Automatic control system of disc separator for beer separation
By integrating components such as feed yeast content detection and outlet turbidity meter into the automatic control system, the automatic slag discharge and turbidity control of the disc separator are realized, solving the problem of unstable beer quality caused by manual adjustment in traditional disc separators, and realizing standardized and automated beer separation production.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-27
AI Technical Summary
Traditional disc separators rely on manual experience to set the lees discharge cycle, which makes it difficult to adapt to changes in the yeast content of different beer varieties, batches, and locations. This results in inconsistent turbidity of the clear liquid and difficulty in controlling the yeast content, affecting beer quality and production efficiency.
Design an automatic control system that integrates feed yeast content detection, outlet turbidity meter, pressure sensor and touch screen to achieve automatic adjustment of the lees discharge cycle and real-time monitoring and control of beer turbidity. The system also ensures the standardization and automation of beer separation through linkage valve adjustment.
It has automated and intelligentized the beer separation process, ensuring stable beer turbidity, avoiding sedimentation and material waste, and improving production efficiency and product quality consistency.
Smart Images
Figure CN121731832A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of beer separation technology, specifically to an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation. Background Technology
[0002] Disc centrifuges are a type of high-speed sedimentation centrifuge that can quickly and effectively separate liquid and solid mixtures using high speed and powerful centrifugal force. Due to its high efficiency, it is widely used in industries such as shipbuilding, food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles, and environmental protection.
[0003] After malting and mashing, beer enters the fermentation process. During fermentation, brewer's yeast converts the fermentable sugars in the wort into alcohol and carbon dioxide. After 8-10 days of fermentation, most of the yeast settles at the bottom of the fermentation tank. This yeast is recycled, while the beer enters the maturation tank for further aging. In this process, the beer's flavor matures, and the remaining yeast and insoluble proteins precipitate further. The maturation time varies depending on the beer's flavor profile, generally ranging from 7 days to a month.
[0004] During this process, some flavored beers reach the desired flavor profile after 10 to 15 days. However, at this point, the yeast and insoluble proteins in the beer have not yet settled. Therefore, a disc separator is needed to remove the remaining yeast and insoluble proteins to meet the bottling requirements and ensure that the optimal flavor period is not missed.
[0005] Currently, traditional disc separators discharge slag by setting a slag discharge cycle in the parameter settings; for example, setting the cycle to 360 seconds means slag will be discharged every 360 seconds. This cycle is set by engineers based on experience, observing the consistency of the discharged slag and visually assessing the clarity of the liquid, or measuring the solids content. However, due to variations in yeast content between different beer varieties, different batches of the same beer, and even different locations within the tank for the same batch of beer, the slag discharge cycle needs frequent adjustments based on real-time conditions. Failure to adjust promptly can lead to inconsistent turbidity and yeast content in the liquid, potentially resulting in inconsistent beer quality or even product defects. Conversely, a lower yeast feed may result in thinner slag, leading to excessive product discharge and waste. Alternatively, a higher solids content in the feed may cause slag accumulation, requiring disassembly and remediation. Furthermore, the varying yeast content in the feed makes it difficult to achieve uniform yeast content and turbidity in the separated beer, hindering automation of the separator.
[0006] This patent designs an automatic control system for disc centrifuges, which can automatically adjust the slag discharge cycle and ensure that the turbidity of the separated beer is stable and uniform, thereby realizing standardized, automated and intelligent beer separation production. Summary of the Invention
[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.
[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation, comprising: a beer separator and a central controller. The beer separator has a feed pipe at one inlet and a discharge pipe at one outlet. Along the material flow direction, the feed pipe is sequentially equipped with an inlet pneumatic butterfly valve, a tee, an inlet flow regulating valve, an inlet flow meter, an inlet sampling valve, an inlet sight glass, and a feed yeast content detector. The discharge pipe has an outlet pipe at one end. A return pipe is provided between the discharge pipe and the tee on the feed pipe. Along the material flow direction, the discharge pipe is sequentially equipped with an outlet pressure sensor, an outlet sight glass, an outlet sampling valve, an outlet turbidity meter, and an outlet pressure regulating valve. Along the material flow direction, the return pipe is sequentially equipped with a return inlet pneumatic butterfly valve, a return flow regulating valve, a return turbidity meter, and a check valve. Along the material flow direction, the outlet pipe is sequentially equipped with a product turbidity meter and an outlet pneumatic butterfly valve.
[0009] Preferably, the yeast content detector is electrically connected to the central controller and is installed between the inlet sampling valve and the feed inlet of the beer separator, using laser scattering method to detect yeast cell concentration.
[0010] Preferably, both the inlet and outlet sight glasses are double-layered high borosilicate glass.
[0011] Preferably, the outlet pressure sensor and the outlet pressure regulating valve are electrically connected to the central controller, and the outlet turbidity meter is electrically connected to the slag discharge mechanism of the beer separator.
[0012] Preferably, when the inlet flow meter detects a fluctuation in the feed flow rate exceeding ±10%, the central controller can send a pre-adjustment command to the outlet pressure regulating valve to adjust the valve opening of the outlet pressure regulating valve by ±5% to ±15%.
[0013] Preferably, the turbidity meter is installed between the turbidity regulating valve and the check valve to detect the real-time turbidity of the unseparated beer.
[0014] Preferably, the check valve is equipped with a pressure differential monitoring sensor to monitor the pressure difference across the check valve, and the pressure differential monitoring sensor is electrically connected to the central controller.
[0015] Preferably, the outlet pressure sensor is installed on the pipeline between the outlet of the beer separator and the outlet sight glass to collect pressure data of the outlet pipeline after separation in real time. The central controller compares the collected pressure data with the set target pressure value and adjusts the opening of the outlet pressure regulating valve to maintain the outlet back pressure within the target pressure range, eliminate bubbles in the separated beer, and ensure the accuracy of the outlet turbidity meter detection data.
[0016] Preferably, the product turbidity meter is used to collect the turbidity data of beer in the product outlet pipeline in real time and feed the data back to the control system. The control system adjusts the opening of the re-mixing flow regulating valve according to the difference between the target turbidity value and the actual turbidity value, so as to accurately control the amount of unseparated beer to be mixed.
[0017] Preferably, it also includes a touch screen display, which is electrically connected to the central controller and is used to display the working status and adjustment parameters of the valves, sensors, and beer separator.
[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This invention achieves automatic adjustment of the sludge discharge cycle through the linkage control of the outlet turbidity meter and the sludge discharge mechanism of the beer separator, eliminating the need for manual intervention and adapting to different feed solid content conditions. This avoids sludge accumulation and reduces material waste. The linkage between the outlet pressure sensor and the outlet pressure regulating valve effectively eliminates bubbles in the beer, ensuring accurate turbidity detection and providing reliable data support for sludge discharge control and backfill adjustment. The linkage structure between the backfill pipeline and the product turbidity meter stabilizes the product turbidity within a set range, achieving standardized beer separation production and ensuring consistent product quality.
[0019] The entire system integrates automatic control of flow rate, pressure, and turbidity, combined with a touch screen operating unit, to achieve automated and intelligent beer separation, reducing labor costs and improving production efficiency.
[0020] The parts of the device not covered herein are the same as or can be implemented using existing technologies. Attached Figure Description
[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the equipment structure of an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection control system of an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation according to the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the feed yeast content detector and the control system of an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation according to the present invention. Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the outlet turbidity meter connection control system of an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation according to the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the inlet flow meter connection control system of an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation according to the present invention. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the outlet pressure sensor connection control system of an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation according to the present invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the turbidimeter connection control system of an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation according to the present invention. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the turbidimeter connection control system of an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation according to the present invention.
[0022] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the check valve connection control system of an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation according to the present invention. Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of another connection between the outlet pressure sensor and the control system of an automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation according to the present invention.
[0023] In the diagram: 1. Beer separator; 2. Inlet sight glass; 3. Inlet sampling valve; 4. Inlet flow meter; 5. Inlet flow regulating valve; 6. Inlet pneumatic butterfly valve; 7. Return inlet pneumatic butterfly valve; 8. Return flow regulating valve; 9. Check valve; 10. Outlet pressure sensor; 11. Outlet sight glass; 12. Outlet turbidimeter; 13. Outlet pressure regulating valve; 14. Product turbidimeter; 15. Outlet pneumatic butterfly valve; 16. Outlet sampling valve; 17. Feed yeast content detector; 18. Feed pipeline; 19. Discharge pipeline; 20. Outlet pipeline; 21. Return pipeline; 22. Return turbidimeter; 23. Central controller; 24. Touch screen display. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.
[0025] Example 1: Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figures 4-10This invention provides a technical solution: an automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation, comprising: a beer separator 1 and a central controller 23. The beer separator 1 has a feed pipe 18 at one inlet and a discharge pipe 19 at one outlet. Along the material flow direction, the feed pipe is sequentially equipped with an inlet pneumatic butterfly valve 6, a three-way valve, an inlet flow regulating valve 5, an inlet flow meter 4, an inlet sampling valve 3, an inlet sight glass 2, and a feed yeast content detector 17. The discharge pipe 19 has an outlet pipe 20 at one end. A return pipe 21 is provided between the tee on the discharge pipe 19 and the feed pipe 18. Along the material flow direction, the discharge pipe 19 is provided with an outlet pressure sensor 10, an outlet sight glass 11, an outlet sampling valve 16, an outlet turbidity meter 12, and an outlet pressure regulating valve 13. Along the material flow direction, the return pipe 21 is provided with a return inlet pneumatic butterfly valve 7, a return flow regulating valve 8, a return turbidity meter 22, and a check valve 9. Along the material flow direction, the outlet pipe 20 is provided with a product turbidity meter 14 and an outlet pneumatic butterfly valve 15.
[0026] The beer to be separated enters through the feed pipe 18 at the inlet of the beer separator 1, and flows sequentially through the inlet pneumatic butterfly valve 6 (for controlling the feed flow), the three-way connection return pipe 21, the inlet flow regulating valve 5 (for adjusting the feed flow), the inlet flow meter 4 (for monitoring the actual flow), the inlet sampling valve 3 (for taking samples for testing), the inlet sight glass 2 (for observing the feed status), and the feed yeast content detector 17 (for pre-detecting the yeast concentration). The material enters the beer separator 1 to complete solid-liquid separation. After separation, the beer is discharged through the outlet pipe 19, and sequentially passes through the outlet pressure sensor 10 (for monitoring the outlet pressure) and the outlet sight glass 11 (for observing the separation). After separation, the outlet sampling valve 16 extracts the sample, the outlet turbidity meter 12 detects the turbidity, the outlet pressure regulating valve 13 adjusts the outlet back pressure, and some beer enters the outlet pipeline 20. The final turbidity is detected by the product turbidity meter 14, and the outlet pneumatic butterfly valve 15 controls the discharge to become the finished product. At the same time, the tee of the feed pipeline 18 is connected to the discharge pipeline 19 through the return pipeline 21. The unseparated beer is controlled by the return inlet pneumatic butterfly valve 7 to control the return flow, the return flow regulating valve 8 to adjust the return amount, the return turbidity meter 22 to detect the turbidity of the return beer, and the check valve 9 to prevent backflow. After the return beer is combined with the separated beer, it enters the outlet pipeline 20 together.
[0027] The outlet turbidity meter 12 detects the real-time turbidity of the separated beer and automatically adjusts the slag discharge cycle based on the turbidity, thus automatically discharging slag. Under normal circumstances, as separation progresses, slag gradually accumulates in the slag chamber, and the turbidity of the clear liquid slowly increases. If slag discharge is not performed when the slag chamber is full, the turbidity of the clear liquid will increase sharply. By simply setting the slag discharge turbidity value in the parameter settings on the touchscreen, the meter will automatically perform a slag discharge if the real-time monitored turbidity value exceeds the set value. Regardless of whether the solids content of the feed increases or decreases, the turbidity of the outlet clear liquid will be guaranteed to be below the required turbidity value, thus ensuring product quality and preventing waste.
[0028] The outlet pressure regulating valve 13 is configured to automatically adjust the outlet back pressure. Since there is no back pressure, the separated beer will contain a certain amount of bubbles. The turbidimeter uses the refraction of light in the liquid to detect turbidity. Bubbles will seriously affect the detection results of the turbidimeter. Therefore, the outlet pressure regulating valve 13 is configured to automatically adjust the outlet back pressure and is linked with the outlet pressure sensor 10 for adjustment. By setting the outlet pressure value, the opening of the pneumatic regulating valve can be automatically adjusted to achieve the target back pressure value, thereby eliminating bubbles and ensuring the accuracy of the turbidimeter detection.
[0029] The return pipeline 21 connects to the discharge pipeline 19 to form the outlet pipeline 20. Beer manufacturers require standardized products, meaning the turbidity of the separated beer must remain consistent. The separator reduces the beer to below the target turbidity level, and then the unseparated beer is automatically returned to the separated beer via a bypass. The return pipeline is equipped with a return inlet pneumatic butterfly valve 7 for opening and closing the return pipeline 21, and a return flow regulating valve 8 for regulating the flow rate of the returned unseparated beer. The return flow rate is adjusted in conjunction with the product turbidity meter 14. By setting a target turbidity value, the opening of the return flow regulating valve is automatically adjusted to regulate the return amount, ultimately ensuring the product meets the target turbidity value and the requirement for uniform product turbidity, achieving full automation and intelligence. A check valve 9 on the return pipeline prevents the separated beer from flowing back into the return pipeline.
[0030] Both the imported sight glass 2 and the exported sight glass 11 are double-layered high borosilicate glass. This material requires a light transmittance of over 90% and possesses inherent properties such as high temperature resistance, impact resistance, and anti-adhesion. Operators can directly observe the color, turbidity, and flow state of the incoming beer through the sight glass, as well as the clarity and presence of impurities in the separated beer.
[0031] The outlet pressure sensor 10 and the outlet pressure regulating valve 13 are electrically connected to the central controller 23. The outlet pressure sensor 10 collects the pressure data of the separated beer in the discharge pipeline 19 in real time and transmits it to the central controller 23. The central controller 23 compares the actual pressure with the set target pressure, such as 0.1-0.3MPa, calculates the deviation, and sends a command to the outlet pressure regulating valve 13 to adjust its valve opening. If the pressure is low, the valve is closed to increase the back pressure; if the pressure is high, the valve is opened to decrease the back pressure, ensuring that the back pressure in the discharge pipeline 19 is stable and eliminating bubbles caused by back pressure fluctuations, thus providing an accurate detection environment for the outlet turbidity meter 12.
[0032] The outlet turbidity meter 12 is electrically connected to the slag discharge mechanism of the beer separator 1. Installed on the discharge pipe 19, the outlet turbidity meter 12 monitors the turbidity value of the separated beer in real time. Directly connected to the slag discharge mechanism of the beer separator 1, it triggers automatic slag discharge when the turbidity exceeds the set slag discharge threshold. This replaces the traditional manual method of observing slag consistency and measuring solids, achieving automated slag discharge. It avoids both excessive turbidity leading to substandard beer and untimely slag discharge causing slag accumulation, thus improving separation efficiency.
[0033] When the inlet flow meter 4 detects a feed flow fluctuation exceeding ±10%, the central controller 23 sends a pre-adjustment command to the outlet pressure regulating valve 13, adjusting its valve opening by ±5% to ±15%. When the central controller 23 detects a flow fluctuation exceeding ±10%, it does not wait for feedback from the outlet pressure sensor 10 regarding pressure changes, but directly sends a pre-adjustment command to the outlet pressure regulating valve 13, adjusting its valve opening by ±5% to ±15% based on the flow fluctuation amplitude. This way, when the flow rate increases sharply, the valve opens wider in advance to avoid a sudden rise in back pressure; when the flow rate decreases sharply, the valve closes smaller in advance to avoid a sudden drop in back pressure. This avoids the lag caused by adjusting the valve after a pressure fluctuation, further preventing back pressure runaway and the generation of bubbles that interfere with the detection of the outlet turbidity meter 12.
[0034] The turbidity meter 22 is installed between the turbidity regulating valve 8 and the check valve 9 to detect the real-time turbidity of unseparated beer. The turbidity meter 22 uses optical refraction to detect the real-time turbidity value of unseparated beer, ensuring that the turbidity of each batch of beer is uniform and meets the requirements of standardized production.
[0035] Check valve 9 is equipped with a pressure differential monitoring sensor to monitor the pressure difference across its two ends. This sensor is electrically connected to the central controller 23. Traditional check valves lack pressure monitoring; excessive pressure difference can damage the valve core, while insufficient pressure difference can lead to seal failure and backflow of separated beer into the mixing pipeline 21, contaminating unseparated beer. This pressure differential monitoring system not only prevents damage to check valve 9 and reduces maintenance costs, but also completely prevents beer backflow contamination, reduces waste of substandard raw materials, and improves system operational stability.
[0036] The outlet pressure sensor 10 is installed on the pipeline between the outlet of the beer separator 1 and the outlet sight glass 11. It is used to collect the pressure data of the outlet pipeline after separation in real time. The central controller 23 compares the collected pressure data with the set target pressure value and then adjusts the opening of the outlet pressure regulating valve 13 to maintain the outlet back pressure within the target pressure range. This eliminates bubbles in the separated beer and ensures the accuracy of the data detected by the outlet turbidimeter 12. Stable back pressure can prevent dissolved carbon dioxide in the beer from escaping and forming bubbles, ensuring that the outlet turbidimeter 12 is not affected by bubbles and that the detection data is accurate.
[0037] The product turbidity meter 14 is used to collect real-time turbidity data of the beer in the product outlet pipeline 20 and feed the data back to the control system. The control system adjusts the opening of the re-mixing flow regulating valve 8 according to the difference between the target turbidity value and the actual turbidity value, so as to accurately control the amount of unseparated beer to be mixed back. Traditional manual adjustment of the re-mixing amount relies on experience, resulting in substandard product turbidity qualification rate, and repeated adjustments are required for each batch. The linkage between the product turbidity meter 14 and the re-mixing flow regulating valve 8 enables precise control of the re-mixing amount, thereby improving the product turbidity qualification rate.
[0038] It also includes a touch screen 24, which is electrically connected to the central controller 23. The touch screen 24 is used to display the working status and adjustment parameters of valves, sensors, and beer separator 1. The touch screen 24 is electrically connected to the central controller 23, which transmits the status data of all components in the system, such as the on / off status of the inlet pneumatic butterfly valve 6, the opening degree of the inlet flow regulating valve 5, the pressure value of the outlet pressure sensor 10, the turbidity value of the outlet turbidity meter 12, the speed of the beer separator 1, and the set parameters such as target flow rate, target pressure, sludge discharge turbidity threshold, and product target turbidity, to the touch screen 24 in real time, displaying them intuitively in the form of charts and numbers. Operators can directly adjust parameters through the touch screen 24, such as clicking on the "target turbidity" column to modify the value. The adjustment command is converted into an electrical signal by the central controller 23 and transmitted to the corresponding component, such as the return flow regulating valve 8, for execution. At the same time, the touch screen 24 can also store production data for 7 days and supports export and query.
[0039] This invention achieves automatic adjustment of the slag discharge cycle through the linkage control of the outlet turbidity meter 12 and the slag discharge mechanism of the beer separator 1, without manual intervention, adapting to different feed solid content conditions, avoiding slag accumulation and reducing material waste; the linkage between the outlet pressure sensor 10 and the outlet pressure regulating valve 13 effectively eliminates bubbles in the beer, ensuring accurate turbidity detection and providing reliable data support for slag discharge control and backfill adjustment; the linkage structure between the backfill pipeline 21 and the product turbidity meter 14 can stabilize the product turbidity within the set range, realizing standardized beer separation production and ensuring consistent product quality.
[0040] The entire system integrates automatic control of flow rate, pressure, and turbidity, combined with a touch screen operating unit, to achieve automated and intelligent beer separation, reducing labor costs and improving production efficiency.
[0041] Example 2: Please refer to Figures 1-10 This invention provides a technical solution: an automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation, comprising: a beer separator 1 and a central controller 23. The beer separator 1 has a feed pipe 18 at one inlet and a discharge pipe 19 at one outlet. Along the material flow direction, the feed pipe is sequentially equipped with an inlet pneumatic butterfly valve 6, a three-way valve, an inlet flow regulating valve 5, an inlet flow meter 4, an inlet sampling valve 3, an inlet sight glass 2, and a feed yeast content detector 17. The discharge pipe 19 has an outlet pipe 20 at one end. A return pipe 21 is provided between the tee on the discharge pipe 19 and the feed pipe 18. Along the material flow direction, the discharge pipe 19 is provided with an outlet pressure sensor 10, an outlet sight glass 11, an outlet sampling valve 16, an outlet turbidity meter 12, and an outlet pressure regulating valve 13. Along the material flow direction, the return pipe 21 is provided with a return inlet pneumatic butterfly valve 7, a return flow regulating valve 8, a return turbidity meter 22, and a check valve 9. Along the material flow direction, the outlet pipe 20 is provided with a product turbidity meter 14 and an outlet pneumatic butterfly valve 15.
[0042] The beer to be separated enters through the feed pipe 18 at the inlet of the beer separator 1, and flows sequentially through the inlet pneumatic butterfly valve 6 (for controlling the feed flow), the three-way connection return pipe 21, the inlet flow regulating valve 5 (for adjusting the feed flow), the inlet flow meter 4 (for monitoring the actual flow), the inlet sampling valve 3 (for taking samples for testing), the inlet sight glass 2 (for observing the feed status), and the feed yeast content detector 17 (for pre-detecting the yeast concentration). The material enters the beer separator 1 to complete solid-liquid separation. After separation, the beer is discharged through the outlet pipe 19, and sequentially passes through the outlet pressure sensor 10 (for monitoring the outlet pressure) and the outlet sight glass 11 (for observing the separation). After separation, the outlet sampling valve 16 extracts the sample, the outlet turbidity meter 12 detects the turbidity, the outlet pressure regulating valve 13 adjusts the outlet back pressure, and some beer enters the outlet pipeline 20. The final turbidity is detected by the product turbidity meter 14, and the outlet pneumatic butterfly valve 15 controls the discharge to become the finished product. At the same time, the tee of the feed pipeline 18 is connected to the discharge pipeline 19 through the return pipeline 21. The unseparated beer is controlled by the return inlet pneumatic butterfly valve 7 to control the return flow, the return flow regulating valve 8 to adjust the return amount, the return turbidity meter 22 to detect the turbidity of the return beer, and the check valve 9 to prevent backflow. After the return beer is combined with the separated beer, it enters the outlet pipeline 20 together.
[0043] The outlet turbidity meter 12 detects the real-time turbidity of the separated beer and automatically adjusts the slag discharge cycle based on the turbidity, thus automatically discharging slag. Under normal circumstances, as separation progresses, slag gradually accumulates in the slag chamber, and the turbidity of the clear liquid slowly increases. If slag discharge is not performed when the slag chamber is full, the turbidity of the clear liquid will increase sharply. By simply setting the slag discharge turbidity value in the parameter settings on the touchscreen, the meter will automatically perform a slag discharge if the real-time monitored turbidity value exceeds the set value. Regardless of whether the solids content of the feed increases or decreases, the turbidity of the outlet clear liquid will be guaranteed to be below the required turbidity value, thus ensuring product quality and preventing waste.
[0044] The outlet pressure regulating valve 13 is configured to automatically adjust the outlet back pressure. Since there is no back pressure, the separated beer will contain a certain amount of bubbles. The turbidimeter uses the refraction of light in the liquid to detect turbidity. Bubbles will seriously affect the detection results of the turbidimeter. Therefore, the outlet pressure regulating valve 13 is configured to automatically adjust the outlet back pressure and is linked with the outlet pressure sensor 10 for adjustment. By setting the outlet pressure value, the opening of the pneumatic regulating valve can be automatically adjusted to achieve the target back pressure value, thereby eliminating bubbles and ensuring the accuracy of the turbidimeter detection.
[0045] Please refer to the following: Figure 3 In this embodiment, everything else is the same as in Embodiment 1. However, the yeast content detector 17 is electrically connected to the central controller 23. The yeast content detector 17 is installed between the inlet sampling valve 3 and the inlet of the beer separator 1, and uses laser scattering to detect yeast cell concentration. The yeast content detector 17 is installed between the inlet sampling valve 3 and the inlet of the beer separator 1, directly contacting the beer to be separated. It uses laser scattering (utilizing the scattering characteristics of yeast cells to specific wavelengths of laser light, detecting the correlation between scattered light intensity and yeast cell concentration) to detect the yeast cell concentration in beer in real time, and transmits the detection data to the central controller 23 via electrical signals, providing preliminary data for the central controller 23 to subsequently adjust parameters such as slag discharge and flow rate. When the yeast concentration is detected to be too high, the central controller 23 can lower the turbidity threshold in advance to avoid slag accumulation in the separator; when the concentration is too low, it can extend the slag discharge cycle to reduce beer waste.
[0046] Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. An automatic control system for a disc separator used for beer separation, comprising: A beer separator (1) and a central controller (23) are characterized in that: the beer separator (1) has a feed pipe (18) at one end of the feed inlet and a discharge pipe (19) at one end of the discharge outlet. The feed pipe is provided with an inlet pneumatic butterfly valve (6), a three-way valve, an inlet flow regulating valve (5), an inlet flow meter (4), an inlet sampling valve (3), an inlet sight glass (2), and a feed yeast content detector (17) in sequence along the material flow direction. The discharge pipe (19) is provided with an outlet pipe (20) at one end. The discharge pipe (19) and the feed pipe (18) are connected in series. A return pipeline (21) is provided between the three-way valves on the discharge pipeline (19). An outlet pressure sensor (10), an outlet sight glass (11), an outlet sampling valve (16), an outlet turbidity meter (12), and an outlet pressure regulating valve (13) are provided in sequence along the material flow direction on the return pipeline (21). A return inlet pneumatic butterfly valve (7), a return flow regulating valve (8), a return turbidity meter (22), and a check valve (9) are provided in sequence along the material flow direction on the return pipeline (21). A product turbidity meter (14) and an outlet pneumatic butterfly valve (15) are provided in sequence along the material flow direction on the outlet pipeline (20).
2. The automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The yeast content detector (17) is electrically connected to the central controller (23). The yeast content detector (17) is installed between the inlet sampling valve (3) and the feed inlet of the beer separator (1). The concentration of yeast cells is detected by laser scattering method.
3. The automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the imported sight glass (2) and the exported sight glass (11) are double-layered high borosilicate glass.
4. The automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation according to claim 2, characterized in that: The outlet pressure sensor (10) and the outlet pressure regulating valve (13) are electrically connected to the central controller (23), and the outlet turbidity meter (12) is electrically connected to the slag discharge mechanism of the beer separator (1).
5. The automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the inlet flow meter (4) detects that the feed flow fluctuation exceeds ±10%, the central controller (23) can send a pre-adjustment command to the outlet pressure regulating valve (13) to adjust the valve opening of the outlet pressure regulating valve (13) to ±5%-±15%.
6. The automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The turbidity meter (22) is installed between the turbidity regulating valve (8) and the check valve (9) to detect the real-time turbidity of the unseparated beer.
7. The automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The check valve (9) is equipped with a pressure difference monitoring sensor to monitor the pressure difference between the two ends of the check valve (9). The pressure difference monitoring sensor is electrically connected to the central controller (23).
8. The automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outlet pressure sensor (10) is installed on the pipeline between the outlet of the beer separator (1) and the outlet sight glass (11) to collect the pressure data of the outlet pipeline after separation in real time. The central controller (23) compares the collected pressure data with the set target pressure value and adjusts the opening of the outlet pressure regulating valve (13) to keep the outlet back pressure within the target pressure range, eliminate bubbles in the separated beer, and ensure the accuracy of the data detected by the outlet turbidity meter (12).
9. The automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The product turbidity meter (14) is used to collect the turbidity data of beer in the product outlet pipeline (20) in real time and feed the data back to the control system. The control system adjusts the opening of the re-mixing flow regulating valve (8) according to the difference between the target turbidity value and the actual turbidity value, so as to accurately control the amount of unseparated beer to be mixed.
10. The automatic control system for a disc separator for beer separation according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a touch screen (24), which is electrically connected to the central controller (23) and is used to display the working status and adjustment parameters of the valves, sensors, and beer separator (1).