Distillate material recovery method and distillate material recovery equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for recovering at least one distillate substance from vapor during the alcohol reduction of a beverage, and to a distillate substance recovery device for carrying out the method, in which method an alcoholic beverage to be reduced in alcohol content is fed to a degasser of the distillate substance recovery device, wherein the vapor is removed from the degasser and the alcoholic beverage passed through the degasser is fed to a device for alcohol reduction, wherein the vapor is fed to a plurality of distillate condensation stages following one another in series, and wherein at least one distillate substance is separated from the vapor under pressure and / or temperature, and wherein the distillate substances separated in the respective distillate condensation stages are collected in a collecting container or fed to a filling station, via which the separated distillate substances are metered into the alcohol-reduced beverage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a distillate substance recovery device for recovering at least one distillate substance from the vapor during the alcohol reduction of a beverage. Background Art

[0002] For example, a device for producing reduced-alcohol beverages is known from DE 38 43 516 A1. The device comprises a rectifier. The vapors are separated by the rectifier. These vapors may include alcohol and / or aromatic substances. Alcohol is separated from the vapors. The vapors are cooled and can be returned to the rectifier. The reduced-alcohol beverage or de-alcoholized beverage is discharged from the rectifier, cooled and fed to a storage container via an inoculation station. In the inoculation station, carbon dioxide is added to prevent oxidation. The device comprises a closed circuit so that the vapors discharged in the rectifier are returned to the rectifier after the alcohol has been separated and after the vapors have been cooled.

[0003] A device for enriching beverages with highly volatile aromatic substances is known from EP 0 557 749 B1, which is connected to the downstream of the device that reduces the alcohol content of the beverage. The device is used to feed the de-alcoholized beverage to a gas scrubber. In the lower section of the gas scrubber, the de-alcoholized beverage is sucked away, cooled and fed back to the gas scrubber via an injection device. Via a further split, the de-alcoholized product is removed from the gas scrubber and fed back to the gas scrubber via a vacuum pump, wherein volatile aromatic substances are fed to the vacuum pump, and the aromatic substances are enriched with the de-alcoholized beverage in the vacuum pump and fed back to the gas scrubber. The aromatic substances present in the beverage are released into the environment via the upper discharge line in the gas scrubber. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention is based on the object of providing a method and a distillate recovery device for recovering at least one distillate substance from the vapor during the alcohol reduction of a beverage in order to reduce the CO2 burden and / or enrich the beverage with at least one desired distillate substance.

[0005] This object is solved by the following method: in this method, alcoholic beverage is fed to the degasser of the distillate material recovery device, and the vapor of alcoholic beverage is discharged from the degasser. The alcoholic beverage treated by the degasser is fed to another treatment, such as rectification, and the discharged vapor is fed to a plurality of distillate condensation stages that follow each other in a serial manner. In the distillate condensation stage, at least one distillate material is separated under reduced temperature and / or overpressure, and the distillate materials are, for example, collected in one or more collecting containers or returned to the alcohol-reduced beverage in the infusion station. The distillate condensation stages arranged in series allow partial condensation to occur, so that different distillate materials are continuously separated from the vapor. The method can make the distillate materials required for the enrichment of alcohol-reduced beverages, particularly aromatic substances or aromas, specifically returned to the beverage, thereby achieving the enrichment and improvement of the flavor of alcohol-reduced beverages. In addition, the method can also make the CO2 contained in the alcoholic beverage be recovered as a distillate material before the alcoholic beverage is treated, particularly before the alcohol is reduced. The CO2 can be returned to the alcohol-reduced beverage. This reduces the CO2 emitted into the environment, since recycling can be done directly. CO2 and / or aromas and / or flavors can also be recycled. The CO2 obtained as a fraction can also be fed into another beverage or used for other purposes.

[0006] The term "reduced alcohol beverage" also includes beverages in which the alcohol from the beverage is reduced to such an extent that the beverage can be described as de-alcoholized or alcohol-free.

[0007] Preferably, in the fraction condensation stage, the supplied steam is controlled by a pump, in particular a vacuum pump, and is compressed to a higher pressure, and then the steam is cooled by at least one cooling medium, in particular a heat exchanger, and then at least one fraction is separated by a separator. With the help of the fraction condensation stage, at least one desired fraction substance can be separated from the steam according to pressure and / or temperature. The steam discharged from the degasser is a substance containing alcohol, aromas, fragrances and CO2. On the one hand, this enables alcohol and / or water to be removed from the steam and discharged as waste. In addition, individual aromas and / or fragrances and / or CO2 can be separated and then optionally returned to the de-alcoholized beverage.

[0008] In addition, the fraction condensation stages arranged in series are preferably controlled with gradually increasing pressures and are preferably cooled to a constant temperature range before leaving the condensation stages. This enables specific control of the separation of water, alcohol, CO2, aromas and / or fragrances.

[0009] Preferably, in the first fraction condensation stage, the vapor from the degasser is compressed from, for example, 100 mbar to, for example, 1.5 bar to 2 bar, and then the vapor is cooled to a temperature of, for example, 10° C. to 20° C. The vapor coming out of the degasser may have a temperature of, for example, up to 50° C. The vapor is in a gaseous state and comprises water, alcohol, CO2, aromas and fragrances.

[0010] For example, in the first fraction condensation stage, water and alcohol contained in the vapor can be condensed out.

[0011] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that in a second fraction condensation stage, which is located downstream of the first fraction condensation stage, the residual vapor is further compressed from, for example, 1.5 bar to 2 bar to, for example, 3 bar to 5 bar and then preferably cooled to a temperature of 5° C. to 10° C. In this second fraction condensation stage, for example, aromas and / or fragrances can be separated as fraction substances.

[0012] Furthermore, preferably provision is made for a third fraction condensation stage to be provided, in which the residual vapor is compressed, for example, from 3 to 5 bar to, for example, 10 to 12 bar and then preferably cooled to a temperature of 5 to 10° C. This allows CO2 to remain as a fraction substance, which contains hardly any aromas and / or fragrances. This CO2 as a fraction substance can be added back to the reduced alcohol beverage via the filling station.

[0013] In addition, the fraction material separated by the fraction condensation stage is preferably fed to the alcohol-reduced beverage through the infusion station, which is completed by the alcohol reduction device and has been removed from the alcohol reduction process. Therefore, the final beverage can be enriched with the fraction material separated from the fraction material recovery device.

[0014] Furthermore, the proportion of the separated fraction substances added to the final alcohol-reduced beverage is preferably selected and adjusted in the infusion station. Thus, an organoleptic enrichment can be achieved in a simple manner.

[0015] The object on which the present invention is based is also solved by a distillate material recovery device for recovering at least one distillate material from steam during alcohol reduction of a beverage, the distillate material recovery device comprising a degasser and a plurality of distillate condensation stages at the downstream of the degasser, the plurality of distillate condensation stages being arranged in series in sequence. In each of the distillate stages, at least one distillate material can be separated under pressure, i.e. at a pressure and / or temperature higher than the ambient pressure, and discharged through the separator, in particular discharged in a condensed manner. This enables the selection of distillate materials that are optionally returned to the alcohol-reduced beverage or the de-alcoholized beverage and other distillate materials to be treated as waste in particular. In addition, CO2 recovery can also be achieved, thereby reducing environmental pollution. The CO2 contained in the steam removed by the degasser can be returned to the final beverage. The steam can be extracted from the original beverage or from different beverages.

[0016] Advantageously, the fraction condensation stage comprises a pump, in particular a vacuum pump, and downstream of the pump at least one cooler, which can be designed as a heat exchanger. In addition, the at least one cooler is followed by a separator to remove the separated fraction from the fraction condensation stage. Such a fraction condensation stage makes it possible to separate individual or desired aromas and / or fragrances and / or alcohols and / or water and / or CO2 by specific adjustment of the operating pressure or overpressure and the temperature.

[0017] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the fraction condensation stage comprises at least two coolers and each cooler is followed by a separator for at least one fraction substance. This makes it possible to condense two or more fraction substances separately from one another in the fraction condensation stage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Based on the examples shown in the drawings, the invention and other advantageous designs and further developments of the invention are described and illustrated in more detail below. The features extracted from the description and the drawings can be applied individually or in combination with each other. The drawings show:

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing a reduced alcohol beverage, and

[0020] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the distillate material recovery equipment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The plant 10 for producing a reduced-alcohol beverage comprises a heat exchanger 12, to the first circuit of which vapour at a temperature of, for example, 110° C. is fed via line 11. In the second circuit of the heat exchanger a line 13 leading to a separator 14 is arranged. From the bottom of the separator 14 emerges a line 16 which carries the non-alcoholic beverage. The non-alcoholic beverage is preferably wine or beer. In the outlet line there is a heat exchanger 17 which reduces the temperature of the end product and provides thermal economy. In addition, line 16 comprises a cooler 18 which cools the end product to, for example, 5° C. Finally, there is a filling station 19 which is fed with the steam from the fraction recovery plant 60 ( Figure 2 ) is separated from the vapor of the alcoholic beverage. This will be explained below. Downstream of the filling station 19 is a storage container 21 for receiving the final product, i.e. the alcohol-reduced beverage or the de-alcoholized beverage, which is enriched with the distillate via the filling station 19.

[0022] From the head of the separator 14 extends a line 22 which carries the warm, unseparated vapors and leads to the lower part of a column 23 forming a rectifier. There is a line 26 which leads from the bottom 24 of the column 23 to the second circuit of the heat exchanger 12. This circuit is thus closed.

[0023] Beverages such as wine, beer or sparkling wine to be de-alcoholized or to reduce their alcohol content are stored in a storage tank 27. Line 61 leads from the storage tank 27 to a fraction material recovery device 60. This line 61 leads in particular to a degasser 62 of the fraction material recovery device 60. Line 28 leads from the degasser 62 to a heat exchanger 17 in the second circuit of the device. The alcoholic beverage reduced by the degasser 62 through steam is preferably fed to a heat exchanger not shown in detail via line 28, so that the beverage is cooled before being fed to the center of the tower 23. A higher first filler 29 and a second filler 31 are provided in the tower 23, which is preferably made of stainless steel. The two fillers are spaced apart. The filler 29 is at a distance from the inlet of the line 22 and is therefore also at a considerable distance from the bottom 24.

[0024] Line 28 enters between the two packings 29, 31. The packing 31 is at a distance from the head 32 of the tower. A line 33 of relatively large diameter leaves the upper part of the head 32, which line 33 carries the vapour containing alcohol, aromas and aromatics. The temperature in the head 32 is, for example, 30°C. This corresponds to about 44 mbar. The temperature in the tower 23, above the bottom plate, is, for example, 39°C, so that there is a pressure of 70 mbar. In the steady state of the rectifier, line 33 carries 80% alcohol, so that "alcohol" is usually understood to be "ethanol". Line 33 leads to a condenser 34, which is fed with cooling water obtained by ambient cooling and evaporative cooling via line 36. The hot water is discharged via a line 37.

[0025] In the condenser 34, the vapours fed to the head have not yet been condensed, which is why the condenser 34 is fed to the cooler 39 via line 38. The cooling system of the cooler 39 is supplied with ice water via pipe 41. A vacuum line 42 leads to the head of the cooler 39, which is connected to a vacuum pump 43 and which also creates the vacuum present in the tower 23. Line 44 leaves from the bottom of the cooler 39, carrying liquefied alcohol, aromas, aromatics, high alcohol in liquid form, and a concentration not exceeding 82%. Depending on the effect of the dealcoholization, the percentage can be between 20% and 80%. The liquid is fed to the head 32 by a pump 46 at a level not exceeding the outlet of the line 33 and above the second filler 31.

[0026] A line 47, parallel to the line 44, leaves from the bottom of the cooler. This line carries alcohol, which does not need to be fed back and is eventually discharged, being pumped by a pump 48 to an alcohol tank.

[0027] The regulator 51 determines the ratio of the quantities in the lines 44 and 47. When the device 10 is started, the line 47 is initially kept closed due to the action of the line 47 and until the alcohol content in the lines 44, 33, 38 reaches the desired level, for example 80%. The regulator 51 prevents the alcohol content from increasing further by releasing the line to ensure that the alcohol content remains at the desired level on the feedback path of the alcohol percentage.

[0028] Figure 2 An enlarged schematic diagram of a fraction material recovery device 60 is shown. Line 61 guides the alcoholic beverage from the storage tank 27 to the degasser 62. The degassed alcoholic beverage is fed to the heat exchanger 17 from the bottom of the degasser 62 via a pump 63 through line 28. The vapors of the alcoholic beverage are removed from the degasser 62. These vapors exist in the form of gas or steam. For example, these vapors can have a temperature of 40° C. to 50° C. These vapors include water, aromas, flavors, CO2 and alcohol.

[0029] The vapour is fed via line 64 to one or more fraction condensation stages 66, 67, 68 connected in series. In this embodiment, the fraction material recovery device 60 comprises, for example as shown, three functional condensation stages 66, 67, 68. There may be fewer or more such fraction condensation stages.

[0030] The fraction condensation stages 66, 67, 68 preferably have the same design. For this purpose, the structure of the fraction condensation stage 66 is described, which also applies to the other fraction condensation stages. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for the same components.

[0031] A pump 71 is provided on the inlet side, which pump 71 is in particular a vacuum pump, by which the supplied steam is compressed. Subsequently, the compressed steam is cooled by one or more consecutive coolers 72, 73, which coolers 72, 73 are in particular heat exchangers. The compressed and cooled steam is then fed to a separator 75, which has a line 76, via which the fraction substances separated in the corresponding fraction condensation stage are discharged. The separated fraction substances can be fed to a separate collecting container 84, 85 or one or each of the collecting containers for any further use, or to a filling station 19. The remaining steam is fed to the subsequent fraction condensation stage via a line 77.

[0032] If only one fraction condensation stage is provided, the separator 75 can be omitted, so that the line 77 leads directly to the filling station 19 .

[0033] With the fraction recovery apparatus 60 shown, water and alcohol can be separated in the first fraction condensation stage 66 and discharged via line 76 to a waste container or collection container as the vapor is compressed to, for example, 1 to 2 bar and subsequently cooled to, for example, 40°C to 50°C.

[0034] In the subsequent second fraction condensation stage 67, the remaining vapor that has been reduced in terms of water and alcohol is further compressed, for example, to 3 bar to 5 bar, and then one or more coolers 72, 73 are used to cool the remaining vapor. At least one aroma or fragrance can be removed from the separator 75 via line 78, and the at least one aroma or fragrance can be fractionated under these set conditions in the condensation stage. The aroma or fragrance can be fed to the injection station 19 or can also be collected in the collection tank 86. Via the separator 75 at the downstream of the second cooler 73, other fractions can be fed to the infusion station 19 or the collection tank 87. The remaining vapor is fed to the third fraction condensation stage 68 via line 77. Compression to, for example, 10 bar to 12 bar can be achieved by means of a pump 71. In the separator 75, for example, the fraction material separated from the first cooler 72 and the second cooler 73 can be fed to the infusion station 19 or the collection container 88, 89 via lines 79, 83. For example, CO 2 or slightly enriched CO 2 may remain in the third fraction condensation stage, which CO 2 or slightly enriched CO 2 may be fed to the filling station 19 via line 77 .

[0035] By means of the distillate substance recovery device 60, the specific separation of the individual distillate substances from the vapor can be controlled according to the number of distillate condensation stages. These distillate substances can be selectively returned to the alcohol-reduced beverage or de-alcoholized beverage or processed. In particular, a recycling of CO2 and / or aromatic substances is provided. This allows to enrich the taste and / or minimize CO2 pollution.

Claims

1. A method for recovering at least one fraction from vapour during alcohol reduction of a beverage, -in, supplying the alcoholic beverage to a degasser (62) of a fraction recovery device (60), - wherein vapor is removed from the degasser (62) and the alcoholic beverage passing through the degasser (62) is fed to an alcohol reduction device (10) for reducing the alcohol, wherein the vapor is fed to a plurality of fraction condensation stages which follow one another in series and in which at least one fraction substance is separated from the vapor under pressure and / or temperature, - wherein at least one line (77) is provided extending through the fraction condensation stages, and each fraction condensation stage comprises at least one fraction substance discharged via at least one separator (75), wherein the vapor is pressurized by increasing the pressure in the fraction condensation stages that follow one another in series before the vapor leaves the respective fraction condensation stage via the separator (75), and - wherein the fraction substances separated in the corresponding fraction condensation stage are collected in a collecting container (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89) or fed to a filling station (19), and one or more separated fraction substances are fed into the alcohol-reduced beverage in a dosed form via the filling station (19).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In the fraction condensation stage, the supplied vapor is pressurized via a pump (71), the pressurized vapor is then cooled using at least one cooler (72, 73), and at least one fraction substance is then separated via a separator (75).

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vapor is cooled to a constant temperature range of the fraction condensing stage before the vapor leaves the respective fraction condensing stage.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In the first of the fraction condensation stages (66), the vapor is compressed from 100 mbar to 1.5 bar to 2 bar.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that In the first fraction condensation stage (66), the vapor is cooled to a temperature of 40 to 50°C.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that In a second one of the fraction condensation stages (67) connected downstream of the first fraction condensation stage (66), the remaining vapor is compressed from 1.5 to 2 bar to an increased pressure of 3 to 5 bar.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that In the second fraction condensation stage (67) connected downstream of the first fraction condensation stage (66), the residual vapor is cooled to a temperature of 5 to 10°C.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the third of the fraction condensation stages (68), the remaining vapour at 3 to 5 bar is compressed to an increased pressure.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that In the third fraction condensation stage (68), the remaining vapor is cooled to a temperature of 5°C to 10°C.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Vapors of the alcoholic beverage are removed prior to the alcohol of the alcoholic beverage being reduced.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The fraction separated from the fraction condensation stage is fed via the filling station (19) to the reduced alcohol beverage which is finished by the alcohol reduction device (10) and has been discharged from the alcohol reduction process.

12. A fraction recovery device for recovering at least one fraction from the vapour during the alcohol reduction of a beverage according to the method of one of claims 1 to 11, - the fraction recovery device has a degasser (62), - the fraction material recovery device has a plurality of fraction condensation stages arranged in series, the fraction condensation stages being connected downstream of the degasser (62), wherein: At least one line (77) is provided extending through the fraction condensation stages, and each fraction condensation stage comprises at least one fraction material discharged through at least one separator (75).

13. The fraction material recovery device according to claim 12, characterized in that: At least one of the fraction condensing stages comprises: at least one pump (71); and at least one cooler (72, 73) downstream of the pump (71); and at least one separator (75) downstream of the cooler (72, 73).

14. The fraction material recovery device according to claim 12, characterized in that: At least one of the fraction condensing stages comprises at least one vacuum pump and at least one heat exchanger downstream of the at least one vacuum pump.

15. The fraction material recovery device according to claim 12, characterized in that: At least two coolers (72, 73) are arranged in the fraction condensation stage, and at least one separator (75) for at least one fraction substance is arranged downstream of each cooler (72, 73).

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