WO1999054227A1

WO1999054227A1 - Liquid storage cell and heat exhange apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1999054227A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000286
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dale Cameron Ward
Original assignee: Dale Cameron Ward
Priority date: 1998-04-17
Filing date: 1999-04-16
Publication date: 1999-10-28
Also published as: AUPP302198A0

Abstract

Apparatus (20) for heat exchange with liquid stored in a storage cell (1) for use in, for example, the dairy and wine industries. The apparatus includes a heat exchange unit (21) coupled to inlet port (4) and outlet port (5) of the storage cell. The storage cell has a flexible wall made of polyethylene or the like to allow the cell to expand from a collapsed to an expanded condition. The cell can be discarded after use or recycled. The cell is housed within an insulated container (2) and the container is provided with an aperture (6) at its base to insert the ports (4, 5). The ports are also properly located in the aperture with the use of a panel (7). A mechanical agitator of the liquid may also be included. The invention provides improvements in holding large volumes of liquid in storage under sterile conditions. This overcomes the problems of the need to sterilise vats after use and to use expensive stainless steel vats.

Description

LIQUID STORAGE CELL AND HEAT EXHANGE APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a liquid storage cell and apparatus and, in particular, relates to improvements in bulk liquid storage used in, for example, the dairy and wine industries for holding large volumes of liquid in storage in sterile conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the dairy and wine industries, storage vessels called "bulk vats" are used for storing liquid. Such vats are constructed from stainless steel with"dimple plating" welded to the base of the vessel holding mediums such as refrigerant or chilled fluids for the purpose of heat exchange. Because of the structural requirements for housing refrigerants and cooling mediums, and due to procedures and chemicals used for sanitising the vessel, stainless steel has always been the preferred material for construction of bulk vats. However, stainless steel vats are costly to produce, heavy to transport and cooling efficiency is limited to the surface area of the dimple plating and the extent to which the cooling mediums can transfer heat. Adequate sanitising of the vessel also presents a problem since it is common for residue to be left from cleaning agents. Further, bacteria and germs may still be present in the air space contained in the container and metal fatigue of the stainless steel dimple plating may result in leakage of the refrigerant or cooling medium.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a bulk storage cell to address at least some of the above problems. - 2 -

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided an apparatus for heat exchange with liquid stored in the storage cell, including a heat exchange unit coupled to inlet and outlet ports of the storage cell, wherein the storage cell has a flexible wall to allow the cell to expand from a collapsed to an expanded condition upon injection of the liquid therewithin.

In another aspect, there is provided a storage cell for use in the above apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container and storage cell; Figure 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating installation of the storage cell in the container; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a storage cell 1 housed within a container 2 which is provided with insulated walls 3. The cell 1 includes an inlet port 4 and an outlet port 5 which are accessed via an aperture 6 provided in the base of the container.

The cell 1 is formed with a flexible wall of, for example, polyethylene or the like, such that the cell may be provided in a fully collapsed condition, as shown in Figure 2. In its collapsed condition, the cell may be readily inserted through the aperture 6 in the container. A panel 7, through which the ports 4, 5 extend, may then be located in channels 8 defining sides of the aperture 6. Movement of the panel 7 in a direction indicated by arrow 9 serves to properly locate the ports 4, 5 in the aperture 6 and a locking plate 10 may then be positioned - 3 -

over the panel 7 to secure the plate and cell in place. Injection of liquid into the cell 1 serves to unfold and expand the cell within the container.

The container also includes a mechanical agitator (not shown) which directly engages the flexible wall of the cell to impart motion to the wall and effect agitation of the liquid held within the cell. This serves to prevent stratification of the liquid. The mechanical agitator may be in the form of a centre-pivoting paddle provided underneath the cell.

The cell and container are, in use, installed in apparatus 20 which includes a heat exchange unit 21 coupled to the inlet and outiet ports 4, 5 via conduits 22, 23. The conduit 22 includes a T-piece 24 which is in fluid communication with the port 4 to allow for liquid to be injected into and drained from the cell. A pump 25 is also provided to circulate the liquid from the cell 1 through the heat exchanger 21 and to return the chilled liquid back into the cell. The heat exchange unit preferably includes a coil heat exchanger which may be dynamically controlled to cater for variable amounts of liquid passing therethrough.

The flexible cell, prior to its installation in the container ready for inflation, would have undergone a sterilisation process not unlike that which is found with conventional procedures, and folded in such a manner that inflation by the liquid product, unfolds the cell evenly within the container. When the product contained in the cell is removed the cell may simply be removed and replaced with a fresh cell. The discarded membrane cell could be cleaned and sterilised or returned to a place for recycling.

The benefits of the invention over what exists typically in the dairy and wine industries are that it would eliminate all of the normal practices found for sanitising the existing stainless steel bulk vats, dispensing with the need for on-site chemicals and chemical residue left from such sanitation processes. Due to the inflation process of the cell, this would dramatically reduce any possible air borne germs or bacteria. The monetary cost of construction of such a holding vessel would be greatly reduced over a stainless steel construction, with the added advantage of light weight transportation, modular construction techniques and the ability to - 4 -

increase size of volume of storage at a minimum monetary cost.

The storage cell and apparatus have been described by way of non-limiting example only and many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described.

Claims

- 5 -CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for heat exchange with liquid stored in the storage cell, including a heat exchange unit coupled to inlet and outlet ports of the storage cell, wherein the storage cell has a flexible wall to allow the cell to expand from a collapsed to an expanded condition upon injection of the liquid therewithin.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a conduit between the cell and the heat exchanger and the conduit is in fluid communication with a fitting through which the liquid is injected into and drained from the vat.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further including a container for housing the cell, the container having an insulated wall and an aperture to allow for access to the inlet and outlet ports.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the container includes a mechanical agitator to impart movement to the cell wall to thereby agitate the liquid therewithin.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the cell includes a panel with the inlet and outlet ports extending therethrough, the panel being adapted to locate the cell relative to the aperture.

6. A storage cell including a flexible wall and inlet and outlet ports adapted to couple with conduits of a heat exchanger.