Swing Bend CIP Switching in Sterilization Line Piping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sterilization lines for product liquids require large installation spaces, are expensive, and involve lengthy processes that consume significant amounts of agents and energy, with a risk of product liquid mixing with cleaning solutions due to complex valve arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning method for a sterilization line utilizing a swing bend to switch between parallel intermediate piping systems, allowing for efficient CIP and SIP processes without the need for complex valve arrangements, reducing the risk of product liquid contamination and simplifying the system design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sterilization lines are used with multiple heating and cooling stages, then product liquid can be properly sterilized, but the installation space required increases and capital investment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heating stages and multiple cooling stages into single integrated heating and cooling units. The heating unit includes a heat exchanger that can heat the product liquid in multiple stages within a single device, and the cooling unit includes a heat exchanger that can cool the product liquid in multiple stages within a single device. This merging reduces the number of separate components and reduces installation space while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If complex valve arrangements are used to switch between cleaning and sterilization modes, then flow path switching can be achieved, but device complexity increases and risk of product liquid mixing with cleaning solutions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flow path switching function from complex valve arrangements and implements it through a swing bend mechanism. The swing bend is a simple U-shaped pipe that can be rotated to change the flow direction, eliminating the need for multiple valves and complex control systems. This extraction of the switching function to a simpler mechanical element reduces device complexity and eliminates the risk of product liquid mixing with cleaning solutions through valve failure.
3Reliability
If conventional CIP procedures are used with sequential processing, then cleaning can be performed, but the CIP time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing sterilization in one piping system while simultaneously performing cleaning in another piping system. The swing bend allows the system to switch between two parallel piping configurations, enabling one line to be sterilized while the other is cleaned. This preliminary preparation of alternative pathways allows for faster transition and reduces overall CIP time, thereby improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring that while one piping system is undergoing CIP, the other piping system continues to operate for sterilization or product flow. This parallel operation eliminates idle time and ensures that the sterilization process continues uninterrupted, maintaining high productivity while achieving thorough cleaning.
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
The method reduces capital investment, minimizes the use of expensive cleaning agents, and enhances productivity by shortening the time required for CIP and SIP processes, ensuring safety and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
switching between a flow path of the product liquid and a flow path of a cleaning solution used for the CIP upstream of the plurality of intermediate piping systems and switching between the flow path of the product liquid and the flow path of the cleaning solution used for the CIP downstream of the plurality of intermediate piping systems are achieved by a swing bend
Implementation Method 2
one or more stages of heating parts that heat the product liquid in a stepwise manner
Implementation Method 3
one or more stages of cooling parts that cool the product liquid from the heating parts in a stepwise manner
Data Source
AI summary
A sterilization line comprising upstream-side and downstream-side tanks for storing liquid which are connected by a conduit for transferring the liquid, holding tubes for sterilizing the liquid which are disposed in an intermediate section of the conduit, heating units for heating the liquid in stages which are disposed in a section of the conduit from the upstream-side tank to the holding tubes, and cooling units for cooling the product liquid in stages which are disposed in a section of the conduit from the holding tubes to the downstream-side tank. A swing bend is used to perform switching between a section of a liquid flow path located on the upstream side of multiple intermediate piping systems and a cleaning solution path for a cleaning-in-place operation and switching between a section of the liquid flow path located on the downstream side and the cleaning solution path for the cleaning-in-place operation.