Bottle Washing Machine Cold Supply Using Product Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottle washing systems face challenges in efficiently reducing the temperature difference between warm containers and cold products, leading to potential container breakage, while also incurring high fresh water and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system where fresh water is cooled using the cold from the product before being used in the bottle washing machine, and optionally further heated to match the filling temperature, minimizing the temperature difference and reducing resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If containers are cooled with fresh water in the bottle washing machine, then the temperature difference between containers and product is reduced, but fresh water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cooling function with the rinsing function by using the same fresh water supply for both purposes. The fresh water cools the containers during the rinsing process, eliminating the need for separate cooling water consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The fresh water supplied to the bottle washing machine performs multiple functions: it rinses the containers and simultaneously cools them. This multi-functionality reduces overall water consumption by combining cooling and rinsing operations.
2Temperature
If externally supplied cooling energy is used, then container cooling is achieved, but energy consumption and piping expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the cold product itself to cool the fresh water that will cool the containers. The product's coldness is utilized to pre-cool the fresh water in a heat exchange module, reducing the energy needed for active cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The fresh water acts as an intermediary medium between the cold product and the warm containers. The heat exchange module transfers cold from the product to the fresh water, which then transfers it to the containers, avoiding direct contact between product and containers.
3Productivity
If a large temperature difference exists between containers and product, then filling can proceed, but container breakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The containers are pre-cooled during the rinsing process before filling occurs. This preliminary cooling action reduces the temperature difference with the cold product, preventing thermal shock and container breakage during filling.
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
Significantly reduces fresh water consumption and cooling energy use, enhances cooling efficiency, and prevents container breakage by minimizing thermal shock.
Implementation Method 1
the first heat exchange module is designed to extract cold from the product and to cool the fresh water to a predefined temperature using the cold extracted from the product
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A system (100, 150) comprising a bottle washing machine (102) with a plurality of treatment zones (102.1, 102.2, 102.3) and a filler (F) for filling a liquid product (P), in particular beer, into containers; wherein at least the last of the treatment zones is at least partially cooled with fresh water; a first heat exchange module, wherein the product is fed to the first heat exchange module (112) before being filled, and the fresh water is fed to the first heat exchange module before being fed to the bottle washing machine, wherein the first heat exchange module is designed to extract cold from the product and to cool the fresh water to a predefined temperature using the cold extracted from the product; wherein the first heat exchange module is designed to convey the product, from which cold has been extracted, to the filler and to convey the cooled fresh water to the bottle washing machine.