Beverage heating system with integrated combustion system and method of heating beverages

Abstract

A heating system for a beverage processing system with a beverage flow consisting of a beverage to be processed, with a secondary flow of a heat conducting medium, where the secondary flow is passed in a closed secondary circuit, with at least one heat exchanger, through which the secondary current flows and is arranged such that it is able to transfer heat to the beverage flow. A combustion system is arranged in the secondary flow such that heat generated by the combustion system can be passed on to the heat conducting medium. Also, a method of heating beverages with a combustion system.

1 . A heating system for a beverage processing system, comprising a beverage flow consisting of a beverage to be processed, with a secondary flow composed of a heat conducting medium, wherein the secondary flow is passed in a secondary circuit, with at least one heat exchanger, through which the secondary flow flows and is arranged such to be able to transfer heat to the beverage flow, and a combustion system arranged in the secondary flow such that the heat generated by the combustion system can be passed to the heat conducting medium. 
     
     
         2 . The heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the combustion system is formed as a gas heat source. 
     
     
         3 . The heating system according to  claim 1 , and a bypass line connected to the secondary flow such that part of or the complete heat conducting medium can be led past the combustion system so that the part of or the complete heat conducting medium remains unheated by the combustion system. 
     
     
         4 . The heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein in the secondary circuit one of a reservoir, a buffer and a combination thereof is present in which the heat conducting medium heated by the combustion system can be one of temporarily stored, buffered, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat conducting medium is one of water steam, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The heating system according to  claim 1 , and wherein two heat exchangers, through which the secondary flow flows, interact with the beverage flow. 
     
     
         7 . The heating system according to  claim 6 , wherein the secondary flow from the combustion system is one of passed first through one heat exchanger and then through the other heat exchanger and a first part of the secondary flow can only be passed through one heat exchanger and a second part of the secondary flow can only be passed through the other heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The heating system according to  claim 7 , and wherein pipes, pumps and valves are present in the secondary circuit for appropriate fluid control. 
     
     
         9 . The heating system according to  claim 3 , and wherein a mixing valve is present at the end of the bypass line to mix cold, returning heat conducting medium from one or both heat exchangers to the heat conducting medium from the combustion system. 
     
     
         10 . A method of heating beverages with a combustion system in a heating system as formed according to the  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The heating system according to  claim 4 , wherein the heated heat conducting medium can be one of temporarily stored, buffered, and a combination thereof before entering the at least one heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The heating system according to  claim 5 , the heating system according to  claim 5 , wherein the water is hot water. 
     
     
         13 . The heating system according to  claim 5 , wherein the steam is saturated steam.