EP3405674B1 - Pompe à membrane avec détection de fuites - Google Patents

Pompe à membrane avec détection de fuites Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3405674B1
EP3405674B1 EP17700440.5A EP17700440A EP3405674B1 EP 3405674 B1 EP3405674 B1 EP 3405674B1 EP 17700440 A EP17700440 A EP 17700440A EP 3405674 B1 EP3405674 B1 EP 3405674B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
membrane
pump
interior space
resistance
product
Prior art date
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Application number
EP17700440.5A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3405674A1 (fr
Inventor
Per-Anders HALLIN
Nils Wendestam
Isac SALMAN
Johan STENBECK
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.)
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
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Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
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Publication of EP3405674A1 publication Critical patent/EP3405674A1/fr
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • F04B43/0009—Special features
    • F04B43/0081—Special features systems, control, safety measures
    • F04B43/009—Special features systems, control, safety measures leakage control; pump systems with two flexible members; between the actuating element and the pumped fluid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • F04B43/0009—Special features
    • F04B43/0054—Special features particularities of the flexible members
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • F04B43/02—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a membrane pump with leakage detection.
  • homogenizers within the food processing industry. For instance, within the dairy industry homogenizers are used for dividing fat globules into minor parts in order to obtain a stable fat emulsion against gravity separation. In other words, by homogenizing milk one can avoid that a cream layer is formed on top of the milk product. Other reasons for homogenizing food products are to achieve a more appetizing colour, reduced sensitivity of fat oxidation, more full bodied flavor, improved mouthfeel and better stability of cultured milk products.
  • a homogenizer can be divided in two main parts, a high pressure pump forming a high pressure and a homogenizing device providing a gap through which the product is forced.
  • the high pressure pump is a piston pump with three to five pistons.
  • piston seals are used in order to make sure that unwanted microorganisms are not spread to the product when the pistons are moving back and forth piston seals are used.
  • a common approach is to have at least two piston seals placed apart from each other such that a barrier can be formed between the product, placed on a so-called hygienic side, and non-hygienic parts of the homogenizer, such as crankcase and crankshaft using hydraulic oil, placed on a so-called non-hygienic side.
  • non-aseptic homogenizers i.e. homogenizers placed upstream a heat treatment station
  • a common approach is to have double piston seals with water provided between the seals to lubricate the pistons.
  • aseptic homogenizers i.e. homogenizers placed downstream a heat treatment station
  • a mixture of hot condensate and steam may be supplied between the seals in order to prevent re-infection.
  • the technical solution should require a reasonable investment cost for the food producer and when running the technical solution the need for utilities should be kept at a low level, and providing service should be possible without increasing operational costs significantly.
  • a membrane pump comprising a first membrane, and a second membrane.
  • a membrane interior space with vacuum is formed between the first membrane and the second membrane.
  • the membrane interior space comprises a first element and a second element, wherein the first element and the second element are separated and electrically insulated by the vacuum in the interior space.
  • the membrane pump further comprises a resistance meter which is configured to detect a resistance between the first element and the second element arising from a fluid leakage into the membrane interior space due to rupture of the first membrane and/or the second membrane. Basically, if there is a fluid leakage from one of the membranes, the fluid will put the first element and the second element in communication with each other and a resistance will arise. The resistance will be detected by the resistance meter and thus indicate that there is a leakage from one or both of the membranes in the pump.
  • the inventive membrane pump will therefore provide a more immediate and robust indication of any membrane rupture than any conventional membrane pump.
  • the first element and the second element respectively, comprises an annular element with protruding lips.
  • the first element and the second element may be attached to each other with some sort of separator between them so that they will be in no contact between them unless there is a rupture of one or both of the membranes and they are put in contact by means of a fluid entering into the interior space. That is, the first element and the second element may be integrally formed with a separator between them.
  • the membrane pump may further comprise a control unit which is connected to the resistance meter and adapted to monitor the resistance between the first element and the second element.
  • the control unit may further be adapted to trigger an alarm when a resistance between the first element and the second element arises due to rupture of the first membrane and/or the second membrane.
  • the fluid entering into the interior space and breaking the vacuum may be a liquid from a component in the filling machine but could also just be plain air from the ambient.
  • a membrane pump comprising a first membrane having a net of metal threads, and a second membrane having net of metal threads.
  • a membrane interior space is formed between the first membrane and the second membrane.
  • the membrane pump further comprises a detection device which is configured to detect a change of an electrical property arising due to a rupture of at least one of the metal threads.
  • the electrical property measured by means of the detection meter may be resistance in which case a conventional resistance meter may be used as the detection device. Another possibility is to energize the metal threads and instead measure voltage by means of a voltage meter.
  • the net the first membrane may comprise a first layer of metal threads and a second layer of metal threads
  • net of the second membrane may comprise a first layer of metal threads and a second layer of metal threads.
  • the detection device is configured to detect a short circuit between the first layer of metal threads and a second layer of metal threads in the first membrane and/or in the second membrane.
  • the membrane pump may further comprise a control unit which is connected to the detection device and adapted to monitor the information received from the same in order to detect any potential change of the electrical property.
  • the control unit may further be adapted to trigger an alarm if a change of the electrical property is determined.
  • the membrane pump may further comprise a membrane ring connecting the first membrane and the second membrane to each other in order to form the membrane interior space.
  • Fig 1 generally illustrates a homogenizer 100, more particularly a homogenizer sold under the name Tetra AlexTM by Tetra Pak.
  • the homogenizer 100 comprises two main parts, a high pressure pump and a homgenising device.
  • the high pressure pump forms a high pressure and the homogenising device provides one or several gaps through which the product is forced with the effect that smaller fat globules are formed. Further effects of homogenization is more appetizing colour, reduced sensitivity to fat oxidation, more full-bodied flavour and better stability of cultured milk products.
  • the high pressure pump is a piston pump driven by a main drive motor 101 connected via a belt transmission 102 and a gearbox 103 to a crankshaft placed in a crankcase 104.
  • a crankshaft placed in a crankcase 104.
  • the crankshaft By using the crankshaft the rotary motion is converted to a reciprocating motion driving pump pistons 105 back and forth.
  • the pump pistons 105 run in cavities formed in a pump block 106 made to withstand the high pressure created by the pump pistons.
  • the product Through cavities in the pump block 106 the product enters a first homogenizing device 107 and thereafter, in many cases, a second homogenizing device 108. As described above, by forcing the product through one or several gaps the properties of the product can be changed.
  • the reciprocating motion of the pump pistons 105 creates pulsations.
  • Fig 2 illustrates a so-called wet end of the homogenizer in greater detail.
  • the piston 105 is moving back and forth such that a high pressure is formed in a product chamber 200 in the pump block 106.
  • One or several seals 202 are used for keeping a tight fitting between the piston 105 and a piston receiving element 204.
  • the one or several seals 202 also keep the product in the product chamber 200 apart from the crankcase and other non-hygienic parts of the homogenizer.
  • steam barriers or the like in combination with the piston seals 202.
  • a wet end 300 of a membrane equipped homogenizer is illustrated.
  • the homogenizer illustrated in fig 1 and 2 the homogenizer is provided with a piston 302, or more correctly a number of pistons, although only one of them is illustrated in this cross sectional view. Further, the piston 302 is forming a high pressure in a pump block 304.
  • the wet end 300 is provided with a first membrane 306 and a second membrane 308.
  • the first membrane 306 can be arranged such that a hydraulic oil chamber 310 and a membrane interior space 312, that is, a space formed between the first membrane 306 and the second membrane 308, is kept apart.
  • the second membrane 308 can be arranged such that the membrane interior space 312 and a product chamber 314 are kept apart.
  • a high pressure relief valve 316 can be connected to the hydraulic oil chamber 310 such that a pressure in the hydraulic oil chamber can be lowered by opening this valve.
  • hydraulic oil may be fed into a tank.
  • This tank may also be connected to an inlet in the hydraulic oil chamber via an inlet valve such that hydraulic oil can be fed into the hydraulic oil chamber at a later stage.
  • a positive effect of this set up is that the hydraulic oil released via the high pressure relief valve 316 can be re-used.
  • An example set up is illustrated in fig 11.
  • the reason for having hydraulic oil is that this is used for forwarding the pressure formed by the piston 302 via the first membrane 306 and the second membrane 308 to the product chamber 314, but also for lubricating the seals and in that way extend the life time of the seals.
  • the piston is indirectly forming a pressure in the product chamber 314.
  • An advantage of having membranes separating the product chamber 314 from the piston 302, crankshaft, crankcase and other parts placed on the non-hygienic side is that a well defined border is formed.
  • An effect of this is that the risk that unwanted microorganisms pass the membranes into the product chamber 314 is significantly lowered.
  • the membranes solution has the benefit that no steam barriers are needed. The effect of this in turn is that the operational costs for running the homogenizer can be significantly reduced. Also from an environmental perspective, using less steam is of significant value.
  • a risk with membrane equipped homogenizers is that the membranes break and that hydraulic oil enters the product chamber. This may be a food safety hazard depending on the hydraulic oil being used, but it will with a high likelihood result in product losses.
  • a fluid may be present in the membrane interior space 312, that is, the space formed between the first membrane 306 and the second membrane 308, . The aim of the fluid is to make it possible to detect a membrane rupture in a reliable, fast and cost efficient way.
  • Fig 4 illustrates a number of different perspective views of a membrane 400 that can be used as the first membrane 306 or the second membrane 308 in the wet end illustrated in fig 3 .
  • the membrane 400 may be provided with a raised section 402 placed between a periphery 404 of the membrane and a mid section 406 making sure that the membrane can flex between a first mode, illustrated in fig 5a , and a second mode, illustrated in fig 5b , without wearing out the material of the membrane. Further, an advantage of having the raised section may also be greater volume difference between the first mode and the second mode.
  • the mid section 406 may be strengthened by a strengthening portion 408, e.g. a metal portion incorporated in the membrane, in order to avoid so-called “coining", i.e. the membrane breaks such that a small portion of the mid section in the shape of a coin is torn from the membrane.
  • a strengthening portion 408 e.g. a metal portion incorporated in the membrane
  • fig 5a the membrane is in the first mode in which no force is exerted on the membrane, neither on a product chamber side (left side in fig 5a and 5b ), nor on a hydraulic oil chamber side (right side in fig 5a and 5b ).
  • the membrane In fig 5b the membrane is in the second mode in which a force is exerted on the hydraulic oil chamber side such that the mid section of the membrane is pushed towards the product chamber side.
  • the product chamber side of the membrane is preferably provided with properties such that food residues can be easily removed. Further, the product chamber side should also be able to withstand chemicals used when cleaning, e.g. lye and acid.
  • the hydraulic oil chamber side should on the other hand preferably have properties suited to work well with the hydraulic oil.
  • the membrane as a whole should be elastic such that the pressure formed by the piston can be forwarded to the product chamber without wearing out the membrane. Further, the membrane should also be elastic such that the membrane can be small, e.g. a diameter of 10-30 cm. A small membrane namely has the effect that the pump block can be made small, in turn implying that less material, e.g. stainless steel, is needed, which directly affect the investment cost for the food producer.
  • a membrane 500 comprising a main body 502 made of a rubber material, such as an elastomer.
  • a rubber material such as an elastomer.
  • EPDM ethylenepropylenedienemonomer
  • a coating 504 may be provided on this side.
  • the coating 504 may be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), but other plastic material suitable for food processing and possible to be coated can be used as well. Further, the coating can also protect the elastic material against the cleaning agents used during cleaning and also against abrasive products.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • the coating 504 is preferably made thin, e.g. 0,5 mm. However, since different material has different properties the thickness of the coating may differ for different material.
  • fig 5a and 5b are mainly for illustrative purposes. In real applications, a difference between the first mode and the second mode may be less significant.
  • Fig 6a, 6b illustrate the main components of a membrane pump 600 comprising a first membrane 602, a second membrane 604, a membrane ring 606 and a sensor 608 in an exploded view from two different perspectives.
  • the first and second membranes are attached to the membrane ring 606.
  • both membranes may be of the kind illustrated in fig 4 , 5a and 5b .
  • Fig. 7 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the membrane pump 700 according to the invention.
  • the membrane pump 700 comprises a first membrane 701, and a second membrane 702.
  • a membrane interior space 704 with vacuum is formed between the first membrane 701 and the second membrane 702.
  • the membrane interior space 704 comprises a first annular element 705 having lips 706 around its outer periphery, and a second annular element 707 having lips 708 around its outer periphery.
  • the lips 706 of the first annular element 705 and the lips 708 of the second annular element 707 are separated from each other and electrically insulated by the vacuum in the membrane interior space 704.
  • the membrane pump 700 further comprises a resistance meter 709 which is configured to detect the resistance between the first annular 705 element and the second annular element 707 that arises from a fluid leakage into the membrane interior space 704 due to rupture of the first membrane 701 and/or the second membrane 702. That is, when one or both of the first membrane 701 and the second membrane 702 is ruptured, fluid will leak into the membrane interior space 704 and put the lips 706 of the first annular element 705 and the lips 708 of the second annular element 707 in communication with each other. Thus, a resistance can be detected by means of the resistance meter 709.
  • the membrane pump may further comprise a control unit (not shown).
  • the control unit is connected to the resistance meter 709 and adapted to monitor the resistance detected by the same.
  • the control unit will trigger an alarm so that any appropriate action can be initiated.
  • the membrane pump 800 comprises a first membrane 801 having a net of metal threads, and a second membrane 802 having net of metal threads.
  • a membrane interior space 803 is formed between the first membrane 801 and the second membrane 802.
  • the membrane pump 801 further comprises a detection device 804 configured to detect a change of an electrical property that arises due to a rupture of at least one of the metal threads.
  • the electrical property measured by means of the detection device 804 may be resistance in which case a conventional resistance meter may be used as the detection device 804.
  • Another possibility is to energize the metal threads and instead measure voltage by means of a voltage meter.
  • the membrane pump 800 may further comprise a control unit (not shown).
  • the control unit is connected to the detection device 804 and adapted to monitor the information received from the same in order to detect any potential change of the electrical property. When a change of the electrical property is determined the control unit will trigger an alarm so that any appropriate action can be initiated.
  • the net of the first membrane 801 comprises a first layer of metal threads and a second layer of metal threads
  • the net of the second membrane 802 comprises a first layer of metal threads and a second layer of metal threads.
  • the detection device 804 is configured to detect a short circuit between the first layer of metal threads and the second layer of metal threads in the first membrane 801 and/or in the second membrane 802.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)

Claims (5)

  1. Pompe à membranes (700), comprenant
    une première membrane (701),
    une seconde membrane (702),
    un espace intérieur de membrane (704) est formé entre ladite première membrane (701) et ladite seconde membrane (702), ledit espace intérieur de membrane (704) comprenant un premier élément (705) et un second élément (707), et
    un dispositif de mesure de résistance (709) configuré pour détecter une résistance entre ledit premier élément (705) et ledit second élément (707) résultant d'une fuite de fluide dans ledit espace intérieur de membrane (704) en raison d'une rupture de ladite première membrane (701) et/ou de ladite seconde membrane (702), caractérisée en ce que
    l'espace intérieur de membrane (704) est formé avec un vide entre la première membrane (701) et la seconde membrane (702), et
    le premier élément (705) et le second élément (707) sont séparés et électriquement insolés par ledit vide.
  2. Pompe à membranes (700) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit premier élément (705) et ledit second élément (707), respectivement, comprend un élément annulaire avec des lèvres saillantes (706, 708).
  3. Pompe à membranes (700) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, comprenant en outre une unité de commande connectée au dispositif de mesure de résistance (709) et adaptée pour surveiller la résistance entre le premier élément (705) et le second élément (707).
  4. Pompe à membranes (700) selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle ladite unité de commande est adaptée pour déclencher une alarme quand une résistance entre le premier élément (705) et le second élément (707) se produit en raison de la rupture de la première membrane (701) et/ou de la seconde membrane (702).
  5. Pompe à membranes (800) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un anneau de membrane raccordant ladite première membrane (701 ; 801) et ladite seconde membrane (702 ; 802) l'une à l'autre de telle sorte que ledit espace intérieur de membrane soit formé (704 ; 803).
EP17700440.5A 2016-01-21 2017-01-16 Pompe à membrane avec détection de fuites Active EP3405674B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE1650067 2016-01-21
PCT/EP2017/050801 WO2017125349A1 (fr) 2016-01-21 2017-01-16 Pompe à membrane à détection de fuite

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3405674A1 EP3405674A1 (fr) 2018-11-28
EP3405674B1 true EP3405674B1 (fr) 2021-07-28

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17700440.5A Active EP3405674B1 (fr) 2016-01-21 2017-01-16 Pompe à membrane avec détection de fuites

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP3405674B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2017125349A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2670537B1 (fr) * 1990-12-18 1994-10-28 Milton Roy Dosapro Pompe a membrane a commande hydraulique pour pressions elevees.
DE19829084B4 (de) * 1998-06-30 2005-01-13 Prominent Dosiertechnik Gmbh Membranpumpe
US6223130B1 (en) * 1998-11-16 2001-04-24 Deka Products Limited Partnership Apparatus and method for detection of a leak in a membrane of a fluid flow control system
DE10024118A1 (de) * 2000-05-18 2001-11-29 Freudenberg Carl Fa Einrichtung zur Überwachung der Unversehrtheit einer Membran
DE10323059A1 (de) * 2003-05-20 2004-12-09 Prominent Dosiertechnik Gmbh Sensormembran
AU2013361723A1 (en) * 2012-12-21 2015-07-09 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. A piston pump arrangement for hygienic processing applications
EP3084409B1 (fr) * 2013-12-20 2018-09-12 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA Homogénéisateur avec un pompe comportant un capteur de conductivité

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2017125349A1 (fr) 2017-07-27
EP3405674A1 (fr) 2018-11-28

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