WO2014170030A1

WO2014170030A1 - Device for dynamic high-pressure treatment of pumpable products

Info

Publication number: WO2014170030A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/001044
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eberhard Schlücker; Nina EBEL; Markus HAINTHALER
Original assignee: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Priority date: 2013-04-19
Filing date: 2014-04-17
Publication date: 2014-10-23

Abstract

Current systems for high-pressure treatment of pumpable substances operate preferably with static high-pressure profiles and therefore in a discontinuous operating mode, also called batch operating mode. By means of the innovative dynamic pressure profiles, wherein pressure changes and pressure pauses can be introduced into the process sequence in a specific manner, a higher inactivation efficiency can be achieved in many cases in the field of microorganism inactivation, for example. The present invention relates to the implementation of this dynamic concept in a large-scale, quasi-continuously operating system. From the point of view of an energy-efficient and economical design, both the equipment functional principle of the individual system components and the process control of the individual system components are described here by means of a preferred system configuration. The preferred device (24) comprises one or more pressure treatment chambers (10, 11, 60, 61) operated in parallel, in which the required dynamic pressure profiles are realised by means of a rotational-speed-controlled pressure-generating system (3). In addition, there exists in said system the possibility of conveying the product, which is hermetically isolated from the pressure medium, partially through the pressure treatment chambers (10, 11, 60, 61) in the pressure pauses, in such a way that the product cumulatively experiences the required dynamic high-pressure treatment by the time the product leaves the chamber.

Description

Device for dynamic Hochdruckbehandlunq pumpable

Products

The invention relates to a device for the dynamic high-pressure treatment of pumpable products according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

The treatment of pumpable substances with static pressures> 50 MPa is well known in the industrial practice. Typical substances, process products or media, hereinafter simply referred to as products, are foods and pharmaceutical products which are usually treated with the aim of inactivating the naturally undesirable microorganisms contained therein, in particular to achieve a prolonged shelf life of the products. However, the high pressure often causes physical properties such as texture changes. The static pressure treatment, which is usually carried out in batch containers, takes place after the tank filling by a pressure build-up phase, a pressure maintenance phase and a pressure reduction phase, before the processed product is removed again from the container.

The dissertation at the Chair of Process Machinery and Plant Engineering of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg by Ebel, N .: "Proof of concept" Dynamic high-pressure inactivation and identification and evaluation of relevant influencing factors, Dissertation 2012, Shaker Verlag Volume 16, deals, as shown in Fig. 1, with the innovative dynamic pressure profiles dHP, through the deliberate introduction of multiple pressure changes in the static profile sHP and thus a Splitting the total pressure holding time into several individual pressure phases with targeted low-pressure phases between the individual cycles. It turns out that these dynamic pressure profiles in many cases cause a significantly higher inactivation effect than the analogous static profile with the same total pressure hold time. This means both lower required maximum pressures to achieve the same inactivation effect as well as the possibility of promoting the product in the low pressure phases.

From WO 94/21 145 a method and an apparatus for high-pressure treatment of liquid products are known. The device known from this document is used for static high-pressure treatment of the liquid substances, wherein the components of the pressure generating system are in direct contact with the product to be treated. Various pressure treatment chambers are hydraulically coupled to each other.

From WO 95/23637 a device for treating pumpable food products is known. Also in this device several Druckbehandlungs- chambers are hydraulically coupled together. This device is also used for static high pressure treatment of food. US Pat. No. 6,305,913 B1 describes a device for pressure treatment of a pumpable substance by means of a flexible hose.

A device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known for example from WO 02/45528 A1. This device is only suitable for the so-called batch mode.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type mentioned, which is more efficient operable. This object is achieved by a device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The apparatus for the dynamic high-pressure treatment of pumpable products has a pressure generator system which produces alternately high and low pressure phases in the product space of at least one pressure treatment chamber containing the product, wherein the high pressure phases amount to at least 50 MPa and wherein the pressure generator system comprises at least one pressure generator by means of a crankshaft at least drives a piston with Geradschubkurbeltrieb. Such a pressure generating system enables a particularly energy-efficient industrial implementation of dynamic high-pressure treatment in a quasi-continuous and cost-operable device.

Advantageously, the at least one pressure generator drives a plurality, preferably a multiple of two or three, working in the phase offset piston and thus generates the high and low pressure phases in a preferably the number of pistons corresponding number of pressure treatment chambers. Thus, the latter are not hydraulically coupled as in the prior art, but particularly energy-efficient mechanically coupled. The expansion energy of a chamber can thus be converted into low energy pressure of the other chamber. According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one pressure generator is designed such that the high pressure phases can be generated with one or more successive piston strokes and can be superimposed with pressure variations. Such a pressure generator makes it possible to achieve the desired high-pressure phase particularly energy-efficient and, depending on the number of piston strokes required, after only a short time.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a control and regulating device is provided by means of which the crank grinding movement of the pressure generating system based on one or more pressure measurements is regulated so that the pressure level of the high and low pressure phase in the case of targeted generation of high and low pressure plateaus kept substantially constant becomes. The can Pressure measurements are carried out on or in the pressure treatment chambers or in or on pressure-carrying device parts. With the help of such a device, the pressure level can be kept largely constant even in case of leaks. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one pressure treatment chamber to a hose made of elastic material, which represents with its inner volume filled with the product product space and this hermetically separated from a surrounding hydraulic space, the tube geometry preferably a length / inner diameter ratio of at least 5 has. The hermetic separation of product space and hydraulic space is essential in particular for the processing of products used in the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry. In this case, the hose can be wound or rolled out in the pressure treatment chamber.

Advantageously, each product space has on its inflow and outflow side outside the associated pressure treatment chamber valves that shut off the respective pressure treatment chamber pressure-resistant in the high pressure phases and are operated only in the low pressure phases, so that the product during each low pressure phase by means of at least one product delivery through the at least one pressure treatment chamber is eligible. It should be noted that the promotion of the product takes place only during a low-pressure phase, with a promotion of the product does not necessarily have to be performed in each low-pressure phase. It is clear that the inlet and outlet valves close immediately after completion of the delivery phase.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the valves are designed such that they open in the direction of the product space and thus kept closed by the pressure in the at least one pressure treatment chamber, and in the presence of one product feed pump per pressure treatment chamber, the valve on the product feed side preferably by insertion the flow rate is automatically moved and the valve on the product downstream side is a valve controlled by external force and in the presence of only one product delivery pump per plurality of pressure treatment chambers, all valves preferably with external force controlled valves are. When using an oscillating product feed pump, the inflow valve can replace the pressure-side valve of this pump or vice versa.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one pressure generator in the form of a sliding link with sliding block is formed, in which an eccentrically arranged crank pin rotates on the crankshaft, wherein the at least one piston is connected to the frame of the sliding link and in an embodiment with two Piston these are opposite to each other connected to the frame of the slide link. Such a pressure generator can therefore be designed so advantageous that the piston forces can be completely transferred via the gate frame on the opposite piston.

According to another embodiment, the control unit is designed such that the motor for driving the at least one pressure generator executes a predetermined speed profile, measured in parallel to the currently prevailing in the at least one pressure treatment chamber pressure and the speed profile as a function of the measured pressure, if necessary, corrected is, and when reaching a low-pressure phase, the at least one product delivery pump and the or those controlled by external power valves are actuated according to predetermined periods. It is clear that before starting the next high-pressure phase, the valve or the valves are fully closed again.

Embodiments of the subject invention are described below with reference to the drawings, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination form the subject matter of the present invention, regardless of their combination in the claims or their dependency. Show it:

1 shows a schematic representation of a static pressure profile sHP and an exemplary, resulting dynamic pressure profile dHP according to the prior art,

Fig. 2 (a) shows a diagram schematically shown with pressure curves in two pressure treatment chambers without speed-controlled motor, in which the pressure p plotted against time t, with phase-shifted sinusoids without periods of constant pressure according to the prior art,

Fig. 2 (b) is a diagrammatic graph showing pressure waveforms in two speed-controlled engine pressure treatment chambers in which the pressure p is plotted against time t, with periods of approximately constant pressure according to the invention;

3 shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus for the dynamic high pressure treatment of pumpable products with mechanical energy coupling of two pressure treatment chambers according to a first embodiment of the invention;

4 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a pressure generator of the device according to the invention in the form of a two-high pressure pump in a boxer arrangement with a sliding link;

5 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for dynamic high pressure treatment of pumpable products having a single pressure treatment chamber and a single pressure generator according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a schematic longitudinal section through a tubular pressure treatment chamber with a stretched hose according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

7 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for dynamic high pressure treatment of pumpable products having two or more parallel pressure treatment chambers on each side of a single pressure generator according to another embodiment.

The present invention describes an energy-efficient industrial implementation of the already presented dynamic concept in a quasi-continuously operated energy-efficient and cost-effective system, hereinafter also called device 24, for high-pressure treatment of pumpable products with maximum pressure of at least 50 MPa. When using the dynamic pressure profile, the product to be treated in the pauses between the high pressure phases cycle for cycle in the pressure treatment chamber under ambient pressure can be further promoted so that it has gone through until the exit of the pressure treatment chamber the required number of pressure cycles and thus cumulatively the necessary total pressure hold time. This creates a quasi-continuous process in which the pressure treatment chamber no longer has to be laboriously opened after each pressure treatment. By eliminating these set-up and idle times while maintaining the throughput, the hitherto customary large and very expensive batch high-pressure vessels in the static pressure treatment by, for example, tubular pressure treatment chambers, as will be described below, be replaced with significantly less volume content. This method can therefore be considerably less expensive and more efficient at the same time. The presented quasi-continuous process concept allows a device with the following properties: a pressure generator generates the required pressure profiles in a geometrically arbitrarily designed pressure treatment chamber, which is configured according to a preferred embodiment with an elastic hose such that the product located in the hose and the through the Pressure generator moving pressure medium absolutely safe, ie hermetically separated from each other. The pressure transmission is accordingly through the tube wall on the product, and any material abrasion and wear, which arises for example on the dynamic seal of the pressure generator, therefore, can not be registered in the product. At the pressure treatment chamber inlet and outlet of the product space valves are mounted, which shut off these during the high pressure load.

The product is conveyed exclusively in the low-pressure or depressurized phases, specifically in such a way that the lowest possible axial mixing occurs in the area through which the product flows to ensure the necessary total treatment time. In particular, the forward-looking mixing (English: fronting) has a negative effect on the process, since then the volume fractions of the Product before leaving the required number of pressure phases leave the pressure treatment chamber. The solution to this problem consists in the hose geometry mentioned (hose length / hose diameter> 5) of the product-flowed area within the pressure treatment chamber. Further, as further measures for preventing the axial mixing, the valves are promptly closed after the delivery phase; Furthermore, the valve may have a targeted pressure loss on the downstream side. For further transport of the product in the hose, use is made of a product feed pump which is preferably located on the inflow side of the pressure treatment chamber and which is capable of conveying the product partially through the pressure chamber. Depending on the number n of required pressure cycles, the product feed pump then has to precisely as the single-cycle volume the nth part, or to compensate for the still occurring product forward mixing and the increased by a small number m increased (n + m) -th part of the total product volume within the pressure treatment chamber during the low pressure phases. In the case of microorganism inactivation as a pressure treatment goal decreases by the increasing number of pressure cycles passed through the concentration of undesirable microorganisms along the tube, so that the already pressure-treated product can not come with still untreated product, more precisely educt called. Due to the aforementioned tube geometry of the product space, therefore, the problem of recontamination of already treated product is effectively bypassed.

The implementation of this process requires technical solutions that take into account both reliable high-pressure design and high energy efficiency as well as investment and operating costs. In the following, the invention is embodied for the more demanding hygienic design using the example of the processing of pumpable foods and pharmaceuticals. It is clear, however, that non-compliant hygienic design and CIP cleanability applications are possible outside of hygiene technology.

In a conventional single or multiple piston drive, the pistons of the pressure generator and consequently also the pressure profiles in the pressure treatment chambers describe phase-shifted sinusoids 1, 2 without periods of constant pressure (Example of two pressure treatment chambers, see Fig. 2 (a)). In the desired process, however, the kinematics of the pressure generator to be adapted to the conditions of the required dynamic pressure profile. This means enabling clearly defined high-pressure and low-pressure phases (or pressureless phases) by means of mechanical engineering measures. The low pressure phases must additionally have a sufficient duration to carry out the product promotion in the pressure treatment chambers. Since it is also expected that, for example, for high-pressure inactivation of microorganisms depending on species different pressure profiles with varying pressure build-up and -abbaugeschwindigkeiten, pressure-ups and -Haltezeiten and high-pressure phases with superimposed pressure oscillations without intermediate low-pressure phase are required, but at the same time with only one system or device as many different pressure profiles are to be realized, a machine technology is necessary, which basically allows this flexibility. In this regard, in the context of this invention according to FIG. 3, a multiple pump (high-pressure pump) consisting of two straight-action crank drives in the form of a pressure generating system 3, which has at least one pressure generator 4, is driven by means of a preferably speed-controlled electric motor 5 and preferably an intermediate gear 6, wherein the Multiple pump in the two pressure treatment chambers 10, 1 1 generates the required pressure profiles. The gear 6 is in this case preferably a gear transmission, since this design works even at high, energetically favorable gear ratios both extremely play and thus reproducible and has only minor signs of wear. The electric motor 5 is preferably a servomotor, DC motor or other motor design with good controllability and high torques both at high and at low speeds. This is controlled by a microprocessor or other control and regulating device (not shown). This control is carried out in such a way that the electric motor in the compression and expansion phases has a high speed corresponding to the required rate of pressure change and a low speed in the high and low pressure phases therebetween. As a result, accelerated and delayed piston movements are generated in the piston heads 12, 13, which ultimately to the required and in Fig. 2 (b) shown pressure profiles 14, 15 lead in the product. In the individual phases, these speeds are not necessarily specified as constant, but rather are regulated in such a way that an extensive compliance with the required pressure profiles arises. In the high-pressure range, this means, for example, the control-technical consideration of the internal leakage current to the piston seal or located in the system valves 20 to 23, as illustrated in Fig. 3. This regulation is preferably supported by a strain gauges, which are applied to each of the at least one pressure treatment chambers 10, 11 (as a calibrated replacement for a pressure transducer) or a pressure transducer located in each hydraulic chamber, in that the measured actual pressure follows the desired setpoint specifications.

With regard to the energy efficiency of the apparatus is to be noted that any compression of a fluid corresponding to the tensioning of a spring with energy E _CO mpr that can deliver the fluid in the subsequent relaxation as formal theoretically equal rear expansion energy E _exp again. In this respect, the amounts of the energy E _compr and the re-expansion energy E _{exp are} theoretically the same. Multiple piston pumps often use this released energy to support subsequent compression or conveying operations. In the invention described here, this re-expansion energy is to be transferred as completely as possible to one or more pressure treatment units in parallel, but the pressure profile required for efficient treatment must be maintained at each pressure treatment unit. In the case of a coupling of, for example, two pressure treatment chambers 10 (eg with the pressure profile 14 according to FIG. 2 (b)), 11 (eg with the pressure profile 15 according to FIG. 2 (b)), the energy recovered during the expansion of a pressure treatment chamber corresponds to ΔΕ (see Fig. 2) that portion of the Rückexpansionsenergie which was supplied to the coupled pressure treatment chamber to equalize the pressure in the two chambers of the compressed fluid in the form of the magnitude equal compression energy + ΔΕ. Thus, only the compression energy remaining for complete compression of the coupled pressure treatment chamber (see FIG. 2) must be applied by the drive of the system. In the ideal case, therefore, the amount corresponds to the maximum recoverable expansion energy 16, the amount of compression energy 17 to be applied (see FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b)).

Since the relief process of a pressure treatment chamber highly accelerated by the re-expansion energy may simultaneously exceed the required or reasonable pressure increase and decrease rates while loading another pressure treatment chamber, the electric motor 5 may also be used as a brake motor to reduce the pressure change rate. The energy released at the engine can be recovered with the help of modern electrical engineering methods (eg DC motor as generator). This allows precise control of the compression and relaxation process.

With regard to the structural design of the at least one pressure generator 4 in the form of preferably a multi-piston pump, the boxer arrangement of two linear thrust crank drives on a crankshaft, ideally in Schiebekulissenbau-, according to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 is a preferred embodiment of the device 24 according to the invention. It is also possible, instead of the pressure generator 4 shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 in the form of a double pump such in the form of a triple pump (not shown) to use advantageous.

When using a sliding gate 25, as indicated in Fig. 4, an eccentrically arranged crank pin 26 inserted in a sliding block 27, the rotation of a fixed to the crank pin 26 connected crankshaft 30 a circular movement in the sliding link 25 and within the gate frame a in Fig. 4 by double arrows A, B indicated up and down and directed to the right and left movement. The motion components of the sliding block 27 in the Kolbenachsrichtung (see double arrow B) thereby generate the strokes in the piston heads 12, 13. At the frame of the slide for this purpose piston rods 31, 32 are fixed, which are excited by the motion components of the sliding block 27 in Kolbenachsrichtung to an oscillating motion , The gate frame thus ensures a firm mechanical connection of the two pistons. This opposite arrangement has the advantage that the occurring piston forces are passed directly over the gate frame of the slide link 25. The crankshaft 30 and the crankshaft bearings Therefore experience only the burden resulting from the additional necessary drive or possibly also braking power (torque). Since the two pistons are exactly opposite each other for optimum utilization of force, in the case of sliding gate designs, the most energy-efficient plant construction is the parallel connection of one or more of these arrangements, resulting in a multiple of two in terms of the number of connected pressure treatment chambers.

The piston heads 12, 13 in the pressure generator 4 are preferably designed without valves, so that a connection to the respective pressure treatment chamber without intervening fittings is achieved. As a result, at the time of re-expansion, fault-prone valve circuits are omitted under high-pressure loading, and the energy can be largely completely recovered by simply suspending the motor drive force. In this case, the entire pressure increase must occur within a piston stroke, and the stroke volume of a piston must therefore be greater than the compression volume of the entire liquid content in the associated pressure treatment chamber. However, the pressure increase can also be achieved by several strokes. The advantage of this embodiment would therefore be that the pressure generator can be made much smaller. However, this then requires pump heads with controlled by external force valves that divide the expansion volume to several strokes and able to dissipate the excess pressure medium between the individual strokes. The compression and relaxation work can of course be distributed by appropriate valve circuits on several machines.

The generation of the high-pressure phases can be effected both by a single pressure generator and by a system of pressure generators connected in series, wherein the pressure generator which drives the crankshaft is preferably designed in the described boxer arrangement with sliding gate. The additional machines are usually used here to bring a large part of the required compression volume at even moderate pressure levels in the hydraulic chamber, and a high pressure unit makes the remaining compression work until reaching the required maximum pressure. Through this Arrangement can also be the pressure oscillations already mentioned in the high pressure area without intervening low-pressure phases can be realized by one of the pressure generator converts the required piston movements. Of course, this is also possible with only one pressure generator whose piston then performs correspondingly smaller movements for generating these vibrations. Even with such a series connection of pressure generators use of the re-expansion energy by the methods described above is possible.

Generally, the energy coupling of several pressure treatment chambers results in certain restrictions regarding the flexibility of the realizable pressure profiles. By utilizing the back expansion energy of the first pressure treatment chamber for product compression of the second, for example, equal durations and rates of pressure change arise in the compression and decompression phases. In addition, the delivery phase can only have a maximum of the same duration as the high pressure phase, since it can take place only within the low pressure phase, which in turn has the same duration as the high pressure phase.

If these restrictions are decisive for the high pressure treatment result, it is possible to operate each pressure treatment chamber with its own pressure generator. Such a device, which is shown in Fig. 5, then basically has the same apparatus and functional structure as a device with a plurality of pressure treatment chambers (see Fig. 3), but then eliminates the plant components, which are necessary for the operation of the additional pressure treatment chamber ( n) would be required. Identical parts are given the same reference numerals in FIG. 5. The back expansion energy in this embodiment can only be recovered by power electronic methods and then, in the case of storage, used to drive other machines in the plant (e.g., the product feed pump 57) or for a stroke portion of the subsequent compression stroke.

The at least one pressure treatment chamber has, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, a hose 33 made of elastic material which, with its inner volume and the volume adjoining the two hose ends as far as the valves 20 to 23, the product space 34 filled with the product represents. Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section through such a pressure treatment chamber. The tube 33 may be located in the pressure treatment chamber generally in any spatial arrangement. However, in order to reduce the compression volume of the pressure medium, it is preferable to make it stretched or in orderly winding, leaving only small gaps between the inner wall of the pressure treatment chamber (including packing) and tube 33. In this case, this pressure treatment chamber may have both the geometry of a container, a tube (see the embodiment shown in FIG. 6) or even an arbitrarily designed design and thus be placed in any spatial orientation. The sealing of this pressure treatment chamber takes place for example with prestressed Bridgman seal 40 to 45, since this has a self-reinforcing under pressure sealing principle. However, other high-pressure seals such as metallic sealing lenses are possible.

If the pressure of the at least one pressure generator now acts on the pressure medium via a feed line 46 or 56, the gaps 47 between the tube 33 and the pressure chamber wall 50, 51 increase since the compression volume of the product is compensated by inflowing pressure medium. However, this requires a Schlaucheinspannung that can absorb the resulting loads (eg tensile load) without leaking or damaged. Therefore, as mentioned above, preferably an elastic, tensile hose material is used. The hose attachment to the pressure treatment chamber product supply lines 52, 53 is advantageously carried out by sticking or attaching the hose ends on hose nozzles 54 and possibly fixing by means of clamps or rings 55, which ensure a seal on the full circumference of the hose inner surface. These hose transition points to the pressure treatment chamber should be carried out as possible without diameter jumps and gaps in order to avoid product deposits and thus to enable CIP cleaning without dismantling the pressure chamber. In addition, if necessary, all materials in the product-contacting area must be selected in accordance with the hygiene regulations. In contrast, the pressure treatment chamber can be made of materials with non-hygienic but preferably corrosion-resistant components due to the achieved by the tube 33 hermetic separation from the product. The product valves (valves 20 to 23) are mounted on the outside of or near the high-pressure treatment chamber in such a way that a hygienically acceptable transition is given. In addition, they must be able to meet the requirements for CIP cleaning as well as to ensure virtually wear-free operation over a long period of time under high pressure dynamic loading. In a preferred embodiment, the valves are constructed so that they open only in the direction of the pressurized product space 34 and thus can be kept closed by its internal pressure.

As a procedurally favorable consequence of the dynamic pressure profile, the product valves can perform all opening and closing operations completely during the low pressure phases and at the same time sufficiently early before the next pressure increase phase, so that an orderly valve movement with good guidance of the valve components without hindering pressure stress is possible. Especially a complete closing with precise guide characteristics is essential in high-pressure applications, since in the case of not optimally closed valves a relative movement of the valve closing body to the valve seat is possible. Such relative movement under simultaneous high pressure load inevitably generates wear due to friction between the closing body and the valve seat.

In general, different valve designs can be used, eg ball valves or conical valves with a flat cone angle. An exemplary design is the plate valve. In the case of a flat valve seat or a valve seat designed with a low cone angle, the closing body plate always sits largely flat on it and then automatically finds a stable end position. Due to the load pressure, this plate is then only bent. On this basis, a preferably automatic product valve (valve 20) is used on the product inflow side of the pressure treatment chamber, on the downstream side, a valve controlled by external force is used. In order to reduce the unwanted axial mixing of the product in the tube 33 in the resulting from the number of cycles resulting multiple acceleration and deceleration of the product flow, the liquid movement must be quickly prevented after each Einzeldosiervorgang, which is achieved by timely closing of the product valves. In addition, until full closure of these valves, there is a risk of these chambers, even in case of pump shutdown, due to the inertia of the product pumping pumps whose operating principle is based on the fact that in the course of conveying deflated product chambers emptying, as for example with oscillating positive displacement pumps, peristaltic pumps, progressing cavity pumps Flow automatically be further emptied and thereby over-production (= volume too large) arises. Therefore, after the delivery phase at each pressure treatment chamber, both valves 20, 21 and 22, 23, namely arranged on the upstream side valves 20, 22 and arranged on the downstream side valves 21, 23, for the purpose of preventing further product flow as quickly and simultaneously closed because then this undesirable Nachströmverhalten in the product space is reduced efficiently and thus largely prevented. In addition, an unwanted outflow of not completely pressure-treated product is thereby avoided. In addition, in this case, in a preferred embodiment, the valve 21 or 23 on the downstream side to a targeted pressure drop, which opposes the flow of additional resistance and especially to avoid that the product leaves the pressure treatment chamber too early. The pressure loss is preferably generated by partial closing or by a narrowed internal geometry of the downstream valve, but can also be generated by other measures on the downstream side, such as by a pipe constriction. This pressure loss is adapted to the acceleration characteristics of the product feed pump and the flow characteristics of the product (eg viscosity). The opening of the two valves before the start of the delivery phase preferably takes place simultaneously, since after reduction of the pressure in the pressure treatment chamber, no flow to be regulated still takes place in the product space.

In the case of the exemplary use of an oscillating positive displacement pump as a product delivery pump 57, two automatic valves may be located in the pump head to allow the oscillating delivery. However, the pressure-side valve of this pump can be replaced by the inflow valve 20, 22 or the inflow valve can be replaced by the pressure-side valve of the product delivery pump, since both valves the same Function of the backflow prevention of the process material in the plant meet. In the presence of only one product feed pump 57 and only one pressure treatment chamber 10 (see embodiment of FIG. 5), the valve 20 on the product inflow side is preferably a self-propelled by inserting the flow and the valve 21 on the downstream side is an externally controlled valve while in presence only one product delivery pump 57 and a plurality of pressure treatment chambers 10, 1 1 (see embodiment of FIG. 3) are all valves 20 to 23 preferably controlled by external force valves.

For the product delivery pump 57 is a variety of pump types in question, which are executed hygienic conformity in the case of hygiene applications. They are operated only during the low-pressure phases, so that no pressure-resistant construction has to be observed. In addition, by regulating the single cycle volume of this pump, it is determined for how many load cycles the product will be in the pressure treatment chamber according to the required pressure profile. For more accurate dosing of this defined single cycle volume, an oscillating positive displacement pump may be used, however, e.g. can be used with servomotors cycle-controlled rotary displacement. In the case of an oscillating pump, the metering task consists of one or more piston strokes defined in their number, with rotating pumps of a defined number of revolutions and number of revolutions.

Both when using an oscillating and a rotary positive displacement pump as a product delivery pump 57, if necessary, with the help of additional controlled valves, several pressure treatment chambers 10, 1 1 can be operated. Since, for example, in two pressure treatment chambers coupled via a multiple high-pressure pump (see FIG. 3), the low-pressure phases likewise occur alternately, the product delivery pump 57 can alternately convey into one and then into the other chamber. However, several pressure treatment chambers can also be operated with the aid of a plurality of product delivery pumps, for example in the processing of different products in the individual pressure treatment chambers. The product delivery pump 57 is coupled to the pressure generator 4 such that the pressure is increased only in the case of completely closed product valves and consequently without simultaneous delivery into the corresponding pressure treatment chamber. Of course, this promotion can also suspend for one or more funding cycles, if required by the applied pressure profile. In addition, it is not absolutely necessary that this promotion in each low-pressure phase and over the entire low-pressure phase continues, but the delivery characteristic should be designed so that minimal fluid mass forces arise and thus the unfavorable Axialvermischung is reduced. It is clear that the product valves do not need to be opened in times of no product conveyance. The promotion of the product by means of the product delivery pump 57 through the at least one pressure treatment chamber takes place only when the low-pressure phase is reached therein.

The device 24 is preferably constructed such that as little unnecessary compression space is generated. Therefore, for example, high-pressure pipelines are made as short as possible, and the high-pressure piston reach close to the piston head inner wall.

For reasons of energy efficiency, the device preferably consists of at least two or a multiple of two (high pressure) pressure treatment chambers and half the number of mechanically coupled pressure generator units, each with two opposite piston heads, which are driven by a common motor. However, the device may also comprise three or a multiple of three pressure treatment chambers and 1/3 of the number of pressure generator units.

The pressure treatment chambers are ideally placed or mounted close to each other in order to be able to use, if necessary, common protection devices, e.g. Protective enclosure around all high-pressure-carrying elements.

All surfaces and components that are in direct contact with the process fluid, namely the product, are designed to be hygienic if required.

A control and monitoring system controls the device functionally optimal and independently identifies undesirable developments by adding measurement values relevant for interference System features together. If required, these measured values are determined by strain gauges or pressure sensors on the pressure-bearing system components, by structure-borne sound sensors on the valves, the gearbox and the pressure generator, by monitoring the power consumption of the motor and by temperature sensors in the at least one pressure treatment chamber and at the sliding points of the pressure generator or the piston seal generated. In this way, the software can independently identify, register and initiate appropriate countermeasures by the plant personnel by reporting or alarming, among other valve damage such as harmful closing operations or valve leakage and harmful developments in the pressure generator and the drive such as bearing damage, high frictional energy and bearing or Gleitflächenspiel , This software thus serves both as a fault early detection system and as a fault detection system.

The pressure generator can also be formed on the basis of an equilateral triangle simultaneously acting on three pistons.

The pressure generator 4 may be connected on each side with a pressure treatment chamber or with a plurality of pressure treatment chambers in parallel construction.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in FIG. Here, a pressure generating system 3 is provided, whose two sides are connected to at least two pressure treatment chambers, namely on the left side at least with the pressure treatment chambers 10, 60 and on the right side at least with the pressure treatment chambers 11, 61, in parallel construction.

It is clear that in this case also the further pressure treatment chambers 60, 61 are provided on their Produktzuström- and -abströmseite with valves 70 to 73 or may be provided depending on the driving style and on both sides or only on one side of the pressure generator 4 additional pressure treatment chambers may be arranged, which may also be equipped with appropriate valves for the product and the pressure medium.

In the simplest case (not shown), this means a total of three pressure treatment chambers, for example pressure treatment chamber 10 and pressure treatment chamber 10. acting chamber 60 on the piston head 12, pressure treatment chamber 1 1 on the piston head 13.

It is also possible to operate several pressure treatment chambers on one side of the pressure generator simultaneously. In such a case, the valves 62 to 64 can be omitted.

In the latter embodiment, if the aforementioned restriction of the duration of the low pressure phase is critical to the high pressure treatment result, it is possible to increase the duration of the respective low pressure phase by alternately transferring the back expansion energy from the pressure treatment chambers 10 and 60 to the pressure treatment chamber 11, respectively. Although the duration of the low-pressure phase in this embodiment remains unchanged for the pressure treatment chamber 1 1 compared to the application without Parallelfahrweise (see Fig. 3 and 5), in the pressure treatment chambers 10 and 60, it has already tripled in this way. Significantly, in this embodiment, also the introduction of externally operated shut-off valves 62 to 64 in the supply lines of the pressure medium to the individual pressure treatment chambers 10, 1 1, 60, since an alternating pressurization chambers connected in parallel must be ensured.

Further, if the restriction of the durations and rates of pressure change of the compression and decompression phases are critical to the high pressure treatment result, one or more parallel pressure treatment chambers may be operated with a single pressure generator. Such an embodiment is shown in Fig. 5 in the simplest case without parallel connection, as mentioned above. It should be noted that the device according to the invention can also implement all previous modes of operation of the prior art. It is in particular both a static and dynamic pressure profile without partial conveying of the product feasible by the product space opened only after completion of the entire pressure profile and then the entire contents of the product space is renewed by Nachfördern the product. Preferably, the inventive However, device provided for the use of dynamic pressure profiles with partial conveying operations, since then the total process time can be reduced efficiently by using the low-pressure phases.

Claims

Patent claims

1 . Device for the dynamic high-pressure treatment of pumpable products, with a pressure generator system (3) which alternately generates high and low pressure phases in the product space (34) of at least one pressure treatment chamber (10, 11, 60, 61) containing the product, the high pressure phases being at least 50 MPa , characterized in that the pressure generator system (3) has at least one pressure generator (4) which drives at least one piston with a linear thrust crank drive by means of a crankshaft (30).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one pressure generator (4) drives several, preferably a multiple of two or three, pistons working in phase offset and thus the high and low pressure phases in a number of pressure treatment phases preferably corresponding to the number of pistons. chambers (10, 11, 60, 61) are generated.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one pressure generator (4) is designed such that the high pressure phases are generated with one or more successive piston strokes and can be superimposed with pressure variations.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a control and regulating device is provided, with the help of which the crank loop movement of the pressure generator system (3) can be regulated based on one or more pressure measurements in such a way that the pressure level of the high and low pressure phase is kept largely constant in the case of targeted creation of high and low pressure plateaus

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pressure treatment chamber (10, 1 1, 60, 61) has a hose (33) made of elastic material, which with its internal volume represents the product space (34) filled with the product and hermetically separates it from a surrounding hydraulic space, the hose geometry preferably having a length/inner diameter ratio of at least 5.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each product space (34) has valves (20 to 23, 70 to 73) on its inflow and outflow side outside the associated pressure treatment chamber (10, 11, 60, 61), which shut off the respective pressure treatment chamber (10, 11, 60, 61) in a pressure-tight manner in the high-pressure phases and are only actuated in the low-pressure phases, so that the product is fed through the at least one pressure treatment chamber (10, 1) during each low-pressure phase by means of at least one product feed pump (57). 1, 60, 61) is eligible for funding.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the valves (20, 21; 22, 23; 70, 71; 72, 73) are designed such that they open in the direction of the product space (34) and therefore through the pressure in the at least one pressure treatment chamber (10, 11, 60, 61) are kept closed, and if there is one product feed pump (57) per pressure treatment chamber (10; 11; 60; 61), the valve (20; 22; 70; 72 ) on the product inflow side, preferably a valve that moves automatically by inserting the delivery flow and the valve (21; 23; 71; 73) on the product outflow side is a valve controlled by external force and in the presence of only one product delivery pump (57) per several pressure treatment chambers (10, 11 , 60, 61) all valves (20, 21; 22, 23; 70, 71; 72, 73) are preferably valves controlled with external power.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pressure generator (4) is designed in the form of a sliding link (25) with a sliding block (27), in which an eccentrically arranged crank pin (26) is located on the crankshaft (30 ) rotates, whereby the at least one piston is connected to the frame of the sliding link (25) and in an embodiment with two pistons these are connected to the frame of the sliding link (25) lying opposite one another.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device is designed such that

- the motor (5) for driving the at least one pressure generator (4) executes a predetermined speed profile;

- In parallel, the pressure currently prevailing in the at least one pressure treatment chamber (10, 11, 60, 61) is measured and the speed profile is corrected depending on the measured pressure, if necessary;

- When a low pressure phase is reached, the at least one product feed pump (57) and the valve(s) controlled with external power (20, 21; 22, 23; 70, 71; 72, 73) are actuated according to previously determined periods of time.