Process equipment for sterilizing non transparent fluids and a method for this
AssigneeCalvex A/S
InventorBrian PEDERSEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and a method are for sterilization of milk from livestock such as cows, sheep or goats. The milk, prior to an irradiation with UV-C light through a light translucent barrier, is homogenized since the milk is exposed to ultrasound. The milk simultaneously to or after the homogenization is exposed to an electrical field, such as a field with changing polarity, where polarity change and field strength are chosen such that the milk in the electrical field is heated due to the milk's resistance.
Claims24
A process equipment for sterilizing non-transparent liquids, such as milk, wherein the process equipment comprises a tempering tub with a light source for irradiation of the non-transparent liquid with UV-light with a predetermined ultraviolet wavelength, wherein the device additionally includes, at least one ultrasound transducer designed to send ultrasound through the non-transparent liquid and at least one unit for ohmic heating by sending current through the non-transparent liquid.
The process equipment according to claim 24, wherein the tempering tub is in liquid connection with, and placed flow-wise after, the separate treatment tub, in which the non-transparent liquid is treated with the ultrasound and the ohmic heating.
The process equipment according to claim 24, wherein the device additionally includes a tempering unit designed in at least one of the treatment tub or the tempering tub.
The process equipment according to claim 24, wherein the light source is designed with a light translucent barrier with a first surface along which the milk flows and since there at the other surface of the light translucent barrier is provided the light source, which emits light with the predetermined wavelength, and the light translucent barrier includes a hose with an internal bore and an internal surface, along which the liquid flows and an external surface , where the device also includes a pump, which is designed to send the liquid from the treatment tub and through the hose's inside diameter with a certain flow speed.
A method for sterilization of a non-transparent liquid, e.g. milk from domestic animals such as cows, sheep or goats since the non-transparent liquid is irradiated with UV-C light with an ultraviolet wavelength, wherein the non-transparent liquid is previously exposed to ultrasound treatment and ohmic heating, where ohmic heating is carried out either simultaneously with ultrasound treatment or thereafter before irradiation with the UV-C light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.