JPH0138467B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in a liquid processing device for heating and sterilizing liquids such as beverages and sending the sterilized liquids to a filling machine.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional type, in which product liquid at room temperature is supplied to a cushion tank 2 from a product liquid supply inlet 1. The product liquid is sucked from the cushion tank 2 through the liquid supply pipe 3 to the pressure pump 4, and the pressurized product liquid passes through the foreign matter separator 5.
It flows into the heat sterilization section 7 of the heat exchanger 6. The temperature indication adjustment alarm meter 8 detects the temperature of the product liquid flowing out from the heat sterilization section 7 of the heat exchanger 6, and controls the heat sterilization temperature. Specifically, at the same time as controlling the heat medium circulation device 16, when the detected product liquid temperature (sterilization temperature) is less than the set lower limit temperature or exceeds the set upper limit temperature, the flow path of the three-way switching valve 9 is closed. Automatically switches to the liquid return piping 13 side. When the predetermined sterilization temperature condition (when the sterilization temperature is within the range of the lower limit temperature or higher and the upper limit temperature or lower), the three-way switching valve 9 is switched to the forward flow side, and the product liquid flows through the filter 10. The liquid then passes through the second three-way switching valve 11, reaches the filling machine liquid sending piping 20, and is fed under pressure to the filling machine. The second three-way switching valve 11 is a check valve that switches the product liquid flow path to the liquid return side when there is no liquid consumption in the filling machine or when there is no need to supply product liquid on the filling machine side. 12, the flow path is switched to the liquid return pipe 13 side. The product liquid switched to the return side by the first three-way switching valve 9 and whose heat sterilization temperature conditions are not sufficient or the excess product liquid switched to the return side by the second three-way switching valve 11 is passed through the liquid return piping,
It flows into the return liquid cooling section 14 of the heat exchanger 6. In this return liquid cooling section 14, the product liquid is cooled to a predetermined temperature or lower using cooling water supplied from a cooling water supply port 17, and is then returned to the liquid through a throttle valve 15 and a liquid return pipe 19 to the cushion tank. Then, the liquid is returned to the cushion tank 2.

However, the conventional device described above has the following problems.

While the total operating time for normal product production is 100%, the operation rate of the filling machine described above is approximately 85 to 90% due to repeated startups and stops due to conditions such as supplying or discharging containers. Therefore, during the time equivalent to 10 to 15% of the total product production operation time, the flow path of the product liquid is switched to the liquid return side, and during this time, heating energy is expended for heating and the return liquid is cooled to almost room temperature. This consumes a considerable amount of cooling water and is extremely uneconomical due to wasted energy and resource consumption.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and its purpose is to provide an economical liquid processing device that can significantly reduce the consumption of heating energy and cooling water. .

The present invention provides a pressure pump from a cushion tank,
A heat exchanger for heat sterilization, a first three-way automatic switching valve that switches the flow path to the liquid return side when the sterilization temperature is abnormal;
In the liquid processing device, the heat-sterilized liquid is sent to the filling machine via a second three-way automatic switching valve that switches the flow path to the liquid return side when there is no liquid consumption in the filling machine. On the inlet side, a first valve adjusts the flow rate when one of the first and second three-way automatic switching valves switches to the liquid return side and when the flow rate of liquid sent to the filling machine becomes less than the set liquid volume. Further, a second automatic flow rate adjustment valve is provided on the outlet side of the second three-way switching automatic valve for feeding a liquid according to the amount of liquid consumed by the filling machine, and a second automatic flow rate adjustment valve is provided on the outlet side of the second three-way automatic valve. A flow path is provided on the inlet side of the automatic flow rate adjustment valve to bypass the liquid to the return side according to the opening degree of the valve, and as described above, the first and second automatic flow rate adjustment valves are By providing valves and bypass channels, it is possible to send liquid according to the amount of liquid consumed by the filling machine, and it is also possible to prevent abnormal pressure rises in each device during operation. Since the liquid can be fed according to the amount of liquid consumed by the filling machine, there is no need for wasted heating energy, and when the liquid consumption of the filling machine falls below the set flow rate or the filling machine is temporarily suspended, etc. The liquid can be bypassed to the return side before entering the heat exchanger.
It is extremely economical because heating energy and cooling water can be significantly reduced, and wasteful heating and cooling can be avoided, so deterioration of liquid quality can be prevented.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 2.

a is an unsterilized product liquid supply port, b is a cushion tank, c is a liquid delivery pipe, d is an unsterilized product liquid pressure pump, e is a foreign matter separator, and the unsterilized product is sent by the pressure pump. This removes foreign substances such as solids in the liquid. f is an automatic bypass valve that automatically bypasses a portion of the unsterilized product liquid when the flow of the product liquid is throttled by the first automatic flow rate adjustment valve g.

The first automatic flow rate adjustment valve g is an automatic valve that automatically adjusts the flow rate of the product liquid depending on the consumption amount of the product liquid in the filling machine or the operating state, and receives a signal Z2, which will be described later.
It opens and closes depending on the opening degree. h is a heat exchanger consisting of a heat sterilization section i for heating and sterilizing unsterilized product liquid, and a return liquid cooling section s for cooling insufficiently sterilized product liquid or liquid returned from the filling machine. j is heat sterilization section i of heat exchanger h
This is a heat medium circulation device that supplies heat to heat and sterilize unsterilized product liquid.

K is a sterilization temperature indicator and alarm meter that measures the sterilization heating temperature of the product liquid, and is capable of setting the upper and lower limits of the heating sterilization temperature.

1 is the first three-way switching automatic valve, which switches the flow path to the forward flow side of the filter m if the sterilization temperature of the product liquid detected by the sterilization temperature indicator k is normal (within the set temperature range). , is a valve that automatically switches the flow path to the liquid return pipe r side on the return flow side if the sterilization temperature of the product liquid is abnormal (outside the range below the lower limit or above the upper limit of the set temperature).

m is a product liquid filter, n is a second three-way switching automatic valve, and this second three-way switching automatic valve n is used to automatically adjust the second flow rate on the forward flow side when the product liquid is consumed in the filling machine. It is an automatic valve that switches to the valve φ side, and switches to the return flow side check valve q side when there is no product liquid consumption in the filling machine.

The second flow rate adjustment automatic valve φ is an automatic valve that opens and closes in response to the product liquid consumption signal Z1 in the filling machine, and its opening degree is determined, and supplies the product liquid to the filling machine according to the product liquid consumption in the filling machine. The liquid is sent to the filling machine through the liquid sending pipe p. The product liquid transferred to the liquid return pipe r side by the first three-way automatic switching valve 1 or the second three-way automatic switching valve n is transferred to the return liquid cooling section s of the heat exchanger h.
is cooled down to a predetermined temperature or lower.

t is a flow rate control valve that limits the flow rate of the returned liquid.

v is a cooling water supply port for the return liquid, w is a cooling water supply automatic valve, and the first three-way switching automatic valve 1 is connected to the liquid return piping r side when either one of the second three-way switching automatic valve n is connected to the This valve automatically opens fully only when the path is switched.

x is a cooling water flow control valve, and used cooling water is diverted to a drain or another device from an outlet y.

The return liquid cooled to a predetermined temperature or lower is returned to the cushion tank b through a return pipe u.

In the above configuration, the heat medium circulation device j secures the necessary heat medium circulation flow rate, controls the heat medium supply temperature to the heat sterilization section i of the heat exchanger h, and sends and circulates the heat medium. let

The unsterilized product liquid pumped from the cushion tank b by the pressure pump d passes through the foreign matter separator e and the first automatic flow rate adjustment valve g, enters the heat exchanger h, and is heated and sterilized in the heat sterilization section i. The liquid is sent to the filling machine via the first three-way automatic valve 1, the filter m, the second three-way automatic valve n, and the second flow rate adjustment automatic valve φ.

Here, the second flow rate adjustment automatic valve φ automatically adjusts the flow rate for sending the heated sterilizer product liquid to the filling machine, and uses a proportional control signal Z1 according to the consumption amount of the product liquid from the filling machine. The valve is opened and closed, and its opening degree is determined, and an amount of product liquid is delivered in accordance with the consumption amount.

Further, the opening degree of the first automatic flow rate adjustment valve g is determined by a signal Z2 that controls the opening degree, and this control signal Z2 is used to control the opening degree of the first three-way automatic valve 1 or the second three-way automatic valve g. When one of the automatic switching valves n has its flow path on the liquid return side, that is, when there is no need to send liquid to the filling machine, the first automatic flow rate adjustment valve g
At the same time, when the flow rate of liquid sent to the filling machine becomes lower than the set flow rate, the discharge pressure of the pressure pump d is not applied to functional components such as the heat exchanger h more than necessary. The opening degree of the automatic flow rate adjustment valve g of No. 1 is given. When the opening degree of the first automatic flow rate adjustment valve g is reduced, the automatic bypass valve f opens accordingly, bypassing the liquid, and keeping the primary product pressure of the first automatic flow rate adjustment valve g constant. It works like this. This prevents the liquid from stagnation in the foreign matter separator e, and the functional components from the discharge port of the pressure pump d to the primary side of the first automatic flow control valve g reach the cut-off pressure of the pressure pump d. Therefore, abnormal pressure rise can be prevented, and the flow rate of the product liquid can be easily controlled by interlocking the first automatic flow rate adjustment valve g and the second automatic flow rate adjustment valve φ.

As is clear from the above description, according to this embodiment, the following effects with high practical value can be obtained.

(1) It is possible to send heat-sterilized product liquid to the filling machine according to the amount of product liquid consumed by the filling machine.

(2) During operation, abnormal pressure increases in functional components such as foreign matter separators, heat exchangers, filters, automatic valves, and piping can be prevented, and the durability of these functional components can be maintained.

(3) Due to the effect of (1) above, when the filling machine is in production operation,
At the same time, it does not require wasted heating energy, and in conventional systems, for example, when the product liquid consumption in the filling machine was halved, a part of it was returned to the cooling liquid, but this is not necessary in this embodiment. ,
Cooling water consumption in this case can be made unnecessary.

(4) When the filling machine is temporarily out of operation, conventional methods heat and sterilize a predetermined product liquid flow rate (liquid flow rate commensurate with the product liquid consumption of the filling machine) using a heat exchanger, and then Since the path was switched to the liquid return side to return the liquid for cooling, energy for heating and cooling water for cooling were wasted. If there is no problem with the limit or quality deterioration of the product liquid, it is possible to temporarily stop feeding the product liquid to the heat exchanger, and the flow rate can be adjusted. The consumption of heating energy and cooling water when the machine is temporarily out of operation can be reduced to less than half, or even become unnecessary in some cases.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional one;
The figure is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. b: cushion tank, d: pressure pump, f:
Bypass automatic valve, g: first flow rate adjustment automatic valve,
h: heat exchanger, 1: first three-way automatic valve, n:
Second three-way switching automatic valve, φ: second flow rate adjustment automatic valve, r, u: liquid return piping.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. From the cushion tank to the pressure pump, the heat exchanger for heat sterilization, the first three-way automatic valve that switches the flow path to the liquid return side when the sterilization temperature is abnormal, and the flow path when there is no liquid consumption in the filling machine. In the liquid processing apparatus, the heat-sterilized liquid is sent to the filling machine via a second three-way automatic switching valve that switches the liquid to the liquid return side. When one of the automatic switching valves is switched to the liquid return side, and when the flow rate of liquid sent to the filling machine becomes less than the set liquid volume, A second flow rate adjustment automatic valve is provided on the outlet side of the three-way switching automatic valve to send liquid according to the amount of liquid consumed by the filling machine, and a second flow rate adjustment automatic valve is provided on the inlet side of the first flow rate adjustment automatic valve. A liquid processing device characterized in that a flow path is provided for bypassing the liquid to the return side according to the opening degree of the liquid processing device.