Annular Flushing Gas Nozzle for Pressure Beverage Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Free-jet filling elements are limited in their application and cannot efficiently handle pressureless and pressure-filled liquids, particularly beverages containing CO2, as they do not effectively prevent oxidation from residual oxygen and cannot maintain a pressure higher than ambient pressure during filling.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a scavenging outlet opening connected to a CO2 gas supply via a scavenging control valve, with a flushing outlet opening surrounding the dispensing opening in a ring shape, and a sealing arrangement at the lower end of the filling element to maintain gas-tight contact with the container, allowing for pre-rinsing, pressure filling, and controlled gas discharge, ensuring complete rinsing and preventing oxidation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a free-jet filling element is used for pressureless filling, then the filling process is simple and efficient, but it cannot handle pressure filling or prevent oxidation of CO2-containing beverages
Solution Approach 1:
The filling element is segmented into multiple functional zones: a central filling opening for liquid discharge, an annular flushing opening for oxygen displacement, and a purge gas supply system. This segmentation allows independent control of filling and oxidation prevention functions, enabling both pressureless and pressure filling while preventing beverage oxidation through CO2 purging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary purging of the filling element and container with CO2 gas before the actual filling process. This preliminary action displaces residual oxygen from the filling chamber and container headspace, preventing oxidation of CO2-containing beverages during subsequent pressure filling operations.
2Device complexity
If the filling element is designed for pressureless filling only, then the structure is simple, but it cannot maintain higher filling pressure or control gas flow for oxidation prevention
Solution Approach 1:
The filling element incorporates multiple functions into a single device: it serves as both a filling valve and a purging system. The body includes a filling opening for liquid discharge, an annular flushing opening surrounded by a purge gas supply, and a sealing arrangement that can maintain pressure differentials. This multi-functionality enables the same device to perform pressureless filling, pressure filling, and oxidation prevention without requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular flushing opening is nested within the sealing arrangement at the lower end of the filling element body. The purge gas supply is nested within the body structure, with the flushing opening positioned concentrically around the central filling opening. This nested configuration allows compact integration of multiple functions while maintaining independent control of each subsystem.
3Reliability
If no purging system is added to the filling element, then the device remains simple, but oxidation of filled beverages by residual oxygen cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The purging system is merged with the filling element structure itself. The annular flushing opening is integrated into the sealing arrangement at the lower end of the body, and the purge gas supply is combined with the filling valve assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate purging equipment, reducing overall system complexity while providing effective oxidation prevention through CO2 displacement of residual oxygen.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables homogeneous and complete rinsing of containers, preventing oxidation of filled beverages and allowing for pressure filling of CO2-containing beverages like beer, using the free-jet filling method, while maintaining control over filling processes independent of ambient pressure.
Implementation Method 1
Pre-purging with CO2 prevents oxidation of the filled liquid, especially a beverage, by residual oxygen from the ambient air
Implementation Method 2
a sealing arrangement (38) at its lower end, which is designed to make gas-tight contact with the opening (40) of a container (34)
Implementation Method 3
a purge outlet opening (30) in the form of an annular gap, which is inclined obliquely downwards towards the central axis of the filling element body (12) in order to realize the purge flow (32)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a filling element (10) for filling containers with a liquid, the element comprising an elongated filling element body (12) which surrounds an axial product channel (14), in which a valve element (16) is movably arranged, said valve element (16) having a valve body (19) which, together with a valve seat arranged on the filling element body (12), forms a filling valve (22). The filling element has a dispensing opening (28) at the lower end of the product channel (14). At least one flushing outlet opening (30) is arranged in the region of the dispensing opening (28), the flushing outlet opening being connected to a flushing-gas supply (46) via a flushing control valve (44).