System and method for adding calcium sulfate in beer production

Abstract

The invention discloses a system and method for adding calcium sulfate in beer production, and the system comprises a calcium sulfate storage tank which stores calcium sulfate; the pipe chain lifting device is used for conveying the calcium sulfate in the calcium sulfate receiving hopper corresponding to the calcium sulfate storage tank to the weighing tank; the weighing tank is used for storing calcium sulfate needing to be weighed; the mixing tank is used for mixing the calcium sulfate meeting the preset weight and the brewing water in the mixing tank to obtain a calcium sulfate mixed solution, and the calcium sulfate mixed solution is added into the boiling pot and / or the gelatinization pot through a calcium sulfate adding pump; wherein the calcium sulfate with the preset weight is taken out from the weighing tank, and the preset weight is adjusted according to an automatic control system for beer production. According to the invention, the flavor of the beer is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of beer production, and particularly to a calcium sulfate addition system and method in beer production. Background Art

[0002] Beer brewing is a complex process, in which water quality adjustment is a key link to ensure the taste and quality of beer. In beer production, the manual addition of calcium sulfate (gypsum) is a long-established practice, first discovered in the Burton area of the UK in the 13th century, where the local water quality was suitable for brewing beer due to its high gypsum content. Calcium sulfate is mainly added during the boiling and gelatinization stages of the brewing process, and its functions include adjusting the PH value, ensuring enzyme activity, promoting yeast nutrition, offsetting the acid-reducing effect in brewing water, imparting a dry taste to the beer, weakening the increase in mash color, and promoting protein coagulation.

[0003] With the expansion of beer production scale, many breweries have adopted automated systems to replace manual operations and improve the efficiency and safety in the production process. However, for the addition of calcium sulfate, the production line still relies on manual addition. There are the following problems with manual addition of calcium sulfate:

[0004] (1) Efficiency impact: Manually adding calcium sulfate requires precise control of the addition amount and timing, which may lead to a reduction in production efficiency. Especially in large-scale production, manual operation cannot compare with automated systems, affecting the production speed and continuity.

[0005] (2) Quality impact: Manual addition of calcium sulfate may have operation errors, such as inaccurate or uneven addition amounts, which may result in differences in the taste and quality of each batch of beer, affecting the consistency and stability of product quality.

[0006] (3) Safety impact: Manual operation increases the possibility of human error, such as incorrect addition or contamination, which may pose a risk to the safety of the product.

[0007] (4) Labor impact: Manually adding calcium sulfate requires more labor and manual supervision, which not only increases labor costs but also requires operators to have certain skills and experience to ensure the correctness of the addition process.

[0008] (5) Production consistency impact: Since manual addition depends on individual operations, there may be subtle differences in the production conditions for each batch of beer, which may result in a lack of consistency in the taste and quality of the produced products.

[0009] (6) Hygiene control problem: Manual addition may increase the risk of microbial contamination, especially if sufficient hygiene conditions are not maintained during the addition process, which may lead to abnormal beer taste, such as an abnormal sour taste.

[0010] (7) Water quality adjustment risk: If the water quality is not adjusted properly, manually adding calcium sulfate may not effectively offset the acid reduction effect of bicarbonate in the brewing water, affecting the pH value and taste of the beer.

[0011] (8) Equipment and process requirements: Manually adding calcium sulfate has specific requirements for equipment and process flow, such as solubility and reaction conditions. If not controlled properly, it may affect the stability and flavor of the beer.

[0012] (9) Impact on yeast activity: If the manual addition of calcium sulfate is not precisely controlled, it may affect yeast activity and the fermentation process, thereby affecting the quality and taste of the beer. Especially in large-scale production, manual addition not only has problems of insufficient precision and low efficiency, but may also affect the quality consistency of each batch of products. Although some breweries already have automated control systems, the automated equipment for calcium sulfate addition is still in the exploration stage, and the solutions are not yet mature. The manual addition method of calcium sulfate in related technologies gradually exposes a series of problems. Especially in large-scale production, the uncertainties brought by manual operation affect production efficiency and quality.

[0013] In summary, the beer industry urgently needs a new calcium sulfate addition system and method to achieve the automation of calcium sulfate addition. Summary of the Invention

[0014] The present invention provides a calcium sulfate addition system and method in beer production to solve the problem of low efficiency of manually adding calcium sulfate in related technologies.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a calcium sulfate addition system in beer production, including: a calcium sulfate storage tank storing calcium sulfate; a tube chain lifting device for transporting the calcium sulfate in the calcium sulfate receiving hopper corresponding to the calcium sulfate storage tank to a weighing tank; the weighing tank for storing the calcium sulfate to be weighed; a mixing tank for mixing the calcium sulfate meeting a preset weight with the brewing water in the mixing tank to obtain a calcium sulfate mixed solution, and adding the calcium sulfate mixed solution into a boiling pot and / or a saccharification pot through a calcium sulfate addition pump; wherein, the calcium sulfate of the preset weight is taken out from the weighing tank, and the preset weight is adjusted according to the automatic control system of beer production.

[0016] Preferably, the tube chain lifting device includes: a star wheel, a scraper and a tube chain; wherein, the star wheel drives the tube chain to rotate, providing kinetic energy for the rotation of the tube chain; the scraper is used for transporting the discharged calcium sulfate from the calcium sulfate receiving hopper corresponding to the calcium sulfate storage tank to the weighing tank; the tube chain is used for connecting the star wheel and the scraper.

[0017] Preferably, the above system further comprises: a weighing sensor for weighing the calcium sulfate to be used.

[0018] Preferably, the above system further comprises: a calcium sulfate mixing and stirring device for stirring the calcium sulfate weighed by the weighing sensor and the brewing water in the mixing tank according to a preset ratio of calcium sulfate to brewing water to obtain the calcium sulfate mixed solution.

[0019] Preferably, the concentration of calcium sulfate in the calcium sulfate mixed solution is 10%.

[0020] Preferably, the above system further comprises: a dehumidifier disposed above the calcium sulfate storage tank for dehumidifying the calcium sulfate.

[0021] Preferably, the above system further comprises: the calcium sulfate storage tank includes a conical bottom, and the bottom of the calcium sulfate storage tank is a double-screw structure for transporting the powdered calcium sulfate.

[0022] Preferably, the above system further comprises: a calcium sulfate discharging machine for cooperating with an air hammer to take out the calcium sulfate from the calcium sulfate storage tank, and the taken-out calcium sulfate enters the calcium sulfate receiving hopper.

[0023] Preferably, the above system further comprises: a calcium sulfate adding pump disposed on the mixing tank for adding the mixed calcium sulfate mixed solution into the boiling pot and / or the saccharification pot.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method for adding calcium sulfate in beer production, comprising: transporting the calcium sulfate stored in the calcium sulfate storage tank to a weighing tank through a tube chain elevator; mixing a preset weight of the calcium sulfate taken out from the weighing tank with the brewing water in the mixing tank to obtain a calcium sulfate mixed solution; adding the calcium sulfate mixed solution into the boiling pot and / or the saccharification pot through a calcium sulfate adding pump. Wherein, the preset weight is adjusted according to the automatic control system of beer production.

[0025] The calcium sulfate adding system and method for beer production provided by the present invention realize the transportation of calcium sulfate from the storage tank to the weighing tank, and send the weighed calcium sulfate into the mixing tank according to the instruction of the automatic control system to be mixed with the brewing water by setting the calcium sulfate storage tank, the tube chain elevator, the weighing tank, and the mixing tank. It solves the problems of inaccurate calcium sulfate addition, excessive manual intervention, and cumbersome operation in the traditional beer production process, can ensure the accuracy of the addition amount while realizing the uniform distribution of calcium sulfate in beer production, and significantly improves the production efficiency. Description of the Drawings

[0026] The accompanying drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention, and constitute a part of this application. The illustrative embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention, and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a calcium sulfate addition system in beer production according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a tube chain lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 is a flowchart of a method for adding calcium sulfate in beer production according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiments

[0030] It should be noted that, without conflict, the embodiments in this application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and in combination with the embodiments.

[0031] This embodiment provides a calcium sulfate addition system in beer production. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a calcium sulfate addition system in beer production according to an embodiment of the present invention, as Figure 1 shown. The system includes, and the following is a detailed description of the system.

[0032] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a calcium sulfate addition system in beer production, including: a calcium sulfate storage tank 3 storing calcium sulfate; a tube chain lifting device 23 for transporting the calcium sulfate in the calcium sulfate receiving hopper 6 corresponding to the calcium sulfate storage tank 3 to a weighing tank 21; the weighing tank 21 for storing the calcium sulfate to be weighed; a mixing tank 8 for mixing the calcium sulfate meeting a preset weight with the brewing water in the mixing tank 8 to obtain a calcium sulfate mixed solution, and adding the calcium sulfate mixed solution into a boiling pot and / or a saccharification pot through a calcium sulfate addition pump 9; wherein, the calcium sulfate of the preset weight is taken out from the weighing tank 21, and the preset weight is adjusted according to the automatic control system of beer production.

[0033] During the beer brewing process, the addition amount of calcium sulfate is a very crucial parameter, which affects water quality adjustment, the effect of the saccharification process, and the quality of the final beer. Traditional manual addition may cause fluctuations in the addition amount of calcium sulfate, thereby affecting the stability of the product.

[0034] The above embodiment accurately weighs the calcium sulfate and adjusts the preset weight added in real time through the automatic control system. This ensures that the amount of calcium sulfate added each time can meet the expected standard, thereby achieving precise control.

[0035] Traditional calcium sulfate addition systems usually require manual intervention, which is a cumbersome and error-prone process. Especially in large-scale production, it is difficult to ensure the accuracy of each addition. In the above embodiments, through the cooperation of the tube chain lifting device 23, the weighing tank 21, and the mixing tank 8, the present invention realizes the automation of the entire process. The tube chain lifting device 23 transports calcium sulfate from the storage tank to the weighing tank 21 and feeds the appropriately weighed calcium sulfate into the mixing tank according to the instructions of the automatic control system for mixing with brewing water. In this way, manual operation is greatly reduced and production efficiency is improved.

[0036] Secondly, seamless integration with the brewing process is achieved. In related technologies, the addition of calcium sulfate not only requires precision but also needs to be added to the boiling pot or mashing pot at the right time to ensure sufficient reaction with the brewing water. Otherwise, it may affect the flavor and quality of the beer. In this embodiment, the addition system, by setting valves, after obtaining the calcium sulfate mixture in the mixing tank, precisely adds it to the boiling pot or mashing pot through the calcium sulfate addition pump, ensuring uniform mixing of calcium sulfate and water and adding it to the key link of the production process at the correct moment.

[0037] Thirdly, since the addition system has precise control in weighing, conveying, mixing and other links, it ensures the accurate amount and time of calcium sulfate addition, thus improving the quality and consistency of the beer.

[0038] In addition, manual intervention is reduced. The automated control system enables the entire process to reduce manual operation, improve work efficiency, and reduce the probability of human errors. To a certain extent, production efficiency is improved. Through the cooperation of the automated system, the entire calcium sulfate addition process is more efficient, reducing the operation time of workers and improving the continuity and stability of production.

[0039] It should be noted that as Figure 1 shown, the system may further include an operation platform 1, which is convenient for operation control, parameter setting, and process monitoring in the calcium sulfate addition system.

[0040] In summary, through automated, precise control, and efficient system design, the present invention solves the problems of inaccurate calcium sulfate addition, excessive manual intervention, and cumbersome operation in the traditional beer production process. It can ensure the accuracy of the addition amount while achieving uniform distribution of calcium sulfate in beer production, significantly improving production efficiency.

[0041] Preferably, the tube chain lifting device 23 includes: a star wheel 131, a scraper 132, and a tube chain 133; wherein, the star wheel 131 drives the tube chain 133 to rotate, providing kinetic energy for the rotation of the tube chain 133; the scraper 132 is used to transfer the discharged calcium sulfate from the calcium sulfate receiving hopper 6 corresponding to the calcium sulfate storage tank to the weighing tank 21; the tube chain 133 is used to connect the star wheel 131 and the scraper 132.

[0042] The technical solution of the pipe chain lifting device 23 (including star wheels, scrapers and pipe chains) realizes the efficient and stable transportation of calcium sulfate, and solves problems such as power transmission, material blockage and accuracy that may be encountered in the traditional material transportation process.

[0043] The star wheel 131 provides the power source for the pipe chain 133. By driving the rotation of the pipe chain 133, it ensures the continuous transportation of calcium sulfate. The structural design of the star wheel makes the transmission smoother, reducing mechanical wear and energy loss, thus improving the working efficiency of the system. Driven by the star wheel 131, the pipe chain 133 can rotate smoothly to ensure the smooth transportation of calcium sulfate. Whether it is in low-speed or high-speed operation, it can maintain efficient and stable operation.

[0044] The scraper 132 is used to accurately transfer the discharged calcium sulfate from the calcium sulfate receiving hopper 6 to the weighing tank 21. The function of the scraper is to clean up the accumulated materials, avoid the accumulation or jamming of materials in the pipeline, thus ensuring the uniform transportation of materials. The design of the scraper reduces material loss and blockage problems, ensuring the accuracy of each transportation volume, which is crucial for the precise control of the entire system, avoiding uneven transportation of materials, and thus improving the accuracy of the weighing process.

[0045] The structure of the pipe chain 133 makes the entire transportation process very stable. The design of the pipe chain lifting device 23, through the cooperation of the chain and the scraper, can effectively prevent the materials from shifting or leaking during transportation, ensuring the continuous flow of materials. This preferred embodiment ensures that the materials do not become blocked or leak during transportation, greatly improving the reliability and continuity of the entire system, and reducing the downtime and maintenance costs in production.

[0046] It should be noted that the star wheels, pipe chains and scrapers can all be made of wear-resistant materials, which can withstand long-term operation without being easily worn. Especially in the case of high-frequency use, the durability and long-term stability of the system are guaranteed.

[0047] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the star wheel: drives the pipe chain to rotate and plays a power role; the scraper: carries calcium sulfate from the receiving hopper into the weighing bin; the pipe chain: is used to connect the star wheel and the scraper. The pipe chain conveyor can form a stable material flow in the pipeline for continuous transportation, and is suitable for bulk materials such as powders, small granules and small pieces.

[0048] In summary, through the combined application of the star wheel, scraper and pipe chain, the pipe chain lifting device can provide stable, accurate and efficient transportation of calcium sulfate. It can effectively improve the automation and precise control of calcium sulfate addition in the beer production process, ensure the quality stability of the final product, and at the same time reduce the need for manual operation and the risk of failures in production.

[0049] Preferably, the above system further includes: a weighing sensor 22 for weighing the calcium sulfate to be used.

[0050] The weighing sensor 22 can accurately weigh the calcium sulfate to be used. It is a crucial component in the entire calcium sulfate addition system. By monitoring the material in real time and providing data feedback, it ensures that the amount of calcium sulfate added each time meets the requirements of the production process.

[0051] Specifically, accurate weighing is achieved. The weighing sensor 22 can precisely detect the mass of the calcium sulfate to be used and adjust the addition amount through real-time feedback. It can provide high-precision weighing data, thereby ensuring that the amount of calcium sulfate added each time meets the preset standard. This ensures that the amount of calcium sulfate added in each batch is consistent, without excessive or insufficient amounts, which helps to control the accuracy of water quality adjustment in beer production and improve the quality and consistency of the final product.

[0052] In addition, real-time data monitoring and feedback can be achieved: the sensor transmits the real-time weighing data to the automatic control system (such as a PLC system), which automatically adjusts subsequent operations. The weighing data can directly affect how the system adjusts the addition amount of calcium sulfate, avoiding errors caused by manual operations. Through real-time monitoring and feedback, the system can quickly respond to changes, make dynamic adjustments, improve the automation level of the entire production process, and make the system more flexible and stable when facing different batches of production.

[0053] On the other hand, the accurate weighing function avoids repeated operations or unnecessary adjustments caused by inaccurate addition amounts, reduces waste in the production process, and improves the overall production efficiency. It reduces the waste of materials due to misoperations, thereby reducing production costs. At the same time, it improves the controllability and accuracy of the production process, ensuring production stability.

[0054] In summary, through its high-precision function, the weighing sensor 22 can ensure that each batch of beer produced has the same water quality adjustment and saccharification conditions, thus ensuring the consistency and stability of the product. This makes the quality of each batch of beer meet the standards and reduces flavor differences and quality fluctuations caused by inaccurate weighing.

[0055] In implementation, a weighing scale from METTLER TOLEDO can be used. The calcium sulfate is transported to the receiving hopper by the calcium sulfate discharging machine 5 and lifted to the weighing tank 21 by a tube chain elevator. After weighing, the valve is opened and a pneumatic hammer is used to make the calcium sulfate fall into the mixing tank. And each time, an advance amount is calculated to ensure accurate weighing.

[0056] As a preferred embodiment, the above system may further include: a calcium sulfate mixing agitator 19 for stirring the calcium sulfate weighed by the weighing sensor 22 and the brewing water in the mixing tank 8 according to a preset ratio of calcium sulfate to brewing water to obtain a calcium sulfate mixture.

[0057] Through this preferred embodiment, through precise proportion mixing and uniform stirring, the full fusion of calcium sulfate and brewing water is ensured, providing a high-quality mixture for the subsequent boiling process or gelatinization process.

[0058] On the one hand, the mixing ratio can be ensured to be precise. The calcium sulfate mixing agitator mixes the calcium sulfate measured by the weighing sensor 22 with the brewing water in the mixing tank 8 (the brewing water can directly enter the mixing tank through a pipeline and can be precisely metered by a brewing water flowmeter) according to a preset ratio. The preset ratio is set by the automatic control system to ensure that the ratio of each batch of production is exactly the same. Precise ratio control improves the quality stability of the calcium sulfate mixture, avoiding flavor differences or production failures caused by ratio deviations.

[0059] On the other hand, full and uniform mixing can be achieved. The stirring device in the mixing tank 8 can fully stir the calcium sulfate and the brewing water, making the two evenly distributed to form a stable calcium sulfate mixture. The uniform mixture avoids the phenomenon of uneven dissolution or caking of calcium sulfate, improves the fluidity of the solution and the reaction efficiency with beer raw materials, thus optimizing the brewing process.

[0060] In addition, the dissolution efficiency can be improved. Calcium sulfate itself is difficult to completely dissolve, and through the dynamic stirring action of the stirring mechanism, the dispersion and dissolution rate of calcium sulfate particles in the brewing water can be accelerated. The production efficiency is improved, the time for preparing the mixture is shortened, and the demand for continuous production is met. The stirring mechanism can prepare the mixture to a stable state and can be directly added to the boiling pot or the gelatinization pot without additional adjustment or secondary treatment. The complexity of subsequent processes is reduced, and the stability and continuity of the entire production process are improved.

[0061] On the other hand, it has a high degree of automation. The calcium sulfate mixing agitator is linked with the weighing sensor 22 and the automatic control system, and can adjust the stirring time, speed and ratio according to real-time data without manual intervention. The requirements for manual operation can be reduced, the risk of human error can be reduced, and at the same time, the automation level and efficiency of production are greatly improved.

[0062] The quality of the calcium sulfate mixture directly affects the hardness and chemical composition of the brewing water for beer, and has an important impact on the enzymatic hydrolysis, saccharification and fermentation processes of malt. Through uniform mixing, it can ensure that the water quality conditions of beer meet the expectations, thereby stabilizing the flavor and quality. It makes the taste of beer more delicate, the flavor more stable, and enhances the market competitiveness of the product.

[0063] Preferably, the concentration of calcium sulfate in the calcium sulfate mixture is 10%.

[0064] As a preferred embodiment, the above system further includes: a dehumidifier 2, arranged above the calcium sulfate storage tank, for dehumidifying calcium sulfate. For dehumidifying calcium sulfate to keep the calcium sulfate powder from caking

[0065] Preferably, the calcium sulfate storage tank 3 includes a conical bottom, and the bottom of the calcium sulfate storage tank has a double-screw structure for transporting the calcium sulfate powder.

[0066] In this embodiment, the conical bottom design of the calcium sulfate storage tank 3 can promote material flow: the conical bottom can help the material flow downward naturally, avoiding problems such as accumulation and jamming. When storing powdered calcium sulfate, the material tends to cake or stagnate easily. The conical structure enables the material to flow downward more smoothly under the action of gravity, providing favorable conditions for subsequent conveying. Additionally, it can reduce caking: the conical design at the bottom of the storage tank helps prevent the powder from accumulating too thickly at the bottom, thereby reducing the caking phenomenon caused by long-term compaction. Secondly, it can also improve the material discharging efficiency. This technical solution helps ensure that the material at the bottom can effectively flow out under the action of gravity, guarantee the stability of discharging, and reduce the blockage and retention problems that may occur during the discharging process.

[0067] In this embodiment, the double-screw structure can achieve uniform conveying. The double-screw structure can provide more uniform material conveying. The two interlaced screws can push the material simultaneously, reducing the stratification or dispersion of the material, making the calcium sulfate more uniform during conveying and not easily getting blocked. Additionally, compared with the single-screw structure, the double-screw structure usually has a higher conveying capacity and can convey a larger amount of material in a shorter time, improving production efficiency.

[0068] Preferably, the above system further includes: a calcium sulfate discharging machine 5, used to cooperate with a pneumatic hammer to take out calcium sulfate from the calcium sulfate storage tank 3, and the taken-out calcium sulfate enters the calcium sulfate receiving hopper 6. By introducing the collaborative work of equipment such as the pneumatic hammer and the calcium sulfate discharging machine 5, the addition system can effectively improve the fluidity of calcium sulfate, reduce the situations of jamming and caking, ensure smooth discharging, and achieve precise control, thereby improving production efficiency, reducing waste, enhancing safety, and optimizing the entire process flow.

[0069] This embodiment solves the problem of pipeline residue after adding calcium sulfate. The addition method uses the method of mixing brewing water and calcium sulfate and stirring to ensure the complete addition of calcium sulfate. At the same time, the entire path is finally flushed with brewing water to ensure no residue.

[0070] Preferably, the above system further includes: a calcium sulfate addition pump 9, which is arranged on the mixing tank and used to add the mixed calcium sulfate mixture into the boiling pot and / or the saccharification pot.

[0071] It should be noted that calcium sulfate (CaSO4) is in the form of powder / granular spheres and is slightly soluble in water. The solubility of about 2% is one of the difficulties in the addition project of auxiliary materials. The calcium sulfate storage tank is designed as a single-layer stainless steel container with a large-angle conical bottom. The double-screw structure is used at the bottom for the conveying of powder materials, and an anti-bridging device is arranged on its discharging and conveying mechanism.

[0072] Secondly, the storage of calcium sulfate in this system is designed with a moisture-proof and humidity-control system (dehumidifying and moisture-proof by heating with electric heating wires) to keep the internal environment dry.

[0073] Thirdly, the tube chain conveying mechanism of the O-shaped track in this system, which is used for the conveying of powder, can achieve the efficiency and safety of conveying.

[0074] In addition, in this embodiment, the calcium sulfate mixing station (calcium sulfate mixing agitator) with a weighing mechanism (weighing sensor) quantitatively dissolves calcium sulfate into a suspension in batches and inputs it into the target container.

[0075] To achieve the above functions, as Figure 1 shown, the calcium sulfate addition system further includes: calcium sulfate supply stop valves 7 and 11, which are used to control the supply of calcium sulfate; a drain valve 10, which is used for draining; a calcium sulfate one-way valve, which is used to control the one-way conduction of the calcium sulfate solution; a calcium sulfate pipeline 13; a brewing water pipeline 14, which is used to input brewing water; a CIP pipeline, which is a liquid circulation pipeline for CIP treatment; a CIP supply stop valve, which is used to stop CIP; a brewing water supply stop valve 17, which is used to control the supply of brewing water. A glass manhole 18; a calcium sulfate mixing agitator 19, which is used to stir calcium sulfate and brewing water; a CIP supply stop valve 20, which is used to control the CIP supply; an oscillator 24, which is used to assist in feeding and avoid the situation of blockage and non-feeding.

[0076] Introducing CIP treatment can improve the cleaning efficiency and quality of the mixing tank. It ensures the continuous flow and circulation of the cleaning liquid, improves the thoroughness of cleaning, reduces the liquid waste during the cleaning process, enhances the production efficiency, hygiene level, equipment maintainability, and helps to reduce manual intervention and lower costs.

[0077] In summary, the functions of dehumidification, conveying, weighing, mixing and cleaning set in the system not only optimize the production process, but also reduce manual intervention and the risk of operation errors. The application of the automatic cleaning program effectively avoids the pollution of the equipment by residual materials and enhances the service life of the equipment.

[0078] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for adding calcium sulfate in beer production is further provided, including: transferring calcium sulfate stored in a calcium sulfate storage tank to a weighing tank through a tube chain lifting device; mixing a preset weight of calcium sulfate taken out from the weighing tank with brewing water in a mixing tank to obtain a calcium sulfate mixture; adding the calcium sulfate mixture into a boiling pan and / or a saccharification pan through a calcium sulfate addition pump. Wherein, the preset weight can be adjusted according to the automatic control system of beer production.

[0079] This embodiment provides a method for adding calcium sulfate in beer production. Figure 3 It is a flowchart of the method for adding calcium sulfate in beer production according to an embodiment of the present invention, as Figure 3 shown, the method includes the following steps S302 to step S306.

[0080] Step S302: Transfer calcium sulfate stored in a calcium sulfate storage tank to a weighing tank through a tube chain lifting device.

[0081] Step S304: Mix a preset weight of calcium sulfate taken out from the weighing tank with brewing water in a mixing tank to obtain a calcium sulfate mixture.

[0082] Step S306: Add the calcium sulfate mixture into a boiling pan and / or a saccharification pan through a calcium sulfate addition pump. Wherein, the preset weight is adjusted according to the automatic control system of beer production.

[0083] The method in this embodiment can adopt the calcium sulfate addition system in beer production in the above-mentioned embodiment and its preferred embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0084] It should be noted that the automatic calcium sulfate addition system for beer production includes an automatic addition software program and a hardware system: a temporary storage tank for storing solid calcium sulfate, a calcium sulfate discharge machine 5 for transporting to a weighing bin and a tube chain lifting device 23, a weighing tank and a mixing tank, an automatic addition pump and ancillary metering and detection devices, a top water pipeline, and peripheral cleaning pipelines and other ancillary equipment. The automatic calcium sulfate addition system for beer brewing is one of the key technologies in the beer production process. It adds calcium sulfate in an automated manner, can precisely control the addition amount and time of calcium sulfate, ensure the full mixing of calcium sulfate with raw materials, and monitor the entire addition process, thereby ensuring the uniform distribution and optimal effect of calcium sulfate, so as to improve production efficiency and product quality.

[0085] In summary, in the technical solution of the present application, key equipment such as a suitable calcium sulfate storage container, a transfer pump, a flow meter, various valves, and a control system are configured. Considering the compatibility, stability, accuracy, and maintenance convenience of the equipment, reliable equipment is selected for the transfer of powdered calcium sulfate. For example, a tube chain lifting device is used for transportation, and then the addition amount is controlled by a weighing scale, and the actual addition error is less than 1%.

[0086] Before implementation, a requirements analysis can be carried out first to clarify the specific requirements for calcium sulfate addition in production, including the addition amount, addition timing, process conditions, etc. Cooperate with departments such as production, technology, and quality to collect relevant information and determine the performance indicators of the automatic addition system. After the automatic addition of calcium sulfate is realized, compared with the manual addition method of calcium sulfate, the pH value of the wort with automatic addition is more stable.

[0087] Secondly, through the automatic addition of calcium sulfate, the working time for manual packaging and addition is reduced, and 1884 working hours can be saved throughout the year.

[0088] Specifically, during implementation, the brewing calcium sulfate tank can adopt an integrated overall assembly method. The equipment mainly includes: a food-grade 304 material storage tank with a volume of 1000L, a screw conveyor, a tube chain lifting device, a weighing and temporary storage device, a mixing tank equipped with a stirrer, and auxiliary pipelines, valves, motors, etc. After processing and fixing on the stainless steel frame and the overall frame installation is completed, the calcium sulfate addition system can be installed in the saccharification workshop, and each valve and centrifugal rotor pump can be installed according to the requirements of the drawings. After the main equipment is built, the installation and connection of the auxiliary equipment are carried out.

[0089] It should be noted that for the in-situ cleaning (Clean In Place, abbreviated as CIP) of the calcium sulfate addition system, the CIP supply of the mash kettle can be utilized, and the CIP and water flushing of the addition pipeline and the mixing tank can be realized through a dedicated CIP pipeline path. The CIP reflux pump plays a role in refluxing the cleaning liquid. The calcium sulfate addition pipeline is added from the top by means of opening and connecting to the mash kettle, and a sight glass is installed on the addition pipeline to facilitate observing the actual addition situation of calcium sulfate.

[0090] During the actual use process, calcium sulfate can be fed into the calcium sulfate storage tank through the screw conveyor 4 (the dehumidifier is turned on during the storage process of the storage tank to prevent calcium sulfate from caking), calcium sulfate can be sent to the calcium sulfate receiving hopper through the calcium sulfate discharging machine in cooperation with the air hammer, and calcium sulfate can be lifted to the weighing tank through the tube chain lifting device. After weighing, the valve is opened and in cooperation with the air hammer, calcium sulfate falls into the mixing tank. After the mixing tank is completed, the calcium sulfate mixed liquid is pumped into the boiling kettle and / or the mash kettle through the calcium sulfate addition pump.

[0091] Through the above embodiments and their preferred embodiments, the above embodiments and their implementation manners can be applied to an automated control system: develop or introduce an automated control system that can automatically control the addition time and amount of calcium sulfate according to preset programs and parameters. This system can be implemented based on industrial automation technologies such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

[0092] The following technical effects can be achieved:

[0093] Precise metering equipment: Use precise metering pumps or weighing systems to ensure the accuracy of the calcium sulfate addition amount and avoid errors caused by human factors.

[0094] Special addition device: Design and use a special calcium sulfate addition device that can be seamlessly docked with brewing equipment to achieve precise addition during the saccharification production process.

[0095] Data recording and tracking: Establish a data recording system to track the quantity and time of each calcium sulfate addition for quality control and subsequent analysis.

[0096] Cleaning and maintenance procedures: Develop automated cleaning and maintenance procedures to ensure the cleanliness of the addition equipment after each use and prevent cross - contamination.

[0097] Safety and emergency stop mechanism: Ensure that the system has necessary safety features such as an emergency stop button to handle possible failures or operating errors.

[0098] Employee training: Provide training to operators on the operation and maintenance of the automated system to ensure that they can correctly use and handle possible problems.

[0099] By implementing these technical solutions, the automation level of beer production can be improved, human errors can be reduced, and at the same time, product quality and production efficiency can be enhanced.

[0100] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can have various changes and modifications. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A calcium sulfate addition system in beer production, characterized in that, Comprising: A calcium sulfate storage tank storing calcium sulfate; A tube chain lifting device for transporting the calcium sulfate in the calcium sulfate receiving hopper corresponding to the calcium sulfate storage tank to a weighing tank; The weighing tank for storing the calcium sulfate to be weighed; A mixing tank for mixing the calcium sulfate meeting a preset weight with brewing water to obtain a calcium sulfate mixed solution, and adding the calcium sulfate mixed solution into a boiling pan and / or a saccharification pan through a calcium sulfate addition pump; Wherein, the calcium sulfate of the preset weight is taken out from the weighing tank, and the preset weight is adjusted according to the automatic control system of beer production.

2. The addition system according to claim 1, wherein: The tube chain lifting device comprises: a star wheel, a scraper and a tube chain; Wherein, the star wheel drives the tube chain to rotate, providing kinetic energy for the rotation of the tube chain; the scraper is used for transporting the discharged calcium sulfate from the calcium sulfate receiving hopper corresponding to the calcium sulfate storage tank to the weighing tank; the tube chain is used for connecting the star wheel and the scraper.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein Further comprising: A weighing sensor for weighing the calcium sulfate to be used.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein Further comprising: A calcium sulfate mixing agitator for stirring the calcium sulfate weighed by the weighing sensor and the brewing water in the mixing tank according to a preset ratio of calcium sulfate and brewing water to obtain the calcium sulfate mixed solution.

5. The addition system according to claim 1, wherein: The concentration of calcium sulfate in the calcium sulfate mixed solution is 10%.

6. The addition system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that Further comprising: A dehumidifier arranged above the calcium sulfate storage tank for dehumidifying the calcium sulfate.

7. The addition system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The calcium sulfate storage tank includes a conical bottom, and the bottom of the calcium sulfate storage tank is a double-screw structure for transporting the powder of calcium sulfate.

8. The addition system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, Further comprising: A calcium sulfate discharging machine for cooperating with an air hammer to take out the calcium sulfate from the calcium sulfate storage tank, and the taken-out calcium sulfate enters the calcium sulfate receiving hopper.

9. The addition system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: A calcium sulfate addition pump is arranged on the mixing tank for adding the mixed calcium sulfate mixed solution into a boiling pan and / or a saccharification pan.

10. A method for adding calcium sulfate in beer production, characterized in that, Comprising: Transporting the calcium sulfate stored in the calcium sulfate storage tank to the weighing tank through a tube chain lifting device; Mixing the calcium sulfate of a preset weight taken out from the weighing tank with the brewing water in the mixing tank in the mixing tank to obtain a calcium sulfate mixed solution; Adding the calcium sulfate mixed solution into a boiling pan and / or a saccharification pan through a calcium sulfate addition pump; Wherein, the preset weight is adjusted according to the automatic control system of beer production.

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