WO2024146777A1

WO2024146777A1 - Method and device for treating kegs

Info

Publication number: WO2024146777A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/086595
Authority: WO
Inventors: Olaf Muszinski; Rainer Deutschmann
Original assignee: Khs Gmbh
Priority date: 2023-01-04
Filing date: 2023-12-19
Publication date: 2024-07-11
Also published as: DE102023100156A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for treating KEGs (2) in which a KEG (2) is cleaned and/or sterilised from the inside in a first treatment phase (10) and is filled with a liquid product in a second treatment phase (20) following the first treatment phase (10). The first treatment phase (10) comprises at least one treatment step (10.1-10.n), in which a liquid treatment medium is introduced into the KEG (2) and is then blown out of the KEG (2) and/or replaced by volume with the aid of a gas after a predetermined treatment period. According to the invention, in the at least one treatment step (10.1 -10.n) of the first treatment phase (10), an inert gas is used as the gas for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of the liquid treatment medium.

Description

Method and device for treating KEGs

The invention relates to a method for treating KEGs according to the preamble of patent claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for treating KEGs.

Reusable kegs, also known as KEGs or KEG barrels or KEG containers, are well known in the beverage industry. Such KEGs are mainly used when beverages or other liquid products are handled and dispensed in larger quantities, especially in quantities of more than 5 liters. In the catering sector in particular, it often proves particularly advantageous to handle the beverages in kegs rather than bottles or cans, and the use of KEGs offers numerous advantages here.

One of the main advantages of using KEGs can be seen in the special design of the connections, which usually include a valve. The KEGs can be cleaned and filled via these connections or valves during the required cleaning and filling process in a bottling plant. In addition, the filling material can be removed, in particular tapped, by the consumer, particularly in the catering industry, using suitable tapping heads via these same connections or valves. The experts know the connections of KEGs as fittings or KEG fittings. The relevant experts have therefore long been familiar with the basic structure of such KEGs with at least one KEG fitting.

The KEGs designed as reusable barrels usually go through several usage cycles, with each KEG being returned in each of these cycles after the liquid contents have been removed, for example to a bottling plant. Each KEG must first undergo a cleaning process before it can be refilled with liquid contents in a hygienically clean condition. These reusable KEGs are usually made of steel.

The treatment of the KEGs mentioned includes cleaning the KEGs from the inside, namely cleaning the inside, if necessary sterilizing the interior of the KEG and then filling the KEG with the filling material. As a rule, the treatment of the KEGs takes place in corresponding devices of treatment or filling systems for KEGs, in which the KEGs are cleaned and filled upside down, ie with the so-called fitting facing downwards. For the treatment, contact, in particular a sealing layer, is first established between the KEG fitting and a treatment head provided or present in the treatment station in the respective treatment stations of these devices.

In order to clean a reusable KEG in a hygienic manner, for example when it returns to a bottling plant after a cycle of use, a complex cleaning process is required to clean the interior, which usually includes several cleaning steps.

For this purpose, it is known from the state of the art to alternately use different liquid and/or gaseous treatment media for cleaning the inside of the KEGs and to alternately treat the KEGs with the corresponding treatment media in successive treatment steps. A central treatment step in the processes known from the state of the art is the so-called steaming of the KEGs, in which the interior of the KEGs is exposed to steam once or several times. In addition to the cleaning effect, the purpose of steaming or steam treatment is to safely displace the air atmosphere, in particular the atmospheric oxygen, from the KEG.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for treating KEGs which allows an energy- and cost-saving treatment of KEGs, in particular of reusable KEGs.

This object is achieved by a method for treating KEGs according to the features of independent patent claim 1. Furthermore, to solve the object, a device for treating KEGs according to the features of independent patent claim 20 is specified. The dependent patent claims relate to particularly advantageous developments of the invention.

The present invention provides a method for treating KEGs, in which a KEG is cleaned and/or sterilized from the inside in a first treatment phase and is filled with a liquid filling material in a second treatment phase following the first treatment phase. The first treatment phase comprises at least one treatment step in which a liquid treatment medium is introduced into the KEG and then, after a predetermined treatment period, is blown out of the KEG using a gas and/or replaced in terms of volume. According to the invention, in the at least one treatment step of the first treatment phase, an inert gas is used as the gas for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of the liquid treatment medium.

In one embodiment of the method, it is provided that by introducing the inert gas into the KEG, the liquid treatment medium is displaced or pushed out of the KEG and the liquid treatment medium is thereby replaced in terms of volume by the inert gas.

In another variant of the method, the liquid treatment medium is drained and/or sucked out of the KEG and during and/or after this the inert gas is introduced into the KEG or flows into the KEG. In this way, too, the liquid treatment medium is replaced in terms of volume by the inert gas.

The wording "replaced in terms of volume" is to be understood in the sense of the invention as meaning that the space area (previously) occupied by the liquid treatment medium inside the KEG is occupied or filled by the inert gas. Of course, the space area occupied by the inert gas is not limited to the space area (previously) occupied by the liquid treatment medium inside the KEG, but can essentially comprise the entire interior of the KEG.

Following the general meaning, an inert gas in the understanding of the present invention is also a gas that is very unreactive, namely inert, and only takes part in a few chemical reactions. Since the present method is used in particular in the beverage industry, inert gases in the present sense are those specific gases that are considered to be unreactive for this specific application, i.e. when filling liquid filling materials, in particular beverages, and in particular inert with respect to the filling material to be filled. In the specific case of filling KEGs with beer, an inert gas in the sense of the present invention is therefore a gas that is unreactive with respect to beer. In the present method, KEGs are first cleaned and/or sterilized in the first treatment phase and then filled in the second treatment phase. This means that the second treatment phase follows the first treatment phase, in particular the second treatment phase can follow immediately after the first treatment phase.

The method is carried out in particular in an automated or automatic manner, preferably in a device for treating KEGs, which has at least one treatment station. The treatment is carried out using so-called treatment heads, with a treatment head being provided in each treatment station. Each treatment head can be connected to a KEG fitting of the respective KEG, in particular in a sealed position with the KEG fitting. Furthermore, each treatment head forms at least one liquid path and at least one gas path, via which liquid or gaseous media can be introduced into the interior of the KEG or removed again.

The first treatment phase comprises at least one treatment step, but can in particular also comprise several consecutive treatment steps, wherein in the at least one treatment step a liquid treatment medium is first introduced into the interior of the KEG and then blown out again after a predetermined treatment period, in particular after a certain, predetermined exposure time or reaction time, by means of the inert gas.

The liquid treatment medium used in the first treatment phase or in one or more treatment steps of the first treatment phase can also be understood or referred to as a cleaning and/or sterilization medium. In particular, cleaning and/or sterilization media that meet the safety and hygiene requirements and criteria for use in the food and/or beverage industry come into consideration as liquid treatment medium in the first treatment phase. For example, the liquid treatment medium can be water, a lye-containing or acidic liquid, in particular a lye or acid or the like.

By using inert gas to blow out and/or replace the volume of the liquid treatment medium, the oxygen content or oxygen proportion in the interior of the KEG can be reduced or increased in a particularly simple, quick and effective manner. It can be avoided that an oxygen atmosphere forms inside the KEG. In particular, this can advantageously prevent the filling material, such as beer, that is filled into the KEG in the second treatment phase from coming into contact with oxygen to a significant extent. In this way, harmful effects of oxygen, such as oxidation reactions that are particularly harmful to beer, can be prevented. This can effectively counteract damaging oxygen absorption.

In particular, the present process is carried out without compressed air and is carried out in the absence of or with the avoidance of compressed air. Ventilation of the KEG and blowing out and/or through the KEG with compressed air are therefore dispensed with, particularly in both the first and second treatment phases.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present method, the KEG is treated without water vapor in the first and second treatment phases. This means that in the first and second treatment phases, the interior of the KEG is not exposed to water vapor, i.e., steaming, and no water vapor treatment step is carried out. In other words, water vapor is not used as a treatment medium, i.e., water vapor treatment steps are eliminated in the method.

A particular advantage of the steam-free treatment is the energy savings, as the process does not require energy-intensive steam generation. In addition, the steam-free treatment has other advantages, as it can, for example, shorten the treatment time required per KEG, i.e. the treatment cycles are shorter, so that overall the performance of the treatment or filling system can be increased by shortening the cycle time. This also leads to improved product quality, as the filling material is no longer filled into the KEGs heated by the steam, but can, in contrast, be filled into cooler or cool KEGs.

In particular, the treatment without compressed air and water vapor results in an advantageous combinatorial or synergistic effect because, due to the use of inert gas to blow out and/or replace the volume of the liquid treatment medium in the interior of the KEG in the first treatment phase, an inert gas atmosphere is created. is set in such a way that any air atmosphere present in the interior of the KEG is displaced. In this way, the steaming required and conventionally carried out in the prior art to displace the atmospheric oxygen can be dispensed with. As a result, the blowing out of the water vapor required in the conventional processes can also be dispensed with. This means that the present process for treating KEGs is particularly resource, energy and cost-saving compared to conventional processes and also leads to time savings during implementation.

The inert gas used in the first treatment phase preferably has a purity of at least 99.0 vol. %, preferably at least 99.9 vol. %, and particularly preferably at least 99.99 vol. %. The purity here refers to the “content” of the inert gas in volume percent (vol. %) and can thus also be understood as a content indication or, in accordance with the present understanding, as the purity of the inert gas or as the quality of the inert gas. The quality or purity can, for example, also be expressed by the number of “nines” in the specified purity degree, i.e. in the content indication. For example, a purity degree of 99.9% corresponds to a quality or purity of 3.0, a purity degree of 99.98% corresponds to a quality or purity of 3.8, and a purity degree of 99.99 vol. % corresponds to a quality or purity of 4.0.

The inert gas used in the first treatment phase advantageously contains at most 1 vol.% oxygen, preferably at most 0.2 vol.% oxygen, particularly preferably at most 0.1 vol.% oxygen and especially preferably at most 0.02 vol.% oxygen and is very particularly preferably oxygen-free or essentially oxygen-free. By keeping the oxygen content in the inert gas as low as possible, the interior of the KEG can be brought into a low-oxygen or oxygen-free atmosphere in a particularly quick and efficient manner. The expression "oxygen-free or essentially oxygen-free" is to be understood here as meaning that oxygen - based on the volume - is contained in the inert gas in a relative proportion of less than 200 ppm (parts per million).

According to a particularly preferred method variant, the inert gas used in the first treatment phase is sterile-filtered using a filter device before the inert gas is introduced into the KEG. Sterile filtration using the filter device can include the inert gas passing through at least one sterile filter once or several times before it is introduced into the interior of the KEG, the filter device having at least one sterile filter or several sterile filters, preferably arranged one behind the other in series. Sterile filters can be any filter or filter system known to the person skilled in the art that can be used to sterilize gases and preferably have a pore diameter in a range of 0.01 to 10 pm, particularly preferably 0.1 to 1 pm. Membranes made of fluoropores (hydrophobic PTFE) can be considered here, for example. The inert gas introduced into the interior of the KEG can also be referred to as sterile inert gas or sterile gas. By using sterile-filtered inert gas, the possible entry of germs into the interior of the KEG can be reduced to a minimum, thereby increasing product safety and quality in relation to the contents.

Nitrogen (N2) or carbon dioxide (CO2) or a mixture of nitrogen (N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) is preferably used as the inert gas. Alternatively or additionally, the noble gases belonging to the inert gases can also be used, but in the area of beverage bottling, nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and/or mixtures thereof, i.e. mixed gases of nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2), are preferred due to their safety in food processing. The use of nitrogen as an inert gas proves to be advantageous here, since nitrogen is a particularly cost-effective inert gas. The use of carbon dioxide has the advantage that carbon dioxide is often already available as a process gas, particularly in beverage bottling plants.

For example, the inert gas can also be used in the first treatment phase to replace the volume of residual liquid in the interior of the KEG, in particular residues of the filling product remaining from a previous filling.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the liquid treatment medium and/or inert gas used in the first treatment phase has a temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature. In this case, the liquid treatment medium and/or the inert gas can serve or contribute to freeing the interior of the KEG from beer-spoiling germs, in particular to disinfecting the interior of the KEG. For example, the increased temperature is at least 80°C, preferably at least 85°C. In this preferred embodiment, it is ensured that the interior of the KEG is sufficiently disinfected to reduce or kill beer-spoiling organisms, in particular bacteria, so that "spoilage" of the contents, in particular the beer, in the KEG is avoided. In particular, in this way Cloudiness, acidity and taste impairments caused by beer-spoiling bacteria can be sufficiently reliably prevented.

The first treatment phase preferably comprises a number of treatment steps which follow one another in time, in each of which a liquid treatment medium is introduced into the KEG and is then blown out of the KEG using a gas after a predetermined treatment period. In this case, it can be provided that at least in the last of these treatment steps, preferably in each of these treatment steps, an inert gas is used as the gas for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of the respective liquid treatment medium.

Water, in particular hot water, and/or a treatment medium containing alkali and/or an acidic treatment medium is used as the liquid treatment medium in the respective treatment steps of the first treatment phase. The treatment for cleaning and/or sterilization during the first treatment phase can preferably comprise two, three, four, five, six or more treatment steps, in each of which a liquid treatment medium is introduced into the KEG and then blown out again.

For example, different liquid treatment media can be used in the chronologically successive treatment steps. For example, in a first treatment step, water can be used, in a second treatment step, a first alkaline treatment medium or a first alkali, in a third treatment step, a second alkaline treatment medium or a second alkali, in a fourth treatment step, water again, in particular hot water, in a fifth treatment step, an acidic treatment medium or an acid, and in a sixth treatment step, water again, in particular hot water. It is understood that the above order of treatment steps and the type and order of the liquid treatment media used in the respective treatment steps are of course only given as examples and other orders and combinations are also possible.

The same or essentially the same inert gas can be used to blow out and/or replace the volume of the liquid treatment medium used in the treatment steps of the first treatment phase. However, small deviations in the degree of purity of up to 2% are possible. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to It is possible that different inert gases and/or different and/or identical mixtures of inert gases are used in the several treatment steps of the first treatment phase, or that the inert gas can also be changed during a single treatment step.

Preferably, as a final step of the first treatment phase, in particular immediately before carrying out the second treatment phase, the interior of the KEG is blown through with an inert gas, whereby this step can also be referred to in particular as a blowing-through step. This is to be understood in particular as meaning that the liquid treatment medium used in the last treatment step is blown out with this inert gas and, in addition, the interior of the KEG is blown through with this inert gas. This means that the introduction of this inert gas is continued even if or after the liquid treatment medium has already been expelled from the interior of the KEG. In this embodiment variant, this blowing through with inert gas therefore represents the step of the first treatment phase that concludes the first treatment phase and is carried out immediately before the start of the second treatment phase. This inert gas used to blow through the interior of the KEG can, but does not necessarily have to, be the same inert gas as was used to blow out and/or replace the volume of the liquid treatment medium during the first treatment phase.

It is particularly preferred that the inert gas escaping from the interior of the KEG during the final blowing-through step is collected and stored for reuse in the treatment of another KEG or the next KEG to be treated. In particular, the inert gas is stored for reuse in the blowing-out and/or volume-replacing of a liquid treatment medium introduced into the other KEG in the first treatment phase of this other KEG.

For example, the inert gas escaping from the interior can be captured and collected in a collecting container or a collecting pipe or a collecting line and made available for reuse for the treatment of the next or further KEGs. The inert gas captured and collected for reuse is reused for the next KEG to be treated, in particular in one of the treatment steps of the first treatment phase. The inert gas captured and collected for reuse is thus cascaded or reused in a cascaded manner. In this preferred embodiment, inert gas can advantageously be saved when treating KEGs. It is understood that optional processing and/or cleaning of the captured and collected inert gas can be provided before the captured and collected inert gas is introduced into the interior of the next KEG to blow out and/or replace the volume of the liquid treatment medium. This ensures that the recycled inert gas always has the required purity and quality and thus complies with the strict hygiene standards applicable to food applications.

The processing and/or cleaning of the recycled inert gas can in particular comprise filtering or filtration, which is carried out, for example, by means of a filter device or filter unit having at least one filter. Of course, this can be a single-stage or multi-stage filtering, whereby, in particular for multi-stage filtering, several, preferably different or different types of filters can be provided in the filter unit and, for example, connected in series. For example, coarser filters and fine filters can follow one another so that the specified purity and quality of the inert gas is reliably achieved after filtration has taken place.

In particular, the recovered inert gas can be passed through a pressure regulator before being fed to the KEG in order to set the pressure of the recovered inert gas in an optimal, controlled and/or regulated manner. The pressure regulator, which can also be referred to as a pressure control device, is preferably designed as a pressure increasing unit, which can be implemented, for example, by a controlled and/or regulated, preferably frequency-controlled pump. Alternatively or additionally, the pressure control device can comprise a pressure reduction unit, preferably a controllable pressure reduction valve.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second treatment phase comprises a pre-pressurization step in which the KEG is pre-pressurized to a predetermined pre-pressurization pressure using a pre-pressurization gas. In this case, an inert gas is particularly preferably used as the pre-pressurization gas. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is particularly preferably used as the pre-pressurization gas, particularly in beer bottling.

Particular advantages arise when the same or essentially the same inert gas is used as the pre-pressurizing gas as in the first treatment phase for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of the liquid treatment medium. However, small deviations in the degree of purity of up to 2% are possible. Alternatively, it can be provided that a different inert gas is used as the pre-pressurizing gas than during the first treatment phase for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of the liquid treatment medium. This ensures that the filling material is filled with a mixed gas and after filling, a gas bubble with a defined mixed gas or a defined mixing ratio of two inert gases remains in the KEG. For example, nitrogen can be used as the respective inert gas for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of the liquid treatment medium and carbon dioxide can be used for pre-pressurizing.

Particularly preferably, the pre-pressurizing gas in the interior of the KEG is displaced when the KEG is filled with filling material and escapes as return gas from the interior of the KEG, whereby the escaping return gas is collected and fed to a gas container for recovery and whereby the recovered gas from the gas container is reused for the treatment of another KEG. The recovered gas from the gas container can be used again as pre-pressurizing gas for pre-pressurizing another KEG. Alternatively or additionally, the recovered gas from the gas container can be used to blow out and/or replace the volume of a liquid treatment medium introduced into the other KEG in the first treatment phase.

The reuse of the pre-pressurization gas that escapes during the filling step leads to an effective saving of inert gas, in particular of pre-pressurization gas, in the filling process when filling KEGs. The recovery and reuse of the return gas not only contributes to a reduction in process and production costs as well as resource consumption, but also relieves the burden on the environment, since the reuse actively avoids the pre-pressurization gas being released into the environment after it has been "used" and thus being disposed of.

The recovery and reuse of the return gas during the filling step is, in the sense of the present invention - just like the above-explained reuse of the inert gas when blowing through the KEGs in the first treatment phase - also to be understood as a recovery and reuse taking place in the ongoing process of treating KEGs, in particular in the ongoing process of treating several KEGs or KEG barrels. The gas emerging from or entering a KEG that is currently being treated. Escaping inert gas or return gas is collected and used to treat another, particularly the next, KEG.

In particular, when the recovered gas is reused as a pre-pressurization gas, it is set to a predetermined pressure, in particular to pre-pressurization pressure, and introduced into the KEG at the set pressure. For example, the recovered gas can be passed through a pressure regulator before being fed to the KEG, whereby the pressure of the recovered gas can be controlled and/or regulated or set in an optimal manner. As already mentioned above in connection with the reuse of the inert gas collected during blowing, the pressure regulator can also preferably be implemented as a pressure increasing unit, for example by a controlled and/or regulated, preferably frequency-controlled pump. Alternatively or additionally, the pressure control device can comprise a pressure reducing unit, preferably a controllable pressure reducing valve.

Analogous to what was already described above in connection with the reuse of the inert gas collected during blowing, the collected return gas can also be processed and/or cleaned before it is introduced into the next KEG. Processing and/or cleaning can also be carried out here, as described above. In particular, if the recovered return gas is to be used again as pre-pressurization gas in the pre-pressurization phase, the recovered return gas can also be passed through a water separator and dewatered, for example before it is fed to the KEG. This effectively prevents unwanted moisture from entering the interior of the KEG and ensures the required, specified purity and quality of the pre-pressurization gas. It is also conceivable to check the purity of the return gas to be reused using a sensor device provided.

According to a preferred embodiment, carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as the pre-pressurizing gas. Carbon dioxide is particularly advantageous for use as a pre-pressurizing gas when filling KEGs with CO2-containing, in particular carbonated, beverages such as beer. Pre-pressurization is preferably carried out to a pressure at or slightly above the CO2 saturation pressure. Alternatively, however, another gas that can be used in the food and/or beverage industry, in particular an approved gas, can be used as the pre-pressurizing gas. Such gases for the food and/or beverage industry and/or beverage industry are also referred to as food gases, which include, for example, nitrogen, nitrous oxide or argon.

The present invention also relates to a device for treating KEGs according to the method described above. The device has a treatment device for cleaning the inside of a KEG and for filling the KEG with a liquid filling material. The device also has at least one gas storage container filled with an inert gas, the gas storage container being fluidically connected to the treatment device via at least one inert gas line. The treatment device is designed to introduce the inert gas from the gas storage container into the KEG in order to blow out and/or replace the volume of a liquid treatment medium introduced into the KEG.

The at least one inert gas line can preferably be cleaned, in particular automatically by means of a CIP cleaning device. The CIP cleaning device is preferably provided as a component of the device for treating KEGs.

Further developments, advantages and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments and from the figures.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. They show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic overview of an exemplary embodiment of a method for treating KEGs carried out by means of a corresponding device,

Fig. 2 shows a highly simplified and roughly schematic circuit diagram of an alternative embodiment of a device for carrying out the method for treating KEGs,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a preferred embodiment of the method for treating KEGs and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating another preferred embodiment of the method for treating KEGs.

Where appropriate, identical reference symbols are used in the figures for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The invention is shown in the figures only as a schematic view to explain the mode of operation. In particular, the representations in the figures only serve to explain the basic principle of the invention. For the sake of clarity, all components of the device have not been shown.

The method for treating KEGs 2, which is outlined in simplified form in Figure 1 using a circuit diagram, is carried out by way of example in a device generally designated by the reference numeral 1, which is used for treating, in particular for cleaning and/or sterilizing an interior of KEGs 2 and for filling KEGs 2. The device 1 has at least one treatment device for cleaning the interior of the KEG 2 and filling the KEG 2 with liquid filling material and is in particular set up to carry out the present method.

The KEGs 2 shown as examples are designed as reusable KEGs, in particular as steel KEGs, and are each equipped with a KEG fitting 3, as is known to the person skilled in the art.

The device 1 shown in Figure 1 in a roughly schematic and highly simplified manner comprises one or more treatment stations or treatment points, of which only one is shown in isolation in Figure 1 and each of which is equipped with a treatment head 4. Each treatment head 4 is configured in such a way that it can enter into a corresponding operative or functional connection with the respective KEG fitting 3 for treating the KEGs 2, in particular can be brought into a sealing position with the KEG fitting 3.

In order to correctly position the KEG 2 to be treated in the respective treatment station and in particular to ensure that the KEG fitting 3 is positioned in the intended manner is connected to the treatment head 4, the device 1 is provided with corresponding means for pressing the KEG 2 against the treatment head 4, for example in the form of pressing elements 19.

It is understood that the device 1 also has transport means (not shown in the figures) for transporting the KEGs 2, in particular a feed for feeding the KEGs 2 to the treatment device and a discharge for discharging the KEGs 2 from the treatment device. Likewise, corresponding positioning devices, for example insertion and/or removal devices, can be provided for inserting and/or removing the KEG 2 into the treatment station or from the treatment station.

In the illustration in Figure 1, a KEG 2 is introduced into a treatment station and positioned there accordingly, so that the KEG 2 is brought into a sealing position with the treatment head 4 by means of the pressing element 19 present at the treatment station and is pressed against it by means of a feed stroke with its KEG fitting 3. The pressing can optionally be checked by means of a leak test.

Although only one treatment station or treatment location is shown in the illustration in Figure 1, it is understood that several treatment stations can also be provided in one device 1. In the present method, it can be provided that each KEG 2 to be treated is coupled to various treatment heads 4 connected in series for the treatment in successive steps, and thus passes through several treatment stations, particularly during the treatment. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the KEG 2 remains in a treatment station for the entire duration of the treatment and remains connected to one and the same treatment head 4.

As indicated in Figure 1, the device 1 also comprises a gas storage container 5 filled with an inert gas, which is fluidically connected to the treatment device via an inert gas line 7, in such a way that the inert gas held in the gas storage container 5 can be supplied to the treatment head 4 or the treatment heads 4 via the inert gas line 7. The inert gas supplied to the treatment head 4 or the treatment heads 4 can then be introduced into the interior of the KEG 2 via a gas path provided in each treatment head 4. In particular, the treatment head 4 or the corresponding plurality of treatment heads 4 of the device 1 are designed such that they form at least one liquid path that can be switched or released in a controlled and/or regulated manner for introducing liquid treatment media or also for introducing the filling material, as well as at least one gas path that can be switched or released in a controlled and/or regulated manner for supplying the interior of the KEG 2 with a gas.

The treatment head 4 and the KEG fitting 3 are preferably adapted to one another or structurally coordinated with one another in such a way that the at least one liquid path and/or the at least one gas path can be fluidically connected to the interior of the KEG 2 in a controlled or regulated manner in order to introduce liquid treatment medium, gas and filling material into the KEG 2 or to discharge treatment medium and gas from the KEG 2. In this case, the liquid path or the gas path can be fluidically connected to the interior of the KEG 2, for example in a timely manner or simultaneously, in a controlled or regulated manner. The opening or closing of the liquid path or the gas path is preferably controlled and/or regulated by means of a control and/or regulating device not shown in the figures. It is understood that the device 1 is provided with corresponding storage containers for liquid treatment medium and filling material, in particular tanks and/or vessels, which can be fluidically connected to the treatment head 4 via corresponding supply lines.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the supply of the inert gas to the treatment head 4 and the introduction of the inert gas into the interior of the KEG 2 is also carried out in a particularly controlled and/or regulated manner and can be controlled, for example, via a corresponding valve unit 6 which can be controlled and/or regulated, for example, by means of the control and/or regulating device.

The method for treating the KEGs 2 will now be explained in more detail in an exemplary embodiment using the very simplified circuit diagram in Figure 1 and in an alternative embodiment with reference to Figure 3.

In all variants of the process, the KEGs 2 are cleaned and/or sterilized from the inside in a first treatment phase 10 and filled with a liquid filling material in a second treatment phase 20 following the first treatment phase 10. The The first treatment phase 10 comprises at least one, preferably several treatment steps 10.1 - 10.n, in each of which a liquid treatment medium is introduced into the KEG 2 and is then blown out of the KEG 2 and/or replaced in terms of volume by means of the inert gas coming from the gas storage container 5 after a predetermined treatment period.

In the example of Figure 1, four treatment steps 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.n are provided during the first treatment phase 10, wherein in each of the treatment steps 10.1 to 10.n, a liquid treatment medium is first introduced into the interior of the KEG 2 via the liquid path of the respective treatment head 4. Subsequently, in each of the treatment steps 10.1 to 10.n, the introduced liquid treatment medium is blown out of the KEG 2 again with inert gas from the gas storage container 5 and/or replaced in terms of volume, wherein the inert gas coming from the gas storage container 5 is first fed to the treatment head 4 via a feed line 7 and then fed to the interior of the KEG 2 via the gas path of the respective treatment head 4.

In the example of Figure 1, in the first treatment step 10.1, water, in particular hot water, is introduced into the KEG 2 as a liquid treatment medium, whereby the introduction of the water can optionally be carried out in a pulsating or pulsed manner. The water introduced and therefore present in the interior of the KEG 2 is then blown out of the KEG 2 and/or replaced in terms of volume with the inert gas, for example nitrogen, coming from the gas storage container 5 and supplied via the gas path of the treatment head 4.

Following the first treatment step 10.1, in the example shown in Figure 1, a second treatment step 10.2 is carried out in which a lye-containing liquid treatment medium, in particular a lye, is introduced into the KEG 2. The second treatment step 10.2 can therefore also be understood as lye treatment in the present case.

In this lye treatment of the second treatment step 10.2, it can be provided, for example, that the lye is heated to a temperature of at least 80°C, preferably at least 85°C, and is introduced as hot lye into the KEG 2. It can also be provided that the introduced lye remains in the interior of the KEG 2 for a predetermined exposure time or treatment time before it is blown out again and/or is replaced in terms of volume. This action is also referred to as lye soaking. Finally, if necessary after the action has taken place for the specified exposure time (ie after the lye soaking), the lye is blown out and/or replaced in terms of volume with the inert gas coming from the gas storage tank 5 and fed via the gas path of the treatment head 4.

Alternatively, the lye treatment can also be carried out in two sub-steps, as outlined in Figure 3. In this alternative embodiment, for example, in a first sub-step 10.2.1 a first lye is introduced into the KEG 2, optionally in a pulsating or pulsed manner, and this first lye is again blown out with inert gas from the gas storage tank 5 and/or replaced in terms of volume. Subsequently, in a second sub-step 10.2.2 a second lye is introduced and after a predetermined exposure time (lye diverter) is again blown out with inert gas from the gas storage tank 5 and/or replaced in terms of volume.

After the second treatment step 10.2, a third treatment step 10.3 is carried out in each of the examples shown, in which an acidic liquid treatment medium, in particular an acid, is introduced into the KEG 2. The third treatment step 10.3 can therefore also be understood as acid treatment in the present case. The acid in the interior of the KEG 2 is again blown out with inert gas from the gas storage container 5 and/or replaced in terms of volume.

Optionally, in the present process, as outlined in Figure 3, an intermediate step 10.m can be provided between the alkali and acid treatment in treatment steps 10.2 and 10.3, in which the KEG 2 is rinsed with water between the alkali and acid treatment. In this optional intermediate step 10.m outlined in Figure 3, the water introduced is also blown out again with inert gas and/or replaced in terms of volume.

In the last treatment step 10.n of the first treatment phase 10, the interior of the KEG 2 is rinsed with water once again. For this purpose, water, in particular hot water, is preferably introduced into the KEG 2 in a pulsating manner and the water introduced is also blown out again with inert gas and/or replaced in terms of volume. In this last treatment step 10.n, the KEG 2 is finally blown through with inert gas, whereby during this blowing through, the application of the KEG 2 with Inert gas is maintained for a predetermined time even after the water has been expelled. This "blowing step" can be understood as the final step of the first treatment phase 10, which is carried out immediately before the second treatment phase 20.

The inert gas escaping from the interior of the KEG 2 during this “blowing-through step” concluding the first treatment phase 10 can be captured and collected for reuse for the treatment of further KEGs 2, as explained in more detail below with reference to Figure 4.

The second treatment phase 20 following the “blow-through step” comprises, in the example of Figure 1, two treatment steps 20.1 and 20.2, namely a pre-pressurization step 20.1 for pre-pressurizing the KEG 2 with a pre-pressurization gas to pre-pressurization pressure and a filling step 20.2 for filling the KEG 2 with liquid filling material, in particular beer.

Immediately after the “blow-through step” in the last treatment step 10.n of the first treatment phase 10, which concludes the first treatment phase 10, the pre-stressing step 20.1 of the second treatment phase 20 follows. To pre-stress the KEG 2 to pre-stressing pressure, inert gas is also used as the pre-stressing gas, which may be different from the inert gas used in the first treatment phase 10 or which may alternatively be the same inert gas as the inert gas used in the first treatment phase.

In the filling step 20.2 following the pre-tensioning step 20.1, the KEG 2 is finally filled with the filling material under a filling pressure, wherein the filling material is removed from the filling material container, for example via a filling material line that is fluidically connected to a filling material container (not shown in the figures) and equipped with a controllable and/or adjustable valve, and is fed to the treatment head 4.

During the actual filling step 20.2, namely during the flow of the filling material into the interior of the KEG 2, the pre-pressurizing gas is displaced from the KEG 2 by the inflowing filling material and discharged as return gas via the at least one gas path in the treatment head 4.

The escaping pre-pressurizing gas can be collected and reused for the treatment of another, next KEG 2, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 2 and 4. Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a device 1 for carrying out the present method using a highly simplified circuit diagram. In the device 1 of the example in Figure 2, in addition to the gas storage container 5 filled with an inert gas, two further gas storage containers 5', 5" are provided, each filled with an inert gas, which, like the first gas storage container 5, are also fluidically connected to the treatment device. The gas storage containers 5, 5', 5" store various inert gases and can all be fluidically connected to the treatment head 4 or the treatment heads 4 via correspondingly switchable and/or adjustable or controllable valves, so that the respective inert gas desired in the specific case can be supplied as needed.

The supply of inert gas from the various gas storage containers 5, 5', 5" can be controlled and/or regulated in such a way that, for example, different inert gases can be used in the individual treatment steps 10.1 - 10.n during the first treatment phase 10. This makes it possible, for example, to change or switch between different inert gases for the respective treatment steps 10.1 - 10.n. Mixtures of inert gases can also be supplied to the treatment head 4 in this way and finally introduced into the interior of the KEG 2.

In the device 1 shown as an example in Figure 2, it is also provided that the pre-pressurization gas displaced from the KEG 2 in the filling step 20.2 of the second treatment phase 20 is discharged as return gas via the treatment head 4 and collected for reuse for the treatment of further KEGs 2 to be treated subsequently. In the example shown, the collected return gas is guided to a gas container 8 via a return gas line 11, preferably equipped with a check valve 17, and fed into the latter. The return gas fed to the gas container 8 is thus preferably collected in the gas container 8 for reuse.

The recovered gas can finally be reused as pre-pressurizing gas for pre-pressurizing KEGs 2 to be treated subsequently. For this purpose, the collected return gas is removed from the gas container 8 and, during the treatment of a next or further KEG 2, is fed to the treatment head 4 as pre-pressurizing gas in the pre-pressurizing step 20.1 of the second treatment phase 20, in the example shown via the line 12, which can preferably again be equipped with a controllable and/or adjustable valve 18. Although not shown in the figures, the reused return gas can be cleaned and/or processed before being fed to the treatment head 4, for example via appropriate processing and/or cleaning devices, in particular filter devices and/or water separators. It is also possible to set the recovered gas to a predetermined pressure, in particular to pre-pressure, in particular via a pressure control device, also not shown in the figures.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 4, the return gas collected in the gas container 8 or the recovered gas, which is inert gas, can also be recycled for KEGs 2 to be treated subsequently for the respective blowing out of the liquid treatment medium in the treatment steps 10.1 - 10.n of the first treatment phase 10. These reuse or reuse paths are marked in Figure 4 with the reference numerals 13, 13', 13".

Figure 4 further illustrates that the inert gas used in the first treatment phase 10, in particular in the last treatment step 10.n of the first treatment phase 10, namely the inert gas used in the final "blowing-through step" when blowing through the KEG 2 and escaping again from the interior of the KEG 2, can be collected and reused for the treatment of another or the next KEG 2 to be cleaned.

For example, the inert gas escaping from the interior can be captured and collected in the last treatment step 10.n of the first treatment phase 10 via a collecting line 14 or a collecting pipe, preferably fed to a collecting container 15, and made available for reuse for treating the next or further KEG 2. The collected inert gas can, for example, be reused for the next KEG 2 to be treated in a first and/or one of the first treatment steps 10.1, 10.2 in the first treatment phase 10. These reuse or reuse paths are identified in Figure 4 with the reference numerals 16, 16'. The inert gas captured and collected for reuse is thus cascaded or reused in a cascade.

The treatment of the KEGs 2 takes place in the embodiments described above in preferably linearly operating devices with several treatment stations, each having a treatment head 4, wherein the KEGs 2 pass through the several treatment stations during their treatment and are provided with the respective Treatment stations can be connected to the treatment heads 4 present in the treatment station. The treatment head 4 in the treatment station provided for filling is preferably designed as a filling head and the respective treatment heads 4 in the treatment stations provided for the treatment steps 10.1 - 10.n are designed, for example, in particular as cleaning heads. For each individual treatment step 10.1 - 10.n or for groups of treatment steps 10.1 - 10.n, a treatment station with a treatment head 4 can be provided, so that a KEG 2 to be treated must be transported from one treatment station to the next for each treatment step 10.1 - 10.n and must be connected to or detached from the respective treatment heads 4.

It is understood that the method can also be carried out in corresponding devices in which the KEGs 2 are arranged in a single treatment station for the entire duration of the treatment and are connected there to a single treatment head. In this case, the respective treatment head is preferably designed as a combined cleaning and filling head, i.e. as a so-called multi-head.

The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It is understood that a large number of changes or modifications are possible without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the patent claims.

List of reference symbols

1 device for treating KEGs

2 KEG

3 KEG fitting

4 Treatment head

5, 5‘, 5“ gas storage tank

6 Valve unit

7 Inert gas line

8 gas tanks

9 Filter device

10 First treatment phase

10.1 - 10.n Treatment steps of the first treatment phase

11 Return gas line

12 Line

13, 13‘, 13“ Reuse paths

14 Collecting line

15 collection containers

16, 16' Reuse pathways

17 Check valve

18 Valve

19 Pressure element

20 second treatment phase

20.1 Pre-tensioning step

20.2 Filling step

Claims

Patent claims

1. Method for treating KEGs (2), in which a KEG (2) is cleaned and/or sterilized from the inside in a first treatment phase (10) and is filled with a liquid filling material in a second treatment phase (20) following the first treatment phase (10), wherein the first treatment phase (10) comprises at least one treatment step (10.1 - 10.n) in which a liquid treatment medium is introduced into the KEG (2) and then, after a predetermined treatment period, is blown out of the KEG (2) with the aid of a gas and/or replaced in terms of volume, characterized in that in the at least one treatment step (10.1 - 10.n) of the first treatment phase (10), an inert gas is used as the gas for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of the liquid treatment medium.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the KEG (2) is treated without water vapor in the first and in the second treatment phase (10, 20).

3. Process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inert gas used in the first treatment phase (10) has a purity of at least 99.0 vol.%, preferably of at least 99.9 vol.% and particularly preferably of at least 99.99 vol.%.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inert gas used in the first treatment phase (10) contains at most 1 vol.% oxygen, preferably at most 0.2 vol.% oxygen, particularly preferably at most 0.1 vol.% oxygen and especially preferably at most 0.02 vol.% oxygen.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inert gas used in the first treatment phase (10) is oxygen-free or substantially oxygen-free.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inert gas used in the first treatment phase (10) is sterile-filtered by means of a filter device (9) before the inert gas is introduced into the KEG (2).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2) or a mixture of nitrogen (N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as the inert gas.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inert gas is additionally used in the first treatment phase (10) in order to replace in terms of volume a residual liquid located in the interior of the KEG (2), in particular residues of the filling product remaining from a previous filling.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid treatment medium and/or inert gas used in the first treatment phase (10) has a temperature higher than the ambient temperature in order to free the interior of the KEG (2) from beer-spoiling germs, in particular to disinfect the interior of the KEG (2).

10. Process according to claim 9, characterized in that the elevated temperature is at least 80°C, preferably at least 85°C.

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first treatment phase (10) comprises a plurality of treatment steps (10.1 - 10.n) which follow one another in time, in each of which a liquid treatment medium is introduced into the KEG (2) and is then blown out of the KEG (2) and/or replaced in terms of volume by means of a gas after a predetermined treatment period, wherein at least in the last of these treatment steps (10.1 - 10.n), preferably in each of these treatment steps (10.1 - 10.n), an inert gas is used to blow out and/or replace the volume of the respective liquid treatment medium.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that different inert gases are used in successive treatment steps (10.1 - 10.n) and/or that during a treatment step (10.1 - 10.n) there is a change between different inert gases by appropriate switching.

13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as a final step of the first treatment phase (10), in particular immediately before carrying out the second treatment phase (20), the interior of the KEG (2) is blown through with inert gas.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the inert gas escaping from the interior when blowing through the KEG (2) is captured and collected for reuse for the treatment of a further KEG (2), in particular for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of a liquid treatment medium introduced into the further KEG (2).

15. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second treatment phase (20) comprises a prestressing step (20.1) in which the KEG (2) is prestressed to a predetermined prestressing pressure with a prestressing gas.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that an inert gas is used as the prestressing gas, wherein the same or substantially the same inert gas is used as the prestressing gas as during the first treatment phase (10) for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of the liquid treatment medium.

17. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that an inert gas is used as the prestressing gas, wherein a different inert gas is used as the prestressing gas than during the first treatment phase (10) for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of the liquid treatment medium.

18. Method according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the pre-pressurizing gas located in the interior of the KEG (2) is displaced during a filling step (20.2) when filling the KEG (2) with filling material and is discharged as return gas from escapes from the interior of the KEG (2), wherein the escaping return gas is collected and fed to a gas container (8) for recovery and wherein the recovered gas from the gas container (8) is reused for the treatment of another KEG (2).

19. Method according to claim 18, characterized in that the recovered gas from the gas container (8) is used again as pre-pressurizing gas in the pre-pressurizing phase (20.1) for pre-pressurizing the further KEG (2) and/or that the recovered gas from the gas container (8) is used for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of a liquid treatment medium introduced into the further KEG (2) in the first treatment phase (10).

20. Device (1) for treating KEGs (2) according to a method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a treatment device for cleaning the inside of a KEG (2) and filling the KEG (2) with a liquid filling material and at least one gas storage container (5, 5', 5") filled with an inert gas, wherein the at least one gas storage container (5, 5', 5") is fluidically connected to the treatment device via at least one inert gas line (7) and the treatment device is set up to introduce the inert gas from the gas storage container (5, 5', 5") into the KEG (2) for blowing out and/or replacing the volume of a liquid treatment medium introduced into the KEG (2).

21. Device (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that the at least one inert gas line (7) can be cleaned, in particular automatically by means of a CIP cleaning device.