Dual bladder system and method for treatment and reduction of microbial content in fluids by means of high pressure

• US 8,997,637 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elend S. Lebaron
• Original Assignee: Elend S. Lebaron
• Inventors: LeBaron, Elend S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chou, Jimmy
• Application Number:
  US13/271,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20130095225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 994/52, 994/53, 994/55, 994/83, 422/9, 422/295, 422/44, 422/45, 604/6.01, 604/6.11, 137/14, 141/18
• US Class Current: 99/474
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/0155 using sub- or super-atmospheric pressures, or pressure variations transmitted by a liquid or gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86187 Plural tanks or compartments connected for serial flow

Abstract

A system for treating edible fluids under high pressure to reduce microorganisms. The system comprises a high pressure housing having an interior chamber containing two parallel flexible bladders adapted to hold the fluid to be treated under high pressure within the confines of the chamber. A pressurizing fluid fills the interior chamber outside the bladders. When one bladder is filled the other bladder is collapsed. In operation pressure is exerted throughout the interior chamber by means of the pressurizing fluid for a period sufficient to reduce microorganisms in the fluid within the filled bladder. Pressure will be released and the collapsed bladder will then be filled with an edible fluid causing treated fluid to be removed from the first bladder due to expansion caused by the filling of the second bladder such that the first bladder is collapsed. The process can then be repeated.

Claims

1. A dual bladder high pressure fluid processing system comprising:

(a) a high pressure container capable of withstanding an internal pressure of from 30,000 psi to 150,000 psi, said container having an interior space;

(b) a port in said container for introducing or removing a pressurizing fluid into or from said interior space;

(c) open and closable pressure valve means controlling said port to allow the introduction of fluid into said interior space, to maintain said fluid under the internal pressure in said interior space and to allow the release of fluid pressure from said interior space;

(d) dual first and second inflatable pressure resistant flexible bladders for containing fluids to be treated independently located in said interior space in a parallel relationship such that the first and second bladders are movably engageable with one another, each of the first and second bladder containing a fill line and drain line in fluid communication with said first and second bladder respectively;

said lines extending through bladder ports in said container in a fluid tight manner, each of said fill and drain lines outside of said container being independently connected to a valve means to open and close each of said lines to allow introduction of treatment fluids and removal of treated fluids from each bladder; and

(e) a fluid reservoir and high pressure pump connected to allow introduction of fluid into said interior space through said pressure valve and port.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said high pressure pump can introduce and maintain said fluid in said interior space under pressures of between 30,000 and 150,000 psi for a period of time.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said fluid is maintained under pressure in said interior space under essentially ambient conditions.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein when one bladder contains fluid to be treated the other bladder will be collapsed.

5. A method for reducing microbial content in treatment fluids comprising:

(a) providing a dual bladder high pressure fluid processing system having;

(i) a high pressure container capable of withstanding an internal pressure of from 30,000 psi to 150,000 psi, said container having an interior space;

(ii) a port in said container for introducing or removing a pressurizing fluid into or from said interior space;

(iii) open and closable pressure valve means controlling said port to allow the introduction of fluid under the internal pressure into said interior space, to maintain said fluid under the internal pressure in said interior space and to allow the release of fluid pressure from said interior space; and

(iv) dual first and second inflatable pressure resistant flexible bladders for containing fluids to be treated independently located in said interior space in a parallel relationship such that the first and second bladders are movably engageable with one another, each of the first and second bladder containing a fill line and drain line in fluid communication with said first and second bladder respectively;

said lines extending through bladder ports in said container in a fluid tight manner, each of said fill and drain lines outside of said container being independently connected to a valve means on each fill line and valve means on each drain line to open and close each of said lines to allow introduction of treatment fluids into, sealing of fluids within and removal of treated fluids out of each bladder;

(b) introducing a treatment fluid into said first bladder through an open valve on the fill line with the valves on the drain line of the first bladder and fill and drain lines on the second bladder being closed;

(c) closing said open valve on the fill line to seal said treatment fluid in said first bladder and introducing pressurizing fluid into said container through open pressure valve means and the port in said container until a pressure of 30,000 to 150,000 psi is reached and maintaining said pressure in said container for a period of time sufficient to reduce the microbial content of said treatment fluid in said first bladder into a treated fluid having reduced microbial content;

(d) opening the valve on the drain line of said first bladder to allow treated fluid to drain from said first bladder while reducing the pressure of said pressurizing fluid in said container and opening the fill line valve of said second bladder and introducing a treatment fluid into said second bladder through said second fill line with the valve on the fill line of the first bladder being closed, the valve on the drain line of the second bladder being closed and the valve on the drain line of the first bladder being closed when the treatment fluid in said first bladder has been drained;

(e) closing said open valve on the fill line to seal said treatment fluid in said second bladder and introducing pressurizing fluid into said container through open pressure valve means and the port in said container until a pressure of 30,000 to 150,000 psi is reached and maintaining said pressure in said container for a period of time sufficient to reduce the microbial content of said treatment fluid in said second bladder into a treated fluid having reduced microbial content;

(f) opening the valve on the drain line of said second bladder to allow treated fluid to drain from said second bladder while reducing the pressure of said pressurizing fluid in said container and opening the fill line valve of said first bladder and introducing a treatment fluid into said first bladder through said first fill line with the valve on the drain line of the first bladder being closed, the valve on the fill line of the second bladder being closed, and the valve on the drain line of the second bladder being closed when the treatment fluid in said second bladder has been drained; and

(g) repeating steps (b) through (f) as warranted.