Method and system for carbonated fill of containers

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for carbonated filling of containers. The invention relates in particular to a method for filling a container (12) with a liquid. The method includes carbonating the liquid using a carbonator (18). The method includes continuously reducing the pressure of the carbonated liquid to below the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid and above or substantially equal to the ambient pressure using a fill valve (26). The method further includes filling the container (12) with a reduced-pressure liquid using the filling valve (26).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for filling a container with a liquid. The present invention further relates to a system for filling a container with a liquid. Background Art

[0002] Currently, isobaric methods or differential pressure methods are used to fill carbonated beverages in high-performance filling systems. The most common isobaric method is the backpressure filling method, in which the storage container and the container to be filled are under the same, increased pressure. In the differential pressure method, the container is placed under vacuum before the liquid starts to flow into the container.

[0003] In the differential pressure method, some of the dissolved gas escapes from the liquid at the start of the process, but quickly redissolves during the process as the pressure builds up rapidly. The vacuum method only works for vacuum-resistant containers (glass, reusable PET), and performs better for highly foaming products.

[0004] In the backpressure filling method, the container is brought to the same pressure or a very close pressure as that in the filling reservoir before filling. The filling process is carried out at this pressure level. After filling, the container must be depressurized so that it can be transported to the capping machine without pressure. Filling is carried out at a pressure equal to or higher than the saturation pressure of the combined CO2 in the liquid. If the pressure in the filling reservoir and / or the container is low, excessive release of the dissolved gas in the filled beverage will occur during depressurization, resulting in excessive foaming and thus unacceptable loss of liquid and CO2.

[0005] Since the saturation pressure of CO2 in the liquid strongly depends on the temperature of the liquid, carbonated beverages are usually filled at a temperature below ambient temperature. The closer the beverage is to the freezing point, the lower the saturation pressure, and thus the lower the filling pressure. However, for this purpose, the beverage must be cooled before the filling process. To save energy during the filling process, there is a trend towards increasing the filling temperature to a level where no cooling or heating is required, i.e., filling at ambient temperature. In the backpressure method, according to the filling temperature, the necessary pressure in the container must be further increased during filling.

[0006] Both the backpressure filling method and the differential pressure filling method subject the container to stresses different from those that the container will later experience when closed and when used by the customer. Therefore, the filling technology must be made more complex, and / or the dimensions of the container itself must be set to suit the filling process. This results in a considerable additional cost. Since for most products, the cost of the container has hitherto accounted for the largest proportion of the operating cost of the filling system, the additional requirements imposed on the container by the filling method quickly become expensive.

[0007] Increasing the filling temperature to save cooling energy significantly increases the requirements for the pressure stability of the container due to the rising filling pressure. This can be solved by using more pressure-stable containers or by applying the necessary minimum cooling to avoid exceeding a specific filling pressure.

[0008] Furthermore, in isobaric or backpressure filling methods, the pressure build-up and decompression steps take several seconds, which corresponds to a significant proportion of the total process time. Therefore, additional filling stations must be used in the filling machine, resulting in increased construction and maintenance costs.

[0009] The present invention solves the problem of creating an improved technique for filling carbonated liquids. Summary of the Invention

[0010] This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments are indicated in the dependent claims and the description.

[0011] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for filling a liquid into a container, preferably by means of a system as disclosed herein. The method includes carbonating the liquid using a carbonator. The method includes: continuously reducing the pressure of the carbonated liquid to below the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid and above or substantially equal to the ambient pressure using a filling valve (e.g., adjustable via closed-loop or open-loop control) (e.g., using a throttling element of the filling valve, which is preferably conical and / or adjustable using an actuator). The method further includes: filling the container with the depressurized liquid using the filling valve (e.g., by opening a shut-off element of the filling valve).

[0012] This filling method advantageously reduces or completely eliminates the need for increasing the pressure applied to the container during filling as the temperature of the filled beverage increases. During pressureless filling, there is no longer a connection between the pressure load on the container during filling and the filling temperature. This results in lower requirements for the container and the filling valve, and protects the operator from container rupture during the filling process, thus resulting in cost savings. The shorter or eliminated filling process steps for pressure build-up and reduction in the container advantageously reduce the overall process time, and thus require fewer filling valves, a smaller machine size, and less maintenance work. Due to the lower pressure in the container, the gas consumption for the necessary flushing of the container before filling can also be reduced if oxygen uptake in the beverage is to be avoided. In a stable, pressureless filling process in which microbubble formation is prevented, filling is also easier to perform because less process expertise is required to avoid excessive foaming. Operating a carbonated filler can advantageously be as simple as operating a hydrostatic filler.

[0013] It has been recognized that excessive foaming of carbonated beverages during filling means that the release of bound gases (CO2 and O2) from the liquid is too intense and the gases rising to the surface of the liquid produce too much stable foam, so that the foam overflows from the container. Therefore, excessive foaming can only be prevented by preventing or minimizing the release of bound gases during filling as much as possible. Gases that are uniformly dissolved in the liquid are only released at high vacuum pressures close to the saturation pressure, which does not occur during the filling process (Fischer Sven-Blasenbildung von in Flüssigkeiten Gasen-Munich: Technical University of Munich, 2001). The only mechanism for gas release is the growth of existing bubble nuclei. Bubble nuclei can form during the filling process of carbonated non-alcoholic beverages in the following process steps: (1) during the technical introduction of gas into the liquid (carbonation), (2) during the initial wetting of the surface with the liquid, and (3) during the entry of the liquid into the liquid surface. In addition, bubble nuclei can form in the beverage during fermentation.

[0014] Advantageously, during the filling phase, the continuous reduction of the liquid pressure, just before introduction into the container via the filling valve, reduces the growth of any (micro)bubbles that may be present. Pressure shocks and turbulence are avoided. Depending on the number of microbubbles present in the beverage, the required pressure in the container during filling can be reduced to varying degrees below the saturation pressure. Below a certain threshold for the number of microbubbles present, filling at ambient pressure is also possible.

[0015] The carbonated liquid may have a temperature close to or equal to ambient temperature during the filling process.

[0016] Preferably, the method also utilizes techniques that largely prevent bubble nucleation, thereby ensuring that no microbubbles, or as few microbubbles as possible, are present in the beverage prior to filling. This advantageously enables a filling process that is independent of saturation pressure. These techniques are described, among other things, in the following preferred exemplary embodiments.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the following is satisfied:

[0018] - Carbonation of the liquid is carried out using a membrane contactor carbonator, a cavitation carbonator or a spray cone carbonator;

[0019] - Carbonation is carried out using a still or nearly still carbonation process;

[0020] - During carbonation, the liquid is vaporized into a gas and the gas is mixed with gaseous carbon dioxide, or gaseous carbon dioxide diffuses into the liquid during carbonation rather than being forced into the liquid; and

[0021] - The pressure of the liquid during carbonation at least corresponds to the saturation pressure (equilibrium pressure) of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0022] Advantageously, the carbonation of the liquid can thus be carried out using technical methods that act without directly introducing gas bubbles into the liquid. Introducing gas bubbles into the liquid always leads to the formation of microbubbles in the liquid, which can act as bubble nuclei (Fischer Sven - Blasenbildung von in Flüssigkeiten Gasen - Munich: Technical University of Munich, 2001). Observations during the filling process and the behavior of the filled beverage show that most of the microbubbles dissolve after a few days, but still exist during the filling process. Due to the presence of these microbubbles, the current filling processes for carbonated beverages must be carried out at or above the saturation pressure. Bubble - free techniques that do not introduce gas bubbles into the beverage, such as carbonation using membrane contactors, prevent the formation of microbubbles.

[0023] In another embodiment, the container is filled through a filling tube immersed in the container, or the container is filled by filling the wall of the container, in which the liquid flows along the inner circumferential surface of the container as the container is filled. Alternatively or additionally, the container is not filled by free jet filling. Advantageously, this allows the flow of the liquid to be directed into the container in a manner that minimizes foaming as much as possible. Advantageously, the use of a filling tube can completely prevent the liquid flow from entering the liquid surface. During wall filling, the flow of the liquid along the container wall can slow down as the liquid descends. The liquid can then slowly enter the liquid surface without much turbulence and eddy current. However, with an increase in the volume flow rate, wall filling can also lead to the immersion of turbulence, resulting in the formation of gas bubbles (or bubble nuclei). However, these gas bubbles only cause excessive foaming in cases where too many gas bubbles are generated and / or when the pressure decreases after the filling process. In a pressure - less filling process, only the first factor is relevant and can be avoided by adjusting the flow rate.

[0024] In one embodiment, when the container is filled with a depressurized liquid, the internal pressure of the container corresponds to the pressure of the depressurized liquid and / or the ambient pressure. Alternatively or additionally, the filling can be carried out at or approximately at the ambient pressure.

[0025] Microbubbles formed when the container to be filled is wetted result in increased gas release only if the container has to be depressurized after filling. This is because the microbubbles expand faster due to the sudden drop in pressure than they can be reduced again by diffusion. Once they reach a certain size, they rise and continue to grow due to the diffusion of the gas uniformly dissolved in the beverage. However, during pressureless filling, they do not cause problems because their size does not increase.

[0026] In another embodiment, the container is preferably pressed against the filling valve in an airtight or liquid-tight manner during filling. Alternatively, the container can be spaced apart from the filling valve during filling.

[0027] In another embodiment, the method further comprises: optionally in the case of insertion of the reservoir, flowing the carbonated liquid through a piping system to the filling valve, wherein at least one of the following conditions is met:

[0028] - The inner surface of the piping system has an average roughness value Ra ≤ 0.8 (μm);

[0029] - The piping system has no dead zones, sudden expansions of the flow cross-section, and / or sudden contractions of the flow cross-section; and

[0030] - The maximum angle of continuous expansion and / or continuous contraction of the flow cross-section of the piping system is ≤ 6°.

[0031] Advantageously, by the described piping system design, microbubbles formed during the initial wetting of the surface with the liquid can be avoided or reduced. This is achieved, for example, by ensuring that the surface is as smooth as possible and free of any possible nucleation sites for gas bubbles so that gas residues cannot accumulate in inhomogeneous structures. This is particularly important when filling the system for the first time. With long-term operation, fewer and fewer microbubbles are entrained in the liquid flow.

[0032] The flow velocity in the piping system results in a decrease in the dynamic pressure. If bubble nuclei are present, even if the pressure is below the saturation pressure, bubble growth can occur, leading to gas release (pseudo-cavitation). If no bubble nuclei are present, the liquid only becomes gaseous (cavitation) when the vapor pressure of the mixture drops below a limit. The presence of bubble nuclei thus results in further limitations during the filling process. Therefore, the piping system is advantageously adapted such that the flow velocity and pressure in the piping system are adapted to the number of bubble nuclei present. If no bubble nuclei are present, only cavitation needs to be prevented. The larger the number of bubble nuclei, the lower the allowed velocity and the higher the required pressure. It is advantageous to have a piping system as short as possible between the carbonator and the filling valve. Increased flow velocity can be avoided, for example, by not using a centrifugal pump and only allowing a slow and steady pressure decrease in the valve.

[0033] In one embodiment, the method further comprises: storing the carbonated liquid in a reservoir (e.g., a liquid tank) before the pressure is reduced by the filling valve, wherein preferably the carbonated liquid is stored at a pressure at least corresponding to the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid.

[0034] In another embodiment, the method further comprises: degassing the liquid using a degasser, preferably before or during carbonation of the liquid, to reduce the gaseous oxygen in the liquid.

[0035] In one embodiment, the liquid to be carbonated is pure water or water mixed with at least one additional filling material. Advantageously, in variants where only water is carbonated, contamination of the carbonator can be significantly reduced. Thus, the carbonator does not need to be cleaned frequently.

[0036] In another embodiment, the method further comprises: metering at least one additional filling material into the liquid, preferably:

[0037] - before carbonation; or

[0038] - after carbonation and before reducing the pressure; or

[0039] - metering into the mixing chamber of the filling valve (e.g., upstream or downstream of the throttling element of the filling valve).

[0040] As already explained, contamination of the carbonator can be significantly reduced by metering the additional filling material only after the liquid has been carbonated.

[0041] In one embodiment, the method further comprises: sealing the filled container with a container closure using a closing device (e.g., a rotary closing device). Alternatively or additionally, the container can be automatically moved, for example, for filling and / or automatically removed after filling. Alternatively or additionally, the method can be applied to a container handling system. Alternatively or additionally, the filling valve can be one of a plurality of filling valves of a filling device, preferably a rotary filling device. Alternatively or additionally, the container can move along a continuous production line (e.g., including at least one rotary machine, at least one intermittent motion machine, and / or at least one long stator machine).

[0042] The container can be held by a container support during filling, for example, on the container neck, container collar, container base, and / or container bottom.

[0043] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for filling a container with a liquid, preferably using the method as disclosed herein. The system has a carbonator configured to carbonate the liquid. The system includes a filling device (e.g., a rotary filling device) having at least one filling valve (e.g., a filling valve adjustable via closed-loop or open-loop control), the at least one filling valve being connected to the carbonator to receive carbonated liquid from the carbonator, and the filling device being configured to:

[0044] - Preferably continuously reduce the pressure of the carbonated liquid to below the saturation pressure and above or substantially equal to the ambient pressure using a throttling element of the filling valve (e.g., conical and / or adjustable using an actuator), and

[0045] - Preferably fill the container with the depressurized liquid through a filling tube or by wall-filling the container.

[0046] Advantageously, the system can achieve the same advantages as those already described with reference to the method. The same applies to the preferred exemplary embodiments of the system described below.

[0047] In one exemplary embodiment, the system includes at least one of the following:

[0048] - A reservoir for storing carbonated liquid, wherein the reservoir is connected to the carbonator to receive carbonated liquid and is connected to the filling valve to supply carbonated liquid to the filling valve;

[0049] - A closing device (e.g., a rotary closing device) for sealing the filled container with a container closure;

[0050] - At least one additional filling material source connected to: a pipeline section located upstream or downstream of the carbonator for metering additional filling material into the liquid in the pipeline section; a mixing chamber of the filling valve for metering additional filling material into the liquid in the mixing chamber (the mixing chamber is, for example, arranged upstream or downstream of the throttling element of the filling valve);

[0051] - A liquid supplier, preferably a water supplier, wherein the liquid supplier is connected to the carbonator to supply a liquid (e.g., water) to the carbonator;

[0052] - A degasser configured to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid and integrated with or connected to the carbonator to supply degassed liquid to the carbonator;

[0053] - A lifting device configured to raise and lower the container and / or the filling valve, for example, to press the filling valve and the container together;

[0054] - A pipeline system that connects a carbonator and a filling valve, wherein the inner surface of the pipeline system has an average roughness value Ra ≤ 0.8; and / or has no dead zones, sudden expansions of the flow cross-section, and / or sudden contractions of the flow cross-section; and / or has a maximum angle of continuous expansion and continuous contraction of the flow cross-section ≤ 6°.

[0055] In another exemplary embodiment:

[0056] - The carbonator is a membrane contactor carbonator, a cavitation carbonator, or a spray cone carbonator; and / or

[0057] - The carbonator is configured to perform a bubble-free or nearly bubble-free carbonation process, and / or

[0058] - The carbonator is configured to vaporize a liquid into a gas during carbonation and mix this gas with gaseous carbon dioxide, or to allow gaseous carbon dioxide to diffuse into the liquid during carbonation without forcing gaseous carbon into the liquid; and / or

[0059] - The carbonator is configured to carbonate a liquid at a pressure (equilibrium pressure) that corresponds at least to the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0060] In one embodiment, the system is an industrial container handling system, or the system is a small-scale system (local system) for placement in a supermarket or a railway station, preferably having a footprint area of ≤ 10 sqm, ≤ 5 sqm, ≤ 3 sqm, or ≤ 2 sqm.

[0061] The system can also be configured to perform temperature control, manufacturing, cleaning, coating, testing, pasteurization, labeling, printing, marking, laser marking, and / or packaging on containers for liquid or paste media (preferably products in the beverage, liquid food, pharmaceutical, or healthcare industries).

[0062] For example, the container can be implemented as a bottle, can, cylinder, carton, vial, tube, etc.

[0063] Preferably, the filling valve can be actuated using an actuator, for example, via closed-loop or open-loop control.

[0064] The system can also include a container holder that is configured to hold the container during filling, for example, on the container neck, container collar, container base, and / or container bottom.

[0065] The above preferred embodiments and features of the present invention can be combined with each other as needed. Description of the Drawings

[0066] Additional details and advantages of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0067] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0068] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0069] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0070] Figure 4 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0071] The embodiments shown in the drawings at least partially correspond such that similar or identical components have the same reference numerals, and for the sake of avoiding repetition, the description of other embodiments or drawings is also referred to for their illustration. Detailed Description

[0072] Figure 1 shows a system 10 for filling a container 12.

[0073] Preferably, the system 10 may be an industrial container handling system. However, the system 10 may also be a small-scale system. The small-scale system may be provided, for example, in a supermarket or a railway station, etc. The small-scale system may have a floor area of, for example, ≤10 sqm, ≤5 sqm, ≤3 sqm or ≤2 sqm.

[0074] The system 10 includes a carbonator 18 and a filling valve 26. Optionally, the system 10 may further include, for example, a liquid supplier 14, a degasser 16, an additional filling material source 20, a metering valve 22, a reservoir 24, a piping system 38 and / or an enclosure device 40.

[0075] The liquid supplier 14 may supply liquid to the system 10. Preferably, the liquid supplier may supply water. The liquid supplier may be, for example, a liquid tank (e.g., a water tank) or a liquid connector (e.g., a water connector).

[0076] The liquid supplier 14 may be connected to the carbonator 18 to supply liquid to the carbonator 18, for example, via the degasser 16 and / or via the piping system 38.

[0077] The degasser 16 may be configured to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid. The degasser 16 may receive liquid from the liquid supplier 14. The degasser 16 may reduce gaseous oxygen in the received liquid (preferably water). The degasser 16 may reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid according to any suitable operating principle.

[0078] For example, the degasser 16 can reduce the proportion of gaseous oxygen in the liquid to ≤1 ppm, for example, starting from ≥10 ppm upstream of the degasser 16.

[0079] The degasser 16 can be configured to reduce other gases in the liquid, such as, for example, carbon dioxide.

[0080] As Figure 1 shown, the degasser 16 can be configured, for example, as a unit separate from the carbonator 18. The degasser 16 can then be connected to the carbonator 18 so as to supply the degassed liquid to the carbonator 18, for example, via the pipe system 38.

[0081] Alternatively, the degasser 16 can be, for example, integrated with the carbonator 18 (not shown in the figure). For example, the integrated device can be implemented as a membrane contactor - degasser - carbonator.

[0082] The carbonator 18 is configured to carbonate the liquid. Preferably, the carbonator 18 can carbonate the liquid at a liquid pressure that is at least the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide for the liquid. During carbonation, gaseous carbon dioxide can (physically) dissolve in the liquid, and carbonic acid can be formed by reaction with water.

[0083] Preferably, the carbonator 18 carbonates pure water. However, the carbonator 18 can also carbonate another liquid, such as, for example, a mixture of pure water and at least one additive (such as, for example, syrup and / or flavoring).

[0084] The carbonator 18 preferably uses a bubble - free or almost bubble - free carbonation process.

[0085] For this purpose, the carbonator 18 can operate according to the principle that gaseous carbon dioxide diffuses gradually into the liquid, for example, at a substantially constant rate, rather than being forced into the liquid. This principle can be illustrated using a tank partially filled with liquid, the headspace of which is filled with gaseous carbon dioxide. Optionally, mixing elements (such as, for example, stirrers) and / or a large contact surface between the gaseous carbon dioxide and the liquid can facilitate the diffusion process.

[0086] For example, the carbonator 18 can be a membrane contactor. The membrane contactor can, for example, include a microporous membrane structure having a number of membrane plates or hollow membrane fibers. The membrane structure allows gaseous carbon dioxide and the liquid to contact each other over a large area, thus allowing gaseous carbon dioxide to diffuse extensively into the liquid.

[0087] Alternatively, the carbonator 18 can be, for example, a spray - cone carbonator. This carbonator can include, for example, a conical flow body. The liquid can flow over the flow body and be sprayed from there as a fine dispersion into the gaseous carbon dioxide, thus allowing gaseous carbon dioxide to diffuse extensively into the liquid.

[0088] The carbonator 18 can also operate based on the principle that a liquid is first vaporized into a gas. This gas can then be mixed with gaseous carbon. The mixing can occur at the molecular level. During and / or after the mixing process, the mixture naturally or through liquefaction returns to the liquid state.

[0089] For example, the carbonator 18 can be a cavitation carbonator. The cavitation carbonator preferably includes a number of parallel channels for carbonating the liquid.

[0090] Preferably, the cavitation carbonator can use a pump to accelerate the liquid such that the velocity of the liquid reaches a rate at which the pressure of the liquid drops below the vapor pressure of the liquid. The liquid can be at least partially vaporized. Gaseous carbon dioxide can be introduced into the vaporized liquid and mixed with it. Due to the vaporization or the formation of vapor bubbles, the liquid flow can split. The flow velocity can accordingly decrease, and the pressure can rise again above the vapor pressure. The mixture can return to the liquid state.

[0091] The additional filling material source 20 can provide additional filling material or dosage form filling material, preferably in liquid or paste form. For example, the additional filling material can be (temporarily) stored in the additional filling material source 20. For example, the additional filling material source 20 can be implemented as a tank, a cooker, a reservoir, or a supply pipeline. Preferably, the additional filling material source 20 can provide syrup as the additional filling material.

[0092] The additional filling material source 20 can lead via a pipeline into a pipeline section, which is arranged downstream of the carbonator 18, as Figure 1 shown. The pipeline section can be located upstream of the reservoir 24. For example, the pipeline section can connect the carbonator 18 to the reservoir 24 and / or the filling valve 26.

[0093] Alternatively, for example, the additional filling material source 20 can lead via a pipeline into a pipeline section, where the pipeline section is arranged upstream of the carbonator 18 (not shown in the figure). The pipeline section can, for example, connect the water supply 14 and / or the degasser 16 to the carbonator 18.

[0094] The additional filling material can be metered via the metering valve 22 into the (not yet carbonated or already carbonated) liquid in the pipeline section. The metering valve 22 can be arranged downstream of the additional filling material source 20. For example, the metering valve 22 can be arranged in the pipeline connecting the additional filling material source 20 to the pipeline section located upstream or downstream of the carbonator 18.

[0095] Preferably, the metering valve 22 can be a switching valve. The metering valve 22 can be switched, for example, to an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the metering valve 22 can release a line for the additional filling material to pass through. In the closed position, the metering valve 22 can close or block the pipeline. The metering valve 22 can be actuated in any conceivable way, for example, electrically, electromagnetically, pneumatically, hydraulically or mechanically.

[0096] The system 10 can include several additional filling material sources, each of which is optionally connected to a metering valve (not shown in the figure). The additional filling material sources can contain the same or different additional filling materials. The (mixed) filling material in the container 12 can also contain additional filling materials from one, two or more additional filling material sources.

[0097] The reservoir 24 is configured to store the carbonated liquid under pressure. For example, the reservoir 24 can be a filling material tank.

[0098] The reservoir 24 can be connected to the carbonator 18 so as to receive, for example, the carbonated liquid from the carbonator 18 via the pipeline system 38. The reservoir 24 can be connected to the filling valve 26 so as to supply the carbonated liquid to the filling valve 26 via the pipeline system 38, for example.

[0099] The filling valve 26 can be part of a filling device. The filling device can preferably be implemented as a filler conveyor belt or a rotary filling device. The filling device can include several filling valves 26 for filling several containers 12 simultaneously or with a time overlap. For example, the filling valves 26 can be arranged around the circumference of a filling device implemented as a filler conveyor belt. Alternatively, the filling device can be implemented as a linear filler with several filling valves 26, which are arranged in series side by side and / or one behind the other. Alternatively, the filling device can also have only a single filling valve 26, for example, when the system 10 is designed as a small-scale system.

[0100] The filling device can also include the reservoir 24 and / or the pipeline system 38.

[0101] The filling valve 26 is connected to the carbonator 18 so as to receive, for example, the carbonated liquid from the carbonator 18 via the reservoir 24 and / or the pipeline system 38.

[0102] The filling valve 26 is configured to continuously reduce the pressure of the carbonated liquid to below the saturation pressure and above or substantially equal to the ambient pressure.

[0103] Preferably, the filling valve 26 is adjustable using closed-loop or open-loop control.

[0104] For example, the filling valve 26 may have a throttling element 28 for continuously reducing the pressure. The throttling element 28 may have a conical shape. The throttling element 28 may expand in the direction of flow of the liquid or taper against the direction of flow of the liquid.

[0105] The throttling element 28 may be movable along its longitudinal axis (e.g., be able to slide), for example, using an actuator. By moving along the longitudinal axis, the throttling element may adjust the flow cross-section through the sleeve-shaped gap of the filling valve 26 in order to regulate the flow of the liquid. The sleeve-shaped gap may be formed between the valve housing and the throttling element. For example, the sleeve-shaped gap may have a conical shape. When the throttling element 28 is in the closed position, the sleeve-shaped gap may be completely closed.

[0106] Optionally, the filling valve 26 may have a shut-off element 30 that is movable along its longitudinal axis for shutting off the filling valve 26. Using a preferably conical shut-off element 30, for example, the annular gap of the filling valve 26 may be opened or closed.

[0107] The throttling element 28 and / or the shut-off element 30 may be actuated in any conceivable manner, for example, electrically, electromagnetically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically.

[0108] The shut-off function may also be taken over by the throttling element 28 and the filling valve 26 may also not include a separate shut-off element 30 (not shown in the figure).

[0109] The filling valve 26 is configured to fill the container 12. Preferably, the filling valve 26 may fill the container 12 via the wall or through a filling tube (long-tube filling).

[0110] In the case of wall filling, the liquid may be caused to flow downward along the inner circumferential surface of the container 12 and the liquid may be introduced into the container 12 in such a way as to fill the container. For example, the flow body 32 arranged at the outlet of the filling valve 26 deflects the discharged liquid towards the inner circumferential surface of the container 12. The shape of the flow body 32 may be conical, for example. The flow body 32 may be realized as a deflection shield, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the flow body 32 may include, for example, a spiral liquid channel. The spiral liquid channel may impart a vortex to the liquid to ensure that the liquid adheres to the inner circumferential surface of the container. Alternatively, a vortex may also be generated by tangential inflow into a ring arranged around the shut-off element.

[0111] As an alternative to the flow body 32 or wall filling, the container 12 may be filled through a filling tube 34, for example, in the case of filling through a filling tube (long-tube filling). The filling tube 34 may be immersed in the container 12. The filling tube 34 may extend, for example, into the middle section of the container 12 or further downward towards the bottom of the container 12.

[0112] During the filling process, the container 12 can be positioned below the filling valve 26.

[0113] The container 12 and the filling valve 26 can be brought closer to each other with respect to the vertical direction for filling. For example, a lifting device 36 can be included. The lifting device 36 can be configured to raise and lower the container 12, the filling valve 26, and / or the filling tube 34. Using the lifting device 36, the filling tube 34 can also be immersed in the container 12.

[0114] For example, the lifting device 36 can be coupled to a container holder for holding the container 12, so as to raise and lower the container holder. The container holder can support the container 12, for example, at the container neck, the container collar, the container base, or the container bottom of the container.

[0115] The container 12 can also be pressed against the filling valve 26 during filling. For example, the lifting device 36 can be configured to raise and lower the container 12 and / or the filling valve 26 so as to press the filling valve 26 and the container 12 together.

[0116] Alternatively, the filling valve 26 and the container 12 can be spaced apart from each other during filling.

[0117] The pipeline system 38 can connect the carbonator 18 and the filling valve 26. For example, the pipeline system 38 can include a pipeline connecting the carbonator 18 and the reservoir 24. The pipeline system 38 can also include a pipeline connecting the reservoir 24 to the filling valve 26. The pipeline system 38 can include at least one additional pipeline, such as a pipeline connecting the liquid supplier 14 and the degasser 16 and / or a pipeline connecting the degasser 16 and the carbonator 18.

[0118] Preferably, the inner surface of the pipeline system 38 has an average roughness value Ra ≤ 0.8. At any point in the pipeline system 38, the inner surface should not have an average roughness value Ra > 0.8. The pipeline system 38 can be free of dead zones, sudden expansions of the flow cross-section, and / or sudden contractions of the flow cross-section. The maximum angle of the continuous expansion of the flow cross-section and the continuous contraction of the flow cross-section of the pipeline system 38 can be ≤ 6°.

[0119] Additional sensor technology and / or valve technology can be arranged in the pipeline system 38. For example, a flow measurement device can be arranged in the pipeline section between the reservoir 24 and the filling valve 26 to measure the flow rate of the liquid towards the filling valve 26. For example, a valve can be arranged in the pipeline section between the reservoir 24 and the filling valve 26 to adjust (throttle) the flow of the liquid and / or block or cut off the pipeline section.

[0120] The closing device 40 can seal the containers 12, for example with a lid, cork, crown cap or screw cap. The closing device 40 can preferably be embodied as a closing conveyor belt or a rotary closing device. The closing device can have a number of closing stations for sealing a number of containers 12 simultaneously. For example, the closing stations can be arranged around the circumference of the closing device embodied as a closing conveyor belt. The closing device 40 can be arranged downstream of the filling valve 26 or the filling device relative to the container stream.

[0121] The closing device 40 and the filling valve 26 or the filling device can be connected to each other using a container conveyor device. The container conveyor device can for example have at least one conveying star wheel and / or at least one linear conveyor device.

[0122] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , a method for filling the containers 12 is explained below.

[0123] First, a liquid, preferably pure water (water without additives), can be fed from the liquid supplier 14 to the degasser 16.

[0124] In step S10, the liquid can be degassed using the degasser 16. During this process, the gaseous oxygen dissolved in the liquid can be reduced.

[0125] In step S12, the liquid is carbonated using the carbonator 18. During this process, gaseous carbon dioxide can dissolve in the liquid and react with water to form carbonic acid. Preferably, the pressure of the liquid during carbonation can at least correspond to the saturation pressure (equilibrium pressure) of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0126] During carbonation, pure water or water mixed with at least one additional filling material can be carbonated.

[0127] Degassing (step S10) can be carried out together with the carbonation of the liquid (S12) using a membrane contactor - degasser - carbonator.

[0128] In step S14, at least one additional filling material from at least one additional filling material source 20 can be metered into the liquid via the metering valve 22. The additional filling material can for example be metered into the already carbonated liquid, as shown by the arrangement of Figure 1 . The additional filling material can also be metered before the liquid is carbonated, whereby step S14 can be carried out before step S12 and optionally also before step S10.

[0129] In step S16, the carbonated liquid, which may be mixed with at least one additional filling material, can be stored in the reservoir 24. The carbonated liquid can flow from the carbonator 18 through the pipeline system 38 to the reservoir 24. From the reservoir 24, the carbonated liquid can flow through the pipeline system 38 to the filling valve 26.

[0130] In step S18, the pressure of the carbonated liquid is continuously reduced using the filling valve 26 to a value below the saturation pressure of the carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid and higher than or substantially equal to the ambient pressure. In particular, the throttling element 28 can reduce the pressure steadily and uniformly along its length.

[0131] In step S20, the container 12 is filled with the depressurized liquid using the filling valve 26. For this purpose, for example, the shut-off element 30 can be opened or lifted from its valve seat. As already mentioned, the throttling element 28 can also take over the shut-off function. For example, step S20 can be carried out simultaneously with or overlapping in time with step S18.

[0132] During filling, the container 12 can have an internal pressure corresponding to the pressure of the depressurized liquid and / or the ambient pressure.

[0133] Preferably, step S20 involves wall-filling the container 12 or filling the container 12 using the filling tube 34.

[0134] The container 12 can preferably be pressed against the filling valve 26 in an airtight or liquid-tight manner during filling.

[0135] In step S22, the filled container 12 can be closed with a container closure using the closing device 40.

[0136] Figure 3 An improved system 10' is shown, in which the filling valve 26 has a mixing chamber 42.

[0137] In the mixing chamber 42, different filling materials from different filling material sources can be mixed together. Preferably, the filling materials can be mixed in the mixing chamber 42 when the filling valve 26 is closed. When the filling valve 26 is open, the container 12 can be filled from the mixing chamber 42.

[0138] The mixing chamber 42 can be realized, for example, as a swirl chamber.

[0139] The mixing chamber 42 can be arranged, for example, upstream or downstream of the throttling element 28.

[0140] An additional filling material source 20 can be connected to the mixing chamber 42 via a line opening into the mixing chamber 42. The additional filling material from the additional filling material source 20 can be metered into the liquid in the mixing chamber 42 using the metering valve 22.

[0141] In accordance with Figure 4In the associated method, the step S14 of metering at least one additional filling material into the liquid can be carried out after the step S16 of storing the carbonated liquid in the reservoir 24. Depending on the arrangement of the mixing chamber 42, the step S14 of metering at least one additional filling material into the liquid can also be carried out after the step S18 (continuous decompression) and before the step S20 (filling).

[0142] The present invention is not limited to the above preferred embodiments. On the contrary, there can be various variations and modifications, which also utilize the inventive concept and thus fall within the scope of protection. Specifically, the present invention also claims the subject matter and features of the dependent claims, regardless of the claims to which they refer. Specifically, the individual features of independent claim 1 are each disclosed independently of one another. In addition, the features of the dependent claims are also disclosed independently of all the features of independent claim 1. All ranges specified herein should be understood to be disclosed in such a way that all values falling within the relevant range are individually disclosed, for example also as relevant preferred narrower outer limits of the relevant range.

[0143] List of reference numerals

[0144] 10 System

[0145] 12 Container

[0146] 14 Liquid supplier

[0147] 16 Degasser

[0148] 18 Carbonator

[0149] 20 Source of additional filling material

[0150] 22 Metering valve

[0151] 24 Reservoir

[0152] 26 Filling valve

[0153] 28 Throttling element

[0154] 30 Shut-off element

[0155] 32 Flow body

[0156] 34 Filling tube

[0157] 36 Lifting device

[0158] 38 Pipeline system

[0159] 40 Sealing device

[0160] 42 Mixing chamber.

Claims

1. A method for filling a container (12) with a liquid, wherein the method comprises: carbonating the liquid using a carbonator (18); continuously reducing the pressure of the carbonated liquid using a filling valve (26) to below the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid and above or substantially equal to the ambient pressure; and filling the container (12) with the depressurized liquid using the filling valve (26).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the following conditions is met: the carbonation of the liquid is carried out using a membrane contactor carbonator, a cavitation carbonator or a spray cone carbonator; the carbonation is carried out using a bubble-free or almost bubble-free carbonation process; during the carbonation, the liquid is vaporized into a gas and the gas is mixed with gaseous carbon dioxide, or gaseous carbon dioxide diffuses into the liquid during the carbonation rather than being forced into the liquid; and the pressure of the liquid during the carbonation at least corresponds to the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: the filling of the container (12) is carried out through a filling tube (34) immersed in the container (12), or the filling of the container (12) is carried out through wall filling of the container (12), in which the liquid flows along the inner circumferential surface of the container (12) into the container (12) as the container (12) is filled; and / or the filling of the container (12) is not carried out by free jet filling.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: when the container (12) is filled with the depressurized liquid, the container (12) has an internal pressure corresponding to the pressure of the depressurized liquid and / or the ambient pressure, and / or the filling is carried out at ambient pressure or approximately ambient pressure.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the container (12) is preferably pressed against the filling valve (26) in an airtight or liquid-tight manner during filling.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, the method further comprising: optionally, in the case of insertion of a reservoir (24), causing the carbonated liquid to flow through a pipeline system (38) to the filling valve (26), wherein at least one of the following conditions is met: - the inner surface of the pipeline system (38) has an average roughness value Ra ≤ 0.8; - the pipeline system (38) has no dead zones, sudden expansions of the flow cross-section and / or sudden contractions of the flow cross-section; and - the maximum angle of continuous expansion and continuous contraction of the flow cross-section of the pipeline system (38) is ≤ 6°.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, the method further comprising: Before the pressure is reduced by the filling valve (26), the carbonated liquid is stored in a reservoir (24), wherein preferably the carbonated liquid is stored at a pressure at least corresponding to the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, the method further comprising: degassing the liquid using a degasser (16) before or during the carbonation of the liquid to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the liquid to be carbonated is pure water or water mixed with at least one additional filling material.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, the method further comprising: metering at least one additional filling material into the liquid, preferably: - before the carbonation; or - after the carbonation and before reducing the pressure; or - metering into the mixing chamber (42) of the filling valve (26).

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: the method further comprises sealing the filled container (12) with a container closure using a closing device (40); the container (12) moves automatically for the filling and / or moves away automatically after the filling; the method is applied in a container handling system (10); the filling valve (26) is a filling device, preferably one of a plurality of filling valves of a rotary filling device; and the container (12) moves along a continuous production line.

12. A system (10) for filling a liquid into a container (12), preferably using the method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (10) comprises: a carbonator (18) configured to carbonate the liquid; and a filling device having at least one filling valve (26), the at least one filling valve being connected to the carbonator (18) to receive the carbonated liquid from the carbonator (18), and the filling device being configured to: - preferably continuously reduce the pressure of the carbonated liquid to below the saturation pressure and above or substantially equal to the ambient pressure using a throttling element of the filling valve (26), and - preferably fill the container (12) with the depressurized liquid through a filling tube (34) or by wall-filling the container (12).

13. The system (10) according to claim 12, the system further comprising at least one of the following: a reservoir (24) for storing the carbonated liquid, wherein the reservoir (24) is connected to the carbonator (18) to receive the carbonated liquid and connected to the filling valve (26) to supply the carbonated liquid to the filling valve (26); a closing device (40) for sealing the filled container (12) with a container closure; At least one additional filling material source (20), said at least one additional filling material source being connected to: - a pipeline section located upstream or downstream of the carbonator (18) for metering additional filling material into the liquid in said pipeline section; or - the mixing chamber (42) of the filling valve (26) for metering additional filling material into the liquid in said mixing chamber (42); A liquid supplier (14), preferably a water supplier, wherein said liquid supplier is connected to the carbonator (18) for supplying liquid to the carbonator (18); A degasser (16), said degasser being configured to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid and being integrated with or connected to the carbonator (18) for supplying degassed liquid to the carbonator (18); A lifting device (36), said lifting device being configured to raise and lower the container (12) and / or the filling valve (26) for pressing the filling valve (26) and the container (12) together; A pipeline system (38), said pipeline system connecting the carbonator (18) and the filling valve (26), wherein said pipeline system (38): - has an inner surface with an average roughness value Ra ≤ 0.8; and / or - has no dead zones, sudden expansions of the flow cross-section, and / or sudden contractions of the flow cross-section; and / or - has a maximum angle of continuous expansion and continuous contraction of the flow cross-section ≤ 6°.

14. The system (10) according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein: The carbonator (18) is a membrane contactor carbonator, a cavitation carbonator, or a spray cone carbonator; and / or The carbonator (18) is configured to perform a bubble-free or almost bubble-free carbonation process, and / or The carbonator (18) is configured to vaporize the liquid into a gas during carbonation and mix this gas with gaseous carbon dioxide, or to allow gaseous carbon dioxide to diffuse into the liquid during carbonation without forcing gaseous carbon into the liquid; and / or The carbonator (18) is configured to carbonate the liquid at a pressure at least corresponding to the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

15. The system (10) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: The system (10) is an industrial container handling system; or The system (10) is a small-scale system for installation in a supermarket or a railway station, preferably having a footprint area of ≤ 10 sqm, ≤ 5 sqm, ≤ 3 sqm, or ≤ 2 sqm.

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