Damper device, homogenizer and method for operating a damper device

Abstract

A damper device (100) for reducing pressure pulsations in a fluid line (102) filled with a liquid product. The damper device includes: a container (104) having an inner chamber (116); an upper valve (132) connecting the upper end (106) of the inner chamber to a gas medium supply source (135); a lower valve (128) connecting the lower end (108) of the inner chamber to a liquid outlet (130); and a line connection valve (126) connecting the lower end of the inner chamber to the fluid line. The upper valve, lower valve, and line connection valve are operable to discharge the liquid product from the inner chamber and form a pressure-absorbing bladder (109) within the inner chamber. The container includes a sleeve (110) having a fluid inlet (112) and a fluid outlet (114) for sterilizing the inner chamber of the container by passing a heating medium through the sleeve via a heating medium valve (142).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to liquid food processing. More specifically, it relates to a damper device for reducing pressure pulsations in fluid lines, a homogenizer device equipped with such a damper device, and a method for operating the damper device. Background Technology

[0002] The use of homogenizers in liquid food processing pipelines is well-known today. Besides reducing fat globules, such as to homogenize milk, homogenizers are used to provide stable emulsions in liquid foods containing oil and water to achieve the desired texture and mouthfeel, and to obtain a stable product with consistent properties. In the food processing industry, so-called high-pressure homogenizers are commonly used. In short, this type of homogenizer includes: a piston pump arranged to increase the pressure of the food; and homogenizing equipment, sometimes called a homogenizing valve, which includes a gap into which the food is pushed under high pressure (e.g., 200 bar). Because the piston pump is used to generate pressure, pressure pulsations can propagate from the homogenizer to other parts of the pipeline located upstream and / or downstream of the homogenizer. These pressure pulsations can cause various problems in other equipment in the pipeline, potentially leading to malfunctions. To avoid this, homogenizer dampers are known to be used to absorb pressure pulsations before and after the homogenizer, sometimes also called pressure changes or pressure shocks.

[0003] The general principle of a homogenizer damper is to use an air cushion to absorb pressure pulsations. This air cushion is formed by installing vertical pipes on the inlet and outlet pipes. An air cushion can be created within these vertical pipes by closing their top ends. During cleaning, the vertical pipes are typically disassembled and manually cleaned.

[0004] In recent years, so-called automatic dampers have been introduced. These dampers have an air refill mechanism that allows air to be introduced into the upper part of the vertical pipe, enabling the air cushion to remain in place for a longer period. In addition, automatic cleaning solutions, often called Clean in Place (CIP), are available, thus eliminating the need for manual cleaning.

[0005] While solutions for automatic air refilling and automatic cleaning exist, further improvements are needed to the operation of homogenizer dampers in order to provide more efficient food processing pipelines that include homogenizers. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of this invention is to at least partially overcome one or more of the aforementioned limitations of the prior art. In particular, the object is to provide improved cleaning of homogenizer dampers.

[0007] Generally, it has been recognized that sterilizing containers more effectively during cleaning can be achieved by arranging the container to form a homogenizer damper, or more generally a damper device, with an air bladder (also known as an air cushion) at its top, and by providing a sleeve over the container. The cleaning process for homogenizer dampers can be more efficient in terms of both time and energy usage by being able to indirectly sterilize containers that may manifest as vertical pipes. More specifically, sterilization can be more effective by providing a heating medium via the sleeve, rather than by providing hot water as the heating medium within the vertical pipe. In other words, unlike the common method currently used in automatically cleaning homogenizer dampers, which involves rinsing off food residue and then sterilizing by feeding hot water through the damper, it is possible to rinse off food residue and then sterilize the container by feeding hot water or other heating media through the sleeve.

[0008] According to a first aspect, a damper device is provided for reducing pressure pulsations in a fluid line filled with a liquid product. The damper device includes a container having an inner chamber, an upper valve connecting the upper end of the inner chamber to a gas medium supply source, a lower valve connecting the lower end of the inner chamber to a liquid outlet, and a line connection valve connecting the lower end of the inner chamber to the fluid line. The upper valve, lower valve, and line connection valve are operable to discharge the liquid product from the inner chamber and form a pressure-absorbing bladder within the inner chamber. The container includes a sheath having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for sterilizing the inner chamber of the container via a heating medium valve through the sheath.

[0009] The advantage of having a sleeve on the container is that the inner chamber can be sterilized more effectively after it has been refilled with a gaseous medium. The inner chamber can be sterilized indirectly by using a heating medium provided within the sleeve, rather than by hot water or steam supplied to the inner chamber, thereby sterilizing the refilled air.

[0010] Temperature sensors can be arranged to measure the temperature of the heating medium leaving the sheath.

[0011] The advantage of setting up temperature sensors is that steam and water can be distinguished from each other, which in turn allows them to be fed to different outlets or otherwise treated differently.

[0012] The damper device may also include a control unit, which is communicatively connected to the upper valve, lower valve, pipeline connection valve, and heating medium valve, and is configured to control: Pipeline connection valve closed. The upper and lower valves open, allowing the liquid product to exit the inner chamber while the gaseous medium enters. Both the upper and lower valves are closed. The heating medium valve opens to allow the heating medium to pass through the sheath to sterilize the inner chamber and the gaseous medium that has entered the inner chamber. The pipeline connection valve is opened to connect the liquid product in the fluid pipeline to the gaseous medium in the inner chamber.

[0013] The sheath can be connected to a heating medium source for receiving heating medium via a heating medium valve; and connected to a cooling medium source for receiving cooling medium via a cooling medium valve, so that the inner chamber can be cooled by cooling medium from the cooling medium source.

[0014] By enabling rapid cooling of the internal chamber, cleaning time can be reduced, thereby increasing productivity.

[0015] The control unit can be communicatively connected to the cooling medium valve and is configured to control the opening of the cooling medium valve after the heating medium valve is opened, so as to allow the cooling medium to pass through the sheath to cool the inner chamber.

[0016] The damper device may also include a cleaning medium valve, which is arranged to allow the cleaning medium to pass through the inner chamber.

[0017] This has the positive effect of avoiding manual cleaning.

[0018] The control unit can be communicatively connected to the cleaning medium valve and configured to control the opening of the cleaning medium valve before opening the heating medium valve, for allowing the cleaning medium to pass through the inner chamber to wash away the liquid product from the cleaning inner chamber.

[0019] The fluid line can be connected to the inlet of the sheath, thereby controlling the heating medium valve so that the heating medium passes from the fluid line through the sheath.

[0020] By supplying the heating medium via the product pipeline, existing piping used for supplying the heating medium can be used, which improves cost efficiency.

[0021] The outlet of the sheath can be connected to a fluid line, allowing heat to return from the sheath to the fluid line.

[0022] The damper device may also include a sensor connected to the inner chamber and arranged to generate a signal indicating the level of liquid present in the chamber.

[0023] By using a level sensor, the airbag can be monitored, and the necessary air or other gases can be added to the inner chamber when needed.

[0024] According to the second aspect, a homogenizer is provided, comprising: According to the damper device of the first aspect, and A homogenizer is configured to receive a liquid product from a fluid line, wherein the homogenizer is arranged to operate at a pressure of at least 200 bar to homogenize the liquid product, while controlling an upper valve, a lower valve and a line connection valve to allow the liquid product to exit from the inner chamber while a gaseous medium enters the inner chamber.

[0025] According to a third aspect, a method of operating a damper device according to the first aspect is provided, the method comprising: Close the pipeline connection valve. Open the upper and lower valves to allow the liquid product to drain from the inner chamber, while the gaseous medium enters the inner chamber. Close the upper and lower valves. Open the heating medium valve to allow the heating medium to pass through the sheath to sterilize the inner chamber and the gaseous medium that has entered the inner chamber. Open the pipeline connection valve to connect the liquid product in the fluid pipeline to the gaseous medium in the inner chamber.

[0026] The features and advantages described above with reference to the first aspect also apply to this second aspect.

[0027] Other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a damper device; Figure 2 A portion of a food processing pipeline is shown, including two inlet damper assemblies, a homogenizer, and two outlet damper assemblies. Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating a damper device; Figure 4 An alternative configuration of the damper device is illustrated schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Figure 1 The damper device 100 is illustrated schematically by way of example. Container 104 may be a vertical conduit, sometimes also referred to as a riser, which may be fluidly connected to fluid line 102. Fluid line 102 may be a conduit arranged to feed liquid food to or from a homogenizer or other device that generates pressure pulsations. An air bladder 109 may be provided in the upper end 106 of container 104 to absorb pressure pulsations. To provide a fluid connection between fluid line 102 and container 104, the lower end 108 of container 104 may be connected to fluid line 102 via line connection valve 126.

[0030] As shown in the figure, a sleeve 110 is provided for sterilizing the container 104. The sleeve 110 may include a fluid inlet 112 located at the upper part of the sleeve 110 and a fluid outlet 114 located at the lower end of the sleeve 110. An inner chamber 116 of the container 104 is provided within the sleeve 110. In this inner chamber 116, liquid food is held in the lower part, while air or other gases supplied to the inner chamber 116 to form an air bladder 109 are held in the upper part. When the sleeve 110 is emptied, water can be supplied from the fluid outlet 114 through the sleeve outlet pipe 120 to the water sleeve outlet 121, and steam can be supplied from the fluid outlet 114 through the sleeve outlet pipe 120 to the steam sleeve outlet 122. As shown in the figure, the sleeve outlet pipe 120 may be provided with a branch pipe for steam, referred to here as the steam outlet pipe 151. To supply steam to the steam jacket outlet 122 via steam outlet pipe 151 and water to the water jacket outlet 121 via jacket outlet pipe 120, a temperature sensor 124 can be installed upstream of a branch point 125 on the jacket outlet pipe 120, and a sterilization medium outlet valve 144 can be installed downstream of the branch point 125 on the jacket outlet pipe 120. By redirecting the steam outlet pipe 151 from the jacket outlet pipe 120 at the branch point 125 and positioning the sterilization medium outlet valve 144 downstream of this position with the temperature sensor 124 upstream, water can be supplied to the water jacket outlet 121 and steam to the steam jacket outlet 122 by controlling the sterilization medium outlet valve 144 based on the input from the temperature sensor 124. The steam outlet pipe 151 may be equipped with a condensate filter 152 and a steam trap 154.

[0031] Steam or other sterilizing fluids can be supplied from the heating medium source S (sometimes also called the sterilizing fluid supply source) via sterilization supply pipe 143 through fluid inlet 112 of jacket 110. Sterilization supply pipe 143 may be equipped with a heating medium valve 142. A cooling water supply pipe 147 may be provided in parallel with sterilization supply pipe 143. It may be equipped with a cooling medium valve 146. As shown, sterilization supply pipe 143 and cooling water supply pipe 147 can merge, such that the sterilizing fluid supplied via sterilization supply pipe 143 and the water supplied via cooling water supply pipe 147 can both be fed into jacket 110 through the same fluid inlet 112.

[0032] In addition to being fluidly connected to fluid line 102 via line connection valve 126, the lower end of inner chamber 116 can also be connected to liquid outlet 130, such as a drain port, via lower valve 128. As shown, the upper end of inner chamber 116 can be connected to gas medium supply source 135 and cleaning medium outlet 134 via upper valve 132. To provide sufficient pressure pulsation absorption via airbag 109, additional gas, such as air, can be supplied via upper valve 132 through gas medium supply source 135. If atmospheric pressure is greater than the pressure in airbag 109, gas medium supply source 135 can be atmosphere; that is, air can be supplied from ambient air, optionally via a filter or other means for cleaning air. To provide input for controlling upper valve 132, a level sensor 148 can be provided, as shown. Level sensor 148 can be arranged to measure the air level 150 within inner chamber 116. Since the air level 150 is defined by the interface between the air in the airbag 109 or other gas in use and the food contained in the inner chamber 116, the level sensor 148 can determine the air level 150 by determining the food level within the inner chamber 116. During the cleaning of the inner chamber 116, water or other cleaning media can be supplied from a cooling media supply source W (e.g., a water supply source or a cleaning media supply source) via a conduit equipped with a cleaning media valve 140 through the upper end of the inner chamber 116.

[0033] A control unit 136 may be provided. It can be communicatively connected to the upper valve 132, the lower valve 128, the line connection valve 126, and / or the heating medium valve 142. The operation of these valves can be controlled by transmitting control data 138 to one or more of these valves via wired or wireless means. See below. Figure 3 An example describing how the damper device 100 operates.

[0034] Figure 2 A homogenizer device 204 is shown, comprising a homogenizer 200, which in turn includes a piston pump 202. A first damper device 100a and a second damper device 100b are provided on the product inlet pipe 102a, and a third damper device 100c and a fourth damper device 100d are provided on the product outlet pipe 102b. By having these two devices both upstream and downstream of the homogenizer 200, upstream and downstream pressure pulsations can be absorbed. The arrangement of these two devices ensures that pressure pulsations can be absorbed even if one of the damper devices is being cleaned.

[0035] Figure 3This is a flowchart illustrating a method 300 for operating a damper device 100. The method includes: closing line connection valve 126 (302), opening upper valve 132 and lower valve 128 (304) to allow liquid product to drain from inner chamber 116 and gaseous medium (e.g., air) to enter inner chamber 116; closing upper valve 132 and lower valve 128 (306), opening heating medium valve 142 (308) to allow heating medium to pass through sheath 110 to sterilize inner chamber 116 and the gaseous medium already in inner chamber 116; and opening line connection valve 310 to fluidly connect the liquid product in fluid line 102 to the gaseous medium in inner chamber 116.

[0036] Optionally, method 300 may further include opening cooling medium valve 146 312 after opening heating medium valve 308, so that cooling medium passes through sheath 110 to cool inner chamber 116.

[0037] Optionally, method 300 may further include opening cleaning medium valve 146 314 before opening heating medium valve 142 308, so that cleaning medium passes through inner chamber 116, thereby rinsing the liquid product out of inner chamber 166.

[0038] Figure 4 An alternative configuration of the damper device 100 is shown. (Compared to...) Figure 1 In the different configuration shown, the jacket outlet pipe 120 is arranged to feed a heating medium (such as steam or water) from the jacket 110 to the product line 102. In other words, by using this method, the water jacket outlet 121 and the steam jacket outlet 122 can be omitted. Therefore, the sole purpose of the sterilization medium outlet valve 144' in this configuration is to regulate the extent to which the sterilization medium is transferred to the product line 102, rather than as... Figure 1 As shown in the example, water and steam are separated into different discharge ports. Furthermore, the heating medium can be transferred from the product line 102 to the sheath 110 via the sterilization supply line 143' and the heating medium valve 142'. Since the heating medium is received via the product line 102, [the following can be omitted] Figure 1 The heating medium source S is shown. By using... Figure 4 The method shown allows the sheath 110 to be sterilized together with the fluid line 102.

[0039] As an alternative to the above description, the damper device can be described as follows: A damper device for reducing pulsation or pressure variations in a piston pump, which can be part of a homogenizer, wherein the damper device is placed on a fluid line connected to the piston pump, the device comprising: A riser pipe having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the riser pipe is fitted with a sheath. A first lower valve connected to the lower end of the pipe and the fluid line (which can be a product inlet pipe or a product outlet pipe). The second lower valve is connected to the lower end of the pipe and the first discharge port. The upper valve connects to the upper end of the pipe and the second discharge port. The water pipe flushing valve connects to the upper end and the water supply source. The steam inlet valve connects to the jacket and the steam supply source. Steam outlet valve, which connects to the jacket and the jacket discharge port, A water jacket flushing valve, which connects to the jacket and the jacket drain port, and A control unit, communicatively connected to the aforementioned valve, is configured to provide control data such that: In the damper in-situ cleaning (CIP) state: The first lower valve and the upper valve are opened, allowing CIP liquid or cleaning agent and water to flow through the fluid line, the first lower valve, the internal space of the riser, and the upper valve into the second discharge port; Under damper discharge conditions: The first lower valve is closed, and the second lower valve and the upper valve are open, so that the water supplied to the internal space in the damper CIP state can be discharged into the first discharge port. In the pre-sterilization state: the water pipe flushing valve and the second lower valve are opened, allowing water to flow through the water pipe flushing valve, the internal space of the pipe, and the second lower valve into the first discharge port; In the sterilization state: the first lower valve, the second lower valve, the upper valve, the water pipe flushing valve and the water jacket flushing valve are closed, and the steam inlet valve and the steam outlet valve are open, so that steam can be fed into the jacket through the steam inlet valve and released from the jacket through the steam outlet valve, thereby heating the air in the internal space of the tube. In the post-sterilization state: the water jacket flushing valve and steam outlet valve are opened, allowing water to flow through the jacket, thereby cooling the internal space, and In production mode: The first lower valve opens, allowing the product to flow into the internal space, causing an airbag to form at the upper end of the internal space.

[0040] As can be seen from the above description, although various embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A damper device (100) for reducing pressure pulsations in a fluid line (102) filled with a liquid product, the damper device (200) comprising: A container (104) having an inner chamber (116), An upper valve (132) connects the upper end (106) of the inner chamber (116) to a gas medium supply source (135). A lower valve (128) connects the lower end (108) of the inner chamber (116) to the liquid outlet (130). A line connection valve (126) connects the lower end (108) of the inner chamber (116) to the fluid line (102). The upper valve (132), the lower valve (128), and the line connection valve (126) are operable to discharge liquid product from the inner chamber (116) and form a pressure-absorbing air bladder (109) within the inner chamber (116), wherein... The container (104) includes a sheath (110) having a fluid inlet (112) and a fluid outlet (114) for passing a heating medium through the sheath (110) via a heating medium valve (142) to sterilize the inner chamber (116) of the container (104).

2. The damper device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a temperature sensor (124) arranged to measure the temperature (T) of the heating medium exiting the sheath (110).

3. The damper device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (136) communicatively connected to the upper valve (132), the lower valve (128), the pipeline connection valve (126), and the heating medium valve (142), and configured to control: The pipeline connection valve (126) is closed. The upper valve (132) and the lower valve (128) are opened, allowing the liquid product to be discharged from the inner chamber (116) and the gaseous medium to enter the inner chamber (116). The upper valve (132) and the lower valve (128) are closed. The heating medium valve (142) is opened to allow the heating medium to pass through the sheath (110) to sterilize the inner chamber (116) and the gaseous medium that has entered the inner chamber (116). The pipeline connection valve is opened to connect the liquid product in the fluid pipeline (102) to the gas medium in the inner chamber (116).

4. The damper device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheath (110) is connected to a heating medium source (S) for receiving the heating medium via the heating medium valve (142) and to a cooling medium source (W) for receiving the cooling medium via the cooling medium valve (146) such that the inner chamber (116) can be cooled by the cooling medium from the cooling medium source.

5. The damper device (100) according to claims 3 and 4, wherein the control unit (136) is communicatively connected to the cooling medium valve (146) and configured to control the heating medium valve (142) after it is opened: The cooling medium valve (146) is opened to allow the cooling medium to pass through the sheath (110) to cool the inner chamber (116).

6. The damper device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a cleaning medium valve (140) arranged to allow cleaning medium to pass through the inner chamber (116).

7. The damper device (100) according to any one of claims 3 and 6, wherein the control unit (136) is communicatively connected to the cleaning medium valve (140) and configured to control the opening of the heating medium valve (142) prior to: The cleaning medium valve (146) is opened to allow the cleaning medium to pass through the inner chamber (116) to wash away the liquid product from the inner chamber (116).

8. The damper device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid line (102) is connected to the inlet (112) of the sheath (110) such that the heating medium valve (142') can be controlled to allow the heating medium to pass from the fluid line (102) through the sheath (110).

9. The damper device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet (114) of the sheath (110) is connected to the fluid line (102) such that heat can be returned from the sheath (110) to the fluid line (102).

10. The damper device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a sensor (148) connected to the inner chamber (116) and arranged to generate a signal indicating the level of liquid (150) present in the chamber (116).

11. A homogenizer apparatus (204), comprising: The damper device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, and A homogenizer (200) is configured to receive a liquid product from the fluid line (102), wherein the homogenizer is arranged to operate at a pressure of at least 200 bar to homogenize the liquid product while controlling the upper valve (132), the lower valve (128) and the line connection valve (126) to discharge the liquid product from the inner chamber (116) while a gaseous medium enters the inner chamber (116).

12. A method (300) for operating a damper device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the method comprising: Close the pipeline connection valve (126) mentioned in (302). Open the upper valve (132) and the lower valve (128) (304) to allow the liquid product to be discharged from the inner chamber (116) and the gaseous medium to enter the inner chamber (116). Close (306) the upper valve (132) and the lower valve (128), Open (308) the heating medium valve (142) to allow the heating medium to pass through the sheath (110) to sterilize the inner chamber (116) and the gaseous medium that has entered the inner chamber (116), and Open the pipeline connection valve (310) to connect the liquid product in the fluid pipeline (102) to the gas medium in the inner chamber (116).

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