Device for an electrical processing of a fatty substance of plant origin

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for electrically processing a fatty substance of plant origin, comprising a series of electrodes (1 and 2) and an enclosure (4), said device being characterised in that the enclosure (4) is provided with at least one electrical connector (5) placed on the outer surface (40) of the enclosure (4), a series of electrical connections for connecting each electrode of said series of electrodes to said electrical connector (5), with the current flow distances of the electrical connections being equal in relation to each other, and a first inlet (6) and a first outlet (7) for the fatty substance, and in that said device comprises a filter (12) having an inlet (13) in fluidic connection with said first fatty-substance outlet (7) of the enclosure (4) and an output (14) in fluidic connection with said first fatty-substance inlet (6) of the enclosure (4).

Claims

1. A device for the electrical processing of a fatty substance of plant origin comprising: a series of electrodes comprising a number n of electrodes (1 and 2), where n≥5, substantially parallel, each electrode being arranged to be connected to a high-voltage source and/or a ground, a series of dielectric material elements (3) separating the electrodes (1 or 2) of the series of electrodes, an enclosure (4) arranged to receive said fatty substance, and surrounding said series of electrodes (1 and 2) and said series of dielectric material elements (3), an engine (25) or a circulation pump (18) adapted to drive a submission of said series of electrodes (1 and 2) and said series of dielectric material elements (3) in the fatty substance contained in the enclosure for a formation of a film of oil on a surface of said series of electrodes (1 and 2) and said series of dielectric material elements (3), wherein the device further comprises: at least one electrical connector (5), said connector (5) being configured to be connected to the high-voltage source (11) a series of electrical connections comprising n electrical connections so as to connect each electrode of said series of electrodes to said electrical connector (5), each electrical connection having a predetermined current flow distance, the current flow distances of the electrical connections being equal to one another.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one electrical connector (5) is placed on the outer surface (40) of the enclosure (4).

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the high-voltage source (11) is directly connected to said electrical connector (5).

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the series of dielectric material elements (3) comprises n+1 dielectric material elements substantially parallel to said electrodes (1 and 2) and placed on either side of each electrode (1 or 2) of the series of electrodes so that each electrode (1 or 2) is found between two dielectric material elements (3).

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said engine is connected to a rotating shaft (10) which is attached to said electrodes (1 and 2) and to said dielectric material elements (3).

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a rotating electrical connector (26) to ensure the supply of the high-voltage source at low voltage, said rotating electrical connector (26) being placed on the rotating shaft (10) and having a first part attached to the rotating shaft (10) arranged to be in electrical connection with the high-voltage source (11) and a second part independent from the rotating shaft (10) arranged to be in electrical connection with a low-voltage source.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said engine is connected to a rotating shaft (10) attached to the enclosure (4).

8. The device according to claim 5, further comprising, in the enclosure (4), a disc (27) fixed to the rotating shaft (10) and arranged to be rotated by said shaft (10), and provided with a series of blades (28) peripherally positioned on said disc (27), each of said blades (28) having a longitudinal axis (L) parallel to an axis of rotation of said disc (27), said disc (27) having a common axis of rotation (R) with said electrodes (1 and 2) and with said dielectric material elements (3) so that said blades (28) surround said electrodes (1 and 2) and said dielectric material elements (3).

9. The device for the electrical processing of a fatty substance of plant origin comprising: a series of electrodes comprising a number n of electrodes (1 and 2), where n≥2, substantially parallel, each electrode being arranged to be connected to a high-voltage source and/or a ground, a series of dielectric material elements (3) separating the electrodes (1 or 2) of the series of electrodes, an enclosure (4) arranged to receive said fatty substance, and surrounding said series of electrodes (1 and 2) and said series of dielectric material elements (3), a circulation pump (18) adapted to drive a submission of said series of electrodes (1 and 2) and said series of dielectric material elements (3) in the fatty substance contained in the enclosure for a formation of a film of oil on a surface of of said series of electrodes (1 and 2) and said series of dielectric material elements (3), wherein the enclosure (4) is further provided with: a first inlet (6) for the fatty substance and a first outlet (7) for the fatty substance, and a second inlet (8) for a first gas and a second outlet (9) for a second gas, wherein the circulation pump (18) having a first inlet (19) and a first outlet (20), said circulation pump (18) being arranged to circulate said fatty substance between said first outlet (7) and said first inlet (6) of the enclosure (4), wherein said first outlet is situated in a lower part of the enclosure, and said first inlet, situated in an upper part of the enclosure, wherein the circulation of the fatty substance outside the enclosure and its return via the first inlet allows said fatty substance to be distributed over the upper part of the electrodes and the dielectric elements.

10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising channels (32) in the upper part of the enclosure (4) for discharging the fatty substance to the electrodes and the dielectric material elements.

11. The device according to claim 10, further comprising a sieve (33) between the channels (32) and the electrodes and dielectric material elements.

12. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a filter (12) having an inlet (13) in fluidic connection with said first outlet (7) of the enclosure (4) and an outlet (14) in fluidic connection with said first inlet (6) of the enclosure (4), wherein the circulation pump is arranged to circulate said fatty substance between said first outlet (7) and said first inlet (6) of the enclosure (4) via the filter.

13. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a viscometer (15) having a first inlet (16) arranged to be in fluidic connection with said first outlet (7) of the enclosure (4) and a first outlet (17) arranged to be in fluidic connection with said inlet (13) of the filter (12), said viscometer (15) being arranged to measure the viscosity of said fatty substance between said enclosure (4) and said filter (12).

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein said enclosure (4) also has at least one inclined surface for guiding the fatty substance towards said first outlet (7) of the enclosure (4).

15. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a pressure gauge placed in the enclosure (4) and arranged to measure the gas pressure in the enclosure (4).

16. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a controller arranged to be connected to said pressure gauge and connected to a flowmeter, said controller being arranged to control the flowmeter, said flowmeter being arranged to be in fluidic connection with said second inlet (8) for a first gas of the enclosure (4) to measure the quantity of said gas injected into the enclosure (4) via said second inlet (8) for a first gas of the enclosure (4).

17. The device according to claim 9, further having an electrical heating system placed around the enclosure (4) to heat said enclosure (4) containing said fatty substance.

18. The device according to claim 9, wherein said enclosure (4) has a removal valve arranged to extract said fatty substance from the enclosure (4).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become clear from the description given below, in a non-limiting manner and referring to the appended drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a detail of the device according to the invention, whose enclosure has a circular section.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a particular embodiment of the device according to the present invention when viewed from above.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the enclosure of the device according to the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the electrical connections shown in FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of a detail of the device for the electrical processing of a fatty substance of plant origin whose enclosure has a rectangular section.

(8) FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the electrical connections shown in FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

(10) In the figures, the identical or similar elements bear the same references.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(11) FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention in which a cross section of a cylindrical enclosure 4 capable of receiving a fatty substance can be seen. This enclosure 4 contains a series of electrodes wherein the first electrodes 1 are connected to the high-voltage source and the second electrodes 2 are grounded. The first 1 and second 2 electrodes are placed in alternation with each other. A first electrode 1 thus faces a second electrode 2, and so on so that two electrodes of the same type are not in sequence. Dielectric materials 3 are placed on each side of each of the electrodes 1 and 2 so that an electrode 1 or 2 is between two dielectric materials 3. In FIG. 1, said first 1 and said second 2 electrodes are metal discs having a diameter ranging between 10 and 30 cm and a thickness ranging between 1 and 3 mm. In FIG. 1, said dielectric material elements 3 are also discs having a common axis of rotation R with said first 1 and said second 2 electrodes and having a diameter ranging between 12 and 32 cm and a thickness ranging between 1 and 6 mm. Furthermore, the dielectric material elements 3 are preferably glass, Pyrex or rigid polymer.

(12) The device according to the present invention is further characterised by the presence of an electrical connector 5 placed on the outer surface 40 of the enclosure 4, the electrical connector 5 being connected to the electrodes 1 by the electrical connections. The number of electrical connections is equal to the number of firsts 1 so that each of the first electrodes is connected by an electrical connection to the electrical connector 5. The current flow distances of the electrical connections are equal to one another in order to minimise the energy losses.

(13) FIG. 5 is a detail allowing the current cover distances which are identical for all the first electrodes 1 to be schematically illustrated. In fact, in FIG. 5 it can be observed that the electrical connections A, B, C and D of each first electrode are implemented in such a way that the current cover distance is identical for each electrode. The first electrode 1 situated furthest from the electrical connector 5 is thus connected to electrical connection A of identical length to electrical connection D of the first electrode 1, the closest to the electrical connector 5. In this way, the energy losses are limited and identical to each first electrode 1 and the current applied to this first electrode 1 is more stable and more homogeneous.

(14) The enclosure 4 also comprises a first fatty substance inlet 6 connected to a supply pipe 6a and a first fatty substance outlet 7 connected to an outlet pipe 7a. The fatty substance is thus supplied via the supply pipe 6a, through the first fatty material inlet and placed in the enclosure until it reaches a volume of approximately ⅓ to ½ of the volume of the enclosure.

(15) In FIGS. 1 and 2, a second electrical connector 24 is present on the outer surface 40 of the enclosure 4 to connect the two electrodes 2 serving as ground electrodes. In this way, the first electrodes 1 are connected to the high-voltage source 11 and are thus supplied by current while the second electrodes are grounded and serve as ground electrodes.

(16) FIG. 2 is a view from above of the device according to the present invention. This figure shows a high-voltage source 11 arranged to be connected to the connector 5 present on the outer surface 40 of the enclosure 4. The high-voltage source 11 is thus connected to the first electrodes 1 by means of the connector 5 placed on the enclosure and the electrical connections.

(17) The device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an immersion device for the series of electrodes 1 and 2 and the series of dielectric material elements 3 comprising a rotating shaft 10 passing through an axis of rotation R of said first 1 and second 2 electrodes, through an axis of rotation R of said dielectric material elements and through an axis of rotation R of the enclosure 4. In this embodiment, the axes of rotation of the electrodes 1 and 2, the dielectric material elements 3 and the enclosure 4 coincide to form a unique and common axis of rotation R. This results in the electrodes 1 and 2 and the dielectric material elements 3 being placed on the rotating shaft 10 in the enclosure 4. The enclosure and/or the electrodes 1 and 2 and the dielectric materials 3 are attached to the rotating shaft 10 and may thus rotate when the shaft is driven by an engine 25. The rotating shaft of the device thus allows the enclosure 4, or the series of electrodes 1 and 2 and the series of dielectric material elements 3 or the enclosure 4, the series of electrodes 1 and 2 and the series of dielectric material elements 3 to be rotated. This means that the enclosure 4 may be rotated while keeping the electrodes 1 and 2 and the dielectric material elements 3 fixed or inversely the electrodes 1 and 2 and the dielectric material elements 3 may be rotated while keeping the enclosure 4 fixed. The rotation, preferably at a rotating speed ranging between 1 and 10 rpm, of the enclosure 4 and/or the elements it contains allows a film of fatty substance to be formed on the electrodes 1 and 2 and on the dielectric material elements 3 in order to be able to process said fatty substance using the plasma created between said first 1 and said second 2 electrodes.

(18) The rotating shaft 10 may be driven to rotate by an engine 25. In this way, when the enclosure 4, the electrodes 1 and 2 and the dielectric materials 3 are attached to the rotating shaft 10, the rotational movement forms a homogeneous film of oil on the surface of the electrodes 1 and 2 and the dielectric material elements 3. In fact, gravitationally, the oil stays in the lower part of the enclosure 4 while the electrodes turn in a continuous way around the axis of rotation R. In this way, the submerged part of the electrodes thus finds itself out of the oil while the part which was not in the oil is submerged, and so on in order to form a homogeneous film of oil on the surface of the electrodes and the dielectric material elements. This film is kept on the surface of the electrodes and the dielectric material elements by the surface tension connected to the specific viscosity of the processed oil.

(19) Preferably, the enclosure 4 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 further contains a disc 27 fixed to the rotating shaft 10 and provided with a series of blades 28 positioned peripherally on the disc 27 and each of said blades 28 has a longitudinal axis L parallel to an axis of rotation of the disc 27. The disc 27 has a common axis of rotation R with the first 1 second 2 electrodes and with the dielectric material elements 3 in such a way that the blades 28 surround the electrodes 1 and 2 and the dielectric material elements 3.

(20) When they are rotated, thanks to the rotating shaft 10, the blades 28 are immersed in, and then leave, the oil. By this rotational movement, the blades bring the oil removed to the lower part of the enclosure 4 in front of the electrodes 1 and 2 and the dielectric material elements 3 in order to improve the formation of the film of oil on the surface of the electrodes 1 and 2 the dielectric material elements 3.

(21) As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, advantageously, the high-voltage source 11 is directly connected to the electrical connector 5. The electrical losses are thus further limited as the distance covered by the high voltage is minimised, which ensures control of the quantity of current applied to the first electrodes 1.

(22) As presented in FIG. 2, the device also additionally has a rotating electrical connector 26 to ensure the supply of the high-voltage source at low voltage (not shown in the figure), said rotating connector 26 being placed on the rotating shaft 10 and having a first part attached to the rotating shaft 10 arranged to be in electrical connection with the high-voltage source 11 and a second part independent from the rotating shaft 10 arranged to be in electrical connection with a low-voltage source.

(23) Preferably, the enclosure 4 is a cylindrical metal enclosure, for example made of stainless steel. The enclosure 4 is also provided with windows 29 made of a transparent material allowing the interior of the enclosure to be observed.

(24) In FIG. 3, the first 1 and second 2 electrodes as well as the dielectric material elements 3 are, for reasons of simplicity, shown as a block 21 in the enclosure 4. FIG. 3 shows a filter 12, for example a metal filter, having a first inlet 13 in fluid connection with the first outlet 7 of the enclosure 4 by means of the pipe 7a and a first outlet 14 in fluid connection with the first inlet 6 of the enclosure 4 means of the pipe 6a. The liquid is pumped through the pipe 22, exits the enclosure via the outlet 7 and is supplied to the inlet 13 of the filter 12 through the pipe 7a. The liquid then passes through the filter 12 and comes out again through the outlet 14 to arrive in the pipe 6a before returning to the enclosure 4 via the inlet 6. The circulation of the oil through the meshes of the filter 12 allows the aggregates or agglomerates formed during the processing in the enclosure 4 to be eliminated. The meshes of the filter 12 preferably range between 0.5 mm and 1 mm. The oil is then brought back into the enclosure 4 via a pipe 23 in fluid connection with the first inlet 6 of the enclosure 4.

(25) A viscometer 15 may be placed between the enclosure 4 and the metal filter 12. This viscometer has a first inlet 16 arranged to be in fluid connection with said first outlet 7 via said outlet pipe 7a of the enclosure 4 and a first outlet 17 in fluid connection with said inlet 13 of the filter 12, said viscometer 15 being arranged to measure the viscosity of said fatty substance between.

(26) Advantageously, a circulation pump 18 is present between the enclosure 4 and the viscometer 15. This circulation pump 18 has a first inlet 19 in fluid connection with the first outlet 7 of the enclosure 4 via the outlet pipe 7a and a first outlet 20 in fluid connection with the first inlet 16 of the viscometer 15. The circulation pump 18 is arranged to circulate said fatty substance between the first outlet 7 and the first inlet 6 of the enclosure 4.

(27) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the interior of the enclosure 4 in which the dielectric materials 3 can be seen. The enclosure 4 also has a second inlet 8 connected to a supply pipe 8a for a first gas and second outlet 9 connected to an outlet pipe 9a for a second gas. The second outlet 9 allows the air contained in the enclosure 4 to be extracted via the outlet pipe 9a when the enclosure 4 contains oil and is closed in preparation for the electrical processing. The air contained in the enclosure 4 is then extracted by means of a pumping system (not shown in the figures) in order to create depressurisation, for example in the order of 10.sup.−2 mbar. Preferably, the pumping system used is a vane pump, for example, of the brand Trivac E2. Once the depressurisation is observed in the enclosure 4, an inert gas, preferably hydrogen, is injected via the second inlet 8 via the supply pipe 8a of the enclosure 4 until a pressure lower than 100 kPa, preferably lower than 65 kPa, is reached in the enclosure 4.

(28) FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the device according to the present invention wherein the enclosure 4 has a rectangular transverse section. The enclosure 4 contains a series of electrodes 1 and 2 in the form of rectangular metal plates. In this embodiment of the device, the two electrical connectors 5 and 24 placed on the outer surface 40 of the enclosure 4 are connected to the high-voltage source (not shown). The electrical connector 5 is connected via electrical connections to the first electrodes 1 and the electrical connector 24 is connected by means of electrical connections to the second electrodes 2. The first 1 and second 2 are arranged in alternation. The current applied to the electrodes is an alternating current, which means that when the first electrodes 1 are supplied with the current, the second electrodes serve as ground electrodes, and inversely when the current changes direction. Dielectric material elements in the form of rectangular plates are placed on either side of each electrode 1 and 2.

(29) The enclosure 4 also comprises a first fatty substance inlet 6 connected to a supply pipe 6a and a first fatty substance outlet 7 connected to an outlet pipe 7a. The fatty substance is thus supplied via the supply pipe 6a, through the first vegetable material inlet and placed in the enclosure until it reaches a volume of approximately ⅓ to ½ of the volume of the enclosure.

(30) Advantageously, the first fatty substance inlet 6 is situated in an upper part of the enclosure and said fatty substance outlet 7 is situated in a lower part of the enclosure 4.

(31) When the oil is supplied into the enclosure 4 through the first inlet 6, the oil is discharged by means of channels 32 in the upper part of the enclosure 4 to the electrodes 1 and 2 and to the dielectric material elements 3 thus allowing the formation of a film of oil thereon to be improved. This distribution of oil to the electrodes 1 and 2 and to the dielectric materials 3 allows the effectiveness of the oil processing to be further improved. Preferably, a sieve 33 is present between the channels 32 and the series of electrodes 1 and 2 and the series of dielectric material elements 3. Thanks to gravity, the oil is then naturally supplied to the fatty substance outlet 7.

(32) The enclosure 4 further comprises a second inlet 8 (not shown) for a first gas allowing the injection of a gas into the enclosure 4.

(33) Preferably, the enclosure 4 has an inclined surface 29 for guiding the oil towards the first fatty substance outlet 7. This inclined surface 29 allows the supply of oil to the first fatty substance outlet 7 to be further improved.

(34) FIG. 7 illustrates, as in FIG. 5, the electrical connections between the electrical connector 5 and the first electrodes 1. It can be appreciated in FIG. 7 that the current flow distances A, B, C and D are all identical in length. The distance covered by the current from the electrical connector 5 is thus identical for each first electrode 1. These connections allowing an identical current flow distance are equally valid for the second electrodes 2.

(35) FIG. 8 shows the same elements as FIG. 3. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, it can be seen that the oil is removed from the lower part of the enclosure 4 through the first fatty substance outlet 7 and, after having circulated through the filter 12, is supplied into the upper part of the enclosure 4. The oil thus arrives in the channels 32, passes through the sieve 33, divides and forms a film on the electrodes 1 and 2 and the dielectric material elements 3. The oil thus finds itself in the lower part of the enclosure 4 where it is guided, thanks to the guiding surface 29, towards the first fatty substance outlet 7 where it may start another external circulation through the filter, and so on throughout the oil processing time.

(36) Advantageously, an electrical heating system (not shown) is placed around the enclosure 4 to heat said enclosure 4 containing said fatty substance. In this way, the temperature of the fatty substance contained in the enclosure 4 may be regulated and kept constant.

(37) In another embodiment, the enclosure 4 has a removal valve (not shown) arranged to extract said fatty substance from the enclosure 4.

(38) A pressure gauge (not shown) may be placed in the enclosure 4 to measure the gas pressure in the enclosure 4. The injection of the gas through the supply pipe 8a is advantageously controlled thanks to a mass flowmeter (not shown) of MKS-type calibrated for hydrogen with a high scale of 1,000 sccm (standard cubic centimetres per minute), not shown in the figures.

(39) The device may also comprise a controller (not shown) arranged to be connected to said pressure gauge and connected to the flowmeter. The controller is arranged to control the flowmeter and the flowmeter is in turn arranged to be in fluid connection with the supply pipe 8a for a first gas of the enclosure 4 via the second inlet 8. The flowmeter thus allows the quantity of said gas injected into the enclosure 4 by the second inlet 8 via the inlet pipe 8a of the enclosure 4 to be controlled.

EXAMPLES

(40) The device according to the present invention has been implemented to process different oils of plant origin. This device comprises a circular enclosure containing a plurality of electrodes connected to a high-voltage source and a plurality of ground electrodes connected to ground. These electrodes are aluminium discs with a diameter of 25 cm and a thickness of 2 mm. The dielectric material elements placed on either side of the electrodes are Pyrex discs with a diameter of 28 cm and a thickness of 5 mm.

(41) 2 litres of oil are placed in the enclosure and this is depressurised until it reaches a vacuum of 10.sup.−2 mbar. Hydrogen is then introduced into the enclosure to reach a pressure of 180 Torr.

(42) The enclosure is rotated around a rotating shaft at a speed of 5 rpm.

(43) A voltage of 2,900V is applied to the electrodes, which corresponds to a shock current of 2.5 A, and a frequency of 35 kHz or 66 kHz is used, as specified in the following examples.

(44) The filtration of the oil is carried out throughout the period of processing oil using plasma by means of a circulation pump of corma BMF5-type working at 1,400 rpm, which allows the oil to be carried out of the enclosure. The oil is then filtered through a metal filter having 0.8 mm meshes.

(45) The oils obtained after this treatment were analysed in order to determine their physicochemical properties, particularly the dynamic viscosity, thixotropy and relaxation time.

(46) The dynamic viscosity is measured using an Anton Paar viscometer provided with a cone-plate system, CP50-0.5, according to the ISO 2884-1 standard (Determination of the viscosity by means of rotating viscometers). The measurements are obtained under shearing stress from 0 to 500 s.sup.−1 by taking 1 point every second, holding for 1 minute at 500 s.sup.−1 and finally 500 to 0 s.sup.−1 by taking 1 point every second at a temperature of 40° C.

(47) Thixotropy is a measurement of the variation of the viscosity when the oil is subjected to a stress. It is a physical property of a fluid whose viscosity varies over time when the fluid is subjected to constant stress (or velocity gradient). Thixotropy is a physical phenomenon which results from the lack of immediacy of the processes for destroying and rebuilding of the microscopic structure by stirring and leaving a substance such as oil. Thixotropic behaviour is defined as a behaviour depending on time and is correctly determined when the decomposition and regeneration of the substance tested under constant shearing stress are considered. According to the present invention, the thixotropy of the vegetable oil was measured during a test carried out under constant shearing stress of 1,000 s−1 at a temperature of 40° C. using an Anton Paar viscometer provided with a cone-plate system, CP50-0.5.

(48) According to the present invention, the thixotropy of the oil shows the variation of the viscosity between the initial state and the unstructured state of the oil.

(49) The relaxation time corresponds to the time necessary for the lubricating substance, which has viscoelastic properties, to return to its initial state when it is subjected to a shearing stress. A stress is applied to a sample of lubricating vegetable oil and the resulting response to this stress is monitored over time.

(50) According to the present invention, the relaxation time of the vegetable oil has been measured in an Anton Paar viscometer provided with a cone-plate system (CP50-0.5) by applying a constant shearing speed of 1,000 s−1 at a temperature of 40° C. to the vegetable oil.

(51) The iodine value of a lipid is the diode masse (I.sub.2) capable of binding the non-saturations of the triglycerides contained in 100 grams of fatty material.

(52) According to the present invention, the iodine value was measured by the Wijs method which consists of making a known excess of iodine monochloride (ICI) react to the fatty substance to be analysed, i.e. the vegetable oil. The iodine monochloride binds to the double bonds of the analysed sample and the excess reagent remaining in the solution. Potassium iodide is then added excessively to that solution, thus causing the return of the excess cation, I+, in molecular state I2. The diode may be dosed by a solution of known molar concentration of sodium thiosulphate, in the presence of starch solution.

(53) The molar mass is expressed in terms of polystyrene, as determined by steric exclusion chromatography (Agilent) functioning at a rate of 1 mL.Math.min.sup.−1 at a temperature of 30° C. The samples is solubilised in chloroform at 1 mg.Math.mL.sup.−1 and are fractionated by passage through two PL GEL MIX-D 10 columns. The columns were previously calibrated by using low dispersity polystyrenes of molar mass ranging between 500 and 106 g.Math.mol.sup.−1. The detection is performed by a refractive index detector (Agilent DRI).

Example 1

(54) The processing described above was implemented at a frequency of 66 kHz on a rapeseed oil by the AVENO brand and repeated for different predetermined processing times in order to obtain processed vegetable oils, also known as lubricants of different physicochemical properties. These vegetable oils obtained after different processing times have a visually homogeneous structure, without aggregates or agglomerates. These oils have been analysed and have the features listed in Table 1.

(55) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Non- saturations- Disappearance Processing iodine of double Mw Viscosity Thixotropy Relaxation time (min) value bond (%) (g/mol) (mPa s) (mPa s) time (s)   0 114 0  1580  45 — —  460 99.9 11.6  2290  68 — —  925 90.3 17.7  2940  128 — — 1315 82.8 26.8  6160  374  110 105 1955 80.2 29.1 16260 1520  651 180 2065 75.6 33.1 48000 2650 1100 187

Example 2

(56) The processing described above was implemented at a frequency of 35 kHz on a rapeseed oil by the AVENO brand and repeated for different predetermined processing times in order to obtain processed vegetable oils, also known as lubricants of different physicochemical properties. These vegetable oils obtained after different processing times have a visually homogeneous structure, without aggregates or agglomerates. These oils have been analysed and have the features listed in Table 2.

(57) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Non- saturations- Disappearance Processing iodine of double Mw Viscosity Thixotropy Relaxation time (min) value bond (%) (g/mol) (mPa s) (mPa s) time (s) 0.0 113.0 0.0 1580.0 45.0 — — 800.00 104.6 17.0 2800.0 57.0 — — 1220.0 87.1 9.7 3610.0 88.0 — — 1810.0 88.5 20.9 5590.0 207.0 35.0 <10 2410.0 74.9 19.6 20880.0 588.0 154.0 <10 2540.0 77.9 27.8 21440.0 865.0 248.0 <10 2628.0 77.9 25.3 24900.0 1150.0 301.0 <10 2780.0 78.2 26.9 44700.0 2300.0 590.0 <10

Example 3

(58) The processing described above was implemented at a frequency of 66 kHz on a flaxseed oil by the AVENO brand and repeated for different predetermined processing times in order to obtain processed vegetable oils, also known as lubricants of different physicochemical properties. These vegetable oils obtained after different processing times have a visually homogeneous structure, without aggregates or agglomerates. These oils have been analysed and have the features listed in Table 3.

(59) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Non- saturations- Disappearance Processing iodine of double Mw Viscosity Thixotropy Relaxation time (min) value bond (%) (g/mol) (mPa s) (mPa s) time (s)   0 177.4 0  1800  40  0  0  560 147.3 17  3070  150  0  0 1160 128.9 27.4 13580  392 113 173 1255 133.3 24.9 18720  650 265 171 1315 130.4 26.5 19220 1260 500 170

Example 4

(60) The processing described above was implemented at a frequency of 35 kHz on a flaxseed oil by the AVENO brand and repeated for different predetermined processing times in order to obtain processed vegetable oils, also known as lubricants of different physicochemical properties. These vegetable oils obtained after different processing times have a visually homogeneous structure, without aggregates or agglomerates. These oils have been analysed and have the features listed in Table 4.

(61) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Non- saturations- Disappearance Processing iodine of double Mw Viscosity Thixotropy Relaxation time (min) value bond (%) (g/mol) (mPa s) (mPa s) time (s) 0.0 — 0.0 1800.0 40.0 0.0 0.0 430.0 147.3 9.7 2260.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 980.0 160.3 20.9 3380.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 1490.0 140.4 19.6 9780.0 250.0 94.0 <10 1730.0 142.7 27.8 19730.0 750.0 210.0 <10 1820.0 132.6 25.3 26260.0 1520.0 615.0 <10

(62) In general, particularly based on the results given in these examples, it is observed that, when the processing time of the oil increases, the number of non-saturations, initially present in the oil before the processing, decreases. The molar mass, Mw, as well as the viscosity, increase when the processing time increases.

(63) These examples also highlight that the device according to the present invention allows the production of a vegetable oil processed using plasma whose relaxation time is less than 200 s. The values of relaxation time less than 200 s and reproducible from one processing to another are a good indication of the improved viscoelastic properties of the lubricating vegetable oil obtained thanks to the device according to the present invention. A short relaxation time has the advantage of allowing the oil to return to its initial state when it is subjected to a stress, for example when it is used in an engine. Furthermore, this oil has a thixotropy of between 5% and 30% viscosity. It can thus be concluded that the device according to the present invention allows a vegetable oil, lubricating, to be obtained, having an improved and controlled viscosity all while having adequate and controlled viscoelastic and thixotropic properties.

(64) In fact, it can be seen in the examples given above that the device according to the present invention allows the processing of vegetable oils of different origins, particularly those from rapeseed or flaxseed, to be carried out. As shown by the examples, it is possible to control particularly the viscosity of the oil obtained after the processing by adjusting the processing time all while maintaining a thixotropy of lower than 30% of the viscosity and a relaxation time of less than 200 s. It is, therefore, possible to produce processed vegetable oils in a wide range of viscosities all while controlling the physicochemical properties of these oils thanks to the device according to the present invention.

(65) It is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above and that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.