METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ULTRA-HIGH DENSITY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of and priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62 / 595,950, filed December 7, 2017, entitled "Methods and Systems for Concentrating Alcohol Content in Beverages".FIELD

[0002] The present invention is directed to a method of dewatering of alcohol beverages such as beer, cider, and alcoholic malt bases.BACKGROUND

[0003] Water is the major component in most beverages, including fermented malt beverages, hard cider, beer, alcopop, etc. The greater the amount of water in a beverage, the greater the physical weight of the beverage itself. As can be appreciated, shipping or transporting beverages with high water content and increased weight can have negative effects on the environment and on the costs of the beverage product.

[0004] Reducing the water content of malt beverages can significantly reduce the overall weight of the product by producing a dewatered alcoholic beverage product. Due to the reduced weight of the dewatered alcoholic beverage product, the product can be efficiently transported, shipped, and stored. Once the product reaches an intended destination, and prior to consumption, the dewatered alcoholic beverage product can be reconstituted by simply adding carbonated water. Among other benefits, the production of a dewatered alcoholic beverage product can reduce the costs and environmental impact associated with transporting and storing standard, or sales gravity, alcoholic beverages and products. WO 2016 / 210337 A2 discloses methods of dewatering of alcoholic solutions via forward osmosis and related systems.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an alcoholic beverage according to appended claim 1.

[0006] In one embodiment not according to the claimed invention, the process may include receiving a high-gravity (HG) alcoholic beverage (e.g., beer, cider, alcoholic malt bases, etc.) having an alcohol by volume (ABV) of approximately 5% to 14%. The HG alcoholic beverage may be fed into a forward osmosis (FO) system where a UHG alcoholic beverage product (e.g., having approximately 24% ABV, or more) may be produced using FO. In particular, as the HG alcoholic beverage is processed in the FO system, the water content of the HG alcoholic beverage solution may be significantly reduced, resulting in a UHG alcoholic beverage product. In some embodiments, spent draw solution from the FO system may then be fed into a multiple-stage reverse osmosis (RO) system to produce a draw solution that can be returned to the FO system. In this instance, purged water from the multiple-stage RO system may be directed elsewhere in the system (e.g., for other use, repurposing, recycling, etc.). The purged water may comprise potable water that can be conveyed in a separate fluid line apart from the recycled draw solution. Although capable of producing a UHG alcoholic beverage product, the FO process, by itself, generally requires a large draw solution load as well as large FO units and tanks.

[0007] It is with respect to the above issues and other problems that the embodiments presented herein were contemplated. A method is provided for producing a UHG alcoholic beverage from an HG alcoholic beverage using an efficient, low waste, ordered combination of RO and then FO dewatering systems. In particular, the embodiments described herein describe receiving an HG alcoholic beverage at an alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage of 5% to 14%, and dewatering the HG alcoholic beverage to a 16% to 22% ABV using an initial RO system. This 16% to 22% ABV alcoholic beverage is referred to as a very-high gravity (VHG) alcoholic beverage. The VHG alcoholic beverage is fed into an FO system, where an additional percentage of the water content is removed from the VHG alcoholic beverage, using by FO. Removing the additional amount of water content via the FO system produces a UHG alcoholic beverage of 24% to 46% ABV. As described herein, the combination of the RO and then FO dewatering systems provide an efficient approach to successively increasing the gravity of alcoholic beverages. Among other things, these efficient methods and systems (not claimed) can reduce the FO draw solution load (e.g., when compared to an FO and then RO dewatering approach, etc.) by greater than 80% as well as reducing the required size of the dewatering units, tanks, and equipment. Moreover, the new combination process reduces the complexity of the draw solution recycling process by eliminating a number of RO stages from the multiple-stage RO system described above.

[0008] Additional features and advantages are described herein and will be apparent from the following Description and the figures.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a system for dewatering alcoholic beverages using a forward osmosis and reverse osmosis system which is outside the subject-matter of the claims; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a system for dewatering alcoholic beverages using a reverse osmosis and forward osmosis useful for understanding the invention; and Fig. 3 is a flow diagram depicting a method of dewatering alcoholic beverages in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in connection with an efficient and low-waste alternative to any single osmosis-type dewatering approach to removing water content from alcoholic beverages. The invention relates to a method of dewatering an alcoholic beverage, the method comprising: receiving a high gravity alcoholic beverage at an alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage of 5% to 14%; processing the high gravity alcoholic beverage via reverse osmosis to produce a very-high gravity alcoholic beverage (304), wherein the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage is 16% to 22% ABV; processing the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage via forward osmosis to produce an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage, wherein the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage is 24% to 46% ABV; and wherein processing the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage via forward osmosis into the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage utilizes a draw solution and produces therefrom a spent draw solution, and wherein the spent draw solution is processed into the draw solution by at least one of reverse osmosis or distilling. In one embodiment, purged water from the RO system used in the method according to the invention may be recycled, packaged, or directed elsewhere for use the system.

[0011] As described herein, removing an amount of water content in alcohol-based beverages increases the overall gravity of the resultant dewatered alcoholic beverage. Preferred embodiments of the "alcoholic beverage," are beer, lager, stout, ale, porter, fermented malt beverage, cider (e.g., apple, pear, etc.), alcoholic malt base, etc., and / or combination thereof. In addition, the terms "high gravity," or "HG," "very-high gravity," or "VHG," and "ultra-high gravity," or "UHG," are used herein to refer to an amount of the total number of dissolved solids in water remaining in the alcoholic beverage or the relative strength of the alcoholic beverage compared to water. A UHG beer has a greater quantity of dissolved solids in the water remaining in the alcoholic beverage than that of a VHG beer, a VHG beer has a greater quantity of dissolved solids in the water remaining in the alcoholic beverage than that of an HG beer. In addition, the UHG beer has a greater amount of alcohol remaining in the alcoholic beverage than that of a VHG beer, a VHG beer has a greater amount of alcohol remaining in the alcoholic beverage than that of an HG beer, as defined in present claim 1.

[0012] Referring to Fig. 1, a block diagram of a system 100 for removing an amount of water from an alcoholic beverage is shown. The system per se and the related method are outside the subject-matter of the claims. The HG alcoholic beverage 102 may be provided to a forward osmosis (FO) system 104 to produce a UHG alcoholic beverage 110. In some embodiments, the HG alcoholic beverage may be provided via one or more fluid lines, pipes, tanks, or the like. In one embodiment, the HG alcoholic beverage may be pumped, or otherwise conveyed, along a fluid line from a manufacturing source.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, the FO system 104 may utilize a draw solution to provide the necessary (reduced) osmotic pressure within the FO system 104. The FO system 104 may correspond to an FO filtration device containing one or more sets, or banks, of FO filter membranes. In the FO system 104, one side of a filter membrane (e.g., a semipermeable membrane, and / or a series of semipermeable membranes, etc.) may be contacted with the HG alcoholic beverage 102 to be dewatered and the other side of the filter membrane may be contacted with a draw solution that results in "pulling" at least some of the water out of the HG alcoholic beverage 102 through the filter. In some embodiments, the FO system 104 may be configured to handle a desired volumetric flow through the system 104 to accommodate desired production requirements. For example, the FO system 104 may comprise one or more FO membranes that provide a flow path for the HG alcoholic beverage 102 to optimize dewatering and desired throughput. The flow path may include a serpentine pattern, or any other type of tortuous flow, path in which a surface area of the FO membrane in contact with both the HG alcoholic beverage stream and the draw solution ensures a desired level of HG alcoholic beverage 102 stream dewatering. It is also contemplated that the FO system 104 could include a plurality of FO filters arranged in series or in parallel to address desired throughput production requirements.

[0014] The HG alcoholic beverage 102 stream and draw solution stream may be pressurized to provide the desired flow rate through the FO system 104. Accordingly, one or more pumps can be used for pressuring the respective streams. Alternatively, one or both of the streams can be gravity fed through the FO system 104 in which the streams have sufficient pressure heads to flow through the system 104.

[0015] The permeate water and draw solution define a spent draw solution that may be subsequently transferred to an RO system 106 for recycling, in which the spent draw solution is treated to remove the excess water content. In some embodiments, the excess water removed may be collected (e.g., via a tank, pipe, or other fluid line) at a water purge 108. The UHG alcoholic beverage 110, produced via the FO system 104, may be ready for packaging in which no further processing steps are required. In one embodiment, the UHG alcoholic beverage 110 may have a reduced water content such that the UHG alcoholic beverage has an ABV range between, and including, approximately 24% to 46%.

[0016] The spent draw solution may be returned to its original strength for reuse which may be achieved by passing the water and draw solution through a cascading set of RO stages. In a first RO stage, the retentate solution from the first RO stage may be transported to another RO filtration stage. The retentate solution from the second RO stage may be transported to yet another RO filtration stage, and so on. This cascading or serial treatment of the spent draw solution is continued until the resultant solution has the desired water content amount. This resultant solution can then be used again in the FO filtration in the FO system 104. In some embodiments, the permeate stream from each RO stage may be returned to a previous RO filtration stage that has a similar water content so that there is a continual circulation of the draw solution until treated to a desired water content amount.

[0017] In some embodiments, the HG alcoholic beverage 102 may be pre-treated, or preconditioned, to better place the HG alcoholic beverage 102 in a condition to be dewatered. For example, it may be desired to remove dissolved oxygen in the HG alcoholic beverage 102. This can be accomplished by use of nitrogen purged fluid lines through which the HG alcoholic beverage 102 passes. As the HG alcoholic beverage 102 passes through the fluid lines that are purged with the nitrogen gas, dissolved oxygen is removed from the HG alcoholic beverage 102.

[0018] In some embodiments, the HG alcoholic beverage 102 supplied to the FO system 104 may be physically stabilized (e.g., prior to dewatering, etc.). In some embodiments, the HG alcoholic beverage 102 may be "chill proofed" prior to entering the FO system 104. In any event, physical stabilization may be obtained by the selective addition of any one or more of tannic acid, SiOH, PVPP treatment, proteolytic enzyme, pectinase enzyme and / or cold treatment, holding the HG alcoholic beverage 102 at a temperature of to -1 °C to -7 °C for a predetermined period of time, etc., and / or combinations thereof.

[0019] The treated HG alcoholic beverage 102 stream exits the FO system 104 downstream as the UHG alcoholic beverage 110. The UHG alcoholic beverage 110 may then be transported to a packaging station, providing a UHG alcoholic beverage product.

[0020] When the UHG alcoholic beverage 110 is to be prepared for consumption, a metered amount of water may be added back to the UHG alcoholic beverage 110, along with desired carbonation (e.g., carbonated water, etc.). In this manner, the UHG alcoholic beverage 110 can be shipped and transported with a certain amount of water removed thereby reducing the overall weight of the product and, prior to consumption, the product can be rehydrated and / or carbonated.

[0021] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a system 200 for efficiently removing an amount of water from a supplied alcoholic beverage (e.g., an HG alcoholic beverage 102 and a VHG alcoholic beverage, etc.) that can be used to carry out the method according to the present invention. The system per se is outside the claimed subject-matter. According to the invention, an HG alcoholic beverage 102 stream, comprising an ABV between, and including, 5% to 14%, may be provided to the RO system 202 via one or more fluid lines. In some embodiments, the RO system 202 may provide an initial water content removal operation on the HG alcoholic beverage 102 supplied thereto. For instance, the HG alcoholic beverage 102 may be conveyed, under pressure (e.g., pumped, etc.), to the RO system 202 (e.g., an initial dewatering station in the system 200) comprising one or more semipermeable membranes. The semipermeable membranes may serve to remove water content from the HG alcoholic beverage 102. Water removed by the RO system 202 may be collected from one side of the one or more semipermeable membranes in a water purge 204 tank, or fluid line. In some embodiments, this water may be reused, recycled, or packaged, etc. Upon removing water content from the HG alcoholic beverage 102, the RO system 202 provides a VHG alcoholic beverage on the other side of the one or more semipermeable membranes. In some embodiments, this VHG alcoholic beverage has an ABV between, and including, 16% to 22%. This VHG alcoholic beverage may then be fed into the FO system 206 (e.g., a secondary dewatering station in the system 200), which then produces a UHG alcoholic beverage 208 having an ABV of 24% to 46%. In some embodiments not encompassed by the wording of the claims, the FO system 206 described in conjunction with Fig. 2 may be similar, if not identical, to the FO system 104 described in conjunction with Fig. 1.

[0022] In one embodiment, the FO system 206 may utilize a draw solution to provide the necessary (reduced) osmotic pressure within the FO system 206. The spent draw solution may be conveyed, or otherwise provided, to a distillation or subsequent RO system 210. The distillation or RO system 210 may dewater the spent draw solution, and excess water may be drawn off in the second water purge 212. The draw solution exiting the distillation or RO system 210 may then be reintroduced into the FO system 206. In some embodiments, this recycling process of draw solution between the distillation or RO system 210 and the FO system 206 may be the same or similar to the draw solution recycling process described in conjunction with Fig. 1 (e.g., between the RO system 106 and the FO system 104, etc.). In any event, the purged water from the first water purge 204 and / or the second water purge 212 may be reused, recycled, conveyed, or directed elsewhere.

[0023] Fig. 3 is a flow diagram depicting a method 300 of dewatering alcoholic beverages in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. According to the invention, method 300 begins with the receipt of an HG alcoholic beverage (step 302). The HG alcoholic beverage 102 may be provided from an infeed stream, or pumped from HG alcoholic beverage 102 tank, etc. In one embodiment, the HG alcoholic beverage 102 may be continuously provided via a pipeline, for example, directly from an alcoholic beverage supply source. In some embodiments, the HG alcoholic beverage 102 may be received via truck, railcar, pipeline, on-site storage, or other vessel. According to the invention, the HG alcoholic beverage 102 has an ABV of 5% to 14%.

[0024] Next, the HG alcoholic beverage 102 is conveyed (e.g., pumped, moved, etc.) along a fluid line to an initial RO dewatering system. The HG alcoholic beverage 102 may be conveyed to an RO system 202 where, according to the invention, the HG alcoholic beverage 102 is converted into a VHG alcoholic beverage (step 304). For example, the RO system 202 may separate the HG alcoholic beverage 102 into separate streams. The streams may comprise a VHG alcoholic beverage stream and a removed water stream. In some embodiments, the water removed via the RO system 202 may be collected in a first water purge 204. As provided above, this water may be reused, recycled, and / or packaged. The VHG alcoholic beverage stream has an ABV between, and including, 16% to 22%.

[0025] The method 300 continues by conveying (e.g., pumping, moving, etc.) the VHG alcoholic beverage along a fluid line to the FO system 206 (step 306). In step 306, the VHG alcoholic beverage and a draw solution are converted into a UHG alcoholic beverage and spent draw solution, respectively. This step increases the gravity of the VHG alcoholic beverage, having an ABV of 16-22%, to a UHG alcoholic beverage, having an ABV of 24-46%. The conversion of the VHG alcoholic beverage into a UHG alcoholic beverage may be similar, if not identical, to the process described in conjunction with the FO system 206 of Fig. 2.

[0026] According to the invention, the spent draw solution is converted into a fresh draw solution by at least one of reverse osmosis or distilling (step 308) (e.g., via a distillation and / or RO system 210) for reintroduction into the FO system 206. Among other things, this process provides an efficient use of water in the system and allows for excess water to be reused, recycled, and / or packaged.

[0027] The process 300 described above may loop continuously, as long as step 302 is provided with an HG alcoholic beverage stream, and as long as the spent draw solution / fresh draw solution exists.

[0028] Embodiments not encompassed by the wording of the claims include a system, comprising: a reverse osmosis subcomponent to receive high gravity alcoholic beverage and output a very-high gravity alcoholic beverage having a greater alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage than the high gravity alcoholic beverage; a forward osmosis subcomponent to receive as an input, the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage and a draw solution and, via forward osmosis, output an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage having a greater ABV percentage than the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage and spent draw solution; and a reverse osmosis system that processes the spent draw solution, via reverse osmosis, producing a fresh draw solution.

[0029] Aspects of the above system not encompassed by the wording of the claims include wherein the fresh draw solution corresponds to dewatered spent draw solution. Aspects of the above system include wherein the high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 5% to 14% ABV. Aspects of the above system include wherein the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 16% to 22% ABV. Aspects of the above system include wherein the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 24% to 46% ABV. Aspects of the above system include wherein the fresh draw solution is fed into the forward osmosis subcomponent as recycled draw solution. Aspects of the above system include wherein the reverse osmosis subcomponent removes an amount of water from the received high gravity alcoholic beverage, and wherein the amount of water is stored in a water purge tank. Aspects of the above system include wherein the forward osmosis subcomponent comprises at least one forward osmosis filter membrane that contacts the high gravity alcoholic beverage, and wherein the at least one forward osmosis filter membrane separates an amount of water from the high gravity alcoholic beverage.

[0030] The method according to the invention is according to appended claim 1.

[0031] Embodiments not encompassed by the wording of the claims include a system, comprising: a high gravity alcoholic beverage conveyed along a fluid line; a reverse osmosis filter comprising a semipermeable membrane that separates the high gravity alcoholic beverage conveyed into separate streams comprising a very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream and a removed water stream, wherein the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream has a greater alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage than the high gravity alcoholic beverage received; and a forward osmosis filter comprising a forward osmosis membrane that contacts the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream exiting the reverse osmosis filter, and wherein the forward osmosis membrane separates an amount of water from the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream, via forward osmosis, producing an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage having a greater ABV percentage than the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream.

[0032] Aspects of the above system not encompassed by the wording of the claims further comprising: a reverse osmosis system that processes the amount of water separated from the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream including spent draw solution, via reverse osmosis, into a fresh draw solution, and wherein the fresh draw solution is recycled and conveyed to the forward osmosis filter for use in separating additional water from the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream. Aspects of the above system include wherein the high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 5% to 14% ABV, wherein the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream is substantially 16% to 22% ABV, and wherein the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 24% to 46% ABV. Aspects of the above system include wherein the processed amount of water separated from the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream comprises potable water that is conveyed in a separate fluid line apart from the fresh draw solution. Aspects of the above system include wherein the high gravity alcoholic beverage is a beer, cider, or an alcoholic malt base.

Claims

1. A method (300) of dewatering an alcoholic beverage, the method comprising: receiving a high gravity alcoholic beverage (302) at an alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage of 5% to 14%; processing the high gravity alcoholic beverage via reverse osmosis to produce a very-high gravity alcoholic beverage (304), wherein the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage is 16% to 22% ABV; processing the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage via forward osmosis to produce an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage (306), wherein the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage is 24% to 46% ABV; and wherein processing the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage via forward osmosis into the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage (306) utilizes a draw solution and produces therefrom a spent draw solution, and wherein the spent draw solution is processed into the draw solution by at least one of reverse osmosis or distilling (308).

2. The method (300) of claim 1, wherein the high gravity alcoholic beverage is received as part of a continuous infeed stream (302).

3. The method (300) of claim 2, wherein processing the high gravity alcoholic beverage via reverse osmosis to produce the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage (304) comprises: conveying the high gravity alcoholic beverage to an initial dewatering station, wherein the initial dewatering station comprises at least one semipermeable membrane that separates the high gravity alcoholic beverage into very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream and a removed water stream.

4. The method (300) of claim 3, wherein processing the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage via forward osmosis to produce the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage (306) comprises: conveying the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream to a secondary dewatering station, wherein the secondary dewatering station comprises at least one forward osmosis filter membrane that contacts the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage, and wherein the at least one forward osmosis filter membrane separates an amount of water from the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream.