Replaceable heat exchange cartridge employed in a heat exchange system for temperature control of a perishable fluid

Abstract

A method for exchanging heat between a heat exchange fluid and a perishable product fluid. The method comprises providing the heat exchange fluid to an enclosure 5 of a heat exchanger and providing the perishable product fluid to a tube 53 comprising a flexible portion in the enclosure 51 . The method comprises exchanging heat between the heat exchange fluid in the enclosure and the perishable product fluid in the tube 53 and interrupting providing the perishable product fluid to the tube 53 . The method further comprises compressing the flexible portion of the tube 53 to decrease a volume of the tube 3 and to press a substantial part of the perishable product fluid out of the tube 53 . The method may comprise changing the heat exchange fluid at a first temperature to a heat exchange fluid at a second temperature different than the first temperature.

1 . A method for exchanging heat between a heat exchange fluid and a perishable product fluid, the method comprising:
 providing a replaceable heat exchange cartridge to a base unit by engaging a base unit heat exchange outlet to a heat exchange enclosure inlet of the cartridge; and,   engaging a base unit heat exchange inlet with a heat exchange enclosure outlet of the cartridge;   providing the heat exchange fluid to an enclosure of the cartridge via the base unit heat exchange outlet and the heat exchange enclosure inlet of the cartridge;   providing the perishable product fluid to a tube comprising a flexible portion in the enclosure;   exchanging heat between the heat exchange fluid in the enclosure and the perishable product fluid in the tube;   allowing the heat exchange fluid to exit the enclosure of the cartridge via the heat exchange enclosure outlet and the base unit heat exchange inlet;   interrupting providing the perishable product fluid to the tube;   compressing the flexible portion of the tube to decrease a volume of the tube and to press a substantial part of the perishable product fluid out of the tube; and,   removing the replaceable cartridge from the base unit and replacing it with another cartridge.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein compressing the flexible portion of the tube comprises adjusting the volume of the enclosure by adjusting the quantity of heat exchange fluid in the enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the volume of the enclosure comprises decreasing the quantity of the heat exchange fluid in the enclosure causing the enclosure to shrink and compress the flexible portion of the tube. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the volume of the enclosure comprises increasing the quantity of the heat exchange fluid in the enclosure and shrink the flexible portion of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein compressing the flexible portion of the tube comprises increasing the pressure of the heat exchange fluid in the enclosure and shrink the flexible portion of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein compressing the flexible portion of the tube comprises decreasing the pressure of the heat exchange fluid in the enclosure causing the enclosure to shrink and compress the flexible portion of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein compressing the flexible portion of the tube comprises compressing the heat exchanger with an external force to decrease a volume of the tube and to press the perishable product fluid out of the tube. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises dosing the perishable product fluid by compressing the flexible portion of the tube. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 providing the heat exchange fluid to the enclosure at a first temperature;   providing the perishable product fluid to the tube in the enclosure;   exchanging heat between the heat exchange fluid at the first temperature in the enclosure and the perishable product fluid in the tube;   interrupting providing the perishable product fluid to the tube;   compressing the flexible portion of the tube to decrease a volume of the tube and to press a substantial part of the perishable product fluid out of the tube; and,   providing the heat exchange fluid at a second temperature different from the first temperature to the enclosure to allow heat to be exchanged between the heat exchange fluid in the enclosure and the residue of the perishable product fluid in the tube.   
     
     
         10 . A replaceable heat exchange cartridge being engageable with a base unit to form a heat exchange system for providing a temperature controlled perishable product fluid, wherein the cartridge further comprises:
 a heat exchange enclosure inlet of the cartridge to engage with a base unit heat exchange outlet to provide heat exchange fluid to an enclosure of the cartridge;   a heat exchange enclosure outlet of the cartridge to engage with a base unit heat exchange inlet to allow the heat exchange fluid to exit the enclosure;   a product fluid inlet for receiving the perishable product fluid;   a product fluid outlet to provide the temperature controlled perishable product fluid; and,   a tube to supply the product fluid from the product fluid inlet to the product fluid outlet through the enclosure so as during use to exchange heat between a heat exchange fluid in the enclosure and the perishable product fluid in the tube, and the tube comprises a flexible portion with a flexibility such that the volume of the tube decreases if the flexible portion of the tube is compressed.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchange cartridge according to  claim 10 , wherein the enclosure inlet is constructed and arranged for engagement with a base unit heat exchange outlet and the enclosure outlet is constructed and arranged for engagement with a base unit heat exchange inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchange cartridge according to  claim 10 , wherein the enclosure comprises a flexible wall. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchange cartridge according to  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchange cartridge is provided with an attaching mechanism to engage the cartridge to the base unit. 
     
     
         14 . A heat exchange system for providing a temperature controlled perishable product fluid, the system comprising a base unit and a replaceable heat exchange cartridge according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchange system according to  claim 14 , wherein the flexible portion of the tube and the flexible wall of the enclosure have a flexibility such that the volume of the flexible portion of the tube may decrease if the pressure in the enclosure is decreased with respect to the pressure outside the enclosure causing the enclosure to shrink and compress the flexible portion to press substantially the perishable product out of the tube. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchange system according to  claim 14 , wherein the enclosure is provided with a wall comprising two relatively inflexible wall parts connected with relatively flexible wall portions and the flexible portion of the tube is at least partially located between the inflexible wall parts. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchange system according to  claim 14 , wherein the base unit comprises a contact member with a surface constructed and arranged to contact with an outside wall of the enclosure of the cartridge and the surface of the contact member is deformable so to change the shape of the enclosure of the removable heat exchange cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchange system according to  claim 14 , wherein the base unit comprises a pump and/or a valve to control the quantity and/or the pressure of the heat exchange fluid in the enclosure so as to control the quantity of the product fluid in the tube. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchange system according to  claim 18  wherein the base unit comprises a control device connected to the pump and/or the valve to control the timely dosing of the perishable product fluid and the volume of the flexible portion of the tube in the enclosure by controlling the provision of heat exchange fluid from the base unit to the heat exchange cartridge. 
     
     
         20 . The heath exchange system according to  claim 14  for performing a method for exchanging heat between a heat exchange fluid and a perishable product fluid, the method comprising:
 providing a replaceable heat exchange cartridge to a base unit by engaging a base unit heat exchange outlet to a heat exchange enclosure inlet of the cartridge; and, 
 engaging a base unit heat exchange inlet with a heat exchange enclosure outlet of the cartridge; 
 providing the heat exchange fluid to an enclosure of the cartridge via the base unit heat exchange outlet and the heat exchange enclosure inlet of the cartridge; 
 providing the perishable product fluid to a tube comprising a flexible portion in the enclosure; 
 exchanging heat between the heat exchange fluid in the enclosure and the perishable product fluid in the tube; 
 allowing the heat exchange fluid to exit the enclosure of the cartridge via the heat exchange enclosure outlet and the base unit heat exchange inlet; 
 interrupting providing the perishable product fluid to the tube; 
 compressing the flexible portion of the tube to decrease a volume of the tube and to press a substantial part of the perishable product fluid out of the tube; and, 
 removing the replaceable cartridge from the base unit and replacing it with another cartridge.