Pasteurization Installation With Pneumatic Fibrous Component Conveying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for filling products with liquid and fibrous/solid components, such as fruit juices, face challenges in efficiently processing and mixing these components without damaging the fibrous/solid structures and optimizing pasteurization/sterilization processes.
Innovation Solution
A system that separates the liquid and fibrous/solid components, pasteurizing/sterilizing them independently using optimized heat exchangers and conveying the fibrous/solid components with sterile gaseous pressure, allowing for precise mixing just before filling to maintain structural integrity and enhance processing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical pumps are used to convey the fibrous/solid component mixture, then conveying efficiency is improved, but the fibrous/solid structures are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pumps with a pneumatic conveying system that uses sterile gaseous pressure to move the fibrous/solid component mixture through the processing line. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact that would damage the fibrous structures while maintaining conveying efficiency through pressure-driven flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs pneumatic pressure from sterile gas to convey the fibrous/solid component mixture through pipes and heat exchangers. The gas pressure provides contactless propulsion that preserves the integrity of fibrous components while achieving effective material transport throughout the processing system.
2Productivity
If components are processed separately through independent heat exchangers, then pasteurization efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pasteurization process into separate stages for the liquid component and the fibrous/solid component mixture, each handled by dedicated heat exchangers. This segmentation allows optimization of each heat exchanger for its specific material type, achieving high pasteurization efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different heat exchanger types are selected for different components based on their specific requirements: a plate heat exchanger for the liquid component to maximize throughput, and a heat exchanger with larger flow cross-section for the fibrous mixture to accommodate its rheological properties. This local optimization of heat exchanger characteristics enhances overall pasteurization efficiency.
3Quantity of substance
If fibrous/solid components are highly concentrated, then product quality is improved, but flowability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system carefully controls the concentration parameters of the fibrous/solid component mixture to achieve optimal flowability. By adjusting the liquid-to-fibrous ratio and other compositional parameters, the mixture maintains sufficient flowability for pneumatic conveying while preserving high fibrous content for product quality.
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
Enables efficient pasteurization/sterilization of both components, preventing damage to fibrous/solid structures and optimizing filling machine operations by allowing separate and precise control of component mixing, thereby improving product quality and processing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
independent heat exchangers for pasteurization or sterilization
Implementation Method 2
the promotion of the second component is carried out exclusively by the pressure of a sterile gaseous and / or vaporous pressure medium
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a novel installation for providing a product in pasteurized form, said product comprising at least one liquid component and fibrous and/or solid components.