The present teachings provide an approach for energy efficient creation of dilute sterile fluids such as ready-to-drink beverages. To achieve such creation, a beverage processing apparatus may have a sterile liquid concentrate source connected to deliver sterile liquid concentrate and a sterile water source having an inlet connected to receive water and a cold water filter sterilizer connected to the inlet. The apparatus may also have a dilute fluid outlet and an aseptic mixing component. The aseptic mixing component may be interconnected between the sterile liquid concentrate source, the sterile water source and the dilute fluid outlet to: receive sterile liquid concentrate; receive sterile water; and to provide a dilute fluid.

The present teachings provide an approach for energy efficient creation of dilute sterile fluids such as ready-to-drink beverages. To achieve such creation, a beverage processing apparatus may have a sterile liquid concentrate source connected to deliver sterile liquid concentrate and a sterile water source having an inlet connected to receive water and a cold water filter sterilizer connected to the inlet. The apparatus may also have a dilute fluid outlet and an aseptic mixing component. The aseptic mixing component may be interconnected between the sterile liquid concentrate source, the sterile water source and the dilute fluid outlet to: receive sterile liquid concentrate; receive sterile water; and to provide a dilute fluid.

A lighting array including one or more antimicrobial light segments configured to emit light sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms at a target surface may be installed within identified contamination zones of food or beverage preparation, processing, storing or packaging equipment or machinery. In an ice machine, for example, an array controller is configured for communication with an ice machine controller to receive ice machine status information signals. The status information signals are usable by the array controller to determine cycle, state, and/or usage information associated with the ice machine. The array controller may individually control activation of the one or more antimicrobial light segments based on the status information signals received from the machine controller to achieve inactivation of one or more microorganisms on target surfaces within the machine.

The present invention relates to a method and equipment intended to heat or sterilize liquid such as water, milk, broth, sauces, juices and similar foods and other fluids used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. More specifically this describes a novel approach for continuously heating liquid food or liquid using an electro-magnetic (EM) radiation such as infra-red and other EM radiation sources. It achieves this by conveying radiation from a remote or local source and directing the radiation onto liquid dispersed into tiny droplets in a chamber. Infra-red and other EM radiations have a limitation in that the penetration depth of energy into the product/liquid is very short. Thus, product can be heated only in a thin layer near the periphery surface where the energy strikes. By dispersing liquid in drop droplets, the radiation effectively penetrates the whole body of fluid and consequently heats and destroys bacteria and some spores. The processed fluid then is commercially sterile or has much lower microbial load and hence it has a longer shelf life, under refrigeration.

A system capable of a germicidal treatment of highly opaque liquids, featuring a filter, which prevents wavelengths above the UV-C spectrum reaching the liquid being treated, one or more spiral-shaped tubes extending from an inlet end to an outlet end creating a fluidic pathway, and one or more light sources illuminating the one or more spiral-shaped tubes, wherein the one or more light sources emit light in a wavelength range between 180-300 nm.

The array induced electric field fluid reaction system includes a reaction unit array with a plurality of reaction units interactively connected as a network configuration, a power supply and a sample container, wherein each reaction unit has a closed iron core, a primary coil and a secondary coil. The primary coil and secondary coil are, respectively, wound around two sides of the closed iron core, and the secondary coil has an insulation pipe for circulating the reaction medium. When the array induced electric field fluid reaction system operates, no charged needle-type electrodes or electrode plates are inserted into the reaction medium. Electrochemical reaction and metal contamination may be avoided. The reaction units can form an array network connection and series/parallel connection, and when the induced electric field in each reaction unit is acted on the reaction medium, specific reaction effects may be achieved.

The array induced electric field fluid reaction system includes a reaction unit array with a plurality of reaction units interactively connected as a network configuration, a power supply and a sample container, wherein each reaction unit has a closed iron core, a primary coil and a secondary coil. The primary coil and secondary coil are, respectively, wound around two sides of the closed iron core, and the secondary coil has an insulation pipe for circulating the reaction medium. When the array induced electric field fluid reaction system operates, no charged needle-type electrodes or electrode plates are inserted into the reaction medium. Electrochemical reaction and metal contamination may be avoided. The reaction units can form an array network connection and series/parallel connection, and when the induced electric field in each reaction unit is acted on the reaction medium, specific reaction effects may be achieved.

Provided are a sterilization method for liquids, whereby flavor deterioration can be suppressed while securing a sterilization effect, and a sterilization device. The sterilization method according to the present invention comprises irradiating a solution to be treated, which is a beverage other than water, substantially not with ultraviolet light with an emission wavelength of 260 nm or less but with ultraviolet light with an emission wavelength of 280-320 nm inclusive.

Provided are a sterilization method for liquids, whereby flavor deterioration can be suppressed while securing a sterilization effect, and a sterilization device. The sterilization method according to the present invention comprises irradiating a solution to be treated, which is a beverage other than water, substantially not with ultraviolet light with an emission wavelength of 260 nm or less but with ultraviolet light with an emission wavelength of 280-320 nm inclusive.

A storage container includes an input portion for receiving and filtering a source liquid to form an output liquid, a storage portion for storing the filtered liquid, and a base portion disposed below the storage portion including a UV light source for providing transmitted UV light to the filtered liquid, a UV light detector disposed an optical path length away from the UV light source for detecting received UV light through the filtered liquid in response to the transmitted UV light, a processor for determining an absorption or a transmission percentage in response to the transmitted UV light and the received UV light, for determining a safe condition, in response to the absorption or the transmission percentage respectively not exceeding or exceeding predetermined criteria, and one or more indicators for indicating that the liquid is safe for consumption to a user, in response to the safe condition.