the vegetable-fruit product to be concentrated by reverse osmosis by causing the vegetable-fruit product to flow down under a pressured condition to said concentration unit.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  structured for causing the vegetable-fruit product to flow into said concentration in a single-pass process.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vegetable-fruit product includes at least one selected from the group consisting of seeds, epidermis and sarcocarp.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the vegetable-fruit product includes at least one selected from the group consisting of seeds, epidermis and sarcocarp.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said vegetable-fruit product is a processed tomato product.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said vegetable-fruit product is a processed tomato product.