WO2011000449A1

WO2011000449A1 - Method and device for enriching and especially saturating a liquid with gas

Info

Publication number: WO2011000449A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/003098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath
Original assignee: Khs Gmbh
Priority date: 2009-06-29
Filing date: 2010-05-20
Publication date: 2011-01-06
Also published as: DE102009031104B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device (1) for enriching and especially saturating a liquid with a gas and to an associated filling device (1, 2, 3). The liquid is preferably a food product, especially a drink. The liquid is enriched or saturated with the gas by introducing the gas in question into the liquid. In order to increase the enrichment rate, pressure variations are specifically produced.

Description

Method and device for enriching

and more particularly, saturating a liquid with a gas. The invention relates to a process for enriching and in particular saturating a liquid with a gas, after which the gas in question is introduced into the liquid. - The liquid is generally a liquid food product and especially a drink. The enrichment and especially saturation of liquids and here preferably of beverages with gases has long been known and is referred to in this context in connection with the introduction of carbon dioxide gas (CO ₂ ) as carbonation. This is understood in the beverage sector in general, the displacement of beverages with carbon dioxide, as exemplified in the generic state of the art according to DE 100 28 676 A1.

In fact, for example, the water of carbonated drinks is characterized by a marked affinity for CO ₂ in the example case and absorbs the aforementioned gas to some extent. This always happens when the surface of a water body or a water partial volume is brought into contact with a relatively pure gas atmosphere of CO ₂ in the example case. In this connection, it is further known that the degree of final absorption of CO ₂ depends on the temperature of the liquid and the gas and also on the pressure under which gas and water are brought into contact with each other (see DE 1 816 738). ,

In the context of the known procedure, the liquid contents or the liquid in an associated container by introduction of the CO ₂ gas under pressure mixed with carbonic acid or carbonized (see DE 100 28 676 A1). In this case, the previously described carbonizing of the contents is carried out in a container after completion of a filling phase. For this purpose, the CO ₂ gas in question is introduced into the contents under pressure. In addition, biasing of the container with the CO ₂ -GaS takes place under overpressure during a bias phase.

After carbonization, the container is usually relieved to atmospheric pressure in order to deduct it from a filling element and close it. This relief is required because the supply of CO ₂ gas in the example or The carbonization takes place under pressure and during carbonization, the pressure in an associated bottle usually rises significantly above a saturation pressure. This is necessary so that the filling absorbs the carbon dioxide as quickly as possible.

However, a problem remains due to the described procedure that undesired but frequently present foreign gases (eg N2, O2) form microbubbles. These bubbles often lead to foaming in the subsequent pressure relief in the filling machine. Without being limited to an interpretation, the reason seems to be that in the pressure filling during the discharge phase, the CO ₂ diffuses into the aforementioned bubbles or agglomerate different gas blowers, which then grow relatively quickly and often rise explosively to the surface. In any case, depending on the beverage ingredients massively foam in and on the surface of the liquid or the drink, which leads to a partly strong and unwanted overblowing of the freshly filled container or bottles.

This foaming process can usually only be countered by prolonging the filling process and / or the discharge time. As a result, both measures reduce or reduce the number of filling operations per unit of time. Such cycle time extensions are not acceptable from today's perspective. Because usually the goal is pursued to increase the number of filling operations per unit time and thus the filling capacity of an associated filling machine. Because ultimately, the costs can be reduced. This is where the invention starts.

The invention is based on the technical problem of developing a method of the embodiment described above so that an overall higher performance is observed during filling. In addition, a correspondingly suitable device is to be made available.

To solve this technical problem is provided in a generic method within the scope of the invention that in the liquid to be enriched with the gas targeted pressure fluctuations to increase the rate of enrichment are generated, so the process of the gas solution in the fluid undergoes an acceleration by the pressure fluctuations. The aforementioned pressure fluctuations are mostly periodic and are regularly caused in the gas to be enriched with the liquid by means of a device for generating sound waves. This creates pressure minima and pressure maxima in the interior of the liquid. The sound waves are usually ultrasonic waves, ie sound waves of a frequency that are located in the inaudible range (regularly above 20 kHz).

Incidentally, the pressure fluctuations regularly correspond to pressure waves generated by the device in question. These pressure waves are usually generated by the said device and outgoing longitudinal waves, so compression waves within the liquid whose density and thus pressure fluctuations are mainly arranged in the propagation direction or propagate in this direction. As a rule, the design will be such that the pressure fluctuations are generated in one direction within the liquid, which encloses an angle with its direction of flow. In general, the direction of the pressure fluctuations and the flow direction are aligned approximately perpendicular to each other.

That is, the propagation direction of the sound waves generated by means of the device or longitudinal waves and the flow direction of the liquid to be treated or to be enriched with the gas are predominantly perpendicular to each other. As a result, a particularly intensive treatment of the liquid is achieved because, ultimately, each volume element of the liquid moving along the device in question is detected by the transversely generated and progressive pressure waves.

As a rule, this process causes so-called cavities or gas cavitations to form in areas of pressure minima. These ensure that the gas generally introduced under pressure into the liquid undergoes a fine distribution. That is, the gas to be enriched and introduced under pressure in the liquid initially forms gas bubbles of a certain size. By specifically generated pressure fluctuations now these gas bubbles are smashed or dissolved as it were in the range of pressure maxima and occur to these gas bubbles in the region of pressure minima cavities due to gas cavitations. These cavities fill up with the thus dissolved or any existing gas in whole or in part. This results in a large number of gas bubbles of approximately the same size. In any case, the number of gas bubbles increases greatly as a result of the introduced pressure fluctuations in the result. The same applies to the sum of the total bladder surfaces.

As a result, the introduced gas in the liquid is mixed much faster and more intensively with the liquid or the liquid phase than has hitherto been observed in the prior art. That is, the introduced gas is particularly quickly and efficiently dissolved in the liquid phase or the liquid by the additionally generated in the liquid pressure fluctuations. This increases the rate of enrichment.

In this way, a particularly stable bond, for example, the carbon dioxide in drinks is achieved. As is known, this binding of the carbonic acid to the beverage or the carbonization requires intensive contact between the liquid phase or its surface and the individual gas bubbles. The more gas bubbles are present, the more intense is this contact and the greater the striking affinity of carbonated beverages for CO ₂ can be exploited in the example and take place the desired rapid absorption of CO ₂ .

As a result, in comparison to the prior art, a more stable binding of the carbonic acid in beverages is achieved and a subsequent optional filling process is improved. Because the more stable binding of carbon dioxide reduces any tendency to degas the liquid during mandatory discharge phases during the filling process. In fact, such a filling process of a carbonated beverage according to the explanations in DE 100 28 676 A1 is usually associated with at least one discharge process. Because during the described Karbonisierungsphase the pressure rises, for example, in a beverage container or generally a container significantly above the saturation pressure and must then be relieved, and shortly before the beverage container in question or the bottle is removed from the filler. Due to the achieved more stable binding of carbon dioxide within the scope of the invention, only a slight tendency to degassing occurs in the described relieving process, ie the previously introduced CO ₂ in the example leaves the liquid again. Because the CO ₂ is through the treatment with the Pressure fluctuations particularly finely dispersed dissolved in the liquid and bound to this stable. As a consequence thereof, little or no foam forms during the mentioned release phase and, in particular, the performance of a connected filling machine or in general a filling device can be significantly increased.

In this context, it has also proved to be advantageous if the liquid undergoes an upstream degassing before the process described for enriching and in particular saturation with the gas. In this approach, the invention is based on the recognition that such a degassed product can be carbonized particularly effectively and efficiently, for example, supported by the pressure fluctuations in the liquid produced according to the invention. In fact, effective carbonation in the example case regularly requires that the liquid or water be brought into contact with a relatively pure gas atmosphere or can be brought.

Thus, it is known, for example, from DE 1 692 739 A that water must be vented as well as possible so that a great deal of CO ₂ or carbonic acid can be absorbed in the subsequent carbonization. In addition, this venting favors that the absorbed carbon dioxide is firmly bound to the liquid or water in the example, so that no coarse bubble, more or less rapid and spontaneous degassing occurs during the pressure relief after filling and consumption of a drink. At most, a fine-bubble, small bubbling is observed.

In any case, such a close bond of the CO ₂ gas in the example of the case of the water is only possible if previously carried out a very extensive venting respectively degassing of the water. In this context, of course, the lowest possible air content in the water and later in the drink is already tracked for durability reasons.

The degassing process described above and preceding the enrichment or saturation process according to the invention can be carried out in a variety of ways. For example, a degassing under vacuum or in such a way possible that the water is boiled in the example. Very particular preference is given to centrifugal force degassing and / or spray degassing. During centrifugal degassing, the liquid to be degassed becomes centrifugal forces exposed, which cause a separation of gas phase and liquid phase, as basically DE 197 36 671 A1 describes. In addition, a spray degassing according to DE 26 22 094 C3 is in principle possible and conceivable. In this context, it has further proven to be advantageous if the released during degassing gas is at least partially supplied to a further use. This further use may be that the gas in question is used for a subsequent enrichment of the liquid in question or another liquid. For example, the air released or the oxygen can be used to produce so-called "oxygen water", ie water, in which oxygen is introduced to saturation or beyond.

Furthermore, the thus treated liquid can be advantageously filled into containers. These containers may be beverage containers such as bottles, cans or the like. That is, the described degassing process with subsequent saturation operation of the liquid with gas is advantageously followed by a filling process, as described in principle in DE 100 28 676 A1. In this context, the invention also relates to a device for enriching and in particular saturating a liquid, as described in the claims 10 et seq. In addition, the subject of the invention is a filling machine or filling device which contains such a device. As a result, a method and a device for enriching and in particular saturating a liquid, and in particular a liquid food product, preferably a beverage, with a gas are described. Specifically, it is about the introduction of CO ₂ or O ₂ in drinks under pressure. Such beverages have a significant number of undissolved gases (eg, nitrogen or noble gases) as the smallest invisible microbubbles.

In a pressure fill in a filler or filling machine and a subsequent discharge process previously introduced O ₂ or CO ₂ diffuses into these bubbles and lets them grow quickly and often rise explosively to the surface. This forms depending on the beverage ingredients massively foam that leads to a sometimes strong and unwanted foaming of the freshly filled container or container. As a result of the invention the treatment of the liquid by deliberately introduced pressure fluctuations these microbubbles are divided into a large variety of even smaller gas bubbles. The diffusion of the introduced gas (O ₂ and / or CO ₂ in the example case) into these microbubbles during the discharge phase slows down considerably as a result. The result is according to the invention less foaming and a shortening of the required discharge time. At the same time, the filling time can be reduced. This results in a total of a shorter treatment time and a significant increase in the output of a hereby working filling device or filling machine. Here are the main benefits.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment. The single figure shows a filling device according to the invention, which is equipped with a device for enriching and in particular saturating a liquid with a gas.

In the single figure can be seen a total of three individual devices, which interact in the manner to be described below. First of all, a device 1 for enriching and in particular saturating a liquid, in the example of a beverage, with a gas (CO ₂ ) is shown. In addition to this device 1 for enriching and in particular saturating the liquid with the gas, a degassing unit 2, which is connected in front of said device 1, is additionally realized. The liquid treated with the gas with the aid of the preceding degassing unit 2 and the subsequent apparatus 1 for enriching and in particular saturating the liquid is then filled into a container G, in the present case a beverage container G, by means of a filling element 3. The device 1, the degassing unit 2 and the filling element 3 together form a filling device 1, 2, 3. First, the device 1 for enriching and in particular for saturating the liquid or the beverage with the gas will be described. This device 1 is equipped with a supply line 4 for gas, in the example CO ₂ , which communicates with the liquid to be treated. For this purpose, the said gas supply line 4 is connected to a liquid line 5. In addition, said device 1 still has a device 6 for generating pressure fluctuations in the gas to be enriched with the liquid. The said device 6 for generating pressure fluctuations is presently designed as a sound generator 6, in particular ultrasound generator 6. In addition, the design is such that the gas is introduced under overpressure by means of the supply line 4 in the liquid, and before that with the aid of the device 6 pressure fluctuations are generated in the liquid. For this purpose, the supply line 4 of the device 6 for generating pressure fluctuations upstream.

The device 6 or the sound generator 6 produces in the liquid to be treated sound waves, which are indicated in the single figure. The propagation direction or direction R of these sound waves or compression or longitudinal waves is evidently arranged at an angle to the figure, in particular at right angles to the flow direction S of the liquid. The flow direction S of the liquid becomes clear from an arrow in the liquid line 5. In addition, the propagation direction R of the sound waves is also marked by an arrow. In this way, the invention ensures that all fluid sub-volumes are passed through the area of the sound waves or pass through and thus undergo the treatment already described in the introduction. In fact, a particularly fine distribution of introduced via the supply line 4 gas bubbles in the interior of the liquid line 5 is achieved by the pressure fluctuations generated in the liquid, as has already been described in the introduction. The apparatus 1 described above in detail for enriching and in particular saturating the liquid is preceded by a degassing unit 2. In this degassing unit 2, the total liquid to be treated is degassed or vented before the enrichment process, as has been explained in the general description. For this purpose, the invention uses a degassing unit 2, which works with the aid of centrifugal degassing. In fact, the liquid supplied via a feed line 7 to the degassing unit 2 is exposed to centrifugal forces inside the degassing unit 2, so that there is a separation between gas phase and liquid phase. For this purpose, the degassing unit 2 is designed as a cyclone unit 2, in which the inflowing liquid describes a helical flow path with decreasing radius and consequently increasing centrifugal forces due to their flow velocity. Anyway, takes place in the degassing unit 2, the centrifugal force degassing already described takes place, so that in the subsequent device 1 for enriching and in particular saturating the liquid a particularly effective and permanent attachment of the introduced gas to the liquid molecules is observed.

In this case, the separated in the upstream degassing unit 2 gas can be fed wholly or partially into the supply line 4, as the single figure indicates by dash-dotted lines. Previously, it is of course conceivable and is within the scope of the invention to separate the separated gas into individual gas components and, for example, only feed carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) from the separated gas into the feed line 4.

After the degassed liquid has subsequently been enriched or saturated with the desired gas, the thus treated liquid is supplied to the already mentioned filling element 3, via the liquid line 5. The filling element 3 may be of conventional design and arranged for example on a rotor, not shown become. In fact, several filler elements 3 are usually provided on such a rotor. In addition, the filling element 3 has a merely indicated liquid valve 8, by means of which the supply of the discharged via the liquid line 5 to the filling element 3 liquid is controlled to fill the attached to the filling element 3 beverage container G. The beverage container G is in the context of the embodiment and not limiting to a bottle. In addition, the drink is formed in the example as a liquid and the gas to be enriched is carbon dioxide or oxygen.

Claims

claims

1. A method for enriching and in particular saturating a liquid, preferably a beverage, with a gas, after which the gas in question is introduced into the liquid, d a d u r c h e c e n s in that pressure fluctuations to increase the rate of accumulation are generated in the liquid.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure fluctuations by means (6) for generating sound waves, in particular ultrasonic waves, are caused in the liquid.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that periodic pressure fluctuations with pressure minima and pressure maxima are generated in the interior of the liquid.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure fluctuations correspond to pressure waves, which is of the device (6) generated and outgoing longitudinal waves.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pressure fluctuations in a direction (R) are generated within the liquid, which forms an angle with the flow direction (S).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the direction (R) of the pressure fluctuations and the flow direction (S) are aligned approximately perpendicular to each other.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the liquid is previously degassed.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the gases released during degassing are at least partially used for the subsequent enrichment of the liquid.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the gas is introduced under pressure in the liquid.

10.Vorrichtung (1) for enriching and in particular saturating a liquid, in particular a beverage, with a gas, preferably for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 9, with a supply line (4) for the gas, which with a liquid line ( 5) communicates, characterized in that at least one means (6) for generating pressure fluctuations in the liquid is provided.

11.Vorrichtung (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the means (6) for generating pressure fluctuations as a sound generator (6), in particular ultrasound generator (6) is formed.

12.Vorrichtung (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that a degassing unit (2) is connected upstream, so that the previously degassed liquid is then enriched with the gas.

13. Device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that in the upstream degassing unit (2) separated gas is wholly or partly fed into the supply line (4).

14. Device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the liquid is a food product, in particular a beverage, and it is the gas is CO ₂ , oxygen or the like.

15. Filling device (1, 2, 3) for in particular drinks, with at least one filling element (3) for a container (G), in particular beverage container (G), such as bottle, can or the like, characterized by an upstream device (1) one of claims 10 to 14.