GB1420720A - Method of cleaning a fluid circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

1420720 Flushing fluid circuits e.g. milking plant ALFA LAVAL AB 5 March 1974 [7 March 1973] 9918/74 Heading F2N Dairy equipment or some other fluid circuit is cleaned by successively circulating different fluids through the circuit, the volume of each fluid being selected in dependence upon the volume of the circuit, each fluid being metered into a tank while the preceding fluid is circulating in the circuit, being introduced from the tank into the circuit while the preceding fluid is being discharged from the circuit and being circulated in the circuit while the succeeding fluid is being metered into the tank. As shown, the circuit comprises parts of milk processing plant C and of cleaning fluid plant A. Initially, cold water is released from tank 4 and circulated one or more times through line 7, heat exchanger 8, lines 9 and 3, flushing devices 2 in milk storage tank 1, and line 10. While the water is circulating, caustic soda solution is metered into tank 4 from supply 11 by pump 12, lines 13, 14 and 15 and flow meter 16. The circulating water is then drained at 22, 18, 26 and the caustic soda solution is introduced into the circuit and optionally heated at 8. At the end of this cycle, the caustic soda solution is returned to 11 and water at 70‹ C., supplied to tank 4 through valve 20 and heat exchanger 21 while the solution was circulating, is introduced into the circuit. When all of this water, which had been metered at 16, is introduced into the circuit, all of the caustic soda solution has necessarily been eliminated from the circuit and valve 22 is closed. The water may then be raised to 95‹ C. by heat exchanger 8. A number of cleanng liquids can thus be introduced. The last cleaning liquid, rinsing water, can after circulation be returned to tank 4, optionally with the aid of compressed air introduced via valve 25.