US20090308567A1 - Device for Freezing,Transporting and Thawing Fluids - Google Patents

Device for Freezing,Transporting and Thawing Fluids Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20090308567A1
US20090308567A1 US12/227,080 US22708007A US2009308567A1 US 20090308567 A1 US20090308567 A1 US 20090308567A1 US 22708007 A US22708007 A US 22708007A US 2009308567 A1 US2009308567 A1 US 2009308567A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
container
immersion pipe
pipe
heat exchanger
product
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/227,080
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Hans Peter Meier
Jan Hengstler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Zeta Biopharma GmbH
Original Assignee
zeta Holding GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by zeta Holding GmbH filed Critical zeta Holding GmbH
Assigned to ZETA HOLDING GMBH reassignment ZETA HOLDING GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HENGSTLER, JAN, MEIER, HANS PETER
Publication of US20090308567A1 publication Critical patent/US20090308567A1/en
Assigned to ZETA BIOPHARMA GMBH reassignment ZETA BIOPHARMA GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ZETA HOLDING GMBH
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
    • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
    • F28D1/0206—Heat exchangers immersed in a large body of liquid
    • F28D1/0213—Heat exchangers immersed in a large body of liquid for heating or cooling a liquid in a tank
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
    • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
    • F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
    • F28D1/047—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
    • F28D1/0477—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D7/10—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged one within the other, e.g. concentrically
    • F28D7/106—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged one within the other, e.g. concentrically consisting of two coaxial conduits or modules of two coaxial conduits
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
    • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
    • F28D2021/0022—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for chemical reactors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
    • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
    • F28D2021/0042—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for foodstuffs

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a device for freezing, transporting and thawing fluids, in particular sterile fluids, solutions and suspensions for the chemical, biotechnological, pharmaceutical and food industry, of the type defined in claim 1 and a method of thawing such fluids as defined in claim 10 .
  • patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,706 discloses a device with an upright cylindrical container with a funnel-shaped base with a central outlet orifice.
  • the container wall and base are of a double-skin design and coolant flows through them during the freezing process.
  • a plurality of cooling elements is provided in the container.
  • the cooling elements are hollow cylinders, the diameters and lengths of which are adapted to one another so that they are disposed concentrically with one another and extend through the container interior respectively from a top region, which predefines the maximum filling level, to approximately the base.
  • the distance of the cooling elements from the container base and of the cooling elements from one another is the same overall.
  • Coolant can be fed in and out of top-end pipes connecting all the cooling elements via a single inlet pipe and outlet pipe on the top face of the lid.
  • an appropriately warm medium is fed through the cooling elements and once the container contents have completely thawed, the container is emptied via the central bottom outlet orifice in the region of the deepest point of the container.
  • the cooling elements disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,706 occupy a large part of the container volume and have a very large surface area, freezing and thawing is quick and gentle and does not require additional process steps. For economic reasons, however, it is very desirable to reduce the size of the cooling elements massively in order to save on costs and increase the usable volume of the container.
  • the applicant has developed a freezing and transport device for which the freezing process was quantified in terms of temperatures and phase transitions on the basis of time and location.
  • the device known under the brand name FreezeContainer®, is illustrated in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b and, with a scalable volume of up to 300 litres, offers a whole series of advantages.
  • the weight of the device is more than 10% less than is the case with other known devices.
  • FreezeContainer® has an optimal sterile design with very good CIP properties.
  • the design of the cooling elements ensures a phase transition that is homogenous in time throughout the kettle volume, which in turn guarantees short process times.
  • the general design of the device is sufficiently variable to enable the FreezeContainer® to be integrated in complex production procedures and thus fulfil the high demands placed on it by the pharmaceutical industry in terms of functional and process reliability.
  • a warm medium is fed through the container wall, container base and the cooling coil.
  • the thawing process is preferably assisted by shaking the container lightly.
  • the closed container is filled with fluids, in particular sterile fluids, solutions and suspensions for the chemical, biotechnological, pharmaceutical and food industry, hereafter referred to as product, from the top via an inlet pipe mounted in the cover.
  • product fluids
  • the inlet pipe opens exactly above a central outlet orifice at the deepest point of the base so that the product can be drawn off through the base outlet or via the inlet pipe once it has completely thawed.
  • the objective of this invention is to propose a device for freezing, transporting and thawing fluids, in particular sterile fluids, solutions and suspensions for the chemical, biotechnological, pharmaceutical and food industry, which does not have the disadvantages of the known devices and which permits a maximum amount of operating options.
  • Another objective of the invention is to propose a device and a method whereby the frozen product can be thawed more rapidly and gently than in the past whilst simultaneously facilitating mixing of the thawed substrate.
  • a device as defined in claim 1 and a method as defined in claim 10 by means of a heated immersion pipe which thaws at an early stage and therefore enables thawed and preferably pre-heated product to be pumped in circulation, i.e. drawn off and recirculated, during the entire thawing process.
  • the disadvantages of the known methods are avoided and more rapid thawing is achieved.
  • the new device proposed by the invention has at least one immersion pipe which has an active thermal connection to the heat exchanger elements at least across a part-region of its longitudinal extension, which preferably extends from approximately a deepest point of the container as far as a maximum filling level.
  • the maximum filling level is the filling level to which the container can be filled with product to be frozen and then thawed on a controlled basis. It is primarily defined by the position of the heat exchanger elements, making allowance for the expansion in volume caused by changes in density. In the case of the embodiments described below, it is between a top container edge and top portions of the heat exchanger elements.
  • the immersion pipe is preferably in direct contact with at least one heat exchanger element and can be passively heated.
  • liquefied product can be drawn off from at least one heatable immersion pipe, which in turn preferably extends through the container interior from above and opens above a deepest point of the base.
  • the heatable immersion pipe has an advantage over the known devices, in which the inlet pipe is disposed freely in the container interior and hence freely in the frozen product, because the frozen product thaws very rapidly in the interior of the immersion pipe and the process of drawing off the thawed liquid product is blocked only during an initial phase of the thawing process.
  • the thawed product Whilst it is being drawn off, the thawed product is also gently heated as it passes through the heated immersion pipe so that it can be discharged at a temperature significantly above freezing point, preferably from above, onto parts of the product still frozen and accelerates the thawing process.
  • return pipes are provided on the internal face of the container lid for this purpose.
  • Heating the thawed product in the immersion pipe as it is drawn off offers a significant advantage over drawing it off from an outlet orifice in the base.
  • the thawed product is drawn off through the bottom outlet and the product is at a temperature that is only just above freezing point.
  • this cold product is pumped through the filler neck onto the still frozen product, this barely accelerates the thawing process.
  • the product pumped onto the still frozen parts is now pre-heated, which significantly speeds up the thawing process.
  • drawing off the thawed product through the outlet orifice in the base is technically a disadvantage in terms of conductance.
  • Another advantage of the new device resides in the fact that the distance which the liquid product must travel as it is being pumped out of the container can be kept very short because it does not have to be directed from the outlet in the base to the inlet in the lid of the container. This obviates the need for undesirable pipes on the outside of the container on the one hand and discharging and emptying as well as pumping conveniently take place from the top of the new device on the other hand, because all connectors can be disposed in the lid or at least in a top region of the container.
  • FIG. 1 a shows a longitudinal section through a freeze-thaw container based on the prior art with a cooling element in the interior of the container and a base outlet;
  • FIG. 1 b is a side view of the container illustrated in FIG. 1 a , in which an inlet pipe may be seen, the fittings disposed in the interior being shown by broken lines;
  • FIG. 2 a is a longitudinal section through a container of a device based on an embodiment of the invention, in which a cooling element and an immersion pipe are illustrated although not in section;
  • FIG. 2 b is a view from above at an angle showing an immersion pipe based on one embodiment, actively co-operating with a cooling coil, where only the parts which lie in the interior of a container are illustrated;
  • FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through a device based on another embodiment of the invention with an immersion pipe extending on the walls, and again a cooling element is illustrated but not in section;
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of a device based on another embodiment of the invention, in which the internally lying fittings are illustrated by broken lines;
  • FIG. 5 a is a view from below at an angle showing a lid of a device illustrated in FIG. 2 with cooling, immersion and return elements mounted on the lid;
  • FIG. 5 b is a side view of the lid and cooling, immersion and return elements illustrated in FIG. 5 a.
  • FIG. 1 a is a longitudinal section illustrating a freeze-thaw container B designed by the applicant.
  • this container is known from the prior art under the name of FreezeContainer.
  • the container B can be closed and sealed by means of a top lid BD.
  • the lid BD defines an interior I of the container B, in which a cooling coil KS is disposed.
  • the cooling coil is connected so as to communicate with the double-skin inner container wall by means of an isolated cooling pipe KL.
  • Coolant fed in through an appropriate inlet pipe AM to the double-skin container wall BW flows through the container wall BW and base BB via the cooling pipe KL and is then directed through the cooling coil KS.
  • cooling elements cooling coils and similar elements are mentioned below, it is clear that these heat exchanger elements are suitable not only for circulating a cold medium or a medium used during a freezing process, but also for circulating and co-operating with a warm medium during the thawing process.
  • the geometry of the cooling coil KS is designed to produce an optimum sequence of temperatures and phase transitions in time and locally in the container interior I and is connected to a plurality of vertically extending portions E V , which are each mutually connected via top, respective bottom horizontal portions E H . Whilst the top and bottom horizontal portions E H respectively lie more or less in one plane, a vertical portion E Z disposed centrally in the container extends farther down into the container to just short of a deepest point. This ensures that the region directly above a central outlet orifice A in the container base BB is thawed early during the thawing process. This has proved to be of particular advantage because it is very difficult to provide heat exchanger elements in the region of the base outlet.
  • the top horizontal part-pieces EHO facing the lid BD extend in a region just below the maximum filling level FH of the container B, respectively define the maximum filling level.
  • the vertical part-pieces at the beginning and at the end of the cooling coil extend through the container lid BD and are respectively connected to a coolant inlet ZM and to the cooling pipe KL and thus indirectly to the outlet AM.
  • the freeze-thaw container B illustrated in FIG. 1 with a usable capacity of 300 litres is of an essentially cylindrical shape with a central longitudinal axis L. Freeze-thaw containers B of the generic type usually have a capacity of a few to several hundred litres.
  • FIG. 1 b is a side view of the freeze-thaw container B illustrated in FIG. 1 a , rotated by 90°, in which an inlet pipe ZR may be seen, connected so as to establish a communication from the lid top face to more or less the deepest point in the interior I of the container B.
  • the container B is preferably filled with the product to be frozen through the inlet pipe ZR in the closed state, i.e. with the lid fitted.
  • an appropriate inlet valve at the upper end of the inlet pipe is closed and the cooling process initiated by circulating cold medium through the cooling circuit which, in addition to the cooling coil and the container wall and container base, additionally comprises at least one pump, not illustrated in the drawing, and a cooling unit or coolant reservoir, also not illustrated in the drawing, until the product in the container interior has been completely frozen on a controlled basis and the minimum temperature desired for storage or transport has been reached.
  • the product which is also disposed in the interior of the inlet pipe ZR, is frozen and the latter blocked.
  • a warm medium is circulated through the circuit and in order to accelerate the thawing process, the container, which is mounted on a base stand P, is lightly shaken.
  • the deeply extending, central vertical piece EZ ensures that the region above the central outlet orifice is thawed relatively quickly.
  • the inlet pipe ZR opens exactly into this region, the thawed product can not be drawn down until the entire volume of the inlet pipe has thawed. As briefly explained above, this is not achieved until practically all the product has thawed.
  • Thawed product can be drawn off relatively early during the thawing process through the bottom central outlet orifice A, which communicates via an outlet pipe AL with an outlet connector AA in an end face of the base stand P.
  • the known container does not have any means of recirculating this liquefied product, it can not be pumped back round. Furthermore, the product contained above the bottom central outlet orifice A is still very cold and would barely have the effect of assisting the thawing process if it were recirculated through the container interior.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the freeze-thaw device 1 proposed by the invention, which is based on the freeze-thaw container B described above.
  • a new feature in the form of an immersion pipe 60 is provided in the freeze-thaw container 10 .
  • the immersion pipe is preferably provided with a fitting 64 comprising an inlet connector 65 and an outlet connector 66 and co-operating valves 67 , 68 and a shut-off valve 69 .
  • the immersion pipe 60 extends downwards by means of a first vertical portion, runs through the lid 20 and is then run above a lid bottom edge 21 with a slight gradient via a radial part-piece 52 to the centre of the more or less cylindrical container interior 11 .
  • the immersion pipe 60 then bends downwards and extends by means of a second central vertical piece 63 along the central axis L to more or less the deepest point of the container interior, where it opens through an orifice 63 ′. More or less along the entire course of the longitudinal axis L, the immersion pipe 60 is concentrically surrounded by a coaxially extending vertical part-piece 51 of a cooling element.
  • the other portions of the cooling element conform to the essentially tried and tested shape used for the applicant's known FreezeContainers described above.
  • the wall 30 and base 40 of the container 10 are also based on the known double-skin design and contribute to the heat exchange process.
  • the advantage achieved by the invention as a result of the new technical feature is that the portion of the immersion pipe 60 disposed between the container base 30 and the maximum filling level F MAX establishes an optimum active communication with the heat exchanger element extending freely through the container interior, namely the cooling coil 50 .
  • the disposition of the immersion pipe and cooling coil and/or other heating elements ensures that the lumen of the immersion pipe thaws very quickly after the start of circulating warm medium through the circuit.
  • the thawed product which in turn collects at the deepest point of the container, can be drawn off upwards through the immersion pipe 60 at an early point during the thawing process.
  • the second, extremely advantageous effect is that the still very cold liquefied product is heated as it is conveyed through the central part-piece 63 because warm medium is flowing round its entire circumference.
  • the central part-piece 63 of the immersion pipe preferably forms the inner wall of the hollow cylindrical part-piece 51 of the cooling coil so that the immersion pipe and cooling coil are integrally connected to one another in a “pipe in pipe” arrangement and the immersion pipe is integrated in the region of the cooling element that is directly thermally active.
  • a lowermost part-piece 63 ′ of the immersion pipe is no longer surrounded by the vertical part-piece 51 of the cooling coil and extends down out of it by a few centimetres.
  • the lowermost part-piece 63 ′ can be very easily adapted to the size of the container 10 by cutting it to a length that will ensure that the bottom opening of the immersion pipe still lies at the desired short distance of preferably 5 mm but at least 1 mm from the container base or lies in the base via a bottom outlet orifice, including in the warm state (e.g. during thawing and pumping).
  • existing devices can be retro-fitted with the combination of cooling element and immersion pipe proposed by the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2 b with the portions lying underneath the lid, and the length of the immersion pipe can be readily and exactly adapted on site. The loss of product which can not be drawn out of the container can be easily minimised as a result.
  • FIG. 2 b illustrates the length of the immersion pipe
  • the immersion pipe has an internal diameter of 18.1 mm and a wall thickness of 1.6 mm.
  • the central part-piece 51 of the cooling coil has a diameter of 42.4 mm in the case of a container with a usable volume of 300 litres for example, and the remaining portions of the cooling coil have a diameter of 21.3 mm respectively.
  • the free flow cross-section in the cooling coil is therefore kept approximately the same in all part-pieces as a result.
  • the individual part-portions of the immersion pipe and cooling coil are preferably made from austenitic steel, for example 4435/316L, and Hastelloy, and welded to one another orbitally and manually using a Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) process.
  • Tungsten Inert Gas Tungsten Inert Gas
  • a top inlet point of the central part-piece 63 of the immersion pipe 60 into the central vertical piece 51 of the cooling coil 50 and an appropriate bottom outlet orifice are closed by means of an annular stopper 53 .
  • the heat exchange medium is fed to and/or away from the central, vertical part-piece 51 of the cooling coil 50 via a top horizontal part-piece 56 and a bottom inclined part-piece 57 , respectively disposed in the immediate vicinity of the respective ends of the vertical part-piece 51 and open laterally into it.
  • the immersion pipe and cooling coil may also be manufactured in two pieces and inserted one in the other so that the immersion pipe wall comes into contact with an internal wall of the central part-piece 51 .
  • the one-piece design may be used for containers that will be used more than once because it is significantly easier to clean.
  • the thawing process and the drawing-off of thawed product will be described below with reference to FIG. 2 a . It is assumed that the freeze-thaw container 10 is filled with frozen product to a maximum filling level F MAX .
  • F MAX maximum filling level
  • the substrate S in the active region WB of the heat exchanger elements i.e. in the active region of the cooling coil and the double-skin container wall and double-skin container base, is thawed, preferably gently and slowly.
  • the parts of the cooling coil disposed low down namely the bottom inclined radial piece 57 of the cooling coil and the bottom region of the central part-piece 51 , ensure that the product on and around the deepest point of the container thaw very quickly during the thawing process.
  • the lumen of the central portion 63 of the immersion pipe 60 is one of the first regions in the container interior to become free of ice. The thawed product, which collects at the deepest point of the container 10 , can therefore be drawn off from the container 10 at a very early stage of the thawing process.
  • the liquefied product is heated and, when valves 69 and 68 are open, fed via the outlet connector 66 of the fitting 64 to a fluid conveyor unit not illustrated in the drawings, preferably a conveyor or a pump.
  • the pre-heated product is conveyed by the latter through a return line 70 , as illustrated in FIG. 5 with its parts on the lid top face and on the lid bottom face, back into the interior of the container 10 .
  • the conveyor means for example a pump
  • the pipes connecting the outlet connector 66 of the immersion pipe fitting 64 and an inlet connector 71 above the lid to one another are not illustrated.
  • valve 72 When valve 72 is open, the heated product is fed back into the container via the return line 70 , which extends through the lid 20 by means of a vertical piece 73 and a downwardly angled leg 74 .
  • a terminal outlet orifice 75 of the tubular leg 74 opens laterally onto a vertical part-piece of the cooling coil above the level defined by the maximum filling level F MAX .
  • F MAX maximum filling level
  • the position of the outlet orifice 75 of the tubular leg 74 is such that the circulated product is directed onto the vertical part-piece of the cooling coil. This significantly reduces the formation of foam as the product is being pumped round.
  • the immersion pipe 60 ′ extends through a part-piece 51 ′ of a cooling coil 50 ′ running parallel in an upper region between the container wall 40 and longitudinal axis L and inclined towards the deepest point of the container 10 in a bottom region.
  • This construction again ensures that the immersion pipe is concentrically surrounded by the expediently adapted part-piece 51 ′ of the cooling coil 50 ′ along the entire distance from the deepest point of the container to the maximum filling level.
  • the immersion pipe surrounds the cooling coil so that the immersion pipe lies on the outside in the “pipe in pipe” construction and is cooled or heated by the internally lying part-piece of the cooling coil.
  • These embodiments are less preferred in terms of heat conduction.
  • the immersion pipe and a co-operating part-piece of the cooling coil are designed as mutually abutting half-pipes, since this also results in poorer flow dynamics.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment in which an immersion pipe 80 is actively connected to a double-skin container wall 40 ′ and a double-skin container base 30 ′ rather than to a cooling coil KS.
  • the immersion pipe 80 is completely recessed into the wall 40 ′ and base 30 ′ and opens by means of a bottom orifice 81 in the region of the deepest point of the container 10 ′, preferably in a central, bottom outlet orifice 31 ′ in the base 30 ′.
  • the immersion pipe runs to the outside and establishes a connection communicating with the container interior via a lateral connector 82 .
  • the immersion pipe may also be run along the external faces of the double-skin container wall 40 ′ and double-skin container base 30 ′, in other words essentially in the insulation casing 12 .
  • the decisive factor is that a thermal connection exists between the heat exchanger element and at least the portion of the immersion pipe which lies in the region of the frozen product, namely approximately from the deepest point of the container as far as the maximum filling level, respectively where it is filled with it in the frozen state.
  • a direct contact between the immersion element and the heat exchanger element based on the “pipe in pipe” design and the “pipe in wall” design described above is not absolutely necessary but is of advantage.
  • the technical teaching of the invention may also be used for disposable devices, which are becoming increasingly popular as they are particularly economic in the CIP/SIP sector due to reduced costs.
  • the entire device may be made from appropriate plastics in a genuine disposable version.
  • the thermally passive parts in other words essentially the base, lid and wall of the container and the immersion pipe, may be made from plastic as “disposables”, whilst the heat exchanger elements are made from metal and are removed from the container after use, cleaned and re-used.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a spray pipe 90 , which is used for cleaning/CIP the container interior with its fittings.
  • Cleaning solution is fed in via a connector 91 which, in the embodiment illustrated as an example, is sprayed by spray heads fitted to the ends of two spray pipes.
  • the fact that the cooling coil and immersion pipe are free of fins, components and baffle plates with a large surface area means not only that the surfaces to be cleaned, but also the spray blind spots are reduced to a minimum. This also contributes to the fact that cleaning and CIP/SIP of the device proposed by the invention is extremely simple and efficient.
  • the immersion pipe which essentially corresponds to that illustrated in FIG. 1 b in terms of dimensions and positioning on the inlet pipe ZR in a device, can be electrically or inductively heated.
  • heating wires, coils and other elements are preferably disposed in the wall of the immersion pipe isolated from the product and environment.
  • at least major portions of the immersion pipe are preferably made from ferromagnetic material. Since a voltage source is necessary for electrically heating the immersion pipe and an appropriately strong magnetic source is needed for inductive heating, both variants are used under specific conditions only.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Freezing, Cooling And Drying Of Foods (AREA)
  • Defrosting Systems (AREA)
US12/227,080 2006-05-08 2007-05-02 Device for Freezing,Transporting and Thawing Fluids Abandoned US20090308567A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH737/06 2006-05-08
CH7372006 2006-05-08
PCT/CH2007/000214 WO2007128151A1 (de) 2006-05-08 2007-05-02 Vorrichtung zum einfrieren, transportieren und auftauen von fluiden

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090308567A1 true US20090308567A1 (en) 2009-12-17

Family

ID=38480465

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/227,080 Abandoned US20090308567A1 (en) 2006-05-08 2007-05-02 Device for Freezing,Transporting and Thawing Fluids

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20090308567A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2016356B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE451588T1 (de)
DE (1) DE502007002271D1 (de)
RU (1) RU2415362C2 (de)
WO (1) WO2007128151A1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150345853A1 (en) * 2013-01-16 2015-12-03 Bellivo, Société Anonyme Lid for insulated box and method for storing products
US20180038662A1 (en) * 2015-02-20 2018-02-08 Theodor W. BERIEF Cooling device for reducing the temperature of cooked warm food held in a container, in particular in a standard trolley
CN109998017A (zh) * 2018-01-05 2019-07-12 立志美丽（南京）有限公司 一种改进的水系产品冷冻分离过滤工艺

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
PT107427B (pt) 2014-01-28 2021-01-04 Inst Superior Tecnico Sistema e método de preservação, armazenamento e transporte de materiais biológicos.
FR3071901B1 (fr) * 2017-10-03 2019-10-25 Naval Group Dispositif deprimogene compact a coudes

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1329603A (en) * 1916-01-25 1920-02-03 Union Tank Line Company Tank
US3688839A (en) * 1970-11-27 1972-09-05 Patterson Kelley Co Water heating and storage system
US4175730A (en) * 1974-07-12 1979-11-27 Firma Carl Canzler Device for cooling a quenching bath of melted salt
US4748960A (en) * 1986-04-14 1988-06-07 Gilbert Wolf Fuel system
US5524706A (en) * 1991-05-30 1996-06-11 Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. Freeze-thawing tank assembly
US6196296B1 (en) * 1997-02-04 2001-03-06 Integrated Biosystems, Inc. Freezing and thawing vessel with thermal bridge formed between container and heat exchange member
US6220337B1 (en) * 1998-04-27 2001-04-24 Shi-Li Chen Heat pipe circuit type thermal battery

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SU1659338A1 (ru) * 1989-02-09 1991-06-30 Str Proizv Ob Prikaspijskkirdo Устройство для разогрева вязких нефтепродуктов в емкости
DE19605729A1 (de) * 1996-02-16 1997-08-21 St Speichertechnologie Gmbh Latentkältespeicher
ATE314572T1 (de) * 2004-03-29 2006-01-15 Dbk David & Baader Gmbh Entnahmeeinheit mit heizeinrichtung und wärmetauscherfortsatz, für einen tank mit ausfällendem und/oder gefrierendem fluid

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1329603A (en) * 1916-01-25 1920-02-03 Union Tank Line Company Tank
US3688839A (en) * 1970-11-27 1972-09-05 Patterson Kelley Co Water heating and storage system
US4175730A (en) * 1974-07-12 1979-11-27 Firma Carl Canzler Device for cooling a quenching bath of melted salt
US4748960A (en) * 1986-04-14 1988-06-07 Gilbert Wolf Fuel system
US4748960B1 (de) * 1986-04-14 1992-07-28 Wolf Gilbert
US5524706A (en) * 1991-05-30 1996-06-11 Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. Freeze-thawing tank assembly
US6196296B1 (en) * 1997-02-04 2001-03-06 Integrated Biosystems, Inc. Freezing and thawing vessel with thermal bridge formed between container and heat exchange member
US6220337B1 (en) * 1998-04-27 2001-04-24 Shi-Li Chen Heat pipe circuit type thermal battery

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150345853A1 (en) * 2013-01-16 2015-12-03 Bellivo, Société Anonyme Lid for insulated box and method for storing products
US20180038662A1 (en) * 2015-02-20 2018-02-08 Theodor W. BERIEF Cooling device for reducing the temperature of cooked warm food held in a container, in particular in a standard trolley
US11035630B2 (en) * 2015-02-20 2021-06-15 Theodor W. BERIEF Cooling device for reducing the temperature of cooked warm food held in a container, in particular in a standard trolley
CN109998017A (zh) * 2018-01-05 2019-07-12 立志美丽（南京）有限公司 一种改进的水系产品冷冻分离过滤工艺

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2016356B1 (de) 2009-12-09
ATE451588T1 (de) 2009-12-15
WO2007128151A1 (de) 2007-11-15
RU2008143701A (ru) 2010-06-20
DE502007002271D1 (de) 2010-01-21
EP2016356A1 (de) 2009-01-21
RU2415362C2 (ru) 2011-03-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20090308567A1 (en) Device for Freezing,Transporting and Thawing Fluids
EP0260292B1 (de) Verbesserungen an gefriervorrichtung
EP3158872B1 (de) Maschine und verfahren zur herstellung von flüssigen und halbflüssigen produkten im eiscremesektor
US10588330B2 (en) Machine and method for making liquid and semi-liquid products of the ice cream, pastry or catering trade
US10907119B2 (en) Fermentation cooling system
JP4639228B2 (ja) 容器内で当初少なくとも部分的に凝固された状態にある物質の温度を上昇させるための方法、装置、システム、及び熱交換器
WO2006078188A1 (fr) Appareil destine a la fermentation secondaire et/ou au stockage et/ou au transport et/ou a la distribution de biere
CN102802822A (zh) 用于将内容物无菌地灌装或包装到容器中的设备和方法
JP2016040514A (ja) 熱交換のためのシステムおよび方法
WO2012135216A2 (en) Bulk freezing of biopharmaceuticals
US5706883A (en) Mass storage and dispensing system for liquids such as citrus products
CN110213969B (zh) 热处理设备和操作热处理设备的方法
CN207595736U (zh) 一种衬里罐箱
CN108617917A (zh) 巴氏灭菌设备以及用于操作巴氏灭菌设备的方法
CN103765154B (zh) 用于在热交换流体和易腐产品流体之间进行热交换的方法、可移除热交换盒以及热交换系统
CA3037210A1 (en) Process for treating and tempering, heating and/or cooling liquid food for animals
US20070082097A1 (en) Method and apparatus for cooking particulate food material
KR101430938B1 (ko) 액체 냉각용기
JP7151171B2 (ja) 凍結状態にある常温時に液体状の内容物の昇温装置
US20230240341A1 (en) Plant for continuously cooling foodstuffs through cryogenic liquid gas
US8746328B2 (en) Gas injection heating probe
CN208631238U (zh) 一种专用于塑料储液罐的加热装置
CN201179195Y (zh) 一种利用冷却气体制备滴丸的设备
JP4115603B2 (ja) 製氷装置
CN104023598A (zh) 烹饪装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: ZETA HOLDING GMBH, AUSTRIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MEIER, HANS PETER;HENGSTLER, JAN;REEL/FRAME:022300/0863

Effective date: 20081101

AS Assignment

Owner name: ZETA BIOPHARMA GMBH, AUSTRIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ZETA HOLDING GMBH;REEL/FRAME:024779/0195

Effective date: 20100312

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION