JP3893968B2 - Hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sterilizer for liquid foods, and more particularly to a hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilizer using air as a heat medium.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, an apparatus as shown in FIG. 5 (a) has been provided for sterilization of liquid containing solid matter, liquid food having high viscosity, and the like.
This apparatus comprises a heating pipe line 1 'and a cooling pipe line 3' through which a liquid workpiece is passed, and these pipes are provided by a valve 7 'or a pump provided at the end of the cooling pipe line 3'. After adjusting the internal pressure of the passage and preventing the boiling of the object to be treated when passing through the heating pipe line 1 ', this is heat sterilized and then cooled by passing through the cooling pipe line 3'. As a device to discharge as.
And as a structure for heating said heating pipe line 1 ', the double pipe type heat exchanger as shown in FIG.5 (b) is employ | adopted. This heat exchanger encloses a tube body 30 'in a jacket 36'. By passing hot water between the jacket 36 'and the tube body 30', the heat of the hot water is transferred to the tube body 30 '. It is made to conduct to an object to be processed that passes through. In addition, a static mixer 33 'is provided in the tube body 30' to improve the heat exchange efficiency by making the object to be processed passing through the tube body 30 'into a turbulent state.
[0003]
By the way, in order to heat sterilize (heat sterilize) the object to be processed that passes through the pipe body 30 ', it is necessary to increase the temperature of the object to be processed to 110 to 130 ° C, and hot water that passes through the jacket 36'. The temperature is required to be about 140 ° C. For this reason, at present, in order to prevent boiling of the object to be processed and hot water, the tube body 30 'and the jacket 36' are operated under a pressure of 0.3 to 0.35 MPaG.
As described above, the pressure of the object to be processed passing through the pipe body 30 'is adjusted by adjusting the opening of the valve 7' or the pump, while the pressure of the hot water passing through the jacket 36 'is As shown in FIG. 5A, this is done by adjusting the relief valve at the inlet of the hot water circulation pump.
[0004]
Such existing liquid sterilizers can heat and sterilize highly viscous liquids, liquids that are sensitive to heat and easily burnt, or liquids that contain solids with minimal degradation of quality, and are suitable for operation. It is a proven device.
However, there is room for improvement in terms of legal restrictions from the standpoint of preventing occupational accidents due to accidents caused by pressure vessels and further cost reduction.
[0005]
[Technical issues for which development was attempted]
The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and by reducing the proportion of the components corresponding to the pressure vessel in the entire apparatus, the cost can be reduced without impairing the heat sterilization function. Development of a new hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilizer that can be used was a technical issue.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 is provided with a heating line and a cooling line that allow a liquid workpiece to pass through continuously, and a valve or pump provided on the terminal side of the cooling line. By adjusting the internal pressure of these pipes by means of heat sterilization while preventing the boiling of the object to be processed when passing through the heating pipes, and then cooling by passing through the cooling pipes, In an apparatus for discharging as a product, the heating pipe is arranged in a casing of the heating apparatus, and hot air is supplied into the casing to conduct heat of the hot air to an object to be processed passing through the heating pipe. It is characterized by having been configured as described above.
According to this invention, since the pressure vessel is not used to heat the heating pipe line, the proportion of the components corresponding to the pressure vessel in the entire apparatus can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced without impairing the heat sterilization function. Can be realized.
In addition, it is possible to reduce the PV value (volume x pressure), which is the standard for legal restrictions from the viewpoint of preventing occupational accidents due to accidents caused by pressure vessels, etc., making it possible to simplify various procedures. As a result, cost reduction can be realized.
[0007]
The hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilization apparatus according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in addition to the above requirements, the tube constituting the heating pipe line includes a plurality of fins.
According to the present invention, heat exchange between hot air that is a heat medium and a workpiece can be efficiently performed.
[0008]
Furthermore, the hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilization apparatus according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in addition to the above requirements, the bent portion of the heating pipe line is located outside the casing.
According to the present invention, it is possible to easily perform maintenance of the static mixer located inside the tubular body, and to prevent deterioration of the packings.
The above-described problems can be solved by using the requirements described in these claims as means.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilization apparatus of the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiment.
What is indicated by a symbol D in the figure is a hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilizer, which comprises a heating pipe 1, a hold pipe 2 and a cooling pipe 3 in a continuous state with respect to an appropriate machine frame. The heating pipe line 1 is arranged in a heating device 5. Then, the raw material supply device 6 supplies a solid liquid or a high-viscosity liquid (liquid food or the like) as an object to be processed to the heating pipe line 1 and passes the object to be processed through the heating channel 1. In the hold pipe 2 to secure a predetermined time required for sterilization and sterilization, and then cooled by passing through the cooling passage 3 and then discharged as a product.
[0010]
Hereinafter, various members constituting the hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilizer D will be described in detail. First, the heating pipe line 1 will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, three straight tubular bodies 10 are connected like a monotube using a U-shaped 180 ° vent pipe 11 as an example. Thus, the packing 12 is provided between the pipe body 10 and the 180 ° vent pipe 11 so as to maintain the internal airtightness. In addition, a static mixer 13 is provided in the tubular body 10 to stir and mix the material to be processed that passes through the tubular body 10. Further, the heat transfer area is expanded by providing a plurality of fins 15 on the outer periphery of the tube body 10.
One end of the tube body 10 connected like the monotube is used as an input port 16, and the opposite end is used as a discharge port 17. Further, a temperature sensor T1 is provided near the outlet 17 as shown in FIG.
[0011]
The heating pipe line 1 configured as described above is arranged in the heating device 5 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the heating device 5 will be described here. In this case, a metal plate is appropriately formed in a box shape, and an air introduction port 52 and an air exhaust port 53 are formed in a casing 51 configured by extending a heat insulating material on the outside, and the air guide port 52 and the air exhaust port are further formed. A circulation path is formed by connecting a pipe line 50 to 53, and a heater 55, a fan 56, and a steam heater 57 are provided in the middle of the circulation path. In addition, the atmospheric temperature in the pipe line 50 is raised by the steam heater 57. Further, as an example of the pipe 50, a temperature sensor T5 is provided between the heater 55 and the steam heater 57.
In this embodiment, the 180 ° vent pipe 11, the inlet 16 and the outlet 17 protrude from the casing 51 of the heating device 5 to the outside. Incidentally, by adopting such an installation mode of the heating pipe 1, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the packing 12 due to heat and to easily perform maintenance of the static mixer 13 with the 180 ° vent pipe 11 removed. It is.
[0012]
Next, the cooling pipe 3 will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, three straight tubular pipes 30 are formed as a monotube using a U-shaped 180 ° vent pipe 31 as an example. It is configured to be connected, and is configured so as to maintain internal airtightness by providing a packing 32 between the tube body 30 and the 180 ° vent tube 31. In addition, a static mixer 33 is provided in the pipe body 30 to stir and mix the object to be processed passing through the pipe body 30. One end of the tubular body 30 connected like the monotube is used as an inlet 34 and the opposite end is used as an outlet 35.
Further, by providing a jacket 36 on the outer peripheral portion of the tubular body 30, the cooling pipe line 3 has a double hooked structure, and the individual jackets 36 are connected in a monotube manner by connecting rods 37. A water inlet 38 is formed at one end of the jacket 36 connected like a monotube in this way, and a water outlet 39 is formed at the opposite end.
In this embodiment, groundwater or the like is supplied to the water inlet 38 using an appropriate pump (not shown). Further, in this embodiment, the cooling water discharged from the discharge port 39 is sent to the outside as a waste liquid and is not supplied to the water inlet 38 at the time. Of course, a cooling device may be appropriately provided so that the cooling water whose temperature has risen is cooled and supplied to the water inlet 38 again.
[0013]
Next, the hold pipe line 2 will be described. This is constituted by connecting the heating pipe line 1 and the cooling pipe line 3 by a pipe body 20, and the object to be treated discharged from the heating pipe line 1. It is provided for the purpose of maintaining the high temperature state of the object for a predetermined time. Further, a pressure sensor P is provided at an appropriate location of the tube body 20. Further, a static mixer may be provided in the pipe body 20 in the hold pipe line 2.
[0014]
Next, the raw material supply apparatus 6 will be described. This apparatus includes a hopper 61 and a pump 62, and is an apparatus for supplying an object to be processed to the inlet 16 in the heating pipe line 1. The raw material supply device 6 includes a flow rate sensor F.
[0015]
Further, the pipe connected to the discharge port 35 in the cooling pipe 3 is provided with a pressure adjusting valve 7, and the heating pipe 1 and the hold pipe are adjusted by adjusting the opening degree of the pressure adjusting valve 7. The pressure in the path 2 and the cooling line 3 can be adjusted. A back pressure pump may be used instead of the pressure adjustment valve 7.
The hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilization apparatus D of the present invention is configured as described above as an example, and the operation mode of this apparatus will be described below.
[0016]
[Startup operation]
First, the fan 56 in the heating device 5 is activated to circulate the atmosphere in the duct 50 and the casing 51 connected to the duct 50, and the heater 55 and the steam heater 57 are activated to raise the temperature of the atmosphere. .
Further, cooling water is supplied to the water inlet 38 in the cooling pipe 3.
[0017]
[Supply of workpieces]
The raw material to the heating pipe 1 is detected when the temperature sensor T5 detects that the temperature of the atmosphere circulating in the pipe 50 and the casing 51 has reached a predetermined value (in this embodiment, 150 ° C. as an example). The supply of the (processed material) is started, and the raw material supply device 6 is started.
In the raw material supply device 6, the raw material (object to be processed) put in the hopper 61 is sent out by the pump 62, and a fixed amount is sent based on the detection value of the flow sensor F.
At this time, by adjusting the opening degree of the pressure adjusting valve 7, the pressure in the heating pipe line 1, the hold pipe line 2 and the cooling pipe line 3 is adjusted to 0.3 to 0.35 MPaG as an example.
[0018]
[Sterilization]
The object to be processed exchanges heat with the atmosphere in the casing 51 in the tube body 10 in the heating pipe line 1, and the heat of the high temperature atmosphere is conducted to the object to be processed. The temperature of the processed product is raised to 110 to 130 ° C., and heat sterilization and heat sterilization are performed. At this time, since the pressure in the tube body 10 is 0.3 to 0.35 MPaG, the object to be processed is subjected to heat sterilization and heat sterilization without boiling or scorching. Further, since the heat dissipation area of the tube body 10 is expanded by the fins 15, heat exchange between the hot air that is a heat medium and the object to be processed is efficiently performed.
In addition, since the static mixer 13 is provided in the pipe body 10, the to-be-processed object which passes through the pipe body 10 is stirred and mixed, and heat exchange efficiency improves.
[0019]
〔hold〕
Thereafter, the object to be processed moves to the hold pipe line 2, and a predetermined time required for sterilization and sterilization of the object to be processed is secured by passing through the object.
[0020]
[Cooling treatment]
Subsequently, the object to be processed moves to the cooling pipe 3, and the temperature of the object to be processed is lowered to around room temperature by conducting heat to the cold water passing through the jacket 36. In addition, since the static mixer 33 is provided in the pipe body 30, the material to be processed that passes through the pipe body 30 is agitated and mixed, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.
And the to-be-processed object which came out of the cooling pipe line 3 is sent to the exterior of the hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilizer D, and subsequent processes, such as aseptic filling, are given.
[0021]
The hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilization apparatus D according to the present invention operates as described above, and based on the detected values of the temperature sensor T1, the temperature sensor T5, the pressure sensor P, and the flow rate sensor F, by an appropriate control device. The pump 62, the steam heater 57, the heater 55, and the pressure adjustment valve 7 are operated.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the proportion of the constituent parts corresponding to the pressure vessel in the entire liquid sterilization apparatus, and it is possible to realize cost reduction without impairing the heat sterilization function.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view and a front view showing a heating pipe line.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a heating device.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a cooling device.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an existing liquid sterilization apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
D Hot-air heat transfer type liquid sterilizer 1 Heating line 10 Tube 11 180 ° vent pipe 12 Packing 13 Static mixer 14
15 Fin 16 Input port 17 Discharge port 2 Hold conduit 20 Tube 3 Cooling conduit 30 Tube 31 180 ° vent tube 32 Packing 33 Static mixer 34 Input port 35 Discharge port 36 Jacket 37 Connection tube 38 Inlet port 39 Inlet port 5 Heating device 50 Pipe 51 Case 52 Air guide port 53 Air exhaust port 55 Heater 56 Fan 57 Steam heater 6 Raw material supply device 61 Hopper 62 Pump 7 Pressure adjustment valve F Flow rate sensor P Pressure sensor T1 Temperature sensor T5 Temperature sensor

Claims (3)

The heating line and the cooling line for continuously passing the liquid object to be processed are provided, and the heating pressure is adjusted by adjusting the internal pressure of these lines by a valve or a pump provided at the end of the cooling line. In a device that sterilizes the product while preventing the boiling of the object to be treated when passing through the pipeline, and then passes the cooling pipeline to cool and then discharges it as a product, the heating pipeline in the heating device Hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilization characterized by being arranged in the housing and supplying hot air into the housing to conduct the heat of the hot air to the workpiece passing through the heating pipe apparatus. 2. The hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the tube constituting the heating pipe has a plurality of fins. The hot air heat transfer type liquid sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bent portion of the heating pipe line is located outside the casing.

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