GB2575143A - Sanitisation of the interiors of beer casks and cegs with UHP water - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for sanitising the internal surfaces of a beer cask by washing the interiors with jets of water at ultra-high-pressures (UHP) of around 2500 Barg, thereby scavenging away any organic/inorganic scale adhering to the container surface and rupturing any living cells present on the surface that would otherwise pose a microbiological infection hazard to the product. The apparatus includes a conveyor system for transferring the keg to a clamping station. A UHP water spray lance is inserted into the container via a robotic arm. A method for cleaning the keg is also provided comprising the lance spraying water at a pressure of 2500 Barg and the step of transferring the cask to an internal inspection station. The shive may be located by a laser beam. The nozzle on the spray arm may move at a controlled speed empirically derived for the appropriate size/type of container. After cleaning, the UHP water may be turned off automatically and the water may be recovered, filtered and re-used. After inspection, the containers may be scanned via RFID

Description

PATENT APPLICATION: UHP CONTAINER CLEANING PROCESS DEVELOPED BY CBBR

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

Close Brothers Brewery Rentals, known as CBBR, are a cask and keg cleaning and repair facility based in Thurnscoe, S Yorkshire

CBBR specialise in all aspects of container repair, maintenance and external/internal cleaning for a wholly-owned fleet of containers that are supplied to customers on either a short- or long-term rental agreement.

OVERVIEW OBJECTIVE OF PROCESS STEP TO BE PATENTED

To sanitize cask and keg containers with ultra-high-pressure water (UHP)

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The traditional method of internally cleaning casks and kegs prior to filling with beer was reliant on the application of either, or both of, chemical and heat energy. Non-pressurised casks are cleaned/washed out with hot water, whereas pressurised kegs are sanitised by super-heated steam followed by a 'wash' with weak acid as a descalant.

The use of ultra-high pressure water, which removes all residual soils and staining materials, both organic and inorganic, confers not only visually clean surfaces but also a high level of surface sanitisation by effectively 'rupturing' the cell walls of any micro-organisms present: thus the use of chemical and heat energy is replaced by high pressure energy, which is both cheaper and free from any residual chemical taints.

Ultra-high pressure water technology, using water pressures of over 2500 Barg, is a well-established technique and has led to the development of a totally new range of pumping equipment, a key application being the surface preparation of motorway bridges to remove all existing paint layers and rust residues prior to re-painting.

The application of UHP technology at CBBR to sanitise the internal surfaces of beer containers is a new venture for the industry

OVERALL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

Containers returned from the brewing retail sector are identified/sorted/stored prior to introduction to a cleaning and sanitisation line

They are initially screened at infeed for potential maintenance and repair issues, e.g. neck and chime failures, with any rejects being isolated for appropriate remedial action, and any 'foreigners' being sorted into stock: after any remedial action and sorting, containers may be reintroduced to the conveyor system for sanitization..

Containers surviving this inspection process are duly presented via a conveyor for external washing, after which they are offered to the UHP unit for internal sanitisation.

Containers are transferred via a conveyor system to a clamping area.

PROCESS TO BE PATENTED

1. KEGS Once in position, horizontal and vertical clamps are engaged, directly after which a UHP spray cleaning lance is introduced into the container via a robotic arm.

2. CASKS are secured initially by horizontal clamps, rotated until the correct entry position, the shive hole, is located by a laser beam: once in position the vertical clamp is applied.

3. Ultra-high-pressure towns water at 2500 Barg is introduced into the container via a spray nozzle located at the end of the spray arm at the desired travel speed empirically derived for the appropriate size/type to the container: it is recovered after use, filtered through a coarse cloth and recycled for subsequent re-use.

4. Upon cycle completion the UHP water is turned off automatically and the robotic arm withdrawn from the container, which is then discharged.

Cleaned containers are then transferred to an internal inspection station, after which they are scanned via RFID tags located on the dome of the container into stock against customer delivery.

O Close Brothers

Brewery Rentals

Keg/Cask cleaning parameters for UHP process

Pump-HDP: 174

Accessories: Electric rotatory drive, nozzle holder 01.01599.0449, round nozzle type S Material: Stainless steel

Key Parameters	Value
Pressure (bar)	2500
V (l/min)	30.0
Nozzle
No.	3
0 (mm)	0.5
Type	S
Feed Rate (mm/s)	50
Time (sec)	80
RPM (l/min)	750
Travel Distance (mm)
301 keg	325mm
50 keg	490mm
1001 keg	580mm
9g cask	392mm

Claims (2)

1. Apparatus for sanitising the internal surfaces of a beer cask or beer keg comprising:

(i) conveyor system for transferring a cask or keg to be cleaned to a clamping area;

(n) a clamp for clamping a cask or keg; and (iif) an ultra-high pressure water spray cleaning lance adapted to be introduced into, and withdrawn from, a clamped cask or keg via a robotic arm.

2. A method for sanitising the internal surfaces of a beer cask or beer keg, comprising the steps of:

(i) transferring a cask or keg to be cleaned to a clamping area;

(ii) clamping said cask or keg;

(iif) introducing, via a robotic arm, an ultra-high pressure water spray cleaning lance into said clamped cask or keg;

(iv) spraying water into said clamped cask or keg at a pressure of 2500 Barg;

(V) withdrawing, via said robotic arm, the ultra-high pressure water spray cleaning lance from said clamped cask or keg;

(vi) releasing said cask or keg from the clamp; and (vif) transferring said released cask or keg to an internal inspection station.