EP3258972A1

EP3258972A1 - Method and treatment station for heating and sterilizing kegs, in particular reuseable kegs

Info

Publication number: EP3258972A1
Application number: EP16705442.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hilmar FICKERT
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2015-02-20
Filing date: 2016-02-03
Publication date: 2017-12-27
Also published as: WO2016131651A1; DE102015102401B3; CN107257694A; US20180043042A1; RU2666742C1; JP2018512897A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for heating and sterilizing KEGs, in particular reuseable KEGs by steaming, in which in a pressure phase of the steaming, the inner chamber of the respective KEG is supplied with steam from a water vapour source, and subsequently the connection to the water vapour source is interrupted such that, in a holding time or leave-in time of the pressure phase, the heating and the sterilizing of the reuseable KEGs and the KEGs fittings takes place with increasing condensation of water vapour on the inner surfaces of the reuseable KEGs and a KEG fitting.

Description

Method and treatment station for heating and sterilizing KEGs, in particular reusable KEGs

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a treatment station according to the preamble of claim 12.

Known are reusable KEGs, i. Reusable KEGs, and in the process

In particular, metallic reusable KEGs, which for filling with a liquid product, such as beer, wine, juice and / or water

are provided after the consumption of the contents as empties to the

Returned product suppliers and there after a residual emptying and

Interior cleaning, using appropriate cleaning media

is performed, such as using caustic and / or acid, and after a subsequent expressions of the cleaning medium, which is done to complete this internal cleaning with a sterile gas and / or vapor medium, usually with sterile air, before the Filling for sterilization by heating to be internally steamed. For this steaming usually saturated steam is used under pressure which has a temperature in the range between 120 ° C - 135 ° C at least at a steam supply. The emptying, cleaning, steaming and filling are carried out in the manner known to those skilled in the art via the KEG fitting, via which the product is taken from the respective KEG.

It is important to steam u.a. an effective, i. fast and possible

uniform heating of all areas of the inner surface of the reusable KEG in question, including its KEG fitting. The temperature reached and sufficient for the sterilization of the reusable KEGs should be maintained as long as possible and as evenly as possible, so as to achieve optimum sterilization of the respective reusable KEGs and in particular the KEG inner surfaces.

However, due to the sealing material used in the treatment station or machine and in the KEG fitting (usually EPDM), this temperature must not exceed 135 ° C for a longer period of time. By steaming, the atmosphere in the KEG interior is also improved at the same time for the subsequent filling, ie by the steaming after the

Blowing out the last cleaning medium from the interior of the KEG there remains of the sterile gaseous and / or vaporous medium,

For example, the sterile air and thus in particular also the oxygen contained in the sterile air displaced by the steam. Prior to filling or before preloading of the KEG interior which precedes the filling with a

Biasing gas, for example, with CO2 gas is carried out to complete the damping flushing of the respective KEG interior with an inert gas, for example with CO2 gas, so that vapor and condensate residues are removed from the KEG interior.

More in detail, steaming has heretofore been carried out so that, in a depressurized phase of steaming, steam is first blown through the KEG interior for several seconds, i. fed via a flow to the KEG interior and a return from the KEG interior together with

Condensate is discharged. In this case, some heating of the treated reusable KEG already takes place with condensation of water vapor at the inner surfaces of the KEG, but due to the lack of vapor pressure, heating only to temperatures below 100 ° C. In order to achieve the necessary for the desired quality of sterilization heating of the treated reusable KEGs, it is therefore common that this aforementioned unpressurized phase of damping a

Compression phase adjoins, in such a way that with continued to the KEG interior supplied pressurized steam, the outflow of water vapor from the KEG interior is interrupted by closing a return, so that builds up in the KEG interior, a water vapor pressure.

Timed, or controlled by monitoring the pressure in the KEG interior, the KEG interior is then separated from the water vapor supply or the water vapor source during this pressure phase of the damping and kept in this state for a period of time (holding or exposure time), until condensation of the water vapor on the inner surfaces of the reusable KEG has sufficiently heated it with respect to temperature and time duration and the pressure in the KEG interior has reduced due to the condensation of the water vapor. The Duration of this exposure time is for example 60 to 90 seconds, in special cases, from less than 10 to more than 90 seconds. This is followed by the already mentioned rinsing or blowing out of steam and condensate residues with an inert gas, for example CO2 gas.

A disadvantage of the known methods is, inter alia, that in the pressureless phase in the blowing of the KEGs with water vapor is consumed a lot of energy and yet only insufficient heating of the KEG inner surfaces is achieved, which is not even sure that this is a heating all for the

Sterilization of necessary surfaces, e.g. Also inside surfaces of the KEG fitting takes place in the required manner. A disadvantage of known methods further, which is in the pressure phase of damping and in particular during the holding or exposure time in which the at least initially pressurized KEG interior is separated from the steam supply, the KEG inner surfaces occupied very quickly by forming condensate which then hampers the energy conversion or heating in the areas concerned. The same disadvantage results from the condensate collecting in the lower region of the KEG interior during the exposure time. The object of the invention is to provide a method which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and enables improved sterilization of KEGs, in particular of reusable KEGs and especially of those made of metal, with reduced water vapor and energy consumption and reduced treatment time. A treatment station is the subject of claim 12.

The preferred field of application of the invention is the heating and sterilization of reusable KEGs. However, the invention also finds application in KEGs in general as well as in the first use of previously unused KEGs or reusable KEGs, i. before the first filling of these unused KEGs or reusable KEGs. Steaming takes place at least for reusable KEGs after a KEG interior cleaning.

By an inventive proposed intensification of the relative movement between the water vapor and the inner surfaces of the treated KEGs, preferably the reusable KEG, and the KEG fitting becomes a stronger one

Auskondensation, heat transfer and also heat utilization in all areas of the KEG inner surfaces and surfaces of the KEG fittings achieved. At the same time, the energy-loss-rich phase of pressureless damping, in which the respective KEG interior is only blown with the water vapor, can be significantly shortened, so that alone thereby the pressure phase of damping, the necessary steam pressure - ie the vapor pressure for the water vapor is sought in the printing phase -, the reaction time and the desired temperature of the KEG are achieved much faster compared to the known methods.

With the relative movement between the water vapor and the KEG inner surfaces, especially a removal of the condensate formed there is achieved and thus achieved that formed on a portion of the KEG inner surface condensate prevents water vapor condenses again at this area and thereby to heat the KEGs contributes. Rather, the intensive relative movement causes condensate to run off or run off, so that water vapor can condense again at all areas and thus directly another

Heating the KEG inner surface allows.

By shortening the unpressurised phase and also by shortening the holding or exposure time, the overall result is a reduction of the steam and energy consumption and a reduction in the water consumption and energy consumption without impairing the desired heating of the respective KEG and thus without impairing the quality of the sterilization of the respective KEG the heating necessary treatment time. The latter then also allows a considerable increase in the performance of a machine or plant for treatment or cleaning,

Sterilization and filling of KEGs, i. an increase in the number of each

Time unit treated KEGs.

The relative movement between the water vapor and the inner surfaces of the KEG interior can be produced in various ways, for example by virtue of the fact that, at least during the exposure or holding time, ie when the water vapor Supply of separate KEG interior of the local water vapor is circulated, by discharging the water vapor from the KEG interior and again feeding the water vapor into the KEG interior in a closed

Circulation.

Furthermore, the relative motion between the water vapor in the KEG interior and the interior surfaces of the KEG can also be generated mechanically, for example, by movement of the KEG, e.g. by rotation, by pushing or shaking, by, for example, multiple acceleration and deceleration of the KEG, etc. In principle, this mechanical movement of the KEG can also be combined with the circulation of the water vapor generating the relative movement.

The expression "essentially" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination, in principle, the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their

Dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description. The invention will be described below in connection with the figure on a

Embodiment explained in more detail.

The figure shows in a simplified schematic functional representation by way of example a treatment position 1 of an otherwise not shown machine or system for emptying, cleaning, sterilization and subsequent filling of reusable KEGs or reusable KEGs 2, in particular of metallic reusable KEGs with a liquid product, for example with drinks, such as beer, wine, juice, water etc. Shown in the figure, a treatment or cleaning head 3, which has, for example, the known to those skilled in KEG treatment systems constructive training, the turned, ie with its KEG fitting 4 facing down and arranged in sealing position on the treatment head KEG 2 and the the heating of the KEG 2 or the KEG wall and the KEG fitting 4 necessary functional elements of the treatment position. 1 These

Functional elements are u.a. a line 5 with control valve 6, the one

Steam connection or inlet 7 with a flow connection 3.1 of

Treatment head 3 connects, as well as a line 8 with control valve 9, which connects a return port 3.2 of the treatment head 3 with a liquid separator 10, for example in the form of a cyclone.

The liquid separator 10 is used in particular during the depressurized phase of damping for separating liquid, in particular for separating off condensate, which has arisen on heating and sterilizing the KEG interior 2.1 and the inner surfaces of the KEG 2 and the KEG fitting 4 by condensation of the vapor , The condensate is discharged in the illustrated embodiment via the line 8, in a gully 1. 1

With 12 a bypass line is referred to, which extends between the lines 5 and 8 and in the u.a. a circulation or vapor pump 13 is preferably arranged in series with two control valves 14 and 15, of which the control valve 14 at the inlet and the control valve 15 at the outlet of the vapor pump 13 are located.

Based on a flow direction from the steam inlet 7 to the flow 3.1 is the connection of the bypass line 12 to the line 5 on the

Control valve 6 following. Based on a flow direction from the return port 3.2 to the liquid separator 10, the connection of the bypass line 12 is located in front of the control valve. 9

With the flow line of the treatment head 3 and the KEG fitting 4 open, the flow connection 3.1 is connected to the riser 4.1 of the KEG fitting 4, so that water vapor supplied via the flow connection 3.1 can escape into the interior space 2.1 at the upper end of the riser 4 , as indicated in the figure by the arrows A. With the return of the treatment head 3 and the KEG fitting 4 open, the return connection 3.2 is at the bottom of the turned returnable KEGs 2 formed by the KEG fitting 4 return opening so that water vapor, but also steam condensate can be removed via this return opening and the return port 3.2 of the treatment head 3, as indicated in the figure with the arrows B.

The figure shows only the functional elements necessary for damping, but not functional elements required for other treatment steps, which are also associated with the treatment head 3, e.g.

those functional elements for the internal cleaning of the respective reusable KEGs 2 with the different cleaning or treatment media as well as for

Remove or express the last cleaning medium at the end of the

Interior cleaning are necessary, especially since it is also possible in principle

Internal cleaning of reusable KEGs 2 and the subsequent heating and

Sterilize these KEGs by steaming on different treatment heads 3 make.

The heating and sterilization of the respective, arranged in sealing position on the treatment head 3 reusable KEGs 2 takes place after completion of internal cleaning and after removing and expressing the treatment medium used for internal cleaning so that with closed control valves 14 and 15 and not activated steam pump 13, the is formed, for example, in the manner of a blower or fan, but with open control valves 6 and 9 and with open flow and return of the treatment head 3 and the fitting 4, a short blowing of the KEG interior 2.1 is carried out with water vapor.

In this depressurized phase, the steam is supplied at a temperature not higher than 135 ° C under pressure from the steam inlet 7 via line 5 and the open control valve 6 to the flow connection 3.1, then exits at the upper end of the riser 4.1 (arrows A) and is after flowing through the KEG interior 2.1 together with possibly accumulated condensate on the

Return port 3.2 and the open line 8 to the liquid separator 10 passed, where steam and condensate separated and the latter to the gully 1 1 is derived. With this unpressurized phase is already done a certain warming and Sterilization of the inner surfaces of the reusable KEG 2 and the KEG fitting with condensation of the water vapor.

To initiate the pressure phase of damping, the return of the

Locking treatment head 3 and 4 of the fitting, so that in further connected to the steam inlet 7 via the open line 5 flow of the

Treatment head 3 and the KEG fitting 4 is increasing

Water vapor pressure builds up in the KEG interior 2.1. For example, timed and / or controlled by the building up in the KEG interior 2.1 vapor pressure, the line 5 is then blocked by closing the control valve 6 and thus the KEG interior 2.1 separated from the water vapor inlet 7. When control valve 9 is still closed, the control valves 14 and 15 are opened and the steam pump 13 is activated, so that then at reopened return of the

Treatment head 3 and the KEG fittings 4 via the bypass line 12 a circulation of the water in the connecting lines, in the treatment head 3 and in particular in the KEG interior 2.1 and thus in the Einwirk- or holding time of the pressure phase of damping by turbulence of the water vapor in the KEG interior 2.1 a relative movement between the water vapor and the KEG inner surfaces and the surfaces of the KEG fitting 4 is achieved, as indicated by the arrows C. This relative movement has a decisive one

Intensification of the treatment of the KEG inner surfaces and the surfaces of the KEG fitting 4 with water vapor and thus an acceleration of the heating of the reusable KEGs 2 as well as an improvement of the sterilization result, and in particular the fact that condensate, which is already at the KEG - Has formed inside or on surfaces of the KEG fitting 4, intensively

Water vapor is displaced and thus not yet condensed steam directly and not obstructed by condensate on the KEG inner surface and the surfaces of the KEG fitting 4 can act. In the pressure phase in the KEG interior 2.1 accumulating and collecting in the lower part of the multi-way KEGs 2 condensate is discharged via the communicating with the return port 3.2 part of the line 8 and a separator 16.

Following the printing phase and before a further treatment of the reusable KEGs 2, ie, for example, before a biasing of the KEG interior 2.1 with a biasing gas, for example, with CO2 gas, also in the inventive method with closed control valves 14 and 15 and further closed line 5 of the KEG interior with an inert gas, for example, with the used for biasing CO2 gas, rinsed, namely for removal of water vapor and condensate from the KEG interior 2.1 and from the KEG fitting 4 on the open return of the treatment head 3 and the KEG fitting 4 and the open line 8, so then then, for example, the biasing of the KEG interior 2.1 with the biasing gas can be done.

The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention. Thus, the relative movement between the water vapor and the inner surfaces of the KEG 2 and the KEG fitting 4 during the pressure phase of damping can also be generated in other ways, for example, that the reusable KEG 2 is mechanically moved during this printing phase, for example in one repeatedly carried out acceleration and braking movement, in a shock or shaking movement and / or in a rotary or rotary or Schenkbewegung preferably about its central axis MA, which is also the central axis of the treatment head 3 and the riser 4.1 in the illustrated embodiment. For this movement of the reusable KEG 2, the treatment position 1 then has a mechanical drive, which acts on the reusable KEG 2 and is indicated schematically in the figure by 17.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 treatment position

2 kegs

2.1 KEG interior

3 treatment head

3.1 flow connection

3.2 return connection

4 KEG fitting

5 line

6 control valve

7 Water vapor inlet or connection

8 line

9 control valve

10 liquid separators

1 1 gully

12 bypass line

13 steam pump

14, 15 control valve

16 condensate separators

17 Mechanical drive

A steam entrance

B steam and condensate outlet

MA central axis

Claims

claims

Method for heating and sterilizing KEGs, preferably from

Reusable KEGs, in particular of metallic reusable KEGs

Steaming, wherein in a pressure phase of damping of the KEG interior (2.1) of the respective KEGs from a steam source (7) is pressurized with steam and then the connection to the water vapor source (7) is interrupted, so that then in a holding or contact time of the

Pressure phase with increasing condensation of water vapor to the

Inner surfaces of the KEG (2) and a KEG fitting (4) the heating and sterilization of the KEG (2) and the KEG fitting (4) take place,

characterized,

a relative movement between the water vapor and the inner surfaces of the KEG (2) and the KEG fitting (4) is generated during the printing phase, or at least during the holding or contact time of the printing phase.

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Relative movement by circulating the water vapor in the pressurized KEG interior (2.1) takes place, preferably characterized in that in a preferred closed circuit steam via a return from the KEG interior (2.1) dissipated and the KEG interior (2.1) via a feed is returned.

A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in one of the pressure phase of the damping preceding, preferably depressurized phase of damping, a blowing of the KEG interior is carried out with water vapor, by feeding the water vapor from the source (7) provided water vapor in the KEG -Interior and by removing water vapor and accumulating condensate from the KEG interior (2.1).

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the use of water vapor, preferably of saturated water vapor under pressure at a temperature in the range of about 120 ° C - 135 ° C. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the KEG interior (2.1) of the respective KEG is purged with an inert gas, for example with a CO2 gas after the end of the printing phase to remove vapor and condensate residues.

A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the inert gas supplied to the KEG interior (2.1) via the flow of the treatment head (3) and the KEG fitting (4) and displaced by the inert gas

Water vapor and condensate residues are removed via the return of the treatment head (3) and the KEG fitting (4).

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the duration of the pressure phase of the damping takes place by a time control and / or by monitoring the pressure in the KEG interior (2.1) or in a line connected to the KEG interior (2.1).

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the KEG (2) during damping, but at least during the pressure phase of damping on a treatment head (3), preferably in sealing position on the treatment head (3) is arranged.

A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the supply of water vapor into the KEG interior (2.1) via a flow of the

Treatment head (3) and the KEG fitting (4), preferably via a riser (4.1) of the KEG fitting (4), and the removal of water vapor and condensate from the KEG interior (2.1) via a return of the KEG fitting (4) and the treatment head (3).

0. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the relative movement between the water vapor in the KEG interior (2.1) and the inner surface of the KEG (2) by mechanical movement of this KEG, for example by a shock, Rüttel-, rotational, pivoting or rotational movement of the KEG (2) he follows. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping takes place after an internal cleaning of the KEGs, and / or that the duration of the holding or exposure time is greater than the duration of the unpressurized phase of the damping, for example 60 to 90 seconds.

Treatment station for heating and sterilizing KEGs (2), preferably of reusable KEGs, in particular of metallic KEGs, by steaming, with a treatment head (3) on which the respective KEG (2) in the turned state with its downwardly pointing KEG Fitting (4) is arranged in a sealing position, with a first controlled connection (5, 6), the one

Water vapor source (7) with a flow or flow connection (3.1) of the treatment head (3) connects, and with a second controlled

Connection (8, 9) connected to a return or return connection (2.3) of the treatment head (3) for the removal of water vapor and condensate from the KEG interior (2.1),

marked

by means for generating a relative movement between the vapor in the KEG interior (2.1) and the inner surfaces of the KEG (2) at least during the pressure phase of the damping.

Treatment station according to claim 12, characterized in that the means for generating the relative movement of one of the first and the second

Compound connecting controlled bypass (12) with a vapor pump (13) are formed.

Treatment station according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the means for generating the relative movement of a mechanical drive (17) for moving the KEGs (2), for example for moving the KEGs (2) in a shock, Rüttel-, rotation -, swivel or rotary motion.