EP2657180B1 - Filling of cooled products - Google Patents

Filling of cooled products Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2657180B1
EP2657180B1 EP13161234.3A EP13161234A EP2657180B1 EP 2657180 B1 EP2657180 B1 EP 2657180B1 EP 13161234 A EP13161234 A EP 13161234A EP 2657180 B1 EP2657180 B1 EP 2657180B1
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Prior art keywords
product
filled
filling
cooling
heating
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EP13161234.3A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2657180A1 (en
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Danilo Schulz
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Krones AG
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Krones AG
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the filling of products, such as gas or gas mixture-containing products, and in particular the filling of CO 2 -containing drinks in rigid containers at relatively low temperatures.
  • products such as gas or gas mixture-containing products
  • CO 2 -containing drinks in rigid containers at relatively low temperatures.
  • the products or (basic) components thereof are to be cooled before filling.
  • Certain products are refrigerated before being bottled. If juices are thermally treated, then cooling may be required before filling them.
  • Gas or gas mixture-containing products such as CO 2 -containing products, can be filled into the filling container at a relatively low filling temperature more quickly than at a relatively high filling temperature. Thus, a higher throughput of the filler can be achieved.
  • WO 2009/001208 A1 is a bottling plant described in which wine is bottled at low temperatures and the bottled bottles are heated.
  • US 4,356,681 A US-A-5 / 513,931 discloses a method and apparatus according to the preambles of claims 1 and 7, which is an apparatus for filling a cooled product and heating from a container filled with the product, the apparatus comprising a condenser and a heating stage connected thereto.
  • a bottling plant is described with a heat pump, wherein in the filling plant, the sterilization of a product to be filled by heating and subsequent cooling of the sterilized product takes place before the filling process.
  • condensation water may form due to the temperature gradient between the product temperature and the dew point temperature. This condensation can lead to problems with the packaging of the filled containers. Thus, the condensation water soften packaging boxes or lead to contamination in the packaging of containers in films. Therefore, especially in countries where the product temperature is lower than the dew point temperature and high humidity prevails, heating means are used to heat the filled containers to avoid condensation. Such heat devices can be heated, for example, with steam.
  • Heat is withdrawn from the product to be filled with the heat pump, it is cooled, and it is made available by the heat pump, the heat extracted in a heating device for heating the filled filling container.
  • the heat pump thus replaces the refrigeration system of the prior art, which releases the heat extracted from the containers to be filled without any benefit to the environment.
  • the heat to be removed from the product to be filled in a Carnot cycle process by means of a suitable heating means and the extracted heat can be supplied to the filled containers by means of another suitable heating means.
  • essentially 100% of the heat removed during cooling of the containers to be filled can be supplied to the heating device.
  • the energy requirements compared to the prior art can be significantly reduced.
  • the method comprises the step of heating the filled containers additionally (to the heat pump) by means of an additional heating device, in particular by means of a heat source (for example steam, hot water, solar energy).
  • a heat source for example steam, hot water, solar energy.
  • one or more buffer memories for temporarily storing a cooling medium for cooling the product to be filled and / or a heating medium for heating the filled container may be provided in a buffer memory.
  • a device for filling a product into a filling container with a filler designed to fill the product into the filling container (eg a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, a beverage carton or a beverage can); and a single heat pump configured to cool the product to be filled from the filler and to heat the filled filling container after the filler; and a cooling device, which is designed to dissipate part of the heat absorbed by the heat pump during cooling or to supply it to other process steps.
  • the product may be a gas or gas mixture-containing product (for example, a CO 2 -containing product).
  • the filler can be designed to fill a gas or gas mixture-containing beverage, for example a CO 2 -containing beverage, into a container suitable for filling, for example a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, a beverage carton or a beverage can.
  • the apparatus may further comprise a buffer memory for temporarily storing a refrigeration medium for cooling the product to be filled and / or a buffer memory for temporarily storing a heat medium for heating the filled container.
  • the device further comprises an additional heating device, which is designed to heat the filled filling container in addition, in particular by means of a steam generating device heat source (eg steam, hot water, solar energy).
  • a steam generating device heat source eg steam, hot water, solar energy
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a construction according to the invention of an apparatus for filling gas or gas mixture-containing products in filling container.
  • heat is withdrawn from a product stream of a gas or gas mixture-containing product, for example a CO 2 -containing lemonade, continuously or in batch mode, in a process unit 1 upstream of a filler 2.
  • a gas or gas mixture-containing product for example a CO 2 -containing lemonade
  • the process unit there is a product feed (eg buffer tank) 10 and a mixer 11 in which, among other things, CO 2 (or another gas mixture) is added to the product delivered from the product tank 10, and further process step units / machines 12 required for the product, wherein the order of the process step units 12 may vary product-specifically.
  • the product to be filled in the filler 2 is cooled by one or more heat exchangers (not shown).
  • the filled containers are fed to a heating device 3.
  • the heating device 3 may comprise a plurality of chambers (with heat exchangers) having different temperatures (temperature zones) fed via one or more heat exchangers from one or more heat sources.
  • it may also comprise a chamber in which heating steam or other heat sources (hot water, solar energy) is used for heating the filled containers.
  • the various chambers can be operated with different / multiple heat sources.
  • the heat pump 4 can operate continuously or in batch mode.
  • individual subunits of the process unit 1 upstream of the filler 2 by buffer memory 6 may be interconnected. They can also be operated in bypass mode. Also on the downstream side of the filler 2 buffer memory 6 can be provided. By means of a thermal stratification in the respective buffer stores 6 and / or a mixed operation of the heating / cooling media which are fed to and / or discharged from the heat exchangers, desired temperature profiles can be provided in a targeted manner.

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  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Description

Gebiet der ErfindungField of the invention

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft die Abfüllung von Produkten, beispielsweise gas- oder gasgemischhaltiger Produkte, und insbesondere die Abfüllung CO2-haltiger Getränke in formstabile Behälter bei relativ niedrigen Temperaturen. Die Produkte oder (Grund-)Komponenten derselben sind hierbei vor der Abfüllung zu kühlen.The present invention relates to the filling of products, such as gas or gas mixture-containing products, and in particular the filling of CO 2 -containing drinks in rigid containers at relatively low temperatures. The products or (basic) components thereof are to be cooled before filling.

Stand der TechnikState of the art

Bestimmte Produkte werden vor ihrer Abfüllung gekühlt. Werden Säfte thermisch behandelt, so kann ein Kühlen vor der Abfüllung derselben erforderlich sein. Gas- oder gasgemischhaltige Produkte, wie CO2-haltige Produkte, lassen sich bei relativ niedriger Abfülltemperatur schneller in Abfüllbehälter abfüllen als bei relativ hoher Abfülltemperatur. Somit kann ein höherer Durchsatz am Füller erreicht werden. Um relativ niedrige Temperaturen des abzufüllenden CO2-haltigen Produkts zu erreichen, ist es erforderlich, das Produkt vor dem Füller abzukühlen. Die notwendige Energie wird mit Kälteanlagen erzeugt, die dem Produkt entzogene Wärme wird im Stand der Technik an die Umwelt abgegeben.Certain products are refrigerated before being bottled. If juices are thermally treated, then cooling may be required before filling them. Gas or gas mixture-containing products, such as CO 2 -containing products, can be filled into the filling container at a relatively low filling temperature more quickly than at a relatively high filling temperature. Thus, a higher throughput of the filler can be achieved. In order to achieve relatively low temperatures of the CO 2 -containing product to be filled, it is necessary to cool the product before the filler. The necessary energy is generated by refrigeration systems, the heat extracted from the product is released into the environment in the prior art.

Aus der FR 2 520 984 A1 ist es bekannt, Wärmepumpen zur Pasteurisierung von Lebensmitteln einzusetzen. Wärme bereits pasteurisierter Produkte wird zur Pasteurisierung weiterer Produkte durch die Wärmepumpen rückgewonnen, wobei das pasteurisierte Produkt gekühlt wird. In der DE 10 2007 003976 A1 wird ebenfalls eine Pasteurisierungsvorrichtung beschrieben, in der eine Wärmepumpe mit einer Pasteurisierungszone und einer Abkühlzone verbunden ist, mithilfe derer Wärme von der Abkühlzone in die Pasteurisierungszone transportiert wird. DE 10 2007 003919 A1 wird ebenfalls eine Pasteurisierungsvorrichtung beschrieben, in der am Ausgang der Vorrichtung Wärme eines abgekühlten Produkts mithilfe einer Wärmepumpe zur Erwärmung eines zu pasteurisierenden Produkts rückgeführt wird. In der WO 2009/001208 A1 wird eine Flaschenabfüllanlage beschrieben, in der Wein bei niedrigen Temperaturen abgefüllt wird und die abgefüllten Flaschen erwärmt werden. In der US 4 356 681 A , die ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung gemäß den Oberbegriffen der Ansprüche 1 und 7 offenbart, wird eine Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen eines abgekühlten Produktes und Erwärmen von einem mit dem Produkt gefüllten Behälter beschrieben wobei die Vorrichtung einen Kondensator und eine mit diesem verbundende Heizstufe umfasst. In der JP 2011 255952 wird eine Abfüllanlage mit einer Wärmepumpe beschrieben , wobei in der Abfüllanlage das Sterilisieren eines abzufüllenden Produktes durch Erwärmen und eine nachfolgendes Kühlen des sterilisierten Produktes vor dem Abfüllvorgang erfolgt.From the FR 2 520 984 A1 It is known to use heat pumps for pasteurization of food. Heat from already pasteurized products is recovered by the heat pumps to pasteurize other products, thereby cooling the pasteurized product. In the DE 10 2007 003976 A1 There is also described a pasteurizing apparatus in which a heat pump is connected to a pasteurizing zone and a cooling zone, by means of which heat is transported from the cooling zone into the pasteurizing zone. DE 10 2007 003919 A1 There is also described a pasteurizing apparatus in which, at the outlet of the apparatus, heat from a cooled product is recycled by means of a heat pump to heat a product to be pasteurized. In the WO 2009/001208 A1 is a bottling plant described in which wine is bottled at low temperatures and the bottled bottles are heated. In the US 4,356,681 A US-A-5 / 513,931 discloses a method and apparatus according to the preambles of claims 1 and 7, which is an apparatus for filling a cooled product and heating from a container filled with the product, the apparatus comprising a condenser and a heating stage connected thereto. In the JP 2011 255952 a bottling plant is described with a heat pump, wherein in the filling plant, the sterilization of a product to be filled by heating and subsequent cooling of the sterilized product takes place before the filling process.

Bei relativ kalt abgefüllten Produkten/Getränken, die beispielsweise in Dosen, PET-Flaschen oder Glasflaschen abgefüllt sind, kann sich jedoch aufgrund des Temperaturgefälles zwischen Produkttemperatur zur Taupunkttemperatur Kondenswasser bilden. Dieses Kondenswasser kann zu Problemen bei der Verpackung der gefüllten Behälter führen. So kann das Kondenswasser Verpackungskartons aufweichen oder zu Verunreinigungen bei der Verpackung der Behälter in Folien führen. Daher werden, insbesondere in Ländern in denen die Produkttemperatur kleiner als die Taupunkttemperatur ist und eine hohe Luftfeuchtigkeit vorherrscht, Erwärmungseinrichtungen zur Erwärmung der abgefüllten Behälter zur Vermeidung der Kondensation eingesetzt. Solche Wärmeeinrichtungen können beispielsweise mit Dampf beheizt werden.In the case of relatively cold-filled products / drinks, which are filled into cans, PET bottles or glass bottles, for example, condensation water may form due to the temperature gradient between the product temperature and the dew point temperature. This condensation can lead to problems with the packaging of the filled containers. Thus, the condensation water soften packaging boxes or lead to contamination in the packaging of containers in films. Therefore, especially in countries where the product temperature is lower than the dew point temperature and high humidity prevails, heating means are used to heat the filled containers to avoid condensation. Such heat devices can be heated, for example, with steam.

Es besteht somit im Zusammenhang mit dem Abfüllvorgang im Stand der Technik ein hoher Energiebedarf einerseits zum Abkühlen des abzufüllenden Produkts und andererseits zum Erwärmen der gefüllten Abfüllbehälter. Es liegt der vorliegenden Erfindung die Aufgabe zugrunde, diesen hohen Energiebedarf zu verringern.There is thus in connection with the filling process in the prior art, a high energy demand on the one hand for cooling the product to be filled and on the other hand for heating the filled filling container. It is the object of the present invention to reduce this high energy requirement.

Beschreibung der ErfindungDescription of the invention

Die oben genannte Aufgabe wird durch das Verfahren zur Abfüllung eines Produkts nach Anspruch 1 erfüllt. Dieses Verfahren umfasst die Schritte:

  • Kühlen des abzufüllenden Produkts (z.B. vor oder nach Ausmischung);
  • Abfüllen des gekühlten abzufüllenden Produkts in einen Abfüllbehälter; und
  • Erwärmen des gefüllten Abfüllbehälters nach dem Abfüllen des abzufüllenden Produkts; wobei das Abkühlen und das Erwärmen zumindest teilweise mithilfe einer und derselben Wärmepumpe erfolgt; und
  • ein Teil der beim Abkühlen von der Wärmepumpe aufgenommenen Wärme für sonstige Prozessschritte verwendet oder über eine Kühleinrichtung abgeführt wird.
Wenn hier und im weiteren von dem abzufüllenden Produkt die Rede ist, können auch Grundkomponenten eines letztlich abzufüllenden Produkts (z.B. Sirup, Wasser, etc.) gemeint sein.
Insbesondere kann das Verfahren zur Abfüllung gas- oder gasgemischhaltigen Produkts (z.B. eines CO2-haltigen Produkts) Verwendung finden. Die Abfüllung kann hierbei kontinuierlich oder im Batch-Betrieb erfolgen. Bei dem abzufüllenden Produkt kann es sich um ein CO2-haltiges Getränk handeln. Der Abfüllbehälter kann ein für die Abfüllung geeignetes Behältnis wie z.B. eine Glasflasche, eine Kunststoff-Flasche, ein Getränkekarton oder eine Getränkedose sein. Es können auch mehrere zumindest zum Teil kaskadierende und/oder zumindest zum Teil parallel arbeitende Wärmepumpen zum Abkühlen des abzufüllenden CO2-haltigen Produkts und Erwärmen des gefüllten Abfüllbehälters nach dem Abfüllen bereitgestellt werden.The above object is achieved by the method for filling a product according to claim 1. This method comprises the steps:
  • Cooling the product to be filled (eg before or after mixing);
  • Filling the cooled product to be filled into a filling container; and
  • Heating the filled filling container after filling the product to be filled; in which the cooling and the heating takes place at least partially by means of one and the same heat pump; and
  • a portion of the heat absorbed by the heat pump during cooling is used for other process steps or discharged via a cooling device.
If here and in the future of the product to be filled is mentioned, also basic components of a final product to be filled (eg syrup, water, etc.) may be meant.
In particular, the method for filling gas or gas mixture-containing product (eg a CO 2 -containing product) can be used. The filling can be done continuously or in batch mode. The product to be filled may be a CO 2 -containing drink. The filling container may be a suitable container for filling such as a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, a beverage carton or a beverage can. It is also possible to provide a plurality of at least partially cascading and / or at least partially parallel heat pumps for cooling the CO 2 -containing product to be filled and heating the filled filling container after filling.

Mit der Wärmepumpe wird dem abzufüllenden Produkt Wärme entzogen, es wird gekühlt, und es wird durch die Wärmepumpe die entzogene Wärme in einer Erwärmungseinrichtung zur Erwärmung des gefüllten Abfüllbehälters nutzbar gemacht. Die Wärmepumpe ersetzt somit die Kälteanlage des Stands der Technik, die die den abzufüllenden Behältern entzogene Wärme ohne Nutzen an die Umgebung abgibt. In der Wärmepumpe kann dem abzufüllenden Produkt in einem Carnot-Kreisprozess mittels eines geeigneten Wärmemittels Wärme entzogen und mittels eines weiteren geeigneten Wärmemittels die entzogene Wärme den abgefüllten Behältern zugeführt werden. Während einer kontinuierlichen Produktion kann im wesentlich 100 % der beim Abkühlen der abzufüllenden Behälter entzogene Wärme der Erwärmungseinrichtung zugeführt werden. Somit lässt sich der Energiebedarf gegenüber dem Stand der Technik signifikant verringern.Heat is withdrawn from the product to be filled with the heat pump, it is cooled, and it is made available by the heat pump, the heat extracted in a heating device for heating the filled filling container. The heat pump thus replaces the refrigeration system of the prior art, which releases the heat extracted from the containers to be filled without any benefit to the environment. In the heat pump, the heat to be removed from the product to be filled in a Carnot cycle process by means of a suitable heating means and the extracted heat can be supplied to the filled containers by means of another suitable heating means. During continuous production, essentially 100% of the heat removed during cooling of the containers to be filled can be supplied to the heating device. Thus, the energy requirements compared to the prior art can be significantly reduced.

Je nach den vorliegenden Betriebsbedingungen kann es aufgrund von Verlusten (Wärmetransport, Wärmeleitung, Wärmekonvektion) und/oder Verschleppung erforderlich sein, beim Schritt des Erwärmens der gefüllten Behälter zuzuheizen. Somit umfasst gemäß einer Weiterbildung das Verfahren den Schritt des Erwärmens der gefüllten Behälter zusätzlich (zu der Wärmpumpe) mithilfe einer zusätzlichen Erwärmungseinrichtung, insbesondere mithilfe einer Wärmequelle (z.B. Dampf, Heißwasser, Solarenergie). Der zusätzliche, durch die zusätzliche Erwärmungseinrichtung aufzubringende Energiebedarf wird jedoch nur ein Bruchteil des im Stand der Technik durch eine Erwärmungseinrichtung, die separat von einer Kühleinrichtung zum Kühlen des abzufüllenden Produkts betrieben wird, zu leistenden Energiebeitrags sein.Depending on the operating conditions involved, it may be necessary to heat the filled containers due to losses (heat transfer, heat conduction, heat convection) and / or carryover during the step of heating. Thus, according to a further embodiment, the method comprises the step of heating the filled containers additionally (to the heat pump) by means of an additional heating device, in particular by means of a heat source (for example steam, hot water, solar energy). The additional energy demand to be applied by the additional heating means, however, will be only a fraction of the energy contribution to be made in the prior art by a heating device which is operated separately from a cooling device for cooling the product to be filled.

Je nach Auslegung der Wärmepumpe kann eine übermäßige beim Kühlen des abzufüllenden Produkts gewonnene Wärme die Funktion der Wärmepumpe negativ beeinflussen. Daher ist es vorgesehen, einen Teil der beim Kühlen des abzufüllenden Produkts gewonnenen Wärme für andere Prozesse zu verwenden oder über eine Kühleinrichtung abzuführen.Depending on the design of the heat pump, excessive heat generated during cooling of the product to be filled can adversely affect the function of the heat pump. Therefore, it is intended to use a portion of the heat obtained during cooling of the product to be filled for other processes or dissipate it via a cooling device.

Im übrigen können ein oder mehrere Pufferspeicher zum Zwischenspeichern eines Kühlmediums zum Kühlen des abzufüllenden Produkts und/oder eines Wärmemediums zum Erwärmen des gefüllten Behälters in einem Pufferspeicher vorgesehen werden.Incidentally, one or more buffer memories for temporarily storing a cooling medium for cooling the product to be filled and / or a heating medium for heating the filled container may be provided in a buffer memory.

Die oben genannte Aufgabe wird auch gelöst durch eine Vorrichtung zur Abfüllung eines Produkts in einen Abfüllbehälter mit
einem Füller, der dazu ausgebildet ist, das Produkt in den Abfüllbehälter (z.B. eine Glasflasche, eine Kunststoff-Flasche, einen Getränkekarton oder eine Getränkedose) zu füllen; und
einer einzigen Wärmepumpe, die dazu ausgebildet ist, das abzufüllende Produkt vor dem Füller zu kühlen und den gefüllten Abfüllbehälter nach dem Füller zu erwärmen; und einer Kühleinrichtung, die dazu ausgebildet ist, einen Teil der beim Abkühlen von der Wärmepumpe aufgenommenen Wärme abzuführen oder anderen Prozessschritten zuzuführen.
Das Produkt kann ein gas- oder gasgemischhaltiges Produkt (beispielsweise ein CO2-haltiges Produkt) sein.The above object is also achieved by a device for filling a product into a filling container with
a filler designed to fill the product into the filling container (eg a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, a beverage carton or a beverage can); and
a single heat pump configured to cool the product to be filled from the filler and to heat the filled filling container after the filler; and a cooling device, which is designed to dissipate part of the heat absorbed by the heat pump during cooling or to supply it to other process steps.
The product may be a gas or gas mixture-containing product (for example, a CO 2 -containing product).

Der Füller kann dazu ausgebildet sein, ein gas- oder gasgemischhaltiges Getränk, beispielsweise eine CO2-haltiges Getränk, in ein für die Abfüllung geeignetes Behältnis z.B. eine Glasflasche, eine Kunststoff -Flasche, einen Getränkekarton oder eine Getränkedose zu füllen. Die Vorrichtung kann weiterhin einen Pufferspeicher zum Zwischenspeichern eines Kältemediums zum Kühlen des abzufüllenden Produkts und/oder einen Pufferspeicher zum Zwischenspeichern eines Wärmemediums zum Erwärmen des gefüllten Behälters umfassen.
Gemäß einer Weiterbildung umfasst die Vorrichtung weiterhin eine zusätzliche Erwärmungseinrichtung, die dazu ausgebildet ist, den gefüllten Abfüllbehälter zusätzlich, insbesondere mithilfe einer Dampferzeugungseinrichtung Wärmequelle (z.B. Dampf, Heißwasser, Solarenergie), zu erwärmen.
In sämtlichen oben beschriebenen Beispielen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren bzw. der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung kann die Wärmepumpe elektrisch betrieben sein oder durch einen Öl- oder Gasmotor betrieben sein.The filler can be designed to fill a gas or gas mixture-containing beverage, for example a CO 2 -containing beverage, into a container suitable for filling, for example a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, a beverage carton or a beverage can. The apparatus may further comprise a buffer memory for temporarily storing a refrigeration medium for cooling the product to be filled and / or a buffer memory for temporarily storing a heat medium for heating the filled container.
According to a development, the device further comprises an additional heating device, which is designed to heat the filled filling container in addition, in particular by means of a steam generating device heat source (eg steam, hot water, solar energy).
In all the above-described examples of the method according to the invention or the device according to the invention, the heat pump can be operated electrically or operated by an oil or gas engine.

Im Folgenden werden Ausführungsformen eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens unter Bezugnahme auf die Zeichnungen beschrieben. Die beschriebenen Ausführungsformen sind in jeder Hinsicht lediglich als illustrativ und nicht als einschränkend anzusehen und verschiedene Kombinationen der angeführten Merkmale sind in der Erfindung eingeschlossen.
Figur 1 veranschaulicht ein Beispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Aufbaus einer Vorrichtung zur Abfüllung von gas- oder gasgemischhaltigen Produkten in Füllbehälter.
Wie es in Figur 1 gezeigt ist, wird einem kontinuierlich oder im Batch-Betrieb gelieferten Produktstrom eines gas- oder gasgemischhaltigen Produkts, beispielsweise einer CO2-haltigen Limonade, in einer Prozesseinheit 1 stromaufwärts eines Füllers 2 Wärme entzogen. In der Prozesseinheit befindet sich ein Produktzuführung (z.B. Puffertank) 10 und ein Mischer 11, in dem unter anderem dem aus dem Produkttank 10 gelieferten Produkt CO2 (oder eine anderes Gasgemisch) zugesetzt wird, und weitere für das Produkt notwendige Prozessschritteinheiten/Maschinen 12, wobei die Reihenfolge der Prozessschritteinheiten 12 produktspezifisch variieren kann. Das in dem Füller 2 abzufüllende Produkt wird durch einen oder mehrere Wärmeüberträger (nicht gezeigt) gekühlt. Nach Abfüllung des abzufüllenden Produkts in Abfüllbehälter, beispielsweise Kunststoff-Flaschen, durch den Füller 2 werden die gefüllten Behälter einer Erwärmungseinrichtung 3 zugeführt. Die Erwärmungseinrichtung 3 kann mehrere Kammern (mit Wärmeübertragern) mit unterschiedlichen Temperaturen (Temperaturzonen) umfassen, die über einen oder mehrer Wärmeübertrager aus einer oder mehreren Wärmequellen gespeist werden. Insbesondere kann sie auch eine Kammer umfassen, in der Heizdampf oder andere Wärmequellen (Heißwasser, Solarenergie) zur Erwärmung der gefüllten Behälter Verwendung findet. Allgemein können die verschiedenen Kammern mit verschiedenen/mehreren Wärmequellen betrieben werden.
Die Abkühlung des abzufüllenden Produkts sowie die Erwärmung der gefüllten Behälter erfolgt erfindungsgemäß mithilfe einer einzigen Wärmepumpe 4, in der Wärme, die beim Abkühlen des abzufüllenden Produkts gewonnen wird, zur Erwärmung der gefüllten Behälter, beispielsweise in einer der oben genannten Kammern der Erwärmungseinrichtung 3, verwendet wird. Die Wärmepumpe 4 kann kontinuierlich oder im Batch-Betrieb arbeiten.Hereinafter, embodiments of a method according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive, and various combinations of the recited features are included in the invention.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a construction according to the invention of an apparatus for filling gas or gas mixture-containing products in filling container.
As it is in FIG. 1 2, heat is withdrawn from a product stream of a gas or gas mixture-containing product, for example a CO 2 -containing lemonade, continuously or in batch mode, in a process unit 1 upstream of a filler 2. In the process unit there is a product feed (eg buffer tank) 10 and a mixer 11 in which, among other things, CO 2 (or another gas mixture) is added to the product delivered from the product tank 10, and further process step units / machines 12 required for the product, wherein the order of the process step units 12 may vary product-specifically. The product to be filled in the filler 2 is cooled by one or more heat exchangers (not shown). After filling the product to be filled into filling containers, for example plastic bottles, through the filler 2, the filled containers are fed to a heating device 3. The heating device 3 may comprise a plurality of chambers (with heat exchangers) having different temperatures (temperature zones) fed via one or more heat exchangers from one or more heat sources. In particular, it may also comprise a chamber in which heating steam or other heat sources (hot water, solar energy) is used for heating the filled containers. In general, the various chambers can be operated with different / multiple heat sources.
The cooling of the product to be filled and the heating of the filled container according to the invention using a single heat pump 4, in the heat, which is obtained during cooling of the product to be filled, for heating the filled containers, for example in one of the above-mentioned chambers of the heating device 3 is used becomes. The heat pump 4 can operate continuously or in batch mode.

Wird zuviel Wärme durch Abkühlen des abzufüllenden Produkts gewonnen, so dass eine möglichst effiziente Nutzung der Wärmepumpe beeinträchtigt wird, kann ein Teil der Wärme für andere Prozesse verwendet werden oder über eine entsprechende Kühleinrichtung 5 abgeführt werden.If too much heat is obtained by cooling the product to be filled so that the most efficient use of the heat pump is impaired, part of the heat can be used for other processes or removed via a corresponding cooling device 5.

Wie in Figur 1 gezeigt können einzelne Untereinheiten der Prozesseinheit 1 stromaufwärts des Füllers 2 durch Pufferspeicher 6 miteinander verbunden sein. Sie können auch im Bypass-Betrieb betrieben werden. Auch auf der stromabwärtigen Seite des Füllers 2 können Pufferspeicher 6 vorgesehen werden. Über eine thermische Schichtung in den jeweiligen Pufferspeichern 6 und/oder eine Mischbetrieb der Wärme-/Kältemedien die den Wärmeübertragern zugeleitet bzw. von diesen abgeleitet werden, können gewünschte Temperaturprofile gezielt bereitgestellt werden.As in FIG. 1 shown individual subunits of the process unit 1 upstream of the filler 2 by buffer memory 6 may be interconnected. They can also be operated in bypass mode. Also on the downstream side of the filler 2 buffer memory 6 can be provided. By means of a thermal stratification in the respective buffer stores 6 and / or a mixed operation of the heating / cooling media which are fed to and / or discharged from the heat exchangers, desired temperature profiles can be provided in a targeted manner.

Claims (12)

  1. Method for filling a product comprising the steps of:
    cooling the product to be filled;
    filling the product to be filled into a filling container; and
    heating the filled filling container after filling the product to be filled; wherein
    the cooling and the heating is performed at least partially by means of one single heat pump; characterized in that
    a portion of the heat absorbed by the heat pump during the cooling is used for other process steps or is dissipated by a cooling device.
  2. The method of claim 1, wherein the product to be filled is a product containing a gas or gas mixture.
  3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the product to be filled is a beverage, and/or the filling container is a container suited for the filling, a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, a beverage carton or a beverage can.
  4. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating is additionally accomplished by means of an additional heating device, in particular by means of a steam generator, in particular by means of hot water or solar energy.
  5. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein further a cooling medium for cooling the product to be filled and/or a heating medium for heating the filled container is/are temporarily stored in a buffer storage.
  6. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling and the heating is accomplished by means of a plurality of heat pumps at least partially cascading and/or at least partially operated in parallel.
  7. Apparatus for filling a product into a filling container, comprising:
    a filler adapted to fill the product into the filling container;
    a single heat pump adapted to cool the product to be filled upstream of the filler and heat the filled filling container downstream of the filler;
    characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a cooling device adapted to dissipate a portion of the heat absorbed by the heat pump during the cooling or supply it to other process steps.
  8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the product is a product containing a gas or gas mixture.
  9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the filler is adapted to fill a beverage containing a gas or gas mixture into a container suited for the filling, a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, a beverage carton or a beverage can.
  10. The apparatus of one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising a buffer storage for temporarily storing a cooling medium for cooling the product to be filled and/or a buffer storage for temporarily storing a heating medium for heating the filled container.
  11. The apparatus of one of claims 7 to 10, further comprising an additional heating device adapted to heat the filled filling container additionally, in particular by means of a steam generator, in particular by means of hot water or solar energy.
  12. The apparatus of one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the heat pump is a heat pump that is operated electrically, by an oil engine or a gas engine.
EP13161234.3A 2012-04-24 2013-03-27 Filling of cooled products Active EP2657180B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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DE102012206716A DE102012206716A1 (en) 2012-04-24 2012-04-24 FILLING OF COOLED PRODUCTS

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Publication number Publication date
CN103382015B (en) 2016-03-23
DE102012206716A1 (en) 2013-10-24
EP2657180A1 (en) 2013-10-30
US9561946B2 (en) 2017-02-07
US20130276936A1 (en) 2013-10-24
CN103382015A (en) 2013-11-06

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