Importance

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Abstract

A direct contact steam injection heater body is placed directly in line and allows axial flow of stock (i.e. liquid or slurry) through a pipe. The steam injection heater includes a Mach diffuser having a plurality of steam diffusion holes. The Mach diffuser is mounted transverse to the axial flow of stock through the pipe and the heater body. High velocity steam is injected from the plurality of steam diffusion holes into the stock flowing through the heater body. An adjustably positionable cover in the Mach diffuser modulates the amount of steam added to the flowing stock by exposing a desired number of steam diffusion holes. Modulation is accomplished at constant steam pressure by an actuator that rotates the cover. The arrangement is able to efficiently heat large flows of viscous stock, such as slurries having suspended materials that tend to flocculate. The upstream surface area of the Mach diffuser is preferably free of steam diffusion holes to eliminate unnecessary plugging. The downstream surface area of the Mach diffuser is also preferably free of steam diffusion holes to lessen the probability of large steam bubble conglomeration. A deflector is preferably mounted directly in front of the upstream surface of the Mach diffuser to route the flow of stock towards the side surfaces of the Mach diffuser where the steam diffusion holes are located.

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First Claim