| 摘要 |
A thermal processing system for processing a hot-fill liquid product and filling containers with the hot-fill liquid product is set forth that includes: 1) a thermal processing unit for thermally processing the hot-fill liquid product; 2) a packaging machine for filling individual containers with the hot-fill liquid product; and 3) an intermediate degassing tank. The intermediate degassing tank includes a tank body having an inlet receiving the thermally processed hot-fill liquid product from the thermal processing unit, an interior chamber holding the thermally processed hot-fill liquid, and an outlet facilitating fluid communication of the thermally processed hot-fill liquid product from the interior chamber of the degassing tank to the packaging machine, and a vent. A degasser is disposed in the interior chamber of the tank body and receives the hot-fill liquid product from the inlet. The degasser includes an inlet and an outlet and is shaped to have a greater flow area at the outlet than at the inlet to facilitate degassing of the hot-fill liquid product. The outlet of the degasser opens to the interior chamber of the tank body. Excess gases that are removed from the liquid product pass to the vent for venting, for example, to the ambient atmosphere. A baffle is disposed in the interior chamber of the tank body to at least partially separate the outlet of the degasser from the inlet through the tank body. The baffle assists in preventing short-circuiting of the gases to the tank outlet. |
