U.S. patent application number 13/502259 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-27 for system and method for producing, filling, packaging and/or transporting beverages.
This patent application is currently assigned to KRONES AG. Invention is credited to Albert Link, Klaus Wasmuht.
Application Number | 20120240522 13/502259 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43648743 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120240522 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wasmuht; Klaus ; et
al. |
September 27, 2012 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING, FILLING, PACKAGING AND/OR
TRANSPORTING BEVERAGES
Abstract
A system and a method for the production, filling, packaging
and/or transport of beverages in beverage containers. The system
components are coupled physically and by a common control unit.
Furthermore the system components are coupled at least partially
energetically. The system components form mutually coupled energy
conversion units, energy storage units and/or energy consumption
units. The system components are provided with energy from one
common energy generating device, which supplies mechanical
operating power (wave energy) and/or electrical energy and/or
thermal energy to the system components.
Inventors: |
Wasmuht; Klaus; (Ellingen,
DE) ; Link; Albert; (Au, DE) |
Assignee: |
KRONES AG
Neutraubling
DE
|
Family ID: |
43648743 |
Appl. No.: |
13/502259 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
September 9, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP10/63211 |
371 Date: |
May 23, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/396 ;
53/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 49/786 20130101;
Y02E 20/14 20130101; Y02P 70/267 20151101; Y02P 70/10 20151101;
H02J 11/00 20130101; B29C 49/4284 20130101; B29C 48/832 20190201;
F01K 17/025 20130101; B29C 48/252 20190201 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/396 ;
53/52 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/04 20060101
B65B003/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 15, 2009 |
DE |
10 2009 044 258.8 |
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. A system for the production, filling, packaging and/or
transport of beverages in beverage containers, comprising: system
components coupled physically and by a common control unit, the
system components being coupled at least partially energetically,
the system components forming mutually coupled energy conversion
units, energy storage units and/or energy consumption units; and at
least one common energy generating device supplying the energy
conversion units, energy storage units and/or energy consumption
units with mechanical operating power and/or electrical energy
and/or thermal energy.
16. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein the generating device
includes at least one gas turbine coupled to an electrical
generator and/or to a compressor of a compressed air system.
17. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the gas turbine
comprises at least one heat exchanger coupled to at least one of
the system components.
18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the heat exchanger is
an exhaust gas heat exchanger.
19. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the energy generating
device or the gas turbine provides energy to at least a dry
end-block of the container processing system and/or beverage
filling system or at least a part of the container processing
system and/or beverage filling system.
20. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the energy generating
device or the gas turbine is energetically coupled to at least one
heating unit of the container processing system.
21. The system as recited in claim 19 wherein the heating unit
includes at least one of a pre-heating unit for the preforms, a
blow molding device and a shrinking tunnel of a packaging
station.
22. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the energy generating
device or the gas turbine is energetically coupled to at least one
compressed air supply of at least one packaging station.
23. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein the energy generating
device as well as the energy conversion units, energy storage units
and/or energy consumption units are coupled to a local, regional
and/or public line network for electrical power supply and/or for
thermal energy supply.
24. A method for the production, filling, packaging and/or
transport of beverages in beverage containers, system components
being coupled physically and by a common control unit and coupled
at least partially energetically, the system components form
mutually coupled energy conversion units, energy storage units
and/or energy consumption units, the method comprising: supplying
the energy conversion units, energy storage units and/or energy
consumption units via at least one common energy generating device
with mechanical operating power and/or electrical energy and/or
thermal energy.
25. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein the energy generating
device comprises at least one gas turbine mechanically driving an
electric generator and/or a compressor of a compressed air
system.
26. The method as recited in claim 25 wherein exhaust heat of the
gas turbine is provided to at least one further component of the
system.
27. The method as recited in claim 24 further comprising providing
an additional capacity, which is required at certain times and
which cannot be provided by the energy generating device at the
time, by a storage unit, the storage unit being coupled to the
system components and providing a buffer capacity.
28. The method as recited in claim 24 further comprising supplying
an additional capacity, which is required at certain times and
which cannot be provided by the energy generating device at the
time, by a regional and/or public line network for electrical power
supply and/or for thermal energy supply, the line network being
coupled to the system components.
29. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein the electrical
energy, which is generated by the energy generating device at
certain times, but which is not required by the other consumption
units of the systems at the time and/or which cannot be stored by
the energy storage unit at the time, is fed to a public line
network and/or is provided to other neighboring consumption
units.
30. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein the thermal energy,
which is generated by the energy generating device at certain
times, but which is not required by the other consumption units of
the systems at the time and/or which cannot be stored by the heat
storage unit at the time, is provided to other neighboring
consumption units.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a system as well as a method for
the production, filling, packaging and/or transport of
beverages.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Economic units, manufacturing systems and all types of
handling facilities or handling systems etc. require different
types of energy. Foremost mechanical drive energy is required,
which can be provided in the form of hydraulic and/or pneumatic
pressure, thermal energy and electrical energy. The electrical
energy is usually provided through an energy supply company and
delivered over a public line network. For the supply with thermal
energy different ways of delivery, production and/or use are
possible. Mechanical energy as well as the energy source used for
pneumatic and/or hydraulic drives and pressure supplies are usually
obtained by conversion of electrical energy, typically by means of
electric motors.
[0003] Until now the machinery used in beverage production is
usually provided with energy and other media by completely
independent energy supply routes and media supply routes. The
required thermal energy is provided by a heat generating unit or
generated in the machinery itself. Compressed air is provided
through an air generator or a compressor. The electric current is
supplied through a power distribution system. For the energy and
media supply it is conventionally assumed, that the different types
of energy and media are essentially available and can be obtained
from outside. Some kind of connection between energy generating
processes and energy consumption units is either only rudimentary
available or nonexistent.
[0004] Combined heating and power stations are increasingly used
for the supply with thermal energy. They are especially used in
other areas, for example in private homes or in business units with
distinct thermal energy needs. These combined heating and power
stations provide thermal energy and additionally electrical energy.
This electrical energy can be either used up or fed into a public
line network. In addition, other energy generating devices can be
used, for example, photovoltaic elements for transforming solar
energy into electricity or solar collectors for heat production. If
several energy sources are used, it is in principle possible to
coordinate them appropriately. Thereby the use of the different
energy sources can be adjusted to be as efficient and cost saving
as possible.
[0005] From DE 10 2005 036 703 A1 a system is known, which provides
warm water and thermal energy, cooling, air conditioning and which
simultaneously provides mechanical power or electricity.
[0006] From DE 296 05 939 U1 a system for forecasting, scheduling
and optimization of the components in an energy production system
is known. The provision of electrical and/or thermal energy or fuel
as well as the supply, management and planning of the electrical
and thermal energy is based on the current load profile.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system
for the production, filling, packaging and/or transport of
beverages should be considered as a system of interlocking
consumption units, whereby the energy need of the system should be
covered in the most efficient way, if necessary using an energy
generating device. Furthermore, an energy-efficient method for the
production, filling, packaging and/or transport of beverages is
proposed.
[0008] The present invention provides a system for the production,
filling, packaging and/or transport of beverages in beverage
containers, whereby the system components are coupled physically
and by a common control. Additionally the system components are at
least partially energetically coupled. Furthermore the system
components each form mutually coupled energy conversion units,
energy storage units and/or energy consumption units, which are
supplied with energy from at least one common energy generating
device. The energy generating device supplies mechanical operating
power (wave energy) and/or electrical energy and/or thermal energy.
The energy generating device especially comprises at least one gas
turbine, which is mechanically coupled to an electrical generator
and/or to a compressor of a compressed air system. The gas turbine
may furthermore comprise a heat exchanger, which is coupled to at
least one of the system components. Particularly an exhaust gas
heat exchanger is used as heat exchanger. The exhaust gas heat
exchanger uses the thermal energy contained in the hot exhaust gas
and supplies this thermal energy to other heat consumption units.
For instance, the exhaust gas heat exchanger supplies this thermal
energy to a shrinking tunnel or a film heating device or the like.
Additionally or alternatively a heat exchanger can be provided that
uses the thermal energy contained in the coolant fluid of the gas
turbine and makes this thermal energy available to other
consumption units.
[0009] When coupling the mentioned units of the inventive system,
the energy generating device or the gas turbine may advantageously
supply at least one dry end-block of the container processing
system and/or of the beverage filling system or a part thereof with
energy. Thus, a part of the exhaust heat or the whole exhaust heat,
which is obtained from the heat exchanger units of the gas turbine,
can be used energetically for different purposes. It may be
advantageous, for example, to energetically couple the energy
generating device or the gas turbine to at least one heating unit
of the container processing system. The exhaust heat can be used
effectively for a pre-heating unit for preforms and/or for a blow
molding unit. A shrinking tunnel of a packaging system can be
advantageously supplied with heat, since the energy consumption in
a shrinking tunnel is particularly high. Furthermore the energy
generating device or the gas turbine can be energetically coupled
to a compressed air supply of at least one packaging system. This
is typically a mechanical coupling, whereby the mechanical
operating power (wave energy) of the gas turbine is used for
powering the compressors, generating the compressed air either
directly or indirectly. An indirect drive can, for example, be
generated via a transformation of the driving power into electrical
energy by a generator and a compressor drive with an electric
motor.
[0010] A further embodiment of the system may provide that the
energy generating devices as well as the energy conversion units,
energy storage units and/or energy consumption units are coupled to
a regional, national and/or public line network for electric power
supply and/or for thermal energy supply. Normally, however, the
different types of energy generated by the energy generating device
or the gas turbine are made available and used locally. Especially
the energy generated through the energy generating device or the
gas turbine is used within the system, whereby the system is formed
by the various mutually coupled components of the beverage
processing system.
[0011] The present invention furthermore relates to a method for
the production, filling, packaging and/or transport of beverages in
beverage containers, whereby the components of the system are
physically coupled and whereby the components of the system are
coupled through a common control and whereby the components of the
system are furthermore coupled at least partially energetically.
The system components each form mutually coupled energy conversion
units, energy storage units and/or energy consumption units, which
are supplied with energy from at least one common energy generating
device. The energy generating device supplies mechanical operating
power (wave energy) and/or electrical energy and/or thermal energy.
The method furthermore provides that the energy generating device
is not arranged externally, but close to the other system
components. This means, for example, that the energy generating
device is located within the same production line or even within a
larger manufacturing facility. The spatially more or less closely
located consumption units such as the shrinking tunnel or other
container processing units are at least arranged adjacent in a
reachable distance. The different forms of energy provided through
the energy generating device--mechanical energy, electrical energy,
thermal energy, etc.--can thereby be used without long transport
distances. A sensible arrangement may provide that the energy
generating device is housed in a separate section of the building,
in a separate room, in a building extension or the like. From there
the energy is supplied to the various manufacturing units and
system components. The spatial setup of the energy generating
device may optionally be formed as an integrated unit or an
external unit.
[0012] A particularly suitable drive for the energy generating
device may for example be a gas turbine, which drives an electrical
generator and/or a compressor of a compressed air system, whereby
different forms of mechanical drives can be provided. The exhaust
heat provided by the gas turbine can be made available to at least
one further system component, such as a shrinking tunnel or the
like. The electrical energy can be used in many different ways, for
example, for the electric drives of a filling system. The
compressed air can be used for example in a stretch blow molding
device.
[0013] Another useful variation of the method may provide that the
energy generating devices as well as the energy conversion units,
energy storage units and/or energy consumption units are coupled to
a (regional and/or public) line network for electric power supply
and/or for thermal energy supply. Optionally, an additional
capacity, which is sometimes required but cannot be supplied by the
energy generating device at that time, can be provided through a
storage unit. The storage unit is coupled to the system components
and provides a buffer capacity for the required additional
capacity. Suitable storage units are for example a pressure storage
unit, an electrical storage unit or a thermal storage unit for
storing the exhaust heat produced by the gas turbine or other
energy generating devices. Furthermore an additional capacity,
which is sometimes required but cannot be supplied by the energy
generating device at that time, can be provided through a regional
and/or public line network. The line network is coupled to the
system components and provides the necessary electrical energy
and/or thermal energy. In this context it may furthermore be
advantageous, to provide additional electrical energy to a public
network and/or neighboring consumption units. Additional energy
refers to energy, which is provided at certain times through the
energy generating device, but which is not required at that time by
the consumption units and/or which cannot be stored at that time in
the at least one storing unit. Of course, embodiments are also
possible, wherein the thermal energy, which is delivered and
available at certain times from the energy generating device and
which is not required by the consumption units at that time and/or
which cannot be stored in the storing unit at that time is provided
to neighboring consumption units.
[0014] The inventive system thereby forms a coupled heat and power
system, which is also called combined heating and power station or
CHP. The inventive system can be operated in a heat controlled
manner. This means that the amount of thermal energy, which is
required and requested respectively during a given time period, can
define the operational mode of the system. Thus, it may for example
be useful, to run the gas turbine only at times when it can be
ensured that the total thermal energy that is generated is also
needed. During times in which too much exhaust heat is produced, it
might be sensible to get the mechanical operating power (wave
energy) and/or electrical energy, which is required in parallel,
from a third-party. In some cases this may turn out cheaper.
[0015] Another useful variation of the method for controlling the
system according to the invention may provide that all the coupled
systems communicate with a central control center. With an
increased public demand for electrical energy they can be
configured in such a way that depending on the current demand one,
some or all of the coupled systems are used to supply electric
energy to the public network.
[0016] The present invention describes both the potential use as
well as the integration of a heat and power coupling in the process
of beverage production, filling, packaging and transportation of
pallets and other related and/or coupled processes. It thereby
describes a method for the integration of alternative energy
generating devices in the process of beverage production, filling
and beverage packaging, and transportation of beverage pallets.
Since the system components and machinery in the beverage industry
usually require heat, electricity and compressed air for
production, electricity is produced by the inventive heat and power
coupling, particularly electricity is generated through the
combustion of gas or biogas in a micro gas turbine. The exhaust
heat resulting from the combustion of the gas can for example be
used for heating buildings. Moreover, other system components can
be supplied with this thermal energy. Through the intelligent
coupling of a beverage production system with a micro gas turbine,
the heat dissipated by the machinery can be used directly or
indirectly for shrinking processes, material heating processes,
heating processes of media etc. The resulting power can be used for
the operation of drives, fans, motors etc. Excess electricity can
be fed back into the network (public or on-site) and/or used
elsewhere. Through a mechanical extension of the micro gas turbine,
a compressed air system can be integrated, which provides the
necessary air pressure to the beverage machinery. Organic waste
from the beverage production process can be fed to the micro gas
turbine and used as fuel. There are significant advantages compared
to the known systems in beverage industry, whereby the various
system components are supplied with energy and media via completely
independent energy and media supply routes. Traditionally the
required heat is provided by a separate heat generating system or
generated in the machinery itself. According to the inventive
system the heat and power coupling provides the exhaust heat as a
kind of waste product. According to the invention the required air
is not provided through an air generator, but produced from the
mechanical operating power (wave energy) of the combustion engine.
Also, the electric power is not obtained from a conventional power
distribution system, but generated by the heat and power coupling.
In the case of conventional energy and media supply, it is assumed
that these are available to 100%. An intelligent coupling of energy
production processes and energy consumption units is not yet known
in traditional systems.
[0017] The invention helps to overcome these drawbacks by using a
micro gas turbine which drives a generator to produce electric
power. The micro gas turbine is furthermore connected directly or
indirectly to a compressor for generating compressed air. Both the
generator and the compressor can be independently switched on or
off. The exhaust gas resulting from the combustion in the micro gas
turbine is cooled via a suitable exchange medium in an exhaust gas
heat exchanger. The exchange medium (steam, hot water, air, . . . )
should be usable as a heat source for a beverage machinery (shrink
tunnel, blow molding oven, CIP-system, . . . ). Both purchased gas
as well as biogas, which can be intrinsically derived from organic
waste of the beverage production process, can be used as fuel. An
intelligent control system coordinates and optimizes the control
processes of the micro gas turbine, the exhaust exchange system and
the beverage production machinery.
[0018] In addition it should be mentioned, that the coupling of
energy generating devices--especially of the so called micro gas
turbine--and the energy consumption units of the inventive system
can also be used only in a so-called dry end-block of the
processing system. This variation is slightly restrictive and not
always necessary. It may well be advantageous to provide energy
consumption units, which are part of the so-called wet end-block of
a filling system, either energetically, thermally, electrically or
in another suitable way through a gas turbine or through one of the
other energy generating devices.
[0019] According to the invention the thermal energy and electric
energy and/or pneumatic energy required by the various components
of a processing system can be provided advantageously by the energy
generating device. Thereby not only the total energy cost of the
entire system can be significantly reduced. The inventive system
furthermore shows a significant reduction in the emissions of
climate-damaging carbon dioxide. Thereby the invention can provide
a valuable contribution to the conservation of energy resources and
to the protection of the environment from climate-relevant
emissions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] In the following passages, the attached figures further
illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and their
advantages. The exemplary embodiments of the invention are
illustrative, but not limiting in any way.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a
system according to the invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary configuration of a so-called
disposable PET line-machinery, whereby PET containers are formed
from PET preforms, which are subsequently filled with
beverages.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary configuration of a so-called
glass-line machinery, whereby glass containers are filled with
beverages.
DETAILLED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The schematic representation of FIG. 1 shows a block diagram
of an embodiment of a system according to the invention. It shows a
possible configuration and describes the deployment and integration
of a heat and power coupling unit into the process of beverage
production, filling, packaging and transportation of beverage
pallets and related and/or coupled processes. It thus describes a
method for the integration of alternative energy generating devices
in the process of beverage production, filling, beverage packaging
and transportation of beverage pallets. The system components and
machinery used in the beverage industry usually require heat,
electricity and compressed air for the production processes.
Electricity is produced by the inventive heat and power coupling,
especially through the combustion of gas or biogas in a micro gas
turbine. The block illustrated at the bottom left in the figure
denotes the micro gas turbine, which drives an electrical generator
by means of mechanical coupling of the mechanical operating power
(wave energy) of a gas turbine fired with fuel gas. The generator
comprises a suitable control and/or regulation means, which is
furthermore called ECM (control board) and LCM (control board). The
generator provides electric power to further system components,
which function as electrical consumption units and which are
summarized in the block illustrated in an upper section on the
right hand side. The electrical consumption units can comprise all
machinery and system components that are used in beverage
production and filling processes, transportation of the containers
and packaging, etc.
[0025] The generator may furthermore drive a compressor for
generating compressed air (depicted in the right block, located
below), which is thus driven by an electric motor. Optionally, the
gas turbine can drive an air compressor by means of mechanical
coupling, which is indicated by the block depicted in the middle.
The compressed air supply system in each case comprises a pressure
storage tank, through which the compressed air supply system is
connected to the consumption unit. Thereby the consumption units
are additionally provided with pneumatic energy through the system.
The pneumatic energy is marked with "DL". Two different embodiments
are illustrated for generating compressed air, using either
electrically or mechanically driven compressors. The two different
embodiments can be used either together or alternatively.
[0026] The third energy component, which may be supplied from the
gas turbine, is exhaust heat. The exhaust heat may be withdrawn in
particular from the exhaust gas through an exhaust gas heat
exchanger and delivered as heat to the consumption units. The
exhaust heat resulting from the combustion of the gas can for
example also be used for heating buildings. In addition, all other
system components can be supplied with this thermal energy. Through
the intelligent coupling of the beverage production machinery with
a micro gas turbine, the heat dissipating from the machine can be
fed directly or indirectly to the appropriate system components and
used for shrinking processes, material heating processes, heating
processes of media. The resulting power can also be used for the
operation of drives, fans, motors, etc. Excess electricity can be
fed back into the network (public or on-site) and/or used
otherwise. A compressed air system can be integrated through a
mechanical extension of the micro gas turbine. Thereby the beverage
processing machinery can be provided with the necessary compressed
air.
[0027] In principle any conceivable fuel can be used as fuel for
the micro gas turbine, for instance natural gas, biogas or the
like. Organic waste from the beverage production process can also
be used as fuel. Optionally a biogas production system can be
integrated in the beverage production process. The inventive system
has significant advantages compared to the known systems in the
beverage industry, whereby the system components are traditionally
supplied with the required energy and media via completely
independent energy and media supply routes. Traditionally the
required heat is provided by a separate heat generating system or
generated in the machinery itself. According to the inventive
system the heat and power coupling provides the exhaust heat as a
kind of waste product. According to the invention the required air
is not delivered by an air generator, but produced from the
mechanical operating power (wave energy) of the combustion engine.
The electric power is not obtained from a conventional power
distribution system, but generated by the heat and power coupling.
In the case of conventional energy and media supply, it is assumed
that these are available to 100%. An intelligent coupling of energy
production processes and energy consumption units is not yet known
in traditional systems.
[0028] The invention helps to overcome these drawbacks by using a
micro gas turbine which drives a generator to produce electric
power. The micro gas turbine is furthermore connected directly or
indirectly to a compressor for generating compressed air. Both the
generator and the compressor can be independently switched on or
off. The exhaust gas resulting from the combustion in the micro gas
turbine is cooled via a suitable exchange medium in an exhaust gas
heat exchanger. The exchange medium (steam, hot water, air, . . . )
should be usable as a heat source for a beverage machinery (shrink
tunnel, blow molding oven, CIP-system, . . . ). Both purchased gas
as well as biogas, which can be intrinsically derived from organic
waste of the beverage production process, can be used as fuel. An
intelligent control system coordinates and optimizes the control
processes of the micro gas turbine, the exhaust exchange system and
the beverage production machinery.
[0029] As indicated by the narrow block depicted below the three
blocks "micro turbine" and "compressed air" arranged side by side,
all coupled units are interconnected via a suitable control and
regulating unit. The control and regulating unit comprises a user
interface and appropriate display units. The coupled units are
interconnected in such a way that the distribution to and the use
of the various types of energy by the energy consumption units are
done most energy efficiently and at the same time considering the
current demand.
[0030] The schematic block diagram of FIG. 2 illustrates an
exemplary configuration of a beverage filling system, especially
for disposable PET containers. PET containers are formed from PET
preforms and subsequently filled with beverages. The leftmost shown
first processing station comprises injection molding devices.
Preforms of a thermoplastic material, especially PET, are produced
by injection molding in a preform injection molding device. The
first processing station furthermore comprises a cap injection
molding device, whereby completely shaped caps are produced by
injection molding. The thermal energy required for the injection
molding processes, especially for melting the plastic material or
plastic granulate to be processed, can be obtained in particular
from the exhaust heat of the gas turbine. If necessary, the
hydraulic pressure required for the injection molding process can
also be obtained from the mechanical operating power (or wave
energy) of the gas turbine. Typically this can be done through a
direct coupling of a hydraulic pressure generator or a hydraulic
pump to the rotating shaft of the gas turbine. Optionally a
mechanical-electrical conversion might be arranged in between,
whereby the hydraulic drive can be operated either directly from
the gas turbine or by an electric motor.
[0031] The subsequent system component comprises the so called
stretch blow molding. First the preforms are cleaned and
subsequently fed into a stretch blow molding device. Here the
preforms are first tempered and then placed in the blow molds,
where they are blow molded in the desired shape through the
application of inner pressure. The heat required for tempering the
preforms may optionally be recovered from the exhaust heat of the
gas turbine. Alternatively the required heat can be provided
through electrical heating devices such as infrared radiators.
Particularly the electrical heating devices can be supplied with
electrical energy from the energy generating device. The containers
formed by stretch blow molding are then cooled down. Depending on
the system configuration this can be done by using suitable heat
exchangers. The heat exchangers can also be energetically coupled
to the energy generating device and/or to other system
components.
[0032] The final shaped containers together with the cleaned caps
(see cap cleaning unit) are then transferred to the so-called wet
end-block of the filling system, where the filling of the beverages
takes place. The cleaning of the containers prior to filling with
liquid may be done, for example, in a so-called rinser.
Subsequently the bottles are filled in a filler and closed in a
capper. The stages of product processing, especially the processing
technique, and the cleaning technique are coupled to the wet
end-block. This is shown by the arrangement of this processing
& cleaning block above the wet end-block. The product to be
filled, for example the beverage, is delivered from the product
processing system to the filler. Optionally a short-time heating
system is arranged between the product processing plant and the
filler. In the so-called cold filling a short-term heating is not
required. A conventional filling generally provides that the
beverage is heated before filling to ensure the stability and
sterility or to ensure that germs are eliminated at least to a
large extend. This short-time heating system can also
advantageously utilize the exhaust heat of the energy generating
device, for instance through the exhaust gas heat exchanger of the
gas turbine or something similar. Both mentioned system components
of the product processing as well as the rinser and the filler are
additionally connected to a cleaning system.
[0033] After filling the containers and their subsequent closure
via the capper, the full containers are fed via suitable container
transportation means to a drying unit. The drying unit can for
instance comprise a hot air blowing system. Hereby the exhaust heat
of the gas turbine can be used again. The containers are usually
labeled after drying. According to FIG. 2 this is done by a
labeling device. In normal linguistic usage the labeling device is
part of the wet end-block. Other types of container labeling are
also possible, for example, a printing of a label or a direct
printing onto the container. This typically takes place in the dry
state of the containers. The electrical and/or pneumatic energy
required by the labeling device can be supplied preferably with
electrical energy, which is produced through the energy generating
device by means of the electric generator. Other system components
can also be provided with this electrical energy, for instance
transport units, fillers, cappers or the like.
[0034] A so called dry end-block of the system is located
downstream of the wet end-block. This dry end-block comprises a
packaging unit, which is for instance a so-called Variopack-system.
This Variopack-system comprises a film wrapping unit for wrapping
packs of several containers with shrinking film, subsequently
heating the film in a shrinking tunnel and further subsequently
arranged transport means. The shrinking tunnel is a particularly
energy consuming unit of the system. Therefore the operation of the
shrinking tunnel with the exhaust heat from the gas turbine is
particularly desirable. The use of energy obtained through the
exhaust gas heat exchanger has a large energy saving potential,
since the operation of such shrinking tunnels usually causes
relatively high energy costs. The subsequent transport of the packs
conveys these packs to a grouping unit and a downstream palletizing
unit. The pallets can then be transported to a warehouse for
storage or the pallets are transferred to further transportation
means such as delivery trucks or the like. These mentioned units
can also be supplied with electrical or pneumatic energy provided
by the system.
[0035] The schematic block diagram of FIG. 3 illustrates an
exemplary configuration of a so-called glass-line, whereby glass
containers are filled with beverages. Some of the stages of the
previously described disposable PET line can be omitted, because
the regularly and repeatedly re-usable glass containers for holding
the liquid are already cleaned thoroughly before being delivered to
the filling system. The necessary container cleaning system can
basically be assigned to the wet end-block of the system.
Furthermore, the entire process of preparing the preforms and
forming the containers is not applicable. The cleaned containers
are filled with the product or the beverage in the wet end-block of
the system by means of the filler and capper. The containers and
the beverage are delivered from the product processing (processing
technique) and from the cleaning technique. The stages of product
processing, ie the process technique, and the cleaning technique
are coupled to the wet end-block. This is indicated by the
arrangement of this block above the wet end-block. The product to
be filled, for example the beverage, is delivered from the product
processing plant to the filler. Optionally a short-time heating
system is arranged in between the product processing plant and the
filler. In the so-called cold filling a short-time heating is not
required. This short-time heating system can also advantageously
utilize the exhaust heat of the energy generating device, for
instance via the exhaust gas heat exchanger of the gas turbine or
something similar. Both mentioned system components of the product
processing as well as the rinser and the filler are additionally
connected to a cleaning system.
[0036] After filling the containers and their subsequent closure
via the capper, they are fed via suitable container transportation
to a pasteurization machinery and a subsequent drying unit. The
drying unit comprises, for instance, a hot air blowing system.
Hereby the exhaust heat of the gas turbine can be used again. The
containers are usually labeled after drying. According to FIG. 2
this is done by a labeling device. In normal linguistic usage the
labeling device is part of the wet end-block. Other types of
container labeling are also possible, for example, a printing of a
label or a direct printing of the container. This typically takes
place in the dry state of the containers. The electrical and/or
pneumatic energy required by the labeling device, can be provided
preferably with electrical energy, which is produced by the energy
generating device by means of the electric generator. Other system
components can also be provided with this electrical energy, for
instance transport units, fillers, cappers or the like. The thermal
energy and the electrical and/or pneumatic energy required by the
pasteurization machinery can be provided advantageously through the
energy generating device (see FIG. 1). Thereby not only the total
energy cost of the entire system can be significantly reduced. The
inventive system furthermore shows a significant reduction in the
emissions of climate-damaging carbon dioxide. Thereby the invention
can provide a valuable contribution to the conservation of energy
resources and to the protection of the environment from
climate-relevant emissions.
[0037] A so called dry end-block of the system is located
downstream of the wet end-block. Again it comprises a packaging
unit, which may be formed, for example, by a suitable device for
the production of packs in a desired configuration. The subsequent
transport of the packs conveys these packs to a grouping unit and a
downstream palletizing unit. The pallets can then be transported to
a warehouse for storage or the pallets are transferred to further
transportation means such as delivery trucks or the like. These
mentioned units can also be supplied with electrical or pneumatic
energy provided by the system.
[0038] The system shown in FIG. 3 is a processing system for
re-usable containers. Therefore the dry end-block also comprises
stages for processing and handling of the delivered empty
containers. The empty containers are typically delivered on pallets
and fed to a de-palletizing device via pallet transportation means.
The resultant free pallets or transport means can be provided and
used directly for the palletizing of freshly filled containers.
This is indicated by the corresponding arrow. After the
de-palletizing the packs are transported to an unpacking device
located downstream. Hereby the empty bottles are separated from the
crates. The bottles are fed to the above-mentioned container
cleaning machinery in the wet end-block of the system. The crates
are run through a crate cleaning machinery. The cleaned crates are
then provided to a packaging device, where the crates are equipped
with newly filled bottles.
[0039] Many of the aforementioned units require a certain amount of
heat, for example, the cleaning machinery. This heat can be
preferably obtained from the exhaust heat of the gas turbine. In
addition, many of the units require electricity to drive electric
motors and other electrical consumption units. This energy can also
be provided advantageously through the at least one generator of
the energy generating device.
[0040] The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing
description, the drawings and the claims can be used in its various
embodiments either individually or in any combination for the
realization of the invention. The invention is not restricted to
the described preferred embodiments. To the expert it is also
conceivable, however, to make changes and modifications without
leaving the scope of protection of the appended claims.
[0041] The illustrated figures, which have been described above,
represent only possible embodiments. Especially it cannot be
derived, that a use of the invention in a multi-line or in
processing technique should be excluded. Even in such applications,
the inventive energy coupling can be used advantageously.
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