Steam generation in container processing system

Abstract

To provide a system for processing a container, preferably a beverage filling system, and a method for supplying steam in such a system.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a system (1) for processing a container, preferably a beverage filling system, comprising: a container processing part (50) which is configured to process the container, preferably configured to fill a filling product into the container and / or close the container with a container closing tool, and in which condensed water (K) is accumulated during sterilization; and a high-speed steam generator (10) which has a steam boiler (15) configured to heat supplied water, preferably to heat the supplied water by at least one electric heating element (15a), and vaporize the water. The high-speed steam generator (10) is configured to receive the condensed water (K) accumulated in the container processing part (50) via a condensed water line (11), and introduce the water into the steam boiler (15) as the supplied water to be vaporized during normal operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for treating containers, preferably a beverage filling system, and to a method for providing steam in such a system. [Background technology]

[0002] Vaporizers of various designs for vaporizing liquid media are known. They can be used, for example, in beverage filling systems to supply hydrogen peroxide gas for the disinfection of system components in contact with the product. Vaporizers usually have a heated vaporizer surface onto which the medium to be vaporized, still fluid, is sprayed. The vaporizer surface is heated, for example, by hot steam or by an electric heating element to bring the required temperature to the vaporizer surface.

[0003] An apparatus for vaporizing a fluid medium in a filled product filling system is disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,399,633.

[0004] The required steam pressure is provided by a steam boiler, which supplies the steam generated to a steam network. The pressure in the steam network is built up to the highest steam pressure required by the connected consumers. For all other consumers, the steam pressure is reduced accordingly.

[0005] If only a small amount of pressure higher than the current pressure in the steam network is required, a) the pressure in the entire steam network can be increased if the steam boiler is configured to accommodate the required pressure, or b) a separate, e.g. electrically operated, high-speed steam generator can be used for this amount of steam.

[0006] If the steam pressure of the entire steam network is increased according to option a), it may be necessary to redesign and, if necessary, replace existing safety devices. Furthermore, it does not make sense from an energy efficiency point of view to operate the entire steam network at a high pressure that is only needed in small amounts by one consumer. Other consumers would have to reduce the steam pressure, which would entail losses.

[0007] If an additional (electrical) high-speed steam generator is used according to option b), the existing steam network can be operated at a lower pressure level, since a small amount of steam with a higher steam pressure is generated via a separate steam generator. To feed the steam generator, water is required, for example from a reverse osmosis system, which allows cost-free operation times without blow-down treatment. If the feed water is of poor quality and saline, the steam generator has to be blown down frequently. For this, especially in the case of small buffer volumes, the steam pressure needs to be reduced, which leads to short-term shutdowns of the filling system and an associated decrease in system efficiency. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2018 / 060422 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The object of the present invention is to propose an improved system for treating vessels and an improved method for supplying steam in such a system, in particular to improve and accelerate the steam generation process in terms of energy efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] This object is achieved by a system having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of the independent method claim. Advantageous further embodiments emerge from the dependent claims, the following description of the invention and the description of preferred embodiments.

[0011] The present invention relates to a vessel treatment system having a vessel treatment section for treating vessels, the vessel treatment section being configured to treat vessels, the system comprising a high velocity steam generator having a steam boiler configured to heat a feed water and preferably configured to vaporize the feed water by at least one electric heating element.

[0012] The system is particularly preferably part of a beverage filling system, in which case the container processing section particularly comprises a filling device, e.g. a filling device for filling water (still or carbonated), beer, juice, soft drinks, smoothies, dairy products, mixed drinks, etc. The container processing section may comprise a filling device, a closing device, a stretch blow moulding device for producing the containers, a container washing system, a labeller, etc. or a combination of different devices, in particular a filling device for filling the containers with the filling product and closing the containers with a container closure. The containers may be glass bottles, PET bottles, cans, cartons or any other suitable type of container that can be filled with liquid filled products, in particular beverages.

[0013] In such container treatment sections, condensation water can accumulate during various processes, for example during CIP ("Cleaning in Place") or SIP ("Sterilization in Place") processes. In these processes, the container treatment section is cleaned and / or sterilized and / or disinfected without significant disassembly of the product contact surfaces. To achieve sterilization, the required medium, such as compressed air, is heated via a heat exchanger to which hot steam is supplied. As soon as the steam cools below the dew point, water condenses on the surfaces of the heat exchanger of the container treatment section. In this way, condensation water accumulates in the treatment section during sterilization.

[0014] The high velocity steam generator according to the present invention is configured to receive condensate that accumulates in the container process section during sterilization via a condensate line and introduce it into the steam boiler as feedwater to be vaporized.

[0015] Thus, the high-speed steam generator is at least partially, preferably exclusively, operated on condensate. This means that a separate water treatment is not necessary or can be carried out with less effort, since the condensate already has a very low mineral content. Furthermore, the condensate is already at a high temperature, e.g. about 90°C, which saves energy and accelerates steam generation compared to cold feedwater.

[0016] The high speed steam generator preferably has a water supply configured to receive condensate via a condensate line, collect it and supply it to the steam boiler. The condensate in the water supply may be supplied to the steam boiler on an as-needed or continuous basis. To this end, a pressure booster pump is preferably provided configured to pump the condensate from the water supply to the steam boiler.

[0017] Condensed water collected in the water supply can be drained via a drain pipe if necessary.

[0018] The steam generated by the high velocity steam generator can be used in a variety of processes, and can be particularly used to operate a vaporizer configured to generate hydrogen peroxide gas for sterilizing the container or container closure being filled.

[0019] The system preferably comprises a vaporizer configured to receive steam from a steam boiler of the high velocity steam generator and vaporize the treatment agent, preferably hydrogen peroxide. In this manner, the high velocity steam generator can be integrated into existing systems with little mechanical engineering effort.

[0020] The system includes an operational steam generator that is distinct from the high velocity steam generator and is configured to generate operational steam. In particular, the container treater can be supplied with operational steam from the operational steam generator to clean and / or sterilize and / or disinfect the container treater, e.g., for sterilization during CIP and / or SIP processing, without significant disassembly of product contact surfaces. The operational steam can serve alternative or additional functions in the container treater, e.g., can be used to heat certain portions of the system.

[0021] The temperature, e.g. about 160° C., and / or pressure, e.g. about 6 bar, of the steam generated by the operational steam generator is preferably lower than the temperature, e.g. about 180° C., and / or pressure, e.g. about 9 bar, of the steam generated by the high velocity steam generator. In this case, the high velocity steam generator acts as a "booster" for the operational steam generator, which means that certain processes, such as sterilization of container closures, can be carried out in a particularly energy- and resource-efficient manner, since the entire steam network does not need to be supplied with steam at a higher pressure and temperature.

[0022] The high speed steam generator preferably has a smaller capacity than the running steam generator, for example, the high speed steam generator is configured to generate only a portion of the steam of the running steam generator, for example, one hundredth of the volume of the running steam generator.

[0023] Preferably, the operational steam generator is part of a cleaning circuit configured to clean and / or sterilize and / or disinfect the container processing section as part of the CIP process. The condensate used in the high velocity steam generator during normal operation is preferably generated during sterilization during the CIP and / or SIP process.

[0024] Preferably, the high-velocity steam generator is connected to the cleaning circuit of the system via a CIP feedwater line. Connection to an existing cleaning cycle, preferably an acid cleaning cycle, results in a longer service life without the need for a corresponding blowdown treatment. Mineral residues that may accumulate on the heating element can be automatically cleaned during the next cleaning cycle of the vessel treatment section.

[0025] Preferably, the connection to the irrigation circuit is via a combination of block and bleed valves to prevent media mixing in the event of a valve leak.

[0026] The above object is further achieved by a method for providing steam in a system for treating containers, preferably in a beverage filling system, comprising: generating condensate in a container treatment section during sterilization, the container treatment section being configured to treat the container, preferably to fill the container with a fill product and / or to close the container with a container closure; During normal operation, introducing condensate water through a condensate line into the steam boiler of the high speed steam generator; Heating and vaporizing the condensate as feed water in a steam boiler, preferably by means of at least one electric heating element.

[0027] The features, technical effects, advantages, and embodiments described with respect to the system apply analogously to the method.

[0028] For the above reasons, the high speed steam generator preferably has a feedwater supply which receives condensate via a condensate line, collects it and supplies it to the steam boiler. The condensate is preferably pumped from the feedwater supply to the steam boiler by a booster pump.

[0029] For the reasons stated above, steam generated in the steam boiler preferably drives a vaporizer which vaporizes a treatment agent, preferably hydrogen peroxide, which preferably provides vaporized treatment agent for sterilizing containers and container closures that are filled during normal operation.

[0030] For the reasons stated above, an operating steam generator, preferably different from the high speed steam generator, produces operating steam that is preferably at a lower temperature and / or pressure than the temperature and / or pressure of the steam produced by the high speed steam generator.

[0031] Preferably the operational steam generator is part of a cleaning circuit which cleans and / or sterilizes and / or disinfects the vessel processing section as part of a CIP process.

[0032] Preferably, condensate accumulates in the vessel treatment section during the CIP process, and the condensate is collected in the high velocity steam generator water supply until later use. Thus, condensate is collected during a system wash and used at a later time. For example, several hours may elapse between the collection of the condensate and the use of the condensate.

[0033] A distinction is made here between normal operation, which is the actual production in the system, where beverages are filled into containers, and preparatory cleaning operations in the system, where in particular the container processing parts are subjected to CIP and / or SIP treatments for sterilization.

[0034] Condensate accumulates during cleaning operation of the vessel treatment section and is then collected in the water supply tank. On this basis, the condensate collected in the water supply is preferably used during normal operation of the vessel treatment section. More specifically, the condensate collected in the water supply is preferably supplied to a high velocity steam generator during normal operation of the vessel treatment section, and steam generated in the high velocity steam generator is used to vaporize a treatment agent, preferably hydrogen peroxide, and the vaporized treatment agent is supplied to the vessel treatment section during normal operation.

[0035] Condensate that accumulates as the treatment agent vaporizes during normal operation, and condensate that is generated when steam produced by the high velocity steam generator is cooled in the treatment agent vaporizer, is also supplied to the water supply of the high velocity steam generator, thereby completing a circuit for heating the vaporizer during normal operation.

[0036] Preferably, the treatment agent so produced is used to sterilize containers and / or container closures in a container treatment section.

[0037] Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments. The features described therein can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the above features, unless they are mutually inconsistent. The following description of the preferred embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0038] Further preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a container processing system including a container processor and a high-velocity steam generator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] In the following, a preferred embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1, which shows a schematic diagram of a system 1 for treating containers. The system 1 comprises a high velocity steam generator 10 and a container treatment section 50.

[0040] The system 1 is particularly preferably a beverage filling system, in which case the container processing unit 50 comprises in particular a filling device for filling water (still or carbonated), beer, juice, soft drinks, smoothies, dairy products, mixed drinks, etc. The container processing unit 50 may comprise a filling device, a closure device, a stretch blow moulding device for producing containers, a container washing system, a labeller, etc., or a combination of different devices, in particular a filling device for filling containers with a filling product and closing the containers with a container closure. The containers may be glass bottles, PET bottles, cans, cartons or any other type of suitable container that can be filled with liquid filled products, in particular beverages.

[0041] The container treater 50 may be supplied with operating steam from an operating steam generator 60 and may be used, for example, for CIP ("Cleaning in Place") or SIP ("Sterilization in Place") processes, which clean and / or sterilize and / or disinfect the container treater 50 without significant disassembly of the product contact surfaces. The operating steam may perform alternative or additional functions in the container treater 50, for example, it may be used to heat certain parts of the system.

[0042] Typically, operating steam is used at a relatively low temperature, for example about 160° C., and at a relatively low pressure, for example about 6 bar.

[0043] The high velocity steam generator 10 can be designed external to the container processing section 50 or can be partially or completely integrated into the container processing section 50, so that an existing medium can be supplied. Preferably, the high velocity steam generator 10 is integrated in terms of control technology into the container processing section 50, in particular into the filling system.

[0044] Condensate K from the process in the vessel treatment section 50 is used as feed water for the high-speed steam generator 10 and is preferably supplied from the steam network of the operating steam generator 60, i.e. in particular from the low-pressure steam network. For this purpose, the condensate K from the vessel treatment section 50 is supplied to the high-speed steam generator 10 via the condensate line 11.

[0045] The condensed water K received via the condensed water line 11 is fed to a water supply 13 which captures and collects the condensed water K. This feeding of the condensed water to the water supply 13 typically occurs while the condensed water K is accumulating during sterilization in the container treatment section 50.

[0046] Thereafter, for removing the condensate water from the water supply 13 during normal operation of the vessel treatment apparatus, the condensate water is pumped from the water supply 13 to the steam boiler 15 via a pressure booster pump 14. The steam boiler 15 has a heating element 15a, preferably an electric heating element, for heating the condensate water K in the steam boiler 15. The heating element 15a is adjusted to the required steam pressure. Furthermore, the steam boiler 15 preferably has safety devices for protecting the steam boiler 15 according to specifications.

[0047] The steam thus produced preferably has a higher temperature and a higher pressure than the steam produced by the operational steam generator 60, for example 180° C. and 9 bar, and can be used in various processes. In particular, this steam can be used for the operation, and in particular for temperature control, of the vaporizer 20, which is used to produce hydrogen peroxide gas, for example for sterilizing lids and containers before they are actually filled with the filling product.

[0048] The high velocity steam generator 10 can be connected to a cleaning circuit of the system 1 or vessel processor 50 via a CIP feedwater line 18, allowing the high velocity steam generator 10 to be integrated into existing cleaning cycles, for example to allow for acid cleaning of the high velocity steam generator 10. The connection to the cleaning circuit is preferably made via a block and bleed valve combination 16 to prevent media mixing in case of valve leakage.

[0049] The condensed water K collected in the water supply 13 can be drained via the drain pipe 17 if necessary. This is done when the water supply needs to be emptied.

[0050] During the above-described CIP process of the vessel treater 50, and particularly when the operating steam generator 60 is in use, condensate water K accumulates in the vessel treater 50. The condensate water K is then collected in the water supply 13 of the high speed steam generator 10 for later use.

[0051] Thus, the condensate K is collected during a system cleaning and used at a later point in time. For example, several hours may elapse between the collection and use of the condensate K.

[0052] On this basis, the condensed water K collected in the water supply 13 is used during normal operation of the container treatment section 50. In this case, the condensed water K collected in the water supply 13 is supplied to the steam boiler 15 during normal operation of the container treatment section 50, the steam generated in the steam boiler 15 is used to heat a vaporizer for vaporizing a treatment agent, preferably hydrogen peroxide, and the vaporized treatment agent is supplied to the container treatment section 50 during normal operation.

[0053] Condensed water K that accumulates as the steam is cooled in the evaporator during normal operation is returned to the water supply 13. In other words, circulation of the condensed water can be achieved during normal operation.

[0054] Preferably, the treatment agent so produced is used in container treatment section 50 to sterilize containers and / or container closures.

[0055] The high-speed steam generator 10 is at least partially, preferably exclusively, operated on condensate water K. This means that a separate water treatment is not necessary or can be carried out with less effort, since the condensate water K already has a very low mineral content.

[0056] The condensate K is already at a high temperature, e.g. about 90° C., which saves energy compared to cold feed water and accelerates steam generation.

[0057] The possibility of connection to an existing cleaning cycle, preferably an acid cleaning cycle, results in a longer service life without the need for a corresponding blow-down treatment. Mineral residues that may accumulate on the heating element 15a can be automatically cleaned during the next cleaning cycle of the vessel treatment unit 50.

[0058] To the extent applicable, individual features described in the embodiments can be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Container Processing System 10. High-speed steam generator 11 Condensate Line 13 Water dispenser 14 Pressure Booster Pump 15 Steam boiler 15a Heating element 16 Block and bleed valve combination 17 Drain pipe 18 CIP water supply line 20. Carburetor 50 Container Processing Section 60 Operating Steam Generators K Condensate

Claims

1. A system (1) for processing containers, preferably a beverage filling system, a container treatment unit (50) configured to treat containers, preferably configured to fill the containers with a filled product and / or close the containers with a container closure, in which condensed water (K) accumulates during sterilization; a high speed steam generator (10) having a steam boiler (15) configured to heat and vaporize the feed water, preferably by means of at least one electric heating element (15a), The high speed steam generator (10) is configured to receive the condensate (K) accumulating in the vessel treatment section (50) via a condensate line (11) and introduce it to the steam boiler (15) as feed water to be vaporized during normal operation.

2. 2. The system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the high speed steam generator (10) has a water supply (13) configured to receive the condensate (K) via the condensate line (11), collect it and supply it to the steam boiler (15), the condensate (K) being preferably transportable from the water supply (13) to the steam boiler (15) by a pressure booster pump (14).

3. 3. The system (1) of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a vaporizer (20) configured to receive steam from the steam boiler (15) of the high velocity steam generator (10) and vaporize a treatment agent, preferably hydrogen peroxide, the vaporizer (20) preferably configured to introduce the vaporized treatment agent into the vessel treatment section (50).

4. 4. The system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an operating steam generator (60) different from the high speed steam generator (10) and configured to generate operating steam, the temperature and / or pressure of which is preferably lower than the temperature and / or pressure of the steam generated by the high speed steam generator (10).

5. 5. The system (1) of claim 4, wherein the operating steam generator (60) is part of a cleaning circuit configured to clean and / or sterilize and / or disinfect the container treatment section (50) as part of a CIP and / or SIP process, and wherein the condensate (K) accumulates during the CIP and / or SIP process.

6. 6. The system (1) of claim 5, wherein the high speed steam generator (10) is connected to the cleaning circuit of the system (1) via a CIP water supply line (18), the connection to the cleaning circuit being preferably made via a block and bleed valve combination (16).

7. A method for supplying steam in a system (1) for treating containers, preferably in a beverage filling system, comprising: generating condensed water (K) in a container treatment unit (50) configured to treat said containers during sterilization of said container treatment unit (50), said container treatment unit (50) being preferably configured to fill said containers with a filled product and / or close said containers with a container closure; During normal operation, the condensate (K) is introduced into a steam boiler (15) of a high speed steam generator (10) via a condensate line (11); heating and vaporizing said condensate (K) as feed water in said steam boiler (15), preferably by means of at least one electric heating element (15a).

8. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the high speed steam generator (10) has a water supply (13) which receives the condensate (K) via the condensate line (11), collects it and supplies it to the steam boiler (15), and the condensate (K) is preferably conveyed from the water supply (13) to the steam boiler (15) by a pressure booster pump (14).

9. 9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the steam produced in the steam boiler (15) drives a vaporizer (20) which vaporizes a treatment agent, preferably hydrogen peroxide, said vaporizer (20) providing vaporized treatment agent for treatment of containers and / or container closures to be filled.

10. 10. The method of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein an operating steam generator (60) different from the high speed steam generator (10) generates operating steam at a temperature and / or pressure preferably lower than the temperature and / or pressure of the steam generated by the high speed steam generator (10).

11. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating steam generator (60) is part of a cleaning circuit for cleaning and / or sterilizing and / or disinfecting the container treatment section (50) as part of a CIP and / or SIP process.

12. 12. The method according to claims 8 and 11, wherein the condensed water (K) accumulates during the CIP and / or SIP treatment in the vessel treatment section (50), and the condensed water (K) is collected in the water supply (13) of the high speed steam generator (10) until later use.

13. 13. The method according to claims 8 and 12, wherein the condensed water (K) collected in the water supply (13) is supplied to the steam boiler (15) during normal operation of the container treatment section (50), and steam produced in the steam boiler (15) is used to vaporize a treatment agent, preferably hydrogen peroxide, in the vaporizer (20), and the vaporized treatment agent is supplied to the container treatment section (50) during normal operation and is preferably used for sterilization of containers and / or container closures.

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