Fermentation method and device for its implementation

FIELD: food industry.

SUBSTANCE: method for treatment of a vegetal product in the form of a milled substance envisages: milled substance storage in the first tank to enable the substance fermentation inside the tank and formation of a hood of solid articles floating over the liquid mass; connection of the second tank to the first one in order to collected gaseous products resulting from fermentation therein; the both tanks isolation; reduction of gas pressure in the first tank; connection of the second tank to the first one at a point positioned below the hood for gaseous products self-induced movement due to differential pressure between the two tanks with the gaseous products contacting the hood while moving upwards. The device includes two tanks connected via a system of tubes to three valve devices to ensure gaseous products collection and drainage in the tanks and pressure control.

EFFECT: treatment process controlling and safety.

23 cl, 6 dwg

The invention relates to a method for fermentation and device for its implementation. Although the invention is applicable to treatment of any plant product in the form of ground substance, the following description will be as an example to relate to the wine, the region in which the invention has been particularly effective.

Winemaking is carried out using special tanks where the juice is subjected to fermentation. In the fermentation process produce large quantities of gaseous products, in particular for CO₂who are actively involved in the production of high quality wines. Gases are musts and push pressing and any other solid particles to the surface where they condense and form a solid layer, known as the "cap".

The gases of fermentation appropriately used in winemaking. In WO 2006/087601 describes the wine VAT, which controls the pressure of the gas inside, holding this indicator on an almost constant level.

In WO 98/45403 gases are used to mix the cap and prevent its solidification. Describes Chan fermentation, inside of which is provided beneath the angle of the membrane, under which gas accumulates, and then, in the form of bubbles, a constant flow suitable to the bottom of the cap. Bubbles shaken hat and continuous is yuno mix. The valve and the outer tube allows quick display of accumulating under the membrane, the gas and throw him under the cap. This invention has various disadvantages, including the fact that:

- the amount of accumulated gas depends on the size of the membrane, and that depends on the total volume of the fermentation tanks;

- as the accumulation of gas cap goes up, and to avoid overflow tank, followed by the necessary supervision;

under the membrane even get pomace, which may form a crust and thereby create serious obstacles to cleaning, they can clog the tube and the external valve; and it definitely limits the amount of gas that can accumulate under the membrane.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for processing vegetable product in the form of ground substance, preferably musta that may use gases produced during fermentation, without the aforementioned disadvantages. This goal is achieved through a method of processing vegetable product in the form of ground substance, comprising the steps are:

(i) Store the crushed substance in the first VAT, to allow him to begin to ferment inside of the tank to form a cap of solid particles floating on a liquid mass;

(ii) Connect the second VAT to the first to collect it gazoo asnie products of fermentation;

(iii) Isolate two Chan;

(iv) Reduce the gas pressure in the first Chan;

(v) Connect the second back to the first point below the cap, so that, due to the pressure differential between the two tanks to the spontaneous draining (which can also be defined as the emission or release) of the gaseous products in the liquid mass was so that when lifting they were in contact with the cap.

Thus, using natural gas produced during fermentation, you can break the cap.

Preferred embodiments of the method, separately or in combination, include the steps are:

second Chan is connected to the first so that the collection of gaseous products was done through a spontaneous overflow gases (best no actuators or pumps);

- steps (ii)-(v) are performed cyclically in accordance with a predetermined program (automation systems);

- on stage (iv) the gas pressure in the first VAT was lowered to room pressure (simply removing gas);

- on stage (iv) the gas pressure in the first tank to reduce the pressure, which is intermediate between the pressure in the second tank and the amount of room pressure (enhanced operation of the pressure regulation);

- on stage (v) carry out draining all at once, then the school will use all the contents of the second tank (for maximum effect on the cap);

- on stage (v) carry out draining through repetitive pulses at a preset flow, with each pulse includes a fraction of the contents of the second tank (for a softer and/or prolonged separation hats);

is the gas pressure in the second VAT control, and step (v) being carried out when such pressure exceeds a pre-specified threshold (which makes the process in a controlled and safe);

- the level of the crushed substance in the first VAT monitor, and if necessary point, below the cap, in which the gaseous products produced in step (v), move to ensure the specified gaseous products the opportunity to approach the cap from the bottom (which makes the process in a controlled and safe);

The method of the invention can be carried out using a device for processing plant product in the form of ground substance, useful for the implementation of the method according to the preceding claims and including:

the first VAT containing powdered substance, and the second cumulative VAT to collect the gaseous products formed during the fermentation of crushed substances;

- the first system of tubes used for the message part of the first tank, where the accumulated gaseous products, with the second tank;

- second system of tubes used DL the second message and the first jar, the system is supplied with the outlet inside the first tank, where, in use, liquid is the weight of the crushed substance;

the first and second valve devices belonging respectively to the first and second system of tubes required, so that the two Chan selectively reported, depending on the open/closed state of the specified device.

Preferred variants of the implementation of the device, separately or in combination, are the following ways of implementation, in which:

the device includes a third valve device for removing gas from the first tank to the outside;

the device comprises an outer casing, divided in at least one dividing wall into two containers comprising first and second Chan;

- these first and second tanks are located vertically one above the other inside the casing;

the device includes two independent separation wall for separation of these two tanks, and two dividing walls are concave and positioned so that the concave surfaces facing in opposite directions;

- the first system of tubes includes external to the casing tube, which is installed custom valve;

the device includes a programmable module information processing, supergra the strain control valve device so to download vegetable product in the form of ground substance in the first VAT to carry out the following steps, which are:

(i) connect the second VAT to the first to collect him gaseous products resulting from the fermentation, by opening the first valve device;

(ii) close the first and second valve device to isolate two Chan;

(iii) opening the second valve device to connect the second back to the first so that there is a spontaneous removal of the gaseous products in the liquid mass of the crushed substance;

module information processing program to reduce gas pressure in the first tank through the use of the third valve device;

module information processing program to open the second valve device only once, thus, to allow gases to pass from one tank to another, and that it was largely involved all the contents of the second tank;

module programmed to open the second valve device of repetitive pulses so that the gases passed from one tank into the other portions with a predetermined intensity of the stream.

The invention also relates to such a program for the specified programmable module to ora when loaded into a programmable module and launch monitors the specified valve device and/or reads data from these sensors.

Next, we'll refer to figures 1-4, which illustrate the principle of the invention by a schema.

Chan or wine device 10 (Fig 1) must give 30 using known means and methods. By means of a tube 14 set controlled by valve 24) communication between the upper part of the tank 10 and the upper part of the second tank 12. Using the second tube 18 establish controlled by valve 26) communication between the bottom of tank 10 and the upper part of the tank 12. Chan 10 has an upper vent hole 20, controlled by valve 22. The valve 26 is initially closed thereby to prevent reverse current musta 30.

After a specified period of time (figure 2), under the action of fermentation musts 30 emits gaseous products or gas 32 (in particular CO₂), and the formation of a hard cap 34. It should be noted that the tube 18 terminates within the tank 10 at the point occupied by musta 30, at a level located below the bottom of the cap 34. The valve 24 is opened, and the gas 32 flows spontaneously in the VAT 12. The valve 22 is closed so that the gas 32 is not leaked from the tank 10.

After a predetermined period of time the tanks 10, 12 are isolated by closing the valve 24. Gas 32 remains locked under pressure in the tank 12, while the second tank is a pressure relief (or removing gases) h is cut the tube 20 by opening the valve 22 (Fig 3).

The pressure of the gas 32 in the isolated Chan 12 can be controlled at the previous stage through the valve 22, for example using a valve having a graduated threshold opening. It was established experimentally that the most advantageous pressure levels are in the range from 0.3 to 2 bar (the user will from time to time to establish such a level depending on the type of grapes/juice and the final product, which tends to get winemaker: therefore, if this will require products that are processed according to the invention, can be installed with the pressure levels, higher or lower than specified and commonly used). The valve 22 also allows you to adjust the residual pressure in the tank 10 after removal of gases; it is found experimentally that the restoration of atmospheric pressure is advantageous and simple.

Finally, (4), the valve 26 is opened, and the gas 32 flows spontaneously in the musts 30. Rising gas 32 gas leads to a slight violation of the caps 34 and its leaching, extragere it smells and natural pigments.

As mentioned, among the embodiments of the method main is to:

- the above steps could be carried out cyclically at fixed or variable intervals;

- removal of gases from the tank 10 was carried out by restoring the th internal pressure to atmospheric or maintain the internal pressure at an intermediate level between the atmospheric and the what is observed in the VAT 12;

- gas 32 could be placed in the tub 10 at a time or more or less long pulses, the intensity of which each time is monitored.

Components of figures 1-4 advantageously combined into one wine-producing device described below with reference to the accompanying graphics, where figures 1-4 illustrate the steps of the method according to the invention;

Figure 5 illustrates the preferred implementation of the wine-producing device, designated 50;

6 illustrates the second preferred implementation of the wine-producing device, designated 150.

Wine-producing device 50 for content of musts 90 is made of a cylindrical casing 52, divided in the dividing wall 56 having the form of a horizontal arch, two smaller container or arranged one above the other tank 54, 62, respectively, top and bottom. The lower container 62 is communicated with the external environment through a bottom hatch 64 and vertical lukwago lumen 72, around which made Chan 54. Top Chan 54 can selectively be connected to lugovomu the lumen 72 through the tube 66 and the valve 70. The same tube 66 is equipped with a second valve 68, through which you can establish communication between Lukovit lumen 72 and the external environment (when closing the door 73 is closed).

In the of rhny Chan 54 can selectively be connected to the lower tank 62 through the tube 76 and valve 78. The tube 76 has a cranked section 76a, which runs on the outside of the casing 52, a vertical section 76b, which passes through the upper Chan 54, a vertical section 76c, which runs through part of the lower tank 62, and a horizontal output section 76d.

The length of sections 76c is that, on the steps of the method section 76d always, also taking into account the expected level musta 90 is under the cap, formed during the fermentation, designated 60. However, it can be installed adaptive control system, for example, telescopic tube 76d, which can be controlled from the outside to adjust the height or level of the section 76d.

Control telescopic tube with adjustable position in the tank 62 or equivalent means of transferring gas fed gas output hole, can be performed by a programmable module information processing unit (e unit), such as a PC (personal computer) or a PLC (programmable logic controller). This module can be provided by the timing sensors, software user interfaces and control cascades for valves 68, 70, 78 (see arrows in figure 5).

The module unit can be connected to the pressure sensor 80, which measures the gas pressure 92 in the tub 54 and/or the pressure sensor 84 that measures a pressure of the gas observed in the tank 62, the/or the level sensor 82, which measures the liquid level in the tank 62.

Wine-producing device 50 operates as follows. Below are links to figures 1-4, in order to track compliance with the above details. In particular you should pay attention to the correspondence between:

Chan 10 ↔ Chan 62

Chan 12 ↔ Chan 54

The valve 22 ↔ Valve 68

The valve 24 ↔ Valve 70

The valve 26 ↔ Valve 78.

(i) Chan 62 must give 90.

(ii) after a specified period of time under the action of fermentation musts 90 allocates gas and solid cap 60. The valve 70 is opened, the valve 68 is adjusted so as to install two tanks a predetermined pressure and keep it at a constant level for a predetermined period of time, the valve 78 is closed. Thus, the gas flows spontaneously in Chan 54 (see reference position 92 figure 5).

(iii) after a specified period of time, the valve 70 is closed. The gas is trapped under pressure in the tank 54, while the second tank 62 is reset pressure (or removing gases) by opening the valve 68.

(iv) Valve 78 is opened, and gas 92 spontaneously flows into the musts 30 and when lifting interacts with the cap 60, breaking it.

Preferably, the steps of the above process was controlled by module EB.

Reading and processing the data received from the sensor 80, adul unit may control the valves 68, 70, 78, in order to carry out the steps of the method, when, for example, in Chan 54 maximum pressure threshold.

Reading and processing the data received from the sensor 82, the module unit can control the specified telescopic tube or an equivalent means of transfer so that at stage (iv) gas 92 always provided the opportunity to approach the cap 60 from the bottom. However, you can make gas 92 hit the cap 60 even, for example, from a point located in the interior of the cap.

It is clear that each stage of the winemaking process of the invention can be advantageously automated and/or programmed. This allows, for example, to set periodic cycles violations caps 60, to experiment with different ways of removing gases from the tank 10 (finding the best level of pressure intermediate between the pressure in the tank 54 and the room pressure; required level is achieved using the control module EB on the data of the sensor 84), to program the parameters of the gas outlet 92 into a VAT of 10 (such as the duration of the one-off release or duration of various successive pulses, the intensity of the gas flow at each impulse, and so on).

The second wine, the device 150 Fig.6 illustrates. It operates identically to the previous one, and, thus, will be given only to those components that), the public differ from him in terms of structure (musts and cap, for example, not shown). Elements that are functionally similar to the previous one, denoted by the index "1". In practice, the system of pipes that carry gas into and out of the gas tank and the internal divisions of the outer casing, are different.

Wine device 150 is made of a cylindrical casing 152, divided in two by a dividing wall having the form of a horizontal arch 156a, b, into two smaller container or arranged one above the other tank 154, 162, respectively, top and bottom. The lower container 162 is communicated with the external environment via the vent holes 164.

Top Chan 154 can selectively be connected to the vent port 164 through tube 166 and the valve 170.

Using valve 168 of the tube 166 is possible to establish communication between the vent 164 and, thus, the tank 162, and the external environment, and to regulate the pressure levels inside the tanks.

Top Chan 154 also can be selectively connected to the lower tank 162 through tube 176 and the valve 178. The tube 176 is cranked section 176a, which runs on top of and outside of the tank 154, vertical section 176b, which takes place outside of Chan 154, 162, and almost horizontal output section 176d, which takes place inside the tank 162 to the output hole approximately in the center of the tank and at the point of RAS is than necessary, if there musta below the cap.

As described earlier, the programmable module unit controls the automatic valve 168, 170, 178.

In order to simplify the above-described pressure sensors and/or level, which serve the same functions as previously mentioned, not shown.

The operation of the wine-producing device 150 is essentially the same as above and is not described again. It is obvious that any comments expressed about the wine-producing device 50 will remain in effect. In particular, it should be noted functional correspondence between the components of the wine of the devices 50, 150:

Chan 62 ↔ Chan 162 (musta)

Chan 54 ↔ Chan 154 (gas content)

The valve 68 ↔ Valve 168 (for removing gas from the tank containing the musts)

The valve 70 ↔ Valve 170 (for gas gathering between the two vats)

The valve 78 ↔ Valve 178 (for releasing gas from one tank to another).

Needless to say that some of the above design features wine-producing devices 50, 150 can also be omitted or performed in combination with each other in different variants of implementation.

1. The method of processing vegetable product in the form of ground substance, comprising the following steps, which are:
(i) store the crushed substance in the first VAT, to allow him to begin to ferment within Chan and education is ü a cap of solid particles, floating over the liquid mass;
(ii) connect the second VAT to the first to collect therein the gaseous products from the first fermentation tank so that the gaseous products can be trapped under pressure in the second VAT;
(iii) isolate two Chan;
(iv) reduce the pressure of gas in the first tank until a residual pressure which is intermediate between the pressure in the second tank and the amount of room pressure;
(v) connect the second back to the first point below the cap, so that, due to the pressure differential between the two tanks to the spontaneous removal of the gaseous products in the liquid mass was so that when lifting they were in contact with the cap.

2. The method according to claim 1, where the second Chan is connected to the first so that the collection of gaseous products through the spontaneous overflow of gases.

3. The method according to claim 2, where the steps (ii)-(v) are performed cyclically in accordance with a predetermined program.

4. The method according to claim 1, where in step (iv) the gas pressure in the first Chan reduce until it reaches room pressure.

5. The method according to claim 4, where in step (v) carry out draining all at once, at least uses all the contents of the second tank.

6. The method according to claim 4, where in step (v) being carried out by merging duplicate impul the owls with predetermined flow rate of, and from time to time the pulse includes a fraction of the contents of the second tank.

7. The method according to claim 1, where the gas pressure in the second Chan supervise and carry out step (v)when such pressure exceeds a pre-specified threshold.

8. The method according to claim 1, where the level of the crushed substance in the first VAT control and, if necessary, a point that is below the cap, in which the gaseous products produced in step (v)is changed to provide the specified gaseous products the opportunity to approach the cap from the bottom.

9. The method according to claim 1, where the crushed product is used must.

10. A device for processing plant product in the form of ground substance, suitable for implementing the method according to the preceding paragraphs and include:
the first VAT containing powdered substance, and the second cumulative VAT to collect the gaseous products formed in the first VAT during fermentation of crushed substances,
- the first system of tubes used for messages to the top of the first tank, where the accumulated gaseous products, with the second tank so that the gaseous products can be trapped under pressure in the second tank
- second system of tubes used for the second message and the first tanks, and the system is supplied with the outlet inside the first tank, where p and use, is the liquid mass of crushed substances,
the first and second valve devices belonging respectively to the first and second systems of tubes required, so that the two Chan selectively reported, depending on the open/closed state of these devices so that, due to the pressure differential between the two tanks, there is a spontaneous removal of the gaseous products in the liquid mass, the third valve device for controlling the pressure reduction in the first VAT.

11. The device according to claim 10, comprising an external casing, divided in at least one dividing wall into two containers comprising first and second tanks.

12. The device according to claim 11, where these first and second tanks are located vertically one above the other inside the shroud.

13. The device according to claim 11, comprising two independent separation wall for separation of these two tanks, and two dividing walls are concave and positioned so that the concave surfaces facing in opposite directions.

14. The device of claim 10, where the first system of tubes includes external to the casing tube, which is installed custom valve.

15. The device of claim 10, where the second system of tubes includes a first tube connected between the two vats and imoudu the crankshaft section, which runs along the outside of the casing, a vertical partition which passes through the upper Chan, a vertical section through part of the lower tank, and horizontal output section, and the section length is such that the horizontal section is always taking into consideration the expected level of the liquid mass is under the cap, formed during fermentation, and adjustable valve is installed in the specified continuation of the first tube.

16. The device of claim 10, where the second tube includes a second pipe connected between the two vats and having a cranked section, which runs on top of and inside the tank, a vertical partition which takes place outside of the two tanks, and almost horizontal output section, which is inside the tank with the outlet opening approximately in the center of the tank and at a point, in the presence of crushed substances, lower caps, and custom valve mounted in the continuation of the specified second tube.

17. The device according to clause 16, where the second tube is provided by a custom telescoping section.

18. The device according to claim 10, including a programmable module information processing (EB), is programmed to control the valve device so that after loading plant product in the form of ground substance in the first cha is to carry out the following steps, are:
- connect the second VAT to the first to collect him gaseous products resulting from the fermentation, by opening the first valve device;
- close the first valve device to isolate two Chan;
- open the second valve device to connect the second back to the first so that there is a spontaneous removal of the gaseous products in the liquid mass of the crushed substance.

19. The device according to p, where the module information processing (EB) is programmed to decrease the gas pressure in the first tank through the use of the third valve device.

20. The device according to p, where the module information processing (EB) is programmed to open the second valve device only once in such a way as to permit gases to flow from one tank to another and that it was largely involved all the contents of the second tank.

21. The device according to p, where the module information processing (EB) is programmed to open the second valve device of repetitive pulses so that the gases to flow from one tank into the other portions with a predetermined intensity of the stream.

22. The device of claim 10, where the module information processing (EB) is programmed to control the gas pressure in vtora the tub by an appropriate sensor and to control the opening of the second valve device, when such pressure exceeds a pre-specified threshold.

23. The device of claim 10, where the module information processing (EB) is programmed to control the level of the crushed substance in the first Chan by an appropriate sensor and, if necessary, move the dot below the cap, which produces gaseous products by adjusting the telescopic sections.