DE102017215200A1 - Evaporator with meandering flow channel system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an evaporator for the evaporation of a liquid or an aerosol and to the use of the inventive-th evaporator for sterilization or decontamination. The invention further relates to a steam sterilization system comprising an evaporator and a displacement body.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an evaporator for the evaporation of a liquid or an aerosol and to the use of the evaporator according to the invention for sterilization or decontamination. The invention further relates to a steam sterilization system comprising an evaporator and a displacement body.

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for sterilization and decontamination purposes. It finds its preferred use in connection with the vaporization of a hydrogen peroxide-air aerosol and in particular for the sterilization of packaging before filling. It should be noted that the evaporator according to the invention can also be used for entirely different purposes, insofar as it is not subject to any restriction with regard to the liquid used or the aerosol used.

Packaging in the pharmaceutical or food industry must be sterilized before filling. For this purpose, the use of hydrogen peroxide has prevailed in the industry, which has a very high kill rate for the entire spectrum of microorganisms because of its ability to form free radicals and its strong oxidative effect.

For this purpose, an aqueous solution with hydrogen peroxide (usual concentrations between 10 and 50 wt .-%) is used. This is supplied to a sterile carrier air stream (particle-free, air filter filtered through the air flow) usually via a two-fluid nozzle as finely atomized microdroplets. The resulting aerosol is introduced into an evaporator heated to> 200 ° C, where it is transferred to the gas phase and brought to the site of action.

Since hydrogen peroxide tends to decompose into water and oxygen under light and heat exposure to metal surfaces in highly concentrated solutions, the challenge is to maintain a near constant concentration of the mixture until it reaches the site of action.

In order to curb the catalytic decomposition, commercially available hydrogen peroxide solutions are added stabilizers, which lead to strong impurities of the previously used evaporators. This requires time-consuming and costly maintenance and cleaning processes.

Furthermore, the process requires a consistent steam quality without droplet or condensate formation, otherwise the product to be treated may be inadmissibly contaminated with hydrogen peroxide.

The EP 1 738 777 A2 relates to an evaporator for a sterilization system and teaches in 10 an evaporator chamber in which baffles cause a mutual deflection of the fluid flow. These baffles serve only to increase the surface area in the homogeneously heated evaporator. With this ducting there is a risk of sudden evaporation (so-called "flash evaporation") and the steam tends in this embodiment to condensation within the evaporator. As a countermeasure, EP'177 proposes to temper the outer walls and the baffles in a controlled manner (paragraph [0046]), which requires a complex and correspondingly expensive apparatus extension.

There is therefore a need for effective evaporators for liquids and aerosols and in particular in the field of H ₂ O ₂ steam sterilization.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved evaporator for liquids or aerosols.

According to the invention the object is achieved by an evaporator according to claim 1. Specific embodiments of the invention are the subject of the additional dependent or independent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an evaporator for vaporizing a liquid or aerosol comprising a heat-conducting flow body having an internal heat source and a flow channel system surrounding the heat source, the flow channel system being a meandering tube system around the internal heat source is guided, that the heat input in the tube system is increased along the flow path.

The auxiliary device according to the invention has numerous advantages over the auxiliary devices known from the prior art.

As the inventors have found, a controlled evaporation is achieved by the flow pipe guide according to the invention with increasing heat input, so that the critical phenomenon of a sudden evaporation (im Extreme case known as steam explosion) is effectively prevented.

The evaporator according to the invention thus provides a homogeneous evaporation over the entire flow body.

The meandering pipe system effectively prevents the formation of condensate or droplets. This can avoid the Leidenfrost effect that often occurs with Helix channel system vaporizers.

Due to the meandering tube guide with internal heat source, a small design can be achieved, which is particularly advantageous when used in the packaging industry. The evaporator can be integrated so easily and space-saving in a bottling plant and thus enables a sterile vapor formation at the site of action. This is a considerable advantage, especially with the high throughput of modern filling machines, since here the evaporator can be lowered to the packages passed by and lifted again after disinfection has taken place.

The evaporator according to the invention is widely used, insofar as it is suitable for the evaporation of liquids and aerosols.

Due to the internal heat source, the thermal energy is exploited particularly effectively, which on the one hand means energy savings and on the other hand prevents unnecessary or even harmful heating of the environment.

Thus, a high steam generation rate is enabled, with a highly concentrated, i. Steam can be generated close to the saturation point.

With its compact and simple design, the evaporator can be easily and inexpensively manufactured.

The evaporator according to the invention can be integrated into the already established packaging systems without additional expenditure. With its scalable design, the evaporator can also be easily adapted to a wide variety of process parameters.

In summary, the inventive evaporator allows for energy-efficient application optimized evaporation under controlled conditions.

The invention in detail

According to the invention, the evaporator comprises a flow body with an internal heat source and a flow channel system surrounding the heat source. The individual tubes of the flow channel system are thus guided around the internal heat source.

The flow channel system according to the invention is a meandering tube system. For the purposes of the invention, this is to be understood as meaning a tube system which undergoes a multiple change of direction, which leads to tube sections that run substantially parallel with a reverse flow change. In a cylindrical flow body, this is preferably accomplished by longitudinally extending (i.e., parallel to the cylinder axis) tubular sections which are connected at the ends of the cylinder by transverse tubes.

According to the claim, the meandering tube system is guided around the internal heat source such that the heat input in the tube system is increased along the flow path. The increase in the heat input according to the invention relates to the flow path as a whole. This means that the increase in the heat input via the flow path must be substantially continuous. It can also sequential pipe sections have the same heat input, or in short transverse tubes an increased heat input take place, which is again slightly lower in the subsequent longitudinal tube. According to the invention, therefore, the pipe sections of the pipe system which are significant in terms of the pipe length have at least no reduction in the heat input along the flow path.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two adjacent longitudinally oriented pipe sections have a substantially identical heat input.

According to the invention, the increasing heat input, which is generated by the internal heat source can be generated by a variety of means.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the pipe sections along the flow path can be brought closer and closer to the internal heat source and thus have a simple way of increased heat input. In a particularly preferred manner, this is a pairwise approximation of the longitudinal pipe sections of the pipe system that are essential for the heat input.

Alternatively, or in combination with the aforementioned method, the heat source can be separated from the corresponding pipe section by a differently configured insulation. Thus, in the case of a solid cylinder, longitudinal bores or slots can be introduced as flow bodies, which are provided with an insulator, such as, for example, gas or foam.

In one embodiment of the invention, the heat-conducting flow body of the evaporator comprises an inner body and an outer body surrounding the inner body and at least liquid-tight in the operating state. With this built-up of two basic components flow body is particularly easy to design the tube system according to the invention.

In this case, the flow channel system expediently comprises outer-side pipe sections whose walls are formed proportionally by the inner body and the outer body. According to the invention, an "outside pipe section" is to be understood as meaning a pipe section which is formed on the outside of the inner body. Accordingly, these outside pipe sections can be worked out of the inner body in a simple manner (for example, by removing manufacturing processes such as milling).

In a particularly preferred manner, in this case the outer body is designed as an outer jacket. As outer jacket it has a significantly smaller thickness than the inner body and preferably has a thickness between 0.1 mm and 50 mm, more preferably between 0.2 and 25 mm and in particular between 0.5 and 20 mm.

In one embodiment, the outer body is releasably connected to the inner body, so that it can be separated from the inner body by reversing the connection process destructive again. As a result, the pipe sections are easily accessible from the outside and can be easily cleaned accordingly.

In a preferred embodiment, the connection of the bodies is produced in that the inner body has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the outer body, so that the inner body and the outer body form a sealed press fit in the operating state. The press fit has the advantage that the connection works without any additional bonding agent such as adhesives and guarantees a tight and reproducible seal at operating temperature.

In a particularly preferred manner, these two bodies are dimensioned so that they can be easily separated at room temperature. This means that in a cylindrical outer body or outer shell whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the likewise cylindrical inner body. This allows the two bodies to be easily detached from each other at room temperature and cleaned or replaced individually. After reassembly and heating by the internal heat source of the interference fit is restored and the evaporator is ready for use again.

In an alternative embodiment, the interference fit must be cooled below room temperature (for example to 5 ° C or 0 ° C) to separate the two bodies from each other.

Insofar as the flow body is formed in one embodiment by an inner body and an outer body, there are several possibilities to design the outer-side pipe sections of the evaporator, such as by one of the following embodiments:

In one embodiment, the pipe sections or their walls can be formed by inner elongated depressions on the outer body in conjunction with the smooth outer wall of the inner body. This has the advantage that the inner body is very simple and only the outer body with its, the outside pipe section system defining depressions, is constructed correspondingly complex. This embodiment also offers the possibility that outer body can be provided with different tube design, which can then be combined depending on the application with the uniform inner body. Thus, for liquid evaporation (as opposed to aerosol evaporation), the outer body can have depressions which build up a pipe system which widens out over the flow path so as to take into account the evaporation-associated increase in volume.

In an alternative embodiment, the pipe sections can be formed by outside elongated depressions on the inner body and matching inside elongated depressions on the outer body. These preferably form the two halves of the pipe cross-section and thus define the pipe sections. This is particularly advantageous in connection with the press association. Thus, the outside body could define various pipe systems, which can then be brought by rotation of the cylindrical outer body respectively with the pipe sections of the inner body to cover. This way, with only one interior and one Outer body a multifunctional evaporator feasible.

In a preferred embodiment, the pipe sections are formed by outside elongated depressions on the inner body in combination with the smooth inner wall of the outer body. This variant is particularly simple and inexpensive to manufacture, since only the cylindrical inner body must be reworked, which is easy to perform by milling outside for the pipe sections and drilling for the cross tubes.

In a preferred embodiment, the outboard tube sections have an approximately semicircular cross-section, with the semicircle facing inward, i. directed to the heat source. In this form, an increased heat input on the inner longitudinal side is possible. Ideally, the channel shape on the inside would have a large surface in order to have the largest possible contact surface with the aerosol or vapor. Such a shape can also be produced in a simple manner by machining, wherein channels can be formed as slots.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the flow body and / or the inner body is a solid body. Preferably, both bodies, both the inner body and the outer body are designed as a solid body. In this case, an embodiment of the inner body as a solid circular cylinder is particularly advantageous. In this form, starting from the heat source, a uniform temperature gradient is built up in the inner body and the different heat input can be defined in a simple manner by the distance of the tubes from the heat source.

In one embodiment of the invention, the internal heat source is an elongated, preferably rod-shaped heating element. As a result, a homogeneous temperature gradient can be established correspondingly over the length of the rod.

Numerous embodiments for a heat source are available to the person skilled in the art. In a preferred manner, this is an electrically operated heating element, that is, for example, a current-carrying heating coil. Alternatively, the inner body can also be heated inductively by the heat source comprising a coil through which a high-frequency current flows, which generates a magnetic alternating field. In a further embodiment, the heat source can also be operated with other heat carriers, for. Hot oil, or even by a combustion process (e.g., using oil or gas).

Particularly preferred as the heat source is an electrically operated resistance heating element.

In an electrically operated heat source, this preferably has a heating power of at least 1000 watts. Particularly preferred here is a heating power of 2000 to 2500 watts and in particular of 2200 watts.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention runs in the evaporator, the rod-shaped heating element parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flow or inner body. As a result, as already stated above, a correspondingly longitudinally homogeneous temperature gradient is established, which can then result in a different heat input into the tube sections running longitudinally and thus parallel to the rod-shaped heating element, depending on the distance to the heating element.

In the preferred form of the flow or inner body as a circular cylinder, the rod-shaped heating element is parallel to the longitudinal axis, but particularly preferably offset in this case to the center of the circle. As a result, located on the outer shell (the so-called. "Outside") pipe sections have a different distance from the heating element and thus obtained by the simplest possible embodiment a different heat input, which is also continuously adjustable by the continuously selectable distance.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the outer pipe sections are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the solid body. This is particularly, as already stated, in a circular cylinder with also running alongside internal heat source advantage.

In one embodiment of the invention, the outer pipe sections to form a continuous flow channel system by outside cross tubes and guided by the flow body or inner body cross tubes are interconnected. Preferably, the transverse tubes are formed in their course straight, arcuate, quarter or semi-circular, oval-shaped or in combination of different geometric shapes.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer lateral tubes are arcuate or semicircular in their course.

In a likewise preferred embodiment, the cross tubes guided through the flow body or inner body have a straight course.

Specifically, the latter embodiments are combined. Thus, there are outside arcuate or semicircular transverse tubes before and additionally straight through the flow body or inner body guided cross tubes.

In a further embodiment, the outer pipe sections have a uniform pipe cross-section, which is preferably identical to the pipe cross-section of the outer side cross tubes, wherein the guided through the flow body or inner body cross tubes in the pipe cross-section are the same size or smaller.

In this case, it is preferable for the transverse tubes guided through the flow body or inner body to be smaller in the pipe cross section. Due to the pipe constriction starting from the outer pipe sections, according to the Venturi effect, the fluid velocity increases, in order to lose speed again when passing from the transverse pipe into the wider outer pipe sections. This intermediate velocity change prefers the formation of a turbulent flow and thus prevents condensation or droplet formation.

The flow body or the inner body can be constructed according to the invention of any thermally conductive material which is temperature-resistant, insofar as it can withstand an operating temperature of at least 200 ° C. By its corresponding thermal conductivity, the material can transfer the heat from the internal heat source to the fluid flowing through the pipe system, be it liquid, aerosol or vapor.

Preferably, the flow body or inner body is made of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, steel, copper, brass, glass and oxide or non-oxide ceramic or a combination of these materials, with aluminum or an aluminum alloy being preferred is.

Aluminum and its alloys have a high thermal conductivity (75 - 235 W / (m.K)), can easily be protected against corrosion by passivation, and have a low specific weight with ease of workability.

The outer body, which is preferably an outer jacket, can be constructed according to the invention from any thermally conductive material.

It is hereby preferred that the outer body consists of a highly heat-conductive material, so that on the one hand the flow channels also from the outside (outer shell) have no cold areas (ie heated by the internal heat source), but on the other hand, a thermal separation of the outer pipe sections from each other allowed. Accordingly, a material of intermediate thermal conductivity is preferable to a material of high thermal conductivity for the outer body or the outer jacket.

Preferably, the outer body or outer shell is made of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum or aluminum alloy, stainless steel, copper, brass, glass and oxide or non-oxide ceramic or a combination of these materials, with stainless steel being preferred.

Stainless steel, with good thermal conductivity, is a highly corrosion resistant material that is commercially available as a stainless steel tube in a wide variety of diameter and shell thickness. By a lower coefficient of thermal expansion compared to aluminum, it is a preferred material for forming a corresponding press fit.

In a further embodiment, the outer body, which is preferably an outer jacket, is surrounded by an insulating element. Preferably, this insulating is a two-sided open cylindrical tube surrounding the outer body or the outer shell (preferably form-fitting).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube section functioning as an outlet tube runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flow or inner body and has on the outlet side an angled end section for producing an eddy current. Through this outlet-side "kink" in the pipe run, the flow emerging from the straight outer longitudinal pipe is converted into a helical vortex flow. As a result, the exiting flow predominantly has a velocity vector along the longitudinal axis of the flow body and a velocity vector in the tangential direction of the round exit tube. In a particularly preferred manner, this end portion has an arcuate course and in this case is designed specifically as a quarter circle arc.

In a further embodiment, the inner body shaped as a circular cylinder is designed to be conical on the outlet side and is preferably surrounded in this area by the outer body which has a conical shape on the inside, with the formation of a cone-shaped gap. As a result, the steam exiting the angled outlet is converted into a turbulent vortex.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the outlet-side cone shape of the inner body has a mandrel-shaped central tip, which is designed to project into an outlet tube which can be attached below the evaporator. In this way, it is passed through the outlet tube in the cone gap resulting circular vortex on the mandrel-shaped central tip as a circular vortex and occurs in this form on the surface to be treated.

The abovementioned three embodiments, namely kinked tube outlet, cone gap and mandrel projecting into the tube, serve to discharge the generated steam in an eddy current, whereby a good distribution and mixing as well as optimum flow conditions of the medium are achieved.

In another embodiment, the outlet opening of the evaporator and / or the outlet tube comprises a catalyst which contacts the exiting vapor and has the ability to at least partially convert the vapor-containing hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals. The person skilled in catalysts for the activation of hydrogen peroxide are known. Preferably, these are selected from the group comprising iridium, manganese oxide, palladium, platinum, rhodium or ruthenium or combination or alloys thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the evaporator according to the invention is designed for the continuous or pulsed evaporation of a water-air aerosol and preferably a H ₂ O ₂ -air aerosol. In the case of an H ₂ O ₂ -containing aerosol, this means that during operation the evaporator must withstand a temperature of at least 350 ° C., and this also in long-term use, without damage and must also be inert to the chemically reactive H ₂ O ₂ .

In a second aspect, the invention relates to the use of the evaporator according to the invention for the sterilization or decontamination of rooms, surfaces or objects, and in particular in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

In the food and pharmaceutical industry, it is used in particular for the sterilization or decontamination of secondary or primary packaging. These may be, for example, ampoules, glass containers, plastic bottles, plastic containers, blisters, coated aluminum foils or composite packaging.

In this case, in particular, an application is provided on one-sided or two-sided opened packaging coats. This packaging casing is particularly suitable for producing a packaging for foods, and in particular for flowable foodstuffs. The packaging material is preferably made of plastic or of a composite packaging material, in particular paper / plastic composite packaging material.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a steam sterilization system comprising an evaporator according to the invention.

1. (a) eine Dosiereinheit für H₂O₂;
2. (b) eine am Einlass des Verdampfers positionierte Zweistoffdüse zur Erzeugung eines Aerosols aus einem Trägergasstrom und einer wässrigen Lösung, die bevorzugt eine wässrige H₂O₂-Lösung ist;
3. (c) Mittel zur Luftzuführung und/oder Luftaufbereitung;
4. (d) eine Trocknungseinrichtung zur Trocknung des sterilisierten Gebindes; und
5. (e) ein H₂O₂-Sensor zur Prozesssteuerung oder -überwachung, der in bevorzugter Weise am Verdampferausgang positioniert ist.

This steam sterilization system, which preferably works with a H ₂ O ₂ -containing steam, may optionally contain one or more of the following constituents:

1. (a) a dosing unit for H ₂ O ₂ ;
2. (b) a two-fluid nozzle positioned at the inlet of the evaporator for producing an aerosol from a carrier gas stream and an aqueous solution, which is preferably an aqueous H ₂ O ₂ solution;
3. (c) means for air supply and / or air treatment;
4. (d) a drying device for drying the sterilized container; and
5. (e) a H ₂ O ₂ sensor for process control or monitoring, which is preferably positioned at the evaporator outlet.

1. (a) einen herkömmlichen oder erfindungsgemäßen Verdampfer zur Verdampfung einer Flüssigkeit oder eines Aerosols mit einer optionalen, am Einlass des Verdampfers positionierten, Zweistoffdüse zur Erzeugung eines Aerosols aus einem Trägergasstrom und einer wässrigen Lösung, und
2. (b) einen auslassseitig vorgesehenen Verdrängungskörper, der nach Einführen in das Gebinde mindestens 50% des Innenvolumens des Gebindes ausfüllt und stirnseitig und/oder längsseitig Öffnungen für den Dampfaustritt aufweist,
3. (c) wobei der Verdrängungskörper bevorzugt zylinder- oder quaderförmig ist und/oder im oberen Bereich ein auskragendes Element zur Umlenkung des Dampfs auf die Außenseite des Gebindes aufweist.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a containerized steam sterilization system comprising:

1. (A) a conventional or inventive evaporator for the evaporation of a liquid or an aerosol with an optional, positioned at the inlet of the evaporator, two-fluid nozzle for generating an aerosol of a carrier gas stream and an aqueous solution, and
2. (b) a displacement body provided on the outlet side which, after introduction into the container, fills at least 50% of the inner volume of the container and has openings for the steam outlet at the front side and / or at the longitudinal side,
3. (C) wherein the displacement body is preferably cylindrical or cuboidal and / or in the upper region has a cantilevered element for deflecting the steam to the outside of the container.

1. (a) eine zentral auf der Stirnseite angebrachte Austrittsöffnung,
2. (b) mehrere zentral auf der Stirnseite angebrachte Austrittsöffnungen, oder
3. (c) einen plattenförmigen Abschluss der Stirnseite mit darüber angebrachten Öffnungen an den vier Längsseiten des Verdrängungskörpers, wobei die abschließende Platte bevorzugt eine Vorrichtung zur seitlichen Ablenkung des Dampfes aufweist.

In one embodiment of the invention, the displacement body has one of the following outlet openings for the steam:

1. (a) a centrally located on the front side outlet opening,
2. (B) several centrally located on the front side outlet openings, or
3. (C) a plate-shaped end of the end face with openings over it at the four longitudinal sides of the displacement body, wherein the final plate preferably has a device for lateral deflection of the steam.

In this case, it is preferred that the displacement body in the upper region has a cantilevered element for deflecting the steam to the outside of the container. Thus, the sterilizing steam after exiting the container interior can still be used to sterilize the outer wall of the container at least in the critical for the filling and the closure upper part.

For deflecting the steam on the outside of the cantilever element is partially or completely provided with downwardly facing deflecting elements. These direct the steam deflected laterally by the collar downwards and thus onto the outside of the container.

In a likewise preferred embodiment, the displacement body in its upper region or on the projecting element openings for the discharge of the vapor. Excess sterilizing steam can be taken up through these openings and removed from the environment. The discharged steam can then be deactivated. This can be done for example by condensation, attachment to a carrier or by chemical inactivation. This embodiment allows a targeted and near-related removal of the reactive sterilization vapors. Significantly, sterile vapor emissions pose a significant problem in the packaging industry, which can be effectively reduced by the present embodiment.

In an alternative embodiment, the steam sterilization system additionally has a return system, with the aid of which the steam removed by means of the discharge openings is at least partially returned to the evaporator.

The unused portion of the hydrogen peroxide, that is, the portion of the hydrogen peroxide which has not been reacted during sterilization, is preferably withdrawn from the sterilization zone with the uncondensed water vapor and, if necessary, the sterile air. The corresponding gas mixture is then fed to the condenser to partially condense the hydrogen peroxide and the water vapor, respectively. In the condenser, the gas mixture is preferably cooled to a temperature between 35 ° C and 95 ° C. The temperature may be selected according to the desired hydrogen peroxide concentration in the condensate and / or recovery rate of the hydrogen peroxide. As the temperature increases, less hydrogen peroxide is recovered but a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the condensate is achieved.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the previously described steam sterilization system, which is characterized by the presence of the displacement body, is carried out in combination with the evaporator according to the invention.

According to a further aspect, a control device is provided for controlling and / or regulating the evaporator according to the invention or a steam sterilization system containing this evaporator. This control unit guarantees a sterilization of containers in the manner described with high reliability. The control device expediently comprises a computer program product which can be loaded directly into a storage unit and comprises software sections with which the method for controlling and / or regulating the evaporator or the steam sterilization system can be carried out when the computer program product is executed on a system according to the invention ,

definitions

According to the invention, an "aerosol" means a heterogeneous mixture (dispersion) of solid or liquid suspended particles in a gas. Preferably, liquid suspended particles are present, which are then converted by the evaporator into the gaseous state. Preferably, air is used as the gas.

A "heat-conducting body" is understood according to the invention to mean a body with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.5 W / (m · K), and preferably of at least 50 W / (m · K).

embodiment

example 1

It was an inventive H ₂ O ₂ evaporator according to the 1 to 4 manufactured, wherein the inner body made of aluminum and the outer jacket made of stainless steel. In general, this system is designed so that H ₂ O ₂ concentrations up to 12 vol .-% in the output flow and an outlet temperature of up to 330 ° C can be achieved. With a length of 180 mm and an outer diameter of 60 mm, this evaporator with a maximum heating power of 2500 watts for a maximum air flow of 5 m ³ / h and a H ₂ O ₂ volume flow of 1.8 l / h, a H ₂ Produce O ₂ starting concentration of about 7 vol .-%.

list of figures

• 1 zeigt in A eine schematische Darstellung von zwei Seitenansichten des Verdampfers gemäß einer Ausführungsform. In B ist der außenseitige Rohrabschnitt im Querschnitt vergrößert dargestellt.
• 2 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung von zwei Seitenansichten des Innenkörpers des Verdampfers gemäß einer Ausführungsform mit schematischer Schnittdarstellung entlang der Achsen J-J und I-I.
• 3 zeigt links eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verdampfers in Aufsicht von oben und unter Angabe der Schnittebene H-H. Rechts wird eine schematische Schnittdarstellung entlang der Achse H-H gezeigt.
• 4 zeigt in der oberen Hälfte eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verdampfers mit Zweistoffdüse in Aufsicht von oben mit Angabe der Schnittebenen F-F und K-K, die entsprechend in der unteren Hälfte als Schnittdarstellung wiedergegeben sind.
• 5 zeigt den erfindungsgemäßen Verdampfer mit Zweistoffdüse und H₂O₂-Sensor als schematische Explosionszeichnung in perspektiver Darstellung (oben) oder in Seitenansicht (unten).
• 6 zeigt den erfindungsgemäßen Verdampfer mit Zweistoffdüse und H₂O₂-Sensor unter Entfernung einer Außenmantelhälfte in perspektiver Darstellung (links) oder in zwei Seitenansichten (rechte Hälfte).
• 7 zeigt eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Verdampfers aus 4 mit einem trapezförmigen Verdrängungskörper.
• 8 zeigt eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Verdampfers mit Verdrängungskörper aus 7, wobei der Verdampfer sich von rechts nach links auf das zu sterilisierende eimerförmige Gefäß absenkt.
• 9 zeigt schematisch als Querschnittsdarstellung (links) oder in perspektivischer Ansicht (rechts) den erfindungsgemäßen Verdampfer aus 4 mit einem kubischen Verdrängungskörper.
• 10 zeigt eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Verdampfers mit Verdrängungskörper aus 9, wobei der Verdampfer sich von links nach rechts auf die zu sterilisierende, beidseitig geöffnete Verbundverpackung absenkt und unten austritt.
• 11 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung des mäandrierenden Röhrensystems als Volldarstellung durch Ausblenden des Strömungskörpers in diesem Bereich.

These and other aspects of the invention are shown in detail in the figures as follows.

• 1 shows in A a schematic representation of two side views of the evaporator according to one embodiment. In B, the outer pipe section is shown enlarged in cross section.
• 2 shows a schematic representation of two side views of the inner body of the evaporator according to an embodiment with a schematic sectional view along the axes J - J and I - I ,
• 3 shows on the left an embodiment of the evaporator according to the invention in plan view from above and indicating the sectional plane H - H , Right is a schematic sectional view along the axis H - H shown.
• 4 shows in the upper half an embodiment of the evaporator according to the invention with two-fluid nozzle in plan view from above with indication of the cutting planes F - F and K - K , which are reproduced accordingly in the lower half as a sectional view.
• 5 shows the inventive evaporator with two-fluid nozzle and H ₂ O ₂ sensor as a schematic exploded view in perspective view (top) or in side view (bottom).
• 6 shows the evaporator according to the invention with two-fluid nozzle and H ₂ O ₂ sensor with removal of an outer sheath half in a perspective view (left) or in two side views (right half).
• 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the evaporator according to the invention 4 with a trapezoidal displacement body.
• 8th shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the evaporator according to the invention with displacement body 7 , The evaporator is lowered from right to left on the sterilized bucket-shaped vessel.
• 9 shows schematically as a cross-sectional view (left) or in perspective view (right) of the evaporator according to the invention 4 with a cubic displacement body.
• 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the evaporator according to the invention with displacement body 9 , The evaporator is lowered from left to right on the sterilized, opened on both sides composite packaging and exits the bottom.
• 11 shows a schematic representation of the meandering tube system as a full representation by hiding the flow body in this area.

Detailed description of the pictures

1 shows in A a schematic representation of two side views of the evaporator according to one embodiment. It is an evaporator 1 with a cylindrical flow body 10 shown, which has a rod-shaped heating element decentralized and parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein only the attachment piece as an external part 32 is visible. The evaporator is at the lower end via a mounting flange 41 with the outlet pipe 40 connected. To the outlet tube laterally and perpendicular thereto, a pipe section is flanged, wherein in this pipe section form-fitting H ₂ O ₂ sensor is inserted so that it with its distal end in the outlet pipe 40 protrudes (see the cross section in 3 ). In B is the cross section of an outside pipe section 23 shown how it results by milling into the inner body with a round milling head with staggered leadership.

2 shows a schematic representation of two side views of the inner body of the evaporator according to an embodiment with a schematic sectional view along the axes J - J and I - I , Here are the outside and longitudinally guided pipe sections 22 seen through the semicircular outside cross tubes 24 and inner rectilinear transverse tubes 26 interconnected and thus a meandering tube system 20 form. The location of the inside cross tubes 26 and the outside pipe sections 22 is through the two cross-sectional views I - I and J - J clarified.

3 shows on the left an embodiment of the evaporator according to the invention in plan view from above and indicating the sectional plane H - H , wherein both the heating element and the two-fluid nozzle are not shown, so that above the round hole for insertion of the heating element and below the inlet opening for the aerosol to be evaporated, or the liquid to be vaporized can be seen. Right is a schematic sectional view along the axis H - H shown in which the interference fit from inner body 12 and outer jacket 14 with the outer pipe sections formed thereby 22 you can see. Through the oblique gate of the guided through the inner body circular cross tube 26 it impresses as an oval shape. The outer casing is via a mounting flange 41 with the outlet pipe 40 connected, with the flange 41 an internal annular groove 42 for receiving an elastic sealing element (eg a ring seal, not shown here). The outer jacket has an annular groove on its upper end face 42 for receiving an elastic sealing element (not shown here). Thus, the dressing of inner body and outer shell is sealed even before the heat-induced formation of a Preßverbandes. About a flanged cross tube is a in the outlet pipe 40 protruding H ₂ O ₂ sensor 50 attached. The inner body 12 is configured on the outlet side cone-shaped 15 and of the inside conically shaped outer jacket forming the cone-shaped gap 17 surround. The cone 15 has a thorn-shaped central point 16 on, in the middle in the outlet pipe 40 protrudes.

4 shows in the upper half an embodiment of the evaporator according to the invention with two-fluid nozzle in plan view from above with indication of the cutting planes F -F and KK, which are reproduced accordingly in the lower half as a sectional view. It is the evaporator according to 3 , here additionally the two-fluid nozzle 60 with their two entrance holes 62 for the substance supply is shown. In addition, the rod-shaped heating element with its outer part is also 32 and inside part 31 shown.

5 shows the inventive evaporator with two-fluid nozzle and H ₂ O ₂ sensor as a schematic exploded view in perspective view (top) or in side view (bottom). As individual components here are the heating element with inner part 31 and outer part 32 , the two-fluid nozzle 60 with the holes for material supply 62 , the inner body 12 , the outer coat 14 and the outlet pipe 40 to see with the H ₂ O ₂ sensor 50.

6 shows the evaporator with two-fluid nozzle and H ₂ O ₂ sensor according to the invention with removal of an outer shell half in perspective view (left) or in two side views (right half) with the two-fluid nozzle 60 and the material supply holes 62 (Only one of them visible), the rod-shaped heating element, the inner body with the cone-shaped end 15 and the spinous process 16 , the outer jacket 14 , the outlet pipe 40 into which the H ₂ O ₂ sensor protrudes.

7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the evaporator according to the invention 4 with a trapezoidal displacement body. In the evaporator, the outer jacket is positively connected by an insulating tube 18 surrounded, which makes an additional insulation against the interior of the filling plant when using the evaporator in the bottling plant. The evaporator has a displacement body on the outlet side 70 on, on the front side of an outlet opening 71 possesses, in which the outlet pipe of the evaporator 1 empties. The displacement body has at its upper end a cantilevered element 75 with downward deflecting elements for deflecting the steam and a bell-shaped suction device 76 to dissipate the excess steam, with the steam passing through the extraction nozzles 77 is removed from the bell-shaped device. The bell-shaped suction device protrudes beyond the cantilevered element and can thereby more efficiently extract the vapor.

8th shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the evaporator according to the invention with displacement body 7 wherein the evaporator is from right to left on the bucket-shaped vessel to be sterilized 78 lowers. The displacement body is in this case designed so that when lowering results in a uniform distance between the displacement body outer wall and the container inner wall, so that a homogeneous evaporation takes place with the sterilization steam. The cantilever element is guided over the container during lowering and directs the steam from above over the outer wall of the vessel.

9 shows schematically as a cross-sectional view (left) or in perspective view (right) of the evaporator according to the invention 4 with a cubic displacement body 70 , In the evaporator, the outer jacket is positively connected by an insulating tube 18 surrounded, which makes an additional insulation against the interior of the filling plant when using the evaporator in the bottling plant. The evaporator has a displacement body on the outlet side 70 on, at the front a plate 73 with a cone-shaped device 74 for lateral deflection of the exiting the outlet tube steam. The steam we then on the longitudinally mounted slot-shaped outlet openings 72 directed at the four sides of the displacement body on the material to be sterilized.

10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the evaporator according to the invention with displacement body 9 , wherein the evaporator from left to right on the sterilized, opened on both sides composite packaging 79 lowers and the composite packaging decontaminated or sterilized on the inside during complete passage under steam delivery.

11 shows a schematic representation of the meandering tube system as a full representation by hiding the flow body in this area. This will determine the exact course of the Flow channel system clearly. After the liquid or aerosol enters the flow body from above, three outer pipe sections are passed through to then be guided by an inner cross tube to the opposite side of the inner body. After passing through two other outer pipe sections, the side change takes place again by an inner cross tube, wherein after four further outer pipe sections, the outlet from the flow body takes place on the front side. The last outer pipe section has on the outlet side an angled (here an arcuate) end portion for generating an eddy current.

Other variants of the invention and their execution will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the claims.

Terms used in the claims, such as "comprising," "comprising," "including," "containing," and the like, do not exclude other elements or steps. The use of the indefinite article does not exclude a majority. A single device can perform the functions of several units or devices mentioned in the claims. Reference signs indicated in the claims should not be regarded as limitations on the means and steps employed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Evaporator

10

flow body

12

Inner body of the flow body

14

Outer jacket of the flow body

15

Outlet-side cone formation of the inner body

16

mandrel-shaped central tip of the inner body

17

cone-shaped gap between inner body and outer shell

18

insulating tube

20

tube system

22

outside pipe section

23

outside pipe section in cross section

24

semicircular outside cross tube

26

rectilinear, guided by the flow body cross tube

30

Round bore for receiving the rod-shaped heating element

31

Rod-shaped heating element in the flow body

32

Outer part of the rod-shaped heating element

33

Rod-shaped heating element

40

outlet pipe

41

mounting flange

42

Ring groove for receiving an elastic sealing element

50

H ₂ O ₂ sensor

60

two-fluid nozzle

62

Drill hole to feed the two-fluid nozzle

70

displacer

71

frontally mounted outlet opening of the displacement body

72

longitudinally mounted outlet opening of the displacement body

73

Final plate of the extruder body

74

Device for lateral deflection of the steam

75

projecting element for deflecting the steam

76

bell-shaped suction device for removing the vapor

77

Extraction nozzle for removing the steam

78

Bucket-shaped container

79

unlocked composite packaging (open at top and bottom)

J

Upper horizontal sectional plane of the inner body

I

Lower horizontal sectional plane of the inner body

H, F, K

Vertical section planes of the evaporator

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 1738777 A2 [0008]

Claims (20)

An evaporator for evaporating a liquid or aerosol, comprising a heat-conducting flow body having an internal heat source and a flow channel surrounding the heat source, the flow channel system being a meandering tube system guided around the internal heat source such that heat input into the tube system along the flow path is increased. Evaporator according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the heat-conducting flow body comprises an inner body and an inner body surrounding the inner body at least liquid-tight in the operating state outer body, wherein the flow channel system comprises outer-side pipe sections whose walls are proportionately formed by the inner body and the outer body, and wherein the outer body preferably as Outer jacket is designed. Evaporator according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the inner body has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the outer body, so that the inner body and the outer body form a sealed press fit in the operating state, these two bodies are preferably dimensioned so that they can be easily separated at room temperature. Evaporator according to Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that these outside pipe sections are formed by one of the following variants: a. by outside oblong depressions on the inner body and smooth inner wall of the outer body; b. inside elongated depressions on the outer body and smooth outer wall of the inner body; c. Outer-side elongated depressions on the inner body and matching inner side elongated depressions on the outer body; wherein variant a) is preferred. Evaporator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow body or the inner body is a solid body and preferably a solid circular cylinder. Evaporator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal heat source is an elongated, preferably rod-shaped heating element. Evaporator according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the rod-shaped heating element extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flow or inner body, which is preferably a circular cylinder, wherein in the circular cylinder, the rod-shaped heating element is preferably offset from the center of the circle. Evaporator according to one of Claims 5 to 7 , characterized in that the outer pipe sections parallel to the longitudinal axis of the solid body, which is preferably a circular cylinder extend. Evaporator according to one of Claims 2 to 8th , characterized in that the outer pipe sections are connected to form a continuous flow channel system by outside cross tubes and guided by the inner body cross tubes, wherein the transverse tubes are formed in their course straight, arcuate, quarter or semicircular, oval-shaped or in combination of different geometric shapes , Evaporator according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the outer-side pipe sections have a uniform pipe cross section, which is preferably identical to the pipe cross section of the outer side cross tubes, wherein the guided through the inner body cross tubes in the pipe cross section are equal or preferably smaller. Vaporizer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow body or the inner body consists of a material which is selected from the group consisting of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, steel, copper, brass, glass and oxide or non-oxide ceramic or a combination of these materials, with aluminum or an aluminum alloy being preferred. Evaporator according to one of Claims 2 to 11 , characterized in that the outer body is made of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum or aluminum alloy, stainless steel, copper, brass, glass and oxide or non-oxide ceramic or a combination of these materials, with stainless steel being preferred. Evaporator according to one of Claims 1 to 12 Characterized in that the functions as outlet pipe section, runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flow or the inner body, which is preferably a circular cylinder, and the outlet has an angled end portion for generating an eddy current, which end portion preferably has a curved course. Evaporator according to one of Claims 2 to 12 , characterized in that the inner body formed as a circular cylinder is configured conically on the outlet side, and preferably in this Area is surrounded by the inside cone-shaped configured outer body to form a cone-shaped gap. Evaporator according to Claim 14 , characterized in that the outlet-side conical shape of the inner body has a mandrel-shaped central tip, which is adapted to project into an attachable below the evaporator outlet tube. Use of the evaporator according to the Claims 1 to 15 for the sterilization or decontamination of rooms, surfaces or objects, in particular in the food and pharmaceutical industry. A steam sterilization system comprising an evaporator according to any one of Claims 1 to 15 , Steam sterilization system for a container comprising: a. an evaporator for evaporating a liquid or aerosol with an optional dual-fluid nozzle positioned at the inlet of the evaporator to produce an aerosol of a carrier gas stream and an aqueous solution, and b. a displacement body provided on the outlet side, which fills at least 50% of the internal volume of the container after introduction into the container and openings for the steam outlet at the front and / or longitudinal side, wherein the displacement body is preferably cylindrical or cuboid and / or preferably in the upper region a cantilevered element for deflecting the steam on the outside of the container. Steam sterilization system according to Claim 18 , characterized in that the displacement body has one of the following outlet openings for the vapor: a. a centrally located on the front side outlet opening, b. several centrally located on the front side outlet openings, c. a plate-shaped end of the end face with openings over it at the four longitudinal sides of the displacement body, wherein the final plate preferably has a device for lateral deflection of the steam; and wherein preferably in the upper region of the displacement body has a cantilevered element for deflecting the steam to the outside of the container and / or preferably, the displacement body in its upper region or on the cantilevered element has openings for discharging the steam. Steam sterilization system according to Claim 18 or 19 , characterized in that the evaporator is an evaporator according to one of Claims 1 to 15 is.

Images