System and method for pasteurizing at least one liquid

Abstract

A system for pasteurizing a liquid product includes at least one liquid component that can be pumped, including a supply container for making the unpasteurized product available, an inlet line for conveying the unpasteurized product, a pasteurization circuit for pasteurizing the product, and an outlet line for conveying the pasteurized product. The pasteurization circuit includes a buffer container for holding the product during a prescribed constant contact time for pasteurization and a fluctuating flow rate of the product through the buffer container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for pasteurizing a liquid product comprising at least one liquid component that can be pumped, the system comprising a supply container for supplying the unpasteurized product, an inlet line for conveying the unpasteurized product, connected to the supply container, and connected to a heat exchanger configured to heat the liquid product in the inlet line, a pasteurization circuit for pasteurizing the product and connected to the inlet line, and an outlet line for conveying the pasteurized product and connected to the pasteurization circuit, wherein the pasteurization circuit comprises a buffer container for maintaining the product during a contact time for pasteurization and a fluctuating flow rate of the product in the buffer container. 
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the quantity of the unpasteurized product per time unit flowing out of the inlet line into the pasteurization circuit into the buffer container is regulated via a feed pump arranged downstream of the supply container, and wherein the feed pump has a variable flow rate. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pasteurization circuit comprises a removal pump arranged downstream of the buffer container, having a variable flow rate, and for regulating the delivery quantity of the pasteurized product per time unit out of the buffer container into the outlet line. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a filling level meter is provided for measuring the filling level inside the buffer container. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the buffer container comprises, arranged in its interior, at least one, particularly replaceable, baffle device for controlling the product flow direction. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the buffer container comprises at least one insulating layer for thermally insulating it from the ambient, which surrounds its walls substantially entirely. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a controller is provided for calculating the required product quantity per time unit to be supplied out of the inlet line into the pasteurization circuit and out of the pasteurization circuit into the outlet line depending on at least one parameter.