JP2017060431A - Thermal sterilization apparatus and thermal sterilization method for fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal sterilization apparatus for fluid capable of improving heating efficiency when performing sterilization treatment by continuously conveying and heating fluid such as food or drink having fluidity.SOLUTION: Provided is a thermal sterilization apparatus for fluid which is a thermal sterilization apparatus 10 that includes: a tank 11 for housing a fluid; and a heater 12 that heats the fluid while having the fluid flown in a flow passage. The tank 11 and the heater 12 are connected via a main supply pipe 46, and a pig loading part where a pig is loaded is provided to a pig standby pipe 48 that is connected to the main supply pipe 46. A flow passage switching mechanism 60 switches between a position at which the fluid is supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46 and a position at which the fluid is supplied to the heater 12 via the pig standby pipe 48. A fluid which is of a different kind from that of a preceding fluid supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46 is supplied as a succeeding fluid for purging via the pig standby pipe 48 to supply the preceding fluid to the heater 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for heating and sterilizing a fluid such as food and drink having fluidity while continuously conveying the fluid.

  In order to heat sterilize food and drink, a heat exchange type or joule heating type heater is used. Food and drink as a fluid having fluidity such as juice and jam can be heated while being continuously conveyed in the flow path of the heater. Patent Document 1 describes a heater composed of a Joule heating type heating unit that energizes food and drink itself and heats the food and drink with Joule heat.

  Food and drink are pumped from the tank to the heater, and when the remaining amount in the tank is low and heating of the food and drink in the tank is finished, dummy water, that is, replacement water is put into the tank. Therefore, the food and drink are pushed into the heater and conveyed. Therefore, the dummy water comes into contact with the end of transporting the food and drink, and an area mixed with the dummy water is generated at the end of transporting, so that part cannot be commercialized and is discarded.

  When the end of transporting the food and drink is pressurized with a pig, the yield of heat treatment can be increased without generating a region mixed with dummy water at the end of transport. Patent Document 2 describes a pig system in which a product supplied into a product transfer pipe is pumped by a pig, and the pig is driven by compressed air. Patent Document 3 describes a heat sterilization apparatus for fluid such as soup, and Patent Document 4 describes a fluid transport apparatus for transporting food and drink between tanks. In the heat sterilization apparatus of Patent Document 3, a fluid heated in a storage tank is sent to a transfer pipe by compressed air, and the fluid is cooled by a cooling jacket provided in the transfer pipe. Pigs are used to transport In the transfer device of Patent Document 4, a pig is used to send a fluid heated in a storage tank to a transfer pipe by a pump and remove the fluid attached to the transfer pipe.

Japanese Patent No. 4603932 JP-A-9-198141 JP 2008-48616 A JP 2008-49219 A

  When a fluid such as food and drink is sterilized by heat using a heat exchange type or joule heating type heater, it is necessary to transport the fluid through a flow path in the heater at a constant speed. When the flow rate becomes slow, the heating temperature of the fluid becomes higher than the set value. On the other hand, when the flow rate is increased, the heating temperature of the fluid is lower than the set value. In either case, it cannot be commercialized.

  Without using the pig, when the food and drink in the tank is reduced and the food and drink in the tank is finished, the dummy water, that is, the replacement water is pushed into the heater from the end of the food and drink transfer. By doing so, it is possible to maintain the flow rate in the heater at the end of conveyance, that is, in the heating unit, at the set value. However, as described above, the dummy water comes into contact with the end of conveyance of the food and drink, and an area where the dummy water is mixed is generated at the end of conveyance. Food and drink mixed with dummy water cannot be commercialized and are discarded.

  On the other hand, in order to press the pig against the end of conveyance, pressurize the pig with compressed air, and push the end of conveyance into the heater, from the state where food and drink in the tank is supplied to the heater, compressed air It is necessary to switch to a state in which the pig is pressurized and food is supplied to the heater by the pig. At the time of this switching, the pump for transporting food and drinks must be stopped, and when switching to supply by pigs, the heat sterilization process is not performed up to the set temperature. For this reason, it becomes impossible to continuously heat all the food and drink in a tank at preset temperature. Therefore, since the part which has not been heat-sterilized to a predetermined temperature must be heat-sterilized again or discarded, the yield of the heat treatment of food and drink is reduced. Thus, with the conventional heating technique, the yield of the heated product cannot be increased, and the heating efficiency is limited.

  The objective of this invention is improving the heating efficiency of fluids, such as food and drink.

  A fluid thermal sterilization apparatus according to the present invention is a fluid thermal sterilization apparatus that heats and sterilizes a fluid while continuously conveying the fluid, and is provided between a tank accommodating the fluid and an inlet and an outlet. A flow path through which a fluid flows is provided, and is connected between a heater that heats the fluid while flowing the fluid in the flow path, and the tank and the inlet, and the fluid discharged from the tank is heated. A main supply pipe to be supplied to the machine, and a pig loading section in which a pig is loaded, and is bypassed and connected between the downstream junction of the main supply pipe and the branch upstream of the junction. A position for supplying the fluid in the tank to the heater via the main supply pipe, and a position for supplying the fluid in the tank to the heater via the pig standby pipe. A flow path switching mechanism that operates on the main supply pipe and the heater By supplying a fluid having a different type from the supplied preceding fluid to the heater via the pig standby pipe as a trailing fluid for purging, the preceding fluid is Supply to the heater.

  The fluid heat sterilization method of the present invention is connected between a heater provided with a flow path through which a fluid flows between an inlet and an outlet, a tank housing the fluid, and the inlet. A main supply pipe that supplies the fluid discharged from the tank to the heater, a pig loading section that is loaded with a pig, and a merging section on the downstream side of the main supply pipe and an upstream side of the merging section A heat sterilization apparatus having a pig standby pipe that is detoured and connected between the branch portion and a fluid stored in the tank while being continuously conveyed, A heating step of heating the fluid while supplying the fluid discharged from the tank to the heater via the main supply pipe; and a preceding side supplied to the heater via the main supply pipe A fluid that is different from the fluid is used as the downstream fluid for purging. Serial supplied to the heater through the pig stand pipe, fluid for purging has a purge step for supplying to said heater prior side of the fluid through the pig.

  By conveying the leading fluid by the trailing fluid with the pig interposed at the boundary between the upstream leading fluid downstream and the upstream trailing fluid with respect to the pig, The preceding fluid can be transported without mixing different fluids. Thereby, the area | region where different fluids were mixed does not generate | occur | produce, generation | occurrence | production of the food / beverage products which are discarded without being commercialized is prevented, and the yield of a heat sterilization product can be improved. The leading fluid supplied from the main supply pipe to the heater is transported via the pig by the purge fluid supplied via the pig standby pipe, so heating of the leading fluid starts. It can be conveyed in the flow path of the heater at a constant speed throughout the period from time to end. Thereby, the food / beverage to be heat-sterilized does not have insufficient heating or overheating, and the production yield of the heat-sterilized product can be increased. By increasing the product yield, fluids such as food and drink can be efficiently heated. In addition, the temperature of the fluid can be heated without excess and deficiency by transporting the fluid on the downstream side using the same pump that transports the fluid on the preceding side, and the yield of the heat sterilized product is increased. Can be manufactured well.

It is a system block diagram which shows an example of the thermal-sterilization apparatus of a fluid. It is an expanded sectional view which shows a part of heating machine shown by FIG. It is an expanded sectional view of the A section shown in FIG. It is a system block diagram which shows the modification of the thermal-sterilization apparatus of a fluid. It is an expanded sectional view which shows a part of heating machine shown by FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The thermal sterilization apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a tank 11 that contains fluid such as fluid food and drink or dummy water. The tank 11 includes a tank base portion 11a and a lid member 11b that is attached to the tank base portion 11a so as to be freely opened and closed, and the fluid L is introduced into the tank base portion 11a with the lid member 11b being opened. The thermal sterilizer 10 has a heater 12, and the heater 12 includes six heat exchange type heating units 13 a to 13 f.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the heater 12, and shows two heating units 13a and 13b. Each of the heating units 13a and 13b includes a flow path 14 through which a fluid flows, an inner tube 15 having a circular cross section, and an outer tube 16 provided on the outer side thereof. The heating unit 13 a is connected to the heating unit 13 b by a communication pipe 17, and the communication pipe 17 has a flow path 18 having substantially the same inner diameter as the flow path 14 of the inner pipe 15. The six heating units 13a to 13f are connected in series by the communication pipe 17, the heater 12 has a flow path continuously connected from the inlet 19 to the outlet 20, and the fluid L is the inlet. It is continuously conveyed from 19 toward the outlet 20.

  A hot water circulation chamber 21 is formed between the inner tube 15 and the outer tube 16 as shown in FIG. Each outer pipe 16 is provided with an inflow port 22 and an outflow port 23, and the inflow port 22 and the outflow port 23 communicate with the hot water circulation chamber 21. The outflow port 23 of the heating unit 13a is connected to the inflow port 22 of the downstream heating unit 13b by a circulation pipe 24. The other heating units 13c to 13f have the same structure as the heating units 13a and 13b, and the outlet port 23 of the upstream heating unit is connected to the inlet port 22 of one downstream heating unit by a circulation pipe 24. Is done.

  The thermal sterilizer 10 has a hot water supply device 25 for supplying hot water as a heating medium to the hot water circulation chamber 21, and the hot water supply device 25 heats the hot water with steam supplied from the outside. The discharge port of the hot water supply machine 25 is connected to the inflow port 22 of the heating unit 13 a by the discharge pipe 26, and the outflow port 23 of the most downstream heating unit 13 f is connected to the inflow port of the hot water supply machine 25 by the return pipe 27. . The hot water feeder 25 has a pump (not shown), and the hot water heated by the steam is circulated and supplied to the hot water circulation chambers 21 of all the heating units 13a to 13f. As a result, the fluid flowing through the flow path is indirectly heated through the wall of the inner tube 15. In addition, the number of the heating units which comprise the heater 12 is not restricted to six, It can be made into arbitrary numbers.

  The outlet 20 of the heater 12 is connected to the inlet 33 of the cooler 32 by a communication pipe 31. The communication pipe 31 is provided with a sterilization temperature holding pipe 34, and the fluid L subjected to the heat sterilization treatment by the heater 12 is held at the sterilization temperature for a predetermined time by the sterilization temperature holding pipe 34. The fluid L subjected to the heat sterilization treatment is cooled by the cooler 32. The cooler 32 includes five heat exchange type cooling units 32a to 32f. Each of the cooling units 32a to 32f includes an inner pipe 36 having a circular cross section provided with a flow path 35 through which a fluid flows, and an outer pipe 37 provided outside thereof, as in the heating units 13a to 13f. ing. The respective cooling units 32 a to 32 f are connected in series by a communication pipe 38, and the communication pipe 38 has a flow path having the same inner diameter as the inner pipe 36. The cooler 32 has a flow path continuously connected from the inlet 33 toward the outlet 39, and the heated fluid L is continuously conveyed from the inlet 33 toward the outlet 39 and cooled. Is done.

  A chilled water circulation chamber 41 is formed between the inner pipe 36 and the outer pipe 37 of each of the cooling units 32a to 32f, and the chilled water circulation chamber 41 is communicated with the circulation pipe 24a. The cooling water in the cooling water container 42 is circulated and supplied to each cold water circulation chamber 41. The cooling water in the cooling water container 42 is supplied from the cooling water circulation chamber 41 of the upstream cooling unit 32a to the cooling water circulation chamber 41 of the most downstream cooling unit 32f by the discharge pipe 43 provided in the cooling water container 42. The cooling water that has flowed out of the cooling unit 32 f is returned to the cooling water container 42 by the return pipe 44. The discharge pipe 43 is provided with a pump (not shown), and the cooling water is supplied to the cold water circulation chamber 41 of all the cooling units 32a to 32f. As a result, the fluid L flowing through the flow path of the cooler 32 is indirectly cooled via the wall of the inner tube 36. Note that the number of cooling units constituting the cooler 32 is not limited to six and can be any number.

  A discharge pipe 45 is connected to the outlet 39 of the cooler 32, and the fluid cooled after the heat sterilization treatment is conveyed to the outside of the heat sterilizer 10 through the discharge pipe 45 and supplied to a product tank or a packing machine. Is done. The flow paths from the heater 12 to the discharge pipe 45 have substantially the same inner diameter as a whole.

  The communication pipe 31 is provided with a temperature detection sensor 40a for detecting the temperature of the fluid flowing out from the outlet 20 of the heater 12, and based on the detection signal of the temperature detection sensor 40a, from the hot water supply machine 25. The temperature and flow rate of the hot water supplied to the hot water circulation chamber 21 are automatically controlled. The discharge pipe 45 is provided with a temperature detection sensor 40b for detecting the temperature of the fluid flowing out from the outlet 39 of the cooler 32, and from the cooling water container 42 based on the detection signal of the temperature detection sensor 40b. The temperature and flow rate of the cooling water supplied to the cold water circulation chamber 41 are automatically controlled.

  In order to supply the fluid L accommodated in the tank 11 to the heater 12, a main supply pipe 46 is connected between the discharge port of the tank 11 and the inlet 19 of the heater 12. The main supply pipe 46 is provided with a pump 47, and the fluid in the tank 11 is discharged toward the heater 12 by the pump 47. A pig standby pipe 48 is connected between the upstream side and the downstream side of the main supply pipe 46. The upstream end of the pig standby pipe 48 is connected to the branch part 51 of the main supply pipe 46, and the branch part 51 is on the downstream side of the pump 47. On the other hand, the downstream end of the pig standby pipe 48 is connected to the junction 52 of the main supply pipe 46. In this way, the pig standby pipe 48 is detoured and connected between the junction 52 on the downstream side of the main supply pipe 46 and the branch 51 on the upstream side of the junction 52. Note that the downstream ends of the main supply pipe 46 and the pig standby pipe 48 may be directly connected to the inflow port 19, and that portion may be used as the junction 52.

  The pig standby tube 48 is provided with a pig loading unit 53. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the pig loading unit 53 shown in FIG. 1, and a pig 55 is loaded in the flow path 54 of the pig loading unit 53. The pig 55 has a spherical head portion 55a, a circular tail portion 55b, and a connecting shaft portion 55c for connecting them, and is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber and ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM). The pig 55 has a fluid on the front side of the head 55a, that is, a fluid on the front side, and a fluid that is different in type from this fluid, that is, a fluid on the rear side of the tail portion 55b, that is, a downstream flow for purging. The fluid on the preceding side is transported in the flow path via the pig 55 by the fluid on the downstream side for purging.

  In order to load the pig 55 into the pig loading portion 53, the pig standby pipe 48 is configured such that the portion of the pig loading portion 53 and the portion of the connecting portion 48a on the upstream side can be separated by the screw member 56. . Therefore, when the screw member 56 is loosened and the connecting portion 48 a is removed from the pig loading unit 53, the pig 55 can be loaded into the flow path 54 of the pig loading unit 53. As shown in FIG. 3, the structure of the pig loading unit 53 into which the pig 55 is loaded is formed by cutting out a part of the pig standby pipe 48 without forming the pig standby pipe 48 into a separation structure. May be formed by attaching a lid member extending in the axial direction to the cutout portion so as to be openable and closable. In that case, the pig 55 is loaded into the pig loading unit 53 by opening the lid member.

  When the food and drink as a fluid accommodated in the tank 11 is heat sterilized by the heater 12, the food and drink in the tank 11 is supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46 by the pump 47. The When the remaining amount of food and drink stored in the tank 11 is reduced and the heat sterilization treatment for the food and drink is almost completed, a purging fluid having a different type from the food and drink is put into the tank 11. The The purging fluid is put into the tank 11 under the condition that the food and beverage transport end portion that has been heat sterilized at that time remains in the pump 47.

  The purging fluid is discharged from the tank 11 by the pump 47, and the transport end end portion of the preceding food or drink that has been subjected to the heat sterilization treatment by the purging fluid through the pig 55 is transferred to the heater 12. A purge fluid is supplied to the pig standby tube 48 for transport. A flow switching mechanism 60 is provided in the main supply pipe 46 and the pig standby pipe 48 between the inlet 19 of the heater 12 and the pump 47. This flow path switching mechanism 60 is supplied to the heater 12 through the main supply pipe 46 to supply the preceding fluid in the tank 11 and to the heater 12 through the pig standby pipe 48 into the tank 11. And a position to supply the downstream fluid for purging.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the flow path switching mechanism 60 includes a first on-off valve 61 provided on the downstream side of the branch portion 51 of the main supply pipe 46 and an upstream side of the pig loading portion 53 of the pig standby pipe 48. And a second on-off valve 62. Therefore, when supplying the preceding fluid in the tank 11 to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46, the first on-off valve 61 is opened and the second on-off valve 62 is closed. On the other hand, when supplying the trailing fluid in the tank 11 to the heater 12 via the pig standby pipe 48, the first on-off valve 61 is closed and the second on-off valve 62 is opened.

  In order to prevent the upstream fluid in the pig standby pipe 48 from flowing back into the main supply pipe 46 when the downstream fluid is being supplied to the heater 12 via the pig standby pipe 48. In addition, the third on-off valve 63 is provided on the downstream side of the main supply pipe 46 with respect to the first on-off valve 61. Further, in order to prevent the fluid from flowing back to the pig loading unit 53 when the preceding fluid is supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46, a fourth on-off valve 64 is provided. Is provided in the pig standby pipe 48 at a position downstream of the pig loading unit 53.

  As described above, the flow path switching mechanism 60 shown in FIG. 1 includes the four on-off valves 61 to 64. However, as a form of the flow path switching mechanism 60, there are provided only two on-off valves of the first on-off valve 61 and the second on-off valve 62, and a third on-off valve in addition to these two on-off valves. A valve 63 and a fourth on-off valve 64 may be provided. In the embodiment including only the two on-off valves 61 and 62, as shown in FIG. 3, the pig standby pipe 48 is provided with a stopper 49 for preventing the backflow of the pig 55.

  In the thermal sterilization apparatus 10, the remaining amount in the tank 11 of the preceding fluid subjected to the thermal sterilization treatment by the heater 12 is reduced, and the transport end portion of the fluid is moved to the other type of downstream fluid. The body is transported through the pig 55 for purging. Thus, the preceding fluid can be continuously conveyed in the flow path of the heater 12 at a constant speed without changing the conveying speed of the preceding fluid by the pump 47. The discharge pipe 45 of the thermal sterilizer 10 is provided with a pig take-out unit 65. When the pig 55 enters the pig take-out portion 65, the purge fluid is supplied to the outside of the thermal sterilizer 10 through the discharge pipe 45 while avoiding the pig 55. After the pig 55 enters the pig take-out portion 65, the purge fluid can be supplied to the heater 12 through the main supply pipe 46 by the flow path switching mechanism 60. In addition, you may make it provide an on-off valve in the inflow port of the pig extraction part 65. FIG.

  A magnet (not shown) is incorporated in the pig 55, and a magnetic sensor 66 that is sensitive to magnetism is provided at the entrance of the pig removal unit 65 to automatically detect that the pig 55 has entered the pig removal unit 65. Can do.

  The purging fluid supplied to the heater 12 via the pig standby pipe 48 is another food or drink of a different type from the food or drink supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46. It is possible to heat and sterilize different kinds of food and drink continuously.

  In addition, when dummy water, that is, replacement water is used as the purge fluid, the inside of the flow path can be switched from food or drink to replacement water. In this way, when the food and drink is the leading fluid and the replacement water is used as the trailing fluid, the pump 47 is continuously driven to maintain the sterilization temperature and flow rate, and the thermal sterilizer. The food and drink can be removed from the inside of the ten channels and switched from the food and drink to the replacement water. Similarly, when the replacement water is used as the fluid on the leading side and the food or drink is used as the fluid on the following side, the replacement water is removed from the flow path while maintaining the sterilization temperature and the flow rate, and the food and drink is consumed from the replacement water. You can switch to a thing.

  When the food and drink are heat sterilized after the inside of the flow path is replaced with water, the water to be cleaned in the flow path is conveyed via the pig 55 using the food and drink to be heat sterilized as a fluid for purging. To do. At that time, the replacement water is supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46, and the pig 55 is loaded in the pig loading unit 53 in advance.

  As described above, the food and drink is the leading fluid, the replacement water is the trailing fluid, and the replacement water is the leading fluid, and the food is the trailing fluid. The heat sterilization treatment is said to be water operation, and in such water operation, the heat sterilization device can be continuously operated while maintaining the sterilization temperature and flow rate of food and drink and replacement water. it can.

  In the case of using the heat sterilization treatment apparatus 10 to heat and sterilize the same kind of food and drink, the production of standard food and drink includes hot water sterilization treatment of food and drink, product replacement treatment by water operation, and hot water sterilization of food and drink. Processing and product replacement processing by water operation are performed. When the thermal sterilization process is finished and the thermal sterilization apparatus 10 is stopped, the cleaning process is performed in the flow path using the detergent. On the other hand, when the type of food or drink is switched in the middle of the day by the heat sterilization treatment device 10, the type of food or drink is different from that of the food or drink before the replacement treatment, Hot water sterilization treatment of the food, hot water sterilization treatment of the food and drink, and hot water sterilization treatment of the food and drink while replacing the product by water operation are performed. When the thermal sterilization process is finished and the thermal sterilization apparatus 10 is stopped, the cleaning process is performed in the flow path using the detergent as described above.

  The cleaning process is not only for stopping the daily operation using the thermal sterilization treatment apparatus 10, but also using a detergent after replacing the inside of the flow path with replacement water following the hot water sterilization process of food and drink. It is also possible to clean the inside of the flow path. In that case, hot water sterilization treatment of food and drink is performed after the replacement water is conveyed into the flow path after the washing treatment. Thus, when the cleaning process is performed before the daily operation by the thermal sterilizer 10 is stopped, it is referred to as an intermediate CIP.

  Thus, the purging fluid supplied to the heater 12 via the pig standby pipe 48 is either food or drink or replacement water, and is supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46. The fluid is either the food or drink or the replacement water. Furthermore, the purging fluid supplied to the heater 12 via the pig standby pipe 48 is a food or drink of a different type from the food or drink supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46.

  Regardless of the fluid, the fluid supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46 is the leading fluid, and the fluid that transports the leading fluid via the pig 55 is the rear fluid. The fluid on the row side. In FIG. 2, a pig 55 is disposed at the boundary between the preceding fluid L1 and the trailing fluid L2, and the trailing fluid L2 discharged from the pump 47 causes the pig 55 to pass through the pig 55. The leading fluid L1 is conveyed.

  When water is used as a fluid for purging, after the heat sterilization treatment of the food and drink is completed, the water is allowed to flow into the flow path of the heater 12 and the cooler 32 to thereby discharge the pipe 45 from the tank 11. The flow path to the inside can be replaced with water. At this time, the food and drink is the fluid on the leading side, the water is the fluid on the trailing side, and the channel in the heater 12 is also heated when the channel is replaced with water. The preceding food and drink and the replacement water are heated in the same manner, and the preceding food and the subsequent replacement water are respectively conveyed in the flow path at the same sterilization temperature and the same flow path. In addition, when the food and drink is a purge fluid under the condition that the flow path of the heater 12 is filled with the replacement water, the purge water is transferred to the outside through the pig 55 by the purge fluid. Food and drink can be heat sterilized while discharging. At this time, water is the leading fluid and food and drink is the trailing fluid.

  In this manner, the purge fluid is supplied to the flow path by the pump 47, and the pig 55 is placed at the boundary between the upstream fluid on the downstream side and the upstream fluid on the upstream side of the pig 55. By interposing, different types of fluids are prevented from being mixed. Thereby, the area | region where different fluids were mixed does not generate | occur | produce, generation | occurrence | production of the food / beverage products which are discarded without being commercialized is prevented, and the yield of a heat sterilization product can be improved.

  Moreover, the preceding fluid supplied from the main supply pipe 46 to the heater 12 by the purging fluid supplied through the pig standby pipe 48 causes the pig 55 to be driven by the pump 47 that is continuously driven. Therefore, the fluid on the preceding side supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46 is transferred at a constant speed throughout the flow from the start to the end of heating. Can be transported. In this way, the fluid for purge discharged from the pump 47 that is continuously driven at a constant rotation without stopping the preceding fluid supplied to the heater 12 via the main supply pipe 46. Since it conveys via the pig 55, the food and drink as a fluid on the preceding side can be heated at the set temperature in all regions from the start of conveyance to the end of conveyance. Thereby, the food / beverage to be heat-sterilized does not have insufficient heating or overheating, and the production yield of the heat-sterilized product can be increased.

  On the other hand, when the pig is transported by compressed air, the state in which the fluid is transported by the pump 47 must be switched from the state in which the fluid is transported by the compressed air via the pig. Change is inevitable. In the illustrated thermal sterilization apparatus 10, the pump 47, which is the same drive source, is used for driving the trailing fluid via the pig 55 and for driving the leading fluid without using the pig. By using it, the production yield of the heat-sterilized product, which is the preceding fluid, can be increased, and the heating efficiency can be improved.

  Next, based on the case where the inside of the flow path of the heat sterilization apparatus 10 that has been heat sterilized and heat sterilized as a purge fluid is replaced with replacement water, the heat of the fluid by the heat sterilization apparatus 10 described above is used. The procedure of the sterilization method will be described.

  The fluid L, which is a food or drink charged in the tank 11, is supplied to the heater 12 through the main supply pipe 46 by driving the pump 47. At this time, the first on-off valve 61 and the third on-off valve 63 are set in an open state, and the second on-off valve 62 and the fourth on-off valve 64 are set in a closed state. Thereby, the food and drink are supplied from the tank 11 by the pump 47 to the flow paths of the respective heating units 13 a to 13 f constituting the heater 12. The inner pipe 15 of the heating units 13a to 13f is heated by warm water as a heating medium, and the food and drink are heated to the sterilization temperature by the inner pipe 15. Thus, the heating process which heats a fluid with the heater 12 is performed, and food and drink are heat-sterilized.

  The food or drink heated to the heat sterilization temperature by the heater 12 is held for a predetermined time by the sterilization temperature holding tube 34 and then conveyed to the cooler 32. Food and drink are supplied by the pump 47 to the flow paths of the respective cooling units 32 a to 32 f constituting the cooler 32. The inner pipes 36 of the cooling units 32 a to 32 f are cooled by cooling water as a cooling medium, and the food and drink are cooled to room temperature by the inner pipes 36. The cooled food and drink are sent to the outside of the heat sterilizer 10 through the discharge pipe 45 and supplied to the product tank and the packing machine.

  Even if the remaining amount of food or drink put into the tank 11 decreases, when the same kind of food or drink is subsequently subjected to a heat sterilization treatment, the food or drink is put into the tank 11. On the other hand, when the remaining amount of food and drink in the tank 11 is reduced, the heat sterilization process of the food and drink is terminated, and the flow path of the heat sterilizer 10 is switched to replacement water until then, the main supply pipe 46 The replacement water as a fluid having a different type from the food and drink that has been supplied to the heater 12 via the is introduced into the tank 11 as a fluid for purging. Under the state where the replacement water is put into the tank 11, the first on-off valve 61 and the third on-off valve 63 are switched to the closed state without stopping the pump 47, and the second The on-off valve 62 and the fourth on-off valve 64 are switched to the open state. Thus, the replacement water discharged from the tank 11 by the pump 47 is supplied to the pig standby pipe 48.

  The pig 55 loaded in the pig loading unit 53 is driven by the replacement water supplied to the pig standby pipe 48, and the replacement water discharged from the pump 47, that is, the fluid on the downstream side, passes through the pig 55. Pressurize the end of conveyance of food and drink that is the fluid on the side. In this way, purge replacement water is supplied to the heater 12 via the pig standby pipe 48, and the replacement water discharges the downstream fluid in the heater 12 to the outlet 20 via the pig 55. A purge process is performed. As a result, the end of transporting the food and drink is transported through the pig 55 by the pump-driven replacement water, that is, the fluid on the following side, without changing the transport speed. Therefore, the food and drink on the preceding side, including the end portion of conveyance, is reliably heat sterilized under the same heat sterilization conditions from the start of conveyance to the end of conveyance.

  When the pig 55 passes through the heater 12 and the cooler 32 and is conveyed to the discharge pipe 45, the pig 55 enters the pig take-out unit 65. After the pig 55 enters, the water is discharged from the discharge pipe 45 to the outside. The pig 55 in the pig removal unit 65 is removed and loaded into the pig loading unit 53. Before the pig 55 is loaded, the on-off valves 61 to 64 are switched to open and close and water for washing is supplied to the heater 12 through the main supply pipe 46, and the food and drink remaining in the main supply pipe 46 is heated. It can be discharged from the flow path of the sterilizer 10.

  The above-described heat sterilization treatment procedure of the fluid is to sterilize the food and drink as a fluid for purging after the inside of the flow path of the thermal sterilizer 10 is washed with cleaning water. Washing water becomes the leading fluid, and food and drink becomes the trailing fluid. Similarly, when other foods and drinks are subjected to heat sterilization after the food and drink put into the tank 11 are subjected to heat sterilization, the foods to be heat-sterilized first become the preceding fluid. Thus, other types of food and drink become the following fluid. In any case, the heating process and the purging process are performed in the same manner as described above.

  FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing a modification of the fluid heat sterilization apparatus, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the heating machine shown in FIG. In these drawings, members having commonality with the members shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The heat sterilizer 10 shown in FIG. 4 includes first and second two heaters 12a and 12b. Each heater 12a, 12b is a Joule heating type. The upstream first heater 12a is composed of six joule heating type heating units 71a to 71f, and the downstream second heating machine 12b is also composed of six joule heating type heating units 72a to 72f. .

  FIG. 5 shows two heating units 71a and 71b in the heater 12a. Each heating unit 71a, 71b has a heat sterilization pipe, that is, a tubular member 74, in which a flow path 73 having a circular cross section for guiding a fluid is formed. The tubular member 74 includes a plurality of ring-shaped electrodes 75 and a plurality of cylindrical members 76 disposed therebetween. Each electrode 75 is formed of a conductor such as titanium or stainless steel, and the cylindrical member 76 is formed of an insulating member such as resin. The heating unit 71 a is connected to the heating unit 71 b by the communication pipe 17, and the communication pipe 17 has the flow path 18 having the same inner diameter as the flow path 73 of the tubular member 74. The six heating units 71a to 71f are connected in series by the communication pipe 17, the heater 12a has a flow path continuously connected from the inlet 19a toward the outlet 20a, and the fluid L is an inlet. It is continuously conveyed from 19a toward the outlet 20a.

  A power supply unit 77 is connected to each electrode 75 via a cable, and a high frequency is supplied from the power supply unit 77 so that the pair of electrodes 75 adjacent to each other in the transport direction of the flow path 73 have opposite polarities. Current is supplied. Therefore, the fluid that is supplied into the flow path 73 and conveyed through the flow path 73 generates heat due to the current flowing between the pair of electrodes 75, is heated by Joule heat, and is thermally sterilized. The other heating units 71b to 71f constituting the heater 12a have the same structure, and all the heating units 72a to 72f constituting the heater 12b have the same structure. Each heating unit includes five electrodes 75. However, the number of electrodes 75 is not limited to five, and may be any number as long as it is plural.

  The outlet 20a of the first heater 12a is connected to the inlet 19b of the second heater 12b by a communication pipe 31a. Thereby, in the heat sterilization apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 4, the fluid pre-heated by the first stage heater 12a is further heated by the second stage heater 12b. A communication pipe 31b is connected to the outlet 20b of the second heater 12b, a sterilization temperature holding pipe 34 is provided in the communication pipe 31b, and the communication pipe 31b is connected to the cooler 32 shown in FIG. Connected. Therefore, the fluid heated by the heater 12 b is held for a predetermined time by the sterilization temperature holding pipe 34 and then cooled by the cooler 32. In FIG. 4, the cooler 32 is not shown. Moreover, the number of the heating units which comprise the heaters 12a and 12b is not restricted to six each, It can be made into arbitrary numbers.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a bypass pipe 81 is connected to the communication pipe 31a. The bypass pipe 81 is connected between the joint portion 82 of the communication pipe 31a and the joint portion 83 on the downstream side, bypassing the communication pipe 31a. The bypass pipe 81 is provided with a stirrer, that is, a mixer 84. The mixer 84 serves as a passage obstruction that prevents the pig 55 from passing therethrough. When the pig 55 is not transported into the flow path of the thermal sterilizer 10, the fluid flows through the bypass pipe 81.

  An opening / closing valve 86 is provided on the upstream side of the mixer 84 of the bypass pipe 81, and an opening / closing valve 87 is provided on the communication pipe 31 a so as to be positioned between the joint portion 82 and the joint portion 83. Therefore, when the fluid supplied from the tank 11 via the main supply pipe 46 is thermally sterilized, the on-off valve 86 is opened and the on-off valve 87 is closed. As a result, the fluid is conveyed to the second heater 12 b via the bypass pipe 81. On the other hand, when the pig 55 is conveyed, the on-off valve 86 is closed and the on-off valve 87 is opened. Accordingly, the pig 55 is guided to the portion between the joint portions 82 and 83 of the communication pipe 31a without being guided by the mixer 84 which is a passage obstacle, and is conveyed to the second heater 12a. The

  When the heat sterilizer 10 having only one of the two heaters 12a and 12b shown in FIG. 4 is used, the heater 12 having the heat exchange type heating unit shown in FIG. The heating unit is replaced with a heating type heating unit. Thus, as a form of a heater, both a heat exchange type and a Joule heating type can be applied. In the heat sterilizer 10 shown in FIG. 4, the bypass pipe 81 is connected to the communication pipe 31 a that connects the first heater 12 a and the second heater 12 b, but the heaters 12 a and 12 b are connected to each other. You may make it provide the bypass pipe 81 in either of the some communicating pipe 17 to comprise. Further, in the heat exchange type heat sterilization apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, a bypass pipe 81 may be provided in the communication pipes 31 and 17.

  The flow path switching mechanism 60 shown in FIG. 4 is constituted by a three-way valve. A branch portion 51 where the upstream end of the pig standby pipe 48 is connected to the main supply pipe 46 is provided with a first three-way valve 91, and a junction where the downstream end of the pig standby pipe 48 is connected to the main supply pipe 46 52 is provided with a second three-way valve 92. The first three-way valve 91 has a valve body 94 provided with a switching flow path 93. The main supply pipe 46 is opened to close the pig standby pipe 48, that is, the first position, and the main supply pipe. It operates to the position where 46 is closed and the pig standby pipe 48 is opened, that is, the second position. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the valve body 94 is in the first position. When the valve body 94 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise, the first three-way valve 91 is in the second position. Accordingly, when the fluid in the tank 11 is supplied to the heaters 12a and 12b via the main supply pipe 46, the first three-way valve 91 is operated to the first position. On the other hand, when supplying the fluid in the tank 11 to the heaters 12a and 12b via the pig standby pipe 48, the first three-way valve 91 is operated to the second position.

  In order to prevent the fluid in the pig standby pipe 48 from flowing back into the main supply pipe 46 when the fluid is supplied to the heaters 12a and 12b via the pig standby pipe 48, the second A three-way valve 92 is provided. The three-way valve 92 has the same structure as that of the first three-way valve 91. The main supply pipe 46 is opened to close the pig standby pipe 48, that is, the first position, and the pig standby pipe 48 is opened to the main position. It operates to the position where the supply pipe 46 is closed, that is, the second position.

  As described above, the flow path switching mechanism 60 shown in FIG. 4 includes the two three-way valves 91 and 92. However, as a form of the flow path switching mechanism 60, it is possible to provide only the first three-way valve 91 and to provide the second three-way valve 92 thereto.

  4 and 5, the heating step and the purging step are performed in the same manner as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the preceding fluid is passed through the pig 55. The row side fluid can be conveyed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Thermal sterilizer 11 Tank 12, 12a, 12b Heating machine 13a-13f Heating unit 17 Communication pipe 21 Hot water circulation chamber 25 Hot water supply machine 31, 31a, 31b Communication pipe 32 Cooling machine 32a-32f Cooling unit 46 Main supply pipe 47 Pump 48 pig standby pipe 48a connecting part 51 branching part 52 joining part 53 pig loading part 55 pig 60 channel switching mechanism 61 first on-off valve 62 second on-off valve 63 third on-off valve 64 fourth on-off valve 65 pig Extraction parts 71a to 71f, 72a to 72f Heating unit 81 Bypass pipe 84 Mixer (passing obstacle part)
91 First three-way valve 92 Second three-way valve

Claims (10)

A fluid heat sterilization apparatus for heat sterilization while continuously conveying a fluid,
A tank containing a fluid,
A flow path in which a fluid flows between the inlet and the outlet, and a heater that heats the fluid while flowing in the channel;
A main supply pipe connected between the tank and the inlet and supplying the fluid discharged from the tank to the heater;
A pig waiting pipe that includes a pig loading section that is loaded with a pig, and is detoured and connected between a merging section on the downstream side of the main supply pipe and a branch section on the upstream side of the merging section;
A flow path that operates between a position for supplying the fluid in the tank to the heater via the main supply pipe and a position for supplying the fluid in the tank to the heater via the pig standby pipe. A switching mechanism;
Have
A fluid different in type from the preceding fluid supplied to the heater via the main supply pipe is supplied to the heater via the pig standby pipe as a trailing fluid for purging. By doing so, the fluid thermal sterilization apparatus which supplies the preceding fluid to the heater.   The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid supplied to the heater through the pig standby pipe is either one of replacement water and food and drink, and the fluid is supplied through the main supply pipe. A fluid thermal sterilization apparatus, wherein the fluid supplied to the heater is either the replacement water or the food or drink.   The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid supplied to the heater via the pig standby pipe is a kind of food or drink supplied to the heater via the main supply pipe. A fluid heat sterilization apparatus, which is a food or drink with different values. In the thermal-sterilization apparatus of the fluid of any one of Claims 1-3,
The flow path switching mechanism is
A first on-off valve provided on the downstream side of the branch part of the main supply pipe and a second on-off valve provided on the upstream side of the pig loading part of the pig standby pipe, or Downstream of the first on-off valve, the second on-off valve, the third on-off valve provided on the downstream side of the main supply pipe from the first on-off valve, and the pig loading section of the pig standby pipe A fluid heat sterilization apparatus comprising a fourth on-off valve provided on the side. In the thermal-sterilization apparatus of the fluid of any one of Claims 1-3,
The flow path switching mechanism is
A first three-way valve provided at the branch portion and operating to a position where the main supply pipe is opened and the pig standby pipe is closed and a position where the main supply pipe is closed and the pig standby pipe is opened. Or a position where the main supply pipe is opened and the pig standby pipe is closed, and the main supply pipe is closed and the pig standby pipe is opened. A fluid heat sterilizer comprising a second three-way valve and a first three-way valve that are actuated to a position where In the fluid thermal sterilization apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A bypass pipe that bypasses the communication pipe is provided in the communication pipe provided in the heater, a passage obstruction portion that cannot pass the pig is provided in the bypass pipe, a fluid is guided to the bypass pipe, and the pig is communicated. A fluid heat sterilizer that guides the pipe.   The fluid heat sterilization apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the heater includes an inner tube and an outer tube, and heat exchange is performed by heating the fluid flowing in the inner tube with a heat medium. A fluid heat sterilization apparatus that has a formula or a plurality of ring-shaped electrodes and that heats the fluid by Joule heat. A heater provided with a flow path through which a fluid flows between an inflow port and an outflow port, a tank that accommodates a fluid, and the inflow port are connected between the inflow port and a fluid discharged from the tank. The main supply pipe to be supplied to the heater, and a pig loading section in which a pig is loaded are provided to bypass and connect between a downstream junction of the main supply pipe and a branch section upstream of the junction. A fluid sterilization method in which the fluid stored in the tank is heated while being continuously conveyed by a heat sterilization apparatus having a pig standby pipe,
A heating step of heating the fluid while supplying the fluid discharged from the tank to the heater via the main supply pipe;
A fluid different in type from the preceding fluid supplied to the heater via the main supply pipe is supplied to the heater via the pig standby pipe as a trailing fluid for purging. A purge step in which the fluid for purging supplies the preceding fluid to the heater through the pig,
A method for heat sterilization of a fluid having:   The fluid thermal sterilization method according to claim 8, wherein the fluid supplied to the heater via the pig standby pipe is one of replacement water and food and drink, and the fluid is supplied via the main supply pipe. The fluid to be supplied to the heater is a heat sterilization method for a fluid, which is either the replacement water or the food or drink.   The fluid sterilization method according to claim 8, wherein the fluid supplied to the heater via the pig standby pipe is a kind of food or drink supplied to the heater via the main supply pipe. A method for heat sterilization of a fluid, which is a food or drink with different values.

Images