GB864550A - Method of and apparatus for carbonating liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

864,550. Aerating liquids. BRATBY & HINCHLIFFE Ltd. Jan. 18, 1960 [Jan. 16, 1959], No. 1657/59. Class 14 (1). In a method of carbonating liquids by injection to a finely divided state in a carbonator 25, Fig. 3, the liquid is first pumped to flow over the outer surfaces of refrigerant heat exchangers 11 within a cooling chamber 10 outside the carbonator 25 and to which carbon dioxide is supplied at a low pressure sufficient to exclude air so that the absorption of air by the liquid is minimized during cooling. The carbon dioxide may be bled from the carbonator 25 through a pipe 38, Fig. 2, and bleed valve 39 and is fed to the chamber 10 through a pipe 40. A bubble indicator 23 shows that the pressure in the chamber 10 is above atmospheric. The liquid is supplied at 17 to the base of the cooling chamber 10 on one side of a baffle 13 and is controlled by an electromagnetically operated valve 18 coupled to a level control 18a attached to the chamber 10. The liquid is re-circulated within the chamber 10 by a pump (not shown) and passes through a distributer 19 at the top of the chamber to flow over the heat exchangers 11 and descend, to the cool side of the baffle 13. The cooled liquid is removed by a pump B and fed to an atomizer 28 at the top of the carbonator 25. Carbon dioxide is fed to the carbonator through a reducing valve 36 and a heater 37 which heats the gas to atmospheric temperature. The carbonated liquid is finally withdrawn by a centrifugal pump D having a level control 50 which stops the pump when the level falls below a predetermined minimum. The pump D feeds liquid to bottle-filling apparatus &c. at adjustable pressures up to 50 lbs. per square inch above that prevailing in the carbonator in order to reduce the tendency to foam. Safety switches are incorporated in the chamber 10 to cut off the refrigerant when the temperature is too low and to stop the pumps when level in the chamber 10 is inadequate.