System and method for cleaning and sanitizing foodstuff tanks

Abstract

A system and method for cleaning, rinsing, and sanitizing a container is disclosed. The system has a sanitizing agent chamber for storing a sanitizing agent, the one or more solution chambers in fluid communication with the container, a pump in fluid commination with the sanitizing agent, wherein the pump is in communication with a gas, and at least one spray nozzle fluidly connected to the at least one solution chamber via a conduit positioned within the container, wherein the spray nozzle comprises a housing inside which the sanitizing agent is mixed at pressure with the gas to disperse the sanitizing agent and gas mixture into the container for sanitizing the container.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for cleaning a container, the system comprising:
 a sanitizing agent chamber for storing a sanitizing agent, the sanitizing agent chamber in fluid communication with the container;   a pump in fluid commination with the sanitizing agent chamber, wherein the pump is in fluid communication with a gas; and   at least one spray nozzle fluidly connected to the at least one solution chamber via a conduit positioned within the container, wherein the spray nozzle comprises a housing inside which the sanitizing agent is mixed at pressure with the gas to disperse the sanitizing agent and gas mixture in the container for sanitizing the container;   a cleaning agent chamber in fluid communication with a clean-in-place (CIP) device via one or more conduits, wherein the CIP introduces caustic cleaner and water to the container;   a heater operatively connected to a water chamber for heating the liquid solution to efficiently rinse the container;   a nitrogen pump connected to the at least one spray nozzle via a conduit for supplying nitrogen from a nitrogen source to the spray nozzle at pressure, thereby dispersing the sanitizing agent nitrogen mixture as a spray for sanitizing the container.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure is 10-60 PSI. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sanitizing agent is a chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ) or peracetic acid (PAA). 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container is at least any one of a wine tank or a beer tank or barrel, and spirit storage tank. 
     
     
         5 . A method for cleaning a container, comprising the steps of:
 introducing the heated water to rinse the container; then   connecting the container to a cleaning agent chamber; then   introducing a compressed air or nitrogen together with the cleaning agent to form a cleaning mist, wherein the cleaning agent is a mixture of caustic cleaner and water to the container; then   rinsing the container by introducing a second water to rise the container using at least one pump; then   connecting the container to a sanitizing agent;   introducing a compressed air or nitrogen together with the sanitizing agent to form a sanitizing mist, an dispersing the sanitizing agent and gas mixture of sanitizing agent and gas into the container for sanitizing the container.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the gas is Nitrogen. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising introducing a cleaning agent with a clean-in-place (CIP) device via one or more conduits, wherein cleaning agent is a mixture of caustic cleaner and water to the container. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising heating water and introducing the heated water to rinse the container. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprises connecting a nitrogen source to a nitrogen pump and the spray nozzle via a conduit, and supplying nitrogen from the nitrogen source to the spray nozzle at pressure, and dispersing the sanitizing agent nitrogen mixture as a spray for sanitizing the container. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the pressure is 10-60 PSI. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sanitizing agent is at least any one of a chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ) and a peracetic acid (PAA). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the container is at least any one of a wine tank or a beer tank or barrel, and spirit storage tank.