GB1321636A - Method of and apparatus for cleaning dairy and other installations - Google Patents

Abstract

1321636 Cleaning tanks DE DANSKE MEJERIERS MASKINFABRIK AmbA 22 Sept 1970 [ 25 Sept 1969] 45168/70 Heading A4F [Also in Division F2] In a method of cleaning apparatus arranged in a fluid circuit, such as part of a dairy installation, an amount of cleaning fluid sufficient to clean the circuit is drawn from a store and circulated in the circuit, and after circulation is returned to the store or discharged into a sump or drain depending on the degree to which it is contaminated. The tank K of a dairy installation is first rinsed with water pumped by a pump C from a tank A through pipe 2, valve a, pipe 3, a heat exchanger E, a pipe 11 and a distributor H controlling the supply of rinsing liquid to the tank K and other dairy equipment. The rinsing water is withdrawn from the tank K by a pump J and passed to a drain or a collecting tank via pipes 14 and 12, the heat exchanger E, pipe 4, valve c, pipe 6, and valve l. After rinsing the valve a is closed and a valve k opened so that cleaning liquid is passed from a storage tank L by the pump c to the tank K to clean it, and the pump J passes the liquid from the tank K towards the drain or collecting tank until a concentration gauge z indicates that the pipe 4 is filled with cleaning liquid. The valve k then closes and the three-way valve c changes its position so that cleaning liquid passes from the pipe 4 to the pipe 3 to be pumped in a closed circuit through the tank K for a desired cleaning period. During this circulation the cleaning liquid is heated by steam introduced via a valve P into the heat exchanger E . At the end of the cleaning period the valve a is opened so that rinsing water is supplied to the pipe 3 and the 3-way valves c, I change their positions so that cleaning liquid is passed from the pipe 4 to the tank L or, if the liquid is heavily contaminated to a drain. When the gauge z has indicated that water has displaced the cleaning liquid in the pipe 4, the 3-way valve l changes position to direct the rinsing water to the drain. Pumps u, v supply respectively, additional concentrated cleaning liquid to the system during the cleaning operation, and disinfecting liquid during the final rinsing operation.