System and method for producing, filling, packaging and/or transporting beverages

Abstract

A system and a method for the production, filling, packaging and/or transport of beverages in beverage containers. The system components are coupled physically and by a common control unit. Furthermore the system components are coupled at least partially energetically. The system components form mutually coupled energy conversion units, energy storage units and/or energy consumption units. The system components are provided with energy from one common energy generating device, which supplies mechanical operating power (wave energy) and/or electrical energy and/or thermal energy to the system components.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system for the production, filling, packaging and/or transport of beverages in beverage containers, comprising:
 system components coupled physically and by a common control unit, the system components being coupled at least partially energetically, the system components forming mutually coupled energy conversion units, energy storage units and/or energy consumption units; and   at least one common energy generating device supplying the energy conversion units, energy storage units and/or energy consumption units with mechanical operating power and/or electrical energy and/or thermal energy.   
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the generating device includes at least one gas turbine coupled to an electrical generator and/or to a compressor of a compressed air system. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the gas turbine comprises at least one heat exchanger coupled to at least one of the system components. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17  wherein the heat exchanger is an exhaust gas heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the energy generating device or the gas turbine provides energy to at least a dry end-block of the container processing system and/or beverage filling system or at least a part of the container processing system and/or beverage filling system. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the energy generating device or the gas turbine is energetically coupled to at least one heating unit of the container processing system. 
     
     
         21 . The system as recited in  claim 19  wherein the heating unit includes at least one of a pre-heating unit for the preforms, a blow molding device and a shrinking tunnel of a packaging station. 
     
     
         22 . The system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the energy generating device or the gas turbine is energetically coupled to at least one compressed air supply of at least one packaging station. 
     
     
         23 . The system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the energy generating device as well as the energy conversion units, energy storage units and/or energy consumption units are coupled to a local, regional and/or public line network for electrical power supply and/or for thermal energy supply. 
     
     
         24 . A method for the production, filling, packaging and/or transport of beverages in beverage containers, system components being coupled physically and by a common control unit and coupled at least partially energetically, the system components form mutually coupled energy conversion units, energy storage units and/or energy consumption units, the method comprising:
 supplying the energy conversion units, energy storage units and/or energy consumption units via at least one common energy generating device with mechanical operating power and/or electrical energy and/or thermal energy.   
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24  wherein the energy generating device comprises at least one gas turbine mechanically driving an electric generator and/or a compressor of a compressed air system. 
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 25  wherein exhaust heat of the gas turbine is provided to at least one further component of the system. 
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 24  further comprising providing an additional capacity, which is required at certain times and which cannot be provided by the energy generating device at the time, by a storage unit, the storage unit being coupled to the system components and providing a buffer capacity. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 24  further comprising supplying an additional capacity, which is required at certain times and which cannot be provided by the energy generating device at the time, by a regional and/or public line network for electrical power supply and/or for thermal energy supply, the line network being coupled to the system components. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 24  wherein the electrical energy, which is generated by the energy generating device at certain times, but which is not required by the other consumption units of the systems at the time and/or which cannot be stored by the energy storage unit at the time, is fed to a public line network and/or is provided to other neighboring consumption units. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 24  wherein the thermal energy, which is generated by the energy generating device at certain times, but which is not required by the other consumption units of the systems at the time and/or which cannot be stored by the heat storage unit at the time, is provided to other neighboring consumption units.