METHOD and APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE TEMPERATURE OF A SUBSTANCE WHICH IS INITIALLY IN AN AT LEAST PARTLY SOLIDIFIED STATE IN A CONTAINER

Technical field The present invention relates to a method for increasing the temperature of a substance which is initially, at least partially, in a solid state in the container, wherein the container comprises at least one heat exchanger in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a device in accordance with the preamble of claim 8.

[0002] Usually, the substance holding tanks may be equipped with a spiral heat exchanger immersed in the substance or a helical heat exchanger wrapped around the tank for heating the substance. The heating of the substance can be carried out for various purposes, for example to cook the substance, change the viscosity of the substance, accelerate the chemical process between the compounds in the substance and so on.

[0003] The active surface of the heat exchanger is heated to a temperature at least as high as the desired temperature of the substance, i.e. there is a temperature difference. In order to reach the desired temperature in a short time, the temperature difference is usually increased. In the event that the substance or one or more fractions of the substance are sensitive to high temperatures, the temperature of the heat exchanger must therefore be kept below or on an equal basis with the maximum temperature allowed. For some substances, the maximum temperature can be quite low and if a large amount of the substance is in the tank, the heating time of the substance can be very long. The same issue occurs when cooling a substance. The snowman phenomenon is also known. When the snow is compacted in large balls, as is the case with a snowman, it takes a long time to melt compared to the same amount of snow lying unpaved as it fell on the lawn.

[0004] An example of a situation where the temperature change takes a long time is a large amount of vegetable oil in a plastic container. Such plastic containers are known, for example, as flexible tanks or the like, with volumes ranging from one to many thousands of liters, such as those available from Trans Ocean Distribution (<a href="http://www.todbulk.com/">www.todbulk.com</a>) or at John S Braid &amp; Co Ltd (<a href="http://www.braidco.com/">www.braidco.com</a>). During transport, the ambient temperature may be below the melting point of the oil, and then the oil will gradually solidify. In order to empty the tank, the solidified oil must be melted at its destination. Therefore, the container is placed on the heating blanket from the beginning before it is filled with oil. Upon arrival at the destination, the heating blanket must be running for several days, for example four to five days depending on the size of the container, before the oil melts and can be taken. The long duration is initially caused by the large amount of oil and the fact that the temperature of the heating blanket must be limited.

The limitation is due to the plastic material of which the container is made, which can only withstand a certain temperature and, more importantly, that the vegetable oil may degrade if it is heated too much. In addition, the pressure of the heating medium (water or steam) cannot be increased very much because the pipes in the heating blanket and fittings are not dimensioned to support the increased loads caused by higher pressure. [0005] Another heating system is described in US 2522948 and used to cool water or other liquids. The liquid is pumped into the tank through a heat exchanger consisting of a certain placed inside the cooled liquid flows out through the furthest inside the tank and mixes with the rest of the liquid. The liquid is pumped out of the outlet at the bottom of the tank and circulates until it reaches the desired temperature. Although the heat exchanger can probably also be used for heating, the pump can only pump liquids, not substances that are initially partly solidified and cannot be pumped. Moreover, the heat exchange between the cooled liquid and the remaining substance may not be very efficient, because the liquid circulates poorly in the system, and therefore mixing occurs only near the inner end of the heat exchanger. This leads to large temperature differences at various locations inside the tank and a longer overall cooling time. Moreover, the system of the number of parallel pipes

After passing through the pipes, the other open end of the sheath occupies a significant amount of space in the space outside the container compared to the liquid, since the piping is led out of the tank at one end and introduced approximately at the other. A number of connectors and holes in the tank are therefore required, as well as access to the main part of the outside of the tank, which is not always practical.

[0006] US 6002838 describes a tank for storing and discharging liquids that are heated during unloading. The tank is divided into two chambers only with a relatively small opening between them and contains a heat exchanger located in the smallest chamber. The liquid is pumped through the exchanger and outside, where part of it is immediately unloaded, and the rest is pumped again into a small chamber. As with the previously described patents, some liquid is recycled to assist in heating the remaining liquid. However, no mixing effect is obtained. The method described above requires a special construction of the storage tank with built-in chambers, which makes the method impossible to use in standard tanks. Finally, the method may not solve the problems of heating a substance that is not initially able to be pumped.

[0007] A similar, to some extent, device is disclosed in US 3856078, which is also disclosed in the preamble of claims 1 and 8. Here, the heat exchanger is located in a separate and well-insulated chamber, in the bottom of the tank, with only one opening to the rest of the tank. The pump is located adjacent to the inner end of the heat exchanger and forces fluid (especially heavy oils) to flow along the steam lines in the heat exchanger and circulate to some area inside the insulated chamber. The heating is carried out in parallel with the discharge of the fluid, because part of the heated fluid is released immediately after heating while another part of it returns to the tank flowing back along the outside of the heat exchanger, but still inside the insulated chamber. However, this device, like the previous one, is not designed to heat the entire tank full of fluid, but to heat a limited amount in combination with its simultaneous discharge.

[0008] One of the objectives is to achieve that the temperature of the entire tank full of substance, which is initially at least partially solidified, can be increased relatively quickly. Another goal is to achieve a relatively rapid temperature rise, also when only limited temperature difference or maximum temperature is allowed.

[0009] Further objectives will be presented below.

[0010] Accordingly, the invention provides a method for increasing the temperature of a substance, wherein the substance is initially, at least partially, in a solid state, as claimed in claim 1, and pumping means are provided for moving the substance, and the method consists of the following steps:

a) heat exchange between the heat exchanger and the substance,

b) the movement of the substance by means of pumping means to increase the heat exchange between the heat exchanger and the substance and is characterized in that

c) mixing the substance by means of pumping means by moving the substance inside the container by means of at least one nozzle-like means to increase the flow rate during mixing.

[0011] When the substance, which is initially in a partially solidified state, is displaced according to step b), then not only the stationary substance contacts the heat exchanger for heat exchange according to step a). The amount of substance in contact with the heat exchanger is therefore much larger, and the heat transfer is less dependent on the thermal conductivity of the substance. When the substance is further mixed, according to step c), it is obtained that the substance after contact with the heat exchanger is transported away from the heat exchanger and mixed with the remaining substance, whereby the heat exchange also occurs between the previously heat exchanged substance and the remaining substance, which is a great improvement compared to heat exchange only with a heat exchanger. Step c) also achieves the fact that the substance located away from the heat exchanger is transported to the heat exchanger, whereby the heat exchanger can exchange heat with all the substance in a short time, which also reduces the dependence on the thermal conductivity of the substance. By increasing the flow rate, the mixing effect is improved, and thus also heat transfer to or from the substance.

Thanks to a number of nozzles or nozzle-like means at different locations and in different sizes, mixing can be accurately controlled, whereby the mixing of the heated substance with the unheated substance can be obtained in all parts of the tank, even in the corners furthest from the heat exchanger. In the simplest design, the nozzles may be holes.

[0012] The method may preferably include that the heat exchanger is connected to external source means for transferring heat to the substance in the container, the source means and pumping means being coordinated by control means to control the temperature of the substance. In this way, external source means for transferring heat to or from the substance only requires placement at the location where the heat transfer is to take place. By coordinating the source and pumping means, a smoother handling of the substance can be achieved, for example, by regulating the amount of pumped substance per unit time in relation to the amount of heat transferred to or from the means of the source, so as to, for example, prevent overheating and, moreover, gain full control over the temperature range of the substance.

[0013] The heat exchanger may advantageously comprise a longitudinal cylindrical surface and guide means for guiding the substance along said surface during the execution of step b), said guide means being connected to the pumping means. When the substance is guided along the surface of the heat exchanger, better heat transfer between the substance and the heat exchanger is obtained, because the substance can interact with the heat exchanger along the surface and is not limited to a limited area.

[0014] The guide means may, in a preferred embodiment, comprise a housing arranged substantially concentrically around the heat exchanger, said housing comprising a number of holes made in the form of a template along the length of the housing for distributing the substance during the execution of step c). This results in better heat transfer between the substance and the heat exchanger, as well as the effect of mixing the substance when it is distributed through the holes. Compared to the transfer of heat to and from the substance, which occurs in a static state, the distribution and the resulting mixing effect greatly improves the transfer of heat to and from the entire amount of the substance. In the case where the method involves the melting of the solidified substance, it is obtained, thanks to guide means comprising a housing arranged substantially concentrically around the heat exchanger, that the substance contained in the guide means can first be melted by means of heat from the heat exchanger, and then the melted substance can be distributed in the remaining part of the substance, which is still solidified, thanks to which a direct heat transfer to this part is obtained.

[0015] The external source means may, in a preferred embodiment, include means for heating water. Water heating agents are generally available at a relatively low price. Water is neutral to the environment, so when some water accidentally leaks out, no damage will be done.

[0016] The method can advantageously be used in a way in which the substance is at least partly solidified and the heat is exchanged between the heat exchanger and the substance according to step a), at least until a certain amount of the substance is melted before it begins steps b) and c). The method is particularly suitable for melting partially solidified substances. [0017] Preferably, the method is intended for melting edible oil or fat. Oil or fat, for example of plant origin, is often produced close to plantations or in factories far from where it is used. It is, therefore, transported by ships and can be on the road days or weeks, which is the appropriate time to cool it, by ambient temperature, to a temperature below the melting point. In order to empty containers holding such oil or fat, the oil or fat must be melted to allow it to drain or pump out.

[0018] Furthermore, when the heat exchanger is placed inside the container, the device only requires a minimum space both during transport of the container and during the heating process itself. The heating method can therefore be used even where the free space is limited. Furthermore, according to the invention, the heat exchanger enters the container and is mounted on it only in one place, so that access to other sides of the container is not necessary. It is also very advantageous when used for substances such as, for example, edible oils or fats poured into a flexible tank placed inside a transport container for additional stabilization and strengthening during transport. In this case, access to the flexible tank is limited to only one side of the flexible tank within the container opening, but the application of the described invention will not cause any problems.

[0019] The invention further relates to a device for raising the temperature of a substance which is initially at least partially solidified in the container, said device comprising at least one heat exchanger adapted to exchange heat with the substance when the heat exchanger is placed in the tank furthermore, said device comprises pumping and guiding means for moving the substance in the container, and is characterized by that said pumping and guiding means are adapted to mix the substance by moving the substance through at least one nozzle-like means to increase the flow rate and increase the heat exchange between the heat exchanger and the substance as the substance is moved. When the heat is exchanged between the substance and the heat exchanger, the substance in the container will be displaced by the pumping and guide means to mix the substance, then not only the stationary substance contacts the heat exchanger with the heat exchanger for heat exchange, thereby the heat exchange is largely improved. The amount of substance in contact with the heat exchanger is increased, and the heat exchange is less dependent on the thermal conductivity of the substance.

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims 9-12.

[0021] Hereinafter, the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, which show embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1a is a side view of the heat exchanger according to the invention,

Fig. 1b shows a front view of a heat exchanger according to the invention,

<td>FIG.</td><td> 2</td><td>presents</td><td>longitudinal cross section</td><td>line</td><td>YY with</td>

<td></td><td></td><td>Fig. 1b,</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td>FIG.</td><td> 3</td><td>presents</td><td>longitudinal cross section</td><td>line</td><td>XX z</td>

<td></td><td></td><td>Fig. 1a,</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td>FIG.</td><td> 4</td><td>presents</td><td>side view in section</td><td colspan="2">transverse</td>

heat exchanger installed in the container,

Fig. 5a is an elevational view of the heat exchanger installed in the container,

Fig. 5b is an enlarged detail Z of Fig. 5a,

Fig. 6 shows a simplified circuit of feeding the heat exchange medium to the heat exchanger,

Fig. 7 shows a simplified substance supply circuit,

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2, in which the flow directions of the heat exchange medium and the substance are shown,

<td>FIG.</td><td> 9</td><td>presents</td><td>example</td><td>execution</td><td>heat exchanger</td><td>warm</td>

<td></td><td></td><td colspan="2">according to the invention</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td>FIG.</td><td>10a</td><td>presents</td><td>example</td><td>execution</td><td>heat exchanger</td><td>warm</td>

<td></td><td></td><td colspan="2">according to the invention</td><td>in view</td><td>from the side</td><td></td>

<td>FIG.</td><td>10b</td><td>presents</td><td>heat</td><td>heat from</td><td>Fig. 10a,</td><td>view</td>

<td></td><td></td><td>in advance,</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td>FIG.</td><td>10c</td><td>presents</td><td>heat</td><td>heat from</td><td>Fig. 10a,</td><td>view</td>

<td></td><td></td><td>from behind.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td colspan="2"> [0022]</td><td>A certain number</td><td>different</td><td>pipe is</td><td colspan="2">depicted on</td>

<td colspan="2">figures</td><td colspan="2">and is shown without</td><td>welding</td><td>soldering</td><td>and this one</td>

similar, for connecting and assembling said pipes. However, such combinations are obvious to those skilled in the art and are therefore omitted for simplicity. The relative dimensions of the heat exchanger in Figs. 1-3 and 9-10 are shown in scale.

[0023] Figs. 1a and 1b show a heat exchanger 2 comprising guide means, comprising a housing 6 with holes 7. The heat exchanger 2 further includes holes 18, 19, 20, 21 and 24. Holes 19 and 20 are adapted to connect source means for transferring heat to or from the heat exchanger, for example heated water or steam supplied to the heat exchanger 2 through the holes. To create internal flow paths in heat exchanger 2, tubular sections 31-33 are provided. The heat exchanger 2 further comprises an outlet part 29 having an opening 24 which is connected to the opening 18. The outlet part 29 comprises a cylindrical segment 14 adapted to receive a connection.

[0024] Figs. 2 and 3 show a heat exchanger 2 comprising an elongated cylindrical section 4 formed by a pipe 8 with a first end 9 and a closed second end 10. The pipe 8 is connected to the pipe 32 and forms an opening 20 therein. Inside the pipe 8 there is a second pipe 15 having an open first end 16 positioned next to the open first end 10. The pipe 15 is connected via a second end 17 to a pipe 33, which extends upwards into the opening 19. The pipe 8 is concentrically surrounded by guide means, which here is a housing 6 formed by the pipe and having a number of holes 7, said holes preferably being directed upwards and sideways. The housing 6 is connected to the pipe 31 and forms an opening 21 therein. The outlet part 29 is attached around the housing 6 and has an opening 24. The outlet part 29 further comprises a connection to the opening 18.

[0025] Fig. 4 shows a heat exchanger 2 having a housing 6 and a longitudinal cylindrical surface 4, as well as an outlet part 29 comprising a cylindrical segment 14. The heat exchanger 2 is attached to the wall 25 of a container not shown, with the housing 6 and surface 4 extending on length L to the inside of the container. The length L preferably corresponds substantially to the length / depth / width of the container in order to extend the operation of the heat exchanger after start-up. The heat exchanger 2 is connected to the pipe 23 by means of a coupling not shown, for example of the Straub type, which effectively closes any gaps between the pipe 23 and the cylindrical segment 14 of the outlet part 29. The pipe 23 is connected to flanges 27 and 26 which are attached to the wall 25 The screws 28a used to secure the pipe 23. In this way, the not shown hole 24 - see for example Fig. 2 - can take substance from the container through the pipe 23. In Fig. 5a and 5b, the heat exchanger 2 is attached, by means of flanges 26 and 27, to the wall 25 of the container 34. The housing 6 and the longitudinal cylindrical surface 4 extend into the interior of the container 34.

[0026] Fig. 6 shows the heat exchanger 2 positioned as shown in Figs. 5a and 5b. The container 34, housing 6 and longitudinal cylindrical surface 4 are omitted for simplicity. The heat transfer medium is heated in a boiler 44, for example, oil-fired, and transported through port 37 to opening 20. Shut-off valves 35 and 36 are located at openings 19 and 20. The heat transfer medium is discharged through the opening 19 and is transported to the transfer pump 42 via connector 38. From the transfer pump, the heat transfer medium is transported back to the boiler 44 via connector 38. The expansion vessel 43 is connected to connector 38 via connector 40. Miscellaneous connectors, valves and the like that are obvious to those skilled in the art are omitted for simplicity. The direction of transport of the heat transfer medium through the heat exchanger can of course be opposite.

[0027] In Fig. 7, the substance is pumped from a centrifugal pump 48 to orifice 21 in heat exchanger 2 via connector 50. Shut-off valves 45 and 46 are located at orifices 18 and 21. Instrument 47, for measuring temperature, monitors the temperature of the substance. The substance is withdrawn from the container through the opening 18 and is sent to the centrifugal pump 48 through the connector 49. Various connectors, valves and the like, which are obvious to the skilled person, are also omitted here for simplicity.

[0028] It is obvious that the external elements shown in both Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 will be connected simultaneously for controlling the heat exchanger 2. The use of two separate figures is for simplification only. Means for controlling the boiler 44, transfer pump 42 and centrifugal pump 48 are not shown.

[0029] In a further embodiment of the invention, an additional heat exchanger can be used in the external system, both before and after the pumping means, thus accelerating the heating process.

[0030] Fig. 8 shows a heat exchanger 2 comprising a longitudinal cylindrical part 4 formed by a pipe 8 having a first end 9 and a closed second end 10. The pipe 8 is connected to the pipe 32 and further to the opening 20. A second pipe 15 is placed inside the pipe 8 having an open first end 16 disposed at the closed first end 10. The pipe 15 is at the second end 17 connected to the pipe 33, which extends upwards into the opening 19. The heat transfer medium is introduced through the opening 20 and guided in the direction of arrow A. With the second end closed 10 of the tube 8, the direction of the heat transfer medium is inverted to enter the second tube 15 at its first open end 16. The heat transfer medium is removed through hole 19 in the direction of arrow B. The pipe 8 is concentrically surrounded by guide means, which here is a housing 6 formed by a pipe having a number of holes 7, said holes preferably facing upwards and sideways. The housing 6 is connected to the pipe 31 and further to the opening 21. The substance is introduced through the opening 21 and directed towards the openings 7 in the housing 6, from where the substance is displaced out of the heat exchanger 2. The flow directions are indicated by the arrow C. In this way, the substance is first allowed to exchange heat with the heat transfer medium through the surface 4, and then it is displaced through the holes 7 to achieve a mixing effect with the substance surrounding the heat exchanger. The outlet part 29 is attached around the housing 6 and has an opening 24. The outlet part further comprises a connection to the opening 18.

The substance surrounding the heat exchanger can thus be discharged through the opening 18 via the opening 24 in the outlet part 29. The openings 7 can be equipped with nozzles to increase the speed of the substance and to increase the mixing effect.

[0031] Typically, the heat exchanger 2 is mounted in a container, such as a flexible tank made essentially of polymer material. Shut-off valves are fitted in holes 18-21. The substance, in a pumpable condition, is introduced into the container, preferably through the opening 18 or alternatively through the opening in the upper surface of the container. The trapped air in the container is evacuated, for example using a bleed valve. After filling the container, the outlet part 29 and the housing 6 are filled with the substance. The container can then be placed in a storage room or transported to another location where the substance may solidify over time into a non-pumpable consistency. In this case, the heating medium, e.g. hot water, is passed through the pipes 8 and 15 for a period of time as described above with reference to Fig. 8. This converts at least the substance in the housing 6 and the outlet part 29 to a viscosity that allows pumping, and the circulation of the substance is started. The circulation of the substance has been described above with reference to Fig. 8. When the substance leaves the holes 7 in the housing 6, the pressure inside the housing is changed to the kinetic energy of the fluid. The substance is distributed here at a speed depending on the pressure given by the pump and has substantially radial directions relative to the housing. In this way, the heat exchanged substance can interact with the solidified substance at a distance from the heat exchanger 2 and thereby improve heat transfer. The direction and speed at which the substance is distributed are controlled by the location and size of the holes 7. In the same way as the mixing effect is achieved, it is achieved that the heated substance is mixed into the remaining substance not only around the heat exchanger, but throughout the entire tank . This greatly improves heat transfer compared to a stationary substance. The mixing effect can be achieved by forming the holes 7 as relatively small holes compared to the dimensions of the pipe. The opening may also be provided with nozzles to further increase the kinetic energy of the dispersed substance. Once the appropriate viscosity of some or all of the substance has been reached, the desired amount of substance can be removed from the container, for example by pumping or using gravity, by tilting the tank. An alternative to the heat transfer medium circulating in the heat exchanger may be to equip the heat exchanger with a built-in electric heating element.

[0032] Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a heat exchanger 2 in accordance with the present invention. As with previous embodiments, the heat exchanger 2 comprises an elongated cylindrical section 4 extending into the interior of the container (not shown), as illustrated in Fig. 5a, and with a total length corresponding to the length of the container. The heating medium flows inside the longitudinal cylindrical section 4, heating the substance in the housing 6 surrounding the cylindrical section 4. The heating medium, e.g. water or steam, is introduced and leaves the heat exchanger through the openings 19, 20. The pumped substance is introduced into the housing 6 through the opening 21 and leaves the housing 6 through a number of openings 7 fulfilling the function of nozzles changing the energy pressure of the substance inside the housing into kinetic energy. The cross-section of the housing 6 is shown enlarged in the figure. Here you can see the location of the holes 7. These holes (only a few of which have been shown for clarity) are distributed in a number of locations along the entire length of the housing 6. The locations and sizes of the holes determine the resulting direction of the substance along with its velocity. Thus, the holes are arranged so that the maximum mixing of the substance is achieved everywhere in the container. In the heat exchanger 2, shown in Fig. 9, designed to be mounted close to the bottom of the container and slightly towards one of the sides, the openings 7 are located on the upper side of the housing 6. Moreover, the diameter of the opening 90 is designed to obtain the highest speed of the substance being discharged there where the distance from the opening to the wall of the container is the longest. To further improve the outlet effect of the holes, the edges of the holes can be cut with a laser, which avoids burrs.

[0033] As previously described, the substance is withdrawn from the tank through the opening 24 in the outlet part 29 and exits the heat exchanger through the opening 18. In this embodiment, the outlet part 29 reaches a certain distance inside the tank and is equipped with a number of small holes 91 which are visible in the unfolded view of Fig. 9. Small holes prevent the discharge part from collapsing or corrugating due to the pressure difference between the substance inside and outside the discharge part. The heat exchanger 2 is mounted on the container, on flanges 26 and 27 by traditional means such as screws and the like.

[0034] The same embodiment of the heat exchanger 2 is shown in figures 10a-c in a side, top and back view, respectively. The substance is introduced and exits the heat exchanger in the same way as described with reference to Fig. 9. In this embodiment, the heating medium passes through the opening 19 through the first pipe 93 connected to the second pipe 94, substantially parallel to the first, and is discharged through the opening 20. This is clearly seen in Fig. 10b. Pipes 93, 94 run inside the housing 6, along its entire length. This alternative embodiment is advantageous for obtaining high heating efficiency and is also simple and inexpensive to produce.

Example 1 [0035] A steel tank with dimensions of 1x1x1 m and a capacity of 1m³is equipped with a heat exchanger of a construction corresponding to Figs. 1-3 and 8. The housing 6 is made of a 83x80 mm steel pipe (internal dimension 80 mm and external dimension 83 mm). Pipe 8 is made of 63x60 mm steel pipe, and pipe 15 is made of 32x30 mm steel pipe. The length L is 0.9 m, and the housing 6 has two holes 7 facing up and four holes 7 facing sideways (two on each side), said holes 7 having a diameter of 10 mm. The steel tank was filled with 800 kg Confao^TM35 (supplier: Aarhus United, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark). Confao^TM35 is a confectionery fat based on hydrogenated vegetable fats with non-lauric origin and the following typical values:

- softening temperature = 37 ° C (according to AOCS Cc 3-25)

- trans fatty acids = 43% (according to IUPAC 2.304).

[0036] Vegetable oils typically have the following heat-related values:

- Liquid fats: specific enthalpy = 2.1 kJ / (kgK)

- Heat with melting = 185-210 kJ / kg [0037] The tank after filling is stored for three days in a storage room at a temperature of 5 degrees Celsius, due to which the oil solidifies. The heated water used for heat transfer circulates in the heat exchanger as described with reference to Fig. 6. After the solidified oil is melted in the heat exchanger, circulation and distribution of the molten oil begins, which continues until all the oil has melted and a uniform oil temperature has been reached.

[0038] Three series were carried out at a heat transfer medium (water) temperature of 90 ° C, 75 ° C and 65 ° C, respectively. The water flow rate through the heat exchanger was about 1 liter / second. The fourth series was carried out using steam as a heat transfer medium at a pressure of 1.8 bar and a temperature of 131 ° C. During all four series, the oil temperature in the tank was recorded at the beginning and end. Also the time used was recorded.

Table 1. Series results.

<td>Resort temperature</td><td>Initial</td><td>Final</td><td>Time to</td>

<td>transfer</td><td>oil temperature</td><td>oil temperature</td><td>melt</td>

<td>heat</td><td>[° C]</td><td>[° C]</td><td>[hours]</td>

<td>90 ° water</td><td> 11,9</td><td> 39,5</td><td> 6,33</td>

<td>75 ° water</td><td> 11,9</td><td> 38,1</td><td> 8,33</td>

<td>65 ° water</td><td> 11,9</td><td> 36,4</td><td> 10,50</td>

<td>1.8 bar steam</td><td> 9,7</td><td> 36,4</td><td> 3,33</td>

<td>* Oil temperature</td><td colspan="3">when the oil has melted,</td>

<td colspan="4">which was determined by visual inspection.</td>

Example 2 [0039] A 24,000 L multi-layer flexible disposable tank from Braid &amp; Co was placed in a 20 'dry container. The flexible tank was equipped with a heat exchanger as shown in Fig. 5a. The heat exchanger (cf. Fig. 8) has a length of 5.3 m and a diameter of 84 mm.

The outer cylindrical housing has twenty 10mm holes evenly spaced on two side and top sides to separate material flow.

[0040] The flexible tank was therefore filled with 17.5 metric ton of Shokao^TM 94 (Aarhus United Denmark). Shokao^TM 94 is a substitute for cocoa butter, based on fractionated and non-hydrogenated oil of non-laurate origin, melting point 32 ° C. The fat is polymorphic and behaves like cocoa butter. To cool and crystallize the fat, the container was placed outside for six weeks at an average temperature of about 2 ° C. The heat exchanger has been adapted in terms of the length of the heating means as shown in Fig. 6. As pump reference 42, Grunfoss CP8-40 set for 11 m water circuit was used³/ H. In addition, the heat exchanger was adapted in terms of circulation means as shown in Fig. 7. KSB Etachrom BC032-125 / 302 adapted to a flow rate of 15 m was used as pump reference 48.³/ H. Temperature probes were installed in the water and test material circulation lines. Similarly, samplers were installed at the top of the flexible tank. All temperatures were recorded simultaneously at 10-minute intervals.

[0041] The test was carried out on February 24, 2004 and the start-up procedure was as described in example 1. The following results were obtained:

<td>Time in hours</td><td>Water heating temperature in ° C</td><td>Temperature of circulating oil in ° C</td><td>Temperature at the top of the flexible tank in ° C</td>

<td> 5</td><td> 80,4</td><td> 42,9</td><td> 7,7</td>

<td> 10</td><td> 80,4</td><td> 39, 3</td><td> 5,7</td>

<td> 15</td><td> 71, 0</td><td> 39, 3</td><td> 4, 6</td>

<td> 20</td><td> 77,7</td><td> 39, 3</td><td> 4, 6</td>

<td> 25</td><td> 80,4</td><td> 39, 3</td><td> 8,4</td>

<td> 30</td><td> 75, 0</td><td> 39, 3</td><td> 14,5</td>

<td> 35</td><td> 72,3</td><td> 39, 3</td><td> 32,2</td>

<td> 40</td><td> 72,3</td><td> 39, 3</td><td> 33,3</td>

<td> 45</td><td> 76,3</td><td> 40,5</td><td> 34,1</td>

<td> 50</td><td> 72,3</td><td> 42,9</td><td> 36, 5</td>

[0042] In a time interval of 10 to 42 hours, melting is in a steady state, as indicated by the constant temperature of the circulating oil. In addition, it can be seen that a large amount of material has been melted over a time interval of 35 to 40 hours, as indicated by a temperature equal to or higher than the melting temperature at the top of the flexible tank. After checking, it turned out that only a layer of solid material about 1 cm thick remained at the distal end of the flexible tank.

[0043] At the end of the test, the substance was discharged from the tank leaving about 30 kg of substance in the tank.

Example 3 [0044] This example is essentially a continuation of Example 2, except that the heat exchanger and mixing unit are optimized and the external heat exchanger has been incorporated into the melt circuit to increase heat transfer. In addition, the substance was transported to another continent to prove the industrial applicability of the invented solution used for substances from a food grade that is susceptible to degradation during transport.

[0045] The 24000 L multi-layer flexible disposable tank from Braid &amp; Co was placed in a 20 'dry container. The flexible tank was equipped with a heat exchanger as shown in Fig. 5a. The heat exchanger (in Fig. 8) has a length of 5.3 m and a diameter of 84 mm. The outer cylindrical housing has thirty-five holes or holes serving as straight nozzles evenly spaced, in parts, on two side sides and the top side, to separate the flow of material. The holes in the housing have different diameters and positions to ensure an accurate mixing effect (compare Fig. 9). The flexible tank was filled with 20.5 metric ton of Illexao^TM 30-61 (Aarhus United Denmark). IllexaoTM 30-61 is a replacement for cocoa butter based on fractionated and non-hydrogenated exotic oils with a softening point of 34 ° C. The fat is polymorphic and behaves like cocoa butter. After cooling, the container was sent by sea to Brazil. Upon arrival, the container was placed in the roof area, the heat exchanger was adapted in terms of heating means as illustrated in Fig. 6, and an external heat exchanger was inserted into the circulation of the molten substance (Fig.

7).

[0046] Heating and melting of the substance was carried out with the following parameters:

- ambient temperature - about 20 ° C (night) and 35 ° C (day)

- heating water flow rate - 12 m³/ h

- flow rate of circulating molten substance 10 15m³/ H.

[0047] Temperature probes were installed in the water and test material circulation lines. Similarly, samplers were installed at the top of the flexible tank. All temperatures were recorded simultaneously at 3 minutes intervals.

[0041] The test was carried out on February 24, 2004 and the start-up procedure was as described in example 1. The following results were obtained:

<td>Time in hours</td><td>Water heating temperature in ° C</td><td>Temperature circulating substances in ° C</td><td>Temperature summit flexible tank in ° C</td>

<td> 5</td><td> 80</td><td> 30</td><td> 30</td>

<td> 10</td><td> 80</td><td> 53</td><td> 30</td>

<td> 15</td><td> 80</td><td> 51</td><td> 30</td>

<td> 20</td><td> 80</td><td> 53</td><td> 52</td>

<td> 22,5</td><td> 80</td><td> 57</td><td> 57</td>

<td> 25</td><td> 80</td><td> 63</td><td> 65</td>

<td>* interval</td><td>thermostat ± 10 °</td><td>C</td><td></td>

[0048] In a time interval of 10 to 20 hours, melting is in a steady state, as indicated by the constant temperature of the circulating oil. In addition, it can be seen that a large amount of material was melted after 20 hours, as indicated by a temperature almost identical to the temperature of the substance circulating at the top of the flexible tank. After discharging the molten substance, the test showed that less than 25 kg remained in the flexible tank.

[0049] Calculation values, measured before loading and after melting, showed that the substance did not suffer from quality during the entire transport procedure. Only insignificant degradation due to oxidation and heat was noticed.

Example 4 (reference) [0050] This example is a reference based on the current prior art procedure used at the time of the invention.

[0051] Here, a 24,000 l multi-layer flexible disposable tank was placed in a 20 'dry container on the upper surface of the heating blanket, also known as heating mats. The flexible tank was filled with Cebes^TM 30-86 (Aarhus United Denmark). Cebes^TM 30-86 is a substance equivalent to cocoa butter based on fractionated and non-hydrogenated palm kernel oil with a softening point of 35 ° C. After cooling, the container was sent by sea to Australia.

[0052] Upon arrival, heating mat pipes were connected to circulating heating water circuits. The heating and melting of the substance was carried out with the following parameters:

- heating water flow rate - 2.5 m³/ h at a pressure of 2.3 bar

- 85 ° C incoming heating water temperature

- 60 ° C outgoing heating water temperature.

[0053] Heating is continued until all the material is liquid and ready for discharge. The following results are average records based on around 240 deliveries as described above.

<td>Parameter</td><td>Summer</td><td>Winter</td>

<td>Ambient temperature during the day</td><td>28 ° C</td><td>15 ° C</td>

<td>Ambient temperature at night</td><td>15 ° C</td><td>3 ° C</td>

<td>Melting time in hours</td><td> 70</td><td> 90</td>

[0054] The results clearly show that the procedure for dealing with large amounts of fluid that are solidified at ambient temperature is both inefficient and relatively expensive.

Definition [0055] Wherever a substance is mentioned in the current context, this should be understood in a broad sense to include any material or combination of materials that has at least one condition that has a viscosity / consistency in which the substance can be moved using known pumping means. A non-closed list of such substances includes:

- vegetable oils or fats

- edible oils or fats

- fatty alcohols

- polyglycols

- vaseline

- paraffin

- natural or synthetic rubber

- resins [0056] It should be kept in mind that the invention disclosed in the description and the figures can be modified and changed, but still remain within the scope of the invention as claimed below.

AarhusKarlshamn Denmark A / S

Proxy:

79P24903PL00

EP 1 738 124 B1