DEVICE FOR DETECTING BREAKAGES IN HIGH-PRESSURE PROCESSING BAGS

Abstract

Device for detecting breakages in high-pressure processing bags, wherein an elongated electrode (1) partially extends through the inside of one of the plugs (5a, 5b) of the device in its proximal part and, in its distal part, extends into the bag (6) of the product to be processed, the electrode being electrically insulated by an insulator (2) along its entire length, except in the part that is located inside the bag (6) and which is in contact with the product, wherein the proximal part of the electrode (1), which extends out of the plug, is connected to a power source and a device for measuring the electrical current, the resistance or the capacitance of a circuit, wherein said device is electrically connected by closing the circuit between the electrode and the pressurization water if the bag breaks.

Claims

1. A device for detecting breakages in high-pressure processing bags, the processing machine having a treatment vessel and two plugs (5a,5b) for closing the same, characterised in that the device is equipped with an elongated electrode (1) adapted to partially extend through the inside of one of the plugs (5a, 5b) in its proximal part and, in its distal part, adapted to extend into the bag (6) containing the product to be processed, the electrode being electrically insulated by an insulator (2) along its entire length, except in the part inside the bag (6) and in contact with the product, wherein the proximal part of the electrode (1) intended to extend out of the plug is connected to a power source and a device for measuring the electrical current, the resistance or the capacitance of a circuit, wherein said device is electrically connected by closing a circuit between the electrode and a pressurization water.

2. The device for detecting breakages in high-pressure processing bags according to claim 1, wherein one of the plugs being a filing plug, and the electrode (1) extends through the filling plug (5a).

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode (1) has a thickening and a cap (7) that facilitate sealing the electrode against the plug through which it extends.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode (1) extends into the bag (6) through a connector (9).

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the cap (7) and connector (9) are joined by a flange (12).

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein one of the plugs being a filling plugs, and the electrode (1) extends into the bag (6) through a connector (14) of said bag (6) with the filling plug (5a).

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the electrode (1) extends into the bag (6) through the connector (14) by means of an auxiliary connector (9′) situated on the connector itself (14) or on a central coupling (15).

8. A high-pressure processing machine with a single product filling and emptying plug (5a) and a valve for said filling and emptying, wherein the machine comprises a device according to claim 6, the valve being equipped with a plastic membrane (3) in its male seat (8) and a check valve (5) made of insulating material.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein the electrode (1) has a thickening and a cap (7) that facilitate sealing the electrode against the plug through which it extends.

10. The device according claim 2, wherein the electrode (1) extends into the bag (6) through a connector (9).

11. The device according to claim 3, wherein the electrode (1) extends into the bag (6) through a connector (9).

12. The device according to claim 4, wherein the cap (7) and connector (9) are joined by a flange (12).

13. The device according to claim 2, wherein the electrode (1) extends into the bag (6) through a connector (14) of said bag (6) with the filling plug (5a).

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the electrode (1) extends into the bag (6) through the connector (14) by means of an auxiliary connector (9′) situated on the connector itself (14) or on a central coupling (15).

15. The device according to claim 3, wherein one of the plugs being a filling plug, and the electrode (1) extends into the bag (6) through a connector (14) of said bag (6) with the filling plug (5a).

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the electrode (1) extends into the bag (6) through the connector (14) by means of an auxiliary connector (9′) situated on the connector itself (14) or on a central coupling (15).

17. A high-pressure processing machine with a single product filling and emptying plug (5a) and a valve for said filling and emptying, wherein the machine comprises a device according to claim 7, the valve being equipped with a plastic membrane (3) in its male seat (8) and a check valve (5) made of insulating material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0013] In order to aid a better understanding of the features of the invention and to supplement this description, a set of illustrative and not limiting figures has been attached thereto as an integral part thereof:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows the steps of HPP for pumpable substances in a piece of equipment according to the state of the art.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows an outline of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows details of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows another variant of the invention in which a connector to the pre-existing bag is used to introduce the electrode inside the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in a high-pressure processing machine equipped with a vessel and two plugs closing the same (5a and 5b), the invention comprises an elongated electrode 1 that partially extends through the inside of the plug 5a in its proximal part and further in the distal part, until it is introduced into the bag containing the product to be processed. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the electrode extends through the filling plug 5a but could also be introduced into the vessel through the other plug. In the proximal part, extending inside the plug, an electrical cable 13 connects it to a power source, with said electrode acting as a cathode. In the section that runs through the plug and its exterior, to the area of the bag, the electrode is electrically insulated thanks to an insulator 2 (continuous coating or set of plastic parts). This way, the electrode is insulated from both the plug and the pressurization water 10. In the middle, the electrode may have a thickening to ensure mechanical contact with the plug. To hold the electrode in position and ensure said mechanical contact, a cap 7 is placed on the electrode, which pushes it, causing the male cone shape of the electrode to make a seal against the female cone shape of the plug. The bag 6 containing the product to be processed has, preferably but not necessarily, a connector 9 to the bag through which the electrode is introduced (FIG. 3). Alternatively, the electrode can be introduced by the same pre-existing connector 14 from the bag to the filling plug (FIG. 4) thanks to an auxiliary connector 9′ that is attached to the connector 14 of the bag, preferably but not necessarily by means of a central coupling 15 that facilitates the assembly thereof. The final section of the electrode, which is inside the bag, does not have insulating material because it is in contact with the product to be processed.

[0019] In the first embodiment, in the case wherein the connector 9 of the electrode is separate from the connector 14 of the bag, the connector 9 and cap 7 assembly is optionally provided with a flange 12. The flange 12 holds everything together to ensure the sealing of the assembly during all steps of the process, preventing the communication between the pressurization water 10 and the product to be processed inside the bag, which would lead to the contamination of the product.

[0020] In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the connector 14 of the bag 6 to the product plug 5a has an auxiliary connector 9′, which is preferably but not necessarily in the central coupling 15, for introducing the distal part of the electrode, which is not coated as provided above.

[0021] The bag 6, the connectors 9, 9′, 14 and the central coupling 15 must be made of an electrically insulating material.

[0022] The power source to which the cable 13 and the electrode 1 are connected (optionally only the electrode if it was made long enough) is between 6 and 60V, preferably about 24 V of direct current. With less voltage, the system is less precise, but with more voltage, electrolysis phenomena can occur in the product to be processed when a difference of potential is applied to the electrode. The section of the electrode should be larger than 1 mm.sup.2. The larger the cross section of the electrode, the more precise the system.

[0023] The anode is a second electrode 13′ which is in electrical contact with the pressurization water. In the most common case, the high-pressure machine is made of metal, due to which it is enough to simply connect an electrode to the outer part of the treatment vessel or even to the plug 5a, which are in contact with the pressurization water.

[0024] In the event that the high-pressure processing machine is of the type described in application PCT/ES2017/070600, the equipment has a single product filling and emptying duct and a single valve whose male and female seats are made of metal. Therefore, in the male seat 8 of said valve, a plastic membrane 3 is provided in the distal area, which is the closest to the bag 6; the membrane is connected through a rod that is made of an insulating material to ensure there is no electrical contact. However, the female connector of the bag 14 is made of plastic, due to which it is an electrical insulator. Therefore, when the male seat 8 closes, the movement thereof moves the membrane 3 because it is integral to the same, and it becomes electrically insulated from the bag 6 of the male valve 8 and therefore from the pressurization water 10. Since the volume of the pumpable substance between the membrane 3 and the filling/emptying valve 8 decreases during pressurisation, it is necessary to have a system that allows the pumpable substance to pass from the inside of the bag 6 to equalise the pressures on either side of the membrane 3 and prevent the parts 11 or 14, and even the membrane 3 itself, from collapsing. This function is performed by a check valve 5, which can be a plastic ball with a spring return or a membrane. The check valve 5 must always be made of an electrically insulating material. The membrane, in combination with the check valve, prevents the generation of a current through the filling valve and keeps the electrical circuit open. Just as the electrode needs to be insulated, the filling valve must also be insulated by the membrane and the check valve.

[0025] The electrical parameter can be monitored throughout the entire pressurisation cycle, although it will most usually be monitored once the pressure cycle has been completed and the product from the pressurisation process has been brought to atmospheric pressure before the bag is emptied. For this purpose, a voltage is applied to the electrode 1. In the event that the bag were to be broken and since both the vessel and the plug are made of metal (electrical conductor), an electric current would pass through the circuit, from the interior of the bag to the exterior thereof and through the pressurization water to the vessel/plugs until the circuit is closed, producing a current whose intensity can be measured. If the bag maintains its integrity, the electrical circuit remains open as it is made from insulating material, so even if a voltage is applied to the electrode of the plug, since the circuit is not closed, a current will not move through the same. In the same way, the capacitance or resistance of said circuit can be measured instead of its intensity.

[0026] The device of the invention is able to detect small defects in the integrity of the treatment bag while it is full, which makes it possible to avoid contamination of the tank and the product line being processed in the event of a positive detection. The method is fast and does not penalise cycle times, as is the case in the state of the art. It also prevents false positives or negatives. Finally, it is compatible with existing systems, supports high-pressure limitations and is easy to handle and install by the production operator while changing the bag.

[0027] Based on this description and figures, the expert in the art may understand that the invention has been described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, but that multiple variations can be introduced in such preferred embodiments without exceeding the object of the invention as claimed.