Craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function
By setting up a top ring tube, a lower ring tube and a heat exchange tube combination structure in the beer fermentation tank, combined with a vacuum interlayer and stirring blades, the problem of uneven heating of the wort is solved, the uniform control of the beer fermentation temperature is achieved, and the beer quality is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202423187738.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-30
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-24
AI Technical Summary
The wort in traditional beer fermentation tanks is heated unevenly, affecting the quality of beer.
It adopts a combined structure of top ring tubes, low ring tubes and multiple heat exchange tubes, combined with vacuum interlayer and stirring blades, and uniform heating is achieved through the heat medium input and discharge pipes. The heat medium flow is adjusted by the control mechanism to control the temperature.
It achieves uniform heating of the wort, avoids excessively high or low temperatures, ensures a stable temperature environment for beer fermentation, and improves the final quality of the beer.
Smart Images
Figure CN223397700U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of fermentation tanks, in particular to a craft beer fermentation tank with a temperature control function. Background Art
[0002] Beer fermentation is mainly a series of biochemical reactions carried out under the action of a series of enzymes contained in beer yeast, using malt juice nutrients as substrates. These reactions ultimately produce a certain amount of yeast cells and ethanol, carbon dioxide, and a small amount of metabolic by-products, such as higher alcohols, esters, diketones, aldehydes, acids and sulfur-containing compounds. These products together constitute the unique flavor of beer.
[0003] Traditional beer fermentation is carried out in square or rectangular fermentation tanks (or pools), with small equipment size, small production scale and long cycle. With the expansion of beer production scale, large-capacity fermentation equipment has gradually gained attention, such as cylindrical open-air conical fermentation tanks, etc. In addition, during the beer fermentation process, various conditions need to be strictly controlled to ensure the smooth progress of fermentation and the quality of beer. These conditions include temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen content, wort composition, etc. Traditional fermentation temperature control usually involves setting up heating coils in the fermentation tank and passing steam for heating. However, the coils are usually distributed near the inner wall of the fermentation tank, which results in uneven heating of the wort near the center and near the inner wall of the fermentation tank, affecting the final quality of the beer. Therefore, the present application provides a craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function to meet the needs. Utility Model Content
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to provide a craft beer fermentation tank with a temperature control function to solve the problem of uneven heating of wort in the existing beer fermentation tank.
[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:
[0006] A craft beer fermentation tank with a temperature control function includes a fermentation tank body, a top ring tube is provided at the top of the fermentation tank body, and a heat medium input pipe extending out of the fermentation tank body is connected to the top ring tube; a lower ring tube is provided at the bottom of the fermentation tank body, and a heat medium discharge pipe extending out of the fermentation tank body is connected to the lower ring tube; a plurality of heat exchange tubes are connected between the top ring tube and the lower ring tube, and the heat exchange tubes have a plurality of curved portions extending toward the middle of the fermentation tank body.
[0007] Optionally, a shaft is rotatably mounted in the fermentation tank body, a plurality of stirring blades are radially mounted on the shaft, and a motor for driving the shaft to rotate is mounted on the top of the fermentation tank body.
[0008] Optionally, the plurality of stirring blades are staggered with respect to the curved portion of the heat exchange tube.
[0009] Optionally, a defoaming blade is radially arranged at a position close to the top end of the shaft, and the bottom of the defoaming blade is serrated.
[0010] Optionally, the fermentation tank body is equipped with a pressure gauge, a pressure relief valve and a thermometer, a discharge pipe is provided at the bottom end of the fermentation tank body, and a feed pipe is provided at the top end of the fermentation tank body.
[0011] Optionally, a vacuum interlayer is provided in the tank wall of the fermentation tank body, and a regulating mechanism is provided on the heat medium input pipe.
[0012] Optionally, the regulating mechanism includes a shell mounted on the heat medium input pipe, the interior of the shell is connected to the heat medium input pipe, and a valve core capable of blocking the flow of the heat medium input pipe is slidably mounted inside the shell, and a plurality of valve holes capable of being aligned and connected to the heat medium input pipe are provided on the valve core, and the apertures of the plurality of valve holes are arranged in sequence from small to large, a screw rod is threaded through one end of the shell, and the end of the screw rod extending into the shell is rotatably connected to the valve core, and a handle is provided at the end of the screw rod located outside the shell.
[0013] Optionally, fixing plates are provided at both ends of the shell, and the fixing plates are fixedly connected to the outer side walls of the fermentation tank body.
[0014] Optionally, a ruler is movably abutted against the upper surface of the shell along the length direction, and scale lines aligned with the ruler are engraved on the upper surface of the shell. One end of the ruler is bent downward and rotatably sleeved on one end of the screw rod near the handle.
[0015] Optionally, the movable sleeve on the ruler is provided with a sliding sleeve, and the sliding sleeve is fixed on the housing.
[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:
[0017] In the above scheme, by setting up heat exchange tubes, the wort is inoculated with brewer's yeast and injected into the fermentation tank body, and steam and other heat media are input into the top ring tube through the heat medium medium input tube. The heat medium is dispersed and transported to multiple heat exchange tubes through the top ring tube, and finally flows back to the lower ring tube and is discharged from the heat medium medium discharge pipe, thereby heating the wort in the fermentation tank body. The vacuum interlayer arranged in the tank wall of the fermentation tank body can provide thermal insulation performance, providing a good temperature environment for beer fermentation. Among them, the heat exchange tube is provided with a curved portion extending toward the middle of the fermentation tank body, and the starting shaft is used to drive the stirring blade to rotate to stir the wort, so that the wort can be heated evenly, avoiding the problem of too high or too low temperature of some wort, which affects the final quality of the beer.
[0018] By setting up a control mechanism, turning the handle drives the screw to rotate, pushing the valve core to move in the shell, so that the valve holes of different calibers on the valve core are connected to the heat medium input pipe, and the flow rate of heat medium transported by the heat medium input pipe can be adjusted, thereby achieving the purpose of controlling the fermentation temperature in the fermentation tank body. In the process of turning the screw, the ruler is driven to move, and the adjusted heat medium transport flow rate can be intuitively judged in conjunction with the scale line. Compared with the traditional valve body, this method of using the valve core movement to adjust the flow rate and control the fermentation temperature is simple and stable in structure, highly durable, and easy to operate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and enable those skilled in the relevant art to make and use the invention.
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function;
[0021] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the fermentation tank;
[0022] Figure 3 It is a structural diagram of the heat medium input pipe and the control mechanism;
[0023] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the shell.
[0024] Reference numerals:
[0025] 1. Fermentation tank body; 2. Feed pipe; 3. Motor; 4. Pressure gauge; 5. Pressure relief valve; 6. Thermometer; 7. Heat medium inlet pipe; 8. Heat medium discharge pipe; 9. Control mechanism; 10. Shaft; 11. Stirring blade; 12. Defoaming blade; 13. Top ring tube; 14. Heat exchange tube; 15. Lower ring tube; 16. Bend; 17. Vacuum interlayer; 18. Discharge pipe; 19. Shell; 20. Fixed plate; 21. Screw; 22. Handle; 23. Scale; 24. Scale line; 25. Sleeve; 26. Valve core; 27. Valve hole.
[0026] As shown in the figure, in order to clearly implement the structure of the embodiment of the present invention, specific structures and devices are marked in the figure, but this is only for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific structure, devices and environment. According to specific needs, ordinary technicians in this field can adjust or modify these devices and environments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] The following describes in detail a craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control provided by the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It is also noted that, for the sake of completeness, the following embodiments are best and preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art may employ alternative implementations for some known technologies. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are intended only to provide a more detailed description of the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.
[0028] It should be noted that references in the specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "exemplary embodiments," "some embodiments," etc. indicate that the described embodiments may include specific features, structures, or characteristics, but not necessarily every embodiment will include such specific features, structures, or characteristics. Furthermore, when specific features, structures, or characteristics are described in conjunction with an embodiment, it is within the knowledge of persons skilled in the relevant art to implement such features, structures, or characteristics in conjunction with other embodiments (whether or not explicitly described).
[0029] In general, terms can be understood, at least in part, from their use in context. For example, depending at least in part on the context, the term "one or more" as used herein can be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in the singular sense, or can be used to describe a combination of features, structures, or characteristics in the plural sense. Additionally, the term "based on" can be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusive set of factors, but can instead, depending at least in part on the context, allow for the presence of other factors that are not necessarily explicitly described.
[0030] It will be understood that the meanings of “on,” “over,” and “above” in the present invention should be interpreted in the broadest manner, so that “on” means not only “directly on” something but also includes the meaning of being “on” something with intervening features or layers, and “on” or “above” means not only “on” or “above” something but also includes the meaning of being “on” or “above” something with no intervening features or layers.
[0031] Additionally, spatially relative terms such as "below," "beneath," "lower," "above," and "upper" may be used herein for descriptive convenience to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element or features, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the accompanying drawings. The device may be oriented in other ways, and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be similarly interpreted accordingly.
[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a craft beer fermentation tank with a temperature control function, including a fermentation tank body 1, on which a pressure gauge 4, a pressure relief valve 5 and a thermometer 6 are installed. A discharge pipe 18 is provided at the bottom end of the fermentation tank body 1, and a valve body is installed on the discharge pipe 18. A feed pipe 2 is provided at the top end of the fermentation tank body 1, and wort inoculated with beer yeast is injected into the fermentation tank body 1 through the feed pipe 2. The pressure gauge 4 is used to monitor the pressure in the fermentation tank body 1, the pressure relief valve 5 is used to relieve pressure, and the thermometer 6 is used to monitor the fermentation temperature in the fermentation tank body 1.
[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a top ring tube 13 is provided at the top of the fermentation tank body 1, and a heat medium input pipe 7 extending out of the fermentation tank body 1 is connected to the top ring tube 13. A low ring tube 15 is provided at the bottom of the fermentation tank body 1, and a heat medium discharge pipe 8 extending out of the fermentation tank body 1 is connected to the low ring tube 15; a plurality of heat exchange tubes 14 are connected between the top ring tube 13 and the low ring tube 15, and the heat exchange tube 14 has a plurality of curved portions 16 extending toward the middle of the fermentation tank body 1. Steam and other heat media are input into the top ring tube 13 through the heat medium input pipe 7, and the heat medium The wort is dispersedly transported to multiple heat exchange tubes 14 through the top ring tube 13, and finally refluxed to the lower ring tube 15 and discharged from the heat medium discharge pipe 8, thereby heating the wort in the fermentation tank body 1, providing a good temperature environment for beer fermentation. The heat exchange tube 14 is provided with a curved portion 16 extending toward the middle of the fermentation tank body 1, so that the wort can be heated evenly, avoiding the problem of part of the wort having too high or too low temperature, which affects the final quality of the beer; a vacuum interlayer 17 is provided in the tank wall of the fermentation tank body 1 to achieve the effect of heat insulation.
[0034] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a shaft 10 is rotatably mounted within the fermentation tank 1. A plurality of stirring blades 11 are radially mounted on the shaft 10. A motor 3 is mounted at the top of the fermentation tank 1 to drive the shaft 10 in rotation. The plurality of stirring blades 11 are staggered relative to the curved portion 16 of the heat exchange tube 14. Starting the shaft 10 drives the stirring blades 11 to rotate, stirring the wort and further evenly heating the wort. Defoaming blades 12 are radially mounted near the top of the shaft 10. The bottom of the defoaming blades 12 is serrated. The wort liquid level is lower than the defoaming blades 12. As the defoaming blades 12 rotate with the shaft 10, defoaming can be performed.
[0035] like Figure 1 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the heat medium input pipe 7 is provided with a regulating mechanism 9, which includes a shell 19 assembled on the heat medium input pipe 7. The interior of the shell 19 is in communication with the heat medium input pipe 7. A valve core 26 capable of blocking the flow of the heat medium input pipe 7 is slidably mounted inside the shell 19. The valve core 26 is provided with a plurality of valve holes 27 capable of aligning and communicating with the heat medium input pipe 7. The apertures of the plurality of valve holes 27 are arranged in order from small to large. A screw rod 21 is threadedly passed through one end of the shell 19. The end of the screw rod 21 extending into the shell 19 is rotatably connected to the valve core 26. The end of the screw rod 21 is located outside the shell 19. A handle 22 is provided, and fixed plates 20 are provided at both ends of the shell 19. The fixed plate 20 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the fermentation tank body 1. Turning the handle 22 drives the screw rod 21 to rotate, pushing the valve core 26 to move in the shell 19, so that the valve holes 27 of different calibers on the valve core 26 are connected to the heat medium input pipe 7, and the flow rate of the heat medium input pipe 7 to transport the heat medium can be adjusted, thereby achieving the purpose of controlling the fermentation temperature in the fermentation tank body 1. This temperature regulation method uses the valve core 26 to move to adjust the flow rate and control the fermentation temperature. Compared with the traditional valve body, this temperature regulation method has a simple and stable structure, high durability, and is easy to operate.
[0036] like Figure 1 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a scale 23 is movably abutted against the upper surface of the shell 19 along the length direction, and scale lines 24 aligned with the scale 23 are engraved on the upper surface of the shell 19. One end of the scale 23 is bent downward and rotatably sleeved on the end of the screw rod 21 near the handle 22. When the screw rod 21 is turned, the scale 23 is driven to move. In conjunction with the scale lines 24, the adjusted heat medium delivery flow rate can be intuitively judged. A sliding sleeve 25 is movably sleeved on the scale 23, and the sliding sleeve 25 is fixed to the shell 19 for limiting and guiding the scale 23.
[0037] The working principle of the technical solution provided by the utility model is as follows:
[0038] During use, the wort is inoculated with brewer's yeast and then injected into the fermentation tank body 1, and then steam and other heat media are input into the top ring tube 13 through the heat media input pipe 7. The heat media is dispersed and transported to multiple heat exchange tubes 14 through the top ring tube 13, and finally refluxes to the lower ring tube 15 and is discharged from the heat media discharge pipe 8, thereby heating the wort in the fermentation tank body 1. The vacuum interlayer 17 arranged in the tank wall of the fermentation tank body 1 can provide thermal insulation performance, providing a good temperature environment for beer fermentation. Among them, the curved portion 16 extending toward the middle of the fermentation tank body 1 is provided on the heat exchange tube 14, and the starting shaft 10 drives the stirring blade 11 to rotate to stir the wort, so that the wort can be heated evenly, avoiding The temperature of some wort is too high or too low, which affects the final quality of the beer. Furthermore, by twisting the handle 22, the screw rod 21 is driven to rotate, and the valve core 26 is pushed to move in the shell 19, so that the valve holes 27 of different calibers on the valve core 26 are connected to the heat medium input pipe 7, and the flow rate of the heat medium input pipe 7 to transport the heat medium can be adjusted, thereby achieving the purpose of controlling the fermentation temperature in the fermentation tank body 1. In the process of twisting the screw rod 21, the scale 23 is driven to move, and the adjusted heat medium delivery flow rate can be intuitively judged in conjunction with the scale line 24. Compared with the traditional valve body, the method of using the valve core 26 to move the flow rate to control the fermentation temperature is simple and stable in structure, highly durable, and easy to operate.
[0039] This invention encompasses any alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and solutions that do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention. To provide a thorough understanding of this invention, specific details are described in detail in the following preferred embodiments of this invention, but those skilled in the art will be able to fully understand this invention without these detailed descriptions. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessary confusion regarding the essence of this invention, well-known methods, processes, procedures, components, and circuits are not described in detail.
[0040] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function, comprising a fermentation tank body, characterized in that: A top ring pipe is provided at the top of the fermentation tank body, and a heat medium input pipe extending out of the fermentation tank body is conductively connected to the top ring pipe; a bottom ring pipe is provided at the bottom of the fermentation tank body, and a heat medium discharge pipe extending out of the fermentation tank body is conductively connected to the bottom ring pipe; A plurality of heat exchange tubes are connected between the top ring tube and the lower ring tube, and the heat exchange tubes have a plurality of curved portions extending toward the middle of the fermentation tank body.
2. The craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function according to claim 1, characterized in that: A shaft is rotatably mounted in the fermentation tank body, a plurality of stirring blades are radially mounted on the shaft, and a motor for driving the shaft to rotate is mounted on the top of the fermentation tank body.
3. The craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function according to claim 2, characterized in that: The plurality of stirring blades are staggered with respect to the curved portion of the heat exchange tube.
4. The craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function according to claim 2, characterized in that: A defoaming blade is radially arranged at a position close to the top end of the shaft, and the bottom of the defoaming blade is serrated.
5. The craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fermentation tank body is equipped with a pressure gauge, a pressure relief valve and a thermometer. The bottom end of the fermentation tank body is provided with a discharge pipe, and the top end of the fermentation tank body is provided with a feed pipe.
6. The craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function according to claim 1, characterized in that: A vacuum interlayer is provided in the tank wall of the fermentation tank body, and a regulating mechanism is provided on the heat medium input pipe.
7. The craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function according to claim 6, characterized in that: The regulating mechanism includes a shell assembled on the heat medium input pipe, the interior of the shell is connected to the heat medium input pipe, and a valve core capable of blocking the flow of the heat medium input pipe is slidably assembled inside the shell. The valve core is provided with a plurality of valve holes capable of being aligned and connected to the heat medium input pipe, and the apertures of the plurality of valve holes are arranged in sequence from small to large. A screw rod is threaded through one end of the shell, and the end of the screw rod extending into the shell is rotatably connected to the valve core. A handle is provided at the end of the screw rod located outside the shell.
8. The craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function according to claim 7, characterized in that: Fixed plates are provided at both ends of the shell, and the fixed plates are fixedly connected to the outer side walls of the fermentation tank body.
9. The craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function according to claim 7, characterized in that: A ruler is movably abutted against the upper surface of the shell along the length direction. A scale line aligned with the ruler is printed on the upper surface of the shell. One end of the ruler is bent downward and rotatably sleeved on one end of the screw rod near the handle.
10. The craft beer fermentation tank with temperature control function according to claim 9, characterized in that: The movable sleeve on the ruler is provided with a sliding sleeve, and the sliding sleeve is fixed on the shell.