U.S. patent application number 13/433350 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-04 for beverage heating system with integrated combustion system and method of heating beverages.
This patent application is currently assigned to KRONES AG. Invention is credited to Roland Feilner, Jorg Zacharias.
Application Number | 20120247730 13/433350 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45894180 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120247730 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zacharias; Jorg ; et
al. |
October 4, 2012 |
BEVERAGE HEATING SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED COMBUSTION SYSTEM AND
METHOD OF HEATING BEVERAGES
Abstract
A heating system for a beverage processing system with a
beverage flow consisting of a beverage to be processed, with a
secondary flow of a heat conducting medium, where the secondary
flow is passed in a closed secondary circuit, with at least one
heat exchanger, through which the secondary current flows and is
arranged such that it is able to transfer heat to the beverage
flow. A combustion system is arranged in the secondary flow such
that heat generated by the combustion system can be passed on to
the heat conducting medium. Also, a method of heating beverages
with a combustion system.
Inventors: |
Zacharias; Jorg; (Koefering,
DE) ; Feilner; Roland; (Regensburg, DE) |
Assignee: |
KRONES AG
Neutraubling
DE
|
Family ID: |
45894180 |
Appl. No.: |
13/433350 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/96 ;
165/104.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A23L 2/46 20130101; F22B
1/18 20130101; F01K 3/08 20130101; F24H 1/00 20130101; A23L 3/18
20130101; A23C 3/033 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/96 ;
165/104.11 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/00 20060101
F28D015/00; F28F 27/00 20060101 F28F027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 1, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 006 653.5 |
Claims
1. A heating system for a beverage processing system, comprising a
beverage flow consisting of a beverage to be processed, with a
secondary flow composed of a heat conducting medium, wherein the
secondary flow is passed in a secondary circuit, with at least one
heat exchanger, through which the secondary flow flows and is
arranged such to be able to transfer heat to the beverage flow, and
a combustion system arranged in the secondary flow such that the
heat generated by the combustion system can be passed to the heat
conducting medium.
2. The heating system according to claim 1, wherein the combustion
system is formed as a gas heat source.
3. The heating system according to claim 1, and a bypass line
connected to the secondary flow such that part of or the complete
heat conducting medium can be led past the combustion system so
that the part of or the complete heat conducting medium remains
unheated by the combustion system.
4. The heating system according to claim 1, wherein in the
secondary circuit one of a reservoir, a buffer and a combination
thereof is present in which the heat conducting medium heated by
the combustion system can be one of temporarily stored, buffered,
and a combination thereof.
5. The heating system according to claim 1, wherein the heat
conducting medium is one of water steam, and a combination
thereof.
6. The heating system according to claim 1, and wherein two heat
exchangers, through which the secondary flow flows, interact with
the beverage flow.
7. The heating system according to claim 6, wherein the secondary
flow from the combustion system is one of passed first through one
heat exchanger and then through the other heat exchanger and a
first part of the secondary flow can only be passed through one
heat exchanger and a second part of the secondary flow can only be
passed through the other heat exchanger.
8. The heating system according to claim 7, and wherein pipes,
pumps and valves are present in the secondary circuit for
appropriate fluid control.
9. The heating system according to claim 3, and wherein a mixing
valve is present at the end of the bypass line to mix cold,
returning heat conducting medium from one or both heat exchangers
to the heat conducting medium from the combustion system.
10. A method of heating beverages with a combustion system in a
heating system as formed according to the claim 1.
11. The heating system according to claim 4, wherein the heated
heat conducting medium can be one of temporarily stored, buffered,
and a combination thereof before entering the at least one heat
exchanger.
12. The heating system according to claim 5, the heating system
according to claim 5, wherein the water is hot water.
13. The heating system according to claim 5, wherein the steam is
saturated steam.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority of
German Application No. 102011006653.5, filed Apr. 1, 2011. The
entire text of the priority application is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The disclosure relates to a heating system for a beverage
processing system.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Various flash pasteurization and ultra-heat treatment
systems are known from the state of the art which are generally
operated with plate or shell-and-tube heat exchangers. A
shell-and-tube heat exchanger is known, for example, from EP 2 157
390 A2, DE 10 2009 040558 A1 and DE 696 12 998 C2. A plate heat
exchanger is for example known from EP 1 462 752 B1.
[0004] Normally, the secondary flow is however only indirectly
heated by a further heated medium, such as for example steam, which
is passed in a tertiary circuit. For the heat transfer between the
tertiary flow and secondary flow various heat exchanger stages or
heat exchanger sections are in turn required.
[0005] However, each time additional heat exchangers are employed
there is a reduction in efficiency which is undesirable.
[0006] Also the heat conducting medium used in the tertiary
circuit, normally saturated steam, is made available by a steam
generator which is present decentrally, i.e. remote from the
beverage flow. The steam must then be brought over long distances
from the steam generator to the heating system for the beverage
flow, which leads to extensive insulation and, despite all the
cost-intensive measures, also leads to a drop in temperature. This
too has a negative effect on the efficiency of the complete
system.
[0007] Previous solutions are therefore not optimal for treating
and/or processing beverages, i.e. the primary media, such as
juices, milk or water.
[0008] Apart from the energy losses on the long path from a central
station, such as a boiler house, where the heat conducting medium
used in the tertiary circuit is generated and the heat transfer
losses or radiation losses, which lead to the losses in efficiency,
a substantial outlay in apparatus due to the lengthy pipework and
insulation is currently required.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] One aspect of the present disclosure is to offer an
improvement in this respect. More specifically, the disclosure
provides a heating system for a beverage processing system where
there is a beverage flow consisting of a beverage to be processed,
with a secondary flow consisting of a heat conducting medium,
whereby the secondary flow is passed in a secondary circuit, with
at least one heat exchanger, through which the secondary current
flows and is arranged such that it is able to transfer heat into
the beverage flow.
[0010] This aspect is resolved according to the disclosure in that
a combustion system is arranged in the secondary flow such that
heat generated by the combustion system can be passed to the heat
conducting medium. The heat conducting medium is therefore directly
generated by the integrated combustion system and can pass on the
heat introduced into the heat conducting medium to the beverage
flow through the at least one heat exchanger.
[0011] The efficiency is consequently substantially improved, the
outlay for apparatus is reduced and energy losses as well as heat
transfer and radiation losses are minimized.
[0012] A heating system of this nature can be constructed
substantially more compactly than known heating systems.
[0013] Thus, it is advantageous if the combustion system is formed
as a gas thermal source. Thermal sources of this nature are
particularly flexible in terms of the so-called start-and-stop
cycles as well as in the closed-loop control of the output
temperature. Gas thermal sources of this nature can also be
obtained economically on the market in various versions, for
example from suppliers who also offer gas thermal sources for
central heating systems, such as are also used in family homes.
[0014] A further advantageous embodiment is characterized in that a
bypass line is connected to the secondary flow such that part of
the heat conducting medium or the complete heat conducting medium
can be led past the combustion system so that it remains unheated
by the combustion system. With an embodiment of this nature it is
possible to continue using cooled-down heat conducting medium
without reheating it. The flexibility of the temperature control is
increased in this way.
[0015] It is also advantageous, if a reservoir and/or a buffer is
present in the secondary circuit in which the heat conducting
medium heated by the combustion system can be temporarily stored
and/or buffered, preferably before entry into the at least one heat
exchanger. In this way the combustion system does not need to be
used so frequently and when the combustion system is employed, it
can be active over a longer time period. This leads to an increase
in efficiency and reduces the costs in operating the heating
system.
[0016] It is also advantageous if the heat conducting medium is
water, say hot water, and/or steam, say saturated steam.
[0017] If two heat exchangers, through which the secondary flow
passes, interact with the beverage flow, it is possible to gently
heat the beverage flow, namely using a preheating system and a main
heating system.
[0018] The flexibility of the temperature control and of the
embodiment of the heating system is then increased if the secondary
flow can be passed from the combustion system through one heat
exchanger and then through the other heat exchanger or a first part
of the secondary flow can be passed only through one heat exchanger
and a second part of the secondary flow can be passed only through
the other heat exchanger.
[0019] The fluid control is also simplified if pipes, pumps and
valves are present in the secondary circuit.
[0020] In particular it is advantageous if a mixing valve is
present at the end of the bypass line to mix cold, returning heat
conducting medium from one or both heat exchangers with the heat
conducting medium heated by the combustion system.
[0021] The disclosure also relates to a method for heating
beverages, whereby a heating system according to the disclosure is
used. Here, a combustion system for heating the secondary flow is
used directly, whereby no detours via tertiary media are
required.
[0022] It is advantageous if the secondary circuit is formed as a
closed secondary circuit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The disclosure is also explained below with the aid of
drawings. Here, three embodiments are illustrated. The following
are shown:
[0024] FIG. 1 an extract of a schematic operating principle of a
first heating system according to the disclosure,
[0025] FIG. 2 an extract of a schematically illustrated second
embodiment of a heating system, and
[0026] FIG. 3 an extract of a connection diagram of a third heating
system according to the disclosure.
[0027] The figures are only of a schematic nature and are only
provided for understanding the disclosure. The same elements are
provided with the same reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] A first heating system 1 according to the disclosure is
illustrated as an extract in FIG. 1. The heating system is used
within the scope of a beverage treatment system, in particular a
flash pasteurization or ultra-heat treatment system. A secondary
flow 3 is used for heating a beverage flow 2, which may contain
water, milk, juices or similar liquids.
[0029] The beverage flow 2 flows in the direction of the arrow 4.
The secondary flow flows in the direction of the arrow 5 and is
held in a preferably closed secondary circuit. The secondary flow
of heat conducting medium, such as for example water and/or steam,
flows through a heat exchanger 6.
[0030] In FIG. 1 two heat exchangers 6 are illustrated whereby it
is possible, however, to use only one. If two or more heat
exchangers, as in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, are used, the
heat exchanger 6 through which the secondary flow 3 first flows is
designated as the first heat exchanger 7 and the heat exchanger 6
through which the secondary flow 3 thereafter flows is designated
as the second heat exchanger 8.
[0031] The second heat exchanger 8 leads to preheating of the
beverage flow 2, whereas the first heat exchanger 7 leads to
reheating of the beverage flow 2 to a desired final temperature. In
principle it is possible to use a further heat exchanger, which
operates on the principle of recuperation, between the two heat
exchangers 7 and 8. This additional heat exchanger has the
reference numeral 9.
[0032] Viewed in the direction of flow of the secondary flow 3
before the first heat exchanger 7, a combustion system 10 is
arranged in the secondary circuit. The combustion system 10 is a
gas thermal source which passes heat to the secondary flow 3 during
the combustion of gas. The combustion system 10 heats the secondary
flow to a temperature of 140.degree. C. to 160.degree. C. A pump 11
is present in the appropriate pipe 12 between the second heat
exchanger 8 and the combustion system 10.
[0033] In FIG. 2 a second embodiment of a second heating system 1
according to the disclosure is illustrated. Here the pipe 12 parts
into two sections after the combustion system 10. A first section
13 passes all parts of the secondary flow 3 to the first heat
exchanger 7, whereas a second section 14 passes a further part of
the secondary flow 3 to the second heat exchanger 8.
[0034] Both sections 13 and 14 come together again shortly before
the pump 11, which then passes the secondary flow to the combustion
system 10.
[0035] In FIG. 3 a further embodiment of a heating system according
to the disclosure is illustrated, whereby a bypass line 15 is
arranged in the secondary circuit.
[0036] Another pump 16 is present in the bypass line 15, whereby a
three-way mixing valve 17 is arranged at the end of the bypass line
15 opposite the pump 16. The medium of the secondary flow 3 flowing
through the two heat exchangers 7 and 8 in the cooled-down state is
fed in again by means of the mixing valve 17 shortly before the
first heat exchanger 6, bypassing the combustion system 10. A
reservoir 18 and the pump 11 follow consecutively in the flow
direction 5 viewed behind the combustion system 10. The reservoir
18 can also be formed as a buffer. The reservoir 18 or buffer can
also be formed as a stratified storage tank.
[0037] It is also possible to combine together single facets of the
three embodiments to increase the variability.
* * * * *