RU94418U1 - STERILIZATION INSTALLATION - Google Patents

Abstract

 1. A sterilization installation containing an autoclave with a sealed cover, a steam generator, pipelines for supplying and discharging a working medium, characterized in that it is additionally equipped with a closed pressure vessel connected via pipelines to a steam generator and an autoclave, pipelines for supplying and discharging a working medium are equipped with controlled valves . ! 2. The sterilization installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the controlled valves include a purge valve, a valve for draining from an autoclave to a closed pressure vessel, a valve for transferring medium from a closed pressure vessel to a steam generator, a valve for draining from a closed pressure vessel to a sewer , a valve for supplying steam from the steam generator to the autoclave, a valve for supplying cold water and a valve for supplying air to the autoclave. ! 3. The sterilization installation according to claim 1, characterized in that a pump can be installed on the pipeline connecting the steam generator to the pressure vessel.

Description

The utility model relates to the food industry, namely to the canning industry and can be used to sterilize or pasteurize food products placed in airtight containers.

Known autoclave containing a container located in its upper part, one outlet pipe with a saddle and with an adjustable valve, a steam distributor located in the lower part of the tank. At the same time, the autoclave is equipped with vent pipes made of telescopically connected sections (Pat. RF. No. 2052966, publ. 01.27.1997). The autoclave allows you to reduce steam consumption by improving the conditions of heat exchange with the container during removal of the steam-depleted part of the gas phase from the zone of its formation. The autoclave is quite easy to operate, as upon reaching the required pressure and temperature of sterilization or pasteurization, a signal is given from the whistle. However, in said autoclave thermal energy is not used efficiently enough. This is due to the fact that part of the air, together with the hot steam, enters the valve of the branch pipe through the vent pipe and is removed without any disposal.

A known autoclave for sterilizing canned food, containing a vertical cylindrical body with a sealed lid, pipes for supplying and discharging coolant and water, while vertical chambers with heaters of the TEN type are uniformly located on the outer surface of the casing, these chambers communicate with the inner cavity of the casing through two holes (Pat. RF №2096976, publ. 11/27/1997). The specified autoclave is aimed at improving the efficiency of use of thermal energy. However, the design of the autoclave is quite complex and, in addition, thermal energy is still underutilized. This is due to the fact that the excess hot water during the operation of the autoclave is simply discharged without any disposal. In addition, the uniformity of heating all the cans in the autoclave body is doubtful.

Known autoclave for sterilizing canned food, containing a housing with a lid, a bubbler located inside the housing in its lower part, a steam generator, autoclave mesh baskets, a grid cassette with horizontal guides for installing autoclave baskets, pipelines for supplying and discharging a working medium, control and regulation means, this autoclave is located in an additional building (Pat. RF №135945, publ. 10.05.2000). The design of the specified autoclave is quite simple, convenient to operate, has small dimensions. However, thermal energy is not used efficiently for the same reasons as in the above autoclaves. This autoclave is the closest to the proposed sterilization unit and adopted as a prototype.

The technical result, which is achieved by the claimed utility model, is to increase the efficiency of use of thermal energy, reducing energy costs for steam generation.

To achieve the specified technical result, a sterilization installation containing an autoclave with a sealed cover, a steam generator, pipelines for supplying and discharging a working medium is additionally equipped with a closed pressure vessel connected via pipelines to a steam generator and an autoclave, pipelines for supplying and discharging are equipped with controlled valves. Controlled valves include a purge valve, a valve for draining from an autoclave to a closed pressure vessel, a valve for transferring fluid from a closed pressure vessel to a steam generator, a valve for draining from a closed pressure vessel to a sewer, a valve for supplying steam from a steam generator to the autoclave, a cold water valve and an autoclave air supply valve. A pump can be installed on the pipeline connecting the steam generator to a closed pressure vessel.

The presence of a closed high-pressure vessel, connected by pipelines to a steam generator and a autoclave, ensures the efficient use of thermal energy, reducing the energy costs of generating steam, which is necessary for sterilization or pasteurization of canned food. This is due to the fact that the hot condensate from the autoclave does not drain into the sewer, but is sent to a closed pressure vessel, called the “economizer,” in addition, the hot water leaving the autoclave during the cooling stage is also discharged to the “economizer”, but does not drain down the drain. The hot water accumulated in the “economizer” enters the steam generator to produce the steam necessary for sterilization. Thus, not only the energy costs, but also the time required for the production of steam are reduced. In addition, the amount of water consumed by the sterilization unit is reduced, because it does not merge into the sewer, and all the time it turns in the installation.

The proposed sterilization installation is illustrated by the drawing shown in the figure.

The figure shows a General view of the sterilization installation. The sterilization unit contains an autoclave 1. The autoclave 1 has a sealed lid in the upper part 2. The sterilization unit also contains a steam generator 3 and a closed pressure vessel 4, the so-called “economizer”. The autoclave 1, the steam generator 3 and the “economizer” 4 are interconnected using a piping system with valves:

- the steam generator 3 is connected to the autoclave 1 using a pipeline 5 provided with a valve 6 for supplying steam from the steam generator 3 to the autoclave 1;

- the autoclave 1 is equipped at the bottom with a pipe 7 with a condensate and hot water drain valve 8 to an “economizer” 4, this pipe 7 is designed to drain the condensate formed during sterilization in the lower part of the autoclave 1, and also to drain hot water during the cooling phase “Economizer” 4;

- the upper part of the autoclave 1 by means of a pipe 9, which has a purge valve 10, is connected to the “economizer” 4, through the pipe 9 at the stage of purging the steam-air mixture is passed through the “economizer” 4 before being discharged to the drain;

- the “economizer” 4 is connected to the steam generator 3 using the pipe 11, the pipe 11 has a valve 12 for transferring the medium from the “economizer” 4, through the pipe 11, at the end of the sterilization process, hot water from the “economizer” 4 enters the steam generator 3 to produce the steam necessary to sterilize the next batch of product;

- in addition, a pipe 13 branches off from the pipeline 11, equipped with a drain valve 14 from the “economizer” 4 to the sewer;

- through the pipeline 15, equipped with a valve 16 for supplying cold water, serves cold water in the autoclave 1 at the stage of cooling the product;

- through a pipe 17 provided with an air supply valve 18, air is supplied to the autoclave 1 to create back pressure during the cooling phase of the product. On the pipe 11 can be installed pump 19.

Sterilization installation works as follows.

In the autoclave 1, the product is placed in a hermetically sealed container (tin or glass) and the hermetic lid is closed 2. Then, steam is supplied to the autoclave 1 from the steam generator 3 with a pressure of up to 4 atm. To do this, open the steam supply valve 6 on the pipeline 5. At that, first purging the autoclave 1 to remove air from it. When purging, the purge valve 10 on the pipe 9 is open. The resulting steam-air mixture from the autoclave 1 is passed through an “economizer” 4, and then through the pipe 13 with the drain valve 14 open, it enters the sewer. After the purge process is completed, the purge valve 10 is closed, and the steam supply valve 6 is still open, steam is supplied to the autoclave 1 from the steam generator 3, and the product is sterilized or pasteurized. In this case, valve 8 is automatically opened periodically to remove condensate formed in the lower part of the autoclave 1, which has a temperature of about 100 ° -120 ° C, in the “economizer” 4, where it accumulates. At the end of the sterilization process, the product is cooled in an autoclave 1. Cooling is carried out with cold water. To avoid the battle, glass jars create back pressure with air. Cold water in the autoclave 1 is fed through a pipe 15, opening the valve 16 for supplying cold water. The air necessary for backpressure is supplied via line 17, opening the air supply valve 18. Cold water draws heat from hot cans, heats up to 60 ° -100 ° C and at the end of the cooling stage it enters through the pipeline 7 with the valve 8 open to the “economizer” 4. From the “economizer” 4, the accumulated content goes to the steam generator 3 to generate steam, necessary for sterilization or pasteurization of the next batch of product. In this case, the steam comes from the “economizer” 4 to the steam generator 3 either by gravity with the valve 12 open with a sufficient pressure difference, or by means of a pump 19 (with insufficient pressure difference). This saves up to 80% of the heat needed to generate steam. In addition, water consumption is significantly reduced, as well as the necessary time for the formation of steam required for sterilization or pasteurization.

An experimental setup of the installation was created, which proved high savings in heat, water and time costs.

Claims (3)

1. A sterilization installation containing an autoclave with a sealed cover, a steam generator, pipelines for supplying and discharging a working medium, characterized in that it is additionally equipped with a closed pressure vessel connected via pipelines to a steam generator and an autoclave, pipelines for supplying and discharging a working medium are equipped with controlled valves . 2. The sterilization installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the controlled valves include a purge valve, a valve for draining from an autoclave to a closed pressure vessel, a valve for transferring medium from a closed pressure vessel to a steam generator, a valve for draining from a closed pressure vessel to a sewer , a valve for supplying steam from the steam generator to the autoclave, a valve for supplying cold water and a valve for supplying air to the autoclave. 3. The sterilization installation according to claim 1, characterized in that a pump can be installed on the pipeline connecting the steam generator to the pressure vessel.