JP2007301462A - Washing method of tank structural part - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and efficiently wash and remove dirt adhering to a structural part connected to the liquid discharge port of a tank without damaging the tank. <P>SOLUTION: The structural part 2 is removed from the tank 1, a circulation path including the removed structural part 2, the storage tank 31 of washing liquid 34 and pumps 21, 36 is formed, washing liquid 34 is circulated through the circulation path by the pumps 21, 36, to wash the structural part 2 without disassembling it to components. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a structure connected to a liquid outlet of a tank.

Various tanks are used for producing beverages such as beer and happoshu. Methods for cleaning tanks suitable for beverage production are described in, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2.
JP 2003-145079 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-230697

  Various tanks that can be used in the beverage manufacturing process for beverages are provided with a liquid discharge port, and a structure including a liquid feed path is connected to the liquid discharge port. A valve, a pump, or the like can be arranged in the liquid feeding path. Typically, each time these tanks are used, they are cleaned by a stationary cleaning method (CIP cleaning method) with the liquid supply passage connected to the liquid discharge port. In cleaning a tank for producing a beverage, for example, a cleaning liquid containing caustic soda or the like is used, and after the cleaning step with the cleaning liquid, rinsing with a rinsing liquid is performed. For valves and pumps having a complicated shape or structure compared to the inner surface of the tank, dirt is less likely to be removed than the inner surface of the tank. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically perform a separate cleaning operation on the structure connected to the liquid discharge port of the tank. In order to enhance the cleaning effect on the structure part, it is conceivable to clean the structure part after disassembling it into a number of parts, but there is a problem that the cleaning work becomes large and requires a long time.

  Further, in order to shorten the time required for the cleaning operation, it is conceivable to use a cleaning solution having a high cleaning capability, such as caustic soda solution heated to about 60 ° C., and performing stationary cleaning while the structural portion is connected to the tank. However, if cleaning is performed with such a high temperature cleaning liquid, the tank may be distorted by thermal expansion and may be damaged.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning method that can easily and efficiently clean, for example, a structure connected to a liquid discharge port of a tank.

  The cleaning method of the present invention includes a structure portion connected to a liquid discharge port of a tank, and the structure portion includes a liquid supply path and a pump disposed in the liquid supply path. And a step of forming a circulation path including the liquid feeding path and circulating the cleaning liquid through the circulation path to clean the structure part.

  In addition, the cleaning method of the present invention includes a structure portion connected to a liquid discharge port of a tank having a cleaning unit, and the structure portion has a liquid supply path, and the structure portion is removed from the liquid discharge port. And a step of forming a circulation path including the liquid feeding path, and circulating the cleaning liquid through the circulation path to clean the structure portion.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the circulation path may be formed by connecting a cleaning liquid feeding port and a cleaning liquid recovery port provided in a cleaning liquid storage tank to both ends of the liquid feeding path.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning liquid for cleaning the structure may include warm caustic soda.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning liquid containing the heated caustic soda can be heated by steam.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning liquid storage tank may have wheels and be movable.

  The washing | cleaning method of this invention may be used when wash | cleaning the structure part connected with a fermentation tank or a liquor storage tank.

  According to the present invention, for example, dirt accumulated and stuck in the structure can be easily and efficiently removed without damaging the tank itself.

  When a cleaning liquid containing heated caustic soda is used as a cleaning liquid for cleaning the structure, the time required for cleaning the structure can be further shortened.

  When the storage tank for the cleaning liquid is movable, it can be easily shared for cleaning a plurality of tanks, and the equipment cost can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of equipment according to one embodiment of the present invention.

  The tank 1 may be a fermentation tank that ferments alcoholic beverages or a storage tank that stores alcoholic beverages. A liquid discharge port 11 is provided in the lower part of the tank 1, and the structure portion 2 is connected to the liquid discharge port 11. The structure part 2 has a liquid supply path 22, and a pump 21, a valve 23, and the like are arranged in the liquid supply path 22, and the structure part 2 is configured by the liquid supply path 22, the pump 21, the valve 23, and the like. When coupling joints are provided at the end portions 24 and 25 on both sides of the liquid discharge port 11 and the liquid supply path 22 of the tank 1, for example, the liquid discharge port 11 of the tank 1 and one end portion 24 of the liquid supply path 22 Can be simply connected, and can be easily disconnected.

  A plurality of spray bowls 44 are arranged in the upper part of the tank 1, and a liquid supply pipe 45 for supplying the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid source 41 to the spray bowl 44 is connected to these spray bowls 44. A pump 42 and a valve 43 can be disposed in the liquid feeding pipe 45. The cleaning liquid source 41, the pump 42, the valve 43, the liquid feeding pipe 45, and the spray bowl 44 constitute a cleaning unit 4 that cleans the inside of the tank 1. The cleaning liquid supplied by the cleaning means 4 can include, for example, a cleaning agent containing normal temperature caustic soda and a rinsing liquid. The cleaning means 4 may be used without being as described above. By using such a cleaning means 4, the inside of the tank 1 and the structure part 2 can be cleaned in place while the tank 1 is connected to the structure part 2.

  In order to clean the structure unit 2, a cleaning unit 3 that can move to the vicinity of the structure unit 2 is provided separately from the cleaning unit 4 that fixes and cleans the tank 1. The cleaning means 3 is a cleaning liquid storage tank 31 having a cleaning liquid feeding port 32 and a cleaning liquid recovery port 33, and a wheel 35 is provided below the storage tank 31. The cleaning liquid 34 stored in the storage tank 31 is sent out from the storage tank 31 via the feed port 32 and returned to the storage tank 31 via the recovery port 33. If a coupling joint is provided in the cleaning liquid feed port 32 and the recovery port 33, the ports 32 and 33 and the end portions 24 and 25 on both sides of the structure portion 2 can be easily connected and can be easily disconnected. Moreover, since the wheel 35 is attached to the lower part of the storage tank 31 and the cleaning means 3 is movable, it is possible to clean the plurality of structural parts 2, 2. As the cleaning liquid 34 used in the cleaning means 3, a cleaning liquid containing heated caustic soda is preferable in order to quickly remove dirt stuck in the structure portion 2. As the cleaning liquid containing heated caustic soda, for example, a cleaning liquid containing about 3% aqueous caustic soda solution heated to around 60 ° C. is suitable. Further, a rinse liquid such as hot water or water can be used as the cleaning liquid 34 used in the cleaning means 3.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the liquid discharge port 11 of the tank and the structure portion 2 are released, the structure portion 2 is removed from the tank 1, and then the removed structure portion 2 is connected to the cleaning means 3. .

  The structure portion 2 having the pump 21 is connected to a cleaning liquid feed port 32 at one end 24 and a cleaning liquid recovery port 33 at the other end 25, respectively. A circulation path for the cleaning liquid 34 is formed including the pump 21 therein. Since only the structure part 2 can be cleaned by using this circulation path, for example, a heated caustic soda solution or the like, there is a risk of distorting the tank 1 due to thermal expansion and damaging the tank 1. Therefore, it is possible to effectively clean the structure portion 2 having irregularities in the portion where the liquid comes into contact, such as a valve or a pump. As described above, when the coupling port is provided in the cleaning liquid feed port 32 and the recovery port 33, the feed port 32 and the recovery port 33 can be easily connected to the both ends 24 and 25 of the structure portion 2.

  When the pump 21 is operated in a state where the circulation path is formed, the cleaning liquid 34 in the storage tank 31 is sent to the structure portion 2 from the feed port 32, and the pump 21, the valve 23, and the liquid feed path 22 constituting the structure portion 2. After the interior of the fluid is washed, it returns to the storage tank 31 from the recovery port 33, and while the pump 21 is operating, the washing liquid 34 circulates in the circulation path in the normal route. Since the structure part 2 is circulated and cleaned by the cleaning liquid 34, the amount of the cleaning liquid 34 used can be saved. FIG. 2 shows a wheel 35 provided below the cleaning liquid storage tank 31 so that the cleaning means 3 can be moved, but the present invention is implemented even if the cleaning means 3 is not movable. There is no problem with the above.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the structural part 2 of the facility according to another embodiment of the present invention is removed from the tank 1 and the removed structural part 2 is combined with the cleaning means 3.

  In this embodiment, no pump is arranged in the structure 2. Therefore, the cleaning means 3 includes the pump 36, and the pump 36 is used to circulate the cleaning liquid 34 in the circulation path.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the tank 1 and the structure 2 that can be used in the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the tank 1 has a cleaning liquid inlet 12 on its upper wall surface. Further, the liquid supply path 22 of the structure portion 2 has an end portion 25 that can be coupled to the cleaning liquid inlet 12 and an end portion 24 that can be coupled to the liquid discharge port 11 of the tank 1. As shown in FIG. 4, when the liquid discharge port 11 and the cleaning liquid inlet 12 of the tank 1 and the two ends 24 and 25 of the structure portion 2 are combined and the tank 1 and the structure portion 2 are integrated, the tank 1 and the liquid supply path 22 of the structure part 2 form a circulation path. In this state, when the cleaning liquid is first supplied from the cleaning means 4 into the tank and then the pump 21 that can be installed in the structure portion 2 is operated, the tank 1 and the structure portion 2 can be circulated and cleaned with the cleaning liquid 34.

  The procedure for separately cleaning only the structure part 2 is as follows. First, the structural part 2 is removed from the tank 1, and both ends 24 and 25 thereof are connected to the cleaning liquid feed port 32 and the recovery port 33 of the cleaning means 3 shown in FIG. Then, since a new circulation path of the cleaning liquid 34 is formed by the structure unit 2 and the cleaning means 3, only the structure unit 2 is used by using the cleaning liquid 34 different from the cleaning liquid used for the circulation cleaning of the tank 1 and the structure unit 2. Can be circulated and washed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the cleaning means usable in the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the cleaning means 3 includes an inflow port 37 for taking in the heating steam into the storage tank 31, an inflow port 38 for taking in the cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid source outside the system, and an intake of the cleaning liquid from outside the system and the storage tank 31. Valves 39 and 39 for switching between feeding of the cleaning liquid can be further provided.

  After the cleaning liquid 34 is taken into the storage tank 31 from the cleaning liquid source outside the system, the cleaning liquid 34 can be easily heated by sucking the heated steam into the cleaning liquid 34 in the storage tank 31 through the steam inflow port 37. Further, if the inflow port 38 is connected to a rinse liquid source outside the system, the storage tank 31 can be filled with the rinse liquid, and the structure portion 2 can be rinsed.

  As mentioned above, although the example which applied this invention to the tank used when manufacturing an alcoholic beverage was demonstrated, this invention is a tank used in order to manufacture other drink products, such as a soft drink, a chemical | medical agent, a coating material, etc. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to tanks used for producing liquid products other than beverages.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the installation which concerns on suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the case where the structure part which concerns on suitable embodiment of this invention is wash | cleaned. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the installation which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another apparatus structure of the tank and structure part which can be used by this invention. It is a figure which shows another apparatus structure of the washing | cleaning means which can be used by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tank 11 Liquid discharge port 12 Inlet 2 Structure part 21 Pump 22 Liquid supply path 23 Valves 24 and 25 End part 3 Structure part Cleaning means 31 Cleaning liquid storage tank 32 Cleaning liquid supply port 33 Cleaning liquid collection port 34 Cleaning liquid 35 Wheel 36 Pump 37 Steam inflow port 38 Cleaning liquid inflow port 39 Valve 4 Cleaning means 41 Cleaning liquid source 42 Pump 43 Valve 44 Spray bowl 45 Liquid supply pipe

Claims (6)

A cleaning method for cleaning a structure connected to a liquid discharge port of a tank,
The structure has a liquid supply path and a pump disposed in the liquid supply path,
The method
Removing the structure from the liquid outlet;
Forming a circulation path including the liquid feeding path, and cleaning the structure by circulating a cleaning liquid through the circulation path by the pump; and
A cleaning method comprising:   The cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the circulation path is formed by connecting a cleaning liquid feeding port and a cleaning liquid recovery port provided in a cleaning liquid storage tank to both ends of the liquid feeding path.   The cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid for cleaning the structure part includes warm caustic soda.   The cleaning method according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning liquid containing the heated caustic soda is heated by steam.   5. The cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid storage tank is movable. A cleaning method for cleaning a structure connected to a liquid discharge port of a tank having a cleaning means,
The structure has a liquid feed path,
The method
Removing the structure from the liquid outlet;
Forming a circulation path including the liquid feeding path, and circulating the cleaning liquid through the circulation path to clean the structure part;
A cleaning method comprising:

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