JP2700160B2 - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sterilizer for heating and sterilizing a liquid such as juice using a plate heat exchanger.

[Conventional technology]

In the manufacturing process, the juice is heated to a certain temperature (for example, 120 ° C.) and kept for a certain period of time to kill bacteria that may enter the juice.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional example of a sterilizing apparatus used in the above sterilizing step. In the figure, (1) is a first plate heat exchanger that constitutes a preheating section for preheating a juice to be sterilized, and (2) is provided along with the first plate heat exchanger (1). And a second plate heat exchanger constituting a heating unit for heating the preheated juice to the sterilization temperature, wherein the second plate heat exchanger (1) is a second plate heat exchanger. One flow path (1a) and (2a) are connected so that they can communicate with each other. (3) is a tank for storing juice to be sterilized, and (4) is a hot water tank for storing hot water serving as a heat source of a heating unit constituted by the second plate heat exchanger (2). The tank (3) is the first tank
Through the pump (5) and the first flow path (1a) of the first plate heat exchanger (1), and the tank (3)
The juice inside is pumped by a first pump (5) to a first flow path (1a) of a first plate heat exchanger (1),
From here, piping is provided so as to pass through the first flow path (1a) of the second plate heat exchanger (2) and reach the switching valve (6). Then, depending on the switching direction of the switching valve (6), after passing through the second flow path (1b) of the first plate heat exchanger (1), it flows to the next step or returns to the tank (3) again. ) Is configured to take any one of the flow paths returned to the inside. The hot water in the hot water tank (4) is supplied to a second plate heat exchanger (2) by a second pump (7).
After being pressure-fed to the second flow path (2b), the pipe is returned to the hot water tank (4) again. In addition, this warm water
It is obtained by supplying steam generated by the steam generator (10) into the hot water circulation path via the control valve (9) and the in-line heater (8), and the temperature of the hot water is adjusted by the supply amount of steam. Like that.

In order to sterilize the juice in the tank (3) by the sterilizing apparatus having the above configuration, first, the second pump (7)
Is operated, pressurized hot water flows through the second flow path (2b) of the second plate heat exchanger (2), and then the first pump (5) is operated to operate the first pump (5). The juice in the tank (3) is pumped from the first flow path (1a) of the plate heat exchanger (1) to the first flow path (2a) of the second plate heat exchanger (2). Then, the juice reaches the switching valve (6) after being heated in the second plate heat exchanger (2). At this time, if the juice has not been heated to the sterilization temperature, the switching valve (6) is opened to the tank (3) side, the juice is once returned to the tank (3), and the juice together with the juice in the tank (3) is again used. At the same time as the pressure feed to the first plate heat exchanger (1), the supply amount of steam into the hot water circulation path is increased, the temperature of the hot water is raised, and the steam is fed from the second plate heat exchanger (2). Raise the temperature of the discharged juice to the sterilization temperature. Also, when the juice is heated to the sterilization temperature, it is determined that the juice has been sterilized,
The switching valve (6) is opened to the first plate heat exchanger (1) side, and the heat-sterilized juice passes through the second flow path (1b) of the first plate heat exchanger (1). After that, it is sent to the next process. In this way, when the juice reaches the sterilization temperature and the sterilized juice flows through the second channel (1b) of the first plate heat exchanger (1) to the next step, the untreated juice Is heated in the second plate heat exchanger (2) after being preheated in the first plate heat exchanger (1), so that efficient heat exchange is performed thereafter. . In addition, in this state, the supply amount of steam 4 into the hot water circulation path is reduced, so that the juice is not heated more than necessary.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, if the untreated juice is preheated using the sterilized juice, heat exchange with less heat consumption can be performed. However, according to the above method, if the juice discharged from the second plate heat exchanger (2) has not reached the sterilization temperature, all of the juice is returned to the tank (3) without any change. No preheating is performed by the plate heat exchanger (1). Therefore, in this state, the unprocessed juice pumped from the tank (3) is removed from the second juice.
Needs to be quickly heated to the sterilization temperature in the plate heat exchanger (2), and a large amount of steam needs to be supplied to the hot water circulation path serving as the heat source of the second plate heat exchanger (2). . For this reason, the steam generator (10), the control valve (9), and the in-line heater (8) used in the sterilizer require large capacities, and the entire apparatus becomes very large.
There was a problem that a large installation space was required. In addition, when the temperature of the juice discharged from the second plate heat exchanger (2) reaches the sterilization temperature and preheating is performed by the sterilized juice, efficient heat exchange can be performed. As a result, there is no need to supply a large amount of steam to the hot water circulation path, so that it is necessary to suppress the output of the steam generator (10), and there is a problem that the equipment is wasted. Furthermore, if the amount of steam supplied to the hot water circuit is significantly different between the case where preheating with sterilized juice is performed and the case where it is not, the controller for controlling the amount of steam supplied will have a large heat load. There is also a problem that the change cannot be followed and it becomes difficult to keep the temperature of the juice discharged from the second plate heat exchanger (2) constant.

[Means for solving the problem]

The sterilization device includes a tank containing a liquid to be subjected to heat sterilization, and a first preheating unit configured to preheat the liquid in the tank.
And a second plate heat exchanger which is provided in parallel with the first plate heat exchanger and constitutes a heating unit for heating the liquid having passed through the first plate heat exchanger to a sterilization temperature. A hot water tank for storing hot water serving as a heat source of the second plate heat exchanger; and a hot water tank disposed downstream of the second plate heat exchanger and discharged from the second plate heat exchanger. A third plate heat exchanger that constitutes a hot water preheating unit that returns the hot water to the hot water tank after preheating the hot water, wherein a second plate heat exchanger is used as a heat source of the first and third plate heat exchangers. When the liquid discharged from the vessel is used and the liquid has reached the sterilization temperature, the liquid is sent to the next process after passing through the first plate heat exchanger, and the liquid is cooled to the sterilization temperature. If not reached, pass through a third plate heat exchanger After, in which was returned to the tank.

[Action]

As described above, in the case where the liquid is heated and sterilized by the plate heat exchanger using hot water as a heat source, if the liquid is not heated to the sterilization temperature, the liquid is used to preheat hot water, and When heated to the sterilization temperature, the untreated liquid is preheated by this sterilized liquid, so that heat exchange with low heat consumption is always performed without being affected by the heating temperature of the liquid. It is.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows a sterilizer according to the present invention.
In the same figure, (20) is a first plate heat exchanger constituting a preheating unit for preheating the juice to be sterilized,
(21) is attached to the first plate heat exchanger (20),
A second plate heat exchanger constituting a heating unit for heating the preheated juice to a sterilization temperature, wherein the first and second plate heat exchangers (20) and (21) have a first plate heat exchanger.
The channels (20a) and (21a) communicate with each other as in the related art. (twenty two)
Is a tank for storing juice for sterilization, (23)
Is a hot water tank for storing hot water serving as a heat source of the heating unit constituted by the second plate heat exchanger (21); (24)
Is a third plate heat exchanger that constitutes a hot water preheating unit and is disposed downstream of the second plate heat exchanger (21) in order to preheat hot water serving as a heat source of the heating unit. . The tank (22) communicates with the first flow path (20a) of the first plate heat exchanger (20) via the first pump (25), and the juice in the tank (22) is , The first pump (2
By 5), it is pressure-fed to the first flow path (20a) of the first plate heat exchanger (20), and from there it passes through the first flow path (21a) of the second plate heat exchanger (21). Switching valve (26)
It is plumbed to reach. Then, depending on the switching direction of the switching valve (26), after passing through the second flow path (20b) of the first plate heat exchanger (20), it flows to the next step, or After passing through the first flow path (24a) of the plate heat exchanger (24), the flow path is returned to the tank (22). The hot water in the hot water tank (23) is supplied to the second flow path (21b) of the second plate heat exchanger (21) by the second pump (27).
After passing through the second plate-type heat exchanger (24), the water is passed through the second flow path (24b) of the third plate heat exchanger (24) and returned to the hot water tank (23) again. In addition, this warm water is the same as before.
It is obtained by supplying steam generated by the steam generator (30) into the hot water circulation path via the control valve (29) and the in-line heater (28), and the temperature of the hot water is adjusted by the supply amount of steam. It is like that. The in-line heater (28) is installed downstream of the second flow path (24b) of the third plate heat exchanger (24).

In order to sterilize the juice in the tank (22) by the sterilizing apparatus having the above configuration, first, the second pump (27)
And pressurized hot water into the hot water tank (2
3) to the second flow path (2) of the second plate heat exchanger (21).
1b) and then a third plate heat exchanger (2
The hot water is circulated by passing through the second flow path (24b) of 4) and returning to the hot water tank (23). Next, the first pump (25) is operated, and the first plate heat exchanger (20) is operated.
From the first flow path (20a) to the second plate heat exchanger (2
The juice in the tank (22) is pumped to the first flow path (21a) of 1). Then, the juice is heated in the second plate heat exchanger (21), and then reaches the switching valve (26). At this time, if the juice has not been heated to the sterilization temperature, the switching valve (26) is opened to the third plate heat exchanger (24), and the unsterilized juice is removed from the third plate heat exchanger. It leads to the first flow path (24a) of (24). Then, after preheating the hot water discharged from the second plate heat exchanger (21) using the unsterilized juice that has not reached the sterilization temperature as a heat source, the unsterilized juice is temporarily stored in a tank ( 22), and again pumped together with the juice in the tank (22) toward the first plate heat exchanger (20). At the same time, the supply amount of steam into the hot water circulation path is slightly increased, the temperature of the preheated hot water is further increased, and the juice discharged from the second plate heat exchanger (21) is discharged. Raise temperature to sterilization temperature. When the juice is heated to the sterilization temperature, it is determined that the juice has been sterilized, and the switching valve (26) is opened to the first plate-type heat exchanger (20) side. , The second flow path (20) of the first plate heat exchanger (20).
After passing through b), send to the next step. When the juice reaches the sterilization temperature and the sterilized juice flows through the second flow path (20b) of the first plate heat exchanger (20) to the next step, the third plate is formed. The preheating of the hot water in the heat exchanger (24) is no longer performed and instead the untreated juice is preheated by the sterilized juice in the first plate heat exchanger (20). rear,
It is heated to the sterilization temperature in the second plate heat exchanger (21). Thereafter, the sterilized juice is sequentially pumped to the next step.

The above description is directed to an example in which a third plate heat exchanger (24) serving as a hot water preheating unit for preheating hot water is separately provided downstream of the second plate heat exchanger (21). As described above, since the third plate heat exchanger (24) is provided with the first plate heat exchanger (20) and the second plate heat exchanger (21) side by side, Integrated into a connecting board (partition plate) interposed between them,
The size of the entire apparatus may be reduced.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention provides a method for sterilizing a liquid such as juice by heating with a plate heat exchanger using hot water as a heat source.If the liquid is not heated to the sterilizing temperature, This liquid preheats hot water, and when the liquid is heated to the sterilization temperature, the untreated liquid is preheated by the sterilized liquid. Therefore, if liquid sterilization is performed by the device according to the present invention,
It is possible to always perform replacement with low heat consumption without being affected by the heating temperature of the liquid. For this reason, it is not necessary to supply a large amount of steam into the circulation path of the hot water serving as a heat source at the time of heating the liquid, and a small-sized steam generator can be used, so that the entire apparatus can be downsized. In addition, if heat exchange with a small amount of heat consumption is always performed, it is possible to prevent waste of equipment, and at the same time, it is not necessary to greatly change the supply amount of steam, and it becomes very easy to control the supply amount of steam, and Can always be heated to a constant temperature.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sterilizer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional example of the sterilizer. (20) ... first plate heat exchanger (21) ... second plate heat exchanger (22) ... tank (23) ... hot water tank (24) ... third Plate heat exchanger.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tank containing a liquid to be subjected to heat sterilization, a first plate heat exchanger constituting a preheating unit for preheating the liquid in the tank, and a first plate heat exchanger. A second plate heat exchanger that constitutes a heating unit that heats the liquid that has passed through the first plate heat exchanger to a sterilization temperature, and stores hot water that is a heat source of the second plate heat exchanger. A third configuration that constitutes a hot water tank and a hot water preheating unit that is installed downstream of the second plate heat exchanger, preheats hot water discharged from the second plate heat exchanger, and then returns the hot water to the hot water tank. A plate heat exchanger, wherein the first and third plate heat exchangers have a second heat source.
The liquid discharged from the plate heat exchanger is used, and when the liquid has reached the sterilization temperature, the liquid is sent to the next step after passing through the first plate heat exchanger, and
When the liquid has not reached the sterilization temperature, the liquid is passed through a third plate heat exchanger and then returned to the tank.