Frozen ash berries processing in the device with a nozzle continuous vibration, equipped with an ex-ternal recirculation loop

An external recirculation loop was used as the method of increasing the concentration of dry soluble substances in the obtained extract. The objective of the research is to determine the value of the external recirculation index (KR), which provides the optimal conditions for the process carrying out. The results of the conducted research show the increase in the concentration of dry soluble substances in the extract if the external recirculation index increases. It is conditioned by the extension of the interaction between the processed raw mate-rial and the extract, as well as by the decrease in the surface tension of the extracting agent, which results in improving the conditions of its penetration into the pores of particles. Such an opposite property of recirculation as the decrease in mass transfer rate was also ob-served. It causes the significant rise of dry soluble substances losses while discharging extraction cake, which leads to the performance degradation. According to the analytical evaluation of the obtained results, the maximum process results are observed if KR = 1 (without recirculation) and KR = 2, the values of the optimality criterion are 5.02∙10-3 and 4.92∙10-3 % mass/W respectively. At the same time the operation of the apparatus with the recirculation loop at KR = 2 is characterized by 62%-increase in dry soluble substances concentration in the extract as compared to a pure extracting agent. The efficiency of recirculation at KR = 2 is proved by the saving of energy con-sumed on the evaporation of the extract obtained. The energy costs calculation for the production of 60l of 12 % mass dry soluble sub-stances concentration extract showed that if the initial dry soluble substances concentration is raised to 6 % mass (KR = 2), the amount of consumed saturated vapor is 104.1 kg less, which is 281685 kJ if the vapor specific enthalpy is 2706.29 kJ/kg.