A system and a method for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers

Abstract

Described and claimed is a system for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers. The system comprises an inlet line for receiving used rinse water, a treatment subsystem and an outlet line. Part of the treatment subsystem are a hydrogen peroxide supply unit and an ultraviolet light unit. Optionally, the system comprises at least one of an additional carbon filter or a water quality sensing device measuring the water quality of the treated rinse water and controlling the H2O2 supply unit. Further, a method for treating rinse water is described and claimed.

Description

[0001] Applicant: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A / S

[0002] Title: A system and a method for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers

[0003] Our Ref.: GP 3838 WO

[0004] Description

[0005]

[0001] The present invention is directed to a system for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers. The invention is further directed to a method for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers.

[0006] 5

[0002] In the beverage and soft drink industry, generally the bottling industry, bottles, cans, and other containers for products need to be rinsed before the containers can be filled with product. The same issue arises generally in the food and beverage industry. Currently, the water used for rinsing food and beverage containers is sent to a drain and treated,

[0007] 10 for example, at a municipal water treatment plant. Cleaning food and beverage containers consumes large amounts of water that are oftentimes only lightly contaminated.

[0008]

[0003] In view of the above, it is considered an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method for reducing the water consumption when rinsing food and beverage containers.

[0009]

[0004] The object is solved by systems for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers according to independent claims 1 and 3 as well as by methods for treating rinse water which has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers according to independ¬

[0010] 20 ent claims 9 and 1 1. Preferred embodiments of the system and the method are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0011] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025

[0005] In a first aspect a system for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers is disclosed. The system comprises an inlet line for receiving rinse water that has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers. The system further comprises a treatment subsystem

[0012] 5 for treating the received rinse water to improve a water quality of the rinse water and to obtain treated rinse water. Further, the system comprises an outlet line. The treatment subsystem comprises a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) supply unit, an ultraviolet (UV) light unit, and a carbon filter. The H2O2 supply unit is configured for supplying a controlled amount of H2O2 to the rinse water received via the inlet line. The UV light unit is configured to expose the rinse water which has been supplied which H2O2 by the H2O2 supply unit to UV light at a controlled dose rate. The carbon filter is configured for scavenging free oxidants and / or partially mineralized contaminants in the rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2

[0013] 15 and which has been exposed to UV light. The outlet line is configured for supplying treated rinse water from the treatment subsystem to a food and beverage container rinse line for rinsing food beverage containers.

[0014]

[0006] In other words, the present invention provides a system which allows to clean and afterwards reuse water that has previously been used

[0015] 20 for rinsing food and beverage containers. Food and beverage containers are, for example, bottles and cans used in the soft drink industry. Also, other containers that need to be rinsed before being filled with food and beverage products need to be cleaned by rinsing them with water. The rinse water used for these kinds of containers can also be treated using the present system. Subsequently, water that has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers will be referred to simply as “rinse water.”

[0016]

[0007] In the present system, rinse water is not simply dumped into the drain and sent off to a municipal water treatment facility. Instead, it is foreseen that the water is collected and cleaned using a dedicated

[0017] 30 treatment subsystem. The aim of the treatment subsystem is to improve the water quality of the rinse water to an extent that it can be reused for

[0018] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 rinsing food and beverage containers. Rinse water that has been decontaminated by the treatment subsystem will subsequently be referred to as treated rinse water. Generally, the system according to the present invention aims to reduce the water consumption, i.e., the amount of

[0019] 5 fresh water that is used to rinse food and beverage containers by up to 95%.

[0020]

[0008] For achieving this goal, the treatment subsystem comprises according to the first aspect of the invention a combination of three different water treatment means. The first means is a hydrogen peroxide

[0021] 10 (H2O2) supply unit. The H2O2 supply unit may, for example, be made up from an H2O2 tank combined with a dosing pump. The dosing pump is configured to supply controlled amounts of H2O2 to the rinse water that has been received via an inlet line of the system after having been collected at a rinse line for food and beverage containers. The amount of H2O2 supplied to the rinse water is controlled in the sense that it may, for example, be modified by a control unit of the system or the treatment subsystem to improve the result of the rinse water treatment. Controlling the H2O2 supply is described in more detail with regard to the preferred embodiments.

[0022] 20

[0009] Subsequently, the rinse water that has been supplied with H2O2 is exposed to UV light at the UV light unit. Ultraviolet light or radiation is commonly understood to comprise electric magnetic radiation of wavelengths between 10 nm and 400 nm. In an exemplary preferred embodiment, the UV light unit exposes the rinse water to UV light at a dose rate

[0023] 25 of 200-1000 mJ / cm2. The U V light disinfects the rinse water and also serves as catalyzer for advanced oxidation processes initiated by the H2O2. The combination of H2O2 and UV light thus attacks and decomposes contaminants in the rinse water such as oil, grease and microorganisms so that they are no longer harmful.

[0024] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025

[0010] Downstream of the H2O2 supply unit and the UV light disinfection unit a carbon filter is provided in the treatment subsystem. The carbon filter removes any remaining free oxidants or partially mineralized contaminants in the rinse water. The carbon filter uses a bed of activated

[0025] 5 carbon to remove the remaining impurities in the treated rinse water.

[0026]

[0011] After passing the treatment subsystem, the treated rinse water is deemed to have been sufficiently treated for reuse in a food and beverage container rinse line. The water is therefore supplied via an outlet line back to a rinse system. For example, the treated rinse water may be

[0027] 10 resupplied to the rinse line from which it has been collected.

[0028]

[0012] Advantageously, by treating and reusing the rinse water, the water consumption of bottling systems or other systems before placing food and beverage product into corresponding containers can be reduced by up to 95%. The presently provided combination of an H2O2 supply unit

[0029] 15 and an ultraviolet light disinfection unit has been shown to clean the rinse water to a particularly high degree . The combination of the treatment units is particular to rinse water used for food and beverage containers due to the contaminants usually found thereon.

[0030]

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises a water quality

[0031] 20 sensing device. The water quality sensing device is configured to continuously analyze the treated rinse water and determine a plurality of parameters indicative of a water quality of the treated rinse water. Thus, in the preferred embodiment the water quality of the treated rinse water, i.e., the water that has passed the treatment subsystem is monitored by a water quality sensing device. The water quality sensing device is a permanent part of the system and, may, for example, provide several water quality parameters in real time. As will be set out in more detail with respect to the additional aspects of the present invention and preferred embodiments of the present system, continuously analyzing the water

[0032] 30 quality of the treated rinse water can be used in several advantageous

[0033] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 ways beyond the advantage of being able to continuously monitor the outcome of the treatment.

[0034]

[0014] In a second aspect, a system for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers is provided. The system comprises an

[0035] 5 inlet line for receiving rinse water that has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers, a treatment subsystem for treating the received rinse water to improve a water quality of the rinse water and to obtain treated rinse water, as well as an outlet line. The treatment subsystem comprises a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) supply unit, and an ultraviolet

[0036] 10 (UV) light unit. The H2O2 supply unit is configured for supplying a controlled amount of H2O2 to the rinse water received via the inlet line. The UV light unit is configured to expose the rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 by the H2O2 supply unit to UV light at a controlled dose amount. The treatment subsystem further preferably comprises a carbon filter. The carbon filter is configured for scavenging free oxidants or partially mineralized contaminants in the rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 and which has been exposed to UV light. The system further comprises a water quality sensing device. The water quality sensing device is configured for continuously analyzing the treated rinse water

[0037] 20 and determining a plurality of parameters indicative of a water quality of the treated rinse water. The outlet line is configured for resupplying treated rinse water from the treatment subsystem to a food and beverage container rinse line for rinsing food and beverage containers.

[0038]

[0015] Hence, as compared to the system according to the first aspect, the present system does not necessarily comprise a carbon filter. The carbon filter can generally be dispensed with. While the combination of an H2O2 supply unit, a UV unit and a carbon filter results in particular efficient cleaning of used rinse water, in some embodiments it may be sufficient to refrain from using the carbon filter and instead continuously monitor

[0039] 30 the water quality of the treated rinse water. In the present embodiment, the water quality sensing device is therefore a mandatory element.

[0040] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025

[0016] As previously mentioned, a water quality sensing device for determining the quality of the treated rinse water has various advantages that will subsequently be discussed with respect to the preferred embodiments in more detail. Generally speaking, the water quality sensing de¬

[0041] 5 vice allows to continuously monitor the quality of the treated rinse water and take necessary measures to ensure that only sufficiently treated rinse water is reused and that the treatment is of sufficiently high quality. Since in all other aspects the system according to the first and second aspect is identical, reference is made to the preceding description to avoid un¬

[0042] 10 necessary repetitions.

[0043]

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of either of the previously described systems, the system is configured for continuously controlling the amount of H2O2 supplied by the H2O2 supply unit to the rinse water based on the rinse water quality determined by the water quality sensing device. Hence, in the preferred embodiment a feedback or control loop is provided that allows adjusting the H2O2 amount that is supplied to the rinse water. The H2O2 supply is not simply controlled based on the amount of rinse water that flows through the treatment subsystem. Rather, in the preferred embodiment it is foreseen that the treated water is analyzed

[0044] 20 and based on the result of the analysis the H2O2 supply is adjusted. Adjusting the amount of H2O2 can, for example, be achieved by controlling a dosing pump that injects the H2O2 into the flow of rinse water. This advantageously optimizes the amount of H2O2 that is required to achieve a sufficient water quality, in particular, compared to existing water disinfection systems that only control the H2O2 amount based on the flow rate of water through the H2O2 supply unit.

[0045]

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of either of the aspects of the present invention, the plurality of parameters indicative of the water quality of the treated water includes at least one of a PH-level of the treated rinse

[0046] 30 water, an oxygen reduction potential (ORF) of the rinse water, a turbidity

[0047] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 of the treated rinse water, a temperature of the treated rinse water, and / or a conductivity of the treated rinse water.

[0048]

[0019] The above parameters are all indicative of the water quality of the treated rinse water. There are various ways established in the prior art

[0049] 5 of continuously and automatically measuring each of the above parameters. The corresponding sensors that need to be integrated into the water quality sensing device are therefore not described in detail here. It is noted that the water quality sensing device does not necessarily have to be a single box or unit that integrates all sensors. Rather, the water quality

[0050] 10 sensing device could be made up from a plurality of distributed sensors. However, it is understood that all sensors measure the water quality downstream of the last element of the treatment subsystem.

[0051]

[0020] Preferably, the amount of H2O2 that is supplied to the rinse water is controlled based on an oxygen reduction potential determined by the water quality sensing device and a flow rate of the rinse water flowing through the treatment subsystem. Thus, in the present preferred embodiment, the H2O2 supply unit is controlled based on an indirect measure of the water quality in form of the ORP. The inventors observed that the ORP provides a particularly good water quality measure for adjusting the H2O2

[0052] 20 supply. In addition to relying on the ORP of the treated rinse water, the amount of H2O2 is further controlled based on the rinse water flow. The rinse water flow can, for example, be provided by a pump of the system that is used for controlling the flow through the treatment subsystem. The pump can, for example, be installed downstream or upstream of the treatment subsystem, i.e., between the inlet line and the treatment subsystem. The latter position of the pump is preferred.

[0053]

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, the system comprises a UV light sensor. The dose amount of UV light emitted by the UV light unit is controlled based on an output from the UV light sensor. Preferably, the

[0054] 30 UV light sensor is integrated into the UV light unit and provides direct

[0055] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 feedback for adjusting in particular the intensity of the UV light. The dose amount may, for example, be defined in terms of the radiant exposure.

[0056]

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the treatment subsystem further comprises at least one of a prefiltering unit for filtering rinse water before H2O2

[0057] 5 is supplied to the rinse water and a post-filtering unit for filtering rinse water after the rinse water has been filtered by the carbon filter or, in case no carbon filter is provided, after the UV light unit. Each filtering unit comprises a safety filter. The safety filter is preferably a cartridge filter.

[0058]

[0023] In otherwords, in the preferred embodiment one or two additional filters are provided in the treatment subsystem. The additional filters are provided by filtering units that comprise so-called safety filters which may be common cartridge filters. A first filtering unit is preferably placed upstream of the H2O2 supply unit, i.e., at the entry of the treatment subsystem. This filtering unit is referred to as a pre-filtering unit. The second filter¬

[0059] 15 ing unit is provided downstream of the otherwise last element of the treatment subsystem and before the treated rinse water is analyzed by the water quality sensing device. This filtering unit is referred to as the post-filtering unit. The pre-filtering unit and post-filtering unit are provided for filtering larger particles and contaminants that are not removed by the combination of the H2O2 supply unit, the UV light unit and the carbon filter. The post-filtering unit also filters out any parts that originate from the carbon filter or the other units of the treatment subsystem.

[0060]

[0024] Preferably, at least one of the filtering units and preferably both filtering units comprise a set of pressure sensors for establishing a pressure

[0061] 25 difference across the safety filter of the respective filtering unit. The system is configured for continuously comparing the established pressure difference across the respective safety filter to a predetermined threshold and determining that the respective safety filter is blocked if the pressure difference exceeds the threshold. In other words, in the preferred

[0062] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 embodiments the pre-filtering unit and the post-filtering unit each comprise two pressure sensors. One of the pressure sensors is provided upstream of the safety filter of the respective filtering unit and the other one is provided downstream of the safety filter. The two pressure sensors are

[0063] 5 provided for measuring a pressure difference across the safety filter. This pressure difference is continuously reported, for example, to a control unit of the system, a control unit of the treatment subsystem, or a control unit of the respective filtering unit. Here, the pressure difference is compared to a threshold. The pressure difference exceeds a threshold, it is

[0064] 10 concluded that the safety filter is blocked and needs to be cleaned. Cleaning can be performed automatically, for example, by using a backflow mechanism. In other embodiments, an operator can be notified and instructed to clean or replace the respective filter.

[0065]

[0025] In a third aspect, a method for treating rinse water which has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers is provided. The rinse water is received in an inlet line after being used for rinsing food and beverage containers, treated at a treatment subsystem to improve the water quality of the rinse water and obtain treated rinse water, and forwarded to an outlet line. At the treatment subsystem a controlled amount of H2O2

[0066] 20 is supplied by an H2O2 supply unit to rinse water received via the inlet line. The rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 is exposed to a controlled dose amount of UV light by a UV light unit. The rinse water which has been supplied which H2O2 and which has been exposed to UV light is further filtered using a carbon filter which scavenges free oxidants and / or partially mineralized contaminants. The treated rinse water from the treatment subsystem is resupplied to a food and beverage container rinse line for rinsing food and beverage containers.

[0067]

[0026] Preferably, the method further comprises analyzing the treated rinse water using a water quality sensing device and determining a plu¬

[0068] 30 rality of parameters indicative of a water quality of the treated rinse water.

[0069] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025

[0027] In a third aspect, a method for treating rinse water which has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers is provided. The rinse water is received in an inlet line after being used for rinsing food and beverage containers for treatment, treated at the treatment subsystem to im¬

[0070] 5 prove a water quality of the rinse water and obtain treated rinse water, and forwarded to an outlet line. At the treatment subsystem a controlled amount of H2O2 is supplied by an H2O2 supply unit to the rinse water received via the inlet line. The rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 is exposed to a controlled dose amount of UV light by a UV light

[0071] 10 unit. The treated rinse water is analyzed using a water quality sensing device for determining a plurality of parameters indicative of a water quality of the treated rinse water. At the treatment subsystem, the rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 and which has been exposed to UV light is preferably filtered using a carbon filter which scavenges free oxidants and / or partially mineralized contaminants before the water is analyzed using the water quality sensing device. Treated rinse water from the treatment subsystem is resupplied to the food and beverage container rinse line for rinsing food and beverage containers.

[0072]

[0028] Preferably, in either of the two methods the plurality of parameters

[0073] 20 indicative of the water quality of the treated water includes at least one of a PH-level of the treated rinse water, an oxygen reduction potential of the treated rinse water, a turbidity of the treated rinse water, a temperature of the treated rinse water, and / or a conductivity of the treated rinse water.

[0074]

[0029] Further preferably, the amount of H2O2 supplied by the H2O2 supply unit to the rinse water is continuously controlled based on the rinse water quality determined by the water quality sensing device in any of the above-described methods. Further preferably, the amount of H2O2 is controlled based on an oxygen reduction potential determined using

[0075] 30 the water quality sensing device and a flow rate of the rinse water through the H2O2 supply unit.

[0076] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025

[0030] It is further preferred that in any of the above embodiments of a method for treating rinse water, the dose amount of the UV light provided by the UV light unit is controlled based on an output from a UV light sensor included in the treatment subsystem.

[0077] 5

[0031] Further preferably, rinse water is filtered using at least one of a prefiltering unit for filtering rinse water before H2O2 is supplied to the rinse water and a post-filtering unit for filtering rinse water after the rinse water has been filtered by the carbon filter at the treatment subsystem or after the UV light unit if no carbon filter is provided. Each filtering unit comprises

[0078] 10 a safety filter. The safety filter is preferably a cartridge filter.

[0079]

[0032] In any of the previously discussed methods, preferably a pressure difference is established across the safety filter of at least one of the filtering units. The established pressure difference across the respective safety filter is continuously compared to a predetermined threshold. It is

[0080] 15 determined that the respective cartridge filter is blocked if the pressure difference exceeds a threshold.

[0081]

[0033] With regard to the details and advantages of the above embodiments of methods for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers, reference is made to the previous description of em¬

[0082] 20 bodiments of systems for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers.

[0083]

[0034] Subsequently, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, wherein

[0084] Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of an exemplary embodi¬

[0085] 25 ment of a system for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers, and

[0086] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 Figure 2 shows a flow charge depicting an exemplary embodiment of a method for treating rinse water which has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers.

[0087]

[0035] Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system 1 for treat¬

[0088] 5 ing rinse water. The rinse water has previously been used for rinsing food and beverage containers such as, for example, cans and bottles for soft drinks. The rinse water is collected at the food and beverage container rinse line and received an inlet line 3 of the system 1 .

[0089]

[0036] The received rinse water is first forwarded to a inlet water quality

[0090] 10 sensing device 5. The inlet water quality sensing device 5 measures a plurality of parameters indicative of a water quality of the rinse water. These parameters include, for example, a PH-level of the inlet rinse water, an oxygen reduction potential (ORF) of the inlet rinse water, a temperature of the inlet rinse water, a turbidity of the inlet rinse water and a conductivity of the treated rinse water. To this end, the inlet water quality sensing device 5 comprises the necessary sensors which are well-known in the prior art.

[0091]

[0037] The inlet water quality sensing device 5 measures the parameters continuously in real-time and compares the measured parameters to

[0092] 20 threshold to determine whether the water quality of the inlet rinse water is sufficient so that the system 1 is able to treat the water and obtain a sufficient water quality for reuse. The comparison of the measured parameters with the threshold can either be made directly in the inlet water quality sensing device 5 or could, for example, be made in a control

[0093] 25 unit 7 of the system 1 . The parameters measured by the inlet water quality sensing device 5 may, for example, be transmitted via a wireless or wired connection to the control unit 7. To keep Figure 1 intelligible, no data connections are shown between the control unit 7 and other elements of the system 1 .

[0094] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025

[0038] In case it is determined that the water quality of the inlet rinse water is insufficient for treatment by the system, the inlet rinse water is immediately sent to a drain 9, i.e., the inlet rinse water is not treated but discolored and send, for example, to a municipal wastewater facility. Thereby,

[0095] 5 it is ensured that only rinse water that can be cleaned is processed further whereas water which is deemed treatable is immediately discarded. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that the system 1 will require corresponding valve arrangements that allow selectively sending the inlet waste water into the drain or sending the water towards the system 1

[0096] 10 for treatment. These valves are not shown in figure 1 .

[0097]

[0039] The inlet water quality sensing device 5 is shown as a single device. The different sensors inside the device 5 are not shown. Further, it is not essential for the inlet water quality sensing device 5 to have all sensors integrated into a single device 5. Rather, the inlet water quality sensing device 5 could also be formed by a plurality of distinct sensors that are spaced apart from each other. However, in any case it is required for the sensors to be arranged so that they can measure the water quality of the inlet rinse water before the water enters the actual system 1 for treating rinse water.

[0098] 20

[0040] Received rinse water with a sufficiently high quality for treatment, i.e., rinse water which is expected to be cleaned successfully from contaminants and impurities using the system 1 , is forwarded to an inlet water tank 1 1. The inlet water tank 1 1 serves as buffer tank preventing on the one hand an overflow of the treatment units of the system 1 and allowing on the other hand to collect sufficient rinse water to ensure that the treatment units can be operated efficiently.

[0099]

[0041] Once sufficient amounts of rinse water have been collected in the inlet water tank 1 1 , rinse water is taken out of the tank 1 1 by means of a pump arrangement 13. The pump arrangement 13 comprises two cen¬

[0100] 30 trifugal pumps 15a, 15b and controls the flow rate and pressure of the

[0101] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 rinse water in the system 1 . The system comprises two centrifugal pumps 15a, 15b to ensure redundancy, i.e., to ensure that the system 1 remains in operation in case one of the pumps 15a, 15b should be down, for example, for maintenance, repair, or replacement.

[0102] 5

[0042] Downstream of the pump arrangement 13 a pre-filtering unit 17 is provided. The pre-filtering unit 17 is the first filtering element treating the used rinse water. The pre-filtering unit 17 comprises a safety filter 19, which is preferably a cartridge filter. Safety filter 19 is a physical filter holding back particles in the rinse water that do not pass through the cartridge

[0103] 10 filter.

[0104]

[0043] The pre-filtering unit 17 comprises a set of pressure sensors 21 a, 21 b. The pressure sensors 21 a, 21 b are provided for establishing a pressure difference across the safety filter 19. The pressure difference across the cartridge filter 19 is compared to a threshold value. In case the pres¬

[0105] 15 sure difference exceeds the threshold, it is established that the safety filter 19 is likely blocked and needs to be cleaned or replaced. The comparison may, for example, be performed by an integrated control unit that is part of the pre-filtering unit 17. Alternatively, the comparison and evaluation of the values sensed by the pressure sensors 21 a, 21 b can be made by the control unit 7 of the system 1 .

[0106]

[0044] In case the safety filter 19 is deemed blocked, i.e., in case the pressure difference exceeds the predetermined threshold, an operator of the system 1 can be informed and asked to perform the necessary maintenance. The maintenance may, for example, include replacing the safety

[0107] 25 filter 19, cleaning the safety filter 19 or backflushing the safety filter 19. The latter can also be done automatically by the system 1 .

[0108]

[0045] Downstream of the safety filter 19, a treatment subsystem 23 is provided. The treatment subsystem 23 comprises a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) supply unit 25, a UV light unit 27 and a carbon filter 29. The pre-

[0109] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 filtering unit 17 as well as a post-filtering unit 31 may also be part of the treatment subsystem 23. However, they can also be understood as being separate parts of the system 1 .

[0110]

[0046] The rinse water which has been pre-filtered using the pre-filtering

[0111] 5 unit 17 in the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 1 is first supplied with H2O2 by the H2O2 supply unit 25. The H2O2 supply unit 25 comprises an H2O2 reservoir 33 and a dosing pump 35. The amount of H2O2 supplied or injected into the rinse water is controlled based on the flow rate of the rinse water as well as the water quality of the treated rinse water, i.e., the

[0112] 10 water quality after the rinse water has passed the treatment subsystem 23 as well as the pre- and post-filtering units 17, 31 .

[0113]

[0047] Once the used rinse water has been supplied with H2O2, the water passes through the UV light unit 27. The UV light unit 27 applies a controlled dose amount of ultraviolet light to the rinse water which has already been provided with H2O2. To this end, the H2O2 supply unit 25 comprises a light source emitting UV light in the spectral range between approximately 180 and 280 nm and preferably between 240 nm und 280 nm. The UV light unit is controlled using a UV light sensor 37 which is part of the UV light unit 27. The dose amount provided by the UV light unit is

[0114] 20 between 100 J / cm2and 1000 J / cm2. UV light units 27 for disinfecting water are generally known in the prior art and therefore not described in more detail here. In the present embodiment, the UV light unit 27 additionally serves as a catalyzer for the oxygen reduction reaction caused by the H2O2.

[0115]

[0048] For the present embodiment of a system 1 for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers, the combined use of H2O2 and UV light to treat the used rinse water is of particular relevance. Experiments of the inventors have shown that the combination of these two treatment techniques provides the most promising and most reliable

[0116] 30 improvement in the water quality given the specific contamination that

[0117] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 is observed after rinsing food and beverage containers. The combination allows a reduction in the water consumption of rinse lines by up to 95%.

[0118]

[0049] Subsequently, the rinse water which has already been treated using H2O2 and UV light is passed through the carbon filter 29. The carbon

[0119] 5 filter 29 comprises activated carbon which is provided for scavenging free oxidants and partially mineralized contaminants remaining in the rinse water. The combination of the H2O2 supply unit 25, the UV light unit 27 and the carbon filter 29 further improves the water quality of the treated rinse water.

[0120] 10

[0050] In the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 1 , the system 1 for treating rinse water further comprises the post-filtering unit 31 which is of similar, if not identical design as the pre-filtering unit 17. As such, the postfiltering unit 31 comprises a safety filter 39 in form of a cartridge filter 39. The safety filter 39 is provided for removing remaining impurities in the treated rinse water. The post-filtering unit 31 further comprises a set of pressure sensors 41 a, 41 b which are provided for measuring a pressure difference across the safety filter 39. As previously discussed, the pressure difference established using the sensors 31 a, 31 b can be used to determine whether the safety filter 39 is blocked.

[0121] 20

[0051] After passing through the post-filtering unit 31 , the treated rinse water is analyzed by a water quality sensing device 43. The water quality sensing device 43 continuously measures a plurality of parameters in the treated rinse water that are indicative of a water quality of the treated rinse water and provides the measured parameters in real-time. For ex¬

[0122] 25 ample, the water quality sensing device 43 measures the PH-level of the treated rinse water, an ORF of the treated rinse water, a temperature of the treated rinse water, a turbidity of the treated rinse water, and a conductivity of the treated rinse water.

[0123] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025

[0052] As previously discussed with regard to the inlet water quality sensing device 5 which is provided for measuring the water quality of the used rinse water provided at the inlet line 3, the water quality sensing device 43 can be provided as a single unit integrating all sensors as

[0124] 5 shown schematically in figure 1 . However, the sensors could also be separate elements and could be distributed in different places. However, it is essential that the sensors that form the water quality sensing device 43 continuously provide parameters that are indicative of the water quality of the treated rinse water.

[0125]

[0053] The parameters measured at the water quality sensing device 43 are used for multiple purposes. Firstly, the ORF measured by the water quality sensing device 43 is used to control the H2O2 supply unit 25. The H2O2 supply unit 25 is thus not only controlled based on the flow rate of the rinse water through the treatment subsystem 23 but also based on

[0126] 15 the water quality of the treated rinse water and, in particular, the ORP. Th inventors have noted that the ORP of the treated rinse water correlates particularly well with the amount of H2O2 that is required for treating the rinse water. The water quality sensing device 43 thus provides a feedback loop so that the H2O2 amount injected into the rinse water can be

[0127] 20 optimized to minimize the H2O2 use and nevertheless achieve the necessary water quality in the treated rinse water. The control of the H2O2 supply unit 25 can be achieved via the control unit 7 of the system 1. It is noted that in figure 1 no control or communication lines are shown between the different parts of the system 1 and the control unit 7. However, it is understood that all devices can exchange data with the control unit 7 as necessary.

[0128]

[0054] The control unit 7 can, for example, be formed by a general purpose computer that is part of the system 1. However, it is also possible that the control unit is formed as a distributed system which may be

[0129] 30 formed by multiple smaller control units that are integrated into the various parts of the system 1 . Also, some are all functions of the control unit

[0130] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 7 can be placed in a distributed system or a cloud computing environment.

[0131]

[0055] In addition to measuring the water quality to control the H2O2 supply unit 25, the water quality sensing device 43 and, in particular, the wa¬

[0132] 5 ter quality determined thereby is used to decide whether the water quality of the treated rinse water is sufficient to supply a food and beverage container rinse line with the treated water. In case the water quality of the treated rinse water is deemed sufficient for rinsing food and beverage containers, the treated rinse water is supplied via an outlet line 45 to

[0133] 10 a food and beverage rinse line (not shown). The food and beverage rinse line is not part of the system 1 .

[0134]

[0056] In case the water quality of the treated rinse water is not deemed sufficient for rinsing food and beverage containers, the treated rinse water is sent back to the inlet water tank 1 1 . Here, the already treated rinse

[0135] 15 water is mixed with used rinse water received via the inlet line 3 and subjected to a further round of treatment using the pre-filtering unit 17, the treatment subsystem 23, and the post-filtering unit 31 .

[0136]

[0057] In order to keep the food and beverage container rinse line running in case the water quality of the treated rinse water is insufficient, the

[0137] 20 system 1 comprises a connection 47 to clean industrial process water. Industrial process water refers to water having a quality sufficient for rinsing food and beverage containers. The industrial process water may be treated or untreated water from any supply, including untreated tap water or water from natural sources, provided its quality is adequate for the

[0138] 25 intended rinsing operation.

[0139]

[0058] In other words, the term “industrial process water” denotes water of a quality suitable for use in the rinsing of food and beverage containers. Industrial process water encompasses water originating from any available supply, such as public distribution networks or natural sources

[0140] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 including wells, rivers, or lakes. Depending on the inherent quality of the supplied water, the water may be used directly, for example, as untreated tap water, or may require treatment to achieve a quality sufficient for the intended rinsing operation. Unless otherwise indicated, the

[0141] 5 term does not impose restrictions on the specific origin, treatment method, or regulatory classification of the water, provided that its use does not compromise the hygienic suitability of the containers to be rinsed.

[0142]

[0059] In case the water quality of the treated rinse water is deemed in¬

[0143] 10 sufficient, the industrial process water connection 47 is activated and industrial process water is supplied via the outlet line 45 to the food and beverage container rinse line. The system 1 shown in figure 1 can thus advantageously rapidly switch between treated rinse water and fresh water to maintain a sufficiently high water quality for rinsing food and beverage containers.

[0144]

[0060] While the system 1 provides industrial process water from the industrial process water connection 47 to the food and beverage rinse line, the system 1 continues to treat used rinse water and analyze the quality of the treated rinse water using the water quality sensing device 43. In

[0145] 20 case the water quality of the treated rinse water is deemed sufficient again for rinsing food and beverage containers, the industrial process water connection 47 is turned off and treated rinse water is again supplied via the outlet line to the food and beverage container rinse line.

[0146]

[0061] In order to provide a benchmark for the water quality of the

[0147] 25 treated rinse water, an industrial process water quality sensing device 49 is provided at the industrial process water connection 47. The industrial process water quality sensing device 49 is similar or identical to the water quality sensing devices 5, 43 that are used to determine the water quality of the used rinse water received at the inlet line 3 and the treated rinse

[0148] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 water, respectively. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary repetitions, with regard to the parameters measured by the industrial process water quality sensing device 49 used for sensing the industrial process water quality, reference is made to the previous description. The parameters sensed at

[0149] 5 the water quality sensing device 49 are used as a benchmark for the treated rinse water, i.e., to establish whether the water quality of the treated rinse water is sufficient for rinsing food and beverage containers. Thus, unnecessary treatment of the used rinse water is avoided by using the water quality of the industrial process water as benchmark which

[0150] 10 would be used in the alternative.

[0151]

[0062] Subsequently, a method for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers is described with reference to figure 2. In a first step 51 rinse water which has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers is received at an inlet line 3 of a system 1 for treating rinse water. In a second step 53 the water quality of the used rinse water received at the inlet line 3 is analyzed using the inlet water quality sensing device 5. As previously discussed, various parameters can be measured to establish the water quality of the received rinsewater.

[0152]

[0063] The measured parameters are compared to thresholds to deter¬

[0153] 20 mine whether the water quality of the received used industrial process water is sufficient for treatment in a third step 55. In case the water quality is deemed insufficient for treatment, i.e., the contamination of the used rinse water is deemed to heavy for successful treatment, the received rinse water is sent to the drain 9 in a fourth step 57. Alternatively, in case the water quality is deemed sufficient, the received used rinse water is collected in the inlet water storage tank 1 1 in a fifth step 59.

[0154]

[0064] In a sixth step 61 , water is drawn from the inlet storage tank 1 1 by the pump arrangement 13. The pump arrangement 13 is controlled by the control unit 7 and provides the flow and pressure required for further

[0155] 30 treatment of the received rinse water. In a seventh step 63, the used rinse

[0156] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 water is filtered by the pre-filtering unit 17. To avoid unnecessary repetitions, the functioning of the pre-filtering unit 17 as well as all parts of the treatment subsystem 23 and the post-filtering unit 31 will not be repeated in detail.

[0157] 5

[0065] After filtering by the pre-filtering unit 17, H2O2 is injected into the used rinse water by the H2O2 supply unit 25 in an eighth step 65. The amount of H2O2 supplied is controlled based on the flow rate of the used rinse water which is provided by the pump arrangement 13. Further, the amount of H2O2 is also controlled based on the quality of the treated

[0158] 10 rinse water as will be explained subsequently in more detail.

[0159]

[0066] After injection of H2O2, the rinse water is exposed to UV light in a ninth step 67 from the UV light unit 27. The combination of H2O2 and UV light has been found to be particularly favorable for improving the water quality of rinse water that has been used for rinsing food and beverage

[0160] 15 containers. The dose amount of UV light emitted in the ninth step 67 is controlled based on a UV light sensor included 37.

[0161]

[0067] Once the rinse water has been treated using H2O2, the water is further filtered using the carbon filter 29 to remove remaining free oxidants and partially mineralized contaminants in a tenth step 69. As a

[0162] 20 purely precautionary measure, the rinse water is further filtered by the post-filtering unit 31 to remove remaining impurities and contaminants in an eleventh step 71 .

[0163]

[0068] To establish the water quality of the treated rinse water, in a twelfth step 73 the treated rinse water is analyzed using the water quality

[0164] 25 sensing device 43. The water quality sensing device 43 continuously analyses the treated rinse water by measuring a plurality of parameters as has been previously described. In case the water quality of the treated rinse water is deemed sufficient for rinsing food and beverage containers, the treated rinse water is subsequently provided in a 13thstep 75 via

[0165] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 the outlet line 45 to a food and beverage container rinse line. In case the water quality of the treated rinse water is deemed insufficient, in a 14thstep 77, the treated rinse water is provided to the inlet water storage tank 1 1 so that it can be cycled once more through the pre-filter 17, the treat¬

[0166] 5 ment subsystem 23 and the post-filter 31. In the inlet water storage tank 1 1 , the already treated rinse water is mixed with rinse water newly received from the rinse line via the inlet line 3.

[0167]

[0069] To ensure that the system 1 continuously provides water for rinsing food and beverage containers, the method further involves the steps of

[0168] 10 taking industrial process water from an industrial process water connection 47 in a 15thstep 79. The industrial process water is analyzed in the water quality sensing device 49 to provide benchmark water quality parameters for the water quality sensing device 43 that is used to analyze the treated rinse water. Finally, in a 16thstep 81 the industrial process water taken from the industrial process water connection 47 is provided via the outlet line 45 to the food and beverage container rinse line. Therefore, continuous provision of rinse water with sufficiently high quality either from the industrial process or taken out of the present system 1 for treating rinse water is ensured.

[0169] 20

[0070] The method allows a drastic reduction of the amount of rinse water that is required for rinsing food and beverage containers due to the possibility to recycle used rinse water, it is estimated that the water consumption can be reduced by up to 95% using the exemplary embodiment of a method for treating rinse water as well as the system 1 for treat¬

[0170] 25 ing rinse water that has been previously described.

[0171] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025 Reference numerals

[0172] I system

[0173] 3 inlet line

[0174] 5 inlet water quality sensing device

[0175] 5 7 control unit

[0176] 9 drain

[0177] I I inlet water tank

[0178] 13 pump arrangement

[0179] 15a, 15b centrifugal pumps

[0180] 17 pre-filtering unit

[0181] 1 safety filter, cartridge filter

[0182] 21 a, 21 b pressure sensors

[0183] 23 treatment subsystem

[0184] 25 H2O2 supply unit

[0185] 15 27 UV light unit

[0186] 29 carbon filter

[0187] 31 post-filtering unit

[0188] 33 H2O2 reservoir

[0189] 35 dosing pump

[0190] 37 UV light sensor

[0191] 39 safety filter, cartridge filter

[0192] 41 a, 41 b pressure sensors

[0193] 43 water quality sensing device

[0194] 45 outlet line

[0195] 25 47 industrial process water connection

[0196] 49 industrial process water quality sensing device

[0197] 51 - 81 first to sixteenth steps

[0198] Patentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025

Claims

Claims1 . A system ( 1 ) for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers, the system ( 1 ) comprising an inlet line (3) for receiving rinse water that has been used for rinsing food and beverage5 containers, a treatment subsystem (23) for treating the received rinse water to improve a water quality of the rinse water and obtain treated rinse water, and an outlet line (45), wherein the treatment subsystem (23) comprises a hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, supply unit (25), an ultraviolet, UV, light unit (27), and a carbon filter (29), wherein the H2O2 supply unit (25) is configured for supplying a controlled amount of H2O2 to the rinse water received via the inlet line (3), wherein the UV light unit (27) is configured to expose the rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 by the H2O2 supply unit (25) to UV light at a controlled dose amount,15 and wherein the carbon filter (29) is configured for scavenging free oxidants and / or partially mineralized contaminants in the rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 and which has been exposed to UV light, and wherein the outlet line (45) is configured for resupplying treated rinse water from the treatment subsystem (23) to a food and beverage container rinse line for rinsing food and beverage containers.

2. System (1 ) according to any claim 1 , wherein the system (1 ) comprises a water quality sensing device (43), wherein the water quality25 sensing device (43) is configured for continuously analyzing the treated rinse water and determining a plurality of parameters indicative of a water quality of the treated rinse water.

3. A system ( 1 ) for treating rinse water used for rinsing food and beverage containers, the system comprising an inlet line (3) for receiving atentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025rinse water that has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers, a treatment subsystem (23) for treating the received rinse water to improve a water quality of the rinse water and obtain treated rinse water, and an outlet line (45),5 wherein the treatment subsystem (23) comprises a hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, supply unit (25), and an ultraviolet, UV, light unit (27), wherein the H2O2 supply unit (25) is configured for supplying a controlled amount of H2O2 to the rinse water received via the inlet line (3), and wherein the UV light unit (27) is configured to expose the rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 by the H2O2 supply unit (25) to UV light at a controlled dose amount, wherein the treatment subsystem (23) further preferably comprises carbon filter (29), wherein the carbon filter (29) is configured for scavenging free oxidants and / or partially mineralized contami¬15 nants in the rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 and which has been exposed to UV light, wherein the system ( 1 ) further comprises a water quality sensing device (43), wherein the water quality sensing device (43) is configured for continuously analyzing the treated rinse water and determining a plurality of parameters indicative of a water quality of the treated rinse water, and wherein the outlet line (45) is configured for resupplying treated rinse water from the treatment subsystem (23) to a food and beverage container rinse line for rinsing food and beverage con¬25 tainers.

4. System ( 1 ) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the system ( 1 ) is configured for continuously controlling the amount of H2O2 supplied by the H2O2 supply unit (25) to the rinse water based on the rinse water quality determined by the water quality sensing device (43). atentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 20255. System ( 1 ) according to claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the plurality of parameters indicative of the water quality of the treated water includes at least one of a pH level of the treated rinse water, an oxygen reduction potential of the treated rinse water, a temperature,5 of the treated rinse water, a turbidity of the treated rinse water, and / or a conductivity of the treated rinse water.

6. System ( 1 ) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the amount of H2O2 is controlled based on an oxygen reduction potential determined using the water quality sensing device (43) and a flow rate of the10 rinse water flowing through the treatment subsystem (23).

7. System (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system (1 ) comprises a UV light sensor and wherein the dose amount of UV light provided by the UV light unit (27) is controlled based on an output from the UV light sensor.15 8. System (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment subsystem (23) further comprises at least one of a prefiltering unit ( 17) for filtering rinse water before H2O2 is supplied to the rinse water and a post-filtering unit (31 ) for filtering rinse water after the rinse water has been filtered by the carbon filter (29), wherein each filtering unit (17, 31 ) comprises a safety filter ( 1 , 39), wherein the safety filter ( 19, 39) is preferably a cartridge filter ( 19, 39), wherein further preferably at least one of the filtering units (17, 31 ) comprises a set of pressure sensors (41 a, 41 b) for establishing a pressure difference across the safety filter (19, 39) of the respective25 filtering unit ( 17, 31 ), wherein the system ( 1 ) is configured for continuously comparing the established pressure difference across the respective safety filter (19, 39) to a predetermined threshold and determining that the respective safety filter (19, 39) is blocked if the pressure difference exceeds the threshold. atentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 20259. A method (1 ) for treating rinse water which has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers, wherein the rinse water is received at an inlet line (3) after being used for rinsing food and beverage containers for treatment, treated at a treatment subsystem (23) to5 improve a water quality of the rinse water and obtain treated rinse water, and forwarded to an outlet line (45), wherein at the treatment subsystem (23) a controlled amount of H2O2 is supplied by an H2O2 supply unit (25) to the rinse water received via the inlet line (3), the rinse water which has been supplied10 with H2O2 is exposed to UV light at a controlled dose amount by a UV light unit (27), and the rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 and which has been exposed to UV light is filtered using a carbon filter (29) which scavenges free oxidants and / or partially mineralized contaminants, and wherein the treated rinse water from the treatment subsystem (23) is resupplied to the food and beverage container rinse line for rinsing food and beverage containers.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises analyzing the treated rinse water using a water quality sensing20 device (43) and determining a plurality of parameters indicative of a water quality of the treated rinse water.1 1. A method for treating rinse water which has been used for rinsing food and beverage containers, wherein the rinse water is received at an inlet line (3) after being used for rinsing food and beverage containers for treatment, treated at a treatment subsystem (23) to improve a water quality of the rinse water and obtain treated rinse water, and forwarded to an outlet line (45), wherein at the treatment subsystem (23) a controlled amount of H2O2 is supplied by an H2O2 supply unit (25) to the rinse water re¬30 ceived via the inlet line (3), the rinse water which has been supplied with H2O2 is exposed to UV light at a controlled dose amount by aatentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025UV light unit (27) and the treated rinse water is analyzed using a water quality sensing device (43) for determining a plurality of parameters indicative of a water quality of the treated rinse water, wherein at the treatment subsystem (23) the rinse water which5 has been supplied with H2O2 and which has been exposed to UV light is preferably filtered using a carbon filter (29) which scavenges free oxidants and / or partially mineralized contaminants before the water is analyzed using the water quality sensing device (43), and wherein the treated rinse water from the treatment subsystem10 (23) is resupplied to the food and beverage container rinse line for rinsing food and beverage containers.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 1 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters indicative of the water quality of the treated water includes at least one of a pH level of the treated rinse water, an oxygen reduction potential of the treated rinse water, a temperature of a treated rinse water, a turbidity of the treated rinse water, and / or a conductivity of the treated rinse water.

13. Method according to claim 10, 1 1 , or 12, wherein the amount of H2O2 supplied by the H2O2 supply unit (25) to the rinse water is con¬20 tinuously controlled based on the rinse water quality determined by the water quality sensing device (43).

14. Method according to claims 12 and 13, wherein the amount of H2O2 is controlled based on an oxygen reduction potential determined using the water quality sensing device (43) and a flow rate.25 15. Method according to any of claims 9 to 14, wherein the dose amount of UV light provided by the UV light unit (27) is controlled based on an output from a UV light sensor included in the treatment subsystem (23). atentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 202529 / 3016. Method according to any of claims 9 to 15, wherein rinse water is filtered using at least one of a pre-filtering unit (17) for filtering rinse water before H2O2 is supplied to the rinse water and a post-filtering unit (31 ) for filtering rinse water after the rinse water has been filtered 5 by the carbon filter (29) at the treatment system (23), wherein each filtering unit (17, 31 ) comprises a safety filter (19, 39), wherein the safety filter (19, 39) is preferably a cartridge filter (19, 39), wherein the method further preferably comprises establishing a pressure difference across the safety filter (19, 39) of at least one 10 of the filtering units ( 17, 31 ), and continuously comparing the established pressure difference across the respective safety filter (19, 39) to a predetermined threshold and determining that the respective safety filter (19, 39) is blocked if the pressure difference exceeds the threshold.15 atentanwdlte Hemmer Lindfeld Frese GP 3838 WO, 1 1 / 12 / 2025

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