Method for cooling at least one evaporator device for a sterilisation mixture, sterilisation system and machine for producing and / or treating containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for cooling at least one evaporator device (12) for a sterilisation mixture of a sterilisation carrier gas and a sterilisation fluid, wherein the evaporator device (12) has at least one fluid line (14) and at least one heating unit (16) for evaporating the sterilisation fluid and at least the fluid line (14) is heated to more than 100°C, comprising at least the step of: switching off (102) the heating device (16); wherein the method (100) further comprises at least the following steps: producing (104) a cooling mixture of cooling carrier gas and cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol; and introducing (106) the cooling mixture into the fluid line (14) in order to cool the evaporator device (12). The method (100) can be used to accelerate the cooling of an evaporator device (12) without jeopardising the structural integrity of the evaporator device (12).

Description

[0001] Method for cooling at least one evaporator device for a sterilization mixture, sterilization system and machine for producing and / or treating containers

[0002] The invention relates to a method for cooling at least one evaporator device for a sterilization mixture as well as to a sterilization system and a machine for producing and / or treating containers.

[0003] When manufacturing containers intended for use with food, particularly plastic containers, it is necessary to sterilize the containers and / or the lines used to fill the food into the containers. If the containers are made from preforms, the preforms themselves can be sterilized. To sterilize the lines, preforms and / or containers, sterilization systems can be used which can apply a sterilizing agent to the surfaces of the lines, preforms and / or containers. The sterilizing agent can, for example, be hydrogen peroxide, which is injected into a carrier air stream and can form an aerosol. The carrier air stream containing the aerosol flows into an evaporator in which the aerosol is heated or vaporized to a temperature of between 100 °C and 400 °C. The aim of the heating orEvaporation is that the carrier air stream contains hydrogen peroxide vapor, which can be used to sterilize the surfaces of the pipes, containers and / or preforms.

[0004] During operation of the evaporator, salts can form from the sterilizing agent, which can then be deposited in the evaporator lines. To clean the lines, a cleaning medium can be used, for example, to rinse the lines. The cleaning medium can be water, acid, or alkali. The cleaning medium is only introduced once the evaporator has cooled to a temperature below the evaporation temperature of the respective cleaning medium. To accelerate cooling, it is known to pass air or water through the evaporator. JP 5739101 B2 discloses a cooling method in which, after hydrogen peroxide vapor has been passed through a filling line, aseptic air is passed into the lines to cool the line.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a method by which the cooling of an evaporator can be accelerated without endangering the structural integrity of the evaporator.

[0006] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention, a method is proposed for cooling at least one evaporator device for a sterilization mixture of a sterilization carrier gas and a sterilization fluid, wherein the evaporator device has at least one fluid line and at least one heating device for evaporating the sterilization fluid, and at least the fluid line is heated to more than 100°C, comprising at least the step of: switching off the heating device; wherein the invention provides that the method further comprises at least the following steps: generating a cooling mixture of cooling carrier gas and cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol; and introducing the cooling mixture into the fluid line in order to cool the evaporator device.

[0008] The process thus provides an aerosol with a carrier gas that can be used to cool the fluid line. In contrast to cooling with pure air, the aerosols are evaporated by the heated fluid line without generating large amounts of vapor. In this way, the evaporation enthalpy of the aerosol can contribute to the cooling. Compared to cooling with pure air, this results in significantly accelerated cooling of the evaporator device or fluid line. Furthermore, the evaporation of the aerosols only generates small amounts of vapor, which can be in the range that occurs during operation of the evaporator device. The fluid line, which has a temperature of over 100°C, is therefore not suddenly subjected to high pressure, as is the case with cooling with water, which occurs due to the large amounts of vapor when water evaporates. The mechanical structure of the fluid line and the evaporator device is thus protected or even reduced.only within the limits intended for operation, for example if similarly large quantities of cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol are used, which are also passed through the evaporator during operation.

[0009] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the cooling mixture may comprise the sterilization mixture.

[0010] For example, the sterilizing agent can be used as a coolant. This eliminates the need for additional valves and supply lines to provide additional coolant. Furthermore, to cool the vaporizer, simply turn off the heating device, and the sterilizing agent can continue to be introduced into the vaporizer as an aerosol.

[0011] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the cooling carrier gas may comprise nitrogen, preferably air.

[0012] By using air, carrier gas can be provided easily. An existing air supply can also be used to provide cooling carrier gas for the cooling mixture.

[0013] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the cooling fluid may comprise water and / or hydrogen peroxide.

[0014] The cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol can thus contain water or hydrogen peroxide. If hydrogen peroxide is used as the sterilization fluid, the hydrogen peroxide can also be used as the cooling fluid from which the aerosols are generated. This also allows existing devices to be used to accelerate the cooling of the vaporizer device.

[0015] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the cooling carrier gas, the cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol and / or the cooling mixture can be cooled before being introduced into the fluid line. This can further improve the cooling effect to further accelerate the cooling of the evaporator device.

[0016] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the cooling fluid can be conveyed before the cooling mixture is generated with a volume flow in the range of 0.1 ml / min to 200 ml / min, preferably 10 ml / min to 100 ml / min, more preferably in the range of 20 ml / min to 60 ml / min, most preferably with about 40 ml / min.

[0017] This ensures that sufficient cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol can be provided without the evaporation of the aerosol particles producing too much vapor, which would increase the pressure in the fluid line or the evaporator device beyond the intended limits.

[0018] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the cooling carrier gas is supplied with a volume flow in the range of 0.1 Nm 3 / h (standard cubic meters per hour) up to 80 Nm 3 / h, preferably between 1 Nm 3 / h and 40 Nm 3 / h can be promoted.

[0019] By using these amounts of carrier gas, the cooling effect can be optimized.

[0020] Furthermore, according to some embodiments, it is conceivable that a ratio of the volume flow of the cooling fluid before generating the cooling mixture and the volume flow of the cooling carrier gas is in the range between 0.00125 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 2000 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h), preferably between 0.0125 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 200 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h), more preferably between 0.1 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 10 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h), most preferably between 0.125 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 5 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h).

[0021] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the introduction of the cooling mixture into the fluid line can be terminated when at least the fluid line has a temperature of at most 150°C, preferably a temperature of at most 125°C, most preferably a temperature of at most 100°C. Furthermore, the introduction of the cooling mixture into the fluid line can be terminated when the fluid line has a temperature of at most 70°C.

[0022] The temperature can be selected so that it is exactly at or below the boiling point of the liquid flushing medium being introduced. When using water as the flushing medium, it is sufficient for the temperature of the fluid line to be below 100 °C. If the temperature is exactly at the boiling point, some of the flushing medium may evaporate. However, the temperature of the fluid line can be reduced below the boiling point in a short time, so that the vapor evolution only causes a slight pressure increase.

[0023] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that after the cooling mixture has been introduced into the fluid line, a rinsing liquid, preferably water, can be introduced into the fluid line.

[0024] The rinsing liquid can be used to remove deposits in the fluid line or the evaporator device.

[0025] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a sterilization system comprising at least one control device and at least one evaporator device for a sterilization mixture of a sterilization carrier gas and a sterilization fluid, wherein the evaporator device comprises at least one fluid line and at least one heating device for evaporating the sterilization fluid, wherein the sterilization system comprises at least one cooling fluid line and at least one cooling carrier gas line with at least one coolant supply device for providing a cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol, wherein the cooling fluid line opens into the coolant supply device and the control device is designed at least to control the evaporator device, a volume flow in the cooling fluid line and a volume flow in the cooling carrier gas line according to the method according to the preceding description.The advantages and effects, as well as further developments, of the sterilization system arise from the advantages and effects, as well as further developments, of the method described above. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the previous description in this regard.

[0026] The coolant supply device can, for example, be an aerosol generator device with which a cooling aerosol can be generated and provided.

[0027] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a machine for producing and / or treating containers, comprising at least one sterilization system according to the preceding description, wherein the evaporator device is designed to introduce the sterilization mixture into at least one preform and / or container.

[0028] Advantages and effects, as well as further developments of the machine for producing and / or treating containers, arise from the advantages and effects, as well as further developments, of the method and sterilization system described above. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the previous description in this regard.

[0029] The machine may, for example, be a container manufacturing machine, in particular a stretch blow molding machine or a form-filling machine, or a filling machine.

[0030] The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0031] Figure 1 is a flow chart of the process;

[0032] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the sterilization system;

[0033] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the machine; and

[0034] Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of the cooling process. Figure 1 shows a flow diagram of the method 100 for cooling at least one evaporator device for a sterilization mixture consisting of a sterilization carrier gas and a sterilization fluid.

[0035] The method 100 can be performed after a sterilization of containers, preforms, and / or lines has taken place. That is, the method 100 can follow a process for sterilizing surfaces using the vaporizer device. During the process for sterilizing surfaces, at least the fluid line is heated to more than 100°C. Furthermore, the method 100 can also be performed before a process for sterilizing surfaces using the vaporizer device.

[0036] The method 100 can thus serve to cool the evaporator device, in particular the fluid line, to below 100 °C.

[0037] In a first step 102, a heating device of the evaporator device can first be switched off. This step is performed to ensure that the heating device is switched off and that no active heating of the fluid line and / or the evaporator device takes place. The fluid line and the evaporator device are then no longer actively heated.

[0038] In a further step 110, cooling fluid can be delivered at a volume flow in the range of 0.1 ml / min to 200 ml / min, preferably 10 ml / min to 100 ml / min, more preferably in the range of 20 ml / min to 60 ml / min, most preferably at approximately 40 ml / min. While the cooling fluid is being delivered to cool the evaporator device, it can be cooled according to a further step 108. The cooling fluid can be directed to a coolant supply device. If the coolant supply device is designed as an aerosol generator device, the cooling fluid can be converted into a cooling aerosol in the aerosol generator device.

[0039] The cooling fluid can be, for example, water or hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the cooling fluid can be identical to the sterilization fluid used to generate the sterilization mixture. In a further step 104, the cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol can be mixed with a cooling carrier gas to form a cooling mixture. The mixing can be carried out, for example, by spraying the cooling fluid into the cooling carrier gas. For this purpose, the cooling carrier gas can be injected in a step 110 with a volume flow in the range of 0.1 Nm 3 / h up to 80 Nm 3 / h, preferably in the range between 1 Nm 3 / h and 40 Nm 3 / h, are promoted.

[0040] The cooling carrier gas may, for example, comprise nitrogen and preferably be air. Furthermore, the cooling carrier gas may be identical to the sterilization carrier gas used to generate the sterilization mixture.

[0041] A ratio of the volume flow of the cooling fluid before generating the cooling mixture and the volume flow of the cooling carrier gas can be in the range between 0.00125 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 2000 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h), preferably between 0.0125 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 200 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h), more preferably between 0.1 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 10 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h), most preferably between 0.125 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 5 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h).

[0042] According to step 108, the cooling carrier gas can be cooled to increase the cooling effect in the evaporator device or the fluid line.

[0043] Furthermore, the cooling mixture can also be cooled according to step 108.

[0044] The cooling mixture can be passed through the fluid line according to step 112 until at least the fluid line has a temperature of at most 150°C, preferably a temperature of at most 125°C, most preferably a temperature of at most 100°C. Terminating the introduction of the cooling mixture can expediently be carried out at any temperature below 100°C.

[0045] According to a further step 114, after the cooling mixture has been introduced, a flushing fluid can be introduced into the fluid line to loosen deposits in the fluid line. The flushing fluid can be water, for example.

[0046] The temperature used in step 112 may depend on the type of rinsing fluid. For example, if water is used as the rinsing fluid, the temperature in step 112 may be set to less than 100°C. This temperature is below the boiling point of water, and no vapor will form when the water is passed through the fluid line under normal pressure conditions.

[0047] Steps 108-114 are optional and can be performed selectively. Furthermore, the above steps can be performed in different orders and / or simultaneously, as far as technically feasible.

[0048] Figure 2 shows a sterilization system 10. The sterilization system 10 has an evaporator device 12, in which sterilization fluid can be vaporized in a sterilization mixture with a sterilization carrier gas. The sterilization fluid can be sprayed as a sterilization fluid aerosol into a sterilization carrier gas line 13 via a sterilization fluid line 11.

[0049] A heater 16 of the vaporizer device 12 can heat the sterilization mixture. The heated sterilization mixture can then be passed through a fluid line 14 to sterilize a surface, for example, of another line, a machine, or a preform and / or container.

[0050] The sterilization system 10 further comprises a cooling fluid line 18 through which a cooling fluid can be conducted. The cooling fluid line 18 can open into a coolant supply device 22. Furthermore, a cooling carrier gas line 20 can extend through the coolant supply device 22. The cooling fluid can be converted into an aerosol in the coolant supply device 22, which is designed as an aerosol generator device, for example, by spraying the cooling fluid into the cooling carrier gas line 20. The sterilization fluid line 11 and the sterilization carrier gas line 13 can be identical to the cooling fluid line 18 and the cooling carrier gas line 20, respectively. Then, for example, the sterilization fluid can be the cooling fluid and the sterilization carrier gas can be the cooling carrier gas.

[0051] The sterilization system 10 may further include a control device 24 configured to control the evaporator device 12. Furthermore, the control device 24 may control a volume flow in the cooling fluid line 18 and a volume flow in the cooling carrier gas line 20.

[0052] The control device 24 is further configured to carry out the method 100 explained above. For this purpose, the control device 24 can be connected via signal connections 28 to pumps and / or valves with which the cooling fluid line 18 and the cooling carrier gas line 20 can be controlled. Furthermore, the control device 24 can be connected via a signal connection 28 to the evaporator device 12 or the heating device 16 in order to transmit control signals to the heating device 16. The signal connections 28 can be wireless or wired.

[0053] Figure 3 shows a system 30 for producing and / or treating containers. The system 30 has at least one container treatment machine 32, with which containers can be subjected to a treatment in at least one treatment station 38 of the treatment machine 32. The treatment can include, for example, sterilizing the containers or filling the containers.

[0054] A first transport wheel 34 can feed the containers to the container treatment machine 32. A second transport wheel 36 can remove the treated containers from the container treatment machine 32. The container treatment machine 32 can be designed as a rotary machine.

[0055] The container treatment machine 32 can have at least one sterilization system 10. The sterilization system 10 can be fluidically connected to the at least one treatment station 38. The fluidically communicating connection can be provided, for example, via the fluid line 14. Furthermore, the sterilization system 10 can be configured to sterilize the at least one treatment station 38, the fluid line 14, and / or a preform and / or container arranged in the treatment station 38. In particular, the sterilization mixture can be introduced from the evaporator device 12 via the fluid line 14 into a preform and / or container received by the treatment station 38.

[0056] According to an alternative embodiment, the preforms and / or containers can be guided past a fixed outlet of the fluid line 14. While the preforms are transported past the outlet, the sterilization mixture can be sprayed onto and / or into the preforms and / or containers. After sterilization, the preforms and / or containers can be fed to the container treatment machine 32, which can then, for example, transform preforms into containers.

[0057] Figure 4 shows a diagram 40 which illustrates the cooling curves of an evaporator device 12, wherein different cooling methods were used for the evaporator device 12.

[0058] The right axis 42 shows the time in minutes, the vertical axis 44 the temperature in degrees Celsius.

[0059] All curves assume an initial evaporator temperature of 300 °C. Curve 46 represents a curve in which only air is used as the cooling fluid. The air was supplied at a volume flow of 21.4 Nm 3 / h through the evaporator. The temperature of 100° was reached after more than 20 minutes.

[0060] Curve 48 was generated using a cooling mixture. Air was used as the carrier gas and hydrogen peroxide as the cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol. The air was filled with 6 Nm 3 / h into the evaporator device 12. The hydrogen peroxide was introduced at a volume flow rate of 40 ml / min. The temperature of 100°C was reached after approximately 14 minutes. This means that despite the reduced air volume compared to curve 46, a shortened cooling time was achieved.

[0061] Curve 50 shows the temperature profile with a cooling mixture that also consists of air and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide was also introduced at 40 ml / min. The air flow rate was 21.4 Nm. 3 / h. In this example, the temperature of 100° was reached after approximately 11 minutes.

[0062] The example described above does not limit the invention in any way. Rather, the invention can be modified in many ways. All of the features of the invention described above can be essential to the invention, either alone or in combination with one another.

[0063] List of reference symbols

[0064] 10 Sterilization system

[0065] 12 Evaporator device

[0066] 14 Fluid line 16 Heating device

[0067] 18 Cooling fluid line

[0068] 20 Cooling carrier gas line

[0069] 22 Coolant supply device

[0070] 24 Control device 28 Signal connection

[0071] 30 Appendix

[0072] 32 machines

[0073] 34 Transport wheel

[0074] 36 Transport wheel 38 Treatment station

Claims

Claims 1. A method (100) for cooling at least one evaporator device (12) for a sterilization mixture of a sterilization carrier gas and a sterilization fluid, wherein the evaporator device (12) has at least one fluid line (14) and at least one heating device (16) for evaporating the sterilization fluid and at least the fluid line (14) is heated to more than 100 °C, comprising at least the step: Switching off (102) the heating device (16); characterized in that the method (100) further comprises at least the following steps: generating (104) a cooling mixture of cooling carrier gas and cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol; and Introducing (106) the cooling mixture into the fluid line (14) to cool the evaporator device (12).

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling mixture comprises the sterilization mixture.

3. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the cooling carrier gas comprises nitrogen, preferably air.

4. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling fluid comprises water and / or hydrogen peroxide.

5. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling carrier gas, the cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol and / or the cooling mixture is cooled (108) before being introduced (106) into the fluid line (14).

6. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling fluid is conveyed (110) before the generation (104) of the cooling mixture with a volume flow in the range of 0.1 ml / min to 200 ml / min, preferably 10 ml / min to 100 ml / min, more preferably in the range of 20 ml / min to 60 ml / min, most preferably with approximately 40 ml / min.

7. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling carrier gas is supplied with a volume flow in the range of 0.1 Nm 3 / h up to 80 Nm 3 / h, preferably between 1 Nm 3 / h and 40 Nm 3 / h is promoted.

8. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a ratio of the volume flow of the cooling fluid before generating the cooling mixture and the volume flow of the cooling carrier gas in the range between 0.00125 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 2000 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h), preferably between 0.0125 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 200 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h), more preferably between 0.1 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 10 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h), most preferably between 0.125 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h) and 5 (ml / min) / (Nm 3 / h).

9. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the introduction of the cooling mixture into the fluid line (14) is terminated (112) when at least the fluid line (14) has a temperature of at most 150°C, preferably a temperature of at most 125°C, most preferably a temperature of at most 100°C.

10. The method (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that after the termination (112) of the introduction of the cooling mixture into the fluid line (14), a rinsing liquid, preferably water, is introduced (114) into the fluid line (14). 11 . Sterilization system (10) comprising at least one control device (24) and at least one evaporator device (12) for a sterilization mixture of a sterilization carrier gas and a sterilization fluid, wherein the evaporator device (12) has at least one fluid line (14) and at least one heating device (16) for evaporating the sterilization fluid, characterized in that the sterilization system (10) has at least one cooling fluid line (18) and at least one cooling carrier gas line (20) with at least one coolant supply device (22) for providing a cooling fluid and / or cooling aerosol, wherein the cooling fluid line (18) opens into the coolant supply device (22) and the control device (24) is designed at least to control the evaporator device (12), a volume flow in the cooling fluid line (18) and a volume flow in the cooling carrier gas line (20) according to the method (100) according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Machine (32) for producing and / or treating containers, comprising at least one sterilization system (10) according to claim 11, wherein the evaporator device (12) is designed to introduce the sterilization mixture into at least one preform and / or container.

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