Apparatus and method for improved hydrate formation and improved efficiency of recovery of expansion agent in processes for expanding tobacco and other agricultural products

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for recovering additional expansion agent in a process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product are disclosed. One embodiment is a method for recovering additional expansion agent in a process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, which includes the following steps: withdrawing substantially all of an amount of an expansion agent in the impregnation vessel at about the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and transmitting at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a low-pressure gas tank. In one embodiment, the expansion agent is carbon dioxide.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for recovering additional expansion agent in a process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 withdrawing substantially all of an amount of expansion agent in the impregnation vessel at about the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and    transmitting at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a low-pressure gas tank.    
     
     
         2 . A method for recovering additional expansion agent as in    claim 1   , comprising the further steps of: 
 withdrawing at least a portion of the expansion agent from the low-pressure gas tank;    compressing the expansion agent withdrawn from the low-pressure gas tank;    transmitting the compressed expansion agent to a high-pressure gas tank;    withdrawing at least a portion of the compressed expansion agent from the high-pressure gas tank;    compressing further the compressed expansion agent withdrawn from the high-pressure gas tank;    condensing the further compressed expansion agent; and    storing the condensed expansion agent in a storage tank.    
     
     
         3 . A method for recovering additional expansion agent in a process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 withdrawing substantially all of an amount of expansion agent in the impregnation vessel at about the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and    compressing at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a pressure sufficient to condense the expansion agent.    
     
     
         4 . A method for recovering additional expansion agent as in    claim 3   , comprising the further steps of: 
 condensing the compressed expansion agent; and    storing the condensed expansion agent in a storage tank.    
     
     
         5 . A method for recovering additional expansion agent as in    claim 3   , comprising the further step of: 
 regulating a mass flow of said amount of expansion agent withdrawn from the impregnation vessel at a mass flow rate sufficient for maximum hydration of an amount of water in the tobacco or another agricultural product.    
     
     
         6 . A method for recovering additional expansion agent as in    claim 3   , comprising the further step of: 
 determining an optimum depressurization mass flowrate for maximum hydrate formation over a range of pressures of depressurization from an initial impregnation pressure to a pressure where the expansion agent ceases to form water hydrate.    
     
     
         7 . A process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product wherein the process includes a method for recovering additional expansion agent, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 withdrawing substantially all of an amount of expansion agent in the impregnation vessel at about the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and    transmitting at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a low-pressure gas tank.    
     
     
         8 . A process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product wherein the process includes a method for recovering additional expansion agent, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 withdrawing substantially all of an amount of expansion agent in the impregnation vessel at about the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and    compressing at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a pressure sufficient to condense the expansion agent.    
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for recovering additional expansion agent in a process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, comprising: 
 means for withdrawing substantially all of an amount of expansion agent in the impregnation vessel at about the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and    means for transmitting at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a low-pressure gas tank.    
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for recovering additional expansion agent as in    claim 9   , further comprising: 
 means for withdrawing at least a portion of the expansion agent from the low-pressure gas tank;    means for compressing the expansion agent withdrawn from the low-pressure gas tank;    means for transmitting the compressed expansion agent to a high-pressure gas tank;    means for withdrawing at least a portion of the compressed expansion agent from the high-pressure gas tank;    means for compressing further the compressed expansion agent withdrawn from the high-pressure gas tank;    means for condensing the further compressed expansion agent; and    means for storing the condensed expansion agent in a storage tank.    
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for recovering additional expansion agent in a process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, comprising: 
 means for withdrawing substantially all of an amount of expansion agent in the impregnation vessel at about the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and    means for compressing at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a pressure sufficient to condense the expansion agent.    
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for recovering additional expansion agent as in    claim 11   , further comprising: 
 means for condensing the compressed expansion agent; and    means for storing the condensed expansion agent in a storage tank.    
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for recovering additional expansion agent as in    claim 11   , further comprising: 
 means for regulating a mass flow of said amount of expansion agent withdrawn from the impregnation vessel at a mass flow rate sufficient for maximum hydration of an amount of water in the tobacco or other agricultural product.    
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for recovering additional expansion agent as in    claim 11   , further comprising: 
 means for determining an optimum depressurization mass flow for maximum hydrate formation over a range of pressures of depressurization from an initial impregnation pressure to a pressure where the expansion agent ceases to form water hydrate.    
     
     
         15 . A system for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product wherein the system includes an apparatus for recovering additional expansion agent in a process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, comprising: 
 means for withdrawing substantially all of an amount of expansion agent in the impregnation vessel near the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and    means for transmitting at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a low-pressure gas tank.    
     
     
         16 . A system for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product wherein the system includes an apparatus for recovering additional expansion agent in a process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, comprising: 
 means for withdrawing substantially all of an amount of expansion agent in the impregnation vessel at about the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and    means for compressing at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a pressure sufficient to condense the expansion agent.    
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as in    claim 13   , wherein the means for regulating comprises: 
 a flow control valve in communication with a conduit adapted for transmitting the mass flow of said amount of the expansion agent withdrawn from the impregnation vessel to the means for compressing;    a differential flow metering device in communication with the flow control valve and with the means for compressing; and    a set-point controller in communication with the flow control valve and the differential flow metering device.    
     
     
         18 . An expanded tobacco product or another product produced in accordance with a process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product wherein the process includes a method for recovering additional expansion agent, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 withdrawing substantially all of an amount of expansion agent in the impregnation vessel at about the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and    transmitting at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a low-pressure gas tank.    
     
     
         19 . An expanded tobacco product or another product produced in accordance with a process for the expansion of tobacco or another agricultural product wherein the process includes a method for recovering additional expansion agent, the process having a multi-step depressurization sequence including at least first and second depressurization steps for depressurizing an impregnation vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 withdrawing substantially all of an amount of expansion agent in the impregnation vessel at about the end of the second depressurization step during the multi-step depressurization sequence; and    compressing at least a portion of said amount of expansion agent to a pressure sufficient to condense the expansion agent.    
     
     
         20 . A method as in    claim 1   , wherein the expansion agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), ethylene (C 2 H 2 ), propylene (C 3 H 6 ), cyclo propane (C 3 H 6 ), propane (C 3 H 8 ), iso-butane (C 4 H 10 ), chlorine (Cl 2 ), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), nitrogen (N 2 ), oxygen (O 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), acetylene(C 2 H 2 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ), methyl iodide (CH 3 I), argon (A), arsine (AsH 3 ), bromine (Br 2 ), bromine chloride (Br Cl), chlorine dioxide (Cl O 2 ) hydrogen selenide (H 2  Se), krypton (Kr), methyl hydro sulfide(CH 3  HS), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), phosphine (PH 3 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ), sulfuryl chloride (SO 2  Cl 2 ), stibine (Sb H 3 ), xenon (Xe), F-11 (CCl 3  F), F-12 (CCl 2  F 2 ), F-12B1 (CCl F 2  Br), F-13B1 (CBr F 3 ), F-20 (CH Cl 3 ), F-21 (CH Cl 2  F), F-22 (CH Cl F 2 ), F-30 (CH 2 Cl   2 ), F-31 (CH 2  Cl F), F-32 (CH 2  F 2 ), F-40 (CH 3  Cl), F-40B1 (CH 3  Br), F-142b (CH 3  CCl F 2 ), F-152a (CH 3  CHF 2 ), F-12B2 (CF 2  Br 2 ), F-22B1 (CH Br F 2 ), F-41(CH 3  F), F-150a (CH 3  CH Cl 2 ), F-160 (C 2 H 5  Cl), F-160B1 (C 2 H 5  Br), F-161 (C 2 H 5  F), and F-1140 (CH 2 ═CHCl).  
     
     
         21 . A method as in    claim 3   , wherein the expansion agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), ethylene (C 2 H 2 ), propylene (C 3 H 6 ), cyclo propane (C 3 H 6 ), propane (C 3 H 8 ), iso-butane (C 4 H 10 ), chlorine (Cl 2 ), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), nitrogen (N 2 ), oxygen (O 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), acetylene(C 2 H 2 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ), methyl iodide (CH 3 I), argon (A), arsine (AsH 3 ), bromine (Br 2 ), bromine chloride (Br Cl), chlorine dioxide (Cl O 2 ), hydrogen selenide (H 2   Se), krypton (Kr), methyl hydro sulfide(CH 3 HS), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), phosphine (PH 3 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ), sulfuryl chloride (SO 2  Cl 2 ), stibine (Sb H 3 ), xenon (Xe), F-11 (CCl 3 F), F-12 (CCl 2 F 2 ), F-12B1 (CCl F 2 Br), F-13B1 (CBr F 3 ), F-20 (CH Cl 3 ), F-21 (CH Cl 2 F), F-22 (CH Cl F 2 ), F-30 (CH 2  Cl 2 ), F-31 (CH 2 Cl F), F-32 (CH 2  F 2 ), F-40 (CH 3  Cl), F-40B1 (CH 3  Br), F-142b (CH 3  CCl F 2 ), F-152a (CH 3  CHF 2 ), F-12B2 (CF 2  Br 2 ), F-22B1 (CH Br F 2 ), F-41(CH 3  F), F-150a (CH 3 CH Cl 2 ), F-160 (C 2  H 5  Cl), F-160B1 (C 2 H 5  Br), F-161 (C 2 H 5  F), and F-1140 (CH 2 ═ CHCl).  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as in    claim 9   , wherein the expansion agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), ethylene (C 2 H 2 ), propylene (C 3 H 6 ), cyclo propane (C 3 H 6 ), propane (C 3 H 8 ), iso-butane (C 4 H 10 ), chlorine (Cl 2 ), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), nitrogen (N 2 ), oxygen (O 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), acetylene(C 2 H 2 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ), methyl iodide (CH 3 I), argon (A), arsine (AsH 3 ), bromine (Br 2 ), bromine chloride (Br Cl), chlorine dioxide (Cl O 2 ), hydrogen selenide (H 2 Se), krypton (Kr), methyl hydro sulfide(CH 3 HS), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), phosphine (PH 3 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ), sulfuryl chloride (SO 2  Cl 2 ), stibine (Sb H 3 ), xenon (Xe), F-11 (CCl 3 F), F-12 (CCl 2  F 2 ), F-12B1 (CCl F 2 Br), F-13B1 (CBr F 3 ), F-20 (CH Cl 3 ), F-21 (CH Cl 2 F), F-22 (CH Cl F 2 ), F-30 (CH 2  Cl 2 ), F-31 (CH 2  Cl F), F-32 (CH 2  F 2 ), F-40 (CH 3  Cl), F-40B1 (CH 3  Br), F-142b (CH 3  CCl F 2 ), F-152a (CH 3  CHF 2 ), F-12B2 (CF 2  Br 2 ), F-22B1 (CH Br F 2 ), F-41(CH 3  F), F-150a (CH 3  CH Cl 2 ), F-160 (C 2 H 5  Cl), F-160B1 (C 2 H 5 Br), F-161 (C 2 H 5 F), and F-1140 (CH 2 ═CHCl).  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as in    claim 11   , wherein the expansion agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), ethylene (C 2 H 2 ), propylene (C 3 H 8 ), cyclo propane (C 3 H 6 ), propane (C 3 H 8 ), iso-butane (C 4 H 10 ), chlorine (Cl 2 ), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), nitrogen (N 2 ), oxygen (O 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), acetylene(C 2 H 2 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ), methyl iodide (CH 3 I), argon (A), arsine (AsH 3 ), bromine (Br 2 ), bromine chloride (Br Cl), chlorine dioxide (Cl O 2 ), hydrogen selenide (H 2 Se), krypton (Kr), methyl hydro sulfide(CH 3 HS), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), phosphine (PH 3 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ), sulfuryl chloride (SO 2 Cl 2 ), stibine (Sb H 3 ), xenon (Xe), F-11 (CCl 3 F), F-12 (CCl 2 F 2 ), F-12B1 (CCl F 2 Br), F-13B1 (CBr F 3 ), F-20 (CH Cl 3 ), F-21 (CH Cl 2 F), F-22 (CH Cl F 2 ), F-30 (CH 2  Cl 2 ), F-31 (CH 2  Cl F), F-32 (CH 2  F 2 ), F-40 (CH 3  Cl), F-40B1 (CH 3 Br), F-142b (CH 3  CCl F 2 ), F-152a (CH 3  CHF 2 ), F-12B2 (CF 2  Br 2 ), F-22B1 (CH Br F 2 ), F-41(CH 3  F), F-150a (CH 3 CH Cl 2 ), F-160 (C 2  H 5  Cl), F-160B1 (C 2  H 5  Br), F-161 (C 2 H 5 F), and F-1140 (CH 2 ═CHCl).  
     
     
         24 . A method as in    claim 6   , wherein the step of determining an optimum depressurization mass flowrate comprises the following sub-steps: 
 (a) setting the mass flowrate of the expansion agent at a selected mass flowrate;    (b) determining an amount of expanding agent present in an impregnated product at about the end of an impregnation cycle;    (c) adjusting by an incremental amount the mass flowrate of the expansion agent; and    (d) repeating sub-steps (b), (c) and (d) until a maximum amount of expanding agent is determined to be present in the impregnated product.