DE2403913A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR QUICK COOLING OF CONTAINERS IN A HEATER ROOM - Google Patents

Description

DR. BERG DIPL.-ING. STAl'F DIPL.-ING. SCIIWA3E DR. DR. SANDMAIR

PATENT LAWYERS 24ϋ3ϋ

8 MUNICH 86, POST BOX 86 02 45

24

Attorney's File 24 716 January 28, 19 I ^

Etablissements Joseph Lagarde Montelimar / France

Method and device

for rapid cooling of containers in one

Boiler room

The invention "relates to a method and an apparatus for rapid cooling of a closed one filled with a steam or steam-air atmosphere Containers located in one place, in particular, for example, containers containing food

Iff (0811) 98 82 72 8 Munich 80, Mauerkircherstraße 45 Banks: Bayerische Vereinsbank Munich 453

<089> 98 70 43 Telegrams: BERGSTAPFPATENT Munich Hypo-Bank Munich 389 2623

98 3310 TELEX: 05 24 560 BERG d Postscheck Munich 653 43 -808

409832/0349

Sterilizer.

In various industries it is required to be sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and the most varied Containers containing products, such as glass containers used in the food industry, cool down as quickly as possible.

Such containers are usually placed in several layers one above the other in autoclaves which are equipped with a steam or Steam-air atmosphere are filled, and in it on a for the respective treatment of the products contained in the containers, for example in the case of food warmed up to a sufficient temperature for sterilization.

After the treatment, the containers are then cooled, by sprinkling them with a liquid, for example water atomized in an autoclave.

There are essentially two difficulties with the methods used for this purpose up to now.

Due to the water sprayed in the autoclave, the steam contained therein is inevitably condensed, so that the Autoclave must quickly supply very large amounts of a gas, mostly in the form of compressed air, to the condensation to maintain the disturbed pressure of the steam. Maintaining the pressure surrounding the containers is indispensable so that the containers are not destroyed by the pressure prevailing inside them, and in particular in the case of glass containers closed with lids, with it

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the lid of which is not blown off by the internal pressure of the container will.

A second difficulty arises from the fact that the liquid or the water is initially very fine and in must atomize extremely small quantities in order to avoid bursting of the container due to sudden temperature change. This is particularly the case with glass containers and leads to a considerable slowdown in the cooling process. To avoid this difficulty, one can warm up in a heat exchanger at the beginning of the cooling process Atomize water, the greater the amount of water to be atomized, the more expensive it must be.

The invention provides a method which the above-mentioned difficulties in the simplest and most special eliminated economically.

According to the invention is a method for cooling containers in a steam atmosphere or in a Atmosphere of steam and a gas, preferably air, filled closed space, in particular of food containing containers in a sterilizing autoclave, characterized in that one in the closed Eaum a liquid, especially cold water, which does not come into contact with the containers, as well as a compressed one Introduces gas, in particular air, to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the closed Eaum and that then, with simultaneous control of the pressure in the closed Eaum, a cooling liquid

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speed with progressively decreasing temperature in the atomized closed space so that the liquid comes into direct contact with the containers.

In a first embodiment, the liquid that does not come into contact with the containers is atomized into introduced the closed space.

In a second embodiment, the liquid that does not come into contact with the containers is closed Eaum fed via a queue arranged in it.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the by condensation of the steam when it comes into contact with the Containers in the closed Eaum and with the walls of the same accumulating liquid put into circulation again, it constitutes part of the cooling liquid.

In order to achieve further special advantages, the steam or steam-gas atmosphere present in the closed space can be used swirled before introducing the atomized liquid.

The first disadvantage of known processes mentioned above is the slow condensation of the in the closed The vapor contained by the introduction of the liquid, in particular water, in atomized form or by circulating it in a cooling wall Snake, in combination with the supply of a compressed gas, especially air, eliminated. That on this Wise introduced water causes a steadily advancing

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Condensation of the steam, the compressed air supply being controlled in such a way that the condensation of the steam is inevitable occurring pressure drop is compensated,

The steadily progressive replacement of the steam withdrawn from the atmosphere in the form of condensed water with air a cooling of the atmosphere surrounding the containers in the enclosed space so that the containers cool themselves begin and thus initiate a process, which is then essentially under the action of the Atomized container and this sprinkling coolant takes place.

The second disadvantage mentioned above is eliminated in that the cooling liquid to be atomized is a A certain amount of the condensation water produced when the steam is condensed is added. The condensation of the steam happens by replacing the steam atmosphere an air atmosphere in the previous supply of the Water as well as by precipitation of the steam on the containers and on the inner walls of the autoclave during the first phase of sterilization. The re-circulated warm water gradually cools down over time away. This is due, at least in part, to the continuous supply of fresh water to the atomization system to maintain a constant height in the autoclave.

The invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned method.

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According to the invention it is provided in a device of the type mentioned that it is an autoclave with an inner jacket for receiving the container, and that the autoclave has a shut-off device for the supply of steam to generate a Steam atmosphere or an atmosphere of steam and one Gas, in particular air, in the autoclave, a shut-off device for the supply of a liquid, in particular water, to the Outside of the inner jacket to create a temperature drop in the autoclave without coming into contact with the liquid the containers, a shut-off device for the supply of a pressurized gas, in particular air, to maintain its opening a substantially constant pressure in the autoclave when the temperature is reduced or for controlling and Controlling the pressure is changeable, a supply device for an atomized cooling liquid, a shut-off device. to the Draining the mixture of condensed and atomized liquid and a shut-off duct to produce a Has flow connection between the autoclave and the free environment.

In a first embodiment, the shut-off passage for the supply of a liquid is on the outside the inner jacket arranged atomizer connected.

In a second embodiment, the shut-off device is for the supply of the liquid is connected to a cooling coil surrounding the inner jacket.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment contains

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the supply device for the liquid to be atomized! a shut-off device for removing condensed liquid from the autoclave, a pressure generator, a shut-off device for the supply of liquid, in particular water, and an atomizer arrangement.

In another embodiment of the invention, the arrangement for the supply of the cooling liquid consists of two independent flow circuits, the first of which is a line for discharging condensed liquid from the autoclave, a pressure generator, a shut-off device for the supply of liquid into the autoclave and a first atomizer and the second an independent source for the supply of cold liquid, in particular water, a shut-off for Z f _{u u} hr the cold liquid in the autoclave and a second atomizer.

In a modification, the second atomizer device and the cold liquid of the inner jacket can be omitted the cooling coil surrounding the autoclave.

According to a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the arrangement contains for the supply of a cooling liquid a line for removing condensed liquid from the autoclave, a pressure generator, a shut-off device for the supply of liquid into the autoclave with a first atomizer device, an independent one Source of a cold liquid, especially water,

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a shut-off device for the supply of the cold liquid into the autoclave and an atomizer device, wherein the independent source for cold liquid via an additional shut-off device on the inlet side of the pressure generator is connected to the line for removing the condensed liquid.

In a modification of this embodiment, the second atomizer device and the cold liquid can be omitted the cooling coil surrounding the inner jacket of the autoclave.

Thanks to the independent supply of cold liquid to the autoclave, a stronger thermal shock can be given to the contained Avoid containers, as the condensation water that occurs when the steam condenses in the autoclave is at the beginning of the The cooling process has a higher temperature. The independent Supply of the cold liquid, the source of which is necessarily under a higher pressure than the interior of the Autoclave also reduces the risk of an interruption in the flow of circulating water to the pressure generator by reducing the pressure prevailing in the autoclave.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the shut-off device can be used to empty or drain the liquid have an electrical level transmitter for maintaining a constant level of the liquid in the autoclave.

In a particularly advantageous further embodiment, the device can have a fan for whirling through the

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The atmosphere in the autoclave prior to actuation of the ATd blocking element for the supply of the coolant to be atomized contain.

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawing. Show in it:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention Contraption,

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 1 with a modification of the supply devices for those to be atomized Coolant,

3 shows an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 1 with a further modification of the supply devices for the cooling liquid to be atomized,

4 shows a second embodiment of the invention Contraption,

5 shows an ^{embodiment corresponding to FIG. L} V with a modification of the supply devices for the cooling liquid to be atomized, and FIG

6 shows an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 4 with a further modification of the feed devices for the coolant to be atomized.

The device shown in FIG. 1 has an autoclave designated overall by Λ , with a door 2 for introducing containers (not shown) into the autoclave

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and inserting the same into an inner jacket 3. The autoclave rests on feet 4-a, 4-b and contains a fan 5 ·

Connected to the autoclave 1 are a shut-off device 6 for
the supply of steam, a shut-off device 7 for the supply
of compressed gas, in particular air, shut-off devices 8 and 9 for the supply of a liquid, in particular
V / ater as well as with the shut-off devices 8 and 9 connected atomizer 10 and 11 respectively. These are in the form of
executed numerous bores having tubes and arranged so that the atomized liquid from the atomizing device 10 comes into contact with the containers inserted into the inner jacket 3 of the autoclave and the
liquid atomized from the atomizing device 11
cannot come into direct contact with the containers.

The device also contains a drain valve 12 and a circulation valve 13 for feeding a pressure generator 14. This also receives a liquid, such as water, supplied from an independent source 15 and feeds over
the shut-off device 8, the atomizing device 10 with cooling liquid. A flow connection between the interior of the autoclave and the free environment can be established via a further valve 16.

The autoclave is also equipped with a thermostat 17 and a pressure regulator 18, which are preferably used as programming devices are carried out and serve the purposes explained below.

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The device shown is "for example a sterilization apparatus for toothbrushes filled in glass containers. The device has for cooling the container by atomizing a liquid and sprinkling the container the following mode of action:

At the end of the sterilization in the autoclave 1 there is either only steam or a mixture of steam and a gas, in particular air, existing atmosphere, which can be swirled by means of the fan 5. For the After inserting the container and closing the door 2, steam is generated via the atmosphere The shut-off element 6 and a gas are supplied via the shut-off element 7. If the gas is air, it can this must also have entered the autoclave before the door was closed.

In the embodiment described, the gas used is air and the liquid used is water.

When heating the in (not shown) baskets inserted into the inner jacket 3 of the autoclave 1 and Part of the steam condenses on the walls of the autoclave and the condensed water collects at the bottom of the Autoclave.

At the end of the sterilization, a temperature of 120 ^° C. and a relative pressure of 1.8 bar prevail in the autoclave.

Since the relative pressure of the steam at a temperature of 120 ^° C. is equal to 1 bar, the pressure component of 0.8 bar is based on the presence of air.

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The temperature should now be reduced ^{from 120 to 70 °} C. within three minutes, for example, while maintaining a pressure of 1.8 bar.

The device has the following mode of operation: The thermostat 17, which is designed as a programming device, is programmed so that he the shut-off valve 9 for the supply of water to a to achieve the desired temperature reduction The measure provided opens within the desired time.

When the shut-off device is opened by means of the thermostat 9 water is atomized through the atomizer tube 11 without it coming into contact with the inner jacket 3 located containers comes, but it causes a drop in the temperature in the autoclave 1.

Since the pressure in the autoclave also drops here, the pressure regulator 18, which is also designed as a programming device, effects Via the shut-off element 7, the supply of compressed air for the Compensate for the pressure drop.

In this way, the temperature drops gradually from 120 to 70 ° C. in three minutes if this is maintained a relative pressure of 1.8 bar, i.e. an absolute pressure of 2.8 bar.

At a temperature of 70 ⁰ C, the pressure of the steam con in itself only 0.7 bar. In terms of the absolute pressure of the thus based on the vapor pressure ratio is 1 to 0.7 bar, or 0.3 bar of total

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2.8 bar. The proportion of air in the absolute pressure is now 2.8 - 0.3 bar, i.e. 2.5 bar.

Even if there is no more compressed air through the shut-off device 7, the pressure would not drop from 2.8 bar by more than 0.3 bar to 2.5 bar. Without the one described Arrangement, the relative pressure of 1.8 bar would decrease by the proportion of the vapor pressure from 1 bar to 0.8 bar, since the steam is condensed by the atomization of the water and its share of the total pressure is eliminated.

The programmed temperature reduction from 120 to 70 ⁰ C is only given as an example. The temperature can, for example, also be reduced from 120 to 55 ° G, in which case the proportion of the vapor pressure is further reduced to about 0.14 bar.

In the three Hinuten during which the largest part of the steam at a constant pressure is replaced by compressed air, the temperature drops from the container walls from 120 ⁰ C to about 105 ° C.

After the temperature has been reduced under constant pressure, the pressure generator 14 is started up and the Shut-off elements 8 and 13 to initiate further cooling by direct atomization. This then becomes a part of the condensation water is sucked in via the shut-off element 13 and is added to the cold water coming from the source 15. The resulting mixture is fed from the pressure generator 14 to the atomizing device 10 via the shut-off device 8.

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If one assumes that the total amount of liquid conveyed by the pressure generator 14 is 70% water coming from the source 15 with a temperature of 10 ^° C. and 30% condensation water with a temperature of about 100 ^° C. supplied via the shut-off device 13 from the autoclave 1 contains, then according to the mixing law there is a temperature of about 37 ° C. for the liquid supplied to the autoclave via the atomizing device 10.

With a wall temperature of 105 ^° C., atomized water with a temperature of 37 G acts on the containers, so there is a temperature difference of 105 - 37 equal to 68 ^° C.

However, without the provision for the recirculation of the condensation water, the temperature difference fraudulent 105-10 ⁰ C, that is 95 G, and without the inventive device as a whole it fraudulent 120-10 ⁰ G, so 110 ⁰ G.

The thermal shock that occurs at a temperature difference of 110 ^° C., which can easily lead to the container bursting, is thus considerably weakened by reducing the temperature difference between the container walls and the water to 68 ^{° C.}

The drain valve 12 is preferably connected to an electrical level transmitter and can be actuated via this in such a way that the mixture of cold water and condensed water in the lower part of the autoclave is gradually drained to the level of the water in the autoclave should preferably be kept constant.

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In a time which is shorter, the higher the delivery rate of the pressure generator 14, the circulating water flowing in via the shut-off element 13 cools down steadily to a temperature in the range of approximately 10 ^° C.

Thanks to the fact that the amount of water circulating in the container in the inner jacket 3 is greater than the amount dispensed the source 15 is achieved with the device according to the invention in addition to the advantages listed above a more uniform temperature distribution between the successive layers of the container in the inner jacket.

During the cooling down by sprinkling, the fan can be put into operation for a certain time in order to swirl through the initially still warm atmosphere in the autoclave and thus to reduce the thermal shock. Depending on the The fan can then operate the device in a period of time between 30 seconds and 3 minutes be shut down after the start of cooling.

The device shown in Fig. 2 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 in that an independent Source 19 for a cold liquid, in particular water, via a valve 20 to an atomizing device arranged in the autoclave 21 feeds directly.

The mode of operation of the device shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to that explained above with reference to FIG. 1, insofar as it concerns lowering the temperature at substantially constant pressure.

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The pressure generator 14 and the valves 8 and 20 are set in motion for cooling by atomizing the water are opened. The pressure generator circulates the water that has collected at the bottom of the autoclave and directs it to it The autoclave is closed again via the valve 8 and the atomizing device, while that from the source 19 via the valve and cold water supplied to the atomizing device 21 results in a steady decrease in the temperature of the circulating water causes. Excess water is drained off via the drain valve, so that an essentially constant water temperature in the autoclave Stand height is maintained.

The device shown in Fig. 3 differs from that shown in Fig. 2 in that the independent source 19 of cold liquid via a valve 22 on the Inflow side of the pressure generator 14 · on the Eondens or circulating water line starting from the bottom of the autoclave connected.

The mode of operation of this device is the same as that of the device according to FIG. 2 with the additional advantage that the circulating cooling liquid certain amounts of cold water can be added to the in the autoclave to cool the circulating liquid faster and thus to accelerate the cooling of the container. this happens by opening valve 22.

The valve 22 is preferably provided with a control device, for example a time control, and can according to the start of the pressure generator 14 simultaneously with the

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Valves 8 and 20 or any predetermined one Time after the pressure generator has been started.

The embodiments of the device according to the invention shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 differ from the embodiments shown in FIGS The outlet initially opens at the bottom of the autoclave 1. The cooling coil 11 ^f is connected to the shut-off device 9 and replaces the atomizer tube 11 present in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The operation of the devices according to FIGS. 4-6 is similar to that of the devices of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3j with the The difference is that when the shut-off device 9 is opened, controlled by the thermostat 17, no water without contact with the containers in the autoclave is atomized, but that the water flows through the cooling coil 11 'and thereby their Wall cools so that the steam present in the autoclave is deposited on it. To do this, the steam is in the autoclave kept in motion by starting the fan 5.

In a Abwandlung- ¹ -;:, of the embodiments of Figures 5 and 6, the sparge tube 21 may be omitted, and connected 20 at the downstream side of the shut-off device 9 with the cooling coil 11 'the valve.. However, this design is not shown in the drawing.

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It is also possible to omit one of the valves 20 or 9 and the remaining valve on the source 19 for
to connect cold liquid on the one hand and to the coil 11 'on the other hand, so that it can take over the function of both valves or shut-off devices.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but extends to the most varied Changes and modifications to the same.

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Claims (20)

Patent claims : Γ- Λ.) Procedure for rapid cooling of containers in a closed space filled with an atmosphere containing steam and / or a gas, in particular air, in particular of containers containing food in a sterilizing autoclave, characterized in that that the closed space a liquid, especially water, which is not with the containers in Contact comes, as well as a pressurized gas, especially air, to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the closed space, and that you then with simultaneous regulation and control of the pressure in the closed space atomizes a cooling liquid with progressively decreasing temperature therein, so that it comes into contact with the containers. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the not in contact with the containers incoming liquid is atomized in the closed space. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the not in contact with the containers incoming liquid is introduced into this via a cooling coil arranged in the closed space. 4. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the through Condensation of the steam when it comes into contact with the 409832/0349 2C Containers in the closed Eaum and with its walls the resulting liquid is put into circulation again, with the liquid set in circulation being part of the cooling liquid represents. 5 · The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4-, characterized in that the in the The existing atmosphere is swirled through before the water is atomized. 6. Device for performing a method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized characterized in that it has an autoclave (1) with an inner jacket (3) for receiving the container and that the autoclave has a shut-off device (6) for the supply of steam to generate a steam or a mixture of steam and a gas, in particular air, formed atmosphere in the autoclave, a shut-off device (9) for supplying a liquid, in particular water, to the outside of the inner jacket to lower the internal temperature of the autoclave and thus for indirect cooling of the container, a shut-off device (7) for the supply of a compressed Gas, in particular air, the opening of which to maintain a substantially constant or controlled Pressure in the autoclave can be controlled during the lowering of the temperature, an arrangement (10) for feeding and atomizing a coolant, a shut-off device. (12) to drain the mixture of condensed and atomized Liquid and a shut-off element (16) for establishing a flow connection between the autoclave and the free one 409832/0349 Environment. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the shut-off element (9) for the supply of liquid is connected to an atomizing device (11) arranged outside the inner jacket (3). 8. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the shut-off element (9) for the supply of liquid is connected to a cooling coil (11 ') surrounding the inner jacket (3). 9. Device according to at least one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the arrangement a shut-off device (13) for the return of the in the autoclave for introducing and atomizing cooling liquid (1) condensed liquid, a pressure generator (14) and a shut-off device (8) for the supply of the liquid has an atomizer device (10). 10. The device according to at least one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the arrangement is formed for introducing the cooling liquid from two independent flow circuits, from the first of which is a line for discharging condensed liquid from the autoclave (1) and a pressure generator (14-) a shut-off valve (8) for the supply of the liquid to the autoclave and an atomizer device (10) and the second an independent source (19) for a cold liquid, in particular water, and a shut-off element (20) for the Having supply of the cold liquid to the autoclave. 409832/0349 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the shut-off element (20) for the supply an atomizing device (21) is assigned from cold liquid to the autoclave (1). 12. Apparatus according to claim 8 and 10, characterized in that the shut-off element (20) for the supply of the cold liquid with the inner jacket (3) of the autoclave (1) surrounding cooling coil (11 ') is connected. 13. Device according to at least one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the arrangement for introducing the cooling liquid is a line for discharging the condensed liquid from the autoclave (1), a pressure generator (14-), a shut-off element (8) for introducing the liquid into the autoclave and an atomizer device (10) and that one via a Shut-off element (20) for the supply of a cold liquid, in particular water, connected to the autoclave independent source (19) for the cold liquid on the inflow side of the pressure generator via an additional one The shut-off element (22) is connected to the line for discharging condensed liquid. 14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that on the shut-off element (20) for the supply an atomizing device (21) is connected from cold cooling liquid to the autoclave (1). 409832/0349 15. Device according to claims 8 and 14, characterized in that on the shut-off element (20) the cooling coil (11 ') surrounding the inner jacket (5) in the autoclave is connected for the supply of cold liquid is. 16. The device according to at least one of claims 6 to 15, characterized in that the shut-off element (12) an electrical level sensor is assigned to drain the liquid to measure the level of the liquid to be kept constant in the autoclave. 17 · Device according to at least one of claims 6 to 16, characterized in that it has a fan (5) for whirling through the in the autoclave (1) Atmosphere before actuation of the shut-off element (8) for the supply of the atomized directly onto the container Contains liquid. 18. The device according to at least one of claims 6 to 17 »characterized in that it has a Thermostats (17) and a pressure regulator (18) for controlling or regulating the temperature decrease at constant or has controlled or regulated internal pressure of the autoclave. 19 · Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the thermostat and the pressure regulator as Programming device are formed. 20. Method and device as above with reference to FIG Drawing described and claimed. 409832/0349 Blank page