Intelligent distillation system for baijiu

Abstract

The application discloses a liquor intelligent distillation system in the technical field of liquor processing, which comprises a control module, a ground pot monitoring module, a wine retort monitoring module and a cooler monitoring module; the control module comprises a controller, a display and an alarm, and the display and the alarm are both electrically connected with the controller; the ground pot monitoring module is electrically connected with the controller, and comprises a gravity sensor, a water level sensor and an on-off electromagnetic valve; the wine retort monitoring module is electrically connected with the controller, and comprises a first temperature sensor and a gas pressure sensor; the first temperature sensor is used for monitoring the air temperature in the wine lees, and the gas pressure sensor is used for monitoring the air pressure in the wine retort; the cooler monitoring module is electrically connected with the controller, and comprises a second temperature sensor and an alcohol concentration sensor. The scheme is used for improving the liquor brewing technology and reducing the influence of manual experience on the quality during liquor brewing.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410848249.1, filed on June 27, 2024, entitled “An Intelligent Distillation System for Baijiu”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of liquor processing technology, specifically to an intelligent liquor distillation system. Background Technology

[0003] Baijiu, a traditional Chinese distilled spirit, boasts a long history and profound cultural heritage. Its characteristics include clarity, rich aroma, complex flavor, and typically high alcohol content. The main raw materials for baijiu production include grains such as sorghum, rice, corn, wheat, and glutinous rice. Based on different raw materials and processing methods, it can be categorized into various aroma types, the most representative being soy sauce aroma, strong aroma, light aroma, and rice aroma.

[0004] In the brewing process of baijiu (Chinese white liquor), the mash needs to be steamed, causing the liquid in the mash to evaporate and form alcoholic vapor. This vapor is then cooled to obtain liquid liquor. Traditional brewing equipment consists of a still, a steamer, steam pipes, and a cooler. The cooling water in the cooler is supplied by a water tank, and all equipment is operated manually. This includes controlling the water inlet and steam in the still, the drain valves, the weight of grains in the still, the internal pressure and temperature of the still, the water flow control in the cooler, and the alcohol content and temperature of the distilled liquor. However, this manual operation is complex and labor-intensive. Secondly, it relies heavily on human experience; insufficient experience can lead to significant variations in mash weight, poor temperature control, and deviations in the distilled liquor temperature, all of which can affect the quality of the distilled baijiu. Furthermore, the inability to know the temperature and pressure data during the steaming process also hinders adjustments and improvements to the brewing process. Therefore, in order to promote the advancement of baijiu distillation technology and avoid the differences in baijiu quality caused by human "experience", there is an urgent need for an intelligent baijiu distillation system to reduce the differences in baijiu quality caused by human "experience". Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a smart distillation system for baijiu (Chinese liquor) to improve baijiu brewing technology and reduce the impact of human experience on the quality of baijiu during brewing.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a smart distillation system for baijiu (Chinese liquor), comprising a control module, a still monitoring module, a distillation still monitoring module, and a cooler monitoring module;

[0007] The control module includes a controller, a display, and an alarm. Both the display and the alarm are electrically connected to the controller.

[0008] The earthen pot monitoring module is electrically connected to the controller. The earthen pot monitoring module includes a gravity sensor, a water level sensor, and a switch solenoid valve. The gravity sensor is used to monitor the weight of the mash added to the still, the water level sensor is used to monitor the amount of water in the earthen pot, and the switch solenoid valve is used to control the water supply and shut-off of the water inlet pipe of the earthen pot.

[0009] The still monitoring module is electrically connected to the controller. The still monitoring module includes a first temperature sensor and a pressure sensor. The first temperature sensor is used to monitor the air temperature inside the still, and the pressure sensor is used to monitor the pressure inside the still.

[0010] The cooler monitoring module is electrically connected to the controller, and the cooler monitoring module includes a second temperature sensor and an alcohol concentration sensor.

[0011] The working principle of this invention is as follows: Before use, the weight of the lees in the still, the internal temperature and pressure during steaming, and the amount of water in the earthen pot are set in the controller. When the worker adds lees to the still and the weight exceeds the set weight, the gravity sensor transmits the detected weight signal to the controller. The controller then activates an alarm to alert the worker that the lees in the still are overweight, until the worker removes the excess lees from the still. During the steaming process, the controller opens the solenoid valve to add water to the still. A water level sensor monitors the water level in real time. When the water level is appropriate, the sensor transmits a signal to the controller, which then closes the solenoid valve to stop adding water. At this point, high-temperature steam is introduced into the still through the steam generator to heat the water. The heated water generates steam to cook the mash. During this process, a temperature sensor monitors the temperature in the still, and a pressure sensor monitors the pressure. These signals are then transmitted to the controller, which displays the data on a monitor, allowing workers to directly see the temperature and pressure values ​​inside the still and determine whether to increase or decrease the temperature and pressure. During the distillation process, the alcohol vapor flows into the steam pipe used in conjunction with the still, and then passes through a cooler for condensation. While the cooler condenses the alcohol vapor in the steam pipe, a second temperature sensor monitors the outlet temperature. If a temperature discrepancy occurs, the cooling water flow rate in the cooler is adjusted to regulate the outlet temperature. Simultaneously, an alcohol concentration sensor monitors the alcohol content of the outlet liquor and collects alcohol data.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0013] 1. This solution uses sensor technology to monitor the brewing equipment. If an over-exploitation occurs during operation, the collected data will be used to automatically control the equipment. If manual operation is required, workers can also operate the equipment properly based on the data prompts, thus ensuring the quality and safety of the brewing production process.

[0014] 2. Through sensor monitoring in this solution, even workers with little or no experience can still distill and brew the same quality liquor, reducing the reliance on workers' experience.

[0015] 3. This digitizes the distillation conditions during the brewing process, allowing data to be saved when the quality of the brewed liquor is good, ensuring consistent quality in future batches. If defects are found in the brewed liquor, the data can be checked to facilitate adjustments to the distillation process.

[0016] Furthermore, the controller is a PLC controller or a microcontroller. The purpose is to ensure stable operation of this type of controller.

[0017] Furthermore, the boiler monitoring module also includes a steam solenoid valve, which is electrically connected to the controller and is used to control the flow of steam into and out of the boiler and to regulate the amount of steam.

[0018] Furthermore, the still monitoring module also includes a touch sensor, which is electrically connected to the controller and is installed on the lid of the still. The purpose is to monitor the timing of the still's lid closing and opening via the touch sensor, thereby adjusting the steam solenoid valve to control the steam volume.

[0019] Furthermore, the cooler monitoring module also includes a liquid level sensor and a third temperature sensor. The purpose of this arrangement is to install the liquid level sensor in the water tank supplying the cooler to monitor the water level, and simultaneously use the third temperature sensor to monitor the temperature inside the tank. This allows for a clear understanding of the water temperature in the cooler, facilitating the control of the wine dispensing temperature. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a circuit connection diagram of a smart distillation system for baijiu (Chinese liquor) according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The following detailed description illustrates the specific implementation method:

[0022] The basic implementation examples are as follows: Figure 1 As shown:

[0023] A smart distillation system for baijiu (Chinese liquor) includes a control module, a still monitoring module, a still monitoring module, and a cooler monitoring module.

[0024] The control module includes a controller (PLC controller or microcontroller), a display, and an alarm. The display and alarm are both electrically connected to the controller.

[0025] The ground pot monitoring module is electrically connected to the controller. The ground pot monitoring module includes a gravity sensor, a water level sensor, a switch solenoid valve, and a steam solenoid valve. The gravity sensor is installed at the bottom of the still and is located between the still and the ground pot. The gravity sensor is used to monitor the weight of the mash added to the still. The water level sensor is used to monitor the amount of water in the ground pot. The switch solenoid valve is used to control the water supply and shut-off of the water inlet pipe of the ground pot.

[0026] The still monitoring module is electrically connected to the controller. The still monitoring module includes a first temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a touch sensor. The first temperature sensor is used to monitor the air temperature inside the still, and the pressure sensor is used to monitor the air pressure inside the still. The touch sensor is installed on the lid of the still.

[0027] The cooler monitoring module is electrically connected to the controller. The cooler monitoring module includes a second temperature sensor, an alcohol concentration sensor, a liquid level sensor, and a third temperature sensor.

[0028] The specific implementation process is as follows:

[0029] Before use, the weight of the lees in the still, the internal temperature and pressure during steaming, and the water volume in the earthen pot must be set in the controller. When the worker adds lees to the still and the weight exceeds the set weight, the gravity sensor transmits the detected weight signal to the controller. The controller then activates the alarm to alert the worker that the lees in the still are overweight, until the worker removes the excess lees. During the steaming process, the controller opens the solenoid valve to add water to the still. A water level sensor monitors the water level in real time. When the water level is appropriate, the sensor transmits a signal to the controller, which then closes the solenoid valve to stop adding water. A sensor is activated to monitor the still's lid closing time. At this point, the steam solenoid valve opens, introducing high-temperature steam into the still through the steam generator to heat the water. The heated water generates steam to cook the mash. During this cooking process, a temperature sensor monitors the temperature in the still, and a pressure sensor monitors the pressure. These signals are then transmitted to the controller, which displays the data on a monitor, allowing workers to directly understand the temperature and pressure values ​​inside the still and determine whether to increase or decrease the temperature and pressure. During the distillation process, the alcohol vapor flows into the steam pipe used with the still, and then passes through a cooler for condensation. While the cooler condenses the alcohol vapor in the steam pipe, a second temperature sensor monitors the outlet temperature. If a temperature discrepancy occurs, the cooling water flow rate in the cooler is adjusted to regulate the outlet temperature. Simultaneously, an alcohol concentration sensor monitors and collects alcohol data for the outlet alcohol content. When the ambient temperature is low, steam can be used to heat the water in the water tank to ensure a suitable cooling water temperature and a stable outlet temperature.

Claims

1. A smart distillation system for baijiu (Chinese liquor), characterized in that: This includes a control module, a boiler monitoring module, a still monitoring module, and a cooler monitoring module; The control module includes a controller, a display, and an alarm. Both the display and the alarm are electrically connected to the controller. The earthen pot monitoring module is electrically connected to the controller. The earthen pot monitoring module includes a gravity sensor, a water level sensor, and a switch solenoid valve. The gravity sensor is used to monitor the weight of the mash added to the still, the water level sensor is used to monitor the amount of water in the earthen pot, and the switch solenoid valve is used to control the water supply and shut-off of the water inlet pipe of the earthen pot. The still monitoring module is electrically connected to the controller. The still monitoring module includes a first temperature sensor and a pressure sensor. The first temperature sensor is used to monitor the air temperature inside the still, and the pressure sensor is used to monitor the pressure inside the still. The cooler monitoring module is electrically connected to the controller, and the cooler monitoring module includes a second temperature sensor and an alcohol concentration sensor.

2. The intelligent distillation system for baijiu (Chinese liquor) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller is a PLC controller or a microcontroller.

3. The intelligent distillation system for baijiu (Chinese liquor) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The earthen stove monitoring module also includes a steam solenoid valve, which is electrically connected to the controller. The steam solenoid valve is used to control the entry and exit of steam in the earthen stove and to regulate the amount of steam.

4. The intelligent distillation system for baijiu (Chinese liquor) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The still monitoring module also includes a touch sensor, which is electrically connected to the controller and is installed on the lid of the still.

5. The intelligent distillation system for baijiu (Chinese liquor) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The cooler monitoring module also includes a liquid level sensor and a third temperature sensor.

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