EP1202823B1 - Cleaning of beer lines - Google Patents

Cleaning of beer lines Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1202823B1
EP1202823B1 EP00946144A EP00946144A EP1202823B1 EP 1202823 B1 EP1202823 B1 EP 1202823B1 EP 00946144 A EP00946144 A EP 00946144A EP 00946144 A EP00946144 A EP 00946144A EP 1202823 B1 EP1202823 B1 EP 1202823B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fluid
conduit
pipeline
orifice
solution
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00946144A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1202823A1 (en
Inventor
Paul W. Davies
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BLCS Ltd
Original Assignee
BLCS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB9916917.9A external-priority patent/GB9916917D0/en
Application filed by BLCS Ltd filed Critical BLCS Ltd
Publication of EP1202823A1 publication Critical patent/EP1202823A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1202823B1 publication Critical patent/EP1202823B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/07—Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
    • B08B9/032—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing
    • B08B9/0321—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing using pressurised, pulsating or purging fluid
    • B08B9/0325—Control mechanisms therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D2210/00—Indexing scheme relating to aspects and details of apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught or for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
    • B67D2210/00028—Constructional details
    • B67D2210/00047—Piping
    • B67D2210/0006—Manifolds

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for cleaning beer lines, according to the pre-characterising part of claim 1 and claim 8 respectively.
  • beer includes ales, lagers, porters and stouts.
  • DE1607988A discloses a method of cleaning a pipeline comprising providing a flow of a first fluid, water, through a conduit, one orifice opening into the conduit such that a second fluid (detergent) is drawn through the orifice into the first fluid at a specified rate relative to the rate of flow of the first fluid to provide a flow of a solution of the first fluid (water) and the second fluid (detergent) of predetermined concentration; supplying the flow of solution through the pipeline; allowing such solution to remain in the pipeline for a predetermined time; providing a flow of the first fluid through the conduit while preventing the second fluid being drawn through the orifice into the conduit thereby flushing the solution from the conduit and the pipeline to flush the solution from the pipeline; and an apparatus for cleaning a pipeline, comprising a conduit for connection to a supply of a first fluid (water) and to the pipeline; one orifice opening into the conduit and for connection to a supply of a second fluid (detergent) such that a flow of the first fluid along the conduit draws the
  • US5,858,114A disclosed a method of cleaning a beer dispensing system including at least one beer supply line for supplying beer to dispensing means, including connecting the beer supply line in a closed circuit flow loop including control valve means, introducing a cleaning or flushing fluid into the flow loop, and operating the control valve means to cause the cleaning or flushing fluid to flow successively and alternately in opposite directions in the closed circuit flow loop.
  • the apparatus shown therein comprises a manifold.
  • the manifold consists of a solid block having a main, large diameter central channel or conduit 1 and three small diameter channels or orifices FO1, FO2 and FO3 opening into the central channel.
  • the apparatus shown therein comprises a water reservoir 2 connected through a line to one end of the central channel 1 of the manifold.
  • a shut-off valve V5 is provided in the line.
  • the other end of the central channel 1 is connected to a pump P, which in turn is connected through a one-way valve V6 to one end of a ring main.
  • the channels FO1 and FO2 of the manifold are connected to respective lines provided with respective valves FV2 and FV3, these lines being connected to a common line provided with a valve FV1 and connected to a detergent bottle.
  • a filter F is provided at the inlet of the common line from the interior of the detergent bottle.
  • the channel F03 is connected to a pressure switch PS4.
  • the water reservoir is connected through a valve 3 to water mains.
  • Beer dispense lines run from the cellar to main and subsidiary bars of the licensed premises.
  • the ring main is connectable, intermediate its ends, to ends of beer dispense (or dispensing) lines.
  • the ring main is provided with connectors or sockets engagable with connectors or sockets at the ends of the dispense lines in the cellar.
  • Each dispense line is provided with a respective valve, such as valve V7, and, at its end in one of the bars, is provided with a dispense pump or tap.
  • the ring main is also connected, at its end remote from the pump P, to two parallel lines 18 and 19.
  • the line 18 is provided with a manually operable valve 18.
  • the line 19 is provided with a purge unit 20 consisting of a solenoid valve FV4.
  • Sensors and switches are associated with the reservoir and the detergent bottle, and with an operator interface in the cellar and in the main and subsidiary bars. All the sensors, switches and valves (except the valve in the line 18) of the apparatus are interfaced with a sequential program of a programmable logic controller (PLC), provided on a control panel in the cellar, by means of discrete input (DIN) and discrete output (DOT) channels.
  • PLC programmable logic controller
  • the control panel is provided with a keypad and a display both connected to the PLC.
  • the operator interface consists of command units (CU) provided in the cellar and in bars.
  • CU command units
  • Switches operated by the command unit in the cellar are shown towards the left of Figure 1.
  • Switches operated by the command units in the bars are shown towards the top right corner of Figure 1.
  • a cleaning programme or other programme can be selected on the control panel, whereby the PLC causes the same programme to be run on successive initiations of programmes until a different programme is selected.
  • the desired cleaning programme is selected having regard to build up for different products, delays in cleaning and other factors.
  • barrels, casks or kegs (hereinafter referred to as "barrels ") of various beers (products) in the cellar are connected to the dispense pumps in the bars via a respective connector or socket on each barrel and a corresponding connector or socket on each of the beer dispense lines.
  • a drainage connection in the form of a hose or waste pipe, in one of the bars, is attached to the dispense pump of the dispense line from the barrel.
  • the hose or waste pipe is connected to a bar drain.
  • the dispense pump of the dispense line is opened, and in the cellar the barrel is disconnected from its dispense line and the beer dispense line of the empty barrel is engaged with the corresponding connector on the ring main thereby to connect the ring main to the dispense line.
  • a button is then pushed on any one of the command units to initiate a cleaning cycle in accordance with a selected cleaning programme to clean the beer dispense line of the emptied barrel.
  • Cleaning programmes which may be selected include a standard cleaning cycle, an increased detergent cleaning cycle and an extended cleaning cycle (with or without increased detergent). Such programmes may include provision for selection of a single beer line to be cleaned or for cleaning of multiple beer lines.
  • the apparatus operates as described below, under the control of the PLC to effect the standard cleaning cycle or the increased detergent cleaning cycle, each of which takes about five minutes.
  • Pressure in the main channel 1 of the manifold is monitored through the channel F03 by the pressure switch PS4.
  • the water reservoir is filled with water from the water mains.
  • shut off valve V5 and the valve, such as valve V7, in the dispense line to be cleaned are opened (the valves in the other dispense lines remaining closed throughout the cleaning cycle) and the ring main and the dispense lines are rinsed by pumping water, by means of the pump P, from the water reservoir through the shut-off valve V5, the manifold, and the dispense line to the bar drain, whereby the connected dispense line is rinsed, the line being cleared of any debris, and yeast deposits in the line loosened.
  • valves such as valve V7
  • valve FV4 in the dispense lines and the valve FV4 dosed
  • the valves FV1 and FV3 open momentarily, with the pump P operating, whereby the lines from the detergent bottle to the manifold are pressurized.
  • the pressure drives water briefly back through the filter F to dislodge any crystals of detergent that would otherwise cause the filter to become clogged and reduce flow of detergent solution in subsequent steps of the cleaning cycle.
  • valve FV1 and the valve, such as the valve V7, in the dispense line to be cleaned are opened and in the increased strength detergent cleaning cycle, but not in the standard cleaning cycle, the valve FV2 is also opened, whereby liquid detergent is drawn from the detergent bottle through the orifice F01 and, if the valve FV2 is opened, through the orifice F02 into the manifold where it mixes with water being drawn through the central channel of the manifold by the pump from the water reservoir to the ring main and thence to the beer dispense line.
  • the valve FV1 When the valve FV1 is opened the detergent mixed with the water in the central channel forms a detergent solution of normal strength, whereas when the valve FV2 is additionally opened the detergent mixed with the water in the central channel forms a relatively concentrated (e.g. double or triple strength as compared with when only the valve FO1 is opened) detergent solution.
  • the detergent solution is pumped by the pump P through the one-way valve V6 and the ring main into the dispense line to be cleaned.
  • the PLC determines, in accordance with the cleaning programme selected whether or not both valves FV1 and FV2 are opened to enhance cleaning.
  • the diameters of the small diameter channels FO1 and FO2 in the manifold are determined such that, with the pressure drops pertaining, the relative flows of water and detergent into the manifold will yield detergent solution of the desired concentration (within a specified tolerance).
  • valves FV1 and FV4 With the pump P switched on and valves FV1 and FV4 closed and valves V5 and V7 open, the valves FV2 and FV3 open for a short period. The pump thereby draws water from the reservoir to flush out the central channel and the small diameter channels FO1 and FO2 of the manifold.
  • the pump P is switched off.
  • the one-way valve V6 prevents reverse flow of detergent solution from the beer dispense lines and the ring main towards the pump and the ring main and the beer dispense line are left to soak in still (non-flowing) detergent solution for a specified period, such as three minutes.
  • valve FV4 With the pump P remaining switched on, the valve FV4 is opened and the dispense lines are isolated by closure of the valves, such as valve V7.
  • the pump P pumps water from the reservoir 2 and thereby flushes residual traces of detergent solution from the ring main. Rinse water is pumped, by the pump from the reservoir through the ring main and the valve FV4 to the cellar drain to clear any residual detergent solution from the ring main.
  • each of the first dispense line rinse, the second dispense line rinse and/or the ring main rinse may be for a longer period of time than in the standard cleaning cycle.
  • the cellar connector of the cleaned dispense line is then manually removed from the ring main and connected to a new barrel.
  • the remaining rinse water in the dispense line is emptied through the waste pipe until beer is seen in a site glass on the tap connection.
  • the waste pipe is then removed and beer can then be served.
  • the water reservoir ensures that once a cleaning cycle has begun it cannot be interrupted due to any interruption in the mains water supply.
  • the short duration of the cleaning cycle makes it practicable for beer dispense lines to be cleaned as respective barrels become empty. By cleaning each beer dispense line only when the respective barrel has emptied the normal beer loss or wastage of beer remaining in the beer dispense lines is avoided.
  • the extended cleaning cycle takes about ten minutes.
  • the extended cleaning cycle comprises like steps to the standard cleaning cycle and/or increased detergent cleaning cycle. It includes the steps described above up to and including the Soak period, followed by a shorter rinse (in the manner described above) of the dispense line, and then repetition of the Detergent Injection Step, the Manifold Back Flush Step, the Soak period, and then finally a rinse (in the manner described above) of the dispense line for an extended period of time.
  • More than one of the beer dispense lines from the same barrel may be cleaned simultaneously as described above, if desired, by selection of the appropriate multiple line programme on the keypad.
  • the valve in the line 18 is normally kept closed but opens at the end of each cleaning cycle to drain the ring main.
  • Manual cleaning uses only normal water pressure and requires a half-hour soak: it uses only a 1% cleaning solution due to danger of line damage resulting from excess solution strength and/or timing errors.
  • the detergent is a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite capable of corroding most metals and plastics).
  • the PLC is programmable for lines needing more intense cleaning and rinsing between barrels to avoid fobbing, and cleaning lines when barrels are not empty.
  • a line requires cleaning but the barrel is not empty, beer can be dispensed until the line is empty without further beer being supplied from the barrel.
  • the barrel is then disconnected from the dispense line and a cleaning cycle as described above is initiated.
  • the push button unit in the cellar enables staff not normally involved in operating the apparatus to stop the apparatus in an emergency or to start the cleaning cycle in accordance with the selected cleaning programme.
  • the display unit will indicate the stage a programme being carried out has reached and indicates audibly and visibly warnings of malfunctions.
  • the PLC will cause an alarm to be sounded if a malfunction occurs and may stop the programme continuing.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Printed Wiring (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
EP00946144A 1999-07-19 2000-07-19 Cleaning of beer lines Expired - Lifetime EP1202823B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9916917 1999-07-19
GBGB9916917.9A GB9916917D0 (en) 1999-07-19 1999-07-19 Cleaning of beer lines
GB9917861 1999-07-29
GBGB9917861.8A GB9917861D0 (en) 1999-07-19 1999-07-29 Cleaning of beer lines
PCT/GB2000/002766 WO2001005526A1 (en) 1999-07-19 2000-07-19 Cleaning of beer lines

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1202823A1 EP1202823A1 (en) 2002-05-08
EP1202823B1 true EP1202823B1 (en) 2005-10-26

Family

ID=26315779

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00946144A Expired - Lifetime EP1202823B1 (en) 1999-07-19 2000-07-19 Cleaning of beer lines

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1202823B1 (es)
CN (1) CN1372495A (es)
AT (1) ATE307684T1 (es)
AU (1) AU6002400A (es)
CA (1) CA2379829A1 (es)
DE (1) DE60023508T2 (es)
ES (1) ES2254199T3 (es)
GB (1) GB2352279B (es)
WO (1) WO2001005526A1 (es)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6889603B2 (en) * 2002-12-24 2005-05-10 Nestec S.A. Clean-in-place automated food or beverage dispenser
GB2414284A (en) * 2004-05-22 2005-11-23 Philip Christophe John Martin Automated beer line cleaning
US7311224B2 (en) 2004-11-09 2007-12-25 Ecolab Inc. Chemical dispense system for cleaning components of a fluid dispensing system
CN101406887B (zh) * 2007-10-12 2010-05-19 广州泰成生化科技有限公司 一种原位清洗方法
DE102009020912A1 (de) * 2009-05-12 2010-11-18 Krones Ag Verrohrungssystem
CN104889123A (zh) * 2015-06-17 2015-09-09 合肥华凌股份有限公司 啤酒塔清洗装置
CN106583358A (zh) * 2016-12-16 2017-04-26 成都得民数联科技股份有限公司 一种售液机及其管道清洗方法、系统
PL3700854T3 (pl) 2017-10-27 2022-03-28 Carlsberg Breweries A/S Jednostka czyszcząca do dostarczania płynu czyszczącego do systemu dozowania napojów

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1607988A1 (de) * 1967-08-26 1970-02-05 Walter Reich Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Reinigen von Abfuellanlagen fuer Fluessigkeiten,insbesondere Schankanlagen
BE848949A (nl) * 1976-12-01 1977-04-01 Automatische reiniger voor tapinstallaties
GB2216979B (en) * 1988-03-12 1992-02-05 Bar And Cellar Services Limite Apparatus for cleaning pipelines
EP0756577A4 (en) * 1993-10-29 1998-02-11 Alan Edwin Board METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LIQUID DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2001005526A1 (en) 2001-01-25
ES2254199T3 (es) 2006-06-16
AU6002400A (en) 2001-02-05
EP1202823A1 (en) 2002-05-08
ATE307684T1 (de) 2005-11-15
DE60023508D1 (de) 2005-12-01
GB0017705D0 (en) 2000-09-06
GB2352279A (en) 2001-01-24
DE60023508T2 (de) 2006-08-10
GB2352279B (en) 2003-07-23
CN1372495A (zh) 2002-10-02
CA2379829A1 (en) 2001-01-25

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