JUSTIFICATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LABORATORY INSTALLATION OF THE PULSE HOMOGENIZER

Abstract

Homogenization is a technological process that makes it possible to obtain a homogeneous mixture from ingredients that normally do not mix. It is used in agriculture, chemical, processing, pharmaceutical, and cosmetology industries. However, it was most widely distributed in the food industry. It is used to process products in a liquid and pasty state, which are very poorly mixed with each other (egg melanges, sauces, "milk base - vegetable fat" mixtures, etc.). Thanks to this, the finished product acquires uniformity and does not delaminate during long-term storage and transportation. The equipment used for homogenization is called a homogenizer. Since the most common type of equipment used for this process is characterized by its high energy costs for the process, the issue of research and development of energy-efficient technological equipment for homogenization, which will allow obtaining high-quality products at significantly lower costs for the process, remains relevant. Previous theoretical research allowed us to establish that a pulse-type homogenizer can obtain a final product with a high degree of dispersion and at the same time low energy consumption for the process. In order to check the performance of this type of technological equipment and conduct experimental research, a laboratory installation of a pulse homogenizer should be created. In this article, the expediency of manufacturing a laboratory sample of a pulse homogenizer was substantiated, the principle of operation of the equipment was described, and the method of calculating the main structural parameters of a laboratory unit of a pulse homogenizer was given. As a result of the calculation, it was established that the productivity of the installation is 1800 kg/h, the maximum pressure value is 1.5 MPa, and the power of the homogenizer is 2 kW. In addition, the drawings of the pulse homogenizer laboratory installation and the main requirements for materials in its production are given.