Device for supplying an inert gas in a beverage filling plant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10451367-B2
Application number	US-201816013745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2018
Priority date	Mar 17, 2015
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

A method and device for supplying an inert gas in a beverage filling plant are provided. The method includes feeding surplus process heat from the beverage filling plant to a heat exchanger, feeding an inert gas from an inert gas source to the heat exchanger, heating the inert gas in the heat exchanger, and supplying the heated inert gas for use in the beverage filling plant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for supplying an inert gas in a beverage filling plant comprising:
an inert gas source;
a supply valve configured to supply the inert gas;
a heat exchanger configured to heat the inert gas, the heat exchanger disposed between the inert gas source and the supply valve, and connected to a feed of surplus process heat of the beverage filling plant; and
a pressure reducer disposed between the inert gas source and the heat exchanger.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the inert gas source provides a substantially pure inert gas.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the inert gas source comprises a vaporizer.

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Buchhauser Ulrich

Classifications

• B65B55/025

  Packaging in aseptic tunnels · CPC title

• B29C2049/4605

  containing an inert gas, e.g. helium · CPC title

• F28F23/00 Primary

  Features relating to the use of intermediate heat-exchange materials, e.g. selection of compositions (heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00) · CPC title

• F28D21/0001

  Recuperative heat exchangers · CPC title

• B67C7/00

  Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations · CPC title