Method and system for filling carbonic acid to container

Abstract

To provide a method for filling a liquid to a container .SOLUTION: The method includes carbonating a liquid using a carbonator (18). The method includes continuously reducing the pressure of the carbonated liquid using a fill valve (26) to a pressure below a saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid and above or substantially equal to an ambient pressure. The method further includes filling the depressurized liquid into a container (12) using the fill valve (26).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Carbonated beverages are currently filled with high-performance filling systems that use either isobaric or differential pressure methods. The most common isobaric method is counterpressure filling, in which the storage container and the container being filled are under the same, elevated pressure. In differential pressure methods, the container is placed under vacuum before liquid begins to flow into the container.

[0003] In the differential pressure method, partially dissolved gas escapes from the liquid at the beginning of the process but quickly re-dissolves as pressure builds up rapidly during the process. The vacuum method only works in vacuum-resistant containers (glass, reusable PET) and works better with high-foaming products.

[0004] In counter-pressure filling, the container is brought to a pressure equal to or very close to the pressure in the filling container before filling. The filling process is carried out at this pressure level. After filling, the container must be depressurized so that it can be conveyed to the capper without pressure. Filling is carried out at a pressure equal to or greater than the saturation pressure of the bound CO2 in the liquid. If the pressure in the filling container and / or the container is lower, excessive release of dissolved gases in the filled beverage will occur during depressurization, resulting in excessive foaming and consequently unacceptable losses of liquid and CO2.

[0005] Carbonated beverages are usually filled below ambient temperature because the saturation pressure of CO2 in a liquid strongly depends on the liquid's temperature. The closer the beverage is to its freezing point, the lower the saturation pressure and, consequently, the lower the filling pressure. However, for this purpose, the beverage must be cooled before the filling process. To save energy during the filling process, there is a tendency to increase the filling temperature to a level where no cooling or heating is necessary, i.e., filling at ambient temperature. In the counterpressure method, the required pressure in the container must be further increased during filling, depending on the filling temperature.

[0006] Both counter-pressure and differential pressure filling methods subject the container to stresses different from those experienced when the container is later closed and consumed by the customer. As a result, the filling technology must be made more complex and / or the container itself must be sized for the filling process. This leads to significant additional costs. Since container cost accounts for by far the largest percentage of the operating costs of a filling system for most products, the additional requirements imposed on the container by these filling methods quickly become expensive.

[0007] Increasing the fill temperature to save cooling energy significantly increases the pressure stability requirements of the container due to increased fill pressure, which can be addressed by using a more pressure stable container or by applying the minimum amount of cooling necessary to avoid exceeding a certain fill pressure.

[0008] Furthermore, in isobaric or counter-pressure filling methods, the pressure build-up and depressurization steps take several seconds, which represents a significant proportion of the total process time, and therefore requires the use of additional filling stations in the filling machine, leading to increased construction and maintenance costs. [Prior art document] [Non-patent literature] [Non-patent document 1] Fischer, Sven. Blasenbildung von in Fluessigkeiten geloesten Gasen. Muenchen, DE: Technische Universitaet Muenchen; 2001. Dissertation. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention addresses the problem of creating an improved technique for filling carbonated liquids. [Means for solving the problem]

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

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

[0012] The filling method advantageously reduces or completely eliminates the need to increase the pressure applied to the container during filling as the temperature of the filled beverage increases. With pressureless filling, there is no longer a relationship between the pressure load on the container during filling and the filling temperature. This reduces the requirements for the container, the filling valve, and protects operators from container rupture during the filling process, thus reducing costs. The shortening or elimination of the filling process steps for pressure buildup and release within the container advantageously shortens the overall process time, thereby requiring fewer filling valves, smaller machine size, and less maintenance. The lower pressure within the container also reduces gas consumption for necessary cleaning of the container before filling, if oxygen incorporation into the beverage is to be avoided. A stable pressureless filling process, in which microbubble formation is prevented, also makes filling easier, as less process expertise is required to avoid excessive foaming. Operating a carbonation filler can advantageously be as simple as operating a hydrostatic filler.

[0013] It is recognized that excessive foaming of carbonated beverages during filling means that the release of bound gases (CO2 and O2) from the liquid is so intense that the gas rising to the liquid surface creates a very stable foam, causing the foam to overflow from the container. Therefore, excessive foaming can only be prevented by preventing or minimizing the release of bound gases as much as possible during the filling process. Gases uniformly dissolved in the liquid are released only at high vacuum pressures approaching saturation pressure, which cannot occur during the filling process (Fischer Sven-Blasenbildung von in Fluessigkeiten geloesten Gasen-Munich: Technical University of Munich, 2001). The only mechanism for gas release is the growth of existing bubble nuclei. Bubble nuclei can form during the filling process of carbonated non-alcoholic beverages in the following process steps: (1) the technical introduction of gas into the liquid (carbonation), (2) the initial wetting of the surface by the liquid, and (3) the penetration of the liquid into the liquid surface. Furthermore, bubble nuclei can form in beverages during fermentation.

[0014] Advantageously, the continuous reduction of the liquid pressure during the filling stage immediately prior to its introduction into the container with the aid of the filling valve can reduce the growth of any (micro)bubbles that may be present. Pressure surges and turbulence are avoided. The required pressure in the container during filling can be reduced to various degrees below the saturation pressure, depending on the number of microbubbles present in the beverage. Below a certain threshold number of microbubbles present, it is also possible to fill at ambient pressure.

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

[0016] Preferably, the method also uses techniques that largely prevent the formation of air bubble nuclei and ensure that no or as few as possible microbubbles are present in the beverage before filling. This advantageously allows for a filling process that is not dependent on saturation pressure. These techniques are described, among others, in the preferred exemplary embodiments below.

[0017] In one exemplary embodiment, the carbonation of the liquid is carried out using a membrane contactor carbonator, a cavitation carbonator, or a spray cone carbonator; the carbonation is performed using a bubble-free or nearly bubble-free carbonation process; During carbonation, the liquid is vaporized to a gas and the gas is mixed with the gaseous carbon dioxide, or the gaseous carbon dioxide diffuses into the liquid without being forced into the liquid during carbonation; The pressure of the liquid during carbonation corresponds at least to the saturation pressure (equilibrium pressure) of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0018] Advantageously, carbonation of a liquid can be carried out using technical methods that function without directly introducing air bubbles into the liquid. The introduction of air bubbles into a liquid can always result in the formation of microbubbles in the liquid that can act as bubble nuclei (Fischer Sven-Blasenbildung von in Fluessigkeiten geloesten Gasen-Munich: Technical University of Munich, 2001). Observations during the filling process and the behavior of filled beverages suggest that microbubbles are present during the filling process, although they largely dissolve after a few days. Due to the presence of these microbubbles, current carbonated beverage filling processes must be carried out at or above saturation pressure. No-bubble technologies, such as carbonation by membrane contactors, that do not introduce air bubbles into the beverage prevent the formation of microbubbles.

[0019] In further embodiments, the container is filled through a fill tube immersed in the container, or by wall-filling, in which the liquid flows along the inner periphery of the container as it fills. Alternatively or additionally, the container is not filled by free-jet filling. Advantageously, this allows the liquid flow to be directed into the container to minimize foaming as much as possible. Advantageously, the use of a fill tube can completely prevent the liquid flow from penetrating the liquid surface. During wall-filling, the flow of liquid along the container wall can slow as it descends. The liquid can then slowly enter the liquid surface without creating many turbulences and vortices. However, as the volumetric flow rate increases, wall-filling can also result in turbulent immersion, potentially leading to the formation of bubbles (or bubble nuclei). However, these bubbles can only result in excessive foaming if too many bubbles are generated and / or if the pressure is reduced after the filling process. In a pressureless filling process, only the first factor is relevant and can be avoided by adjusting the flow rate.

[0020] In one embodiment, when the container is filled with a depressurized liquid, the internal pressure of the container corresponds to the pressure of the depressurized liquid and / or ambient pressure. Alternatively or additionally, filling can occur at or near ambient pressure.

[0021] Microbubbles formed when the container being filled is wet only result in increased gas release if the container must be depressurized after filling. This is because the microbubbles expand more rapidly due to the sudden drop in pressure than they can reduce again by diffusion. Once they reach a certain size, they rise and continue to grow due to the diffusion of gases uniformly dissolved in the beverage. However, in a non-pressure filling process, they do not increase in size and therefore do not pose a problem.

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

[0023] In another embodiment, the method further includes flowing carbonated liquid through a piping system, optionally with an intervening liquid reservoir, to a fill valve, wherein at least one of the following conditions is met: The inner surface of the piping system has an average roughness value Ra≦0.8 (μm). - The piping system is free from dead zones, sudden expansions of the flow cross section and / or sudden contractions of the flow cross section. The maximum angle of continuous expansion of the flow cross section and / or continuous contraction of the flow cross section of the piping system is ≦6°.

[0024] Advantageously, the formation of microbubbles during the initial wetting of the surface by the liquid can be avoided or reduced by the described design of the piping system. This is achieved, for example, by ensuring that the surface is as smooth as possible and that no nucleation sites for bubbles are present, so that gas residues cannot accumulate in uneven structures. This is particularly important when filling the system for the first time. With prolonged operation, fewer and fewer microbubbles are entrained in the liquid flow.

[0025] The flow rate in the piping system leads to a decrease in dynamic pressure. If bubble nuclei are present, bubbles can grow even at pressures lower than the saturation pressure, leading to gas release (pseudo-cavitation). In the absence of bubble nuclei, the liquid becomes gaseous only when the vapor pressure of the mixture drops below a critical level (cavitation). The presence of bubble nuclei therefore poses an additional limitation to the filling process. Therefore, the piping system is advantageously adapted so that the flow rate and pressure in the piping system are adapted to the number of bubble nuclei present. In the absence of bubble nuclei, only cavitation needs to be prevented. The higher the number of bubble nuclei, the lower the allowable velocity and the higher the required pressure. It is advantageous to have as short a piping system as possible between the carbonator and the filling valve. An increase in flow rate can be avoided, for example, by not using centrifugal pumps and by allowing only a slow, steady pressure drop in the valve.

[0026] In one embodiment, the method further comprises storing the carbonated liquid in a liquid reservoir (e.g., a liquid tank) before the pressure is reduced by the fill valve, preferably the carbonated liquid is stored under a pressure corresponding to at least the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid.

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

[0028] In one embodiment, the liquid to be carbonated is either pure water or water mixed with at least one additional filler material. Advantageously, in variations where only water is carbonated, contamination of the carbonator can be significantly reduced. Thus, the carbonator needs to be cleaned less frequently.

[0029] In a further embodiment, the method further comprises metering at least one additional filler material into the liquid, preferably comprising: Before carbonation, After carbonation and before reducing the pressure, Or, it may further include being carried out into a mixing chamber of the fill valve (e.g., upstream or downstream of a throttling element of the fill valve).

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

[0031] In one embodiment, the method further includes sealing the filled container with a container closure using a closure device (e.g., a rotary closure device). Alternatively or additionally, the container can be moved automatically, for example, for filling purposes and / or after filling. Alternatively or additionally, the method can be applied to a container processing system. Alternatively or additionally, the fill valve can be one of several fill valves of a filling device, preferably a rotary filling device. Alternatively or additionally, the container can be moved along a continuous production line (e.g., including at least one rotary machine, at least one intermittent motion machine, and / or at least one long stator machine).

[0032] The container can be held during filling by a container support, for example, on the container neck, container neck ring, container base, and / or container bottom.

[0033] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for filling a container with a liquid, preferably using the methods disclosed herein. The system has a carbonator configured to carbonate the liquid. The system includes a filling device (e.g., a rotary filling device) having at least one fill valve (e.g., adjustable via closed-loop or open-loop control) connected to the carbonator to receive the carbonated liquid from the carbonator, the filling device comprising: preferably using a throttling element of the filling valve (e.g., conical and / or adjustable using an actuator) to continuously reduce the pressure of the carbonated liquid to a pressure below the saturation pressure and above or substantially equal to ambient pressure; The container is preferably configured to be filled with a depressurized liquid through a fill tube or by wall filling of the container.

[0034] Advantageously, the system is able to achieve the same advantages as those already described with reference to the method, as well as in the preferred exemplary embodiments of the system described below.

[0035] In one exemplary embodiment, the system comprises: a liquid reservoir for storing carbonated liquid, the liquid reservoir connected to the carbonator to receive the carbonated liquid and connected to the fill valve to supply the carbonated liquid to the fill valve; a closure device (e.g., a rotary closure device) for sealing the filled container with the container closure; at least one additional fill material source connected to the pipeline section upstream or downstream of the carbonator and configured to meter additional fill material to the liquid in the pipeline section; and a mixing chamber of the fill valve (e.g., positioned upstream or downstream of the throttling element of the fill valve) for metering additional fill material to the liquid in the mixing chamber; a liquid supply, preferably a water supply, connected to the carbonator for supplying a liquid (e.g., water) to the carbonator; a degasser configured to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid and integrated with or connected to the carbonator to provide a degassed liquid to the carbonator; a lifting device configured to raise and lower the container and / or the fill valve, e.g., to press the fill valve and the container together; a piping system connecting the carbonator and the filling valve, the inner surface of the piping system having an average roughness value Ra≦0.8 and / or being free of dead zones, sudden expansions of the flow cross section and / or sudden contractions of the flow cross section, and / or having a maximum angle of continuous expansions of the flow cross section and continuous contractions of the flow cross section≦6°.

[0036] In another exemplary embodiment, the carbonator is a membrane contactor carbonator, a cavitation carbonator, or a spray cone carbonator; and / or the carbonator is configured to provide a bubble-free or nearly bubble-free carbonation process; and / or the carbonator is configured to vaporize the liquid into a gas during carbonation and mix this gas with gaseous carbon dioxide, or to diffuse the gaseous carbon dioxide into the liquid during carbonation without the gaseous carbon being forced into the liquid; and / or The carbonator is configured to carbonate the liquid at a pressure that corresponds to at least the saturation pressure (equilibrium pressure) of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0037] In one embodiment, the system is an industrial container handling system, or the system is a small-scale system (local system) for installation in a supermarket or train station, preferably with a footprint of ≦10 m 2 , ≦5m 2 , ≦3m 2 or ≦2m 2 It has.

[0038] The system may also be configured for temperature control, manufacturing, cleaning, coating, testing, pasteurizing, labeling, printing, marking, laser marking, and / or packaging of containers for liquid or pasty media, preferably beverages, liquid foods, or products from the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.

[0039] For example, the container may be embodied as a bottle, can, canister, carton, vial, tube, or the like.

[0040] Preferably, the fill valve may be actuated using an actuator, for example via closed loop or open loop control.

[0041] The system may also include a vessel holder configured to hold the vessel during filling, for example, on the vessel neck, vessel neck ring, vessel base, and / or vessel bottom.

[0042] The preferred embodiments and features of the present invention described above can be combined with each other as needed.

[0043] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0044] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] The embodiments shown in the drawings correspond at least in part, so that similar or identical parts are given the same reference numerals and, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the description of other embodiments or drawings for their description.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a system 10 for filling a container 12 .

[0047] Preferably, the system 10 is an industrial container processing system. However, it is also possible for the system 10 to be a small-scale system. A small-scale system can be installed, for example, in a supermarket, a train station, etc. A small-scale system can be, for example, ≦10 m 2 , ≦5m 2 , ≦3m 2 or ≦2m 2 The system may have a footprint of .

[0048] System 10 includes a carbonator 18 and a fill valve 26. Optionally, system 10 may also include, for example, a liquid supply 14, a degasser 16, a source of additional fill material 20, a metering valve 22, a liquid reservoir 24, a piping system 38, and / or a closure device 40.

[0049] The liquid supply 14 can provide a liquid to 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).

[0050] The liquid supply 14 may be connected to the carbonator 18 to supply liquid to the carbonator 18 via, for example, the degasser 16 and / or the piping system 38 .

[0051] The degasser 16 may be configured to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid. The degasser 16 may receive liquid from the liquid supply 14. The degasser 16 may reduce gaseous oxygen in the received liquid, preferably water. The degasser 16 may reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid according to any suitable principle of operation.

[0052] For example, degasser 16 may reduce the proportion of gaseous oxygen in the liquid to ≦1 ppm, starting from, for example, ≧10 ppm upstream of degasser 16 .

[0053] The degasser 16 may be configured to reduce other gases in the liquid, such as carbon dioxide.

[0054] 1, the degasser 16 can be configured as a separate unit from, for example, the carbonator 18. The degasser 16 can then be connected to the carbonator 18, for example, via a piping system 38, to supply the carbonator 18 with degassed liquid.

[0055] Alternatively, the degasser 16 can be integrated with, for example, a carbonator 18 (not shown). For example, the integrated device can be implemented as a membrane contactor-degasser-carbonator.

[0056] Carbonator 18 is configured to carbonate the liquid. Preferably, carbonator 18 is capable of carbonating the liquid at a liquid pressure of at least the saturation pressure of the liquid carbon dioxide. During carbonation, gaseous carbon dioxide can be (physically) dissolved in the liquid and can react with water to form carbonic acid.

[0057] Preferably, carbonator 18 carbonates pure water. However, it is also possible for carbonator 18 to carbonate another liquid, such as a mixture of pure water and at least one additive (e.g., syrup and / or flavoring).

[0058] Carbonator 18 preferably uses a bubble-free or nearly bubble-free carbonation process.

[0059] To this end, carbonator 18 can operate according to the principle that gaseous carbon dioxide gradually diffuses into the liquid at a substantially constant rate, instead of being forced into the liquid. This principle can be illustrated using a tank partially filled with liquid, the headspace of the tank being filled with gaseous carbon dioxide. Optionally, mixing elements (e.g., agitators) and / or a large contact surface between the gaseous carbon dioxide and the liquid can facilitate the diffusion process.

[0060] For example, carbonator 18 can be a membrane contactor, which can include, for example, a microporous membrane structure having several membrane plates or hollow membrane fibers, which allows for a large contact area between the gaseous carbon dioxide and the liquid and allows for a wide diffusion of the gaseous carbon dioxide into the liquid.

[0061] Alternatively, carbonator 18 may be, for example, a spray cone carbonator, which may include, for example, a conical flow body over which the liquid may pass and from which it may be atomized into finely dispersed gaseous carbon dioxide, which may then be dispersed throughout the liquid.

[0062] Carbonator 18 can also operate according to the principle that a liquid is first vaporized into a gas. This gas can then be mixed with gaseous carbon. The mixing can occur at a molecular level. During and / or after the mixing process, the mixture is returned to a liquid state, either naturally or by liquefaction.

[0063] For example, the carbonator 18 may be a cavitation carbonator, which may preferably comprise several parallel channels for carbonating the liquid.

[0064] Preferably, the cavitation carbonator can accelerate the liquid using a pump so that the liquid reaches a velocity where the pressure of the liquid is lower than the vapor pressure of the liquid. The liquid can be at least partially vaporized. Gaseous carbon dioxide can be introduced into the vaporized liquid and mixed with it. Vaporization or the formation of vapor bubbles can cause the liquid stream to break up. The flow rate can be reduced accordingly, and the pressure can again rise above the vapor pressure. The mixture can return to a liquid state.

[0065] The additional fill material source 20 can provide additional fill material or dose fill material, preferably in liquid or pasty form. For example, the additional fill material can be (temporarily) stored in the additional fill material source 20. For example, the additional fill material source 20 can be realized as a tank, a boiler, a reservoir or a supply line. Preferably, the additional fill material source 20 can provide syrup as the additional fill material.

[0066] The source of additional fill material 20 may be routed via a pipeline to a pipeline section located downstream of the carbonator 18, as shown in Figure 1. The pipeline section may be located upstream of the liquid reservoir 24. For example, the pipeline section may connect the carbonator 18 to the liquid reservoir 24 and / or the fill valve 26.

[0067] Alternatively, for example, an additional fill material source 20 can be connected via a line to a pipeline section located upstream of the carbonator 18 (not shown). The pipeline section can connect, for example, the water supply 14 and / or the degasser 16 to the carbonator 18.

[0068] The additional fill material may be metered into the (not yet carbonated or already carbonated) liquid in the pipeline section via a metering valve 22. The metering valve 22 may be located downstream of the additional fill material source 20. For example, the metering valve 22 may be located in a pipeline connecting the additional fill material source 20 to a pipeline section upstream or downstream of the carbonator 18.

[0069] Preferably, the metering valve 22 may be a switching valve. The metering valve 22 may be, for example, switchable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the metering valve 22 may open a line for additional fill material to pass through. In the closed position, the metering valve 22 may close or block the pipeline. The metering valve 22 may be actuated in any conceivable manner, for example, electrically, electromagnetically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically.

[0070] System 10 may include several additional fill material sources, each optionally connected to a metering valve (not shown). The additional fill material sources may contain the same or different additional fill material. The (mixed) fill material in container 12 may also contain additional fill material from one, two, or more additional fill material sources.

[0071] The liquid reservoir 24 is configured to store a carbonated liquid under pressure. For example, the liquid reservoir 24 can be a fill material tank.

[0072] Liquid reservoir 24 may be connected to carbonator 18, for example, via piping system 38, to receive carbonated liquid from carbonator 18. Liquid reservoir 24 may be connected to fill valve 26, for example, via piping system 38, to supply carbonated liquid to fill valve 26.

[0073] The filling valve 26 may be part of a filling device. The closing device may preferably be realized as a filling carousel or a rotary filling device. The filling device may include several filling valves 26 for filling several containers 12 simultaneously or with overlapping time periods. For example, the filling valves 26 may be arranged around the periphery of a filling device realized as a filling carousel. Alternatively, the filling device may be realized as a linear filling machine with several filling valves 26 arranged adjacent to each other and / or in series one behind the other. Alternatively, for example, if the system 10 is designed as a small-scale system, the filling device may have only a single filling valve 26.

[0074] The filling device may also include a liquid reservoir 24 and / or a piping system 38 .

[0075] Fill valve 26 is connected to carbonator 18 for receiving carbonated liquid from carbonator 18 via, for example, liquid reservoir 24 and / or piping system 38 .

[0076] Fill valve 26 is configured to continuously reduce the pressure of the carbonated liquid to a pressure below the saturation pressure and above or substantially equal to ambient pressure.

[0077] Preferably, the fill valve 26 is adjustable using either closed loop or open loop control.

[0078] For example, the fill valve 26 may have a throttle element 28 for continuously reducing the pressure. The throttle element 28 may have a conical shape. The throttle element 28 may expand along the direction of liquid flow or may taper relative to the direction of liquid flow.

[0079] The throttle element 28 may be movable (e.g., slidable) along its longitudinal axis, for example, using an actuator. By moving along its longitudinal axis, the throttle element may adjust the flow cross-section through a sleeve-shaped gap of the fill valve 26 to regulate the liquid flow. The sleeve-shaped gap may be formed between the valve housing and the throttle element. For example, the sleeve-shaped gap may have a conical shape. When the throttle element 28 is in the closed position, it is possible to completely close the sleeve-shaped gap.

[0080] Optionally, the fill valve 26 may have a shut-off element 30 movable along the longitudinal axis to shut off the fill valve 26. For example, the shut-off element 30, which is preferably conical, may be used to open or close the annular gap of the fill valve 26.

[0081] The throttle element 28 and / or the shut-off element 30 may be actuated in any conceivable manner, for example electrically, electromagnetically, pneumatically, hydraulically or mechanically.

[0082] It is also possible that the shut-off function is taken over by the throttle element 28 and that the fill valve 26 does not include a separate shut-off element 30 (not shown).

[0083] Fill valve 26 is configured to fill container 12. Preferably, fill valve 26 is capable of filling container 12 through a wall fill or through a fill tube (long tube fill).

[0084] In the case of wall filling, liquid can be introduced into the container 12 so that the liquid flows downward along the inner circumferential surface of the container 12, filling the container. For example, a flow body 32, which can be disposed at the outlet of the fill valve 26, deflects the exiting liquid toward the inner circumferential surface of the container 12. The flow body 32 can be, for example, conical in shape. The flow body 32 can be realized, for example, as a deflection shield. Alternatively or additionally, the flow body 32 can include, for example, a spiral liquid channel. The spiral liquid channel can impart a vortex to the liquid to ensure that the liquid adheres to the inner circumferential surface of the container. Alternatively, the vortex can be generated by a tangential inflow into a torus disposed around a blocking element.

[0085] As an alternative to flow body 32 or wall filling, vessel 12 can be filled, for example, through a fill tube 34 when filling through a fill tube (long tube fill). Fill tube 34 can be immersed within vessel 12. Fill tube 34 can extend, for example, to the middle of vessel 12 or further down toward the bottom of vessel 12.

[0086] The container 12 can be placed under the fill valve 26 during the filling process.

[0087] The container 12 and the fill valve 26 can be brought vertically closer together for filling. For example, a lift device 36 may be included. The lift device 36 can be configured to raise and lower the container 12, the fill valve 26, and / or the fill tube 34. The lift device 36 can also be used to immerse the fill tube 34 within the container 12.

[0088] For example, lift device 36 may be coupled to a container holder for holding container 12 to raise and lower the container holder. The container holder may support container 12, for example, by its container neck, container neck ring, container base, or container bottom.

[0089] It is also possible for the container 12 to be pressed against the fill valve 26 during filling. For example, the lift device 36 can be configured to raise and lower the container 12 and / or the fill valve 26 to press the fill valve 26 and the container 12 together.

[0090] Alternatively, the fill valve 26 and the container 12 may be spaced apart from one another during filling.

[0091] Piping system 38 can connect carbonator 18 and fill valve 26. For example, piping system 38 can include a line connecting carbonator 18 and liquid reservoir 24. Piping system 38 can also include a line connecting liquid reservoir 24 to fill valve 26. Piping system 38 can include at least one additional line, such as a line connecting liquid supply 14 and degasser 16 and / or a line connecting degasser 16 and carbonator 18.

[0092] Preferably, the inner surface of the piping system 38 has an average roughness value Ra≦0.8. At no point in the piping system 38 should the inner surface have an average roughness value Ra>0.8. The piping system 38 may be free of dead zones, abrupt expansions of the flow cross section, and / or abrupt contractions of the flow cross section. The maximum angle for continuous expansions of the flow cross section and continuous contractions of the flow cross section of the piping system 38 may be ≦6°.

[0093] Additional sensor and / or valve technology may be placed in the piping system 38. For example, a flow measurement device may be placed in the pipeline section between the liquid reservoir 24 and the fill valve 26 to measure the flow rate of liquid toward the fill valve 26. For example, a valve may be placed in the line section between the liquid reservoir 24 and the fill valve 26 to regulate (throttle) the flow of liquid and / or block or shut off the pipeline section.

[0094] The closure device 40 can seal the container 12 with, for example, a lid, a cork, a crown cap, or a screw cap. The closure device 40 can preferably be realized as a closure carousel or a rotary closure device. The closure device can have several closure stations for simultaneously sealing several containers 12. For example, the closure stations can be arranged around the closure device realized as a closure carousel. The closure device 40 can be arranged downstream of the filling valve 26 or the filling device in terms of the container flow.

[0095] The closure device 40 and the filling valve 26 or filling device can be connected to each other using a container conveyor, which can, for example, have at least one transport starwheel and / or at least one linear conveyor.

[0096] 1 and 2, a method for filling the container 12 will now be described.

[0097] First, a liquid, preferably pure water (water without additives), can be supplied to degasser 16 from liquid supply 14 .

[0098] In step S10, the liquid can be degassed using a degasser 16. In this process, gaseous oxygen dissolved in the liquid can be reduced.

[0099] In step S12, the liquid is carbonated using carbonator 18. During this process, gaseous carbon dioxide dissolves in the liquid and can react with water to form carbonic acid. Preferably, the pressure of the liquid during carbonation can at least correspond to the saturation pressure (equilibrium pressure) of the carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0100] During carbonation, either pure water or water mixed with at least one additional filler material can be carbonated.

[0101] Degassing (step S10) can be done together with carbonation of the liquid by a membrane contactor-degassing-carbonator (S12).

[0102] In step S14, at least one additional fill material from at least one additional fill material source 20 can be metered into the liquid via metering valve 22. The additional fill material can be metered into an already carbonated liquid, for example, as shown in the setup of Figure 1. The additional fill material can also be metered before the liquid is carbonated, whereby step S14 can occur before step S12 and optionally before step S10.

[0103] In step S16, the carbonated liquid, optionally mixed with at least one additional fill material, may be stored in liquid reservoir 24. The carbonated liquid may flow from carbonator 18 through piping system 38 to liquid reservoir 24. From liquid reservoir 24, the carbonated liquid may flow through piping system 38 to fill valve 26.

[0104] In step S18, the pressure of the carbonated liquid is continuously reduced to a pressure below the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid and above or substantially equal to ambient pressure using fill valve 26. In particular, throttling element 28 can reduce the pressure steadily and uniformly along its length.

[0105] In step S20, the container 12 is filled with the depressurized liquid using the fill valve 26. For this purpose, for example, the shut-off element 30 can be opened or lifted from its valve seat. As already mentioned, it is also possible for the throttle element 28 to take over the shut-off function. For example, step S20 can be performed simultaneously with or overlapping in time with step S18.

[0106] During filling, the container 12 may have an internal pressure corresponding to the reduced liquid pressure and / or ambient pressure.

[0107] Preferably, step S20 includes wall-filling the container 12 or filling the container 12 using a fill tube 34.

[0108] During filling, the container 12 can be pressed against the fill valve 26, preferably in an air-tight or liquid-tight manner.

[0109] In step S22, the filled container 12 may be closed with a container closure by a closure device 40.

[0110] FIG. 3 shows a modified system 10 ′ in which the fill valve 26 includes a mixing chamber 42 .

[0111] In mixing chamber 42, different fill materials from different fill material sources can be mixed together. Preferably, the fill materials can be mixed in mixing chamber 42 when fill valve 26 is closed. Container 12 can be filled from mixing chamber 42 when fill valve 26 is open.

[0112] The mixing chamber 42 may be realized, for example, as a vortex chamber.

[0113] The mixing chamber 42 may be located, for example, upstream or downstream of the throttling element 28 .

[0114] An additional fill material source 20 may be connected to the mixing chamber 42 via a line that opens into the mixing chamber 42. The additional fill material from the additional fill material source 20 may be metered into the liquid in the mixing chamber 42 using a metering valve 22.

[0115] In the related method according to Figure 4, step S14 of metering at least one additional fill material into the liquid can occur after step S16 of storing the carbonated liquid in the liquid reservoir 24. Depending on the arrangement of the mixing chamber 42, step S14 of metering at least one additional fill material into the liquid can also occur after step S18 (continuous pressure reduction) and before step S20 (filling).

[0116] The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, numerous variations and modifications are possible that similarly utilize the inventive concept and thus fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the present invention also claims protection for the subject matter and features of the dependent claims, regardless of the claims to which they refer. In particular, each individual feature of independent claim 1 is disclosed independently of the other. Furthermore, features of dependent claims are disclosed independently of all features of independent claim 1. All ranges specified herein should be understood to be also disclosed as, for example, relevant preferred narrower outer limits of the relevant ranges, so that all values falling within the relevant ranges are individually disclosed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 10 Systems 12 containers 14 Liquid supply section 16 Degassing device 18 Carbonator 20 Additional Sources of Filling Material 22 Metering valve 24 Fluid Reservoir 26 Filling valve 28 Throttle Elements 30 Blocking Elements 32 Flow Body 34 Filling tube 36 Lifting Device 38 Piping System 40 Closing device 42 Mixing Chamber

Claims

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

2. the carbonation of the liquid is carried out using a membrane contactor carbonator, a cavitation carbonator, or a spray cone carbonator; the carbonation is performed using a bubble-free or nearly bubble-free carbonation process; During carbonation, the liquid is vaporized to a gas and the gas is mixed with the gaseous carbon dioxide, or the gaseous carbon dioxide diffuses into the liquid without being forced into the liquid during carbonation; the pressure of the liquid during carbonation corresponds at least to the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the liquid; The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:

3. The container (12) is filled via a fill tube (34) that is immersed in the container (12), or the container (12) is filled by wall filling of the container (12), with the liquid flowing into the container (12) along the inner periphery of the container (12) as the container (12) is filled; and / or 3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the filling of the container (12) is not performed by free jet filling.

4. when the container (12) is filled with the depressurized liquid, the container (12) has an internal pressure corresponding to the pressure of the depressurized liquid and / or to the ambient pressure; and / or The filling is carried out at ambient or near ambient pressure.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. During filling, the container (12) is pressed against the filling valve (26), preferably in an airtight or liquid-tight manner.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. further comprising flowing the carbonated liquid through a piping system (38) to the fill valve (26), optionally with an intervening liquid reservoir (24); the inner surface of the piping system (38) has an average roughness value Ra≦0.8; the piping system (38) being free of dead zones, sudden expansions of the flow cross section, and / or sudden contractions of the flow cross section; the maximum angle for the continuous expansion of the flow cross section and the continuous contraction of the flow cross section of the piping system (38) is ≦6°; At least one of the following conditions is met:

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. storing the carbonated liquid in a liquid reservoir (24) before the pressure is reduced by the fill valve (26), preferably the carbonated liquid being stored under a pressure corresponding to at least the saturation pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated liquid; The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:

8. degassing the liquid using a degasser (16) to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid before or during the carbonation of the liquid; The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:

9. The liquid to be carbonated is either pure water or water mixed with at least one additional filler material; 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. metering at least one additional filler material into said liquid, preferably Prior to the carbonation, After said carbonation and before said pressure reduction, or in the mixing chamber (42) of said filling valve (26); 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

11. the method further comprising sealing the filled container (12) with a container closure using a closure device (40); the container (12) is automatically moved to and / or after said filling; the method is applied to a vessel processing system (10); said filling valve (26) being one of several filling valves of a filling device, preferably a rotary filling device; said containers (12) moving along a continuous production line; The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:

12. A system (10) for filling a container (12) with a liquid, preferably using a method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, said system (10) comprising: a carbonator (18) configured to carbonate the liquid; a filling device having at least one fill valve (26) connected to the carbonator (18) for receiving the carbonated liquid from the carbonator (18), the filling device comprising: preferably using a throttling element of said fill valve (26) to continuously reduce the pressure of said carbonated liquid to a pressure below said saturation pressure and above or substantially equal to ambient pressure; The system (10) is configured to fill the container (12) with the depressurized liquid, preferably through a fill tube (34) or by wall filling of the container (12).

13. a liquid reservoir (24) for storing the carbonated liquid, the liquid reservoir (24) being connected to the carbonator (18) to receive the carbonated liquid and connected to the fill valve (26) to supply the carbonated liquid to the fill valve (26); a closure device (40) for sealing the filled container (12) with a container closure; At least one additional source of filler material (20), a pipeline section upstream or downstream of the carbonator (18) for metering additional filler material to the liquid in said pipeline section, or a mixing chamber (42) of the filling valve (26) for metering additional fill material to the liquid in the mixing chamber (42); at least one additional source of fill material (20) connected to the a liquid supply (14), preferably a water supply, connected to the carbonator (18) for supplying liquid to the carbonator (18); a degasser (16) configured to reduce gaseous oxygen in the liquid and integrated with or connected to the carbonator (18) to supply a degassed liquid to the carbonator (18); a lifting device (36) configured to raise and lower the container (12) and / or the fill valve (26) to press the fill valve (26) and the container (12) together; a piping system (38) connecting the carbonator (18) and the fill valve (26); and The piping system (38) and / or has an inner surface with an average roughness value Ra≦0.

8. There are no dead zones, sudden expansions of the flow cross section and / or sudden contractions of the flow cross section; and / or The maximum angle of the continuous expansion of the flow cross section and the continuous contraction of the flow cross section is ≦6°; The system (10) according to claim 12.

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

15. The system (10) is an industrial container processing system; The system (10) is a small-scale system for installation in a supermarket or train station, preferably with a footprint of ≦10 m ２ , ≦5m ２ , ≦3m ２ , or ≦2m ２ That is, A system (10) according to any one of claims 12 to 14.

Images