Apparatus and process for treating distillers' grains of brewery or distillery and corresponding use

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating distillers' grains of brewery or distillers' grains, to a process for treating distillers' grains of brewery or distillers' grains, and to corresponding uses.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating lees from a brewery or distillery according to claim 1, an apparatus for treating lees from a brewery or distillery according to claim 7, a process for treating lees from a brewery or distillery according to claim 9, and an application according to claim 14. Background Technology

[0002] In breweries and distilleries, the filtration process generates lees, which must be treated as waste. Due to rising transportation costs and increased regulatory restrictions, its previous use as agricultural animal feed is becoming increasingly unfeasible. Therefore, there is an urgent need for meaningful alternatives to the recycling of lees from breweries or distilleries for their former agricultural uses. In this regard, existing technologies involve incinerating lees for thermal utilization. The problem here is that lees typically contain 70% to 90% moisture, which limits their combustibility, and energy-intensive drying is required before incineration, leading to increased energy consumption, particularly of fossil fuels. For this reason, the thermal utilization of lees from breweries and distilleries has not yet been widely adopted. Invention Theme

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which improves the availability of lees from breweries or distilleries, particularly for heat recovery, and provides a cooling capacity for cooling intermediate or final products in the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a corresponding process and its applications.

[0004] In the context of this invention, "distillers' grains" should be understood in the sense known to those skilled in the art in the brewing or distillation industry, namely, the solid components obtained during saccharification separation, particularly the residue of rice husks, malt husks, or hammer mill malt powder. Distillers' grains accumulated in breweries or distilleries prior to processing according to this invention typically have a moisture content of 70% or higher, mostly between 70% and 90%, particularly between 70% and 75%. In the context of this invention, "distillers' grains" may include, in addition to the solid components obtained during saccharification separation (solid malt components, grain components, and / or original fruit components), other components such as hot coagulants / boiling coagulants, cold coagulants, spent yeast, and / or hop residue. Mixtures containing one or more of these components in addition to saccharified solid residues also fall under the definition of "distillers' grains" in this invention. In the context of this invention, the term "distillers' grains" includes grains from breweries or distilleries produced using filtration tanks, mash filters, strain gauges, or more modern surface-based filtration technologies (rotary disc filters, also known in the market as "Ziemann's Nessie") or other separation processes. Furthermore, the grains according to this invention may also include distillers' grains waste / scum, pomace, and / or other residues from distillation or fermentation processes.

[0005] In the context of this invention, "wheat" should be understood as the definition of the term well known to those skilled in the art in the brewing or distillation industry, and according to this invention, it explicitly includes hot wort, cold wort, and aerated wort.

[0006] In the context of this invention, "beer" should be understood as the term well known to those skilled in the art in the brewing or distilling industry, and according to this invention, it explicitly includes fermented wort, draft beer, unfiltered beer, filtered beer, non-alcoholic beer, bottled beer, pasteurized beer, espresso, and beer mixed beverages.

[0007] In the context of this invention, the term "beverage" should be understood as the definition known to those skilled in the art in the food industry, and according to this invention, it explicitly includes beer, wine, sparkling wine, spirits, hard soda water, soft drinks, or other non-alcoholic beverages as defined above.

[0008] In the context of this invention, the term "heat pump" should be understood as a definition well-known to those skilled in the art of heating and refrigeration, namely, a machine that absorbs heat from a lower-temperature heat source while performing technical work, and transfers that heat, along with driving energy, as useful heat to a medium to be heated. The heat transfer medium used herein is a refrigerant, undergoing a cycle of evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion. Specifically, the heat released during the liquefaction of the heat transfer medium is used to heat the medium to a higher temperature level. According to the invention, the operating point of the heat pump is between 50 and 130°C on the high-temperature side (the temperature of the refrigerant after compression and before condensation) and between 15 and 70°C on the low-temperature side (the temperature of the refrigerant after expansion and before evaporation).

[0009] In the context of this invention, the term "refrigeration machine" should be understood as a definition well-known to those skilled in the art of heating and refrigeration, namely, a machine that absorbs heat from a heat source to be cooled using mechanical and / or electrical energy, and transfers that heat, along with the absorbed driving energy, as waste heat to a medium at a higher temperature. The heat transfer medium used herein is a refrigerant or coolant, undergoing a cycle of evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion. During this process, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the heat source to be cooled during evaporation. According to the invention, the operating point of the refrigeration machine is between 15 and 45°C on the high-temperature side (the temperature of the refrigerant after compression and before condensation) and between -10 and 14°C on the low-temperature side (the temperature of the refrigerant after expansion and before evaporation). According to the invention, the term "refrigeration machine" does not include absorption refrigeration systems.

[0010] In the context of this invention, "heat transfer medium" should be understood as the term well-known to those skilled in the art in thermodynamics, namely, a liquid capable of absorbing heat, storing heat, and releasing heat elsewhere. In its simplest case, the heat transfer medium in the context of this invention is water; however, it can also be another suitable liquid, such as ethylene glycol or a salt solution, or a suitable gas, such as air. However, if the heat transfer medium is used to operate a heat pump or absorption refrigeration system, the heat transfer medium can also be a refrigerant or coolant.

[0011] In the context of this invention, a "heat source" is an intermediate or final product of the manufacturing process (e.g., food or its intermediate products, particularly beverages or their intermediate products, especially beer or its intermediate products), equipment used in the manufacturing process (e.g., compressors, motors, pumps), or a medium used in or generated during the manufacturing process (e.g., liquids such as ammonia, ethylene glycol, purge gases (e.g., carbon dioxide or nitrogen), water, engine coolant, exhaust gas, biogas, yeast suspension, or clean-in-place (CIP) liquid). Beverages or their intermediate products, particularly wort, malt extract, or beer, such as beer in a fermentation tank or storage tank, are particularly preferred as "heat sources."

[0012] The “moisture content” of the lees was determined according to MEBAK method K-203.02.020 [2020-10]. Available online at MEBAK: Method K-203.02.020. Moisture content of lees. Revised October 2020. Central European Committee for Analysis of Brewing Technologies (MEBAK®), Freising. Retrieved July 21, 2023. https: / / www.mebak.org / methode / k-203-02-020 / wassergehalt-der-treber / 627. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The aforementioned problems are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0014] According to the present invention, an apparatus for processing lees from breweries or distilleries is provided, preferably for performing the process according to the present invention, the apparatus comprising:

[0015] Dryer D is used for drying distiller's grains T;

[0016] Heat pump WP;

[0017] The first heat transfer medium circulation K1; and

[0018] The second heat transfer medium circulates K2;

[0019] Dryer D is preferably one of the following devices: rotary tube dryer, drum dryer, tube bundle dryer, flash tube dryer and belt dryer, with rotary tube dryer being particularly preferred;

[0020] Heat can be transferred from at least one heat source WQ to dryer D via heat pump WP;

[0021] In the first heat transfer medium circulation K1, the first heat transfer medium WT1 can be circulated or is in the process of circulating. The first heat transfer medium circulation K1 is designed so that the first heat transfer medium WT1 can absorb heat from the heat pump WP and transfer it to the dryer D.

[0022] In the second heat transfer medium circulation K2, the second heat transfer medium WT2 can be circulated or is in the process of circulating. The second heat transfer medium circulation K2 is designed so that the second heat transfer medium WT2 can absorb heat from the heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ and transfer it to the heat pump WP.

[0023] The device according to the invention has a single dryer D or multiple dryers D. Furthermore, the device according to the invention includes a single heat pump WP or multiple heat pump WP. Therefore, the number of dryers and heat pumps in the device according to the invention is not particularly limited in each case, and can be adjusted according to the corresponding application as long as it includes at least one dryer and at least one heat pump. This also applies to the heat source WQ. Therefore, the device according to the invention is not limited to having a single heat source WQ. The device according to the invention has a single heat source WQ or multiple heat sources WQ. According to the invention, beverages or their intermediate products, particularly wort, malt extract, or beer, are particularly preferred as the "heat source".

[0024] The device according to the invention is the first to combine a heat pump with a dryer for drying brewer's grains, wherein the heat pump simultaneously provides cooling capacity or cooling performance for cooling a heat source. This allows heat, typically present at relatively low temperatures, particularly waste heat (“inferior heat source,” temperatures <80°C, especially <60°C), to be raised to higher temperature levels by means of the heat pump and transferred to the dryer, thereby achieving efficient pre-drying of the brewer's grains in terms of primary energy consumption and thus improving its availability. The inventors have discovered that up to 100% of the heat supplied to the dryer for drying the brewer's grains can be obtained from heat generated in the plant, particularly waste heat, which in turn means a correspondingly higher cooling capacity at the heat source. Specifically, the invention enables the user to provide most of the required cooling capacity using the heat pump provided according to the invention, depending on the operation or manufacturing process. For example, in the case of a brewery, up to 70% of the required cooling capacity can be provided from the plant's heat source, particularly waste heat, using the device according to the invention or by using the process according to the invention.

[0025] If the equipment according to the invention is used in a food company or in food production, the heat source is preferably food or an intermediate product thereof. If the equipment according to the invention is used in a beverage factory or in beverage production, the heat source is preferably beverage or an intermediate product thereof. If the equipment according to the invention is used in a brewery or in beer production, the heat source is preferably beer, wort, mashed mash, or other intermediate products.

[0026] Providing a first heat transfer medium circulation and a second heat transfer medium circulation enables heat to be transferred from the heat source to the dryer via the heat pump, thereby achieving heat input at the dryer and cold input at one or more heat sources without direct contact between the heat source or its heat transfer medium or the dryer and the heat pump. The second heat transfer medium, having been cooled in the heat pump, returns to the one or more heat sources by circulating it, where it absorbs heat again, thereby cooling the one or more heat sources.

[0027] The advantage of circulating the first heat transfer medium in a loop is that any residual heat in the first heat transfer medium is not lost to the outside, but is retained in the system and reused. The same applies to the circulation of the second heat transfer medium. Circulating in a loop minimizes the amount of heat transfer medium required to operate the device according to the invention.

[0028] According to the present invention, a first heat transfer medium can be specified to absorb heat from a heat pump and transfer it directly to the dryer or directly to the distillers' grains. Therefore, the device according to the present invention can be designed such that heat can be transferred directly from the first heat transfer medium to the dryer or directly to the distillers' grains, particularly via a first heat exchanger as described below.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, i.e., according to the equipment or process of the invention, the lees to be treated and the heat or heat source used to dry them come from the same manufacturing process or the same factory.

[0030] Adequate pre-drying is a necessary prerequisite for efficient heat utilization of distillers' grains. According to the present invention, it is no longer necessary to provide heat for pre-drying distillers' grains from, for example, fossil fuels or "advanced" heat sources (i.e., relatively high-temperature heat sources, i.e., >80°C, especially >100°C). Furthermore, pre-drying can improve the storability of distillers' grains if they are to be used later or further processed.

[0031] On the other hand, by operating a heat pump to extract heat from one or more heat sources and cool them, it contributes to the cooling capacity. Therefore, the heat pump of the device according to the invention also serves as a cold source for intermediate or final products in the manufacturing process. This reduces the energy requirements for cooling tasks in factories (such as breweries) using the device according to the invention. In this way, the additional energy required for cooling via a refrigeration unit, particularly electrical energy, is saved. Furthermore, the device according to the invention can replace refrigeration units conventionally used in the manufacturing process to generate cooling capacity. At least one effect of using the device according to the invention is that a refrigeration unit with a lower cooling capacity can be provided as a supplement to the device according to the invention. According to the inventors' calculations in the brewery example, in addition to the device according to the invention, if necessary, at most one refrigeration unit with a total cooling capacity of up to 6 kWh per hectoliter of beverage is required, preferably up to 5 kWh per hectoliter of beverage, and particularly up to 4 kWh per hectoliter of beverage. In contrast, when the refrigeration unit is operated as the sole cold source (i.e., without using the device according to the invention), a total cooling capacity of 8 to 12 kWh per hectoliter of beverage is required, preferably 10 to 12 kWh per hectoliter of beverage.

[0032] When selecting a dryer, a rotary tube dryer is preferred because of the relatively low abrasive effect of the distiller's grains particles.

[0033] Finally, the water separated from the lees by the device according to the invention can be reused in breweries or other plants, for example as brewing water or process water, and can be used after treatment if necessary. This reduces water consumption and, in addition to providing heat (or drying) and cooling capacity, the invention further contributes to resource conservation. For example, reducing the moisture content of the lees from 80% to 20% allows for the recovery of 0.4 to 0.6 liters of water per kilogram of wet lees.

[0034] Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0035] For example, device V may have an airflow GS consisting of gas G, wherein the airflow GS can be guided or is being guided so that the gas G can come into contact with the lees T at the contact point KS.

[0036] By providing an airflow that comes into direct contact with the lees at a specific point (the contact point), the drying of the lees can be supported by absorbing moisture into the gas. The contact point can be inside or outside the dryer. According to the invention, in its simplest case, air is suitable as the gas because it is inexpensive and readily available. Any other gas suitable for supporting the drying of the lees upon contact can also be used. For example, the gas can flow across the lees bed or along the surface of the lees to absorb moisture from them. Other suitable gases include, for example, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, inert gases, or any mixture of these or with air, with nitrogen being preferred. At the contact point, the gas can flow towards the lees in parallel, counter-current, or cross-current directions, preferably counter-current. According to the invention, the contact point is not limited to a single point in a spatial sense, but can also be a segment or portion of a certain length.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention further includes a cyclone separator for separating the dried distiller's grains particles carried by the gas G. This can reduce the particle load on the gas G and increase the yield of usable dried distiller's grains.

[0038] The device V may also have a condenser K for transferring heat from gas G to the cooling medium and discharging condensate; wherein the gas flow GS may be directed or is being directed so that gas G can contact condenser K and gas G can transfer heat to the cooling medium; and condenser K is arranged downstream of contact point KS relative to gas flow GS.

[0039] If the gas absorbs moisture from the lees due to contact with them, this moisture can be separated from the gas downstream by means of, for example, condensation or other suitable methods. For this purpose, the moisture-laden gas can be supplied to a separation device, also called a condenser, which functions as a heat exchanger and allows heat to be transferred from the gas to a cooling medium. On the one hand, the heat contained in the gas is recovered in this way. The recovered heat can be reused, which improves the thermal balance of the device according to the invention. On the other hand, condensate (water) can be separated from the gas and reused for various purposes. This means that this embodiment of the device according to the invention can also be used as a new water source, which is particularly advantageous in areas where water resources are scarce or water access costs are high. The water obtained in this way can be treated and fed back into the production process or used in other ways, depending on the degree of contamination and intended use, thereby reducing the primary water consumption of the user of the device according to the invention. In previous treatments of wet lees, the water contained therein is lost and no longer available to the user. Furthermore, water increases the mass and volume of the material to be treated, thus increasing the energy consumption and transportation costs of the treatment.

[0040] The device V may also have a heat exchanger WG for heating the gas G;

[0041] Thus, heat from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ can be transferred to gas G through heat pump WP and heat exchanger WG for heating gas G;

[0042] The airflow GS can be guided or is being guided so that gas G can come into contact with heat exchanger WG for heating gas G and gas G can absorb heat from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ through heat pump WP and heat exchanger WG for heating gas G; and

[0043] The heat exchanger WG, used to heat the gas G, is positioned upstream of the contact point KS relative to the gas flow GS.

[0044] In the above embodiments, it is particularly advantageous that the first heat transfer medium WT1 can transfer heat from the heat pump WP to the gas G through the heat exchanger WG used for heating the gas G.

[0045] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the device according to the invention is designed such that the gas used for drying or supporting the drying of the lees is heated before it comes into contact with the lees at the contact point. Preferably, the heat required for this is also provided by a heat pump, and thus ultimately comes from one or more heat sources. In this way, similar to the description above, heat is provided by an environmentally friendly heat source using a heat pump to improve the drying effect of the lees by heating the gas. On the other hand, the additional heat transfer to the gas further enhances the cooling effect in one or more heat sources, thereby quantitatively further increasing the positive effects according to the invention.

[0046] In terms of equipment, this embodiment can be easily implemented. For example, the first heat transfer medium absorbs heat from the heat pump and transfers the heat not only to the dryer but also to the gas via a heat exchanger to heat the gas. This avoids the need for a separate heat transfer medium and a separate heat transfer medium cycle. However, alternatively, a separate heat transfer medium and a separate heat transfer medium cycle can be provided to heat the gas. The advantage of two separate cycles is that the heat transfer to the dryer and to the gas can be better controlled.

[0047] To ensure that heated gas is present at the point of contact where the lees come into direct contact with the gas, a heat exchanger for heating the gas is positioned upstream of the contact point relative to the airflow. In other words, the gas should be heated before contacting the lees to be dried to increase its moisture absorption capacity, thereby enhancing the drying effect.

[0048] In addition, device V can be designed so that gas G can circulate in a loop or is circulating, or gas flow GS is a loop.

[0049] By circulating the gas or gas stream in a loop, the gas is not lost and does not need to be replaced. On the other hand, the residual heat and moisture contained in the gas after contact with the lees, and after being treated in a condenser if necessary, are not lost, but are retained in the system by using the loop, which leads to further energy savings.

[0050] In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it may further include:

[0051] Burner B for burning distiller's grains T; and

[0052] At least one heat consumer WV;

[0053] Burner B is preferably designed as a grate burner or a combined burner;

[0054] The heat released during the combustion of the lees T in burner B can be transferred to heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV.

[0055] Providing a burner allows the heat content of pre-dried distillers' grains to be released and transferred to one or more heat consumers. Due to the relatively high heat content of the grains, a significant amount of primary energy can be saved and supplied accordingly to the heat sink. Incinerating the grains also eliminates the need for disposal in this manner. At most, only the remaining ash needs to be disposed of, which is easy to handle and store, and is much less in quantity and volume than the original grains. Due to the mineral content of the ash, its use as agricultural fertilizer is advantageous. The dried grains can also be used for other useful purposes. For example, it can be used as animal feed or for the production of biomass pellets for heating purposes.

[0056] In the context of this invention, the heat consumer can be, for example, equipment in a brewing workshop, such as a mashing pot, a filter wort heater, or a brewing pot, or any other heat sink in a brewery, distillery, beverage factory, or any other plant.

[0057] According to the present invention, the heat released during the combustion of the lees can also be supplied to the dryer and / or the gas, such that the heat released during combustion can also be partially used to dry the lees in the dryer and / or to dry the lees by gas.

[0058] In addition, the device V may also have a third heat transfer medium circulation K3, in which the third heat transfer medium WT3 can circulate or is currently circulating. The third heat transfer medium circulation K3 is designed such that the third heat transfer medium WT3 can absorb heat from the burner B and transfer it to the heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV.

[0059] Heat can be transferred from the burner to the heat consumer in a simple and efficient manner using a third heat transfer medium (preferably circulating in a loop). Using a third heat transfer medium makes the heat transfer from the burner to the heat consumer independent of the heat transfer between the heat source and the dryer, allowing the latter to be adjusted for the intended purpose. Since the cooled third heat transfer medium is returned to the burner, residual heat present in the heat transfer medium is not lost. Furthermore, the amount of heat transfer medium required is minimized when the heat transfer medium is recirculated.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment of the device V according to the invention, one of the heat consumers WV or WV is an absorption refrigeration system A. In this case, the device V also has a fourth heat transfer medium circulation K4, in which the fourth heat transfer medium WT4 can circulate or is circulating, the fourth heat transfer medium circulation K4 being designed such that the fourth heat transfer medium WT4 can absorb heat from the heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ and transfer it to the absorption refrigeration system A.

[0061] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, if multiple heat consumers are present or arranged, the device according to the invention has an absorption refrigeration system as one or more of these heat consumers. The absorption refrigeration system can effectively utilize the excess heat released from the combustion of pre-dried lees, can operate using this heat, and can make a further significant contribution to the cooling capacity of the device according to the invention. Specifically, heat from one or more heat sources is transferred to the absorption refrigeration system through a fourth heat transfer medium circulating in a fourth heat transfer medium cycle, thereby cooling the heat sources. This saves additional energy, particularly the electrical energy required for cooling, generated by the refrigeration system.

[0062] In the case of an absorption refrigeration system in the device according to the invention, the inventors preferably, for example in a brewery equipped with the device according to the invention, supply about 50% to 70% of the heat released during the combustion of pre-dried lees to the absorption refrigeration system, and supply about 30% to 50% of the heat generated to other heat consumers in the plant. This allocation has proven advantageous because, on the one hand, it provides sufficient heat for typical heat consumers (such as the brewing workshop), and on the other hand, it rationally and effectively utilizes the excess heat generated by the combustion of lees through the absorption refrigeration system.

[0063] In addition, the device V may also have at least one first heat transfer medium storage tank, preferably at least one first hot water storage tank, and / or a second heat transfer medium storage tank, preferably at least one second hot water storage tank;

[0064] Wherein, the first heat transfer medium storage tank and / or the second heat transfer medium storage tank are preferably layered storage tanks or layered heat-charged storage tanks; and

[0065] The first heat transfer medium storage tank is integrated into the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 in such a way that the first heat transfer medium WT1 can be stored therein and retrieved therein, preferably according to its temperature; and / or

[0066] The second heat transfer medium storage tank is integrated into the third heat transfer medium circulation K3 in such a way that the third heat transfer medium WT3 can be stored therein and taken out therein, preferably stored and taken out according to its temperature.

[0067] Providing a heat transfer medium storage tank, preferably a hot water storage tank, in the first and / or third heat transfer medium cycle buffers the fluid and heat of the heat transfer medium used in the respective heat transfer medium cycle. This is particularly useful when the heat transfer medium storage tank is designed as a stratified storage tank or a stratified heated storage tank, which allows for the storage and retrieval of the heat transfer medium used in the respective heat transfer medium cycle according to temperature.

[0068] However, the device according to the invention is not limited to having only one heat transfer medium storage tank in the first and / or third heat transfer medium cycle. Therefore, the device according to the invention can have multiple heat transfer fluid storage tanks in one heat transfer medium cycle. For example, the device according to the invention can have one or more heat transfer medium storage tanks in each heat transfer medium cycle or in a selection of heat transfer medium cycles. For example, a hot water storage tank can be provided in each of the first and / or third heat transfer medium cycles. Alternatively, a refrigerant storage tank can be provided as a heat transfer storage tank in each of the second and / or fourth heat transfer medium cycles.

[0069] In addition, device V may include:

[0070] A first heat exchanger X1, through which heat can be transferred from a first heat transfer medium WT1 to a dryer D; and

[0071] The second heat exchanger X2 can transfer heat from the refrigerant KMWP of the heat pump WP to the first heat transfer medium WT1.

[0072] In addition, device V may include: a third heat exchanger X3, through which heat can be transferred from the second heat carrier WT2 to the refrigerant KMWP of the heat pump WP; and

[0073] The fourth heat exchanger X4 can transfer heat from heat source WQ or one of heat sources WQ to the second heat carrier WT2.

[0074] Furthermore, device V may include: a fifth heat exchanger X5, through which heat released during the combustion of distiller's grains T in burner B can be transferred to a third heat transfer medium WT3; and

[0075] The sixth heat exchanger X6 can transfer heat from the third heat transfer medium WT3 to either heat consumer WV or one of heat consumers WV.

[0076] Furthermore, device V may include: a seventh heat exchanger X7, through which heat can be transferred from the fourth heat transfer medium WT4 to the refrigerant KMA of the absorption refrigeration system A; and

[0077] The eighth heat exchanger X8 can transfer heat from heat source WQ or one of heat sources WQ to the fourth heat transfer medium WT4.

[0078] The interfaces between the various heat transfer medium circulations and the elements (e.g., dryers and heat pumps) that come into contact with the device according to the invention are preferably designed as heat exchangers. These heat exchangers may be, for example, plate heat exchangers, tubular heat exchangers, or other heat exchanger designs familiar to those skilled in the art and suitable for the intended purpose. Using heat exchangers enables efficient heat transfer between different heat carriers without them directly contacting and mixing.

[0079] According to the invention, heat exchangers may exist as separate devices within the equipment, but alternatively, they may be integrated into the equipment associated with them. For example, a first heat exchanger associated with a dryer may be integrated into the dryer such that the first heat exchanger is a component or part of the dryer, for example in the form of a partition or tube, each adapted to transfer heat to other components of the dryer or directly to the lees.

[0080] In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention can be designed such that the first heat transfer medium WT1 in the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 has a temperature of 60 to 150°C, preferably 90 to 150°C, and particularly 90 to 110°C, after absorbing heat from the heat pump WP or immediately downstream of the heat pump WP. In this context, "immediately downstream of the heat pump WP" means immediately downstream or directly downstream of the point of contact between the first heat transfer medium WT1 or the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 and the heat pump WP in the heat transfer medium flow, i.e., immediately downstream or directly downstream of the second heat exchanger X2.

[0081] In this case, the first heat transfer medium WT1 in the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 may have a temperature of 20 to 60°C, preferably 38 to 50°C, after transferring heat to the dryer D or immediately downstream of the dryer D. In this context, "immediately downstream of the dryer D" means immediately downstream of the point of contact between the first heat transfer medium WT1 or the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 and the dryer D in the heat transfer medium flow, i.e., immediately downstream of the first heat exchanger X1.

[0082] Additionally or independently of this, the device according to the invention can be designed such that the second heat transfer medium WT2 in the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 has a temperature of 4 to 20°C, preferably 6 to 10°C, after absorbing heat from heat source WQ or at least one of heat sources WQ, or immediately downstream of heat source WQ or at least one of heat sources WQ. In this context, "immediately downstream of heat source WQ or at least one of heat sources WQ" means immediately downstream or directly downstream of the point of contact between the second heat transfer medium WT2 or the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 and heat source WQ or at least one of heat sources WQ in the heat transfer medium flow, i.e., immediately downstream or directly downstream of the fourth heat exchanger X4.

[0083] In this case, the second heat transfer medium WT2 in the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 can have a temperature of -6 to 0°C, preferably -4 to -2°C, after transferring heat to the heat pump WP or immediately downstream of the heat pump WP. In this context, "immediately downstream of the heat pump WP" means immediately downstream of the contact point between the second heat transfer medium WT2 or the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 and the heat pump WP in the heat transfer medium flow, i.e., immediately downstream of the third heat exchanger X3.

[0084] In another preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention can be designed such that the first heat transfer medium WT1 in the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 has a temperature of 60 to 150°C, preferably 90 to 150°C, and particularly 90 to 110°C, after absorbing heat from the heat pump WP or immediately downstream of the heat pump WP. In this context, "immediately downstream of the heat pump WP" means immediately downstream of the point of contact between the first heat transfer medium WT1 or the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 and the heat pump WP in the heat transfer medium flow, i.e., immediately downstream of the second heat exchanger X2.

[0085] In this case, the first heat transfer medium WT1 in the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 may have a temperature of 20 to 60°C, preferably 38 to 50°C, after transferring heat to the heat exchanger WG for heating the gas G or immediately downstream of the heat exchanger WG for heating the gas G. In this context, "immediately downstream of the heat exchanger WG" means immediately downstream of the point of contact between the first heat transfer medium WT1 or the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 and the heat exchanger WG in the heat transfer medium flow, i.e., immediately downstream of the heat exchanger WG.

[0086] Additionally or independently of this, the device according to the invention can be designed such that the second heat transfer medium WT2 in the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 has a temperature of 4 to 20°C, preferably 6 to 10°C, after absorbing heat from the heat source WQ or at least one heat source WQ, or immediately downstream of the heat source WQ or at least one heat source WQ. In this context, "immediately downstream of the heat source WQ or at least one heat source WQ" means immediately downstream of the point of contact between the second heat transfer medium WT2 or the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 and the heat source WQ or at least one heat source WQ in the heat transfer medium flow, i.e., immediately downstream of the fourth heat exchanger X4.

[0087] In this case, the second heat transfer medium WT2 in the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 may have a temperature of -6 to 0°C, preferably -4 to -2°C, after transferring heat to the heat pump WP or immediately downstream of the heat pump WP. In this context, "immediately downstream of the heat pump WP" means immediately downstream or directly downstream of the contact point between the second heat transfer medium WT2 or the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 and the heat pump WP, i.e., immediately downstream or directly downstream of the third heat exchanger X3.

[0088] In the device according to the invention, the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 is preferably coupled to the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 via a heat pump WP, particularly via only the heat pump WP. In this case, it is particularly preferred that the first heat transfer medium WT1 is not a heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ. Additionally, or independently of this, it is particularly preferred that the device V according to the invention is not suitable or will not be designed to transfer heat from the first heat transfer medium WT1 to the second heat transfer medium WT2. This means that the device V should be designed so that heat cannot be transferred from the first heat transfer medium WT1 to the second heat transfer medium WT2, even indirectly.

[0089] Furthermore, the equipment may include a grinder M for grinding the distiller's grains T. The grinder M is preferably a vortex grinder. Compared to grate combustion, a vortex grinder is suitable for grinding the distiller's grains into very fine particles, thereby enabling more precise combustion control (starting and stopping combustion is easier and faster).

[0090] The apparatus according to the invention can also be equipped with a grinding mill for grinding distiller's grains. Suitable designs include, for example, hammer mills, ball mills, and especially vortex mills.

[0091] Grinding the lees, especially when the lees have been pre-dried, increases their surface area and promotes and accelerates combustion. Improved combustion also increases heat output.

[0092] The object of the present invention is also achieved by a brewery or distillery having the apparatus V described above according to the invention. In this case, the heat source WQ is preferably a beverage, preferably wort, beer or spirits.

[0093] The brewery or distillery according to the invention may also have the following characteristics: no chiller; or have one or more chillers with a total cooling capacity not exceeding 6 kWh / hl of beverage.

[0094] The present invention also envisions equipping energy-intensive plants, such as breweries or distilleries, with the equipment according to the invention. Breweries or distilleries equipped with the equipment according to the invention can either use a significantly reduced cooling capacity compared to those using only a cooler as a cooling source, or they can even completely forgo a cooler and use only the equipment according to the invention as a cooling source.

[0095] Since the equipment according to the invention makes a significant contribution to the cooling capacity required by the corresponding plant, and can even provide the required cooling capacity completely, it can save on purchase costs, especially the operating costs of additional refrigeration units, or at least significantly reduce these costs.

[0096] From a process engineering perspective, the above-mentioned objective is achieved by the process according to the invention as described in claim 9. The technical effects and advantages mentioned in relation to the equipment according to the invention are similarly applicable to the process according to the invention.

[0097] Therefore, the present invention relates to a process for treating lees from breweries or distilleries, the process comprising at least the following steps, and preferably performed using the apparatus described above according to the invention:

[0098] (a) Dry the lees T to a water content of up to 52%, preferably 5 to 40%, particularly 12 to 22%;

[0099] This utilizes heat to dry the lees T, which is transferred from at least one heat source WQ to the lees T via a heat pump WP.

[0100] By pre-drying the lees to a moisture content of up to 52%, the resulting pre-dried lees is a stable, storable intermediate product that can be used immediately or stored for several months. Furthermore, when the moisture content is at most 52%, it can be directly incinerated without further drying. This invention is not limited to the requirement that the dried lees be further processed on-site. Instead, the dried lees can be transported to another location for further processing, such as incineration.

[0101] It has been proven that it is highly advantageous to process the newly generated lees quickly and dry them promptly using the process of the present invention. This avoids the lees cooling to ambient temperature and allows for energy-efficient use of the heat from the hot lees. Furthermore, it prevents microbial contamination that may occur during prolonged storage of damp lees. Therefore, the process of the present invention is preferably carried out within 120 minutes after the lees are discharged, and particularly preferably within 60 minutes.

[0102] According to the present invention, the lees do not require pressing before drying. Instead, the lees obtained during the lees discharge process can be processed using the equipment of the present invention, or as part of the process of the present invention. Therefore, the process of the present invention can specify that the lees are not pressed before drying, and / or not subjected to other mechanical, chemical, or thermal treatments. In contrast, draining the water from the lees by gravity is not considered mechanical processing in the sense of the present invention, and can assist the drying process without consuming any energy or equipment. The water separated in this process can also be reused after treatment, if necessary. Therefore, it is conceivable that the equipment of the present invention does not include any means for mechanical dehydration of lees, such as a press.

[0103] The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the process of the invention.

[0104] In the process of this invention, it is particularly preferred that heat transfer from the first heat transfer medium WT1 to the second heat transfer medium WT2 does not occur, or such heat transfer is avoided. This enables the heat pump to achieve particularly high efficiency.

[0105] Furthermore, in the process of the present invention, the drying of the lees T can be achieved or assisted by contacting the lees T with the gas G conveyed as an airflow GS.

[0106] In this process, gas G is heated by heat from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ, and the heat is transferred through heat pump WP; and

[0107] In this configuration, gas G is preferably circulated or is currently circulated, or gas flow GS is preferably circulated.

[0108] Furthermore, in the process of the present invention, the water removed from the lees T during the drying process of the lees T can be used in the manufacturing process of the product (preferably a beverage); wherein the water is preferably removed from the gas G by condensation. In addition, the process of the present invention may also include the following steps:

[0109] (c) After the lees T are dried, incinerate the lees T; and

[0110] (d) Transferring the heat released during the incineration of the distiller's grains T to at least one heat consumer WV. Furthermore, the process of the present invention may also include the following steps:

[0111] (b) The lees T are crushed before incineration, preferably after drying;

[0112] The pulverization of the distiller's grains T is preferably carried out by a grinding mill M, and more preferably by a vortex mill.

[0113] Furthermore, in the process of the present invention, step (d) can be performed as follows:

[0114] (d) Transfer the heat released during the incineration of the lees T to heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV (which is the absorption refrigeration system A); and

[0115] The process also includes the following steps:

[0116] (e) The heat transferred to absorption refrigeration system A in step (d) is used to operate absorption refrigeration system A; and

[0117] (f) Transfer heat from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ to absorption refrigeration system A, thereby cooling heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ.

[0118] In a preferred embodiment, the process of the present invention can be designed as follows:

[0119] The first heat transfer medium WT1 circulates in the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 and absorbs heat from the heat pump WP. During this process, its temperature reaches 60 to 150°C, preferably 90 to 150°C, particularly 90 to 110°C, and transfers the heat to the dryer D. During this process, its temperature is 20 to 60°C, preferably 38 to 50°C. The transferred heat is used to dry the distiller's grains T; and

[0120] The second heat transfer medium WT2 circulates in the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 and absorbs heat from the heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ. During this process, its temperature is 4 to 20°C, preferably 6 to 10°C. It also transfers the heat to the heat pump WP. During this process, its temperature is -6 to 0°C, preferably -4 to -2°C.

[0121] In a preferred embodiment, the process of the present invention can be designed as follows:

[0122] The first heat transfer medium WT1 circulates in the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 and absorbs heat from the heat pump WP. During this process, its temperature reaches 60 to 150°C, preferably 90 to 150°C, particularly 90 to 110°C. The heat is then transferred to the heat exchanger WG, which is used to heat the gas G. During this process, its temperature is 20 to 60°C, preferably 38 to 50°C. The transferred heat is used to heat the gas G.

[0123] The second heat transfer medium WT2 circulates in the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 and absorbs heat from the heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ. During this process, its temperature is 4 to 20°C, preferably 6 to 10°C. It also transfers the heat to the heat pump WP. During this process, its temperature is -6 to 0°C, preferably -4 to -2°C.

[0124] The heat transfer medium temperature specified in the process of this invention achieves the following advantages by using the heat pump of this invention:

[0125] The high temperature of the first heat transfer medium during its circulation enables the dryer to dry the distiller's grains efficiently and effectively, with even better results when assisted by gas in the airflow. The low reflux temperature that occurs when the first heat transfer medium cools, in turn, allows it to absorb a large amount of heat in the heat pump.

[0126] The intense cooling of the second heat transfer medium in the second heat transfer medium circulation can effectively cool the heat source connected to it on the one hand, and absorb a large amount of heat on the other hand. This heat is transferred to the heat pump and then to the refrigerant of the heat pump.

[0127] In a preferred embodiment, the process of the present invention can be designed as follows: the third heat transfer medium WT3 circulates in the third heat transfer medium circulation K3 and absorbs heat from the burner B, during which its temperature reaches 100 to 200°C, preferably 115 to 125°C, and transfers the heat to the heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV, during which its temperature is 70 to 109°C, preferably 96 to 99°C; and preferably...

[0128] The fourth heat transfer medium WT4 circulates in the fourth heat transfer medium circulation K4 and absorbs heat from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ. During this process, its temperature is 4 to 20°C, preferably 6 to 10°C. It also transfers the heat to the absorption refrigeration system A. During this process, its temperature is -6 to 0°C, preferably -4 to -2°C.

[0129] The high temperature of the third heat transfer medium during its circulation enables efficient and effective heating of heat consumers in plants (e.g., breweries) using the processes or equipment of the present invention. For example, at a heat transfer temperature of 100 to 125°C, all heating tasks required in a brewery or winery can be easily accomplished. According to the process of the present invention, for example, reheating of the heat transfer medium can be achieved without the use of fossil fuels. By recirculating the cooled third heat transfer medium to the burner, the residual heat still contained in the heat transfer medium is not lost, but rather forms the starting level for the next heating of the heat transfer medium in the burner.

[0130] The temperature of the fourth heat transfer medium in the fourth heat transfer medium cycle is preferably within the same temperature range as that of the second heat transfer medium in the second heat transfer medium cycle. Therefore, the effects and advantages of the fourth heat transfer medium in the fourth heat transfer medium cycle are the same as those discussed above regarding the second heat transfer medium cycle.

[0131] It should be mentioned that the process and equipment of the present invention can also be used to operate the second and fourth heat transfer fluid cycles (shown above as separate cycles), or can be operated as a single heat transfer fluid cycle that transfers heat from one or more heat sources to a heat pump and absorption refrigeration system. This simplifies the plant design of the device of the present invention and reduces the number of heat exchangers where necessary. The common heat transfer medium cycle can be operated using a refrigerant such as ethylene glycol. The common heat transfer medium cycle can integrate one or more refrigerant storage tanks in the cycle.

[0132] According to the present invention, the temperature of the gas G in the gas flow GS when it comes into contact with the lees T at the contact point KS is, for example, 60 to 70°C, preferably 65°C.

[0133] The process of the present invention may also have the following features: the first heat transfer medium WT1 is stored in a first heat transfer medium storage tank and taken out from the storage tank, the first heat transfer medium storage tank being preferably a first warm water storage tank, and preferably stored and taken out according to its temperature;

[0134] The first heat transfer medium storage tank is preferably a layered storage tank or a layered heat-filled storage tank;

[0135] Preferably, the first heat transfer medium storage tank is integrated into the first heat transfer medium circulation K1; and

[0136] The first heat transfer medium WT1 is preferably stored in a forward flow toward or from the heat consumer WV, or stored in a first heat transfer medium storage tank.

[0137] Furthermore, in the process of the present invention, the third heat transfer medium WT3 can be stored in a second heat transfer medium storage tank, which is preferably a second hot water storage tank, and can be taken out from the storage tank, preferably stored and taken out according to its temperature;

[0138] The second heat transfer medium storage tank is preferably a layered storage tank or a layered heat-filled storage tank;

[0139] The second heat transfer medium storage tank is preferably integrated into the third heat transfer medium circulation K3; and

[0140] The third heat transfer medium WT3 is preferably stored in the forward flow to or from the heat consumer WV, or stored in the second heat transfer medium storage tank.

[0141] The problems addressed by this invention are also solved by the use described in claim 14.

[0142] The present invention claims protection for the use of heat derived from at least one heat source WQ and supplied by a heat pump WP for drying lees T from a brewery or distillery, preferably before the lees T is incinerated.

[0143] In this case, the heat source WQ can be an intermediate or final product of the manufacturing process, preferably food or its intermediate products, especially beverages or their intermediate products.

[0144] The technical features, effects, and advantages of the equipment and process of this invention also apply to the uses of this invention.

[0145] Therefore, the present invention enables, for the first time, the drying of lees from breweries or distilleries without the use of fossil heat sources, while simultaneously providing cooling capacity for cooling one or more heat sources. According to the invention, this requires at most only electrical or mechanical energy for operating the heat pump.

[0146] In a preferred embodiment of the use of the invention, the use may include drying the lees T by transferring heat to the lees T and / or by transferring heat to the gas G and bringing the lees T into contact with the gas G.

[0147] By utilizing heat, waste heat obtained from one or more heat sources using a heat pump is used for environmentally friendly drying of distillers' grains. According to the invention, this application may also include drying the distillers' grains by transferring heat to the grains and / or by transferring heat to a gas and bringing the grains into contact with the gas.

[0148] Furthermore, the invention may also be used to operate an absorption refrigeration system A and / or generate cooling capacity through the absorption refrigeration system A by utilizing the heat released during the incineration of distillers' grains T.

[0149] Further disclosure of the invention

[0150] This invention also includes the subject matter defined in the following items 1 to 30:

[0151] 1. An apparatus V for processing lees T from a brewery or distillery, preferably for performing the process described in any one of items 17 to 26 below, the apparatus V comprising:

[0152] Dryer D is used for drying distiller's grains T;

[0153] The first heat transfer medium circulation K1; and

[0154] The second heat transfer medium circulates K2;

[0155] Heat pump WP;

[0156] Dryer D is preferably one of the following devices: rotary tube dryer, drum dryer, tube bundle dryer, flash tube dryer and belt dryer, with rotary tube dryer being particularly preferred;

[0157] Heat can be transferred from at least one heat source WQ to dryer D via heat pump WP;

[0158] In the first heat transfer medium circulation K1, the first heat transfer medium WT1 can be circulated or is in the process of circulating. The first heat transfer medium circulation K1 is designed so that the first heat transfer medium WT1 can absorb heat from the heat pump WP and transfer it to the dryer D.

[0159] In the second heat transfer medium circulation K2, the second heat transfer liquid WT2 can be circulated or is in the process of circulating. The second heat transfer medium circulation K2 is designed so that the second heat transfer liquid WT2 can absorb heat from the heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ and transfer it to the heat pump WP.

[0160] 2. The device V according to claim 1, wherein device V further comprises:

[0161] A gas flow GS consisting of gas G, wherein the gas flow GS is or will be guided so that gas G can contact the lees T at the contact point KS;

[0162] The contact point KS is preferably located in the dryer D or upstream of the dryer D.

[0163] 3. The device V according to item 2 above, wherein device V further comprises:

[0164] Condenser K is used to transfer heat from gas G to cooling medium KM and discharge condensate;

[0165] The airflow GS is or will be guided so that gas G can contact condenser K and gas G can transfer heat to cooling medium KM; and condenser K is arranged downstream of contact point KS relative to airflow GS.

[0166] 4. The device V according to item 2 or 3, further comprising:

[0167] Heat exchanger WG for heating gas G;

[0168] Heat from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ can be transferred to gas G through heat pump WP and heat exchanger WG to heat gas G;

[0169] Wherein the airflow GS is or will be guided so that gas G can come into contact with heat exchanger WG for heating gas G and gas G can absorb heat from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ through heat pump WP and heat exchanger WG for heating gas G; and

[0170] The heat exchanger WG, used to heat the gas G, is positioned upstream of the contact point KS relative to the gas flow GS.

[0171] 5. The device V according to item 4 above, wherein the first heat transfer medium WT1 can transfer heat from the heat pump WP to the gas G through the heat exchanger WG for heating the gas G.

[0172] 6. The device V according to any one of claims 2 to 5 above, wherein the gas G can be circulated or is circulated, or the gas flow GS is a cycle.

[0173] 7. The device V according to any one of claims 1 to 6 above, wherein the device V further comprises:

[0174] Burner B for burning distiller's grains T; and

[0175] At least one heat consumer WV;

[0176] Burner B is preferably designed as a grate burner or a combined burner;

[0177] The heat released during the combustion of the lees T in burner B can be transferred to heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV.

[0178] 8. The device V according to item 7 above, wherein device V further comprises:

[0179] The third heat transfer medium circulation K3, in which the third heat transfer medium WT3 can circulate or is circulating, is designed such that the third heat transfer medium WT3 can absorb heat from the burner B and transfer it to the heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV.

[0180] 9. The device V according to item 8 above, wherein the heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV is an absorption refrigeration system A; and

[0181] The device V also includes a fourth heat transfer medium circulation K4, in which the fourth heat transfer medium WT4 can circulate or is circulating, and the fourth heat transfer medium circulation K4 is designed so that the fourth heat transfer medium WT4 can absorb heat from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ and transfer it to the absorption refrigeration system A.

[0182] 10. The device V according to item 8 or 9 above, wherein the device V further comprises at least one first heat transfer medium storage, preferably at least one first warm water storage, and / or a second heat transfer medium storage, preferably at least one second warm water storage; and

[0183] The first heat transfer medium storage tank and / or the second heat transfer medium storage tank are preferably layered storage tanks or layered heat-charged storage tanks; and

[0184] The first heat transfer medium storage tank is integrated into the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 in such a way that the first heat transfer medium WT1 can be stored therein and retrieved therein, preferably depending on its temperature; and / or

[0185] The second heat transfer medium storage tank is integrated into the third heat transfer medium circulation K3 in such a way that the third heat transfer medium WT3 can be stored therein and can be taken out there, preferably depending on its temperature.

[0186] 11. The device V according to any one of claims 1 to 10 above, wherein the device V further comprises:

[0187] The first heat exchanger X1, through which heat can be transferred from the first heat transfer medium WT1 to the dryer D;

[0188] The second heat exchanger X2 allows heat to be transferred from the refrigerant KMWP of the heat pump WP to the first heat transfer medium WT1.

[0189] The third heat exchanger X3 allows heat to be transferred from the second heat transfer medium WT2 to the refrigerant KMWP of the heat pump WP.

[0190] The fourth heat exchanger X4 allows heat to be transferred from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ to the second heat transfer medium WT2.

[0191] 12. The device V according to any one of claims 8 to 11 above, wherein the device V further comprises:

[0192] The fifth heat exchanger X5, through which the heat released during the combustion of the lees T in burner B can be transferred to the third heat transfer medium WT3; and

[0193] The sixth heat exchanger X6 allows heat from the third heat transfer medium WT3 to be transferred to heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV.

[0194] 13. The device V according to any one of claims 9 to 12 above, wherein the device V further comprises:

[0195] The seventh heat exchanger X7, through which heat can be transferred from the fourth heat transfer medium WT4 to the refrigerant KMA in the absorption refrigeration system A; and

[0196] The eighth heat exchanger X8 allows heat to be transferred from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ to the fourth heat transfer medium WT4.

[0197] 14. The device V according to any one of claims 1 to 13 above, wherein the device V further comprises:

[0198] A grinding mill M is used for grinding distiller's grains T; wherein the grinding mill M is preferably a vortex mill.

[0199] 15. A brewery or distillery comprising equipment V according to any one of claims 1 to 14 above; wherein the heat source WQ is preferably a beverage, preferably wort, beer or spirit.

[0200] 16. A brewery or distillery as described in item 15 above, wherein the brewery or distillery does not have a cooling system; or

[0201] The brewery or distillery has one or more cooling units with a total cooling capacity not exceeding 6 kilowatt-hours per 100 liters of beverage.

[0202] 17. A process for treating lees T from a brewery or distillery, the process comprising at least the following steps, and preferably performed using the equipment V according to any one of claims 1 to 14 above:

[0203] (a) The lees T are dried to a water content of up to 52%, preferably 5 to 52%, more preferably 8 to 40%, and most preferably 12 to 22%;

[0204] The heat used for drying the lees T is transferred from at least one heat source WQ to the lees T via a heat pump WP.

[0205] 18. The process according to item 17, wherein the drying of the lees T is carried out or assisted by contacting the lees T with a gas G guided in the gas flow GS;

[0206] Gas G is heated by heat originating from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ and transferred through heat pump WP; and

[0207] Gas G is preferably circulating or in circulation, or gas flow GS is preferably a cycle.

[0208] 19. The process according to item 17 or 18 above, wherein the water removed from the lees T during the drying of the lees T is used in the product, preferably in the manufacturing process of a beverage;

[0209] Water is preferably removed from gas G by condensation.

[0210] 20. The process according to any one of items 17 to 19 above, further comprising the step of: (c) incinerating the lees T after drying it; and

[0211] (d) The heat released during the incineration of the lees T will be transferred to at least one heat consumer WV.

[0212] 21. The process according to item 20, wherein the process further comprises the following steps:

[0213] (b) The lees T are crushed before incineration, and preferably after drying;

[0214] The pulverization of the distiller's grains T is preferably carried out by a grinding mill M, especially by a vortex mill.

[0215] 22. The process according to item 20 or 21, wherein step (d) is characterized by:

[0216] (d) The heat released during the incineration of the lees T will be transferred to heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV, which is an absorption refrigeration system A; and

[0217] The process also includes the following steps:

[0218] (e) Using the heat transferred to absorption refrigeration system A in step (d) to operate absorption refrigeration system A; and

[0219] (f) Heat from heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ is transferred to absorption refrigeration system A, thereby cooling heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ.

[0220] 23. The process according to any one of items 17 to 22 above, wherein:

[0221] The first heat transfer medium WT1 circulates in the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 and absorbs heat from the heat pump WP, and in this process, the temperature reaches 60 to 150°C, preferably 90 to 150°C, particularly 90 to 110°C, and transfers the heat to the dryer D, where the temperature reaches 20 to 60°C, preferably 38 to 50°C, and the transferred heat is used to dry the lees T; and / or

[0222] The second heat transfer medium WT2 circulates in the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 and absorbs heat from the heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ. During this process, the temperature reaches 4 to 20°C, preferably 6 to 10°C, and the heat is transferred to the heat pump WP. In this case, the temperature reaches -6 to 0°C, preferably -4 to -2°C.

[0223] 24. The process according to any one of items 18 to 23 above, wherein:

[0224] The first heat transfer medium WT1 circulates in the first heat transfer medium circulation K1 and absorbs heat from the heat pump WP, and in this process, the temperature reaches 60 to 150°C, preferably 90 to 150°C, particularly 90 to 110°C, and transfers the heat to the heat exchanger WG for heating the gas G, and in this case, the temperature reaches 20 to 60°C, preferably 38 to 50°C, and the transferred heat is used to heat the gas G; and / or

[0225] The second heat transfer medium WT2 circulates in the second heat transfer medium circulation K2 and absorbs heat from the heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ, and in the process, the temperature reaches 4 to 20°C, preferably 6 to 10°C, and transfers the heat to the heat pump WP, and in the process, the temperature reaches -6 to 0°C, preferably -4 to -2°C.

[0226] 25. The process according to any one of items 20 to 24 above, wherein:

[0227] The third heat transfer medium WT3 circulates in the third heat transfer medium circulation K3 and absorbs heat from the burner B, during which the temperature reaches 100 to 200°C, preferably 115 to 125°C, and transfers the heat to heat consumers WV or one of the heat consumers WV, during which the temperature reaches 70 to 109°C, preferably 96 to 99°C; and preferably

[0228] The fourth heat transfer medium WT4 circulates in the fourth heat transfer medium circulation K4 and absorbs heat from the heat source WQ or one of the heat sources WQ, and in the process, the temperature reaches 4 to 20°C, preferably 6 to 10°C, and transfers the heat to the absorption refrigeration system A, and in the process, the temperature reaches -6 to 0°C, preferably -4 to -2°C.

[0229] 26. The process according to item 24 or 25 above, wherein the first heat transfer medium WT1 is stored in a first heat transfer medium storage tank, preferably in a first warm water storage tank, and is taken out from there, preferably stored and taken out according to its temperature;

[0230] The first heat transfer medium storage tank is preferably a layered storage tank or a layered heat-charged storage tank;

[0231] The first heat transfer medium storage tank is preferably integrated into the first heat transfer medium circulation K1; and

[0232] The first heat transfer medium WT1 is preferably stored in the forward flow to the heat consumer WV and / or in the return flow from the heat consumer WV, or stored in a first heat transfer medium storage tank.

[0233] 27. The process according to item 25 or 26 above, wherein the third heat transfer medium WT3 is stored in a second heat transfer medium storage tank, preferably stored in and taken out of a second warm water storage tank, and preferably stored and taken out according to its temperature;

[0234] The second heat transfer medium storage is preferably layered storage or layered heat-charged storage;

[0235] The second heat transfer medium storage tank is preferably integrated into the third heat transfer medium circulation tank K3; and

[0236] The third heat transfer medium WT3 is preferably stored in the forward flow to the heat consumer WV and / or in the return flow from the heat consumer WV, or stored in the second heat transfer medium storage tank.

[0237] 28. The use of heat from at least one heat source WQ and supplied by a heat pump WP for drying lees T from a brewery or distillery, preferably before incineration.

[0238] 29. The use according to claim 28, wherein the use includes drying the lees T by transferring heat to the lees T and / or by transferring heat to the gas G and contacting the lees T with the gas G.

[0239] 30. The use according to item 28 or 29 also includes the use of using the heat released during the incineration of the lees T to operate the absorption refrigeration system A and / or to generate cooling capacity through the absorption refrigeration system A.

[0240] The following combinations of features are particularly preferred for the device according to the invention and have been explicitly disclosed (all possible combinations below are considered to be disclosed):

[0241] Dryer D, heat source WQ and heat pump WP (see point 1 above);

[0242] Dryer D, heat source WQ, heat pump WP and airflow GS (a combination of point (2, 3, 4, 5 or 6) above with point 1);

[0243] Dryer D, heat source WQ, heat pump WP, burner B and heat consumer WV (a combination of point (7 or 8) above and point 1);

[0244] Heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV can be an absorption refrigeration system A (a combination of point 9 and point 1 above).

[0245] Dryer D, heat source WQ, heat pump WP, burner B, heat consumer WV, and airflow GS (a combination of point (7 or 8) above with point (2, 3, 4, 5 or 6) and point 1);

[0246] Heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV can be an absorption refrigeration system A (a combination of point 9 above and points (2, 3, 4, 5 or 6) and point 1);

[0247] In addition, all the equipment in the above combination may also be equipped with one or more heat transfer liquid storage tanks in accordance with point 10 above (all the above combinations in combination with point 10).

[0248] In addition, all the devices in the combinations listed above may also be equipped with one or more heat exchangers in accordance with points 11, 12 and / or 13 above (all the combinations above combined with points 11, 12 and / or 13).

[0249] In addition, all the devices in the combinations listed above can be equipped with a grinder (the combination of all the combinations listed above with point 14).

[0250] The following combinations of features are particularly preferred for the process according to the invention and have been explicitly disclosed (all possible combinations below are considered to be disclosed):

[0251] According to step (a) drying the lees T (previous point 17);

[0252] According to step (a), dry the lees T; according to step (c), incinerate the lees T; and according to step (d), transfer heat to the heat consumer WV (a combination of the previous points 20 and 17).

[0253] Heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV can be an absorption refrigeration system A (a combination of points 22, 20 and 17 above);

[0254] In step (a), the lees T are dried; in step (b), the lees T are crushed; in step (c), the lees T are incinerated; and in step (d), heat is transferred to the heat consumer WV (a combination of points 21, 20, and 17 above).

[0255] Heat consumer WV or one of the heat consumers WV can be an absorption refrigeration system A (a combination of points 22, 21, 20 and 17 above);

[0256] Furthermore, in all the processes listed above, according to point 18 above, drying the lees in step (a) can be carried out or assisted by bringing the lees T into contact with the gas G guided in the airflow GS (all the above combinations in conjunction with point 18).

[0257] Furthermore, in all the processes listed above, according to point 19 above, the water extracted from the lees T during the drying process can be used in the manufacturing process of the product (preferably a beverage) (all the above combinations combined with point 19). In this case, it is particularly preferred that the manufacturing process of the product (preferably an industrial or process manufacturing process) is the same manufacturing process as the manufacturing process of the lees source and / or the manufacturing process of the heat or heat source used for drying the lees.

[0258] Furthermore, for all the processes in the combinations listed above, according to point 23 or 24 above, the first heat transfer medium WT1 can circulate in the first heat transfer medium cycle K1, and the second heat transfer medium WT2 can circulate in the second heat transfer medium cycle K2 (all the above combinations in conjunction with point 23 or 24).

[0259] Furthermore, in all the processes of the combinations listed above, according to point 25 above, the third heat transfer medium WT3 can circulate in the third heat transfer medium cycle K3, and preferably, the fourth heat transfer medium WT4 can circulate in the fourth heat transfer medium cycle K4 (all the above combinations in conjunction with point 25).

[0260] Furthermore, in all the processes of the combinations listed above, according to point 26 above, the first heat transfer medium WT1 can be stored in a first heat transfer medium storage tank, and / or according to point 27 above, the third heat transfer medium WT3 can be stored in a second heat transfer medium storage tank and can be taken out therefrom (all the above combinations in combination with points 26 and / or 27). Attached Figure Description

[0261] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

[0262] Figure 1 This is a first embodiment of the equipment and process of the present invention;

[0263] Figure 2 This is a second embodiment of the equipment and process of the present invention;

[0264] Figure 3 This is a third embodiment of the equipment or process of the present invention;

[0265] Figure 4 This is a fourth embodiment of the equipment or process of the present invention;

[0266] Figure 5 This is the fifth embodiment of the equipment or process of the present invention;

[0267] Figure 6 This is the sixth embodiment of the equipment or process of the present invention;

[0268] Figure 7 This is the seventh embodiment of the equipment or process of the present invention;

[0269] Figure 8 This is the eighth embodiment of the device or process of the present invention; and

[0270] Figure 9 This is the ninth embodiment of the equipment or process of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0271] exist Figure 1According to the invention, the device V includes a dryer D and a heat pump WP. They are connected via a first heat transfer medium cycle K1, in which a first heat transfer medium WT1 (e.g., water) circulates between a first heat exchanger X1 and a second heat exchanger X2. Furthermore, the heat pump WP is connected to one or more heat sources WQ via a second heat transfer medium cycle K2, in which a second heat transfer medium WT2 (e.g., ethylene glycol) circulates between a third heat exchanger X3 and a fourth heat exchanger X4. During this process, the second heat transfer medium WT2 (e.g., -4°C) absorbs heat from the heat source WQ in the fourth heat exchanger X4, causing the second heat transfer medium WT2 to heat up, for example, to 10°C. The second heat transfer medium WT2, heated in this way, is then transported to the third heat exchanger X3, transferring heat to the refrigerant KMWP of the heat pump WP. This cools the second heat transfer medium WT2, for example, to -4°C, and upon its return to the fourth heat exchanger X4, it can again absorb heat from the heat source WQ, thus completing the second heat transfer medium cycle K2. In this way, the second heat transfer medium cycle K2 is adapted to extract heat from the heat source WQ via the second heat transfer medium WT2 and supply it to the heat pump WP. The heat pump WP conventionally raises the temperature of the refrigerant KMWP to a higher level. The heated refrigerant KMWP of the heat pump WP, operating according to a known Carnot cycle, transfers heat at a high temperature to the first heat transfer medium WT1 in the second heat exchanger X2, cooling in the process, and is then sent back to the third heat exchanger X3 to repeatedly absorb heat. The first heat transfer medium WT1, for example, heated to 90°C in the second heat exchanger X2, is supplied to the first heat exchanger X1, which is either an interface with or integrated into the dryer D. In the first heat exchanger X1, the first heat transfer medium WT1 transfers heat to the dryer D, and is cooled in the process, for example, to 48°C. The cooled first heat transfer medium WT1 is fed back to the second heat exchanger X2 so as to repeatedly absorb heat from the heat pump WP, thereby closing the first heat transfer medium circulation K1. According to the invention, the heat supplied to the dryer D is used to dry the damp distiller's grains T.

[0272] According to the invention, heat is extracted from one or more heat sources and supplied to a heat pump via a circulating heat transfer medium. The temperature level of the heat transfer medium is increased by the operation of the heat pump, and the heat at a higher temperature level is then circulated to a dryer via another heat transfer medium for drying lees from breweries or distilleries. According to the invention, this improves the availability of wet lees from breweries or distilleries, particularly for subsequent heat utilization of the lees to recover heat. Simultaneously, cooling capacity is provided for cooling at least one heat source, such as hot wort in a brewery (wort cooling in the brewing workshop) or fermenting wort (cooling of the fermentation tank). According to the invention, “waste heat” from the heat sources is utilized to achieve both drying and cooling performance. The only external energy required to operate the equipment according to the invention or to perform the process according to the invention is the electrical energy required to operate the heat pump and the pumping energy required to transport the heat transfer medium.

[0273] In a specific embodiment of the present invention (Example E1), based on the above... Figure 1 The embodiment, having all its features, has a first heat transfer medium WT1 of water and a second heat transfer medium WT2 of ethylene glycol. In the first closed heat transfer medium cycle K1, the first heat transfer medium WT1, water, is supplied to the second heat exchanger X2 at a temperature of approximately 50°C. The second heat exchanger X2 is the interface with the heat pump. In the second heat exchanger X2, the water absorbs heat from the heat pump WP until its temperature is between 90°C and 100°C. After leaving the second heat exchanger X2, the heated water is piped to the first heat exchanger X1, where it releases heat to the dryer D, thereby indirectly releasing it to the lees T, where the lees T is dried. During this process, the water cools to approximately 50°C, leaves the first heat exchanger X1, and is piped back to the second heat exchanger X2, thus closing the first heat transfer cycle K1.

[0274] In the second heat transfer medium cycle K2 of Example E1, ethylene glycol circulates as the second heat transfer medium WT2. The temperature of the ethylene glycol entering the third heat exchanger X3 is approximately 8°C. In the third heat exchanger X3, the ethylene glycol transfers heat to the heat pump WP and is cooled to approximately -4°C. After leaving the third heat exchanger X3, the cooled ethylene glycol is piped to the fourth heat exchanger X4, where it absorbs heat from the heat source WQ (in this embodiment, the heat source WQ is beer), thereby cooling the beer. Simultaneously, all or part of the beer is in a fermentation tank or storage tank. The ethylene glycol is heated to approximately 8°C in the fourth heat exchanger X4. Heated to this temperature, the ethylene glycol returns to the third heat exchanger X3 via pipe, where it is cooled by the heat pump WP, thus closing the second heat transfer medium cycle K2.

[0275] like Figure 2As shown, the second embodiment of the present invention is basically based on the same structure as the first embodiment described above. Therefore, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

[0276] A second embodiment of the invention further includes an airflow GS, which circulates in a loop and is formed by a gas G. The gas G, in its simplest case, is air, which is heated in a heat exchanger WG to heat the gas G and is supplied to a contact point KS. At the contact point KS, the gas G comes into direct contact with the moist lees T, so that the heated gas G can absorb moisture from the lees T, thereby causing the lees T to transfer at least a portion of its moisture to the gas G. The lees T, pre-dried in this way, is then fed into a dryer D and dried to the final moisture content level according to the process of the first embodiment described above.

[0277] Cooled, moisture-laden gas G is fed into condenser K, where it is cooled by a heat exchanger, and the moisture is condensed out. The condensate produced in this process is discharged from condenser K and, depending on the level of contamination and intended use, is cleaned or treated for recycling during the manufacturing process. For example, the recovered condensate can be treated and reused as brewing water or process water in breweries or other plants.

[0278] The cooled and dried gas G is then fed back to the heat exchanger WG to heat the gas G, and then fed back to the contact point KS to absorb moisture from the lees T. This closes the gas flow GS loop.

[0279] This embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the moist lees T is pre-dried by an airflow GS, and the moisture absorbed by the gas G can be reused due to separation in the condenser K. In a second drying step, the lees T is then dried to the final moisture content level using a dryer D of the apparatus V according to the invention. It should be noted that the invention also includes, for example, embodiments having a condenser K but without a heat exchanger WG for heating the gas G, or embodiments having a heat exchanger WG for heating the gas G but without a condenser K.

[0280] Another specific embodiment of the present invention (Example E2) corresponds to the above. Figure 2An illustrative embodiment. Example E2 is based on and has all the features of Example E1 described above. Furthermore, this embodiment has an airflow GS designed as a closed loop. Gas G is air circulating in the loop. In this loop, the air flows through a condenser K, where it is (pre)dried, for example, by cooling the air and separating condensate. The pre-dried air then flows through a pipe into a heat exchanger WG, where it is heated by a heat source (e.g., wastewater or exhaust gas), not shown. After heating, the air is supplied through a pipe to a contact point KS, where the heated air comes into direct contact with the lees T to be dried and transfers heat to the lees T. The lees T heats up and transfers moisture to the air, which absorbs the moisture and cools itself. The cooled and humidified air is then fed back to the condenser K through a pipe, thus closing the airflow GS loop.

[0281] like Figure 3 As shown, the third embodiment of the present invention is basically based on the same structure as the first embodiment described above. Therefore, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

[0282] In this embodiment, the lees are dried in dryer D using the apparatus according to the invention, and then burned in burner B. The heat released during this process is transferred from burner B to a third heat transfer medium WT3 (e.g., water) in a fifth heat exchanger X5, where the temperature of the third heat transfer medium WT3 can reach, for example, 118°C. The third heat transfer medium WT3 is then conveyed to one or more heat consumers WV, where it releases heat to the heat consumers via a sixth heat exchanger X6. For example, the third heat transfer medium WT3, cooled to 97°C during heat transfer to the heat consumers WV, is fed back to the fifth heat exchanger X5, where it can again absorb the heat released by burner B. This closes the third heat transfer medium circulation K3 of the third heat transfer medium WT3.

[0283] In this way, the heat contained in the lees T can be effectively used through heat utilization in factories with heat consumers (such as breweries, distilleries, or other production plants).

[0284] Optionally, one or more heat transfer medium storage tanks (not shown) may be integrated into the third heat transfer medium circulation K3, which is preferably designed as a stratified storage tank or a stratified heated storage tank. Providing at least one storage tank has the advantage of providing hydraulic and thermal buffering for the heat transfer medium in the circulation.

[0285] In principle, providing such storage tanks in other heat transfer medium cycles is part of this invention. In this case, one or more storage tanks may be provided in each cycle.

[0286] Another specific embodiment of the present invention (Example E3) corresponds to the above. Figure 3 An illustrative embodiment. Example E3 is based on and has all the features of Example E1 described above. In this embodiment E3, water, as a third heat transfer medium WT3, additionally circulates in a third closed heat transfer medium loop K3. Water at a temperature of approximately 98°C is supplied to a fifth heat exchanger X5 connected to burner B. In the fifth heat exchanger X5, the water is heated to approximately 125°C by heat emitted from burner B and supplied via piping to a sixth heat exchanger X6 connected to one or more heat consumers WV. The heat consumers WV can be, for example, brewing pots, wort heaters in filter tanks, mashing equipment, or other equipment in a brewery. The hot water transfers heat to the heat consumers WV through the sixth heat exchanger X6, thereby cooling it again to approximately 98°C. After leaving the sixth heat exchanger X6, the 98°C water is fed back to the fifth heat exchanger X5 for heating, thereby closing the third heat transfer medium loop K3. In burner B, dried lees T from dryer D is burned to release heat energy.

[0287] like Figure 4 As shown, the fourth embodiment of the present invention is structurally basically the same as the third embodiment described above. Therefore, the following only describes the differences between it and the third embodiment.

[0288] According to the fourth embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention also provides a grinder M, which is preferably disposed between the dryer D and the burner B. Accordingly, the process according to the invention can also specify that the lees T, after pre-drying using the dryer D of the invention, is ground or otherwise pulverized before being fed into the burner B for combustion. Pulverizing the lees T increases its surface area, accelerates combustion, and makes it more complete. Overall, this improves the heat yield of the burner B. In another design, the lees can also be ground using the grinder M before drying in the dryer D. However, since moisture remains in the lees, some degree of agglomeration of the lees particles can be expected after grinding, which is why this design is not as efficient as... Figure 4 The method shown, which involves grinding after drying, is preferred.

[0289] In any other described and / or illustrated embodiment, the present invention may also include a grinder M or grinding of the lees during incineration.

[0290] like Figure 5 As shown, the fifth embodiment of the present invention is basically based on the same structure as the third embodiment described above. More specifically, the fifth embodiment is a combination of the third embodiment and the second embodiment described above. Therefore, the fifth embodiment combines the drying of the lees T with the assistance of a heat pump, followed by combustion of the dried lees in a burner B, with the pre-drying of the lees T by means of the airflow GS described in the second embodiment described above.

[0291] Another specific embodiment of the present invention (Example E4) corresponds to the above. Figure 5 An illustrative embodiment is shown. Example E4 is based on Examples E1, E2, and E3 described above and has all their feature combinations. Therefore, all the characteristics and features of Examples E1, E2, and E3 described above are applicable to Example E4, and these features are collectively implemented in this single embodiment E4.

[0292] like Figure 6 As shown, the sixth embodiment of the present invention is basically based on the same structure as the third embodiment described above. Therefore, only the differences from the third embodiment will be described below.

[0293] In the sixth embodiment, burner B is connected not only to the heat consumer WV via the third heat transfer medium circulation K3, but also to the absorption refrigeration system A, which is also a heat consumer. In this case, as described above, the third heat transfer medium WT3 (e.g., water) absorbs heat from burner B through the fifth heat exchanger X5, for example, heating it to 118°C, and transfers this heat to the absorption refrigeration system A. During this process, for example, the third heat transfer medium WT3 is cooled to 97°C. More specifically, the heat from the third heat transfer medium WT3 is transferred to the refrigerant KMA of the absorption refrigeration system A through the sixth heat exchanger X6. The transferred heat is utilized by the absorption refrigeration system A to provide cooling capacity according to the conventional function of the absorption refrigeration system. During this process, the fourth heat transfer medium WT4 (e.g., ethylene glycol) is fed into the seventh heat exchanger X7, where the fourth heat transfer medium WT4 transfers heat to the refrigerant KMA of the absorption refrigeration system A and cools it, for example, to -4°C. The cooled fourth heat transfer medium WT4 is supplied to the heat source WQ, i.e., the cold user, and absorbs heat from the heat source WQ in the eighth heat exchanger X8. This cools the heat source WQ, so the cooling capacity provided by the final absorption refrigeration system A is used to cool the heat source WQ. The fourth heat transfer medium WT4, heated to, for example, 10°C, is then sent to the seventh heat exchanger X7 to transfer heat to the absorption refrigeration system A and cool it to, for example, -4°C. This completes the fourth heat transfer medium cycle K4 of the fourth heat transfer medium WT4.

[0294] In the manner described above, for example in the sixth embodiment described above, the excess heat generated by the burner B can be used, in addition to the heat pump WP of the present invention, by means of the absorption refrigeration system A to generate additional cooling capacity, thereby further increasing the total cooling capacity of the device V according to the present invention.

[0295] Apart from the energy required to operate the absorption refrigeration system A, the heat pump WP, and the heat transfer medium pump (not shown), no further primary energy input is needed because the invention integrates waste heat from the factory's heat source on the one hand, and utilizes excess heat obtained from the combustion of dried distillers' grains on the other hand, thereby increasing the total cooling capacity of the device according to the invention through the absorption refrigeration system A, provided that the excess heat cannot be meaningfully utilized by other heat consumers in the factory.

[0296] In the combination of two cold sources according to the invention, the heat pump WP typically provides 50% to 70% of the cooling demand (required cooling capacity), while the absorption refrigeration system A typically provides 30% to 50% of the cooling demand.

[0297] like Figure 7 As shown, the seventh embodiment of the present invention is basically based on the same structure as the sixth embodiment described above. More specifically, the seventh embodiment is a combination of the sixth embodiment and the second embodiment described above. Therefore, the seventh embodiment involves drying the lees T with the assistance of a heat pump, then burning the dried lees in a burner B, utilizing the released heat in the heat consumer WV and the absorption refrigeration system K, and combining this with pre-drying of the lees T by means of the airflow GS described in the second embodiment described above.

[0298] like Figure 8 As shown, the eighth embodiment of the present invention is essentially based on the same structure as the sixth embodiment described above. In this embodiment, heat from one or more heat sources WQ is not supplied to the absorption chiller A and the heat pump WP through two separate heat transfer medium cycles K2, K4, but is supplied only through a single heat transfer medium cycle K2 containing a heat transfer liquid (second heat transfer medium WT2). Supplying heat to both the absorption chiller A and the heat pump WP through a single heat transfer medium cycle K2 simplifies the design of the device according to the invention and the equipment required to implement it. Based on the inventors' experience, for example, using ethylene glycol as the second heat transfer medium WT2 in a single heat transfer medium cycle K2 is sufficient to ensure heat transfer between the heat source WQ and the heat-absorbing elements of the device according to the invention (i.e., the absorption chiller A and the heat pump WP). Optionally, a storage tank (not shown) can be integrated into the heat transfer medium cycle K2 for intermediate storage of the second heat transfer medium WT2 and for thermal or hydraulic buffering.

[0299] like Figure 9As shown, the ninth embodiment of the present invention is basically based on the same structure as the eighth embodiment described above. More specifically, the ninth embodiment is a combination of the seventh embodiment and the second embodiment described above. The ninth embodiment involves drying the lees T with the assistance of a heat pump, then burning the dried lees in a burner B, utilizing the released heat in the heat consumer WV and the absorption refrigeration system K, combined with pre-drying the lees T using the airflow GS described in the second embodiment. In this process, two cold sources, namely the absorption refrigeration system A and the heat pump WP, use a common heat transfer medium circulating K2 to absorb heat from one or more heat sources WQ via a second heat transfer medium WT2.

Claims

1. An apparatus (V) for processing lees (T) from a brewery or distillery, preferably for performing the process according to any one of claims 9 to 13, said apparatus (V) comprising: Dryer (D) for drying the lees (T); Heat pump (WP); First heat transfer medium circulation (K1); as well as Second heat transfer medium circulation (K2); The dryer (D) is preferably one of the following: a rotary drum dryer, a drum dryer, a tube bundle dryer, a flash tube dryer, and a belt dryer, with the rotary drum dryer being particularly preferred; Heat from at least one heat source (WQ) can be transferred to the dryer (D) via the heat pump (WP). The first heat transfer medium (WT1) is capable of circulating or is currently circulating in the first heat transfer medium cycle (K1), wherein the first heat transfer medium cycle (K1) is designed such that the first heat transfer medium (WT1) can absorb heat from the heat pump (WP) and transfer it to the dryer (D); and The second heat transfer medium (WT2) is capable of circulating or is circulating in the second heat transfer medium cycle (K2), wherein the second heat transfer medium cycle (K2) is designed such that the second heat transfer medium (WT2) can absorb heat from the heat source (WQ) or one of the heat sources (WQ) and transfer it to the heat pump (WP).

2. The device (V) according to claim 1, further comprising: An airflow (GS) consisting of gas (G), the airflow (GS) being directed or capable of being directed such that the gas G can come into contact with the lees (T) at a contact point (KS); The contact point (KS) is preferably arranged in the dryer (D).

3. The device (V) according to claim 2, further comprising: A condenser (K) is used to transfer heat from the gas (G) to the cooling medium (KM) and to remove condensate; The gas flow (GS) is directed or is capable of being directed such that the gas G can contact the condenser (K) and the gas (G) can transfer heat to the cooling medium (KM); and The condenser (K) is arranged downstream of the contact point (KS) in the airflow (GS).

4. The device (V) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The device (V) also includes: Heat exchanger (WG) for heating the gas (G); Heat can be transferred from the heat source (WQ) or one of the heat sources (WQ) to the gas (G) by means of the heat pump (WP) and the heat exchanger (WG) for heating the gas (G). The gas flow (GS) is directed or is capable of being directed such that the gas G can contact the heat exchanger (WG) for heating the gas (G) and the gas (G) can absorb heat from the heat source (WQ) or one of the heat sources (WQ) through the heat pump (WP) and the heat exchanger (WG) for heating the gas (G); and The heat exchanger (WG) for heating the gas (G) is arranged upstream of the contact point (KS) in the gas flow (GS).

5. The device (V) according to claim 4, wherein, The first heat transfer medium (WT1) can transfer heat from the heat pump (WP) to the gas (G) via a heat exchanger (WG) for heating the gas (G).

6. The device (V) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein, Gas (G) can circulate or is circulating, or gas flow (GS) is a cycle.

7. A brewery or distillery, comprising the equipment (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 6; The heat source (WQ) is preferably a beverage, such as malt extract, beer, or spirits.

8. The brewery or distillery according to claim 7, wherein, The brewery or distillery does not have a refrigeration unit; or The brewery or distillery mentioned therein includes one or more refrigeration units with a total refrigeration capacity not exceeding 6 kWh per 100 liters of beverage.

9. A process for treating lees (T) from a brewery or distillery, said process comprising at least the following steps and performed using the apparatus (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 6: (a) The lees (T) are dried to a water content of up to 52%, preferably 5 to 40%, particularly 12 to 22%; The heat used to dry the lees (T) is transferred from at least one heat source (WQ) to the lees (T) by means of the heat pump (WP).

10. The process according to claim 9, wherein, Drying the lees (T) is carried out or assisted by contacting the lees (T) with a gas (G) guided in the gas flow (GS); The gas (G) is heated by heat from the heat source (WQ) or one of the heat sources (WQ) and transferred through the heat pump (WP); and The gas (G) is preferably capable of circulating or is circulating, or the gas flow (GS) is preferably a circulation.

11. The process according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The water removed from the lees (T) during drying is used in the production of the product, preferably a beverage. Water is preferably removed from the gas (G) by condensation.

12. The process according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein, The first heat transfer medium (WT1) circulates in the first heat transfer medium circulation (K1) and absorbs heat from the heat pump (WP) during this process, its temperature reaches 60 to 150°C, preferably 90 to 110°C, and transfers the heat to the dryer (D) during this process, its temperature reaches 20 to 60°C, preferably 38 to 50°C, and the transferred heat is used to dry the lees (T). as well as The second heat transfer medium (WT2) circulates in the second heat transfer medium cycle (K2) and absorbs heat from the heat source (WQ) or one of the heat sources (WQ) during the process, its temperature reaches 4 to 20°C, preferably 6 to 10°C, and transfers the heat to the heat pump (WP) during the process, its temperature reaches -6 to 0°C, preferably -4 to -2°C.

13. The process according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein, The first heat transfer medium (WT1) circulates in the first heat transfer medium loop (K1) and absorbs heat from the heat pump (WP) during this process, reaching a temperature of 60 to 150°C, preferably 90 to 110°C, and transfers the heat to the heat exchanger (WG) for heating the gas (G), whereby its temperature reaches 20 to 60°C, preferably 38 to 50°C, and the transferred heat is used to heat the gas (G); and The second heat transfer medium (WT2) circulates in the second heat transfer medium cycle (K2) and absorbs heat from the heat source (WQ) or one of the heat sources (WQ) during the process, its temperature reaches 4 to 20°C, preferably 6 to 10°C, and transfers the heat to the heat pump (WP) during the process, its temperature reaches -6 to 0°C, preferably -4 to -2°C.

14. The use of heat from at least one heat source (WQ) and provided by means of a heat pump (WP) for drying lees (T) from a brewery or distillery, preferably before incineration.

15. The use according to claim 14, wherein, The uses include drying the lees (T) by transferring heat to the lees (T) and / or by transferring heat to the gas (G) and bringing the lees (T) into contact with the gas (G).

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