Method for filling cylindrical containers, in particular cans, and filling arrangement of a filling device and a container

A method for filling a container having a predefined cylindrical form with a fluid by using a filling device for the container, wherein the container comprises a concentric container opening comprising a diameter (dDo) which amounts to 70% to 99.5% of a container interior diameter (dDi), wherein the filling device comprises a filling valve, the filling valve comprising a piston controllably guided in a filling tube and comprising an open position in which the filling valve is in an open state and a closed position in which the filling valve is in a closed state, wherein the filling valve is movable relative to the container and comprises an outer diameter (dFa) matching the diameter (dDo) of the concentric container opening so that a filling tip of the filling valve is insertable and retractable coaxially into/from the container through the concentric container opening with little play but without contact and without friction, wherein the filling tip of the filling valve comprises a volume (VF) occupying in the container a volume in a range of 49% to 99% of a container volume (VD) of the container;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• a) moving the filling valve, in the closed state, and the container relative to each other, wherein the filling tip of the filling valve is received through the concentric container opening in the container, and displacing a gas that is contained in the container in accordance with a volume (VF) of the filling tip of the filling valve out of the container or compressing in the container the gas that is contained in the container;
• a0) sealing the concentric container opening about the filling valve with a sealing element prior to step a) or during step a), wherein a point in time of sealing the concentric container opening determines a pressure (p) existing in the container after the filling valve has been completely inserted into an end position in the container;
• b) performing a filling process by moving the piston into the open position and allowing flow of the fluid into the container so that an end face of the filling valve, facing a container bottom and comprising a valve opening, is located below a fluid level in a radial gap volume (ΔV) between a container wall of the container and the filling valve;
• c) adjusting during the filling process a relative upward movement of the filling valve within the container up to the concentric container opening according to a predefined control parameter, wherein the predefined control parameter takes into consideration a predefined filling volume in the container, wherein the filling process is carried out below fluid level in that the fluid level in the radial gap volume (ΔV) during the relative upward movement is positioned above the end face of the filling valve during the filling process;
• d) closing the filing valve by moving the piston into the closed position when the predefined filling volume in the container is reached;
• and
• e) removing the filling valve in the closed state from the container.