GB2290831A

GB2290831A - Fluid recovery system

Info

Publication number: GB2290831A
Application number: GB9411858A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fenwick Hoi Tong Pau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-14
Filing date: 1994-06-14
Publication date: 1996-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-14
Also published as: GB9411858D0; GB2290831B

Abstract

A system for the recovery of a first fluid from a delivery line 10 and back into its storage container (12, Fig 2) comprises means (valves 30, 32, line 22, gas bottle (18, Fig 1)) for introducing a second fluid into the line wherein said second fluid, eg carbon dioxide, forces said first fluid back into its container (12). The system finds particular application to return beer from a delivery line 10 connecting a barrel (12) of beer to a tap 14 back to the barrel prior to the line being cleaned. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: A fluid recovery system DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a fluid recovery system and, in particular, to a system for recovering fluid in a delivery line.

The invention finds particular application in the recovery of an alcoholic beverage from its delivery line which connects a container in which the beverage is stored to a delivery nozzle. Such a delivery line is found in a public house and connects an alcoholic beverage, such as beer, stored in a barrel to a tap located in a service region, eg. a bar. Since the barrel of beer is typically stored in a cellar and the bar located on ground level, it is necessary to raise the beer up through the delivery line and this is performed by the operation of a pump located in the line.

For hygiene purposes it is necessary to clean the delivery line regularly. The first step of the cleaning operation is, obviously, to remove the beer from the line and this is achieved by simply disconnecting the line from both the barrel and tap and flushing the beer from the delivery line with water.

The beer and water are simply drained away.

It has been estimated that between 21/2 and 7 pints of beer is contained within a delivery line and hence lost during the flushing operation. The actual quantity of the beer lost is, of course, dependent upon the length of the line. Due to the relatively high cost of beer the cleaning operation leads to an expensive loss.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a fluid recovery system for recovering fluid in a delivery line and hence overcome the above mentioned problem.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a system for the recovery of a first fluid in a delivery line which connects a container of said first fluid to a delivery nozzle wherein said system comprises means for introducing a second fluid into the delivery line for forcing the first fluid back into its container.

The system may further comprise a pump whereby operation of said pump aids the movement of said first fluid from the delivery line to the container.

The system may also comprise one or more feedback lines each connected between two spaced apart positions on the delivery line. Said feedback lines preferably comprises selectable means enabling each feedback line to be switched into or out of circuit with the delivery line.

Said pump may be located within one of said feedback lines but, more preferably, is positioned within said delivery line.

It is preferred that said pump is also utilised in order to raise the first fluid from the container to the delivery nozzle. The pumping action of the pump may be bi-directional but is, preferably, in one direction only. Preferably, the pumping action is in a direction towards said delivery nozzle and hence away from said container.

A feedback line may be connected between an exit position on the delivery line located between said pump and delivery nozzle and a return position location between said pump and container.

Said second fluid may be introduced into the delivery line at a position between said pump and said position of the return of said first feedback line to the delivery line.

It is preferred that in operation said feedback line is switched into circuit with the delivery line and said second fluid, aided by the action of said pump, forces the first fluid through a circuit defined by a section of the delivery line between the position of introduction of the second fluid into the delivery line and the exit position of the feedback line, the first feedback line and a section of the delivery line between said return position of the feedback line and the container such that the first fluid is returned to the container.

The second fluid may be a liquid such as, for example, water but, more preferably, is a gas. The gas is preferably carbon dioxide. The gas is preferably fed under pressure to the delivery line and is preferably from a bottle of gas.

The first fluid is preferably a liquid and, more preferably, is an alcoholic beverage. The beverage may be a beer.

Said container of alcoholic beverage may be kept under pressure by carbon dioxide gas fed to the container from a pressurised bottle.

Said pressurised bottle may also supply carbon dioxide gas to said delivery line.

The system may further comprise controllable means for lowering the pressure within the container thereby allowing the alcoholic beverage to be returned to the container and said means is preferably a gas release valve.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a typical beer delivery system; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a beer recovery system according to the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates the system of Figure 2 in its beer delivery state; Figures 4a and 4b illustrate a gas purging operation; Figure 5 illustrates the beer recovery operation; Figures 6a and 6b illustrate a flushing and filling operation; Figures 7a and 7b illustrate a further flushing and filling operation; and Figure 8 illustrates the cleaning operation.

A known beer delivery system comprises a delivery line 10 connecting a beer barrel 12 to a delivery nozzle 14. A pump 16 is located in the line 10 and its pumping action is in the direction indicated by arrow X, ie. in the direction towards the nozzle 14. A carbon dioxide gas bottle is indicated by numeral 18 and is connected to the barrel via line 20. The beer within the barrel is kept under pressure by the carbon dioxide gas.

In order to clean the delivery line it is necessary to firstly disconnect the line from both the barrel and delivery nozzle. The delivery line can then be flushed with water in order to remove the beer which is simply drained away. The loss of beer is obviously undesirable and this problem is overcome by the present invention.

Reference will now be made to Figure 2 wherein like numerals represent like items. The fluid recovery system comprises lines 22, 24 and first and second feedback lines 26, 28. Line 22 connects gas bottle 18 to the delivery line 10 at a position A located between the delivery nozzle 14 and pump 16. The line has two controllable valves 30, 32. Line 24 connects line 22 to delivery line 10 and has a controllable valve 34. First feedback line 26 exits the delivery line at a position B located between the pump and position A and returns to line 10 at a position C located between the pump and barrel. The feedback line has two controllable valves 36, 38. Second feedback line 28 exits the delivery line at a position D located between positions A and B and returns at a position E located between the pump and position C. The line has two controllable valves 40, 42.

The delivery line has two feed lines 44, 46 which allow, respectively, detergent and water to be introduced into the delivery line 10. The feed lines 44, 46 have controllable valves 48, 50 respectively.

Further controllable valves are located in the circuit, namely exit valve 52, inlet valve 54, line valves 56, 58 and valve 60 located between the gas bottle and barrel.

The distance of separation between position B on the delivery line and barrel 12 is small compared to that between positions D and B. Hence, the major proportion of beer in the delivery line is held between positions D and B.

The operation of the beer recovery system and also the cleaning operation will now be described with reference to Figures 2 to 8. Lines in which there is a flow of either beer or water are indicated in bold black and open valves are indicated in outline whereas closed valves are represented by a solid valve.

Referring initially to Figure 3, the beer delivery system is shown in operation, ie. with beer being pumped from the barrel 12 to the delivery nozzle 14 via line 10 and under pressure from the carbon dioxide gas, as can be seen, beer completely fills the delivery line 10. The feedback lines 26, 28 and lines 22, 24 are out of circuit, ie. valves 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 are closed. In this state, feedback lines 26, 28 are full with water in order to reduce the risk of contamination whilst not in use.

In order to clean the delivery line, the feedback lines 26, 28 are firstly purged of water. This involves a two step operation as shown in Figures 4a and 4b. Firstly, valves 54, 56 and 62 are closed and valves 34, 40 and 42 are opened such that pressurised carbon dioxide gas from the bottle is allowed to flow through the second feedback line (Figure 4a). Then, valves 40, 42 and 58 are closed whilst valves 36, 38 and 56 are opened allowing the gas to flow through the first feedback line (Figure 4b). Hence, water held within the two lines is expelled through nozzle 14.

The recovery of the beer in the line will now be described with particular reference to Figure 5. Valves 30, 32, 36, 38, 40 and 42 are opened and valves 34, 52, 56, 58 and 60 are closed. A pressure relief valve 62 is positioned in the barrel and is controlled such that the pressure within the barrel is reduced thereby allowing beer to flow back into the barrel. Carbon dioxide gas is forced under pressure into the delivery line at positioned A via line 22. The major proportion of the beer within line 10, ie. that held between positions A and D, is then forced by the gas through the second feedback line 28 and back into the delivery line at position E.The remaining beer in the line, ie. between positions E and B, is then forced by the incoming beer into the line which, in turn, is forced by the gas through feedback line 26 and the section of the delivery line between position C and the barrel. Hence, the beer is forced back into the barrel. Since the beer is forced through the pump in the direction of its pumping action, the pump is activated so as to aid the flow of beer back into the barrel. The flow of the beer back into the barrel displaces the carbon dioxide gas therein and this is allowed to escape through valve 62.

The time required to recover all the beer from the line may be predetermined by trial and error and hence the recovery stage may be finished after the lapse of a given time period.

The next stage of the operation, illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b and 7a and 7b, involves the flushing of the feedback lines 26, 28 and the filling of the lines with water.

The cleaning sequence will now be described with reference to Figure 8. Valve 50 is opened and the delivery line is flushed with water. The valve is then closed and valve 48 opened thereby allowing detergent to be pumped into the delivery line whereafter a predetermined time period exit valve 52 and valve 54 are closed thereby trapping the detergent in the line. The detergent is allowed to stand in the line for a predetermined period before the line is flushed once more with water. The cleaning operation is then completed and the delivery line can be left full of water.

In order to return the beer delivery system to operation, as illustrated in Figure 3, it is necessary to expel the water from the line. This is achieved by opening valves 52, 54, 56 and 58 and forcing the water from the line and out through delivery nozzle 14 by the action of pump 16 and beer from barrel 12. Upon detection of beer flowing from the delivery nozzle the pump is disabled and exit valve 52 is closed. Due to the fact that the water in the line does not disperse into the beer to a great extent only a small amount of beer, eg. 1/4 pint to 1/2 pint, needs to be drained from the delivery line in order to ensure that the beer in the line is at full strength. The delivery line is now full of beer and the normal beer delivery operation can be commenced.

In the above described embodiment it is envisaged that the described operations will be completely automated and under the control of a central computer.

The operator will be capable of selecting between three options. The first option will activate the purging of the feedback lines and also the recovery of the beer from the line, the second option will active the cleaning operation and the third option will combine the above two mentioned options.

Claims

1. A system for the recovery of a first fluid in a delivery line which connects a container of said first fluid to a delivery nozzle wherein said system comprises means for introducing a second fluid into the delivery line for forcing the first fluid back into its container.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a pump whereby operation of said pump aids the movement of said first fluid from the delivery line to the container.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said system comprises one or more feedback lines each connected between two spaced apart positions on the delivery line.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said feedback lines comprise selectable means enabling each feedback line to be switched into or out of circuit with the delivery line.

5. A system as claimed in claims 3 or 4, wherein said pump is located within one of said feedback lines.

6. A system as claimed in claims 3 or 4, wherein said pump is positioned within said delivery line.

7. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein said pump is also utilised in order to raise the first fluid from the container to the delivery nozzle.

8. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the pumping action of the pump is bidirectional.

9. A system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the pumping action of the pump is in one direction only.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pumping action is in a direction towards said delivery nozzle and hence away from said container.

11. A system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein a feedback line is connected between an exit position on the delivery line located between said pump and delivery nozzle and a return position location between said pump and container.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second fluid is introduced into the delivery line at a position between said pump and said position of the return of said first feedback line to the delivery line.

13. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, the second fluid is a liquid.

14. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said second fluid is a gas.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said gas is carbon dioxide.

16. A system according to claims 14 or 15, wherein the gas is fed under pressure to the delivery line.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said gas is from a pressurised bottle.

18. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first fluid is a liquid.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said liquid is an alcoholic beverage.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said beverage is beer.

21. A system according to claims 17, 18, 19 and 20, wherein said pressurised bottle of gas supplies said delivery line.

22. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein said system further comprises controllable means for lowering the pressure within the container thereby allowing the first fluid to be returned to the container.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said means is a gas release valve.

24. A system for the recovery of a first fluid in a delivery line substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.