METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIQUIDS BY ULTRA HIGH PRESSURE HOMOGENIZATION

Abstract

A device and a method for the preservation of liquids comprising: degassing of the liquid at a first temperature, and ultra high pressure homogenization of the liquid at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is above the first temperature.

Claims

1. A method for the preservation of liquids comprising: degassing a liquid at a first temperature; and performing ultra high pressure homogenization of said liquid at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature lies above the first temperature.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said liquid is brought to the first temperature by heating said liquid prior to said degassing.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said liquid is brought to the second temperature by heating prior to said ultra high pressure homogenization.

4. The method according to claim 1, where said liquid treated by said ultra high pressure homogenization is cooled.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said liquid treated by said ultra high pressure homogenization is cooled and the heat obtained by the cooling is used to heat said liquid to the first temperature and/or to heat said liquid to the second temperature.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the degassing of said liquid is effected by way of pressure degassing and/or vacuum degassing and/or membrane degassing.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a stripping gas is used during the degassing of said liquid and/or vacuum degassing occurs in a falling liquid film.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the stripping gas is nitrogen.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said liquid treated by ultra high pressure homogenization is hygienically or aseptically buffered and/or hygienically or aseptically filled.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said ultra high pressure homogenization is performed at a pressure between 200 and 600 MPa.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature is in a range of 30 C. to 90 C.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first temperature is 50 C. to 70 C.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein no change occurs in a material composition of said liquid during or between said degassing of said liquid at the first temperature and said ultra high pressure homogenization of said liquid at the second temperature.

14. A system for the preservation of liquids comprising: at least one degassing device which is configured to degas a liquid at a first temperature; and at least one ultra high pressure homogenization device which is configured to perform ultra high pressure homogenization of said liquid at a second temperature, wherein said second temperature is above said first temperature.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising at least one device that is configured to heat said liquid to the first temperature prior to the degassing of the liquid, and/or that is configured to heat said liquid to the second temperature after the degassing of the liquid.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one device is a heat exchanger.

17. The system according to claim 14, further comprising at least one device that is configured to cool the liquid treated by ultra high pressure homogenization.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one device is a heat exchanger.

19. The system according to claim 18, where said system is configured to use the heat obtained from cooling to heat the liquid to the first temperature and/or to heat the liquid to the second temperature.

20. A filling plant that is a beverage filling plant for filling containers, comprising: a system for a preservation of liquids, the system comprising: at least one degassing device which is configured to degas a liquid at a first temperature; and at least one ultra high pressure homogenization device which is configured to perform ultra high pressure homogenization of said liquid at a second temperature, wherein said second temperature is above said first temperature.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] The following figures illustrate by way of example:

[0054] FIG. 1: An exemplary system for the preservation of liquids

[0055] FIG. 2: Further exemplary system for the preservation of liquids

[0056] FIG. 3: An example method, according to at least one example of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] FIG. 1 by way of example illustrates a system 100 for the preservation of liquids.

[0058] For example, a liquid to be treated or a liquid to be preserved can there first be supplied to a first device 102 for thermally treating, e.g. heating the liquid, for example, a first heat exchanger 102.

[0059] Exemplary heat exchanger 102 can there heat the liquid to be treated to a first temperature. The liquid heated to said exemplary first temperature can subsequently be supplied to an exemplary degassing device 103 which can be configured to remove and discharge undesired gases 108 from the liquid to be treated.

[0060] Exemplary temperature ranges for said first temperature, at which degassing can be performed, can be e.g. in the range of 30 C. to 90 C., in particular e.g. in the range of 50 C. to 70 C.

[0061] Exemplary system 100 can further comprise an exemplary ultra high pressure homogenization device 104 that can be configured to sterilize or preserve the liquid to be treated at a second temperature which can be above said exemplary first temperature.

[0062] Said exemplary heating to said second temperature can there be achieved, for example, by the ultra high pressure homogenization itself and/or by other devices for thermal treatment, for example, by possible optional heat exchangers (not shown).

[0063] After ultra high pressure homogenization of the liquid by exemplary ultra high pressure homogenization device 104, the liquid heated by ultra high pressure homogenization can optionally be cooled, for example, by way of a possible further heat exchanger 105.

[0064] This optional cooling can be carried out, for example, when the temperature of the heated and preserved liquid is above a predetermined value, or above a predetermined temperature difference, e.g. a difference of more than 10 K between a/the primary side and a/the secondary side of the ultra high pressure homogenization, or e.g. at a difference of more than 10 K between the exit temperature and the entry temperature of the liquid in the ultra high pressure homogenization.

[0065] The possible heat, obtained by way of example by cooling the liquid heated by ultra high-pressure homogenization, for example, can in turn optionally be used to heat the untreated supplied liquid 101 that is to be treated to said exemplary first temperature. If, for example, the possible recoverable amount of heat after the ultra high pressure homogenization is not sufficient to heat the liquid to the first temperature, external heat energy can optionally in addition also be used.

[0066] If required, exemplary system 100 can additionally comprise a further device 106 for thermally treating the liquid treated by ultra high pressure homogenization, e.g. a further heat exchanger 106, in order to thermally treat the liquid to a desired temperature, e.g. to cool it, before the liquid exits system 100 and can be supplied, for example, to aseptic buffering and/or aseptic storage, and/or aseptic filling (not shown).

[0067] For the sake of completeness, it is to be mentioned that the exemplary arrows, which are not provided with separate reference numerals, represent a possible exemplary process direction or flow direction of the liquid in the system and can represent an exemplary open cycle of the untreated liquid 101 from feed to discharge exit 107, in which optionally e.g. a heat surplus generated by the ultra high pressure homogenization can be used for heating the liquid to be treated to said exemplary first temperature.

[0068] In the illustrated exemplary cycle of the fluid through system 100, a liquid to be treated can pass once through any possible station, such as degassing device 103, ultra high pressure homogenization device 104, and devices 102, 105, 106 (in a predetermined direction) before the (treated) liquid leaves system 100 again at exit 107.

[0069] FIG. 2 by way of example illustrates a further system 200 for the preservation of liquids for illustrating aspects of the invention.

[0070] Similar to system 100, exemplary system 200 comprises an exemplary first device 202 for thermally treating, e.g. heating, the liquid to be treated 201 that is supplied via a feed, for example, a first heat exchanger 202.

[0071] Possible exemplary heat exchanger 202 can there heat the liquid to be treated to a first temperature. Subsequently, the liquid heated to said exemplary first temperature can be supplied to an exemplary degassing device 203 which can be configured to remove and discharge undesired gases 211 from the liquid to be treated.

[0072] Exemplary temperature ranges for said first temperature, at which degassing can be performed, can be e.g. in the range of 30 C. to 90 C., in particular e.g. in the range of 50 C. to 70 C.

[0073] Exemplary system 200 can further comprise an exemplary ultra high pressure homogenization device 204 that can be configured to sterilize or preserve the liquid to be treated at a second temperature that can be above said exemplary first temperature.

[0074] Exemplary system 200 can further comprise an exemplary further device 207 for thermally treating, e.g. for cooling, the liquid. Said exemplary device 207 can be e.g. configured as a heat exchanger or as a heat exchanger block which can comprise e.g. a plurality of heat exchangers, such as heat exchangers 205, 206.

[0075] Said device 207 or said exemplary heat exchangers 205, 206 can be configured to thermally treat the liquid treated by ultra high pressure homogenization to a desired temperature, in particular, for example, to cool it.

[0076] System 200 can be configured such that the heat recovered from cooling the liquid heated by the ultra high pressure homogenization can be utilized to, for example, (as shown) heat the supplied liquid to be treated 201 to the exemplary first temperature and/or to heat the degassed liquid to a second exemplary temperature (not shown) for ultra high pressure homogenization after an exemplary degassing by degassing device 203.

[0077] In contrast to system 100, heat recovery of the heat energy of the liquid heated by the ultra high pressure homogenization can take place in system 200 shown by way of example by way of a separate water circulation 212.

[0078] For this purpose, further devices 209, 210, e.g. additional heat exchangers, can be employed.

[0079] The treated and preserved liquid can exit 208 system 200 and be supplied, for example, to an aseptic buffer and/or an aseptic storage and/or aseptic filling (not shown).

[0080] Similar to the example of FIG. 1, the exemplary arrows in FIG. 2, which are not provided with separate reference numerals, also identify possible exemplary process directions or flow directions of the liquid in the system.

[0081] Turning now to FIG. 3, a flow chart of an example method 300 according to at least embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0082] Method 300 may be a method for the preservation of liquids, and may begin at step 302 where a liquid is degassed at a first temperature. In at least one example, said liquid may be brought to the first temperature by heating said liquid prior to said degassing. The first temperature may be in a range of 30 C. to 90 C. For example, the first temperature may be 50 C. to 70 C.

[0083] Further, in at least one example, the degassing of said liquid may be effected by way of pressure degassing and/or vacuum degassing and/or membrane degassing. In at least one example, a stripping gas may be used during the degassing of said liquid and/or vacuum degassing may occur in a falling liquid film. In examples where a stripping gas may be used, the stripping gas may be nitrogen

[0084] Following step 302, method 300 may include performing ultra high pressure homogenization of said liquid at a second temperature at step 304. In one or more examples, the second temperature may lie above the first temperature. Said liquid may be brought to the second temperature by heating prior to said ultra high pressure homogenization, for example. Additionally, in at least one example, said liquid treated by the ultra high pressure homogenization may be hygienically or aseptically buffered and/or may be hygienically or aseptically filled. The ultra high pressure homogenization may be performed at a pressure between 200 and 600 MPa, in at least one example. After performing ultra high pressure homogenization of said liquid at the second temperature in step 304, method 300 may further comprise cooling said liquid that was treated by said ultra high pressure homogenization at step 306. Furthermore, after cooling said liquid treated by said ultra high pressure homogenization at step 306, method 300 may further comprise using heat obtained by the cooling at step 306 to heat said liquid to the first temperature and/or to heat said liquid to the second temperature.

[0085] The reference numerals are there allocated as follows: [0086] 100 Exemplary system for the preservation of liquids [0087] 101 Exemplary supply of (untreated) liquid/liquid to be treated [0088] 102 Exemplary (first) device for thermally treating, e.g. heating the liquid, exemplary (first) heat exchanger [0089] 103 Exemplary degassing device [0090] 104 Exemplary ultra high pressure homogenization device [0091] 105 Exemplary (second) device for thermally treating, e.g. cooling the liquid, exemplary (second) heat exchanger [0092] 106 Exemplary (third) device for thermally treating, e.g. cooling the liquid, exemplary (third) heat exchanger exemplary (second) heat exchanger [0093] 107 exemplary exit/exemplary discharge of treated/preserved liquid [0094] 108 Exemplary escaping gas/gas removed from the liquid [0095] 200 Exemplary alternative system for the preservation of liquids [0096] 201 Exemplary supply of liquid/liquid to be treated [0097] 202 Exemplary (first) device for thermally treating, e.g. heating the liquid, exemplary (first) heat exchanger [0098] 203 Exemplary degassing device [0099] 204 Exemplary ultra high pressure homogenization device [0100] 205 Exemplary (second) device for thermally treating, e.g. cooling the liquid, exemplary (second) heat exchanger [0101] 206 Exemplary (third) device for thermally treating, e.g. cooling the liquid, exemplary (third) heat exchanger [0102] 207 Exemplary device for thermally treating, e.g. cooling the liquid, exemplary heat exchanger block comprising heat exchangers 205, 206 [0103] 208 Exemplary exit/exemplary discharge of treated/preserved liquid [0104] 209 Exemplary (fourth) device for thermally treating, e.g. cooling the liquid, exemplary (fourth) heat exchanger [0105] 210 Exemplary (fifth) device for thermally treating, e.g. cooling the liquid, exemplary (fifth) heat exchanger [0106] 211 Exemplary escaping gas/gas removed from the liquid [0107] 212 Exemplary water circulation for exemplary heat recovery