DE102015218427B3 - Apparatus and method for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave, comprising a heat exchanger (2) and a gas flow generator (3) arranged on the heat exchanger (2). The invention is characterized in that it comprises a temperature sensor (13) for determining the temperature of a process fluid to be cooled and / or a temperature sensor (14) for determining the temperature of a cooled process fluid.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave according to the preamble of claim 1, an autoclave equipped with such a device according to the preamble of claim 11 and a method for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave using such a device according to the preamble of Claim 14.

Autoclave systems are known in the prior art that function without a heat exchanger upstream of a vacuum pump. However, these vacuum pumps are primarily water jet or water ring pumps. Because such pumps work well even with a condensate entry. However, such vacuum pumps have a high consumption of cooling water, which is why their use in the field of small stabilizers is declining sharply.

In autoclave systems with diaphragm or piston pumps as vacuum pumps or with a Venturi nozzle for generating a negative pressure, a heat exchanger is regularly connected upstream of the corresponding vacuum pump in order to reduce the risk of introducing a process fluid with too high a temperature (such as steam) or a condensate entry into the vacuum pump to reduce. The heat exchangers are often designed as air-cooled coil coil cooler, which have, for example, copper tubes. In this case, slats may be provided on or at the tubes to achieve a better heat transfer.

From the DE 44 45 054 C3 For example, a steam sterilizer with a condenser between a pressure vessel and a vacuum pump is known. The vacuum pump and the condenser should be anhydrous operated or anhydrous. The condenser is equipped with a condensate collector located below the condenser.

From the EP 1 064 954 B1 a steam sterilizer is known which comprises a means for emptying condensate by overpressure from a condenser and / or a condensate collection vessel.

From the EP 0 937 456 A1 For example, a steam sterilizer and a condensate discharge method are known. In this case, condensate to be discharged is passed through a separate line, wherein a connection between a condenser and a vacuum pump is not established until a pressure is reached which is less than the sterilization pressure.

From the EP 1 424 084 B1 For example, a steam sterilizer and a condensate discharge method are known in which a condensate flow and a volumetric flow are combined and conducted together via a condenser.

From the EP 0 992 247 A1 is an autoclave with a chamber, a steam generator, a condenser and a vacuum pump known. A condensate from the chamber is circulated so that the steam generator does not have to be constantly supplied with fresh feed water.

From the EP 1 600 171 A2 is a designed as a heat sink condenser known which is designed to be particularly effective in the context of the previously discussed patent application explained circuit of the condensate.

From the EP 1 273 311 A1 is an autoclave with a steam generator, a steam reservoir and a condensate collection known, which is located above the steam generator. Further, a check valve between the condensate collecting tank and the steam generator is provided.

From the EP 1 273 310 A1 An autoclave is known in which a precipitation vessel is provided between a condenser and a vacuum pump, which empties by gravity. The system is kept tight by a check valve during operation of the vacuum pump.

In all of these known from the prior art autoclave or autoclave systems, the leadership of the fluids to be cooled is not oriented to the air flow of a fan used for cooling. For example, in the case of coiled tube coolers, a single tube is passed through the condenser in numerous turns and is surrounded by the airflow of the fan. In this case, the air flow having a certain temperature is incident both on pipe regions through which hot fluid to be cooled is passed and on pipe regions through which already somewhat cooled fluid is passed, which is to be cooled further. Consequently, there are different temperature differences between the cooling air flow and the fluid to be cooled, whereby the cooling air flow can be used only very inefficiently.

In known from the prior art register coolers the fluid to be cooled is passed through a plurality of individual cooling coil from one side of a heat exchanger to the other side of the heat exchanger and thereby cooled by an air flow. Also in this case, an extremely unequal temperature difference arises in the heat exchanger used.

Some of the autoclaves or systems discussed above operate with special condensate removal equipment. Such devices cause costs and require space. It would therefore be desirable to avoid such devices.

In principle, with the solutions known from the prior art, a large part of the resulting condensate can be kept away from a vacuum pump. Nevertheless, the vacuum pump is subjected to a considerable load by process temperatures and process fluids.

In the systems known from the prior art, it is particularly disadvantageous that the concrete process conditions under which a cooling of a process fluid has to take place are disregarded.

The present invention has for its object to provide a condenser for a process fluid of an autoclave, which makes it possible to protect a vacuum pump better than known from the prior art from condensate, without having to use an additional means for condensate separation.

This object is achieved by a device for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave having the features of claim 1. Such a device has a heat exchanger and a gas flow generator arranged on the heat exchanger. Typically, the gas flow generator is located on an outer side of the heat exchanger.

The apparatus further comprises a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of a process fluid to be cooled and / or a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of a cooled process fluid. Such a temperature sensor makes it possible to obtain concrete information about the thermal state of the process fluid to be cooled, which are at most estimated or not taken into account in the solutions known from the prior art. With such information can then adjust the cooling capacity of the cooling device in an optimal manner to the respective requirements for cooling the process fluid.

The temperature sensor can in principle be any device for measuring the temperature. For example, with such a temperature sensor, it may be possible to measure the heat radiation emanating from the process fluid to be cooled or the cooled process fluid.

The temperature sensor for determining the temperature of a process fluid to be cooled can be arranged, for example, on or in a fluid inflow region. The temperature sensor for determining the temperature of a cooled process fluid can be arranged, for example, on or in a fluid outlet. It is possible to arrange a temperature sensor or both temperature sensors in a media collection device. Furthermore, it is possible to provide more than one temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the process fluid to be cooled and / or more than one temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the cooled process fluid. The individual temperature sensors can be arranged in different areas of the device or the heat exchanger. In this way it is particularly easy to determine the extent to which cooling can be accomplished within a certain area of the device.

In particular, by measuring the temperature of the cooled process fluid leaving the device, a significant increase in the process reliability of the entire autoclave process can be achieved. Because in this way it can be ensured that only process fluids are transported with a temperature below a predefined threshold, such as the vacuum pump or a septic tank or (for example, by a building-side wastewater installation) in the sewer network.

A measurement of the temperature of the cooled process fluid emerging from the device also aims at the determination of an objective measured variable. Thereby, a safe output temperature of the exiting from a corresponding capacitor fluids are defined, regardless of environmental influences such as the cooling air temperature, the cooling air humidity and the state of the heat exchanger (for example, with respect to pollution, dusting and / or calcification).

In a variant, the temperature sensor is a PT1000 sensor which has a particularly suitable temperature characteristic and accuracy for the claimed solution according to the invention.

In a variant, the device has a control device. This control device serves to control the inflow of process fluid to be cooled into the heat exchanger and / or the outflow of cooled process fluid from the heat exchanger as a function of the temperature value determined by the temperature sensor or the temperature values determined by the temperature sensors. In other words, can be done a control of the media flow to the heat exchanger. Thus, the further influx of hot medium can be stopped as a function of the temperature at the inlet or at the outlet of the heat exchanger. This is associated with several advantages. On the one hand, the operation of the device can take place at the optimum operating point of the heat exchanger. On the other hand, the measured value-controlled inflow of the medium ensures that overheating of the vacuum pump and a downstream wastewater tank or wastewater network can not occur regardless of the volume of the media feed. Because by the temperature-controlled control of the media flow into the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger, for example, a large volume of cooling process fluid lower temperature to cool as efficiently as a smaller volume of a hotter process fluid.

In order to allow for a particularly delicate control of the inflow of cooled process fluid and / or the outflow of cooled process fluid into and out of the heat exchanger, the control device is designed in a variant such that it provides a continuous (proportional) control of the media flow to be controlled allows. This can be realized, for example, by the use of a proportional valve, which not only can assume discrete opening values, but also enables continuous media flow regulation.

In a variant, the temperature determined by the temperature sensor or the temperature sensors is not or not only used to control the media flow into the heat exchanger or the media outflow from the heat exchanger, but (also) to control a fan power of the gas flow generator. For example, the fan power of the gas flow generator can be increased by increasing the speed if the temperature of the process fluid to be cooled should be very high. In the same way, the fan power of the gas flow generator can be reduced if the process fluid to be cooled should have a lower temperature from the outset. This can increase the life of the gas generator. Furthermore, an excessive annoyance of a user can be avoided by fan noise or by a leaking from a device airflow.

In one variant, the heat exchanger has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. Furthermore, it has a flow channel for a process fluid to be cooled. This flow channel is usually arranged between the first side and the second side of the heat exchanger in an inner region of the heat exchanger. The gas flow generator is arranged in this variant on the first side or on the second side of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, the flow channel has a first flow channel section and a second flow channel section. The first flow channel section extends along the first side of the heat exchanger. The second flow channel section is arranged closer to the second side of the heat exchanger than the first flow channel section. For example, it may extend along the second side of the heat exchanger. The first flow channel section and the second flow channel section are fluidically connected to one another. As a result, a process fluid which is to be cooled is guided during the operation of the device during the flow through the heat exchanger first through the first flow channel section and subsequently through the second flow channel section.

In this variant, a gas stream or air stream generated by the gas stream generator initially strikes the second flow channel section. During operation of the device, a process fluid to be cooled flows through the second flow channel section, which has already delivered part of its original heat energy in the first flow channel section. Thereby, the temperature gradient between the process fluid flowing in the second flow channel section and the air flow generated by the gas flow generator is sufficiently large to achieve an effective further cooling of the process fluid in the second flow channel section. By this cooling the air flow is heated. He subsequently encounters the first flow channel section, which is traversed by not yet cooled process fluid. Since this process fluid is significantly warmer than the process fluid flowing through the second flow channel section, despite the already preheated air flow, there is still a sufficiently large temperature gradient between the air flow and the process fluid to be cooled, so that effective cooling of the process fluid in the first flow channel section is possible.

The flow direction of the gas flow or air flow generated by the gas flow generator is preferably aligned (only) perpendicular to a flow direction provided for the process fluid flowing through the flow channel. As a result, it can be ensured in a particularly simple manner that the air flow or gas flow generated by the gas flow generator first encounters already slightly cooled process fluid (in the second flow channel section) and subsequently not yet cooled process fluid (in the first flow channel section). By establishing sufficiently high temperature gradients, both in the first flow channel section and in the second flow channel section, an effective cooling of the process fluid to be cooled can be achieved.

The gas flow generator may also be referred to as an air flow generator because the gas flow produced is typically an air flow. For example, a fan, a blower or an air conveyor can be used as a gas flow generator. The gas stream or air stream generated by the gas stream generator preferably has the same temperature as the surroundings of the gas stream generator. That is, there is no specific heating or cooling of the gas stream generated by the gas stream generator. Heating would be undesirable in view of the desired for cooling temperature gradient to the flow channel sections. By a prior cooling of the gas stream generated by the gas generator the amount of equipment required to produce a corresponding capacitor would be higher.

In a variant, the gas flow generator is arranged on the second side of the heat exchanger. Then he can blow a gas flow generated by him through the heat exchanger. A fan can take over this task particularly advantageous.

In another variant, the gas flow generator is arranged on the first side of the heat exchanger. He can then suck the gas flow to be used for cooling through the heat exchanger.

Typically, the heat exchanger not only has a single first flow channel section, but a plurality of first flow channel sections. These are preferably arranged one above the other, but have substantially the same distance from the gas flow generator. Furthermore, the heat exchanger preferably has not only a single second flow channel section but a plurality of second flow channel sections, which are likewise arranged one above the other. In a variant, the first flow channel section or the first flow channel sections on the one side and the second flow channel section and the second flow channel sections on the other side are offset in height from each other. This results in a more turbulent guidance of the air flow around the individual flow channel sections, which improves the cooling performance.

In a variant, it is also provided that a first group of flow channel sections has substantially the same distance to the gas flow generator, while a second group of flow channel sections has a greater or lesser distance to the gas flow generator than the flow channel sections of the first group. In this case, the distance of the individual flow channel sections in the second group from the gas flow generator is preferably substantially equal. Also in this variant, the individual groups of flow channel sections can be arranged slightly offset from one another, so as to allow a more turbulent guidance of the air flow. The individual groups can consist of either first flow channel sections or second flow channel sections.

Such a device can extend the life of the membrane of a membrane vacuum pump because the vacuum pump is prevented from delivering incompressible media (such as condensate). Furthermore, it is possible to shorten the individual cycles of an autoclave process, as it allows the higher cooling capacity of the presently claimed device compared to the devices known from the prior art, all processes in which the heat exchanger is traversed by a process fluid to be cooled faster to expire, as is known in the art.

Due to the arrangement of the gas flow generator on the second side of the heat exchanger and the course of the flow channel in the first flow channel section along the first side of the heat exchanger, the guidance of the process fluid to be cooled (the so-called media guide) is aligned with the direction of the air flow or gas flow generated by the gas flow generator. In the same way, by guiding the process fluid to be cooled through the second flow channel section, which is closer to the second side than the first flow channel section, an orientation of the media guide is made on the air flow used for cooling. As already mentioned, a particularly effective cooling of the process fluid to be cooled occurs when the air flow of the gas flow generator is oriented perpendicular to the flow direction of the process fluid flowing through the flow channel.

The heat exchanger can be configured in a variant as a flat tube cooling coil, for example, as an n-row flat tube cooling coil, where n is an integer and greater than or equal to 2, for example 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. The cooling register is used at the same time for the separation / separation of condensate from the flow of a process fluid to the vacuum pump of an autoclave.

In a further variant, metal tubes are used to form the flow channel. Here, copper pipes or brass pipes are special suitable. For example, brass sheet-formed (folded) and soldered flat tubes can be used. Likewise, flat tubes with slats are well suited. These may for example consist of a copper sheet or an aluminum sheet.

The heat exchanger may also be referred to as a multi-row heat exchanger for condensing steam and for cooling steam and condensate in an autoclave. The heat exchanger or the device comprising the heat exchanger is used for separation / separation of condensate from the media stream to the vacuum pump of an autoclave.

In a variant, a deflection collector is provided, which fluidly connects the first flow channel section to the second flow channel section. This deflector ensures that the flow direction of the process fluid to be cooled changes during operation of the device. The Umlenksammler can be designed for example as a bent tube.

For example, a change in the flow direction by 180 ° (ie, a reversal of the flow direction) can be realized by the Umlenksammler. The deflection collector may be arranged such that the gas flow generated by the gas flow generator does not hit the deflection collector. Then, the gas flow is guided only over the flow channel sections, in which the process fluid to be cooled flows along the flow directions predetermined by the flow channel sections.

The individual flow channel sections can be arranged in this variant - as well as in other variants - parallel to each other. If a 180 ° diverter is used, it is possible in this way, despite different flow directions of the process fluid to be cooled in the individual flow channel sections always to achieve a vertical course of the gas flow generated by the gas flow generator in relation to the predetermined by the flow channel sections flow directions of the process fluid to be cooled ,

In one variant, the deflection collector can connect an unequal number of first flow channel sections and on second flow channel sections. For example, the number of first flow channel sections may be smaller than the number of second flow channel sections.

In a further variant, the device has a media collecting device, which is provided and configured to supply the process fluid to be cooled to the first flow channel section and to remove cooled process fluid emerging from the second flow channel section. In this case, a separating device is provided within the media collecting device, which effectively separates the cooling process fluid entering the heat exchanger from the cooled process fluid leaving the heat exchanger. This separation device can realize a thermal separation in addition to a fluidic separation, so be configured as an insulating device. In a simple variant, the separating device can be designed as a separating plate. By means of such a common media collecting device, it is particularly easy to realize a supply of cooling process fluid to the heat exchanger and a removal of cooled process fluid from the heat exchanger.

In one variant, the device has a connection for supplying process fluid to be cooled and a connection for discharging cooled process fluid, wherein the connection for supplying process fluid to be cooled is arranged offset (for example above or below) to the connection for discharging cooled process fluid. As a result of this spatial separation of the two connections, already cooled process fluid is not reheated by newly supplied process fluid to be cooled if there is no sufficient thermal separation between the region in which the process fluid to be cooled is supplied to the heat exchanger and the region via which cooled process fluid exits the heat exchanger , is provided.

The connections may be provided, for example, in the media collection device.

In one variant, the heat exchanger has a connection for supplying process fluid to be cooled and a connection for discharging cooled process fluid. Both connections are arranged on one side of the heat exchanger. By way of example, this side may be a third side of the heat exchanger, which connects the first side of the heat exchanger to the second side of the heat exchanger.

In a combination of the two variants of embodiment discussed above, the connections for supplying the process fluid to be cooled and for discharging cooled process fluid would thus be offset on the one hand and on the other side on the same side of the heat exchanger.

In a further variant, the device has a connection to the fluidic Connection of the heat exchanger with a vacuum pump of an autoclave. In this case, just like the connection for supplying the process fluid to be cooled and the connection for discharging cooled process fluid, this connection is arranged on one and the same side of the heat exchanger. The ports may be part of the heat exchanger or part of a fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger component, such as a media collection device.

By arranging all connections on one side of the device or the heat exchanger, a particularly easy accessibility of the individual connections is ensured.

The connection for connecting the heat exchanger with a vacuum pump of an autoclave is preferably formed above the connection for discharging cooled process fluid. This makes it possible to prevent condensate from being sucked in by the vacuum pump in a particularly effective manner.

The invention also relates in one aspect to an autoclave having a device according to the previous explanations. In this case, it is provided in particular that the device for cooling a process fluid is arranged in a well-ventilated or easily ventilated region of the autoclave. For example, it may be located at or near an outside of the autoclave.

In one variant, the device for cooling a process fluid is arranged in such a way that the first flow channel section points to an outer side of the autoclave, while the second flow channel section points to an inner side of the autoclave. That is, the gas flow generator of the device also preferably faces an inner side of the autoclave. The cooling air flow generated by the gas flow generator, in particular aligned perpendicularly to the flow direction of the process fluid to be cooled, then preferably runs from an autoclave inside to an autoclave outside.

In one variant, the autoclave has a control device which is provided for controlling a vacuum pump of the autoclave in dependence on the temperature determined by a temperature sensor of the heat exchanger and / or in dependence on a pressure and / or a temperature in an autoclaving chamber (a pressure vessel) of the autoclave , For example, the corresponding vacuum pump can be switched away from the media flow. Alternatively, the vacuum pump can be ventilated. These measures serve to protect the vacuum pump, especially when evacuating the pressure vessel of the autoclave.

Typically, the vacuum pump is switched on after an overpressure phase in the pressure vessel of the autoclave during an autoclaving process, when a certain pressure value is exceeded, in order to achieve a further effective reduction of the pressure in the pressure vessel. Too early connection of the vacuum pump in an autoclaving process could lead to damage to the vacuum pump. Because then the vacuum pump would promote a process fluid that has a high thermal energy and may not be effectively cooled by a corresponding device for cooling the process fluid. Because if the process fluid is above the boiling point due to the prevailing pressure and temperature conditions in the condenser, the vacuum pump can not achieve sufficient negative pressure. By controlling the temperature of the vacuum pump, however, these difficulties can be avoided.

In a further variant, an additional temperature sensor is provided on the vacuum pump of the autoclave. For example, it may be arranged on the head or the heads of the vacuum pump. In this variant, the autoclave additionally has a control device which, depending on the temperature determined by the additional temperature sensor, can undertake various control or regulating tasks.

For example, the control device can control the inflow of process fluid to be cooled into the heat exchanger. Alternatively or additionally, the control device can control an outflow of cooled process fluid from the heat exchanger. Alternatively or additionally, the control device can control the vacuum pump. These control options make it possible to optimally operate all components of the autoclave. For example, it can thus be ensured that the best possible condensation success in the device for cooling the process fluid is achieved. Furthermore, it can be ensured, for example, that the medium emerging from the cooling device has a temperature which is below a temperature above which damage to the downstream vacuum pump is to be feared. The controller can be designed as parameterized control. Alternatively, it would also be possible to deposit in the control device a target function, which serves as a basis for the operation of the control device.

The invention also relates to a method for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave with the features explained in more detail below. The method is carried out using a device comprising a heat exchanger and a comprises arranged on the heat exchanger gas flow generator.

According to the invention, a cooling capacity of the device is determined by determining a temperature in the process fluid to be cooled and / or in the cooled process fluid and adjusting the volume (amount) of an inflow of process fluid to be cooled into the heat exchanger and / or an outflow of cooled process fluid from the heat exchanger and / or a fan power of the gas flow generator in dependence on the determined temperature.

The determination of the temperature is carried out by one or more temperature sensors. The temperature sensor or the temperature sensors can be arranged in the region of the process fluid to be cooled flowing into the heat exchanger and / or in the region of the cooled process fluid flowing out of the heat exchanger.

In a further variant, the cooling capacity of the device for cooling the process fluid is controlled by determining the time profile of a temperature. This temperature may be a temperature in the process fluid to be cooled and / or a temperature in the cooled process fluid. The control takes place in such a way that an inflow of process fluid to be cooled is set in the heat exchanger and / or that an outflow of cooled process fluid from the heat exchanger is set and / or that a fan power of the gas flow generator is set. In this variant, therefore, not only an instantaneous temperature is used for the control, but rather a resulting temperature characteristic or a dynamic development of the temperature in the course of the cooling process is taken into account. By considering such dynamic processes in the control process, the entire autoclaving process can be optimized in a particularly simple manner. For example, certain temperature profiles can be stored in a database, which can be used if necessary. Then it can be concluded from the determination of a specific temperature profile on the expected further temperature profile, which even if only limited measured values are available, a particularly effective control of the cooling device allows.

In one variant, an inflow of process fluid to be cooled into the heat exchanger and / or an outflow of cooled process fluid from the heat exchanger and / or a fan power of the gas flow generator is additionally dependent on a pressure in an autoclave chamber (a pressure vessel) of an autoclave equipped with the device prevails, controlled. The control is carried out such that in the heat exchanger there is a temperature which is below the saturated steam temperature. This saturated steam temperature is dependent on the pressure prevailing in the pressure vessel. By this control, a very rapid reduction in pressure in the autoclave can be done, since the device for cooling the process fluid at the beginning of a pressure release even at temperatures of more than 120 ° C is still able to condense the steam flowing through them effectively. Only at lower pressures, the target value of the working temperature in the device for cooling the process fluid must be set much lower, to allow further condensation and thus further evacuation of the pressure vessel. For example, the saturated steam temperature at a pressure of 80 mbar only 41.5 ° C. The temperature in the cooling device is ultimately controlled by the amount of process fluid to be cooled flowing into the cooling device. For the lower the amount of the process fluid flowing into the cooling device, the lower the temperature in the cooling device (if the fan power of the gas flow generator remains the same).

In a variant, the heat exchanger has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. Furthermore, the heat exchanger is equipped with a flow channel for a process fluid to be cooled. The gas flow generator is arranged in this variant on the first side or on the second side of the heat exchanger. The flow channel extends in a first flow channel section along the first side of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, the flow channel has a second flow channel section. This second flow channel section is arranged closer to the second side of the heat exchanger than the first flow channel section. In this variant of the method, a process fluid to be cooled is passed through the heat exchanger first through the first flow channel section and then through the second flow channel section. Meanwhile, the gas flow generator generates a gas flow directed to an outside of the flow passage. Typically, this gas stream is an air stream. As already mentioned above, the air flow is preferably aligned (only) perpendicular to the flow direction of the process fluid flowing through the flow channel.

The above-described variants and embodiments of the claimed apparatus for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave, the claimed autoclave and the claimed method for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave are combined with each other and arbitrarily in any combination on the each other item of the group comprising the apparatus for cooling a process fluid, the autoclave and the method for cooling a process fluid transferable.

Further details of the invention described herein will be explained in more detail with reference to figures and embodiments. Show it:

1 a schematic representation of a horizontal section through an embodiment of a capacitor and

2 an isometric view of the capacitor of 1 ,

The 1 shows a schematic horizontal sectional view through a capacitor 1 , which serves as a device for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave. The capacitor 1 has a heat exchanger 2 and a fan 3 on. In the heat exchanger 2 is a flow channel 4 formed, which is an inlet pipe 40 as the first flow channel section and a drain pipe 41 Having a second flow channel section. At the inlet pipe 40 and at the drainpipe 41 are numerous slats 42 arranged for better heat transfer within the heat exchanger 2 to care.

The inlet pipe 40 is with the drainpipe 41 about a Umlenksammler 5 fluidically connected. The Umlenksammler 5 Ensures that the flow direction of a through the inlet pipe 40 flowing fluid changes by 180 °, that is transferred in exactly the opposite direction. This makes it possible for one of the fans 3 generated cooling air flow both perpendicular to the flow direction of a through the inlet pipe 40 flowing process fluid as well as perpendicular to the flow direction thereof through the drain pipe 41 aligned flowing process fluid. Furthermore, it is through the Umlenksammler 5 possible that a media influx 6 serving as a port for supplying process fluid to be cooled, a condensate outlet 7 , which serves as a port for discharging cooled process fluid, and a port 8th to a vacuum pump, which also serves as a port for discharging cooled process fluid, on the same side of the heat exchanger 2 are arranged.

Between the media influx 6 on one side and the condensate outlet 7 as well as the connection 8th to a vacuum pump on the other side is a partition wall 9 trained to be a media collector 10 divided into two compartments. The first compartment is the warm compartment 11 of the media collector 10 , The second compartment is the cold compartment 12 of the media collector 10 ,

In the warm compartment 11 of the media collector 10 is a baffle 110 arranged. This baffle 110 ensures that in the warm compartment 11 inflowing process fluid within the warm compartment 11 is distributed before it enters the inlet pipe 40 or in a plurality of stacked inlet pipes 40 can occur.

The cold compartment 12 of the media collector 10 has a particularly large volume in order to achieve an optimized separation between the cooled air flow and the cooled condensate flow. This protects one to the capacitor 1 connected vacuum pump from promoting too much condensate, for which it is regularly not designed.

The warm compartment 11 of the media collector 10 has a first temperature sensor 13 on, with the temperature in the warm compartment 11 and thus can be determined in the process fluid to be cooled.

The cold compartment 12 of the media collector 10 has a second temperature sensor 14 on, with the temperature in the cold compartment 12 and thus can be determined in the cooled process fluid.

By means of the first temperature sensor 13 and / or the second temperature sensor 14 is it possible the inflow through the media influx 6 or the drain from the condensate drain 7 or the connection 8th to regulate the vacuum pump and thus the cooling capacity of the condenser 1 set to an optimal level. This regulation of the media flow through the condenser can be independent of the other concrete condenser design. That is, the first temperature sensor 13 and the second temperature sensor 14 could also be used in a fundamentally differently configured capacitor. It is only important here that the temperature of the process fluid to be cooled or of the cooled process fluid is determined at all in order to be able to regulate the media flow through the condenser via this temperature information.

From the representation of 1 will be apparent that in the condenser 1 through the media influx 6 entering medium after passing the baffle plate 110 first through the inlet pipe 40 is guided before passing through the drainpipe 41 can flow. The inlet pipe 40 runs along a first side of the heat exchanger 2 and is further than the drainpipe 41 from the fan 3 away. As a result, one of the fans arrives 3 in the direction of arrow generated air flow first on the drain pipe 41 and then on the inlet pipe 40 , That through the drainpipe 41 flowing medium already has a reduced temperature. In contrast, the temperature of the inlet pipe 40 flowing medium much higher. As a result, it is the fan 3 generated air flow first through the drain pipe 41 flowing medium is heated, before the heated air flow to the particularly hot inlet pipe 40 meets. By this guidance of the cooling air flow (the cooling medium), a particularly effective cooling of the through the flow channel 4 flowing process fluid can be achieved.

The 2 shows an isometric view of the in the 1 in a sectional view of the capacitor shown 1 , To explain the 2 are the same reference numerals for the same elements as in the 1 used. The heat exchanger 2 is from one in the 1 not shown housing 15 surrounded by the fan 3 is arranged. On one in the 2 to the left-facing side of the heat exchanger 2 is the media collector 10 with the cold compartment 11 and the warm compartment 12 shown. At the cold compartment 11 is the media influx 6 arranged. This is located in an upper area of the media collector 10 , Also in an upper area of the media collector 10 is the connection 8th arranged to the vacuum pump, via which the cooled process fluid through a vacuum pump from the condenser 1 can be promoted. This process fluid is largely freed from incompressible media (condensate). Such condensate can through a at the bottom of the media collector 10 arranged condensate outlet 7 from the condenser 1 be removed.

Finally, in the area of the media collector 10 another connection of the first temperature sensor 13 and a terminal of the second temperature sensor 14 formed over which the two temperature sensors 13 . 14 from the outside of the capacitor 1 can be read out. In this way it is possible to change the temperature of the warm compartment 11 of the media collector 10 incoming process fluid and the temperature of the cold compartment 12 of the media collector 10 to determine accumulated fluid. Due to the thus determined temperature (s) can be a regulation of the media flow into the condenser 1 or the media outflow from the condenser 1 done so that the cooling capacity of the condenser 1 can be adapted to the specific requirements with regard to the process fluid to be cooled.

So one of the fan 3 generated air flow well around the flow channel in the heat exchanger 2 is formed, can flow around, the housing has 15 on the fan 3 facing side lamellar openings 16 on. Furthermore, the housing 15 no closed housing. Rather, it is on the first page of the heat exchanger 2 along which the inlet pipe 40 (see 1 ) runs, designed open.

Claims (17)

Apparatus for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave, comprising a heat exchanger ( 2 ) and one on the heat exchanger ( 2 ) arranged gas flow generator ( 3 ), characterized in that it comprises a temperature sensor ( 13 ) for determining the temperature of a process fluid to be cooled and / or a temperature sensor ( 14 ) for determining the temperature of a cooled process fluid. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a control device which an inflow of cooling process fluid to be cooled in the heat exchanger ( 2 ) and / or an outflow of cooled process fluid from the heat exchanger ( 2 ) depending on the temperature sensor ( 13 . 14 ) determined temperature controls. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device enables a proportional control of the inflow of cooled process fluid and / or the outflow of cooled process fluid. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a control device which has a fan power of the gas flow generator ( 3 ) depending on the temperature sensor ( 13 . 14 ) determined temperature controls. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat exchanger ( 2 ) a first side and a first side opposite the second side and a flow channel ( 4 ) for a process fluid to be cooled, that the gas flow generator ( 3 ) on the first side or on the second side of the heat exchanger ( 2 ) is arranged and that the flow channel ( 4 ) has a first flow channel section extending along the first side ( 40 ) and a second flow channel section ( 41 ) which is closer to the second side than the first flow channel section (FIG. 40 ) is arranged so that a process fluid to be cooled during operation of the device when flowing through the heat exchanger ( 2 ) first through the first flow channel section ( 40 ) and then through the second flow channel section ( 41 ) to be led. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a deflector ( 5 ) having the first flow channel section ( 40 ) with the second flow channel section ( 41 ) fluidically connects. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises a media collecting device ( 10 ), via the process fluid to be cooled, the first flow channel section ( 40 ) can be supplied and via the cooled process fluid from the second flow channel section ( 41 ) can be removed, wherein the media collection device ( 10 ) a separating device ( 9 ), which separates the process fluid to be cooled and the cooled process fluid from one another. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has a connection for supplying process fluid to be cooled ( 6 ) and a connection for discharging cooled process fluid ( 7 . 8th ), wherein the connection for supplying process fluid to be cooled ( 6 ) is offset from the connection for discharging cooled process fluid ( 7 . 8th ) is arranged. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has a connection for supplying process fluid to be cooled ( 6 ) and at least one connection for discharging cooled process fluid ( 7 . 8th ), the connections ( 6 . 7 . 8th ) on one side of the heat exchanger ( 2 ) are arranged. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that one of the connections for discharging cooled process fluid ( 7 . 8th ) as connection ( 8th ) for the fluidic connection of the heat exchanger ( 2 ) with a vacuum pump of an autoclave, with all connections ( 6 . 7 . 8th ) on one side of the heat exchanger ( 2 ) are arranged.  Autoclave, characterized by a device according to one of the preceding claims. Autoclave according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a control device which comprises a vacuum pump of the autoclave in response to a temperature sensor ( 13 . 14 ) of the heat exchanger ( 2 ) and / or in dependence on a pressure and / or a temperature in an autoclaving chamber of the autoclave. Autoclave according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a further temperature sensor is provided on a vacuum pump of the autoclave, wherein the autoclave has a control device which, depending on the temperature determined by the further temperature sensor, an inflow of cooling process fluid into the heat exchanger ( 2 ) and / or an outflow of cooled process fluid from the heat exchanger ( 2 ) and / or the vacuum pump controls. Method for cooling a process fluid of an autoclave using a device comprising a heat exchanger ( 2 ) and one on the heat exchanger ( 2 ) arranged gas flow generator ( 3 ), characterized in that a cooling capacity of the device by determining a temperature in the process fluid to be cooled and / or in the cooled process fluid and an adjustment of an inflow of process fluid to be cooled in the heat exchanger ( 2 ) and / or an outflow of cooled process fluid from the heat exchanger ( 2 ) and / or a fan power of the gas generator ( 3 ) is controlled depending on the particular temperature. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that a time course of the temperature is determined. Method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that an inflow of process fluid to be cooled into the heat exchanger ( 2 ) and / or an outflow of cooled process fluid from the heat exchanger ( 2 ) and / or a fan power of the gas flow generator ( 3 ) is additionally regulated in dependence on a pressure prevailing in an autoclaving chamber of an autoclave equipped with the device such that in the heat exchanger ( 2 ) is a temperature which is below a saturated steam temperature. Method according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the heat exchanger ( 2 ) a first side and a first side opposite the second side and a flow channel ( 4 ) for a process fluid to be cooled, that the gas flow generator ( 3 ) on the first side or on the second side of the heat exchanger ( 2 ) is arranged and that the flow channel ( 4 ) has a first flow channel section extending along the first side ( 40 ) and a second flow channel section ( 41 ) which is closer to the second side than the first flow channel section (FIG. 40 ) is arranged, wherein a process fluid to be cooled when flowing through the heat exchanger ( 2 ) first through the first flow channel section ( 40 ) and then through the second flow channel section ( 41 ) and the gas generator ( 3 ) one on an outside of the flow channel ( 4 ) directed gas flow generated.

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