Abstract
A vaporizer device for vaporizing a liquid and/or an aerosol, has at least one housing comprising at least one vaporizer space housing, which delimits a vaporizer space into which the liquid to be vaporized and/or the aerosol to be vaporized can be fed, and has at least one heating unit for a vaporization of the fed-in liquid and/or the fed-in aerosol, wherein the heating unit is realized as a matrix heating unit comprising a plurality of heating elements, which can be regulated and/or monitored separately, wherein the heating unit comprises the plurality of heating elements which are arranged irregularly and/or regularly in a plane, wherein the plurality of heating elements are arranged at a heating plate of the heating unit, wherein a surface of the heating plate forms a vaporizer surface of the heating unit for a vaporization of the liquid and/or of an aerosol.
Claims
1. A vaporizer device for vaporizing a liquid and/or an aerosol, with at least one housing (12) comprising at least one vaporizer space housing (16), which delimits a vaporizer space (14) into which the liquid to be vaporized and/or the aerosol to be vaporized can be fed, and with at least one heating unit (18) for a vaporization of the fed-in liquid and/or the fed-in aerosol, wherein the heating unit (18) is realized as a matrix heating unit comprising a plurality of heating elements (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30), which can be regulated and/or monitored separately, wherein the heating unit (18) comprises the plurality of heating elements (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30), which are arranged irregularly and/or regularly in a plane, wherein the plurality of heating elements (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) are arranged at a heating plate (86) of the heating unit (18), wherein a surface of the heating plate (86) forms a vaporizer surface (68) of the heating unit (18) for a vaporization of the liquid and/or of an aerosol.
2. The vaporizer device according to claim 1, wherein each heating element (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) is assigned a regulation electronics element (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) of the heating unit (18) and/or monitoring electronics element (44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54) of the heating unit (18).
3. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 wherein the heating elements (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) are arranged concentrically around a central axis (56) of the heating unit (18), or that the heating elements (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) are arranged in a grid-like fashion on a side (58) of the heating unit (18) that faces toward the vaporizer space housing (16).
4. The vaporizer device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) comprises at least one heating housing (60) for an accommodation of the heating unit (12), wherein the heating housing (60) is connected with the vaporizer space housing (16) and the heating elements (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) are arranged at least partly in the region of a connection interface (64) of the housing (12) between the heating housing (60) and the vaporizer space housing (16).
5. The vaporizer device according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit (18) is arranged at the vaporizer space housing (16) in such a way that at least one heating element (20, 30) of the heating unit (18) is adjacent to the vaporizer space housing (16).
6. The vaporizer device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one elastic preload element (66) which is configured to subject the heating unit (18) to a preload force toward the vaporizer space housing (16).
7. The vaporizer device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one outflow opening (70), arranged in the vaporizer space housing (16) and/or in the vaporizer surface (68) of the heating unit (18), for conveying away a non-vaporized portion of the liquid fed to the vaporizer space housing (16) and/or of the aerosol fed to the vaporizer space housing (16).
8. The vaporizer device according to claim 1, wherein the vaporizer surface (68) of the heating unit (18) that is assigned to the heating elements (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) has a coating which is realized so as to be resistant against the liquid that is to be vaporized and/or the aerosol that is to be vaporized.
9. The vaporizer device according to claim 1, wherein the vaporizer space housing (16) comprises several vaporizer outlets (72, 74, 76) for feeding the liquid vaporized in the vaporizer space (14) and/or the aerosol vaporized in the vaporizer space (14) to a packaging element directly or via a distributor.
10. A production machine with at least one vaporizer device according to claim 1.
11. A method for vaporizing a liquid and/or an aerosol by a vaporizer device according to claim 1 wherein in at least one method step (82) the plurality of heating elements (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the heating unit (18) embodied as the matrix heating unit, which are arranged irregularly and/or regularly in a plane, are regulated and/or monitored separately, wherein the plurality of heating elements (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) are arranged at the heating plate (86) of the heating unit (18), wherein in at least one method step a liquid and/or an aerosol are/is vaporized by means of the surface of the heating plate (86) which forms the vaporizer surface (68) of the heating unit (18).
12. The vaporizer device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one elastic preload element (66) is a spring element.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawing. In the drawing exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The drawing, the description and the claims contain a plurality of features in combination. Someone skilled in the art will purposefully also consider the features separately and will find further expedient combinations.
[0025] It is shown in:
[0026] FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of a vaporizer device according to the invention,
[0027] FIG. 2 a sectional view of the vaporizer device according to the invention, in a schematic illustration,
[0028] FIG. 3a a schematic view from above onto a heating unit of the vaporizer device ac-cording to the invention, in a state when a vaporizer space housing is de-mounted from a heating housing of a housing of the vaporizer device according to the invention,
[0029] FIG. 3b a schematic view from above onto an alternative heating unit of the vaporizer device according to the invention in state when a vaporizer space housing is demounted from a heating housing of an alternative housing of an alternative-ly implemented vaporizer device according to the invention,
[0030] FIG. 4 a schematic illustration of a production machine according to the invention with the vaporizer device according to the invention, and
[0031] FIG. 5 a schematic flow chart of a method according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a vaporizer device 10 for a vaporization of a liquid and/or of an aerosol, in particular of liquid H2O2 and/or aerosolized H2O2. The vaporizer device 10 is preferably embodied as a sterilization vaporizer device configured for an application in a sterilization process in the food product industry and/or in the medical industry. The vaporizer device 10 has at least one housing 12, comprising at least one vaporizer space housing 16 which delimits a vaporizer space 14 (see FIG. 2) into which the liquid to be vaporized and/or the aerosol to be vaporized can be fed. The vaporizer device 10 comprises at least one heating unit 18 for a vaporization of the fed-in liquid and/or the fed-in aerosol. The vaporizer device 10 is preferably part of a pro-duction machine 78, in particular a food product filling and/or food product packaging machine, which is exemplarily shown in FIG. 4. It is however also conceivable that the vaporizer device 10 is realized as a self-contained device which can be operated independently from the production machine 78.
[0033] The housing 12 of the vaporizer device 10 is preferably realized in a multi-part implementation. The housing 12 is in particular configured for accommodating, at least partly enclosing and/or supporting individual components of the vaporizer device 10. The housing 12 comprises the vaporizer space housing 16 and at least one heating housing 60 which accommodates the heating unit 18 at least partially. Preferentially the vaporizer space housing 16 and the heating housing 60 together delimit the vaporizer space 14. The vaporizer space housing 16 is preferably realized in a bell like shape. The vaporizer space housing 16 may have a round cross section, an elliptic cross section, a polygonal cross section or a different cross section deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, in particular viewed in a plane that extends at least substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis 84 of the housing 12. The longitudinal axis 84 of the housing 12 preferably runs at least substantially perpendicularly to a vaporizer surface 68 of a heating plate 86 of the heating unit 18 (see FIG. 2). The vaporizer surface 68 is preferably arranged on a side 58 of the heating plate 86 that faces toward the vaporizer space 14. The vaporizer surface 68 of the heating unit 18, which is assigned to heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 of the heating unit 18, has a coating that is implemented so as to be resistant against the liquid that is to be vaporized and/or the aerosol that is to be vaporized, in particular resistant against H2O2. The vaporizer space housing 16 delimits the vaporizer space 14 preferably at least along a circumferential direction 88 and in at least one direction that runs at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 84, in particular on a side of the vaporizer space 14 that faces away from the heating plate 86. The circumferential direction 88 preferentially runs in the plane extending at least substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 84 of the housing 12. The vaporizer space housing 16 is preferably made of a metallic material. However, it is also conceivable that the vaporizer space housing 16 is made of a different material, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, which is suitable to be used in a vaporizer process, in particular in an H2O2 vaporizer process. Preferentially, the heating housing 60 and the vaporizer space housing 16 are — in particular releasably — connected with each other. Preferably the heating housing 60 and the vaporizer space housing 16 each comprise a connection flange 90, 92 for a connection of the heating housing 60 and the vaporizer space housing 16. For example, the heating housing 60 and the vaporizer space housing 16 are — in particular releasably — connected with each other by means of a screw connection (not shown here in detail) via a connection interface 64 defined by the connection flanges 90, 92. In a state when the heating housing 60 and the vaporizer space housing 16 are connected, the heating plate 86 is arranged between the heating housing 60 and the vaporizer space housing 16, in particular in a region of the connection interface 64. Preferably the vaporizer space housing 16 is implemented so as to be removable from the heating housing 60, in particular for maintenance purposes of the heating unit 18. The connection interface 64 preferably extends in a plane extending transversally, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the longitudinal axis 84.
[0034] The vaporizer device 10 preferentially comprises at least one insulation unit 118, which has at least one insulation element 120 that is arranged between the vaporizer space housing 16 and the heating housing 60, in particular for an insulation of electronic components of the heating unit 18 which are arranged in the heating housing 60 against a high heat load (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The insulation element 120 may have a round cross section, a polygonal cross section or a different cross section that is deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art. Viewed along a direction running at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 84, the insulation element 120 is preferentially arranged between the vaporizer space housing 16 and the heating housing 60, in particular in the region of the connection interface 64. Preferentially the insulation element 120 is implemented in a ring shape, in particular in a circular-arc shape.
[0035] The vaporizer device 10 preferably comprises at least one feeding unit 94, comprising at least one feeding element 96, in particular a feeding nozzle or a feeding dripper, for a feeding of a liquid and/or an aerosol, in particular a liquid H2O2 and/or an aerosolized H2O2, into the vaporizer space 14. The feeding element 96 is preferably arranged at the vaporizer space housing 16, in particular at a cover 98 of the vaporizer space housing 16 which is situated opposite the heating plate 86. It is however also conceivable that the feeding element 96 is arranged in a different position of the housing 12, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, so as to enable a feeding of a liquid and/or an aerosol, in particular a liquid H2O2 and/or an aerosolized H2O2. The feeding element 96 is preferentially arranged at the vaporizer space housing 16 in such a way that a central axis of the feeding element 96 is oriented at least substantially parallel to, in particular coaxially with, the longitudinal axis 84 of the housing 12. The cover 98 of the vaporizer space housing 16 is preferably arranged, in particular fixed, in a removable fashion at a base body 100 of the vaporizer space housing 16, which is in particular cylindrical, preferably circle-cylindrical. However, it is also conceivable that the cover 98 is realized in a one-part implementation with the base body 100 of the vaporizer space housing 16, is in particular free of a releasable connection technique, and/or is arranged at the base body 100 in a loss-proof manner.
[0036] The vaporizer space housing 16 preferentially comprises at least one vaporizer outlet 72, 74, 76 or a vaporizer outflow connection for feeding the liquid vaporized in the vaporizer space 14 and/or the aerosol vaporized in the vaporizer space 14, in particular an H2O2 vapor-gas mixture, to a packaging element directly or via a distributor, in particular via one or several conduit/s (not shown here in detail) of the production machine 78. The vaporizer outlet 72, 74, 76 or the vaporizer outflow connection may be oriented transversally, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, or at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 84 of the housing 12. In at least one implementation of the vaporizer device 10, the vaporizer space housing 16 comprises several vaporizer outlets 72, 74, 76 for feeding the liquid vaporized in the vaporizer space 14 and/or the aerosol vaporized in the vaporizer space 14, in particular an H2O2 vapor-gas mixture, to several packaging elements directly or via a distributor.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the vaporizer device 10 along a plane comprising the longitudinal axis 84. The vaporizer device 10 preferably comprises at least one sealing unit 102, comprising at least one sealing element 104 which is arranged between the vaporizer space housing 16 and the heating plate 86. Viewed along a direction running at least substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 84, the sealing element 104 is arranged between the vaporizer space housing 16 and the heating plate 86. However, alternatively or additionally it is conceivable that, viewed along a direction that runs at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 84, a sealing element, in particular the aforementioned sealing element, of the sealing unit 102 is arranged between the vaporizer space housing 16 and the heating plate 86. The sealing element 104 preferably adjoins with at least one side the vaporizer space housing 16 and with at least one further side the sealing element 104 adjoins the heating plate 86. The vaporizer space housing 16 and/or the heating plate 86 may comprise at least one receiving recess for receiving the sealing element 104 at least partially. It is however also conceivable that the sealing unit 102 comprises a plurality of sealing elements which are arranged between the vaporizer space housing 16 and the heating plate 86. In an implementation of the vaporizer space housing 16 with a removable cover 98, the sealing unit 102 preferably comprises at least one further sealing element 106 which is arranged between the cover 98 and the base body 100, in the manner shown exemplarily in FIG. 2.
[0038] The vaporizer device 10 may comprise an insulation unit having at least one insulation element which is arranged between the vaporizer space housing 16 and the heating housing 60, in particular for an insulation of electronic components of the heating unit 18 which are arranged in the heating housing 60 against a high heat load. The insulation unit may additionally comprise at least one further insulation element, which is arranged on an outer side of the vaporizer space housing 16. The further insulation element may encompass the vaporizer space housing 16 along the circumferential direction 88, in particular so as to counteract a formation of condensate on an inner wall of the vaporizer space housing 16.
[0039] The vaporizer space housing 16 preferably comprises a cleaning access opening and/or connection 108 so as to enable a cleaning process of the vaporizer space 14, in particular a CIP process (Cleaning-In-Place process). The cleaning access opening and/or connection 108 may be orient-ed transversally, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, or at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 84 of the housing 12. The cleaning access opening and/or connection 108 may, alternatively or additionally, form an overflow opening of the vaporizer space housing 16 for conveying away a non-vaporized portion of the liquid fed to the vaporizer space 14 and/or of the aerosol fed to the vaporizer space 14.
[0040] The heating plate 86 is preferably arranged at the housing 12 symmetrically, in particular rotationally symmetrically, to the longitudinal axis 84. The heating plate 86 in particular has a main extent that runs at least substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 84. The vaporizer surface 68 preferably extends at least substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 84. In particular, in the exemplary embodiment that is shown here, the vaporizer surface 68 is realized as a planar surface. However, it is also conceivable that the vaporizer surface 68 has a different implementation with regard to its contour, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, like for example step-like, domed, undulated, or the like.
[0041] FIG. 3a shows a schematic top view onto the heating unit 18 in a state when the vaporizer space housing 16 is demounted from the heating housing 60. The heating unit 18 is embodied as a matrix heating unit comprising heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 which can be regulated and/or monitored separately, in particular individually. The heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are preferably implemented as heating resistors which can be regulated and/or monitored separately, in particular individually. Preferentially the heating unit 18 comprises a plurality of segmented electrical heating circuits, which are arranged concentrically or in a grid, in particular when viewed in a plane. Preferably a heating element 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, in particular each individual heating element 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, forms an individual heating circuit, in particular in the context of wiring, of the heating unit 18. The heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are preferentially arranged at, in particular in, the heating plate 86 of the heating unit 18. The heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 may be arranged at the heating plate 86 so as to be dis-tributed regularly or irregularly. Preferably the heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are inserted in the heating plate 86, in particular embedded in the heating plate 86. Preferably the heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 terminate at least substantially flush with a surface of the heating plate 86. The surface of the heating plate 86, in particular together with a surface of the heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, forms the vaporizer surface 68 of the heating unit 18 for a vaporization of a liquid and/or an aerosol, in particular of liquid H2O2 and/or aerosolized H2O2. It is however also conceivable that the heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are arranged at, in particular in, the heating plate 86 in a plane that is offset in parallel to a surface of the heating plate 86 which forms the vaporizer surface 68, the heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 for example contacting the vaporizer surface 68 in order to heat the latter. Other arrangements of the heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, at, in particular in, the heating plate 86 are also conceivable.
[0042] Each heating element 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 is assigned an, in particular individual, regulation electronics element 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 of the heating unit 18 and/or an, in particular individual, monitoring electronics element 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 of the heating unit 18. Preferably each electrical heating circuit comprises an integrated regulation electronics element 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 of the heating unit 18 and/or an integrated monitoring electronics element 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 of the heating unit 18. The heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 preferably form, together with the assigned regulation electronics elements 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and/or the monitoring electronics elements 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 of the heating unit 18, electrical heating circuits of the heating unit 18 which can be regulated and/or monitored individually.
[0043] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3a, the heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are arranged concentrically around a central axis 56 of the heating unit 18. In an exemplary embodiment of a vaporizer device 10′ illustrated in FIG. 3b, heating elements 20′, 22′, 24′, 26′, 28′, 30 of a heating unit 18′ of the vaporizer device 10′ are arranged in a grid-like fashion on a side of the heating unit 18′ which faces toward a vaporizer space housing (not shown here in detail). Differently than in the exemplary embodiment of the vaporizer device 10 already described in FIGS. 1 to 3a, the vaporizer device 10′ illustrated in FIG. 3b has an alternative arrangement and/or implementation of the heating unit 18′ as well as an alternative implementation of a housing 12′. The housing 12′ of the vaporizer device 10′ illustrated in FIG. 3b and the heating unit 18′ illustrated in FIG. 3b have a polygonal cross section, in particular a tetragonal or rectangular cross section. However, it is also conceivable that only the heating unit 18′ has a polygonal, in particular tetragonal or rectangular, cross section, the housing 12′ having a round cross section. The other way round is also conceivable. With regard to further features of the alternative implementation of the vaporizer device 10′ illustrated in FIG. 3b, the description given above as well as the following description of the vaporizer device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3a may be referred to, such that the features of the vaporizer device 10 are to be read analogously onto the vaporizer device 10′ illustrated in FIG. 3b.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows that the housing 12 comprises at least the heating housing 60 for accommodating the heating unit 18, the heating housing 60 being — in particular directly — connected with the vaporizer space housing 16 and the heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 being arranged at least partially in the region of the connection interface 64 of the housing 12 between the heating housing 60 and the vaporizer space housing 16. The heating unit 18 is arranged at the vaporizer space housing 16 in such a way that at least one heating element 20, 30 of the heating unit 60 — in particular directly — adjoins the vaporizer space housing 16. Preferably at least two, in particular at least four, heating elements 20, 30 of the heating unit adjoin the vaporizer space housing 16 directly. Preferentially the heating elements 20, 30 arranged in a peripheral region of the heating plate 86 adjoin the vaporizer space housing 16 directly.
[0045] The vaporizer device 10 further comprises at least one elastic preload element 66 (shown in FIG. 2 by a dashed line), in particular a spring element, which is configured to subject the heating unit 18 to a preload force toward the vaporizer space housing 16. The preload element 66 is preferentially supported with one side on the heating unit 18, and with a further side the preload element 66 is supported on the heating housing 60, in particular on an inner wall of the heating housing 60. The preload element 66 may be embodied as a helical spring, as an elastomer, as a gas compression spring, as a leaf spring or as another preload element that is deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art.
[0046] The vaporizer device 10 comprises at least one outflow opening 70 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), which is arranged in the vaporizer space housing 16 or in the vaporizer surface 68 of the heating unit 18 for conveying away a non-vaporized portion of the liquid fed to the vaporizer space housing 16 and/or the aerosol fed to the vaporizer space housing 16. The outflow opening 70 preferentially has an orientation at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 84. However, different orientations and/or arrangements, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, of the outflow opening 70 in the vaporizer space housing 16 and/or in the heating plate 86 are also conceivable. It is further conceivable that, in addition to conveying away a non-vaporized portion of the liquid fed to the vaporizer space housing 16 and/or the aerosol fed to the vaporizer space housing 16, the outflow opening 70 is configured for a connection of a cleaning device, in particular a CIP cleaning device.
[0047] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method 80 for vaporizing a liquid and/or an aerosol, in particular liquid H2O2 and/or aerosolized H2O2, by means of the vaporizer device 10. In at least one method step 110, the heating unit 18 is activated. In at least one method step 112, a liquid and/or an aerosol are/is fed to the vaporizer space 14 via the feeding unit 94. In at least one method step 82, the heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 of the heating unit 18 that is realized as a matrix heating unit are regulated and/or monitored separately, in particular individually. The heating elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are regulated and/or monitored separately by means of the respective regulation electronics element 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and/or monitoring electronics element 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54. In at least one method step 116, suction of the liquid vaporized in the vaporizer space 14 and/or the aerosol vaporized in the vaporizer space 14, in particular the H2O2 vapor-gas mixture, is carried out, in particular via conduits, for a feeding to packaging elements which are to be sterilized. In at least one method step 114, which is in particular not necessarily present, a substance concentration, in particular an H2O2 concentration, in the liquid vaporized in the vaporizer space 14 and/or in the aerosol vaporized in the vaporizer space 14 is registered, in particular for a regulation of the heating unit 18 that is dependent thereon, and/or drop detection and/or, in particular indirect, determination of a liquid vaporized in the vaporizer space 14 and/or of the aerosol vaporized in the vaporizer space 14, in particular the H2O2 vapor-gas mixture, are/is carried out via a power consumption of the heating unit 18. Regarding further method steps of the method 80, the description of the vaporizer device 10 is referred to, which is to be understood analogously for the method 80.
