DE3339839A1 - METHOD FOR FILLING CARBONIC-FREE DRINKS - Google Patents

Description

- / lö for filling non-carbonated beverages

The invention relates to a method for filling so-called gas-free beverages, namely non-carbonated Beverages, e.g. B. fruit juice, coffee, wine, cocoa drinks, lactobacillus drinks, black tea, rice wine (Sake), soup, tea, barley tea or brew, drinks, mineral water and the like, in soft, thin-walled cans, about aluminum cans and the like.

Soft-sheet cans, typically drawn aluminum and sheet-iron cans, are generally used instead of cans made of sheet steel and tinplate for carbonated (carbonated or CO _2- enriched) beverages containing large amounts of CO, such as beer, soda water and the like, because such soft-sheet cans are superior to the last-mentioned cans due to their low weight, the simpler processing possibility into a two-part can, a higher possibility of recycling and the higher product quality that can be expected.

If such thin-walled soft cans for filling

can be used in carbonated beverages their original shape against atmospheric pressure by means of the partial pressure of gaseous carbonic acid sustained because of the internal pressure of the can after Filling and sealing, even if the contents have been chilled at the time of consumption, is quite a pleasure Retains great value while soft metal cans used for filling with carbonated beverages, such as Aluminum cans are inconvenient in that they are present in the case of carbonated beverages Partial pressure is missing and therefore the internal pressure of the can is clear drops below atmospheric pressure when the cans are refrigerated after filling and sealing. That leads to the fact that such soft sheet metal cans their original shape due to their low intrinsic compressive strength fail to maintain and become deformed or slightly deformed when grasped with the fingers. The fact is that aluminum cans in particular, despite various advantages, have so far not been used for non-carbonated ones Drinks are used.

On the other hand, attempts are being made to fill non-carbonated beverages into thin-walled soft metal cans, like aluminum cans, employed. One of these

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Method consists, for example, in that a non-carbonated mixed drink is pasteurized at about 95 ° C, then cooled to a temperature of 5 ° C or below, gaseous N _{2 is dissolved} in it at this cooling temperature and then heated again to 60 ° C to counteract it To sterilize mold, fungal and bacterial infestation (see JP-OS 72675/1981). However, this method is likely in view of the energy loss in the essential process steps of dissolving gaseous N- in the drink, filling the drink into cans at the extremely low filling temperature of 5 ° C or below and reheating for sterilization after completion of the Filling / dispensing processes occurs, be unsuitable for practice.

Furthermore, a method has already been developed in which liquefied N _{2 is introduced} into a can filled with a drink before it is closed or covered, and the can is then closed, with simultaneous vaporization with gaseous N ₂ (see JP-OS 4521 / 1981). However, this method has not yet found industrial application in the relevant field because the control of the liquefied N ₂ has proven difficult.

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Furthermore, a filling process has already been proposed in which a gas mixture consisting of a very small amount of gaseous CO _{2 is dissolved} with gaseous N ₂ (cf. JP-OS 99183/1977). However, this method is based on the pure assumption that when using the gas mixture mentioned, the partial pressure of the gaseous CO, which is present in very small quantities, could be used to increase the internal pressure of the can so that the can is deformed even under atmospheric pressure is prevented. However, since there is no statement regarding the essential or actual filling conditions, e.g. B. filling temperature, CO ^ proportion in the mixed gas or pressure at which the gas mixture is dissolved, this method has not yet been used in practice.

With regard to the circumstances described is the The invention is based on the object of the basic conditions at the time of filling in order to match the original can shape to keep the cans closed and / or covered, and to ensure a corresponding Process of creating carbonated beverages by mixing in thin-walled soft metal cans, such as Aluminum cans, filled and then placed in the pasteur

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sized beverages (initially) gaseous Nj and then gaseous CO ₂ in a very small amount, which is within the range of values required for non-carbonated drinks after they have been dissolved under pressure.

The invention also aims to provide an energy-saving method that allows filling at a higher rate Permits temperature and thus heat losses during pasteurization, filling and closing or folding as well largely reduced during subsequent pasteurization.

Furthermore, the invention aims to create a method in which the existing filling devices and roads for carbonated beverages are usable without modification and thus on the provision special equipment can be dispensed with. The existing machines should be used effectively can be, at the same time the bottling lines for carbonated and non-carbonated beverages and the doses used should be standardized.

The stated object is achieved in a method for filling carbonated beverages according to the invention in that gaseous N ₂ and CO _{2 are achieved} under pressure in a mixed and then pasteurized beverage liquid under appropriate solution or saturation conditions, the weight ratio of the gaseous CO ₂ to the Beverage liquid 15: 10,000 or less is that the beverage liquid is filled into thin-walled soft metal cans under appropriate filling conditions, that gaseous N ₂ or a CO ₂ -containing inert gas is inflated during the time from filling to sealing or cover on the top of each can in order to displace the air in the head space of the can, and then each can is closed or capped, the solution conditions being the solution temperature, the pressure for dissolving the gases in the beverage liquid and the ratio of CO ₂ and N ₂ in the beverage liquid e already solved, include and are determined in such a way that the associated can internal pressure-temperature curve lies within a range, the upper limit of which forms a can internal pressure-temperature curve which passes through the point of 1.1 bar at 5 C, and the lower limit of which is a Can internal pressure temperature

curve, which runs through a point of 8 bar at a heating temperature for the subsequent pasteurization, by evaluating or plotting values in a diagram, the ordinate of which indicates the internal pressure of the can after the completion of filling and closing and the abscissa of the temperature, determination of the CO ₂ - Ratio and the solution pressure, which fall within the said can internal pressure temperature range at a particular temperature, in that the can internal pressure is entered in the said range, which is established after filling and sealing and which can be obtained by changing the ratio of the _{CO 2} and N ₂ dissolved in the beverage liquid and the pressure for dissolving these gases in the beverage liquid within the maximum range of 8 bar, and the corresponding solution or saturation conditions are determined which lie within the can internal pressure temperature curve range, the filling conditions are the same conditions as those observed when dissolving or saturating.

According to the invention when working according to the method described above, a filling temperature of

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20-81 ° C, expediently from 50-65 ° C and preferably from 60 ° C.

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of the method according to the invention and

Figure 2 is a graph showing the relationships between can internal pressure and temperature as Result of a change in the respective conditions.

The beverages to be filled according to the invention are the beverages mentioned at the outset, which are described in thin-walled soft metal cans, typically aluminum cans, are to be filled.

According to FIG. 1, non-carbonated beverage liquids such as fruit juice or the like are removed from an air vent 1 transferred to a mixing container 2 and mixed in the latter. Then the drink is pasteurized, usually at a temperature of around 80-95 C,

and then passed to a saturator 4. On the other hand, gaseous CO ₂ and N ₃ , which are supplied by a CO ₂ generator 5 or an N "generator, are regulated with regard to temperature and quantity when supplied in mixed gas form by means of valves 7, 8 and a heating container and then by means of a mixer 9 mixed together in a predetermined ratio. The gas mixture is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by an automatic pressure control valve 10 and then passed to the saturation apparatus 4. When gaseous CO ₂ and N ₃ are supplied separately, each gas is pressurized separately to a predetermined pressure and supplied to the saturation apparatus 4. In this case, gaseous N _{2 can be passed} through an appropriate line upstream of the saturation apparatus 4. The beverage liquid, in which gaseous CO ₂ and N ₂ have been dissolved under pressure, flows from the saturation apparatus 4 via a calming container 13 to a filling unit 11, where the liquid is filled while maintaining the pressure applied during dissolving or saturation. After filling, gaseous N ₂ or a gas mixture of N ₂ and a CO ₂ -containing inert gas is applied to the top of a (each) can while it is exposed to the ambient air

is exposed, sprayed or blown before the lid is closed, ie welded, so that the air in the headspace area of the can is displaced by these gases, whereupon the lid is attached to the can in a sealing machine 12. The gas with which the top of the can is blown can be gaseous N, alone or an inert gas containing _{CO o.}

Since the beverage * to be bottled according to the invention is carbonic acid-free should be, the amount of gaseous CO- to be dissolved in the drink is of course limited. According to the invention the upper limit of the amount of CO ~ to be dissolved in the beverage under pressure is defined as the amount those with regard to the taste in the range of a carbonic acid-free drink, namely at a weight ratio of 15: 10000, preferably 5: 10000, based on the drink.

With a view to limiting the internal can pressure that occurs after the dissolved, gaseous _{beverage containing CO 2} and N _{2 has been} filled and enclosed, drawn aluminum and sheet iron cans are used as containers according to the invention

(Cylinder wall thickness 0.14 mm and bottom thickness O _f 42 mm) which have the lowest strength of the thin-walled soft metal cans that can be used according to the invention and which, however, have a wide range of applications as cans for carbonated beverages. These doses are used as the basis for the test for the presence of deformations. More precisely, investigations have been carried out on the assumption that when there are conditions under which drawn aluminum and sheet iron cans do not deform, normal thin-walled soft sheet metal cans or other aluminum and sheet iron cans naturally also do not deform. In the case of the aluminum and sheet iron cans mentioned, the internal pressure must be kept below 8 bar, namely below the maximum compressive strength of the cans, at the temperature of the subsequent pasteurization in a sterilizing machine or the like after the cans have been filled and sealed. The heating temperature depends on the beverage being filled. She is z. B. at 60 ° C for fruit juice and at 120 ° C in the case of coffee. When the cans are cooled to a suitable drinking temperature of about 5 ° C, the internal pressure of the can must be high enough so that the can retains its original shape under atmospheric pressure and cannot be deformed by finger pressure, ie the pressure must

1.1 bar or higher, preferably 1.4 bar or higher, at 5 ° C.

By evaluating and plotting the internal can pressure calculated for each temperature in the areas limited by the axes Area according to FIG. 2, in which the equilibrium internal can pressure after filling is on the ordinate and sealing of the cans is plotted, and the temperature on the abscissa can now be an internal pressure-temperature curve A for the highest possible pressure (when sterilizing using a retort for a Pasteurization temperature of 120 °) and an internal pressure-temperature curve B drawn for the minimum pressure will. The curve B runs through a point of 1.4 bar at 5 C.

Calculation examples for determining the corresponding maximum and minimum pressure curves or limits are given below. The following prerequisites or basic conditions are specified: aluminum cans with a capacity of 500 ml and a headspace volume of 27.8 ml; CO ₂ concentration in the drink corresponding to a weight ratio of 5: 10,000 or less; no chemical changes in the doses after

Bottling the drink; Can body free from bulging or indentation due to changes in internal can pressure; Amount of residual air at 20 ° C as a result of blowing an _{inert gas containing N 2} or CO ₃ onto the top of the can until the can is closed after it has been filled = 3.0 ml; _{gaseous N 2} contained in the can calculated as such; N ₂ volume corresponding to 80% of the air volume; O ₂ content of the air = 20%, the proportion dissolved in the drink being negligible; the gases dissolved under pressure are not released into the outside air, even if the beverage is exposed to the ambient air between filling and sealing.

Examples of calculating the maximum and minimum pressure curves for can internal pressure under the above Requirements are listed below:

Examples for the calculation of the maximum and minimum pressure curves for the internal pressure of the can:

Factors necessary for the calculation (filled at 20 ° C Drink volume = 500 ml; Head space = 27.8 ml; and amount of air mixed in = 3 ml).

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Example for the calculation of the O ₂ partial pressure in the head space of the can (at 20 ° C)

3.0 χ 0.2 χ 1 Po ₂ χ 27.9

273 + 20

273

= 0.020

(a) Example for calculating the minimum pressure curve:

The minimum pressure curve gives the relationship between the Temperature and the internal pressure of the can after filling and sealing, at which the can after the Cooling to 5 ° C is still able to retain its original shape due to the internal pressure. In the The minimum pressure curve determined in the present case, the internal pressure of the can at 5 ° C. is in the range of 1.4 bar or more. When the CX ^ weight ratio is 5/10000 is specified, its gas volume ratio (vol / vol), calculated at 0 ° C and 1 bar, is as follows certainly:

Gas volume ratio

10,000

Gas volume in normal molecular weight

5 22400 χ

10,000

= 0.2545 (Vol / Vol)

BATH

Table 1 - 1 Temperature-dependent volume changes

Tempe
rature
(OC) Speci
fish
weight water
Volume volume
(ml) (ml) 499.2 volume
of the Alumi
nium doses
body
(ml) head
space
(ml) O 0.99986 1,00013 499.1 527.1 27.9 5 0.9996 1.00004 500.0 527.3 28.2 20th 0.99820 1.00177 503.0 527.8 27.8 40 0.99222 1.00784 507.6 528.5 25.5 60 0.98320 1.01708 515.3 529.2 21.6 85 0.96862 1.03239 521.5 530.2 14.9 120 _ _ 531.4 9.9

Table 1 - 2 Bunsen absorption coefficient, vapor pressure of

Water and O ₂ partial pressure of the remaining air at the respective temperature

Tempe
rature
(OC) Bunsen absorption
coefficient 1.713 Vapor pressure
of water
(bar) O ₂ partial pressure
the remaining air
(bar) 0 0.0235 1.424 0.006 0.020 5 0.0209 0.878 0.006 0.020 20th 0.0155 0.530 0.022 0.020 40 0.0118 0.365 0.072 0.025 60 0.0102 0.267 0.197 0.032 85 0.0095 0.200 0.570 0.049 120 0.0090 BAD ORIfiiWAi 1,960 0.082

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(a) - I Next, the state of the gas in a can (5 ° C, 1.4 bar) is calculated.

(i) Partial pressure of gaseous CO ₂ calculated according to Henry's law as follows:

Dissolved volume of CO ₂

* f CO ₂ =

Bunsen absorption coefficient of CO- at 5 ° C

0.2545

= 0.179 bar.

1.424

(ii) Partial pressure of gaseous N ₂ PN ₂ = can internal pressure - partial pressure of (CO ₂ + water vapor β O ₂ ) = 1.4 - (0.179 + 0.006 + 0.020) = 1.195 bar.

(iii) the total amount of N ₂ in the box (at 0 C, 1 bar) total amount of N ₂ in the socket of the liquid dissolved N = in + N ₂ amount ₂ ~ Volume

in the headspace

273 = 499.1 χ 0.0209 χ 1.195 + 28.2 χ 1.195 χ

278 = 45.558 ml

(a) - II The state of the gas in a can (cooled to 0 ° C with an airtight enclosure) is calculated as follows:

(i) Partial pressure of gaseous CO. Calculated in the same way: partial pressure of CO ₂ gas

0.2545

1.713 (Bunsen absorption coefficient of CO- at

= 0.148 bar

(ii) Partial pressure of gaseous KL · partial pressure of N ₂ ~ gas

^ -Total amount in the can

_{N 2} ~ quantity + N ₂ ~ quantity soluble in the liquid

in the headspace

45.558

499.2 χ 0.0235 + 27.9 = 1.450 bar.

(a) - III Calculation of the total amount of KIO ₂ (at 0 ° C, 1 bar)

BATH ORIGINAL

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Total amount of CO ₃ -GaS = amount of CO ^ dissolved in the liquid + amount of gas in the head space

273

= 500 χ 0.2899 χ 0.878 + χ 27.8 χ 0.2899

293

(Partial pressure of gaseous CO,)

= 134.775 ml.

(a) - IV Changes in can interior gas pressure as a function of temperature changes

An example of calculating the internal can pressure at 60 ° C is described below. It should be noted that the internal pressure of the can, as in the case described below for 60 ° C, can be calculated for other temperatures; by connecting each obtained measuring points, a minimum pressure line or limit B can be obtained, the passes through the point of 1.4 bar at 5 ° C.

(i) Partial pressure of gaseous CO ₃ If the partial pressure of gaseous CO ₃ at 60 ° C is equal to yCO ₂ , the amount of CO ₂ contained in a can is 134.775 ml.

As a result, the following equation can be set up:
134.775 = 507.6 χ 0.365 χ yC0 ₂ + 21.6

273
χ —— yco ₉ .

333 ^z
Thus yCO, = 0.664 bar.

(ii) Partial pressure of gaseous N ₂ If the partial pressure of gaseous N ~ at 60 ° C = yN _{2 , the amount of N 2} ~ contained in a can is 45.558 ml. Accordingly, the following equation can be drawn up:

273 45.558 = 507.6 χ 0.0102 χ yN ₉ + 21.6 χ yNL

* 333

Accordingly, yN ₂ = 1.991 bar.

(iii) Internal can pressure

Internal can pressure at 60 ° C = 0.664 + 1.991 + 0.197

+ 0.032 = 2.88 bar.

(b) Maximum pressure line or limit

In the method according to the invention, which is based on pasteurized

If non-carbonated beverages are applicable, a subsequent pasteurization of fruit juice generally takes place at 60 ° C. Therefore, if fruit juice is bottled at 60 ° C, subsequent pasteurization is required superfluous. In the case of coffee that is retorted at 120 ° C, however, it is necessary to to maintain a can internal pressure-temperature curve A, which passes the point of 8 bar at 120 ° C and which can be drawn by connecting the relevant measuring points together, which are performed by calculation of the respective can internal pressure as a function of temperature changes in the same way as the previously described minimum pressure line or limit have been obtained.

To dissolve the gases in the drink, it is also necessary to determine the other solution conditions, namely the solution ratio of CCU to N ₂ in the drink, the solution pressure for these gases and the solution temperature, in such a way that these conditions are in the area between the curves A and B lie.

A particularly important feature of the invention can be seen in the fact that using the CO ₀ : N -

^A.

Relationship in the beverage and the solution pressure for these gases, a pressure-temperature curve is drawn as parameters by plotting the CO ₂ ratio and the solution pressure as a function of variable or different conditions such as for specifying the maximum and minimum pressure limits and connecting the relevant measuring points will.

Since the pressure applied when dissolving the gases in the drink is also transferred to the can, its maximum value is set at 8 bar, taking into account the previously described can strength (cf. curve C to be explained), but corresponding pressure-temperature curves are then used for practical purposes , values below 8 bar were determined (cf. curves C - C " ¹ ").

In this context it has surprisingly been shown that even when N ₂ and CO _{2 are dissolved} in a gaseous state under pressure in a drink and during the filling and closing or covering in the process sequence described with reference to FIG. 1, the atmosphere or ambient air exposed, these gases can hardly be made to escape from the drink if gaseous N ₀ or a GO _o -containing one

Inert gas is inflated on the top of the can and thereby the air contained in the headspace through this Gas or these gases is replaced. According to the invention, these can thus be used in the beverage liquid gases dissolved almost completely before the completion of the filling and sealing of the beverage liquid be kept dissolved in the liquid.

The partial pressure calculated on the basis of the amount of gaseous CO ^ and N ₂ / which are dissolved under pressure, the N ^ partial pressure in the head space of the can after filling and sealing, and the partial pressure of water vapor and the partial pressure of O ₂ can thus be calculated as follows sum up:

Example for calculating the internal pressure of the can according to the Filling and capping

As indicated above, the internal can pressure after filling and closing or covering in an area between the minimum and maximum pressure line or limit corresponding to the respective temperature prevailing at this point in time.

On the other hand, as mentioned, the filling pressure of the

Filling machine corresponds practically to the pressure under which the gases are dissolved, the solution pressure is the Gases, namely the filling pressure, due to the inherent internal pressure resistance of the can body limited. The pressure under which the gases are dissolved was therefore for the Cases of 8 bar (maximum) as well as 7 bar, 6 bar, 5 bar, 4 bar and 3 bar respectively are calculated.

The can emerging from the filling machine is initially exposed to the ambient air and then enters the sealing machine. However, since the can is sprayed or blown with gaseous N ~ during this period of time, an N ₂ gas atmosphere remains in its head space. However, it can be assumed that the head space contains 3 ml of residual air.

(a) Filling temperature is 60 ° C

(a) - 1 Calculation of the COj gas amount in the - gas phase part of the saturation apparatus The total amount of gaseous CO ₂ in the can is 134.775 ml. If the CO ^ gas concentration at which the gases are dissolved under pressure is = X, can the relevant gas solution pressure can be calculated according to Henry's law as follows:

(a) - 1 - 1 gas solution pressure = 8 bar

134.775 = 507.6 χ 0.365 χ 8 χ Χ X = 0.091.

(a) -1-2 gas solution pressure = 7 bar

134.775 = 507.6 χ 0.365 χ 7 χ Χ X = 0/104.

In the same way, the gas (a) - 1 - 3 solution pressure can be used for the other pressure values determine:

6 bar ... X = 0.121,

5 bar ... X = 0.146,

4 bar ... X = 0.182,

3 bar ... X = 0.243.

(a) - 2 N ₂ gas quantities at the respective gas solution pressure

The amount of gaseous N ₂ present at each pressure is obtained by adding up the _{N 2 amount in the liquid, the N 2} amount in the head space and the N ₂ amount in the admixed air calculated as described below.

(a) -2-1 gas solution pressure = 8 bar

273 507.6 x 0.0102 χ 8 (1-0.091) + (21.6-3) χ

273
+ 3 χ 0.8) χ j ~ = 54.867 ml

(a) - 2 - 2 gas solution pressure = 7 bar

507.6 χ 0.0102 χ 7 χ (1 - 0.104) + (21.6 - 3)

χ j— + (3 χ 0.8) χ | j | ⁼ 49.689 ml.

(a) - 2 -3 gas solution pressure = 6 bar

507.6 χ 0.0102 χ 6 χ (1 - 0.121) + - (21.6 - 3) χ - ^ + (3 χ 0.8 χ «τ - 44.522 ml

(a) - 2 - 4 to 6

The gas solution pressure becomes 39.324 ml at 5 bar, 34.157 ml at 4 bar in the same way or 28.974 ml at 3 bar.

(a) - 3 Calculation of the partial pressure of gaseous CO ₂ in the can

Since the CO ₂ gas volume in the can (calculated in ml at 0 ° C and 1 bar) according to (a) - 1 is 134.775 ml, the partial pressure of the gaseous CO ₂ in the can yC can be calculated using the following formula:

-ίο ··

134.775 = 507.6 0.365 yC + χ 21.6 χ yC yC = 0.664 bar.

(a) - 4 Calculation of the partial pressure of the gaseous N ₂ in the can

Since the volume of gaseous N ₂ contained in the can (calculated in ml at 0 ° C and 1 bar) corresponds to the size specified under (a) - 2, if the partial pressure of the gaseous N ₂ in the can = yN , the following formulas can be established:

(a) - 4 - 1 gas solution pressure = 8 bar ₂ _ ₃ 54.867 = 507.6 χ 0.0102 yN + + 21.6 yN yN - 2.398 bar.

(a) - 4 - 2 gas solution pressure = 7 bar

27 * 3 49.689 = 507.6 χ 0.0102 yN + ^{Χ 21; 6 yN} yN = 2.171 bar

(a) - 4 - 3 to 6

For gas solution pressures of 6 bar, 5 bar, 4 bar and 3 bar, yN can be converted to 1.945 bar, 1.718 bar, 1.492 bar and 1.266 bar in the same way to calculate.

(a) - 5 Calculation of the total internal pressure in the can

The total internal pressure in the can is equal to the sum of ((a) - 3 = partial pressure of CO ₂ ), ((a) - 4 = partial pressure of N ₂ ),

(Partial pressure of H ₂ O) and

(Partial pressure of O ₂ ).

The total equilibrium pressure inside the can immediately after filling and Closing, corresponding to each gas solution pressure, is below for the filling temperature of 60 ° C is given. These sum values are plotted in FIG.

Gas solution partial pressure of total pressure Co ₉ N ₀ H ₉ OO ₉ pressure (bar) (bear) (bear) (bar) (bear) (bar)

o, 664 2.398 0.197 0.032 3.291

0.664 2.171 0.197 0.032 3.064

0.664 1.945 0.197 0.032 2.838

0.664 1.718 0.197 0.032 2.611

0.664 1.492 0.197 0.032 2.385

0.664 1.266 0.197 0.032 2.159

In the same way as for the temperature of 60 ° C, the internal pressure of the can is calculated after the completion of the filling and sealing by changing the magnitudes of the pressure at which the gases are dissolved at the temperatures concerned. These values or quantities are plotted in the space outlined by the ordinates and the abscissa. By connecting the individual measuring points, curves C, C, C ", C" ¹ , etc. can be obtained.

(c) Calculation of the pressure-temperature _{curve for the CO 2} ratio in the gas

The can internal pressure-temperature curve after filling and closing or covering is calculated using the gas solution pressure and the temperature, the CO ₂ : N ₂ and CO ₂ ratio for the gases dissolved in the liquid under pressure being regarded as constant. This calculation is carried out in the same way as the calculation of the ratio of CO ₂ : (other) gases as a function of the solution pressure at the temperature of 60 ° C.

On the other hand, the can internal pressure was also increased in filling and sealing under various conditions

-sause of the bottling line for carbonated Drinks measured in order to confirm that the above-mentioned logically assumed values or quantities are essentially practical.

As a result, a practically usable graph was set up that shows at a glance the relationships between the equilibrium pressure inside the can after filling and sealing and the conditions required for filling (e.g. filling temperature, ratio of CO ₂ to (other) gases and gas solution pressure) .

A graph (KH diagram) shown in FIG. 2 can be produced in the manner described. If the corresponding characteristics ^ such as quality, dimensions, strength, volume, volume of the head space and the like, the thin-walled soft-sheet metal can are specified, the relevant KH diagrams drawn up or subscribed in accordance with the conditions specified in each case.

If the gases are dissolved in the beverage liquid under the conditions in the range which

from the maximum pressure curve A and the minimum pressure curve B for the can internal pressure as well as the can internal pressure-temperature curve C running through the point of 8 bar is outlined, the can internal pressure after completion of the filling and closing or topping is within the predetermined area in which no can deformation occurs, so that as a result thin-walled Soft tin cans can be filled with non-carbonated drinks.

The conditions required for actual filling can be determined as follows using the diagram according to FIG A or curve C and curve B can be obtained by going up from the predetermined temperature point shown in Figure 2, and furthermore the ratio of CO ₂ to (other) gases can be determined in such a way that any solution pressure within this range selected and the relevant relationship tapped at the intersection between the solution pressure and the temperature

will. Alternatively, it is also possible to derive the permissible range of the ratio of CO ₂ to (other) gases between curve A or curve C and curve B at the specially determined solution temperature and then to derive one of the Ci ^ ratios within this range To choose derivative of the solution pressure. The solution temperature, the solution pressure and the CO ₀ ratio that are obtained or determined in this way can all be used as reference conditions.

From the KH diagram above (Figure 2) it can be seen that the solution (filling) temperature for, for example, 5QO ml aluminum cans is within a wide range from 20-81 ° C can be selected, which is one of the requirements according to FIG. With the Invention, a previously completely unexpected effect is achieved in so far as in the case of filling of fruit juice, the subsequent pasteurization step can be omitted if the filling temperature is 60 ° C or above is increased. By defining such a KH diagram in advance, it is possible to determine the relevant To determine solution conditions (filling conditions) so that the object of the invention

is resolved. The solution pressure and the CO ^ ratio, which are used when filling at higher temperatures than those previously used, can can thus be taken from the KH diagram without further ado, with the possibility of filling at higher Temperatures confirmed and has been realized for the first time by the invention.

The invention ensures effective energy savings because the corresponding KH diagrams
based on the conditions determined, the type of beverage to be filled, the quality of the cans,
Dimensions and volume of the cans, etc., can be set up and the conditions required for filling can be easily derived from such a KH diagram and filling can thus take place in particular at higher temperatures
can. The invention thus ensures energy savings or economical use of energy insofar as not only the usual filling line for filling carbonated beverages in
thin-walled soft metal cans or the filling line
for filling non-carbonated beverages in hard cans, e.g. B. steel cans or the like, and

the corresponding devices in their existing form or with slight modification for the Filling of non-carbonated beverages in thin-walled soft metal cans can be used, but It also becomes possible to have both carbonated and non-carbonated drinks in the same thin-walled Soft tin cans, e.g. B. drawn aluminum or sheet iron cans, so that a standardization the doses to be used can be achieved.

example

A 500 ml drawn aluminum and sheet iron can (cylinder wall thickness 0.14 mm, bottom thickness 0.42 mm) is filled with 10% fruit juice using the device according to FIG. 1 and the method described below. After the above-mentioned conditions determined KH-diagram corresponding to the graph of Figure 2 was carried out the dissolution (of the gases) under the following conditions: solution temperature = 60 ° C, pressure for the dissolution of the gas mixture = 6 bar and ratio or proportion of gaseous CO ₂ in the Gas mixture = 12% (weight

ratio of CO ^ gas to beverage liquid = 5: 10000). While the filled can is exposed to the atmosphere or the ambient air, its top is _{blown with gaseous N 2} , whereupon the can is closed or capped. After filling and covering is complete, the can is cooled to 5 ° C. It turns out that the can remains completely undeformed even when finger pressure is applied.

On the other hand, with exact repetition of the above-described process, gaseous N2 and CO ₀ are fed separately to the saturation apparatus and brought into solution therein. In this case, the same results are obtained as before.

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Claims (12)

Patent claims: 1. \ A method for filling non-carbonated beverages / ^ - ^ characterized in that gaseous N and CO _{2 are dissolved} under pressure in a mixed and then pasteurized beverage liquid under appropriate dissolving or saturation conditions, the weight ratio of the gaseous CO ₂ to the beverage liquid being 15 : 10,000 or less is that the beverage liquid is filled into thin-walled soft metal cans under appropriate filling conditions, that gaseous N ₂ or an _{inert gas containing CO 2 is} inflated during the time from filling to the top of each can when it is closed or covered to displace the air in the headspace of the can, and then each can is closed or capped, the solution conditions being the solution temperature, the pressure for dissolving the gases in the beverage liquid and the ratio of CO ₂ and N ₂ dissolved in the beverage liquid are, embrace and in the Wei se determined that the associated can internal pressure-temperature curve lies within a range, the upper limit of which is a can internal pressure Forms temperature curve that passes through the point of 1.1 bar at 5 ° C, and the lower limit of which forms a can internal pressure temperature curve that passes through a point of 8 bar at a heating temperature for the subsequent pasteurization, by evaluating or plotting values in a Diagram, the ordinate of which indicates the internal pressure of the can after the completion of the filling and sealing process and the abscissa of which indicates the temperature, determination of the CO ₂ ratio and the solution pressure which fall within the said internal can pressure temperature range at a given temperature, in that the Internal can pressure is entered, which is established after filling and sealing and which can be obtained by changing the ratio of the CO ₂ and N ₂ dissolved in the beverage liquid and the pressure for dissolving these gases in the beverage liquid within the maximum range of 8 bar, and that corresponding solution or saturation gs conditions are determined which lie within the can internal pressure-temperature curve range, the filling conditions being the same conditions as they are maintained when dissolving or saturating. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the non-carbonated drink is a fruit juice, coffee, black tea, cocoa, lactobacillus drink, wine, Rice wine (sake), soup, tea, barley tea or brew, isotonic drink or mineral water. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that gaseous CO ₂ in the drink in a weight ratio of 5: 10,000 or less, based on the drink, is dissolved under pressure. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaseous N ₂ and CO ₂ to be dissolved in the drink are used as a gas mixture. 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the minimum pressure line in the can internal pressure-temperature range above a can internal pressure-temperature curve running through a point of 1.4 bar at 5 ° G lies. 6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the thin-walled soft sheet metal can is an aluminum can is. 7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling temperature in the range of 20-81 ° C lies. 8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that that the CC ^ proportion of the gases to be dissolved in the area from 5 to 13%. 9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the pressure under which the gas mixture is dissolved, is in the range of 3-8 bar. 10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the filling temperature is 60 ° C. 11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas to be inflated on the top of the can during the period from the completed filling to the closing of the cans is a gas mixture of N "and CO ₂ . 12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that that during the period from the completion of filling to the closing of the cans on the can top The gas to be inflated is gaseous N-.