Method and installation for the carbonated filling of containers

Abstract

The invention relates, among other things, to a method for filling a container (12) with a liquid. The method comprises carbonating the liquid by means of a carbonator (18). The method comprises continuously reducing the pressure of the carbonated liquid below a saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid and above or substantially equal to an ambient pressure by means of a filling valve (26). The method further comprises filling the container (12) with the pressure-reduced liquid by means of the filling valve (26).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a method for filling a container with a liquid. The invention also relates to a system for filling a container with a liquid. Technical background

[0002] Carbonated beverages are currently filled in high-performance filling systems using either the constant-pressure or differential-pressure filling method. The most common constant-pressure filling method is the counterpressure filling method, in which the storage container and the container to be filled are under the same, elevated pressure. With the differential-pressure filling method, the container is placed under vacuum before the liquid flow into the container begins.

[0003] In the differential pressure process, partially dissolved gases escape from the liquid at the beginning of the process, but are quickly released again as the pressure builds up. The vacuum process only works with vacuum-resistant containers (glass, reusable PET) and is more effective with highly foaming products.

[0004] In the counterpressure filling process, the container is brought to the same pressure as, or very close to, the pressure in the filling vessel before filling. Filling is carried out at this pressure level. After filling, the container must be vented so that it can be transported to the capper without pressure. Filling takes place at a pressure at or above the saturation pressure of the bound CO2 in the liquid. At a lower pressure in the filling vessel and / or in the container, excessive release of dissolved gases in the bottled beverage occurs during venting, leading to foaming and thus to an intolerable loss of liquid and CO2.

[0005] Because the saturation pressure of CO2 in liquids depends heavily on the liquid's temperature, carbonated beverages are typically bottled below ambient temperature. The closer the beverage is to freezing, the lower the saturation pressure and the lower the filling pressure. However, this requires cooling the beverage prior to bottling. To save energy during the bottling process, the trend is toward raising the filling temperature to such an extent that no cooling or heating is necessary, i.e., bottling at ambient temperature. With the counterpressure process, the required pressure in the container must be further increased during bottling, depending on the filling temperature.

[0006] Both the counter-pressure filling process and the differential pressure filling process place different loads on the container than it will later be subjected to when closed and consumed by the customer. This requires either a more sophisticated filling technology or even a container dimensioned specifically for the filling process. This results in significant additional costs. Since container costs account for by far the largest share of a filling plant's operating costs for most products, additional requirements imposed on the container by the filling process quickly become costly.

[0007] Raising the filling temperature to save cooling energy significantly increases the requirements for the pressure stability of the container due to the increasing filling pressure and can therefore be countered either with a more pressure-stable container or with the necessary minimum cooling in order not to exceed a certain filling pressure.

[0008] In addition, the pressure build-up and release steps in the equal-pressure or counter-pressure filling process take several seconds, which represents a significant portion of the total process time. Therefore, additional filling stations must be used in the filling machines, resulting in increased construction and maintenance costs.

[0009] The invention is based on the object of creating an improved technology for filling carbonated liquids. Summary of the invention

[0010] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims and the description.

[0011] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for filling a container with a liquid, preferably by means of a system as disclosed herein. The method comprises carbonating the liquid by means of a carbonator. The method comprises continuously reducing a pressure of the carbonated liquid below a saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid and above or substantially equal to an ambient pressure by means of a (e.g., adjustable or controllable) filling valve (e.g., by means of a throttle element of the filling valve, preferably conical and / or adjustable by means of an actuator). The method further comprises filling the container with the pressure-reduced liquid by means of the filling valve (e.g., by opening a shut-off element of the filling valve).

[0012] The filling process advantageously reduces the necessary increase in pressure applied to the container during filling when the temperature of the filled beverage rises, or avoids this necessary increase altogether. With pressureless filling, there is no longer any connection between the pressure load on the container during filling and the filling temperature. This leads to lower demands on the container, the filling valve and the protection of operators from bursting containers during the filling process, and thus to cost savings. The shorter or eliminated filling process steps of pressure build-up and release in the container advantageously lead to a reduced overall process time and therefore to a smaller number of filling valves required, a smaller machine size and less maintenance effort. Due to the lower pressure in the container, the consumption of gases for possibleThe necessary rinsing of the container before filling can be reduced if oxygen absorption in the beverage is to be avoided. With a stable, pressureless filling process that prevents the formation of microbubbles, filling is also easier to operate, as less process knowledge is required to prevent over-foaming. The operation of a carbonated filler can then be advantageously as simple as that of a still water filler.

[0013] It has been recognized that foaming over in carbonated beverages during filling is caused by the release of bound gases (CO2 and O2) from the liquid being so strong, and the gases rising to the liquid's surface generating so much stable foam, that the foam escapes from the container. Therefore, foaming over can only be prevented by largely preventing or minimizing the release of bound gases during filling. Gas homogeneously dissolved in the liquid only releases at such a high negative pressure that it reaches saturation pressure, which cannot occur during the filling process (Fischer Sven - Bubble Formation of Gases Dissolved in Liquids - Munich: Technical University of Munich, 2001). The only way to release gases is through the growth of pre-existing bubble nuclei.Bubble nuclei can form during the bottling process of carbonated non-alcoholic beverages during the following process steps: (1) the technical introduction of the gas into the liquid (carbonation), (2) the initial wetting of surfaces with the liquid, and (3) the immersion of the liquid into a liquid surface. Additionally, bubble nuclei can form during fermentation in beverages.

[0014] The continuous reduction of liquid pressure during the filling phase, shortly before introduction into a container using the filling valve, can advantageously reduce the growth of any (micro)gas bubbles present. Pressure surges and turbulence are avoided. The required pressure in the container during filling can be reduced to varying degrees below the saturation pressure, depending on the number of microbubbles present in the beverage. Below a certain limit of the number of microbubbles present, filling at ambient pressure is also possible.

[0015] It is possible that the carbonated liquid may have a temperature close to or equal to ambient temperature during filling.

[0016] Preferably, the process can further utilize techniques that largely prevent the formation of bubble nuclei, so that no or as few microbubbles as possible are present in the beverage before bottling. This advantageously enables a bottling process that is not dependent on the saturation pressure. These techniques are described in the preferred embodiments explained below.

[0017] In one embodiment, at least one of: the carbonation of the liquid takes place by means of a membrane contactor carbonizer, by means of a cavitation carbonizer or by means of a spray cone carbonizer; the carbonization takes place with a bubble-free or nearly bubble-free carbonization process; during carbonation, the liquid evaporates to a gas and the gas is mixed with gaseous carbon dioxide or during carbonation, gaseous carbon dioxide diffuses into the liquid without the gaseous carbon dioxide being forced into the liquid; and a pressure of the liquid during carbonation corresponds at least to the saturation pressure (equilibrium pressure) of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0018] The carbonation of the liquid can therefore advantageously be carried out using a technical process that works without the direct introduction of gas bubbles into the liquid. When gas bubbles are introduced into a liquid, microbubbles can always form in the liquid, which can act as bubble nuclei (Fischer Sven - Bubble Formation of Gases Dissolved in Liquids - Munich: Technical University of Munich, 2001). Observations during the filling process and the behavior of bottled beverages suggest that the microbubbles are largely dissolved after a few days, but remain present during the filling process. Due to these microbubbles, today's filling processes for carbonated beverages must be carried out at saturation pressure or above. A bubble-free technology such as carbonation with a membrane contactor, etc., which does not introduce gas bubbles into the beverage, prevents the formation of microbubbles.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the container is filled through a filling tube that is immersed in the container, or the container is filled through the wall, in which the liquid flows along an inner circumferential surface of the container into the container. Alternatively or additionally, the container is filled without free jet filling. Advantageously, the liquid flow into the container can thus be guided with as little foam formation as possible. Advantageously, the filling tube can completely prevent the liquid flow from immersing in a liquid surface. Advantageously, during wall filling, the liquid can be delayed at the wall as it flows down. The liquid can then slowly enter the liquid surface without much turbulence and vortex.At increased flow rates, however, wall filling can also lead to turbulent immersion and thus to the formation of bubbles (or nuclei). These bubbles only lead to foaming if too many are formed and / or if the pressure is reduced after the filling process. During the pressureless filling process, only the first is relevant, which can be avoided by adjusting the flow rate.

[0020] In one embodiment, when the container is filled with the reduced-pressure liquid, the internal pressure corresponds to the pressure of the reduced-pressure liquid and / or the ambient pressure. Alternatively or additionally, the filling can be carried out at ambient pressure or approximately at ambient pressure.

[0021] Microbubbles that form when the container being filled is wetted only lead to increased gas release if the container needs to be vented after filling, as the sudden drop in pressure causes the microbubbles to expand faster than they can shrink again through diffusion. Once they reach a certain size, they rise and become increasingly larger due to the diffusion of gas homogeneously dissolved in the beverage. However, they are advantageously not a problem during the pressureless filling process, as they do not expand.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the container is pressed against the filling valve during filling, preferably in a gas-tight or liquid-tight manner. Alternatively, the container can be spaced apart from the filling valve during filling, for example.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the method further comprises flowing the carbonated liquid through a piping system to the filling valve, optionally with the interposition of a liquid reservoir, wherein at least one of: the piping system has an internal mean roughness Ra ≤ 0.8 (µm); the piping system is free of dead zones, sudden flow cross-sectional expansions and / or sudden flow cross-sectional reductions; and a maximum angle for continuous flow cross-sectional expansions and / or continuous flow cross-sectional reductions of the piping system is ≤ 6°.

[0024] Microbubbles, which form during the initial wetting of a surface with a liquid, can be advantageously avoided or reduced by the described design of the piping system. This can be achieved, for example, by ensuring that the surface is as smooth as possible and without potential nucleation sites for gas bubbles, and by preventing gas residues from settling in uneven structures. This is particularly important during the initial filling of the system. With longer operation, the microbubbles are increasingly less entrained in the liquid flow.

[0025] Flow velocities in the piping system lead to a reduction in dynamic pressure. If bubble nuclei are present, even pressures below the saturation pressure can cause bubble growth and thus release of the gas (pseudo-cavitation). If no bubble nuclei are present, the liquid only becomes gaseous when the vapor pressure of the mixture is undershot (cavitation). The presence of bubble nuclei therefore leads to further restrictions in the filling process. The piping system is therefore advantageously adapted so that the flow velocities and pressures in the piping system are adapted to the number of bubble nuclei present. If no bubble nuclei are present, ultimately only cavitation needs to be prevented. The more bubble nuclei present, the lower the velocities can be and the higher the pressure must be.It's advantageous to keep the piping system between the carbonator and the filling valve as short as possible. Increased flow velocities can be avoided, for example, by avoiding centrifugal pumps and by only using a slow and steady pressure reduction in the valves.

[0026] In one embodiment, the method further comprises storing the carbonated liquid in a liquid reservoir (e.g., liquid vessel) before reducing the pressure by means of the filling valve, wherein preferably the carbonated liquid is stored under a pressure that corresponds at least to the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid.

[0027] In a further embodiment, the method further comprises degassing the liquid by means of a degasser, preferably before or during carbonation of the liquid, to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid.

[0028] In one embodiment, pure water or water mixed with at least one additional filling material is used as the carbonation liquid. Advantageously, in the variant where only water is carbonated, contamination of the carbonator can be significantly reduced. The carbonator therefore needs to be cleaned less frequently.

[0029] In a further embodiment, the method further comprises adding at least one additional filling material to the liquid, preferably: before carbonation; or after carbonation and before reducing the pressure; or into a mixing chamber of the filling valve (e.g., upstream or downstream of a throttling element of the filling valve).

[0030] As already explained, by adding the additional filling material only after the liquid has been carbonated, contamination of the carbonator can be significantly reduced.

[0031] In one embodiment, the method further comprises closing the filled container with a container closure by means of a closing device (e.g., a rotary closing device). Alternatively or additionally, the container can, for example, be moved automatically for filling and / or moved away automatically after filling. Alternatively or additionally, the method can be applied in a container treatment plant. Alternatively or additionally, the filling valve can be one of several 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., comprising at least one rotary machine, at least one indexing machine, and / or at least one long-stator machine).

[0032] It is possible that the container is held by a container support during filling, e.g. at the container neck, at the container neck ring, at a container base and / or at a container bottom.

[0033] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for filling a liquid into containers, preferably by means of a method as disclosed herein. The system comprises a carbonator configured to carbonate the liquid. The system comprises a filling device (e.g., a rotary filling device) with at least one (e.g., adjustable or controllable) filling valve connected to the carbonator for receiving the carbonated liquid from the carbonator and configured to: to continuously reduce the pressure of the carbonated liquid below the saturation pressure and above or substantially equal to an ambient pressure, preferably by means of a throttle element of the filling valve (e.g. conical and / or adjustable by means of an actuator), and to fill a container with the pressure-reduced liquid, preferably through a filling pipe or by filling the wall of the container.

[0034] The system can advantageously achieve the same advantages as those already described with reference to the method. The same applies to the preferred embodiments of the system described below.

[0035] In one embodiment, the system comprises at least one of: a liquid reservoir for storing the carbonated liquid, wherein the liquid reservoir is connected to the carbonator for receiving the carbonated liquid and to the filling valve for supplying the carbonated liquid to the filling valve; a closing device (e.g., rotary closing device) for closing filled containers with a container closure; at least one additional filling material source connected to a line section upstream or downstream of the carbonator for metering an additional filling material into the liquid in the line section; or a mixing chamber of the filling valve for metering an additional filling material into the liquid in the mixing chamber (which is arranged, for example, upstream or downstream of a throttle element of the filling valve); a liquid supply, preferably a water supply, wherein the liquid supply is connected to the carbonator for supplying liquid (e.g.,water) is connected to the carbonator; a degasser which is designed to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid and is integrated with the carbonator or is connected to the carbonator for supplying the degassed liquid to the carbonator; a lifting device which is designed to raise and lower the container and / or the filling valve, e.g. for pressing the filling valve and the container together; a piping system which connects the carbonator and the filling valve to one another, wherein the piping system has an internal mean roughness Ra ≤ 0.8; and / or is free of dead zones, sudden flow cross-sectional expansions and / or sudden flow cross-sectional reductions; and / or has a maximum angle for continuous flow cross-sectional expansions and continuous flow cross-sectional reductions of ≤ 6°.

[0036] In another embodiment: the carbonizer is a membrane contactor carbonizer, a cavitation carbonizer, or a spray cone carbonizer; and / or the carbonizer is designed to carry out a bubble-free or nearly bubble-free carbonization process, and / or the carbonizer is designed to evaporate the liquid into a gas during carbonization and to mix this gas with gaseous carbon dioxide or to allow gaseous carbon dioxide to diffuse into the liquid during carbonization without the gaseous carbon being forced into the liquid; and / or the carbonizer is designed to carbonize the liquid at a pressure that corresponds at least to the saturation pressure (equilibrium pressure) of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0037] In one embodiment, the plant is an industrial container treatment plant, or the plant is a small plant (local plant) for installation in a supermarket or a train station, preferably with a footprint ≤ 10 sqm, ≤ 5 sqm ≤ 3 sqm or ≤ 2 sqm.

[0038] It is possible that the system is further designed for tempering, manufacturing, cleaning, coating, testing, pasteurizing, labeling, printing, marking, laser marking and / or packaging containers for liquid or pasty media, preferably beverages, liquid foodstuffs or products from the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.

[0039] For example, the containers can be designed as bottles, cans, canisters, cartons, flacons, tubes, etc.

[0040] Preferably, the filling valve can be actuated (e.g. regulated or controlled) by means of an actuator.

[0041] It is possible for the system to further comprise a container holder configured to hold the container during filling, e.g., on the container neck, on the container neck ring, on a container base, and / or on a container bottom.

[0042] The previously described preferred embodiments and features of the invention can be combined with one another as desired. Short description of the characters

[0043] Further details and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and Figure 4 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] The embodiments shown in the figures correspond at least partially, so that similar or identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals and for their explanation reference is also made to the description of the other embodiments or figures in order to avoid repetition. Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0045] The Figure 1 shows a system 10 for filling containers 12.

[0046] Preferably, the system 10 can be an industrial container treatment system. However, it is also possible for the system 10 to be a small-scale system. The small-scale system can be installed, for example, in a supermarket or a train station or similar. The small-scale system can, for example, have a footprint of ≤ 10 sqm, ≤ 5 sqm, ≤ 3 sqm, or ≤ 2 sqm.

[0047] The system 10 includes a carbonator 18 and a filling valve 26. Optionally, the system 10 may further include, for example, a liquid supply 14, a degasser 16, an additional filling material source 20, a dosing valve 22, a liquid reservoir 24, a piping system 38, and / or a closing device 40.

[0048] The liquid supply 14 can provide a liquid for the system 10. Preferably, the liquid supply can provide water. The liquid supply can be, for example, a liquid tank (e.g., a water tank) or a liquid connection (e.g., a water connection).

[0049] The liquid supply 14 may be connected to the carbonator 18 for supplying liquid to the carbonator 18, e.g., via the degasser 16 and / or via the piping system 38.

[0050] The degasser 16 can be configured to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid. The degasser 16 can receive the liquid from the liquid supply 14. The degasser 16 can reduce the gaseous oxygen in the received liquid, preferably water. The degasser 16 can reduce the gaseous oxygen in the liquid according to any suitable operating principle.

[0051] For example, the degasser 16 may reduce a proportion of gaseous oxygen in the liquid to ≤ 1 ppm, e.g., starting from ≥ 10 ppm upstream of the degasser 16.

[0052] It is possible that the degasser 16 is designed to reduce other gases in the liquid, e.g. carbon dioxide.

[0053] As in Figure 1 As shown, the degasser 16 can, for example, be designed separately from the carbonator 18. The degasser 16 can then be connected to the carbonator 18 for supplying the degassed liquid, e.g., via the piping system 38.

[0054] Alternatively, the degasser 16 can be integrated with the carbonator 18 (not shown in the figures). For example, the integrated device can be designed as a membrane contactor-degasser-carbonator.

[0055] The carbonator 18 is designed to carbonate the liquid. Preferably, the carbonator 18 can carbonate the liquid at a liquid pressure of at least the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the liquid. During carbonation, gaseous carbon dioxide can be (physically) dissolved in the liquid and, in reaction with water, carbonic acid can be formed.

[0056] The Carbonator 18 preferably carbonates pure water. However, it is also possible for the Carbonator 18 to carbonate another liquid, e.g., a mixture of pure water and at least one additive (e.g., syrup and / or flavorings).

[0057] Preferably, the carbonator 18 uses a bubble-free or nearly bubble-free carbonation process.

[0058] For this purpose, the carbonator 18 can operate according to a principle in which the gaseous carbon dioxide gradually diffuses into the liquid, e.g., at a substantially constant rate, rather than being forced into the liquid. This principle can be clearly illustrated by a tank partially filled with the liquid, the headspace of which is filled with the gaseous carbon dioxide. Optionally, a mixing element (e.g., a stirrer) and / or a large contact area between the gaseous carbon dioxide and the liquid can also assist the diffusion.

[0059] For example, the carbonator 18 can be a membrane contactor. The membrane contactor can have, for example, a microporous membrane structure, e.g., with multiple membrane plates or hollow membrane fibers. The membrane structure allows the gaseous carbon dioxide and the liquid to come into contact with each other over a large area, allowing the gaseous carbon dioxide to diffuse into the liquid over a large area.

[0060] Alternatively, the carbonator 18 can be a spray cone carbonator, for example. This can have, for example, a conical flow body. The liquid can be directed over the flow body and sprayed into the gaseous carbon dioxide in a finely dispersed manner, allowing the gaseous carbon dioxide to diffuse into the liquid over a large area.

[0061] It is also possible for the carbonator 18 to operate according to a principle in which the liquid is first evaporated into a gas. This gas can then be mixed with the gaseous carbon. The mixing can occur at the molecular level. During and / or after mixing, the mixture becomes liquid or liquefied again.

[0062] For example, the carbonator 18 may be a cavitation carbonator. The cavitation carbonator may preferably have multiple parallel strands for carbonating the liquid.

[0063] Preferably, the cavitation carbonator can accelerate the liquid using a pump to such an extent that the liquid reaches a velocity at which the liquid pressure drops below the vapor pressure of the liquid. The liquid can evaporate, at least partially. The gaseous carbon dioxide can be introduced into the vaporized liquid and mix with it. Evaporation or the formation of vapor bubbles can cause the liquid flow to break down. The flow velocity can decrease accordingly, and the pressure can rise above the vapor pressure again. The mixture can become liquid again.

[0064] The additional filling material source 20 can provide a preferably liquid or pasty additional filling material or dosage filling material. 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 designed as a tank, a vessel, a reservoir, or a supply line. Preferably, the additional filling material source 20 can provide a syrup as the additional filling material.

[0065] The additional filling material source 20 can open via a line into a line section which is arranged downstream of the carbonator 18, as in Figure 1 The line section can be arranged upstream of the liquid reservoir 24. The line section can, for example, connect the carbonator 18 to the liquid reservoir 24 and / or the filling valve 26.

[0066] Alternatively, it is possible, for example, for the additional filling material source 20 to flow via a line into a line section located upstream of the carbonator 18 (not shown in the figures). This line section can, for example, connect the water supply 14 and / or the degasser 16 to the carbonator 18.

[0067] The additional filling material can be metered into the (not yet or already carbonated) liquid in the line section via a metering valve 22. 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 line connecting the additional filling material source 20 to the line section upstream or downstream of the carbonator 18.

[0068] The metering valve 22 can preferably be a switching valve. The metering valve 22 can, for example, be switched to an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the metering valve 22 can release the line for the additional filling material to pass through. In the closed position, the metering valve 22 can block or lock the line. The metering valve 22 can be actuated in any conceivable way, e.g., electrically, electromagnetically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically.

[0069] It is possible for the system 10 to have multiple additional filling material sources, possibly with a dosing valve connected to each one (not shown in the figures). The additional filling material sources can contain the same or different additional filling materials. It is possible for the (mixed) filling material in the container 12 to contain additional filling materials from one, two, or more additional filling material sources.

[0070] The liquid reservoir 24 is designed to store the carbonated liquid under pressure. The liquid reservoir 24 can, for example, be a product tank.

[0071] The liquid reservoir 24 may be connected to the carbonator 18 for receiving the carbonated liquid from the carbonator 18, e.g., via the piping system 38. The liquid reservoir 24 may be connected to the filling valve 26 for supplying the carbonated liquid to the filling valve 26, e.g., via the piping system 38.

[0072] The filling valve 26 can be part of a filling device. The filling device can preferably be designed as a filler carousel or a rotary filling device. The filling device can have several filling valves 26 for the simultaneous or temporally overlapping filling of several containers 12. For example, the filling valves 26 can be arranged around a circumference of the filling device designed as a filler carousel. Alternatively, it is possible for the filling device to be designed as a linear filler with several filling valves 26 arranged in series next to one another and / or one behind the other. Alternatively, it is also possible for the filling device to have only a single filling valve 26, e.g., when the system 10 is designed as a small system.

[0073] It is possible that the filling device further comprises the liquid reservoir 24 and / or the piping system 38

[0074] The filling valve 26 is connected to the carbonator 18 for receiving the carbonated liquid from the carbonator 18, e.g., via the liquid reservoir 24 and / or the piping system 38.

[0075] The filling valve 26 is designed to continuously reduce the pressure of the carbonated liquid to below the saturation pressure and above or substantially equal to an ambient pressure.

[0076] Preferably, the filling valve 26 is adjustable / controllable.

[0077] For example, the filling valve 26 can have a throttle element 28 for continuously reducing the pressure. The throttle element 28 can have a conical shape. The throttle element 28 can widen along a flow direction of the liquid or taper against a flow direction of the liquid.

[0078] The throttle element 28 can be movable (e.g., displaceable) along its longitudinal axis, e.g., by means of an actuator. By means of a movement along the longitudinal axis, a flow cross-section through a sleeve-shaped gap of the filling valve 26 can be adjusted to change the flow of the liquid. The sleeve-shaped gap can be formed between a valve housing and the throttle element. The sleeve-shaped gap can, for example, have a conical shape. It is possible for the sleeve-shaped gap to be completely closed when the throttle element 28 is in the closed position.

[0079] Optionally, the filling valve 26 can have a shut-off element 30 movable along its longitudinal axis for shutting off the filling valve 26. By means of the preferably conical shut-off element 30, an annular gap of the filling valve 26 can be opened or closed, for example.

[0080] The throttle element 28 and / or the shut-off element 30 can be actuated in any conceivable manner, e.g., electrically, electromagnetically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically.

[0081] It is also possible that the shut-off function is taken over by the throttle element 28 and the filling valve 26 does not have a separate shut-off element 30 (not shown in the figures).

[0082] The filling valve 26 is designed to fill the container 12. Preferably, the filling valve 26 can fill the container 12 via a wall filling or a filling tube filling (long tube filling).

[0083] During wall filling, the liquid can be introduced into the container 12 such that it flows downward along an inner peripheral surface of the container 12 and fills the container. For example, a flow body 32 can be arranged at an outlet of the filling valve 26, which deflects the escaping liquid to contact the inner peripheral surface of the container 12. The flow body 32 can be conical, for example. The flow body 32 can be designed, for example, as a deflection screen. Alternatively or additionally, the flow body 32 can, for example, have a helical liquid channel. The helical liquid channel can impart a swirl to the liquid so that it contacts the inner peripheral surface of the container. Alternatively, the swirl can also be caused by the tangential inflow into a torus arranged around the shut-off element.

[0084] As an alternative to the flow body 32 or wall filling, the container 12 can be filled, for example, through a filling tube 34 in the case of a filling tube filling (long tube filling). The filling tube 34 can be immersed in the container 12. The filling tube 34 can extend, for example, to a central part of the container 12 or beyond it toward a bottom of the container 12.

[0085] The container 12 may be positioned below the filling valve 26 during filling.

[0086] It is possible for the container 12 and the filling valve 26 to be brought closer together in a vertical direction for filling. For example, a lifting device 36 can be included. The lifting device 36 can be designed to raise and lower the container 12, the filling valve 26, and / or the filling tube 34. The lifting device 36 can also enable the filling tube 34 to be immersed in the container 12.

[0087] For example, the lifting device 36 can be coupled to a container holder for holding the container 12 for raising and lowering the container holder. The container holder can support the container 12, for example, at its container neck, its container neck ring, its container base, or its container bottom.

[0088] It is also possible for the container 12 to be pressed against the filling valve 26 during filling. For example, the lifting device 36 for raising and lowering the container 12 and / or the filling valve 26 can be designed to press the filling valve 26 and the container 12 together.

[0089] Alternatively, the filling valve 26 and the container 12 may be spaced apart from each other during filling.

[0090] The piping system 38 can connect the carbonator 18 and the filling valve 26. For example, the piping system 38 can include a line connecting the carbonator 18 and the liquid reservoir 24. The piping system 38 can also include a line connecting the liquid reservoir 24 to the filling valve 26. It is possible for the piping system 38 to include at least one further line, for example, a line connecting the liquid supply 14 and the degasser 16, and / or a line connecting the degasser 16 and the carbonator 18.

[0091] Preferably, the piping system 38 has an internal mean roughness Ra ≤ 0.8. No point in the piping system 38 should have an internal mean roughness Ra > 0.8. The piping system 38 can be free of dead zones, sudden flow cross-sectional expansions, and / or sudden flow cross-sectional reductions. A maximum angle for continuous flow cross-sectional expansions and continuous flow cross-sectional reductions of the piping system 38 can be ≤ 6°.

[0092] It is possible for additional sensor technology and / or valve technology to be arranged in the piping system 38. For example, a flow measuring device for measuring a flow of the liquid toward the filling valve 26 can be arranged in a line section between the liquid reservoir 24 and the filling valve 26. For example, a valve for adjusting (throttle) a flow of the liquid and / or for blocking or shutting off the line section can be arranged in a line section between the liquid reservoir 24 and the filling valve 26.

[0093] The closing device 40 can close the containers 12, e.g., with a lid, a cork, a crown cap, or a screw cap. The closing device 40 can preferably be designed as a closing carousel or a rotary closing device. The closing device can have multiple closing stations for simultaneously closing multiple containers 12. For example, the closing stations can be arranged around a circumference of the closing device designed as a closing carousel. The closing device 40 can be arranged downstream of the filling valve 26 or the filling device with respect to a container flow.

[0094] The closing device 40 and the filling valve 26 or the filling device can be connected to each other by means of a container conveyor. The container conveyor can, for example, comprise at least one transport star and / or at least one linear conveyor.

[0095] With reference to the Figures 1 and 2 A method for filling containers 12 is explained below.

[0096] First, a liquid, preferably pure water (water without additives), can be fed from the liquid supply 14 to the degasser 16.

[0097] In a step S10, the liquid can be degassed using the degasser 16. This can reduce the gaseous oxygen dissolved in the liquid.

[0098] In a step S12, the liquid is carbonated by means of the carbonator 18. Gaseous carbon dioxide can be dissolved in the liquid and carbonic acid can be formed in reaction with water. Preferably, the pressure of the liquid during carbonation can correspond at least to the saturation pressure (equilibrium pressure) of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0099] During carbonation, pure water or water mixed with at least one additional filling substance can be carbonated.

[0100] It is possible that the degassing (step S10) is carried out together with a carbonation of the liquid (S12) by a membrane contactor-degasser-carbonator.

[0101] In a step S14, at least one additional filling material can be added from the at least one additional filling material source 20 to the liquid by means of the dosing valve 22. The additional filling material can, for example, be added to the already carbonated liquid, e.g., as in the setup according to Figure 1 The additional filling material can also be added before the liquid is carbonated, whereby step S14 could be performed before step S12 and optionally also before step S10.

[0102] In a step S16, the carbonated liquid, optionally mixed with at least one additional filling material, can be stored in the liquid reservoir 24. The carbonated liquid can flow from the carbonator 18 through the piping system 38 to the liquid reservoir 24. From the liquid reservoir 24, the carbonated liquid can flow through the piping system 38 to the filling valve 26.

[0103] In a step S18, the pressure of the carbonated liquid is continuously reduced to below a saturation pressure of the carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid and above or substantially equal to an ambient pressure by means of the filling valve 26. Specifically, the throttle element 28 can continuously and uniformly reduce the pressure along its length.

[0104] In step S20, the container 12 is filled with the reduced-pressure liquid using the filling valve 26. For this purpose, the shut-off element 30 can, for example, be opened or lifted from its valve seat. As already mentioned, it is possible for the throttle element 28 to also perform the shut-off function. Step S20 can, for example, be performed simultaneously with or overlapping step S18.

[0105] When filling, the container 12 may have an internal pressure corresponding to the pressure of the pressure-reduced liquid and / or the ambient pressure.

[0106] Preferably, in step S20, the wall of the container 12 is filled or the container 12 is filled by means of the filling tube 34.

[0107] It is possible that the container 12 is pressed against the filling valve 26 during filling, preferably in a gas-tight or liquid-tight manner.

[0108] In a step S22, the filled container 12 can be closed with a container closure by the closing device 40.

[0109] The Figure 3 shows a modified system 10' in which the filling valve 26 has a mixing chamber 42.

[0110] Different filling materials from different filling material sources can be mixed together in the mixing chamber 42. Preferably, the filling materials can be mixed in the mixing chamber 42 when the filling valve 26 is closed. The container 12 can be filled from the mixing chamber 42 when the filling valve 26 is open.

[0111] The mixing chamber 42 can, for example, be designed as a swirl chamber.

[0112] The mixing chamber 42 can, for example, be arranged upstream or downstream of the throttle element 28.

[0113] The additional filling material source 20 can be connected to the mixing chamber 42 via a line that opens 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 by means of the metering valve 22.

[0114] In the related proceedings under Figure 4 Accordingly, step S14 of metering the at least one additional filling material into the liquid can take place after step S16 of storing the carbonated liquid in the liquid reservoir 24. Depending on the arrangement of the mixing chamber 42, it is also possible for step S14 of metering the at least one additional filling material into the liquid to take place after step S18 (continuous pressure reduction) and before step S20 (filling).

[0115] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a multitude of variants and modifications are possible which also make use of the inventive concept and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and features of the subclaims, independent of the claims referred to. In particular, the individual features of independent claim 1 are each disclosed independently of one another. In addition, the features of the subclaims are also disclosed independently of all features of independent claim 1. All ranges referred to herein are to be understood as disclosed in such a way that, as it were, all values falling within the respective range are individually disclosed, e.g., also as preferred, narrower outer limits of the respective range. List of reference symbols

[0116] 10System 12Vessel 14Liquid feed 16Degasser 18Carbonizer 20Additional filling material source 22Dosing valve 24Liquid reservoir 26Filling valve 28Throttling element 30Shut-off element 32Flow body 34Filling pipe 36Lifting device 38Pipe system 40Closing device 42Mixing chamber

Claims

1. A method for filling a liquid into a container (12), the method comprising: carbonating the liquid by means of a carbonator (18); continuously reducing a pressure of the carbonated liquid below a saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid and above or substantially equal to an ambient pressure by means of a filling valve (26); and filling the container (12) with the pressure-reduced liquid by means of the filling valve (26).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the following is fulfilled: the carbonation of the liquid is carried out by means of a membrane contactor carbonizer, by means of a cavitation carbonizer, or by means of a spray cone carbonizer; the carbonation is carried out using a bubble-free or nearly bubble-free carbonation process; during carbonation, the liquid evaporates to a gas and the gas is mixed with gaseous carbon dioxide, or during carbonation, gaseous carbon dioxide diffuses into the liquid without the gaseous carbon dioxide being forced into the liquid; and a pressure of the liquid during carbonation corresponds at least 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) takes place through a filling tube (34) immersed in the container (12), or the filling of the container (12) is a wall filling of the container (12), in which the liquid is filled into the container (12) flowing along an inner peripheral surface of the container (12); and / or the filling of the container (12) does not take place by means of free-jet filling.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: when filling the container (12) with the pressure-reduced liquid, the container (12) has an internal pressure which corresponds to the pressure of the pressure-reduced liquid and / or the ambient pressure, and / or the filling takes place at ambient pressure or approximately ambient pressure.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the container (12) is pressed against the filling valve (26) during filling, preferably in a gas-tight or liquid-tight manner.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: flowing the carbonated liquid through a piping system (38) to the filling valve (26), optionally with the interposition of a liquid reservoir (24), wherein at least one of the following is satisfied: - the piping system (38) has an internal mean roughness value Ra ≤ 0.8; - the piping system (38) is free of dead zones, sudden flow cross-sectional expansions and / or sudden flow cross-sectional reductions; and - a maximum angle for continuous flow cross-sectional expansions and continuous flow cross-sectional reductions of the piping system (38) is ≤ 6°.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: storing the carbonated liquid in a liquid reservoir (24) before reducing the pressure by means of the filling valve (26), wherein preferably the carbonated liquid is stored under a pressure which corresponds at least to the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid.

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

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

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: dosing at least one additional filling material to the liquid, preferably: - before carbonation; or - after carbonation and before reducing the pressure; or - into a 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 is fulfilled: the method further comprises closing the filled container (12) with a container closure by means of a closing device (40); the container (12) is automatically moved for filling and / or automatically moved away after filling; the method is applied in a container treatment plant (10); the filling valve (26) is one of several filling valves of a filling device, preferably a rotary filling device; and the container (12) moves along a continuous production line.

12. System (10) for filling a liquid into containers (12), preferably by means of a method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (10) comprises: a carbonator (18) designed to carbonate the liquid; and a filling device with at least one filling valve (26) connected to the carbonator (18) for receiving the carbonated liquid from the carbonator (18) and designed to: - continuously reduce the pressure of the carbonated liquid below the saturation pressure and above or substantially equal to an ambient pressure, preferably by means of a throttle element of the filling valve (26), and - fill a container (12) with the pressure-reduced liquid, preferably through a filling tube (34) or by filling the wall of the container (12).

13. The system (10) according to claim 12, further comprising at least one of: a liquid reservoir (24) for storing the carbonated liquid, the liquid reservoir (24) being connected to the carbonator (18) for receiving the carbonated liquid and to the filling valve (26) for supplying the carbonated liquid to the filling valve (26); a closure device (40) for closing filled containers (12) with a container closure; at least one additional filling material source (20) connected to: - a line section upstream or downstream of the carbonator (18) for metering an additional filling material into the liquid in the line section; or - a mixing chamber (42) of the filling valve (26) for metering an additional filling material into the liquid in the mixing chamber (42);a liquid supply (14), preferably a water supply, the liquid supply being connected to the carbonator (18) for supplying liquid to the carbonator (18); a degasser (16) designed to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid and integrated with the carbonator (18) or connected to the carbonator (18) for supplying the degassed liquid to the carbonator (18); a lifting device (36) designed 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 piping system (38) connecting the carbonator (18) and the filling valve (26), the piping system (38): - having an internal mean roughness value Ra ≤ 0.8; and / or - free from dead zones, sudden flow cross-sectional expansions and / or sudden flow cross-sectional reductions;and / or - has a maximum angle for continuous flow cross-sectional expansions and continuous flow cross-sectional reductions of ≤ 6°; 14. Plant (10) according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the carbonizer (18) is a membrane contactor carbonizer, a cavitation carbonizer, or a spray cone carbonizer; and / or the carbonizer (18) is designed to carry out a bubble-free or nearly bubble-free carbonization process, and / or the carbonizer (18) is designed to evaporate the liquid into a gas during carbonization and to mix this gas with gaseous carbon dioxide or to allow gaseous carbon dioxide to diffuse into the liquid during carbonization without the gaseous carbon being forced into the liquid; and / or the carbonizer (18) is designed to carbonize the liquid at a pressure that corresponds at least to the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

15. Plant (10) according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: the plant (10) is an industrial container treatment plant; or the plant (10) is a small plant for installation in a supermarket or a train station, preferably with a footprint ≤ 10 m², ≤ 5 m², ≤ 3 m² or ≤ 2 m².

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