Device and system for recovering a protein-containing coagulate from a wort, method for recovering a protein-containing coagulate from a wort, and corresponding uses

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (V) for recovering a protein-containing coagulate from a wort, comprising a multi-chamber system and filter fabrics (F1, F2) made of a polyamide having an average pore size of from 25 to 80 μm. The invention also relates to a method for recovering a protein-containing coagulate from a wort using the device (V) according to the invention. Finally, the invention relates to the use of the device (V) according to the invention for recovering a protein-containing coagulate from a wort, and to the use of the protein-containing coagulate as a food or in the production of a food.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Device and system for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, method for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, and corresponding uses

[0003] Technical area

[0004] The present invention relates to a device for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a protein-containing substrate referred to as wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, according to claim 1, a system for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort according to claim 7, a method for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort according to claim 8, a food or a precursor thereof containing a protein-containing coagulum from a wort according to claim 13, and uses according to claim 14 or 15.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Conventional food, beverage, or beer production processes, which involve the production and thermal treatment of a wort suitable for beer production or other protein-containing substrates, often require the most complete possible separation of the solids contained in the substrate after the thermal treatment. In beer production, for example, the vast majority of breweries use a so-called whirlpool to carry out this step. The solids produced during the thermal treatment of the wort, also known as hot or boiling trub, which also includes the so-called hop trub, are separated using a specific flow pattern utilizing the so-called teacup effect.In addition, other traditional methods are known, such as separation using a cooling vessel or settling tank / settling vat, or more modern methods based on the principle of centrifugation, such as separators or decanters. Similar separation methods for coagulated protein also exist in other production processes.

[0007] The disadvantage of previous methods is their high time expenditure, combined with high thermal stress on the substrate or wort (cooling vessel, settling tank / settling decanter, and whirlpool), or the high power consumption and high acquisition costs of the devices that operate according to the principle of centrifugation as an alternative separation technique. Furthermore, the use of the whirlpool, which is widespread in the brewery industry, has the disadvantage that the resulting hot trub has a comparatively high wort content. This means, on the one hand, a high loss of wort or substrate during solids separation, and, on the other hand, the separated coagulum has a high liquid content and thus a low dry matter content and a comparatively large volume.

[0008] A diatomaceous earth candle filter is rarely used for wort clarification because it has very high operating costs on the one hand and short service life and low capacities on the other.

[0009] There is therefore a lack of a process for separating solids, in particular valuable, protein-containing coagulum, from a (hot) wort, which overcomes at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0010] It is known that during the thermal treatment of wort, i.e. keeping it hot or boiling it, a solid precipitates, also called hot or cooking trub, which contains, among other things, a protein-rich coagulum. Since the hot trub can also contain hop components, the so-called hop trub, depending on the hopping of the wort, the hot trub is often applied to the spent grain cake during lautering of the subsequent brew and washed out with it during skimming to reduce wort losses and thus extract losses. However, any use of the hot trub beyond the recovery of extract and hop components has not yet been practiced or proposed. Consequently, there are currently no ways of extracting valuable proteins from wort, which comes from beer production, for example, in such a way that they can be used for further purposes, for example as food or in food production.The need for new or alternative sources of food-grade protein has recently increased.

[0011] Object of the present invention

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and / or a corresponding device by means of which a protein-containing coagulum can be obtained from a protein-containing substrate referred to as wort, for example from a wort from beer production, and preferably provided in a consistency suitable as a food or in the production of a food. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide corresponding uses.

[0013] Definitions related to the invention

[0014] In the context of the present invention, "wort" is understood to mean a liquid, protein-containing substrate that is produced during the production of a food or is suitable for the production of a food. According to the invention, the "wort" is an aqueous extract produced using ground and optionally digested plant components or exclusively from these plant components and water. According to the invention, the "wort" can be limited to a purely plant-based basis. The wort can undergo thermal treatment or other process-related treatments during its production or further processing.

[0015] According to the invention, “wort from beer production” or “beer wort” is understood to mean the definition of “wort” familiar to those skilled in the brewing industry, i.e. an aqueous extract based on at least one plant carbohydrate source, containing sugars that are fermentable by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Deviating from this usual definition, the term “beer wort” or “wort from beer production” can additionally encompass a fermentation product in which a beer wort has been partially or completely subjected to fermentation and optionally storage, which the skilled person usually refers to as beer. The statement “from beer production” in relation to wort means that the wort originates from beer production, in particular from the brewing process, or is at least suitable for beer production, for example because it is fermentable.According to the inventive definition, the term "wort" includes the terms "wort from beer production" and "beer wort" as defined above. According to the invention, the "wort" may contain solid and / or dissolved hop constituents or be free of hop constituents. According to the invention, the "wort" may contain husk or spent grain constituents or preferably be free of husk or spent grain constituents (<1%, preferably <0.1%, husk or spent grain constituents based on the dry matter of the wort). According to the invention, the term "wort from beer production" or "beer wort" may also include an aqueous suspension of trub (hot trub and / or cool trub) produced during wort production.

[0016] According to the invention, the term “boiling” of the wort means a bubbling or bubbling boiling or boiling of the wort at the boiling or boiling temperature.

[0017] Accordingly, the term "boiling temperature" of the wort, according to the invention, means the temperature or temperature range at which the wort exhibits bubbling or bubbling. The boiling temperature depends on the composition of the wort and, in particular, on the pressure applied to the wort. Examples of boiling temperatures are 100 °C or a range of 98 to 102 °C.

[0018] According to the invention, "keeping the wort hot" means keeping the temperature of the wort between the boiling temperature and 8 °C below the boiling temperature, preferably between the boiling temperature and 6 °C below the boiling temperature, in particular between the boiling temperature and 4 °C below the boiling temperature. Accordingly, the term "keeping the wort hot" according to the invention encompasses a temperature range between the boiling temperature and 8 °C below the boiling temperature, preferably between the boiling temperature and 6 °C below the boiling temperature, in particular between the boiling temperature and 4 °C below the boiling temperature. Examples of the keeping temperature are the temperature ranges 92 to 100 °C, 94 to 100 °C or 96 to 100 °C.

[0019] According to the invention, the term "knocking out" of the wort means drawing off or discharging the wort from a heat-holding / cooking device, for example a wort kettle (brew kettle), a wort heater or a wort heat-holding device, preferably after the completion of the cooking or keeping of the wort.

[0020] According to the invention, the term "fluid connection" between the separating device and a vessel or between two vessels is understood to mean an immediate, direct connection via a line or hose suitable for transferring a fluid, in particular the wort. Unless otherwise stated in the present disclosure, there is no further device, such as a heat exchanger or a buffer storage, between the separating device and the one vessel or between the two vessels; however, this does not include fittings typically provided in lines, such as valves, flaps, sensors, seals, flanges, pipe connections, or the like.

[0021] According to the invention, the term "polyamide" refers to a thermoplastic polymer made of polymers with regularly repeating amide bonds along the main chain, which can be produced, for example, by polycondensation of a diamine (e.g., hexamethylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine) and a dicarboxylic acid (e.g., adipic acid, dodecanedioic acid, terephthalic acid) or several units of an aminocarboxylic acid (e.g., 11-aminoundecanoic acid) or by ring-opening polymerization of cyclic amides (e.g., laurolactam, ε-caprolactam). The inventive definition of polyamide includes homopolyamides and copolyamides with different chain lengths, as well as mixtures thereof.

[0022] Summary of the invention

[0023] The above-mentioned object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0024] Thus, according to the invention, a device for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, is proposed, wherein the device comprises at least: a head plate (KP); an end plate (EP); a first separating plate (TP1); a first filter fabric (F1); and a second filter fabric (F2); wherein the head plate (KP), the first filter fabric (F1), the first separating plate (TP1), the second filter fabric (F2), and the end plate (EP) are stacked along a central axis (MV) of the device (V), joined together, and separable from one another; and wherein the head plate (KP) preferably has at least one fluid passage (FD) to the outside; and wherein the end plate (EP) preferably has at least one fluid passage (FD) to the outside; and wherein at least one plate selected from the first separating plate (TP1), the head plate (KP), and the end plate (EP), preferably the first separating plate (TP1) or the head plate (KP)and the end plate (EP) is designed as a size-variable plate (VP), wherein the size-variable plate (VP) has an interior space (PI) and the size-variable plate (VP) is expandable by filling its interior space (PI) with a fluid in one direction or in both directions along the central axis (MV) of the device (V), wherein the interior space (PI) is fillable and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the first filter fabric (Fl) is arranged between the head plate (KP) and the first separating plate (TP1); wherein the second filter fabric (F2) is arranged between the first separating plate (TP1) and the end plate (EP); wherein a first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (Fl); wherein a first filtrate chamber (FK1) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (Fl); where the first unfiltered chamber (UK1) and thefirst filtrate chamber (FK1) can each be filled and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein a second filtrate chamber (FK2) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) and the second filtrate chamber (FK2) can each be filled and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the plate directly adjacent to the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); wherein the plate directly adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); and wherein the first filter fabric (F1) and the second filter fabric (F2) each comprise a filter fabric made of a polyamide with an average pore size of 25 to 80 pm, preferably30 to 70 pm, in particular 35 to 60 pm, measured according to ASTM F 316:2003. This means that the first filter fabric (F1), the second filter fabric (F2), and any further filter fabrics are each a filter fabric made of a polyamide with an average pore size of 25 to 80 pm, preferably 30 to 70 pm, in particular 35 to 60 pm, measured according to ASTM F 316:2003. Within the scope of the present invention, the average pore size of the filter fabric is determined according to ASTM F 316:2003. All average pore sizes stated in the present application were determined using this method. The filter fabric according to the invention can have a single-layer or multi-layer structure. Polyamide monofilaments are preferably used for the filter fabric according to the invention. Filter fabrics suitable according to the invention are, for example: Filter fabrics made of polyamide monofilament with the following properties:

[0025] In the filter fabric used in the device according to the invention, the air permeability is preferably 40 to 800 L / dm 2 / min, especially 50 to 600 L / dm 2 / min, measured according to EN ISO 9237:1995, also published as the German version DIN EN ISO 9237:1995-12. All air permeabilities stated in this application were determined using this method. If the upper limit of the air permeability is not exceeded, reliable separation of the coagulate particles and thus low protein loss is ensured. Conversely, if the lower limit is not exceeded, sufficiently rapid liquid passage through the filter fabric and thus a sufficiently high filtration rate is ensured.

[0026] In the device according to the invention, the head plate is the plate that closes off the device to the outside and can be regarded as the first plate. Correspondingly, the end plate is the plate arranged at the end opposite the head plate, which also closes off the device to the outside and can be regarded as the last plate. In principle, the head plate and the end plate can have an identical shape; however, they can also be different from one another. The head plate, the separating plate(s), and the end plate of the device according to the invention are each made of a material suitable for a generic filtration device, such as plastic, steel, stainless steel, or combinations thereof.Elastic components that allow, for example, the partition plate or, in other embodiments, the head plate and / or the end plate to be stretched in a specific direction by filling them with fluid, preferably contain or consist of elastic plastics, rubber, caoutchouc, or other materials suitable for this purpose. Suitable fluids for filling the variable-size plate (VP) include, for example, water or air.

[0027] In the device according to the invention, the head plate, the first filter fabric, the first separating plate, the second filter fabric, and the end plate are arranged along the center axis of the device, preferably in this order. In the ready-to-use state, the above-described components of the device are joined together in such a way that when the unfiltered wort chambers are filled with hot or cold wort, no wort can escape to the outside except through the fluid passages provided for this purpose. To ensure the tightness of the device according to the invention, a seal can also be provided between adjacent plates or between the filter fabric and the plate, if necessary. Such a seal can be achieved, for example, by providing gaskets or sealing profiles or other suitable means known to those skilled in the art.The sealing means can be provided as separate seal(s) or sealing plate(s) between the above-described components or parts of the device, or can be integrated into or attached to the head plate, first partition plate, and / or end plate as sealing profile(s). If a sealing means is provided in the device according to the invention, it should preferably be heat-resistant and sealable at temperatures of at least 100°C, preferably up to 120°C or 130°C.

[0028] At least one, preferably several, of the plates selected from the first partition plate (TP1), the head plate (KP), and the end plate (EP), preferably the first partition plate (TP1) or the head plate (KP) and the end plate (EP), is designed as a size-variable plate (VP), wherein the size-variable plate (VP) has an interior space (PI), and the size-variable plate (VP) is expandable in one direction or in both directions along the center axis (MV) of the device (V) by filling its interior space (PI) with a fluid, wherein the interior space (PI) is fillable and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD). If the interior space of the plate is filled with the fluid, the plate expands in one direction or in both directions along the center axis of the device. The expandability can be due to the design and / or material.Thus, according to the invention, one or more "expandable" interior spaces can be provided on the following components of the device according to the invention at least according to the following arrangements: only on the first partition plate, only on the head plate, only on the end plate, on the head plate and on the end plate, on the head plate and on the first partition plate, or on the end plate and on the first partition plate. Further arrangement possibilities are not excluded by the invention, especially if additional plates are provided.

[0029] In particular, the number of possible arrangements increases if one or more separating plates and the same number of further filter fabrics are provided in the device according to the invention. The present invention therefore also encompasses embodiments in which the components referred to here as the first separating plate or further separating plate do not have an elastic function in the sense of extensibility. Instead, this function can be taken over by other components, such as the head plate and / or the end plate and / or other separating plates. Thus, the first separating plate according to the invention does not necessarily have to have a membrane or expansion function and can also be a simple plate, as long as the device has at least one, better at least two components with an expansion function, which can be, for example, the head plate and / or the end plate.

[0030] The plate of the device according to the invention which has an interior space for expanding the component or parts thereof has at least one fluid passage to the outside which enables the interior space to be filled and emptied with a fluid.

[0031] According to the invention, the first filter fabric and the second filter fabric are typically made of the same material. However, the invention is not limited to this and can also provide different materials for the first filter fabric and the second filter fabric. It is important, however, that the filter fabric used in the device according to the invention is made of a polyamide, as this has a higher temperature resistance compared to other materials commonly used in chamber filter presses. As a result, the device according to the invention is also suitable for efficiently and stably filtering hot wort shortly after knocking out (> 90 °C) or even during wort boiling (approx. 100 °C). The same applies if the device according to the invention has additional filter fabrics.

[0032] The inventors' investigations have further shown that for the filter fabrics used according to the invention (first and second filter fabrics and possibly others), which are made of polyamide, the average pore size or mesh size must be between 25 and 80 pm, measured according to ASTM F 316:2003, in order to achieve a satisfactory filtration effect in terms of adequate retention of the coagulum to be separated and, above all, a suitable consistency of the separated, protein-containing coagulum. If the average pore size of the polyamide filter fabrics used is smaller than 25 pm, the outflow of the hot wort is impeded and the liquid throughput is too low. Conversely, if the average pore size of the polyamide filter fabrics used is larger than 80 pm, the separation of the solids is inadequate and valuable coagulum is lost.As the studies have shown, an average pore size in the range of 30 to 70 pm, especially around 60 pm (± 5 pm; 55 to 65 pm), is particularly advantageous for achieving sufficiently rapid and sufficiently complete separation of the desired protein coagulate fractions from the wort, such as the hot trub from the wort, with the polyamide filter fabrics used. In contrast, the pore size of conventional mash filters is approximately 150 to 200 pm, measured according to ASTM F 316:2003, although the filter materials can also be made of another plastic, such as preferably polypropylene, which is excluded by the invention.

[0033] The top plate, the first filter fabric, the first separating plate, the second filter fabric, and the end plate are preferably arranged in this order. The stacked arrangement can be liquid-tight, with the exception of the fluid passages (FD).

[0034] The aforementioned arrangement of the components, supplemented if necessary by appropriate sealing means as described above, results in a compact and simple design of the device according to the invention consisting of few components. By arranging the first separating plate, which in this case is suitable for expansion in both directions along the center axis of the device by filling its interior with a fluid, between the first filter fabric and the second filter fabric, it is possible to simultaneously press out the first unfiltered material chamber and the second unfiltered material chamber by filling the interior of the separating plate with a fluid.

[0035] The device according to the invention can, however, also additionally comprise a second separating plate (TP2) and a third filter fabric (F3). The device according to the invention can have the following structure: a head plate (KP), a first filter fabric (F1), a first separating plate (TP1), a second filter fabric (F2), a second separating plate (TP2), a third filter fabric (F3), and an end plate (EP), preferably arranged in this order. The above disclosure for the separating plates and filter fabric according to the invention applies analogously to the second separating plate (TP2) and the third filter fabric (F3).

[0036] Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention may be defined as follows:

[0037] A device for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, the device comprising at least: a head plate (KP); an end plate (EP); a first separating plate (TP1); a second separating plate (TP2); a first filter fabric (F1); a second filter fabric (F2); and a third filter fabric (F3); wherein the head plate (KP), the first filter fabric (F1), the first separating plate (TP1), the second filter fabric (F2), the second separating plate (TP2), the third filter fabric (F3), and the end plate (EP) are arranged stacked along a central axis (MV) of the device (V), joined together, and separable from one another;and wherein at least one plate selected from the first partition plate (TP1), the second partition plate (TP2), the head plate (KP), and the end plate (EP) is designed as a size-variable plate (VP), wherein the size-variable plate (VP) has an interior space (PI), and the size-variable plate (VP) is expandable in one direction or in both directions along the central axis (MV) of the device (V) by filling its interior space (PI) with a fluid, wherein the interior space (PI) is fillable and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the first filter fabric (F1) is arranged between the head plate (KP) and the first partition plate (TP1); wherein the second filter fabric (F2) is arranged between the first partition plate (TP1) and the second partition plate (TP2); wherein the third filter fabric (F3) is arranged between the second partition plate (TP2) and the end plate (EP);wherein a first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (Fl); wherein a first filtrate chamber (FK1) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (Fl); wherein the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) and the first filtrate chamber (FK1) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein a second filtrate chamber (FK2) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) and the second filtrate chamber (FK2) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD);wherein a third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the third filter fabric (F3); wherein a third filtrate chamber (FK3) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the third filter fabric (F3); wherein the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) and the third filtrate chamber (FK3) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the plate directly adjacent to the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); wherein the plate directly adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); and wherein the plate directly adjacent to the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP);and wherein the first filter fabric (F1), the second filter fabric (F2) and the third filter fabric (F3) are each a filter fabric made of a polyamide having an average pore size of 25 to 80 pm, preferably 30 to 70 pm, in particular 35 to 60 pm, measured according to ASTM F 316:2003;

[0038] The head plate (KP), the first filter fabric (F1), the first separating plate (TP1), the second filter fabric (F2), the second separating plate (TP2), the third filter fabric (F3), and the end plate (EP) are preferably arranged in this order. The stacked arrangement can be liquid-tight, with the exception of the fluid passages (FD). In this embodiment, the device according to the invention is expanded according to claim 1 by at least one separating plate and one filter fabric.

[0039] Overall, the use of the device according to the invention enables the extraction of a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, wherein the coagulum, as a result of the extraction according to the invention, surprisingly has a consistency particularly suitable for use as a food or in the production of foodstuffs, for example as an additive to food production, namely a consistency similar to filata cheese, i.e. with thread-like, ribbon-like and / or layer-like structural characteristics. Using the separation techniques and processes previously available, for example from breweries for beer wort clarification, a protein-containing product with such a consistency cannot be extracted from a beer wort. The protein-containing coagulum obtained according to the invention can be used, for example, for the production of products such as protein bars, protein drinks or as an additive in other foods such as bread and meat substitutes.

[0040] A particularly advantageous and homogeneous consistency of the filtered coagulum is achieved with the device according to the invention if the wort is filtered with the device according to the invention during its thermal treatment, i.e., during boiling or holding, and preferably before the first hop addition in the case of beer wort. If the wort is filtered before the first hop addition (containing a solid load, such as hop cones or pellets; excluding fluid hop extracts), the filtration residue has a particularly homogeneous and fine structure. Furthermore, a bitter taste of the obtained coagulum can be effectively avoided with this procedure, if desired.

[0041] Conventional wort clarification devices that employ filtration, such as a diatomaceous earth filter, follow the principle of depth filtration, in which a necessary filter layer (filter cake) is built up, and the separation of solids from the wort takes place deep within the filter layer. In contrast, the device according to the invention is essentially designed as a surface filtration based on the separation of solid particles on the surface of the filter fabric. Surface filtration of hot wort has not been implemented to date, as rapid blocking of the filter surface was observed in the previous approaches, and the previous approaches had therefore proven unusable. This problem can surprisingly be overcome by the present invention.The inventors suspect that the specific combination of the material of the filter fabrics used according to the invention and their limited pore size range led to a significant improvement in the surface filtration of hot wort.

[0042] In contrast to, for example, diatomaceous earth filtration, the surface filtration according to the invention does not require any filter aid or the step of building a filter layer, for example, by precoating, so that the use of filter aids can be eliminated according to the invention. This allows for material and time savings.

[0043] The head plate of the device according to the invention can have at least one fluid passage, preferably two, three, or four fluid passages. The fluid passage(s) can serve, for example, to supply the unfiltered wort to one or more of the unfiltered wort chambers and / or to remove the filtered wort from the filtrate plate(s). The same applies to the end plate and the separation plate(s).

[0044] Compared to conventional wort clarification devices, in particular the whirlpool in the brewery, the device according to the invention has the following advantages:

[0045] The space and room requirements of the device according to the invention are thus significantly reduced compared to a whirlpool with a comparable throughput. In addition, the operation of the device according to the invention is considerably shortened compared to using a whirlpool, since filling and emptying of the device can be accomplished more quickly and, moreover, the so-called whirlpool rest is completely eliminated when using the device according to the invention. Thus, with the device according to the invention, the filtered wort can be drawn off immediately after filling has begun, which is not possible with a whirlpool or a diatomaceous earth filter due to the formation of the filter layer. This can result in a time saving of at least 30%, but usually at least 50%, compared to using a whirlpool. Accordingly, the thermal stress on the wort is also significantly reduced when using the device according to the invention.Furthermore, the device according to the invention can dispense with a powerful transfer pump for the wort, as is required in a whirlpool for the tangential introduction of the wort. However, the invention can also provide for the device according to the invention to be installed downstream of the whirlpool in the brewery in order to extract and effectively separate any remaining valuable, coagulated protein from the wort that was not separated in the whirlpool. This allows the device according to the invention to be easily integrated into existing production lines and systems, even retrospectively, thus improving the yield of protein extraction or recovery, for example, in a food production process such as beer production.

[0046] By providing the variable-size plate(s), the filter residue can be pressed against the filter fabric in the device according to the invention, which on the one hand allows a larger amount of wort to be obtained than before, and on the other hand allows the remaining filter residue, such as the hot trub, to be discharged from the device in a much "drier" state, i.e. with a significantly lower liquid content. The filter residue is discharged by simply opening the device and separating or separating the various plates in the direction of the device's central axis, whereby the filter residue falls downwards out of the device under the force of gravity, which can be accomplished quickly and easily. After the filter residue has been discharged, the device according to the invention can be cleaned if necessary and quickly and easily returned to operational readiness by reassembling the components.This means that the device according to the invention is available for filtering the next batch of wort after only a short downtime. In contrast, the hot trub remaining after the wort has been drawn off during separation in the whirlpool is usually removed from the whirlpool by spraying it with fresh water, which reduces the dry matter content of the hot trub and increases water consumption in the brewhouse. These disadvantages are also avoided with the device according to the invention.

[0047] Thus, the device according to the invention achieves a reduction in the time required to obtain the protein-containing coagulum and to clarify the wort, combined with a lower thermal load on the wort (compared to cooling vessels, settling tanks / settling decanters, and whirlpools), and avoids high power consumption and high acquisition costs, unlike devices that operate according to the centrifugation principle. Furthermore, the solid residue obtained from the widely used whirlpool, in particular, has a comparatively high wort content. This means, on the one hand, a high loss of wort during solid separation; on the other hand, the remaining solid has a high liquid content and thus a low dry matter content and a comparatively large volume.

[0048] Furthermore, in the case of a brewery, the diameter-to-height ratio plays a crucial role in the formation of the trub cone during clarification in a whirlpool, and thus in the efficiency of the separation process. This means that the whirlpool is ideally adapted to and fixed to a batch size (brew volume) and a specific wort composition. In this case, the device according to the invention proves to be significantly more flexible, as the device is not limited to a specific batch / brew size or batch / brew composition, but can be used flexibly for varying batch sizes.

[0049] Furthermore, the device according to the invention is characterized not only by its high flexibility regarding batch size and raw materials, but also by significantly lower investment requirements compared to conventional processes. Furthermore, due to its small footprint, it can be easily and flexibly retrofitted into existing systems.

[0050] The device according to the invention may further comprise one or more sensors for measuring the pressure and / or temperature of the incoming wort or for measuring the pressure and / or temperature in the interior of the membrane plate. For example, a pressure transducer may be arranged in the wort supply line.

[0051] When using the device according to the invention, pressures are built up within it, particularly in the unfiltered wort chambers, for example, to further separate the coagulum from the wort. Therefore, the device according to the invention must be pressure-resistant, mechanically stable, and / or liquid-tight within a pressure range of > 1.5 to 2.5 bar (> 150,000 Pa to 250,000 Pa), preferably > 1.5 to 3.0 bar (> 150,000 Pa to 300,000 Pa), in particular > 1.5 to 4.0 bar (> 150,000 Pa to 400,000 Pa), measured in the unfiltered wort chambers.

[0052] The device according to the invention is suitable for wort filtration in batch or continuous operation.

[0053] Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0054] In one embodiment, the device according to the invention can comprise: a head plate (KP); an end plate (EP); a first separating plate (TP1); a second separating plate (TP2); a third separating plate (TP3); a first filter fabric (F1); a second filter fabric (F2); a third filter fabric (F3); and a fourth filter fabric (F4); wherein the head plate (KP), the first filter fabric (F1), the first separating plate (TP1), the second filter fabric (F2), the second separating plate (TP2), the third filter fabric (F3), the third separating plate (TP3), the fourth filter fabric (F4), and the end plate (EP) are arranged stacked along a central axis (MV) of the device (V), are joined together, and can be separated from one another;and wherein at least one plate selected from the first partition plate (TP1), the second partition plate (TP2), the third partition plate (TP3), the head plate (KP), and the end plate (EP) is designed as a variable-size plate (VP), wherein the variable-size plate (VP) has an interior space (PI), and the variable-size plate (VP) is expandable by filling its interior space (PI) with a fluid in one direction or in both directions along the central axis (MV) of the device (V), wherein the interior space (PI) is fillable and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the first filter fabric (F1) is arranged between the head plate (KP) and the first partition plate (TP1); wherein the second filter fabric (F2) is arranged between the first partition plate (TP1) and the second partition plate (TP2); wherein the third filter fabric (F3) is arranged between the second partition plate (TP2) and the third partition plate (TP3);wherein the fourth filter fabric (F4) is arranged between the third separating plate (TP3) and the end plate (EP); wherein a first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (F1); wherein a first filtrate chamber (FK1) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (F1); wherein the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) and the first filtrate chamber (FK1) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein a second filtrate chamber (FK2) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2);wherein the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) and the second filtrate chamber (FK2) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the third filter fabric (F3); wherein a third filtrate chamber (FK3) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the third filter fabric (F3); wherein the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) and the third filtrate chamber (FK3) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a fourth unfiltrate chamber (UK4) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the fourth filter fabric (F4); wherein a fourth filtrate chamber (FK4) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the fourth filter fabric (F4);wherein the fourth unfiltrate chamber (UK4) and the fourth filtrate chamber (FK4) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the plate immediately adjacent to the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); wherein the plate immediately adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); and wherein the plate immediately adjacent to the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); wherein the plate immediately adjacent to the fourth unfiltrate chamber (UK4) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); and wherein the first filter fabric (F1), the second filter fabric (F2), the third filter fabric (F3) and the fourth filter fabric (F4) are each a filter fabric made of a polyamide having an average pore size of 25 to 80 μm, preferably 30 to 70 μm, in particular 35 to 60 μm, measured according to ASTM F 316:2003;

[0055] The top plate (KP), the first filter mesh (F1), the first separating plate (TP1), the second filter mesh (F2), the second separating plate (TP2), the third filter mesh (F3), the third separating plate (TP3), the fourth filter mesh (F4), and the end plate (EP) are preferably arranged in this order. The stacked arrangement can be liquid-tight, with the exception of the fluid passages (FD).

[0056] In this embodiment, the device according to the invention is as claimed in claim

[0057] 1 extended by at least two separating plates and two filter fabrics.

[0058] On the one hand, this increases, i.e., at least doubles, the filtration capacity of the device according to the invention with limited additional expenditure in terms of material and components or plates. On the other hand, with a total of four unfiltrate / filtrate chamber combinations, each of which is independent of the other pair (or pairs), a continuous filtration method can be implemented even more easily, as the expanded device according to the invention offers more options for switching or switching the wort flow to the various unfiltrate chambers.

[0059] The head plate KP, the first filter fabric F1, the first separating plate TP1, the second filter fabric F2, the second separating plate TP2, the third filter fabric F3, the third separating plate TP3, the fourth filter fabric F4, and the end plate (EP) are preferably arranged in this order. The stacked arrangement can be liquid-tight, with the exception of the fluid passages (FD).

[0060] In a manner analogous to the arrangement of the embodiment described above, the above-mentioned arrangement of the components in the expanded embodiment of the device according to the invention, supplemented if necessary by corresponding sealing means as described above, also achieves a compact and simple construction of the device according to the invention. It is particularly advantageous if, in the device according to the invention, a separating plate designed as a size-variable plate is arranged directly adjacent to two unfiltrate chambers, i.e., the separating plate is arranged between two unfiltrate chambers. This makes it possible to squeeze out two unfiltrate chambers simultaneously and with the same intensity by expanding the interior of the size-variable plate.

[0061] A particularly advantageous feature of the above-described embodiment is that it allows for continuous wort filtration. Thus, filtration can initially take place via the first and second unfiltered wort chambers until they are filled or their capacity is exhausted, and a pressure increase occurs due to wort backflow. At this point, filtration can continue uninterrupted using the third and fourth filtration chambers, i.e., switching to these chambers can be performed while the filter residue in the first and second unfiltered wort chambers is pressed out by expanding the first partition plate and filling its interior.After pressing out the filter residue, drawing off the wort, emptying the pressed filter residue by opening the first and second filter chambers, and restoring / closing the first and second filter chambers by joining the head plate, the first separating plate, and the second separating plate with the first and second filter meshes arranged in between, the first and second unfiltered chambers are ready for wort filtration again. Switching from filtration through the third and fourth unfiltered chambers back to the first and second unfiltered chambers preferably occurs upon a certain pressure increase in the third and fourth unfiltered chambers or after a predefined wort volume has flowed through. The third and fourth unfiltered chambers are then opened, emptied, and reassembled in the same way as the first and second unfiltered chambers.

[0062] In a further preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention can further comprise a collecting container for the filtration residue, wherein the collecting container is arranged in the device in such a way that, upon opening the device and / or separating the stacked components of the device, falling filtration residue can be collected by the collecting container. The collecting container can serve to receive and, if necessary, also to transport the filter residue out of the device. It is particularly preferred if the filtration residue can be removed from the collecting container in a fully automated manner. It is particularly advantageous, because it saves space and requires the least amount of material, if the collecting container can receive the filtration residue from all unfiltered material chambers of the device.

[0063] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device according to the invention can have at least one opening and closing mechanism based on a scissor mechanism for joining and / or separating at least two of the components of the device, selected from the group consisting of: the head plate, the first separating plate, optionally the second separating plate, optionally the third separating plate and the end plate.

[0064] The use of such an opening and closing mechanism is a structurally simple solution for quickly opening and closing the various components of the device according to the invention. This enables rapid emptying of the filter residue, thus minimizing the technical downtime required to empty the filter chambers and restoring operational readiness as quickly as possible. Furthermore, an opening and closing mechanism based on a scissor mechanism provides sufficient cohesion between the device components to ensure fluid-tight operation.The use of a scissor-type opening and closing mechanism in the device according to the invention is also possible because, compared to a conventional chamber filter press, the device according to the invention has a smaller number of axially stacked components and thus a shorter overall length. As a result, the distance a component must overcome when opening or closing the device is significantly shorter compared to conventional chamber filter presses, so that the mechanism provided for opening and closing can be designed more simply according to the invention.

[0065] A particular advantage of the device according to the invention is that it does not require mechanically complex or difficult-to-operate components such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder to join and hold the individual components or plates together during operation of the device, as is the case with conventional chamber filter presses. Therefore, a simplified and less complex opening and closing mechanism, such as that explained in detail above, is entirely sufficient for the operation of the device according to the invention.

[0066] The advantageously simple construction of the device according to the invention is also evident in the fact that a plurality of components and elements can be dispensed with. Thus, it can be provided that the device according to the invention

[0067] • does not have a device for supplying water to the first unfiltered chamber (UK1) and the second unfiltered chamber (UK2) or to the first unfiltered chamber (UK1), the second unfiltered chamber (UK2) and the third unfiltered chamber (UK3), or to the first unfiltered chamber (UK1), the second unfiltered chamber (UK2), the third unfiltered chamber (UK3) and the fourth unfiltered chamber (UK4); and / or

[0068] • does not have a device for hydraulically or pneumatically pressing or compressing the device (V) in the direction of the central axis (MV) of the device (V), preferably no hydraulic or pneumatic pressing cylinder; and / or

[0069] • does not have a device for sparging or rinsing a filter cake present in the device (V); and / or

[0070] • does not have an equalizing vessel for a filtrate.

[0071] In a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the device according to the invention, preferably a fluid passage (FD) of at least one of the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1), the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2), the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3), and the fourth unfiltrate chamber (UK4), preferably of all existing unfiltrate chambers, is in fluid communication with a wort boiling or wort hot-holding device, a wort knock-out line, a hop treatment device, or a solids separation device, preferably a whirlpool or settling decanter. Additionally or alternatively, the device according to the invention, preferably a fluid passage (FD) of at least one of the first filtrate chamber (FK1), the second filtrate chamber (FK2), the third filtrate chamber (FK3), and the fourth filtrate chamber (FK4), preferably of all existing filtrate chambers, can be in fluid communication with a wort cooler.

[0072] The fluid connection between the device according to the invention and the wort boiling or wort hot-holding device, for example via the knock-out line, makes it possible to feed the hot wort from the wort boiling or wort hot-holding device directly to the device according to the invention for separating the solids from the wort. The invention is not limited to the wort being fed to the device according to the invention only after the thermal treatment has been completed. Rather, the invention provides for the possibility of feeding the hot wort to the device according to the invention during the thermal treatment and / or after the thermal treatment has been completed. The wort can then be fed back to the thermal treatment after the solids have been separated in the device according to the invention, so that after the thermal treatment has been completed, the wort can be cooled directly if necessary without further separation of solids.

[0073] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device according to the invention can be provided in fluid communication with a solids separation device (e.g., a whirlpool) and arranged downstream of it, i.e., downstream of it. In addition, the device according to the invention can be in fluid communication with a wort cooler.

[0074] As discussed above, the advantage of this arrangement is that the protein coagulum not yet separated from the wort by the solids separation device can be extracted and effectively separated, thus increasing the yield of separated, recovered protein. Thus, according to the invention, the wort can be clarified directly from the thermal treatment using the device according to the invention and immediately subsequently fed to the wort cooler for cooling. This eliminates the need for a whirlpool or other device intended for solids separation.

[0075] Alternatively, the device according to the invention can be installed downstream of a solids separation device and used to extract valuable ingredients, such as protein coagulates, from the already pre-clarified wort after solids separation. In this way, existing brewing systems can continue to be used, and the device according to the invention can be advantageously integrated into existing systems.

[0076] Furthermore, the invention can provide for the entire wort volume produced, e.g., a brew, to be passed through the device or system according to the invention in one of the arrangements described herein, or only a portion of the wort volume. Thus, in one embodiment, for example, the remaining 25% or 50% of the brew volume still present in a whirlpool can be passed through the device or system according to the invention, while the first 75% or 50% of the brew volume to drain from the whirlpool are fed directly to the wort cooler.

[0077] Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that a part of a produced wort volume, e.g. a brew, is moved from the wort kettle via the whirlpool and then fed directly to the wort cooler or is subsequently moved via the device or the system according to the invention and then fed to the wort cooler, while the other part of the wort volume is clarified only by means of the device or the system according to the invention.

[0078] Furthermore, the invention can provide for the majority of the wort, e.g., > 80% or > 90% of the volume, to be clarified via a whirlpool or a comparable device and subsequently cooled, while the coagulum is extracted using the device according to the invention from the residual wort and / or a suspension obtained by rinsing the trub cone from the whirlpool. This allows additional valuable components of the hot trub to be extracted and separated according to the invention.

[0079] In an analogous manner, a suspension containing chilled trub can also be separated according to the invention to obtain the protein-containing coagulum.

[0080] Finally, it is advantageous if the device according to the invention is liquid-tight when assembled, with the exception of the fluid passages (FD). This prevents or at least reduces the loss of valuable wort and the risk of microbiological infection of the wort and the protein coagulum.

[0081] Two or more of the optional features and embodiments of the device according to the invention discussed herein can be combined with one another as desired within the scope of the present invention—as far as technically feasible—and can further specify the device according to the invention. The resulting combinations of features thus represent particular embodiments of the device according to the invention.

[0082] Furthermore, the device V according to the invention is not limited to the components and features discussed above. Thus, in addition to suitable piping for supplying the unfiltered wort to the device and removing the filtered wort from the device, the device can also comprise conventional components known to those skilled in the art, such as temperature or pressure transducers. For example, the unfiltered wort chamber UK and / or the interior PI and / or the corresponding unfiltered wort supply line can contain a pressure transducer and / or a flow meter to record corresponding measured values. Furthermore, the device according to the invention can comprise the components typically included in generic devices, such as seals, valves, flaps, pumps, and cleaning equipment, without this being specifically mentioned here.Within the scope of the present invention, a system for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, is also proposed, wherein the system (S) has at least a first device (VI) and a second device (V2), wherein both devices VI, V2 are devices according to the invention.

[0083] The first device according to the invention and the second device according to the invention can be interconnected in such a way that they can be used simultaneously, at different times, or alternately one after the other to filter the wort. This allows the system according to the invention to effectively implement continuous filtration. Otherwise, the advantages discussed above for the device according to the invention apply analogously to the system according to the invention.

[0084] In an advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention, the system (S) comprises a collecting container (TR) for a filtration residue. The collecting container (TR) is arranged in the system (S) in such a way that, upon opening of the first device (VI) and the second device (V2), falling filtration residue can be collected by the collecting container (TR).

[0085] This means that only a single collecting container is required, even if the system has two devices according to the invention.

[0086] The above-mentioned object is further achieved by the process according to the invention. Thus, a process for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, is proposed, wherein an inventive device (V) as described above or an inventive system (S) as described above is used to obtain the protein-containing coagulum. The process comprises at least the following steps: (a) preferably keeping the wort hot or boiling it at at least 85°C for at least 10 minutes;

[0087] (b) providing the device (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or a system (S) according to claim 7, wherein the device (V) or the first device (VI) and the second device (V2) of the system (S) is / are liquid-tight with the exception of the fluid passages (FD);

[0088] (c) filling the first unfiltered chamber (UK1) and the second unfiltered chamber (UK2) of the device (V) with the wort;

[0089] (d) filtering the wort present in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) through the first filter fabric (F1), collecting the filtered wort in the first filtrate chamber (FK1) and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the first filtrate chamber (FK1); and filtering the wort present in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) through the second filter fabric (F2), collecting the filtered wort in the second filtrate chamber (FK2) and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the second filtrate chamber (FK2);

[0090] (e) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar (150,000 Pa), or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the first unfiltered chamber (UK1), terminating the flow of the wort into the first unfiltered chamber (UK1);

[0091] (f) filling the interior (PI) of the size-variable plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) with a fluid in such a way that the contents of the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) are compressed by a pressure increase of the fluid in its interior (PI) to a pressure in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) of up to 2.5 bar (250,000 Pa), and maintaining the pressure in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue therein is pressed out through the first filter fabric (Fl) with wort flowing out;

[0092] (g) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar (150,000 Pa), or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the second unfiltered chamber (UK2), terminating the flow of the wort into the second unfiltered chamber (UK2); and

[0093] (h) Filling the interior (PI) of the size-variable plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) with a fluid in such a way that the contents of the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) are compressed by a pressure increase of the fluid in its interior (PI) to a pressure in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) of up to 2.5 bar (250,000 Pa), and maintaining the pressure in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue therein is pressed out through the second filter fabric (F2) with wort flowing out.

[0094] The process according to the invention is preferably carried out in the order of steps (a) to (h). However, the process according to the invention is not limited to this. For example, steps (g) and (h) can also be carried out simultaneously with, at a time delay from, or before steps (e) and (f).

[0095] According to the process according to the invention, before the protein-containing coagulum is obtained or separated in the device according to the invention, the wort can be kept hot or even boiled for at least 10 minutes at at least 85°C. This causes the heat-coagulable substances dissolved in the wort, in particular proteins, to precipitate at least partially in the form of a heat coagulum. The general rule here is that the higher the temperature and the longer the exposure to heat, the more likely the dissolved, heat-coagulable substances are to precipitate. The quantity and composition of the coagulum change depending on the intensity of the thermal exposure. Alternatively or additionally, the protein coagulum can also be solidified in another way known to those skilled in the art, for example by cold treatment, acid or alkali precipitation. However, the thermal treatment described above is preferred for reasons of practicality and good controllability.

[0096] Furthermore, the advantages mentioned above in connection with the device according to the invention apply analogously to the method according to the invention, since the method according to the invention necessarily requires the use of the device according to the invention. Especially with regard to the process characteristics, the method according to the invention achieves the following advantages:

[0097] As already discussed in detail in connection with the device according to the invention, the time required for wort clarification when carrying out the method according to the invention is minimized compared to conventional methods, such as those using a whirlpool, due to the elimination of the tangential filling and the rest period for the formation of the trub cone. With the method according to the invention, the clarified wort can be drawn off as soon as the unfiltered wort is filled, thus with virtually no loss of time. This also results in significantly reduced thermal stress on the wort, which brings technological advantages with regard to the quality of the resulting food product or, in particular, the resulting beer. This includes a lower TBI of the clarified wort and a lower DMS concentration, which is important, for example, in the brewery sector.If the thermal pretreatment of the wort to precipitate the protein and the use of a whirlpool to clarify the wort are omitted according to the invention, this is the preferred variant of the process according to the invention from an energy perspective and with regard to the thermal stress on the wort. The thermal stress on the coagulum obtained according to the invention is correspondingly low, meaning that it is as natural an ingredient as possible for a food product.

[0098] The device and method according to the invention also easily enable the use of large quantities of additives to the wort, for example, hop products, in particular hop cones or hop pellets, and other additives such as orange peel or coriander seeds. This would not be possible with conventional methods and devices, as it would lead to blockages of the filter surface or a lack of trub cone formation.

[0099] If, during wort filtration, a predetermined pressure, preferably between 1 and 2 bar (between 100,000 and 200,000 Pa), in particular 1.4 bar (140,000 Pa), 1.5 bar (150,000 Pa) or 1.6 bar (160,000 Pa), or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) and / or the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is exceeded, it is assumed that the filtration capacity of the filter fabric immediately adjacent to the corresponding unfiltrate chamber has been reached. Thereupon, according to the method according to the invention, the inflow of wort into the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) and / or the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) of the device (V) or into both unfiltrate chambers is terminated, depending on where the pressure increase occurred or the predetermined flow volume was reached.The predetermined flow volume can, for example, be determined in advance or estimated on the basis of empirical values ​​so that the wort volume filtered through the device is so large that the absorption capacity of the device according to the invention with regard to the coagulum, in particular of the unfiltered chamber(s) including the filter fabric, is reached but not exceeded.

[0100] To improve wort recovery and produce a drier filtration residue, the filtration residue in the respective filter chamber is then pressed out by expanding the variable-size plate (VP), causing additional wort to pass through the filter mesh and be drawn off. The pressure used to press out the filtration residue can be up to 2.5 bar (250,000 Pa), preferably 1.2 to 2.5 bar (120,000 to 250,000 Pa), preferably 1.5 to 2.5 bar (150,000 to 250,000 Pa), for example 2.0 bar (200,000 Pa), 2.3 bar (230,000 Pa), or 2.5 bar (250,000 Pa). After this pressure has been applied for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 120 seconds, in particular 30 to 60 seconds, the pressure can be released and the wort extraction from the respective unfiltered wort chamber can be terminated. According to the inventors' findings, the pressure in the unfiltered wort chamber orIn the unfiltered material chambers during pressing, the pressure should preferably be in the specified range of 1.2 to 2.5 bar (120,000 to 250,000 Pa), preferably 1.5 to 2.5 bar (150,000 to 250,000 Pa). If the pressure exceeds 2.5 bar and in particular 3.0 bar or more, there is a risk that, with the polyamide filter fabrics provided according to the invention with the specified pore sizes or passage areas, coagulum particles will pass through the filter fabric and not be retained. Furthermore, at excessively high pressures, in particular at 3.0 bar or higher, it has been observed that the coagulum adheres too strongly to the filter fabric provided according to the invention, resulting in difficulties in removing the coagulum from the device or in cleaning the device.However, if the pressure is below 1.5 bar, especially below 1.2 bar, the separation of the coagulum and the liquid wort may be insufficient under the conditions selected according to the invention, and too much residual liquid may remain in the coagulum, resulting in the coagulum having an excessively high liquid content, which complicates further processing. Furthermore, clarified wort is lost for further use in the subsequent production process.

[0101] According to the invention, it can be provided that the filter fabric(s) can be cleaned by backwashing with the filtrate or in another conventional manner.

[0102] By limiting the mechanical pressure applied during pressing to the upper limit specified above, a protein-containing solid is obtained as the filtration residue. This solid has a compact and homogeneous structure that can be easily cut or broken by hand and is therefore easy to process further. The filtration residue is medium to light brown and has a consistency similar to that of mozzarella or fresh bread (fibrous to crumbly). Depending on the composition of the seasoning and its thermal treatment, the process according to the invention can even produce a protein coagulate that is similar in texture and flavor to conventional tofu. Furthermore, the process according to the invention and the device according to the invention make it possible to provide a coagulate that has a water content of only 10 to 30%, preferably 10 to 20%, and is thus relatively dry.In comparison, a coagulum separated by a wort centrifuge typically has a water content between 60 and 65%.

[0103] Due to its advantageous consistency and composition (preferably purely vegetable protein) described above, the device according to the invention and / or the method according to the invention provides for the first time the coagulum formed in a beer wort or another, preferably exclusively plant-based wort during the optional thermal or other pretreatment in a consistency that is particularly suitable for use as food or in the production of a food.

[0104] According to the invention, as a preferred embodiment, the wort can be filtered during boiling or while the wort is being held hot using the method according to the invention or by means of the device according to the invention, or while the wort is at a boiling or holding temperature. For this purpose, the wort can be removed from the wort kettle or another holding or boiling device during boiling or holding, filtered according to the method according to the invention or by means of the device according to the invention, and then returned to the kettle or the other holding or boiling device. Alternatively, the wort can also be filtered during or after another type of pretreatment described above, such as acid or alkali precipitation.

[0105] A surprising effect of this wort filtration procedure is that the wort produced or filtered according to the invention has a greatly increased content of iso-α-acids or bitter units compared to a conventionally produced wort, i.e. without solids separation during pretreatment, in particular during boiling or holding the wort hot. This applies in particular if hops are added to the wort after the wort filtration according to the invention. This is accompanied by an increased hop yield according to the invention, which is particularly advantageous in the case of beer wort. A further advantage of the process according to the invention is that the degree of solids or trub separation can be adjusted specifically and easily.This allows the wort composition, especially the zinc and fatty acid concentrations, to be specifically controlled during beer brewing. This has a particularly significant impact on the resulting fermentation and beer quality in the case of beer wort, especially if the wort is to be used subsequently for beer production. Thus, within the scope of the present invention, due to a sufficient content of unsaturated, long-chain fatty acids in the wort produced according to the invention and the associated good supply to the yeast, wort aeration can be reduced before pitching, which leads to an improvement in the quality of the resulting beer.

[0106] In connection with the inventive wort filtration, the inventors also observed higher final fermentation levels in the case of beer production from the wort, which is also interpreted as an indicator of a good yeast supply. If the wort is thermally or otherwise pretreated, the viscosity of the wort is reduced due to the reduced solids content compared to a comparable, conventional wort boil (same wort composition and boiling temperature) without solids separation, which results in rheological advantages, such as reduced flow resistance. Furthermore, the separation of solid particles is facilitated due to the higher wort temperature during separation according to the invention compared to the whirlpool step.

[0107] Thus, in the process according to the invention, the wort can be filtered between reaching the boiling or holding temperature of the wort, preferably between 5 minutes, preferably 10 minutes, in particular 20 minutes, after reaching the boiling or holding temperature of the wort, and 40 minutes, preferably 35 minutes, after reaching the boiling or holding temperature of the wort. The wort can preferably also be limited to the aforementioned time periods. Furthermore, the wort can end at the latest when the wort begins to ferment, preferably 5 minutes before the wort begins to ferment, in particular 10 minutes before the wort begins to ferment.

[0108] On the other hand, the composition of the protein-containing coagulum to be extracted, i.e., the filter residue in the unfiltered wort chamber, can be influenced, for example, by the pressure applied when pressing out the filter residue or by the duration of the pressurization. If the filter residue is pressed more gently, i.e., with lower pressure and for a shorter period of time, physiologically valuable wort components, such as unsaturated fatty acids or zinc, are more likely to remain in the filter residue.

[0109] The process according to the invention can be limited in that the termination of the filtration of the wort means that after this termination no further or repeated separation of solids from the wort takes place at least up to and including the wort cooling.

[0110] According to the invention, the wort can be filtered during the entire boiling or holding phase or while the wort is at a boiling or holding temperature. Preferably, however, the separation can be limited to the time periods described above. To the best of the inventors' knowledge, the formation of solid particles is most intensive, and the particles formed are largest, particularly in beer wort, between 20 and 30 minutes after the boiling or holding temperature has been reached, i.e. 20 to 30 minutes after boiling has begun, which is why separation that spans this period is most effective. To the best of the inventors' knowledge, no significant amounts of trub are formed after 35 minutes, and in particular after 40 minutes, after the wort has reached boiling temperature, so that filtration after these times is less efficient.Consequently, according to the invention, filtration can be limited to a period of up to 35 or 40 minutes after the wort has reached its boiling temperature. Conversely, by the time the boiling or holding temperature is reached, only a portion of the solids will have formed, so it is not necessary to begin solids separation at the time the boiling temperature is reached, or even before. By limiting the filtration time according to the invention, technological disadvantages can be minimized, such as the risk of the wort coming into contact with oxygen and thus potential damage to the coagulate through oxidation, or radiation losses of the hot wort outside the wort kettle or the holding device, resulting in energy losses.

[0111] According to the invention, it can further be provided that between the start of the wort churning and the completion of the wort cooling to pitching temperature, no separation of solids from the wort, in particular no separation of solids from the wort by means of a whirlpool or a settling decanter, takes place, apart from the manner according to the invention. Alternatively, it can further be provided that between the completion of the wort churning and the completion of the wort cooling to pitching temperature, no separation of solids from the wort, in particular no separation of solids by means of a whirlpool or a settling decanter, takes place.

[0112] By eliminating the separate, downstream separation of solids after the completion of the boiling or holding phase, the time savings and technological advantages discussed above can be achieved. Furthermore, the wort preparation process is simplified by eliminating an additional step, and the required brewing system becomes less complex and, in particular, requires less space due to the elimination of the whirlpool or settling decanter. Furthermore, the hot wort comes into contact with less oxygen, and its thermal stress is reduced when it is fed directly to the wort cooler without passing through a whirlpool or settling decanter.

[0113] Furthermore, according to the invention, it can alternatively be provided that the filtration of the wort ends at the latest upon completion of the wort extraction, preferably 2 minutes before the completion of the wort extraction, in particular 5 minutes before the completion of the wort extraction. This means that after the completion of the wort extraction, no further filtration of the wort or separation of the solids takes place up to and including the wort cooling.

[0114] This makes it possible to use the time required for wort extraction in addition to the boiling or holding time for solids separation. Alternatively, in one embodiment of the process according to the invention, the wort can be filtered only during the extraction period, i.e., the wort can be filtered between the start and the end of extraction and is limited to this period.

[0115] The advantage of this process variant, or rather, of filtration during the wort filtration process, is that the wort or a partial stream of it is taken from the wort kettle, for example, the solids are separated, and the wort (partially) freed of solids no longer needs to be returned to the wort kettle but can be processed immediately. This prevents the partial stream freed of solids from mixing with the residual wort, which still contains solids, thus preventing partial volumes of a brew from being subjected to solids separation twice or more. Consequently, the efficiency of wort filtration increases with this procedure.

[0116] However, the present invention is not limited to this. Thus, in another embodiment of the process according to the invention, the separation of the protein coagulate can also be provided in addition to the solids separation in the whirlpool step, namely downstream. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the device according to the invention is to be installed downstream of the separation device provided for wort clarification in the whirlpool step.

[0117] The wort can be filtered before a first hop addition, before a second hop addition and / or before a third hop addition to the wort.

[0118] The inventors have discovered that the process according to the invention can increase hop yield when used in brewing. This is particularly true when filtration, and thus the separation of solid particles, takes place before hops are added. By partially or completely separating the solid particles from the wort before they come into contact with the hop particles, the remaining solids bind fewer hop constituents. According to the invention, due to the reduced solids concentration in the wort, more valuable hop constituents remain in the wort and can contribute to an increased hop yield, for example, in the form of higher bitterness units in the resulting beer. Furthermore, it has been observed that the isomerization of the hop constituents is improved due to the solids separation according to the invention, in particular a higher concentration of iso-α-acids is achieved, thereby further increasing the hop yield.Due to the improved hop yield, a reduction in the amount of hop raw materials used can be achieved while maintaining comparable beer quality. According to the invention, it can also be provided, for example, in connection with the solids separation before hopping, that the hop particles introduced into the wort are removed from the wort by a second solids separation after hopping, for example, during the wort knock-out.

[0119] According to the invention, the wort can be filtered continuously.

[0120] A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention further comprises at least the following steps:

[0121] (n) at least partially draining the fluid from the interior spaces (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltered chamber (UK1) and the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltered chamber (UK2), preferably over a period of 20 to 40 seconds;

[0122] (o) Opening the first unfiltered material chamber (UK1) by separating the head plate (KP) from the first separating plate (TP1); and / or opening the second unfiltered material chamber (UK2) by separating the first separating plate (TP1) and the second separating plate (TP2) or the end plate (EP); (p) discharging the pressed-out filtration residue from the first unfiltered material chamber (UK1) and / or from the second unfiltered material chamber (UK2); and

[0123] (q) preferably assembling the device (V) into a stack, wherein the stack is liquid-tight with the exception of the fluid passages (FD).

[0124] After the filtration residue has been pressed out and the wort has been drawn off, the pressed filtration residue can be quickly and easily discharged by opening the respective unfiltered wort chamber. Ideally, the filter residue (recovered protein coagulate) simply falls into a container located below the respective filtration chamber after opening the respective filtration chamber.

[0125] If the device is reassembled into a liquid-tight stack after the filter residue has been discharged, the device according to the invention is available for the filtration of the next batch of wort after a short downtime or downtime compared to conventional methods.

[0126] If the filtration residue cannot be completely or substantially completely removed from the filter chamber, the method according to the invention can include a rinsing step for the respective filter chamber or at least the respective filter fabric. However, according to the inventors' findings, an additional rinsing step following each filtration step to clean the filter chamber or at least the filter fabric is not necessary in most applications.

[0127] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the use of the system (S) according to the invention or of two devices (VI, V2) according to the invention is provided: Thus, the method can comprise at least the following steps:

[0128] (a) preferably keeping hot or boiling the wort at at least 85 °C for at least 10 minutes;

[0129] (b) providing the first device (VI), wherein the first device (VI) is liquid-tight except for the respective fluid passages (FD);

[0130] (c) filling the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) and the second unfiltered chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI) with the wort;

[0131] (d) filtering the wort present in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK11) of the first device (VI) through the first filter fabric (Fl 1) of the first device (VI), receiving the filtered wort in the first filtrate chamber (FK11) of the first device (VI), and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the first filtrate chamber (FK11); and filtering the wort present in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI) through the second filter fabric (Fl 2) of the first device (VI), receiving the filtered wort in the second filtrate chamber (FK12) of the first device (VI), and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the second filtrate chamber (FK12);

[0132] (e) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar (150,000 Pa), or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the first unfiltrate chamber (UK11) of the first device (VI), terminating the inflow of the wort into the first unfiltrate chamber (UK11) and filling the interior (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltrate chamber (UK11) of the first device (VI) with a fluid in such a way that the contents of the first unfiltrate chamber (UK11) are compressed by a pressure increase of the fluid in its interior (PI) to a pressure in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK11) of up to 2.5 bar (250,000 Pa), and maintaining the pressure in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK11) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue located therein is Wort flowing through the first filter fabric (Fl 1) of the first device (VI) is pressed out;

[0133] (f) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar (150,000 Pa), or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI), terminating the inflow of the wort into the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) and filling the interior (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI) with a fluid in such a way that the contents of the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) are compressed by a pressure increase of the fluid in its interior (PI) to a pressure in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) of up to 2.5 bar (250,000 Pa), and maintaining the pressure in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue located therein is Wort flowing through the second filter fabric (Fl 2) of the first device (VI) is pressed out;

[0134] (g) providing the second device (V2), wherein the second device (V2) is liquid-tight except for the respective fluid passages (FD);

[0135] (h) filling the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) and the second unfiltered chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2) with the wort;

[0136] (i) filtering the wort present in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK21) of the second device (V2) through the first filter fabric (F21) of the second device (V2), receiving the filtered wort in the first filtrate chamber (FK21) of the second device (V2), and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the first filtrate chamber (FK21); and filtering the wort present in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2) through the second filter fabric (F22) of the second device (V2), receiving the filtered wort in the second filtrate chamber (FK22) of the second device (V2), and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the second filtrate chamber (FK22);

[0137] (j) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar (150,000 Pa), or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) of the second device (V2), terminating the inflow of the wort into the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) and filling the interior (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) of the second device (V2) with a fluid in such a way that the contents of the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) are compressed by an increase in pressure of the fluid in its interior (PI) to a pressure in the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) of up to 2.5 bar (250,000 Pa), and maintaining the pressure in the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the Filtration residue is pressed out through the first filter fabric (F21) of the second device (V2) while wort flows out;

[0138] (k) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar (150,000 Pa), or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2), terminating the flow of wort into the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) and filling the interior (PI) of the size-variable plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2) with a fluid in such a way that the contents of the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) are compressed by a pressure increase of the fluid to a pressure of up to 2.5 bar (250,000 Pa), and maintaining the pressure in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue located therein is discharged through the second filter fabric (F22) of the second device (V2) is pressed out.

[0139] The method according to the invention is preferably carried out in the order of steps (a) to (k). However, the method according to the invention is not limited to this. For example, steps (g) to (k) can also be carried out simultaneously with, at a time delay from, or before steps (b) to (f).

[0140] In this embodiment of the inventive method, the wort is first filtered through the filter cloth of the first inventive device according to the inventive method as described above. As soon as the wort flowing into the device, more precisely into the respective unfiltered wort chamber, reaches or exceeds a predetermined pressure or a predetermined flow volume, the further supply of unfiltered wort to the device is terminated and the filtration residue in the respective unfiltered wort chamber is pressed out as described above. Subsequently, either at a later time or simultaneously, the unfiltered wort chambers of a second inventive device are filled with unfiltered wort in a similar manner, and filtration is carried out until the above-cited pressure or flow volume limit is reached.The method according to the invention according to claim 10 expressly covers the case in which the first and second devices filter the wort simultaneously (i.e., steps (b) and (g), (c) and (h), (d) and (i), (e) and (j), (f) and (k) are carried out in parallel or essentially in parallel). Alternatively, the aforementioned pairs of steps can also be carried out at different times. Finally, in a further, alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention according to claim 10, the method step blocks (b) to (f) and (g) to (k) can also be carried out one after the other. In the staggered case, it is preferred if at least the filling of the second device according to step (h) is started as soon as the flow of wort to the first device according to steps (e) and (f) is terminated.By this time-coordinated “switching” between the first and the second device, a continuous filtration operation can be ensured by the method according to the invention.

[0141] The latter can, of course, also include switching back to wort filtration with the first device upon reaching the filtration limit of the second device according to steps (j) and (k). This, of course, assumes that the first device has been emptied, cleaned if necessary, and reassembled by the time of switching, thus restoring its operational readiness. In this way, continuous wort clarification and recovery of the protein-containing coagulum can be achieved.

[0142] Accordingly, the method according to the invention can also comprise at least the following steps:

[0143] (l) at least partially draining the fluid from the interior spaces (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) of the first device (VI) and the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltered chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI), preferably over a period of 20 to 40 seconds;

[0144] (m) Opening the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) of the first device (VI) by separating the first head plate (KPI 1) from the first separating plate (TP11) of the first device (VI); and / or opening the second unfiltered chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI) by separating the first separating plate (TP 11) from the first end plate (EP11) or from the second separating plate (TP 12) of the first device (VI);

[0145] (n) discharging the pressed-out filtration residue from the first unfiltered material chamber (UK11) and / or from the second unfiltered material chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI); and (o) preferably assembling the first device (VI) into a stack, wherein the stack is liquid-tight with the exception of the fluid passages (FD).

[0146] In a further advantageous embodiment, the method according to the invention can also comprise at least the following steps:

[0147] (p) at least partially draining the fluid from the interior spaces (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) of the second device (V2) and the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltered chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2), preferably over a period of 20 to 40 seconds;

[0148] (q) Opening the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) of the second device (V2) by separating the first head plate (KP21) from the first separating plate (TP21) of the second device (V2); and / or opening the second unfiltered chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2) by separating the first separating plate (TP21) from the first end plate (EP21) or from the second separating plate (TP22) of the second device (V2);

[0149] (r) discharging the pressed filtration residue from the first unfiltered material chamber (UK21) and / or from the second unfiltered material chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2); and

[0150] (s) preferably joining the second device (V2) to form a stack, wherein the stack is liquid-tight with the exception of the fluid passages (FD).

[0151] The present invention further encompasses a food or a precursor thereof according to claim 13, which contains or consists of a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably a wort from beer production. The protein-containing coagulum can be obtained or has been obtained using the device and / or method according to the invention as described above.

[0152] Since the coagulum in the food product according to the invention originates from a plant-based wort, preferably from beer wort, the proteins it contains are of purely plant-based origin and are therefore also suitable for vegetarians and vegans. As already explained above, the coagulum obtained according to the invention has a consistency similar to that of filata, bread, or tofu, making it directly suitable as a protein-rich food product of plant origin. Furthermore, the coagulum obtained according to the invention is also excellently suited as a protein-rich additive in the production of food products to enhance the nutritional value of the food product by increasing the protein content and / or to improve its consistency, texture, or mouthfeel.

[0153] The present invention further comprises the use of the device according to the invention or the system according to the invention for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, according to claim 14.

[0154] The advantages and features discussed above for the device according to the invention or for the method according to the invention and their advantageous embodiments apply analogously.

[0155] According to the invention, a wort, preferably a wort from beer production, and the device according to the invention and / or the system according to the invention can also be used to obtain a protein-containing food or a precursor thereof.

[0156] Finally, the invention also proposes using a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably wort from beer production, as a foodstuff or in the production of a foodstuff (claim 15). The wort was preferably previously kept hot or boiled at at least 85°C for at least 10 minutes; and the protein-containing coagulum was obtained by means of the device (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or the system (S) according to claim 7 or the method according to any one of claims 8 to 12. The advantages discussed above with regard to the foodstuff according to the invention or its uses apply analogously here.

[0157] Examples

[0158] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0159] Fig. 1 is a schematic exploded view of a first embodiment of the device V according to the invention in the basic state;

[0160] Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the first embodiment of the device V according to the invention in the state with the first partition plate TP1 stretched;

[0161] Fig. 3 is a schematic exploded view of a second embodiment of the device V according to the invention in the basic state;

[0162] Fig. 4 is a schematic exploded view of the second embodiment of the device V according to the invention in the state with the head plate KP and the end plate EP stretched;

[0163] Fig. 5 is a schematic exploded view of a third embodiment of the device V according to the invention in the basic state;

[0164] Fig. 6 is a schematic exploded view of the third embodiment of the device V according to the invention in the state with the first partition plate TP1 and the second partition plate TP2 expanded. For reasons of clarity and to facilitate explanation of the invention, Figures 1 to 6 are shown as exploded views and not to scale. The exploded view does not correspond to the operational state of the device V according to the invention in reality. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, the inflowing, unfiltered wort, the outflowing, filtered wort, and the filter residue, i.e., the protein-containing coagulum, are not shown in Figures 1 to 6.

[0165] Fig. 1 shows a schematic exploded view of a first embodiment of the device V according to the invention in its basic state. The following components of the device V according to the invention are arranged in a stack in the following order: a head plate KP, a first filter fabric F1, a first separating plate TP1, a second filter fabric F2, and an end plate EP. These components of the device V according to the invention are arranged along the central axis MV of the device V and, in the ready-to-use state, are assembled into a liquid-tight stack.

[0166] In the device V according to the invention according to this embodiment, the head plate KP, the first separating plate TP1 and the end plate EP each have at least one fluid passage FD. The first separating plate TP1 is designed as a size-variable plate VP with an interior space PI, wherein the interior can be filled or emptied via a fluid passage FD. A first unfiltrate chamber UK1 is formed between the first separating plate TP1 and the first filter fabric Fl, while a first filtrate chamber FK1 is formed between the first filter fabric Fl and the head plate KP. Similarly, a second unfiltrate chamber UK2 is formed between the first separating plate TP1 and the second filter fabric F2, while a second filtrate chamber FK2 is formed between the second filter fabric F2 and the end plate EP. The first unfiltrate chamber UK1 and the second unfiltrate chamber UK2 each have at least one fluid passage FD for supplying the wort.The first filtrate chamber FK1 and the second filtrate chamber FK2 each have at least one fluid passage FD for discharging the filtered wort. When carrying out the method according to the invention, the device according to the invention described above is used as an assembled stack that is liquid-tight with the exception of the fluid passages FD. Thus, the unfiltered wort, for example, beer wort that has been boiled for 15 minutes at 100°C, is poured into the unfiltered chamber UK1 in a hot state via the fluid passages FD, passes through the first filter fabric F1, and reaches the first filtrate chamber FK1 as filtered wort. From there, the filtered wort can be withdrawn from the device simultaneously or at a later time via another fluid passage FD (Fig. 1).

[0167] If a predetermined volume of wort has flowed into the first unfiltered chamber UK1, or if the wort flowing into the first unfiltered chamber UK1 reaches or exceeds a predetermined pressure, for example 1.5 bar (150,000 Pa), which may indicate blockage of the first filter fabric Fl, the inflow of unfiltered wort into the first unfiltered chamber UK1 is stopped. Subsequently, the interior space PI of the first separating plate TP1, which is designed as a size-variable plate VP, is filled with a fluid via a fluid passage FD in such a way that the size-variable plate VP moves on both sides in the direction of the adjacent unfiltered chambers UK1 and UK2 orexpands along the central axis of the device and thereby presses the filter residue, i.e. the protein-containing coagulum, against the filter fabric bordering the respective unfiltrate chamber due to the effect of pressure, so that the filter residue is squeezed out and further filtrate flows through the filter fabric into the filtrate chamber (cf. Fig. 2). When pressing out the filter residue, which can be carried out for 30, 45 or 60 seconds, for example, the pressure prevailing in the respective unfiltrate chamber is up to, for example, 2.5 bar (250,000 Pa). By pressing out the filter residue, on the one hand, more filtered wort is obtained, and on the other hand, the protein-containing coagulum can be obtained with a lower liquid content and therefore "drier". Furthermore, thanks to the method according to the invention in the device according to the invention, the coagulum is obtained in an advantageous consistency, as described above.Analogous to the procedure described above, the process is also carried out with regard to filtration through the second filter fabric F2 and the second unfiltrate chamber UK2 and the second filtrate chamber FK2.

[0168] After the completion of the pressing out of the protein-containing coagulum and the removal of the filtrate from the device V through one or more of the fluid passages FD of the filtrate chambers FK1 and FK2, the fluid used to build up pressure in the interior of the variable-size plate VP is at least partially drained, which occurs, for example, for 30 seconds. Thereafter, the device according to the invention, more precisely the unfiltrate chambers, is opened by separating the adjacent plates of the device, and the protein-containing coagulum can be removed from the opened unfiltrate chamber.

[0169] Fig. 3 shows a schematic exploded view of a second embodiment of the device V according to the invention in the basic state. This embodiment of the device V according to the invention also has the following components, which are arranged in a stack in the order listed below: a head plate KP, a first filter fabric F1, a first separating plate TP1, a second filter fabric F2, and an end plate EP. To avoid repetition, the description of the first embodiment described above will be referred to, and only differences from the first embodiment will be explained below.

[0170] Thus, in the second embodiment, the unfiltrate chambers UK1 and UK2 are formed between the head plate KP and the first filter fabric Fl and between the end plate EP and the second filter fabric F2, respectively. Correspondingly, the filtrate chambers FK1 and FK2 are formed between the first separating plate TP1 and the first filter fabric Fl and between the second filter fabric F2 and the first separating plate TP1, respectively. In this embodiment, too, the unfiltrate chambers UK1 and UK2 and the filtrate chambers FK1 and FK2 are provided with fluid passages to enable filling with unfiltered wort and drawing off the filtered wort from the device. Corresponding to the arrangement of the unfiltrate chambers UK1, UK2 explained above, in this embodiment the head plate KP and the end plate EP are designed as size-variable plates VP with an interior space PI that can be filled with a fluid.Therefore, in contrast to the first embodiment, in this embodiment the first end plate TP can be designed as a rigid, non-variable plate.

[0171] Fig. 4 illustrates the process of pressing out the filter residue in the unfiltered material chambers UK1, UK2, in which the variable-size plates VP, here the head plate KP and the end plate EP, are stretched toward the center of the device V by filling the respective interior space PI of these plates. The extraction of the protein-containing coagulum and its discharge from the device V is carried out in principle analogously to the process described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0172] Fig. 5 shows a schematic exploded view of a third embodiment of the device V according to the invention in the basic state. This embodiment of the device V according to the invention also has the following components, which are arranged in a stack in the order listed below: a head plate KP, a first filter fabric Fl, a first separating plate TP1, a second filter fabric F2, a second separating plate TP2, a third filter fabric F3, a third separating plate TP3, a fourth filter fabric F4, and an end plate EP. To avoid repetition, the description of the first embodiment described above is basically referred to, and only differences from the first embodiment are explained below.

[0173] In this embodiment, four unfiltrate chambers UK1, UK2, UK3, and UK4 and correspondingly four filtrate chambers FK1, FK2, FK3, and FK4 are formed, each of which is used in the same way as described above within the scope of the method according to the invention, which is why a detailed description is omitted. This embodiment has the advantage that, for example, the two unfiltrate chambers UK1 and UK2 can be used completely independently of the unfiltrate chambers UK3 and UK4. This has the advantage, for example, that filtration can initially take place through the unfiltrate chambers UK1 and UK2 and, in the event of a pressure increase due to blocking of the first and second filter fabrics F1 and F2, the flow of unfiltered wort can be diverted to the unfiltrate chambers UK3 and UK4.While filtration takes place through the unfiltered wort chambers UK3 and UK4 and the filtrate chambers FK3 and FK4, the accumulated filter residue in the unfiltered wort chambers UK1 and UK2 can be pressed out thanks to the variable-size plate TP1 and removed, for example, from the device V. The same procedure is followed for the filter residue in the unfiltered wort chambers UK3 and UK4. Thus, the device according to the invention enables continuous filtration of the wort and extraction of the protein-containing coagulate by alternating filtration through the filter cloths F1 / F2 and F3 / F4.

[0174] Experimental investigations

[0175] In a device according to the invention, such as the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, experiments were conducted to obtain the protein-containing coagulate. For this purpose, a wort, more precisely a beer wort, was produced using a conventional wort preparation process. The hop addition was above average at > 0.5 kg / hl. In the comparison brew, the boiled wort was clarified using the conventional procedure in a whirlpool and then cooled by wort cooling (comparative example). Large amounts of hot wort were observed in the trub separated in the whirlpool, which represents a significant loss of wort and was reflected in a water content of the separated coagulate of an average of 78%, measured by the drying process. In addition, the clarified wort still appeared cloudy, from which it was concluded that the separation of the solid particles was insufficient.

[0176] In the first example according to the invention (Example 1), hot wort having an identical composition to that in the comparative example disclosed above was filtered through the device according to the invention. The pore size of the filter fabric used was 25 μm, measured according to ASTM F 316:2003. After a flow of 179 l of hot wort, the inlet pressure rose to 1.98 bar. The wort inflow was then stopped, and the filter residue in the unfiltered product chamber was pressed out by filling the variable-size partition plate TP1 with a fluid at a pressure of 1.2 bar. The filtrate flowing out of the device according to the invention was clear, and no solids could be detected in it by a spin test. This also applied during the pressing out of the coagulum using the fluid pressure.A total of 2579 g of protein-containing coagulum (4.25 l) with a water content of only 63.8% was obtained from the 179 l portion of hot wort using the process according to the invention. The filtration residue formed a partially very thin layer of uneven thickness in the unfiltered wort chambers. When the unfiltered wort chambers were opened, the obtained coagulum did not fall out of the device on its own.

[0177] In the second example according to the invention (Example 2), hot wort was filtered using the device according to the invention and according to the method according to the invention, whereby all conditions were identical to the first example according to the invention, with the exception that the pore size of the filter fabric used was 40 pm (measured according to ASTM F 316:2003) instead of the 25 pm of the first example. After a flow of 341 l of hot wort, the inlet pressure rose to 2.02 bar. The wort inflow was then stopped and the filter residue in the unfiltrate chamber was pressed out by filling the variable-size partition plate with a fluid at a pressure of 1.2 bar. The filtrate flowing out of the device according to the invention was clear, and no solids could be detected in it by means of a spin test. This also applied during the pressing out of the coagulum using the fluid pressure.The obtained coagulum formed a layer in the unfiltered chambers with a more uniform layer thickness than in the first example according to the invention. In this test, 4178 g of hot trub were obtained from 341 l of hot wort, with an average liquid content of 64.2%. The volume of the pressed coagulum was 6.65 l, which, extrapolated to 650 l of cast-out wort, resulted in a coagulum volume of 12.7 l compared to 153 l coagulum volume in the analogously extrapolated conventional process (comparative example). Thus, the volume of the filtration residue obtained in the process according to the invention using the device according to the invention in the comparison carried out here is only about 8% of the volume of the filter residue (hot trub) as it arises during conventional wort clarification in a whirlpool.

[0178] The following table summarizes the most important conditions and results of the examples carried out according to the invention and the comparative example: The analysis of a protein-containing coagulum produced by means of the device according to the invention and / or the method according to the invention from a beer wort which was removed from the wort kettle during the thermal treatment of the wort, depleted of coagulum by means of the device according to the invention and then added back to the wort kettle, has yielded the following measured values:

[0179] Based on the measured values ​​presented in the table above, it is evident that the coagulum obtained according to the invention not only has a high protein content, but also other valuable components, such as trace elements and minerals such as copper, zinc, iron, or manganese. This underscores the suitability of the protein-containing coagulum obtained according to the invention as a food or its use in the production of a food, especially with regard to a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Claims

Claims Device (V) for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, at least comprising: a head plate (KP); an end plate (EP); a first separating plate (TP1); a first filter fabric (Fl); and a second filter fabric (F2); wherein the head plate (KP), the first filter fabric (Fl), the first separating plate (TP1), the second filter fabric (F2) and the end plate (EP) are arranged stacked along a central axis (MV) of the device (V), are joined together and can be separated from one another;wherein at least one plate selected from the first partition plate (TP1), the head plate (KP), and the end plate (EP), preferably the first partition plate (TP1) or the head plate (KP) and the end plate (EP), is designed as a size-variable plate (VP), wherein the size-variable plate (VP) has an interior space (PI), and the size-variable plate (VP) is expandable in one direction or in both directions along the central axis (MV) of the device (V) by filling its interior space (PI) with a fluid, wherein the interior space (PI) is fillable and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the first filter fabric (F1) is arranged between the head plate (KP) and the first partition plate (TP1); wherein the second filter fabric (F2) is arranged between the first partition plate (TP1) and the end plate (EP); wherein a first unfiltered material chamber (UK1) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (Fl);wherein a first filtrate chamber (FK1) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (F1); wherein the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) and the first filtrate chamber (FK1) can each be filled and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein a second filtrate chamber (FK2) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) and the second filtrate chamber (FK2) can each be filled and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the plate directly adjacent to the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is formed as the size-variable plate (VP);wherein the plate immediately adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is designed as the variable-size plate (VP); and wherein the first filter fabric (F1) and the second filter fabric (F2) are each a filter fabric made of a polyamide with an average pore size of 25 to 80 μm, preferably 30 to 70 μm, in particular 35 to 60 μm, measured according to ASTM F 316:2003. Device (V), preferably according to claim 1, comprising: a head plate (KP); an end plate (EP); a first partition plate (TP1); a second partition plate (TP2); a first filter fabric (F1); a second filter fabric (F2); and a third filter fabric (F3); wherein the head plate (KP), the first filter fabric (F1), the first separating plate (TP1), the second filter fabric (F2), the second separating plate (TP2), the third filter fabric (F3), and the end plate (EP) are stacked, joined together, and separable from one another along a central axis (MV) of the device (V); wherein at least one plate selected from the first separating plate (TP1), the second separating plate (TP2), the head plate (KP), and the end plate (EP) is designed as a variable-size plate (VP), wherein the variable-size plate (VP) has an interior space (PI), and the variable-size plate (VP) is expandable in one direction or in both directions along the central axis (MV) of the device (V) by filling its interior space (PI) with a fluid, wherein the interior space (PI) is fillable and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the first filter fabric (Fl) is arranged between the head plate (KP) and the first separating plate (TP1);wherein the second filter fabric (F2) is arranged between the first separating plate (TP1) and the second separating plate (TP2); wherein the third filter fabric (F3) is arranged between the second separating plate (TP2) and the end plate (EP); wherein a first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (F1); wherein a first filtrate chamber (FK1) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (F1); wherein the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) and the first filtrate chamber (FK1) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein a second filtrate chamber (FK2) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) and the second filtrate chamber (FK2) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the third filter fabric (F3); wherein a third filtrate chamber (FK3) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the third filter fabric (F3); wherein the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) and the third filtrate chamber (FK3) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the plate directly adjacent to the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP);wherein the plate immediately adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); and wherein the plate immediately adjacent to the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); and wherein the first filter fabric (F1), the second filter fabric (F2), and the third filter fabric (F3) are each a filter fabric made of a polyamide with an average pore size of 25 to 80 μm, preferably 30 to 70 μm, in particular 35 to 60 μm, measured according to ASTM F 316:2003. Device (V), preferably according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a head plate (KP); an end plate (EP); a first partition plate (TP1); a second partition plate (TP2); a third partition plate (TP3); a first filter fabric (F1); a second filter fabric (F2); a third filter fabric (F3); and a fourth filter fabric (F4); wherein the head plate (KP), the first filter fabric (F1), the first separating plate (TP1), the second filter fabric (F2), the second separating plate (TP2), the third filter fabric (F3), the third separating plate (TP3), the fourth filter fabric (F4), and the end plate (EP) are arranged stacked along a central axis (MV) of the device (V), joined together, and separable from one another;wherein at least one plate selected from the first partition plate (TP1), the second partition plate (TP2), the third partition plate (TP3), the head plate (KP), and the end plate (EP) is designed as a size-variable plate (VP), wherein the size-variable plate (VP) has an interior space (PI), and the size-variable plate (VP) is expandable in one direction or in both directions along the central axis (MV) of the device (V) by filling its interior space (PI) with a fluid, wherein the interior space (PI) is fillable and / or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the first filter fabric (F1) is arranged between the head plate (KP) and the first partition plate (TP1); wherein the second filter fabric (F2) is arranged between the first partition plate (TP1) and the second partition plate (TP2); wherein the third filter fabric (F3) is arranged between the second partition plate (TP2) and the third partition plate (TP3);wherein the fourth filter fabric (F4) is arranged between the third separating plate (TP3) and the end plate (EP); wherein a first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (Fl); wherein a first filtrate chamber (FK1) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the first filter fabric (Fl); wherein the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) and the first filtrate chamber (FK1) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein a second filtrate chamber (FK2) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the second filter fabric (F2); wherein the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) and the second filtrate chamber (FK2) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the third filter fabric (F3); wherein a third filtrate chamber (FK3) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the third filter fabric (F3);wherein the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) and the third filtrate chamber (FK3) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein a fourth unfiltrate chamber (UK4) is formed directly adjacent to one of the two side surfaces of the fourth filter fabric (F4); wherein a fourth filtrate chamber (FK4) is formed directly adjacent to the other of the two side surfaces of the fourth filter fabric (F4); wherein the fourth unfiltrate chamber (UK4) and the fourth filtrate chamber (FK4) can each be filled or emptied through at least one fluid passage (FD); wherein the plate directly adjacent to the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP); wherein the plate directly adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) is designed as the large variable plate (VP); wherein the plate directly adjacent to the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3) is designed as the size-variable plate (VP);wherein the plate immediately adjacent to the fourth unfiltered chamber (UK4) is designed as the variable-size plate (VP); and; wherein the first filter fabric (F1), the second filter fabric (F2), the third filter fabric (F3), and the fourth filter fabric (F4) are each a filter fabric made of a polyamide with an average pore size of 25 to 80 gm, preferably 30 to 70 gm, in particular 35 to 60 gm, measured according to ASTM F 316:2003. The device (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device (V) comprises at least one opening and closing mechanism based on a scissor mechanism for joining and / or separating at least two of the components of the device (V), selected from the group consisting of: the head plate (KP), the first separating plate (TP1), the second separating plate (TP2), the third separating plate (TP3), and the end plate (EP). The device (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 4,wherein the device (V) has no means for supplying water into one of the first unfiltrate chambers (UK1) and the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) or into one of the first unfiltrate chambers (UK1), the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2), and the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3), or into one of the first unfiltrate chambers (UK1), the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2), the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3), and the fourth unfiltrate chamber (UK4); and / or has no means for hydraulically or pneumatically pressing or compressing the device (V) in the direction of the central axis (MV) of the device (V), preferably no hydraulic or pneumatic pressing cylinder; and / or has no means for sparging or rinsing a filter media contained in the device (V), preferably in one of the first unfiltrate chambers (UK1), the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2), the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3), and the fourth unfiltrate chamber (UK4),existing filter cake; and / or does not have an equalization tank for a filtrate., 6. Device (V) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device (V), preferably a fluid passage (FD) of at least one of the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1), the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2), the third unfiltrate chamber (UK3), and the fourth unfiltrate chamber (UK4), is in fluid communication with a wort boiling or wort hot-keeping device, a wort knock-out line, a hop treatment device, or a solids separation device, preferably a whirlpool or settling decanter; and / or wherein the device (V), preferably a fluid passage (FD) of at least one of the first filtrate chamber (FK1), the second filtrate chamber (FK2), the third filtrate chamber (FK3), and the fourth filtrate chamber (FK4), is in fluid communication with a wort cooler.

7. System (S) for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, wherein the system (S) comprises at least a first device (VI) and a second device (V2); wherein the first device (VI) is a device (V) according to one of claims 1 to 6; wherein the second device (V2) is a device (V) according to one of claims 1 to 6; and wherein the first device (VI) and the second device (V2) can be used simultaneously or at different times or alternately one after the other to filter the wort.

8. A method for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, wherein a device (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or a system (S) according to claim 7 is used to obtain the protein-containing coagulum; wherein the method comprises at least the steps: (a) preferably keeping hot or boiling the wort at at least 85 °C for at least 10 minutes; (b) providing the device (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or a system (S) according to claim 7, wherein the device (V) is liquid-tight except for the fluid passages (FD); (c) filling the first unfiltered chamber (UK1) and the second unfiltered chamber (UK2) of the device (V) with the wort; (d) filtering the wort present in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) through the first filter fabric (F1), collecting the filtered wort in the first filtrate chamber (FK1) and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the first filtrate chamber (FK1); and filtering the wort present in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK2) through the second filter fabric (F2), collecting the filtered wort in the second filtrate chamber (FK2) and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the second filtrate chamber (FK2); (e) when a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar, or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the first unfiltered chamber (UK1) is reached or exceeded, the flow of the wort into the first unfiltered chamber (UK1) is stopped; (f) filling the interior (PI) of the size-variable plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) with a fluid in such a way that the contents of the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) are compressed by a pressure increase of the fluid in its interior (PI) to a pressure in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) of up to 2.5 bar, and maintaining the pressure in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK1) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue therein is pressed out through the first filter fabric (Fl) with wort flowing out; (g) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar, or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the second unfiltered chamber (UK2), terminating the flow of the wort into the second unfiltered chamber (UK2); and (h) Filling the interior (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) directly adjacent to the second unfiltered chamber (UK2) with a fluid such that the contents of the second unfiltered chamber (UK2) are compressed by a pressure increase of the fluid in its interior (PI) to a pressure in the second unfiltered chamber (UK2) of up to 2.5 bar, and maintaining the pressure in the second unfiltered chamber (UK2) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue therein is pressed out through the second filter fabric (F2) with wort flowing out. The method according to claim 8, further comprising at least the steps: (n) at least partially draining the fluid from the interior spaces (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltered chamber (UK1) and the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltered chamber (UK2), preferably over a period of 20 to 40 seconds; (o) Opening the first unfiltered chamber (UK1) by separating the head plate (KP) from the first separating plate (TP1); and / or opening the second unfiltered chamber (UK2) by separating the first separating plate (TP1) and the second separating plate (TP2) or the end plate (EP); (p) discharging the pressed filtration residue from the first unfiltered material chamber (UK1) and / or from the second unfiltered material chamber (UK2); and (q) preferably assembling the device (V) into a stack, wherein the stack is liquid-tight except for the fluid passages (FD). A method for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, preferably a method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein at least one first device (VI) and one second device (V2), each of which is a device (V) according to one of claims 1 to 6, or a system according to claim 7, is used to obtain the protein-containing coagulum from the wort; wherein the method comprises at least the steps: (a) preferably keeping hot or boiling the wort at at least 85 °C for at least 10 minutes; (b) providing the first device (VI), wherein the first device (VI) is liquid-tight except for the respective fluid passages (FD); (c) filling the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) and the second unfiltered chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI) with the wort; (d) filtering the wort present in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK11) of the first device (VI) through the first filter fabric (Fl 1) of the first device (VI), receiving the filtered wort in the first filtrate chamber (FK11) of the first device (VI) and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the first filtrate chamber (FK11); and filtering the wort present in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI) through the second filter fabric (Fl 2) of the first device (VI), receiving the filtered wort in the second filtrate chamber (FK12) of the first device (VI) and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the second filtrate chamber (FK12); (e) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar, or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) of the first device (VI), terminating the inflow of the wort into the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) and filling the interior (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) of the first device (VI) with a fluid in such a way that the contents of the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) are compressed by an increase in pressure of the fluid in its interior (PI) to a pressure in the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) of up to 2.5 bar, and maintaining the pressure in the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue contained therein is pressed out through the first filter fabric (Fl 1) of the first device (VI) with wort draining away; (f) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar, or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI), terminating the inflow of the wort into the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) and filling the interior (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI) with a fluid such that the contents of the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) are compressed by an increase in pressure of the fluid in its interior (PI) to a pressure in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) of up to 2.5 bar, and maintaining the pressure in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK12) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue located therein flows through the second filter fabric (Fl 2) of the first device, with wort flowing out (VI) is squeezed out; (g) providing the second device (V2), wherein the second device (V2) is liquid-tight except for the respective fluid passages (FD); (h) filling the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) and the second unfiltered chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2) with the wort; (i) filtering the wort present in the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) of the second device (V2) through the first filter fabric (F21) of the second device (V2), receiving the filtered wort in the first filtrate chamber (FK21) of the second device (V2) and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the first filtrate chamber (FK21); and filtering the wort present in the second unfiltered chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2) through the second filter fabric (F22) of the second device (V2), receiving the filtered wort in the second filtrate chamber (FK22) of the second device (V2) and preferably withdrawing the filtered wort from the second filtrate chamber (FK22); (j) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar, or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the first unfiltrate chamber (UK21) of the second device (V2), terminating the flow of wort into the first unfiltrate chamber (UK21) and filling the interior (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltrate chamber (UK21) of the second device (V2) with a fluid such that the contents of the first unfiltrate chamber (UK21) are compressed by a pressure increase of the fluid in its interior (PI) to a pressure in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK21) of up to 2.5 bar, and maintaining the pressure in the first unfiltrate chamber (UK21) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue located therein is discharged through the first filter fabric (F21) of the second device (V2); and (k) upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined pressure, preferably 1.5 bar, or a predetermined flow volume of the wort flowing into the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2), terminating the inflow of wort into the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) and filling the interior (PI) of the size-variable plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2) with a fluid in such a way that the contents of the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) are compressed to a pressure of up to 2.5 bar by an increase in pressure of the fluid, and maintaining the pressure in the second unfiltrate chamber (UK22) for a predetermined period of time, preferably 30 to 60 seconds, whereby the filtration residue located therein is pressed out through the second filter fabric (F22) of the second device (V2) with wort flowing out. The method of claim 10, further comprising at least the steps: (l) at least partially draining the fluid from the interior spaces (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) of the first device (VI) and the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltered chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI), preferably over a period of 20 to 40 seconds; (m) Opening the first unfiltered chamber (UK11) of the first device (VI) by separating the first head plate (KPI 1) from the first separating plate (TP11) of the first device (VI); and / or opening the second unfiltered chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI) by separating the first separating plate (TP 11) from the first end plate (EP11) or from the second separating plate (TP 12) of the first device (VI); (n) discharging the pressed filtration residue from the first unfiltered material chamber (UK11) and / or from the second unfiltered material chamber (UK12) of the first device (VI); and (o) preferably assembling the first device (VI) into a stack, wherein the stack is liquid-tight except for the fluid passages (FD). The method according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising at least the steps: (p) at least partially draining the fluid from the interior spaces (PI) of the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) of the second device (V2) and the variable-size plate (VP) immediately adjacent to the second unfiltered chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2), preferably over a period of 20 to 40 seconds; (q) Opening the first unfiltered chamber (UK21) of the second device (V2) by separating the first head plate (KP21) from the first separating plate (TP21) of the second device (V2); and / or opening the second unfiltered chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2) by separating the first partition plate (TP21) from the first end plate (EP21) or from the second partition plate (TP22) of the second device (V2); (r) discharging the pressed filtration residue from the first unfiltered material chamber (UK21) and / or from the second unfiltered material chamber (UK22) of the second device (V2); and (s) preferably joining the second device (V2) to form a stack, wherein the stack is liquid-tight with the exception of the fluid passages (FD). Food or precursor thereof, containing a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, or consisting thereof, wherein the protein-containing coagulum is obtainable or has been obtained using the device (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and / or the method according to any one of claims 8 to 12. Use of the device (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or of the system (S) according to claim 7 for obtaining a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production; wherein the wort has preferably been kept hot or boiled beforehand at at least 85°C for at least 10 minutes.Use of a protein-containing coagulum from a wort, preferably from a wort from beer production, as a foodstuff or in the production of a foodstuff; wherein the wort has preferably been previously kept hot or boiled at at least 85°C for at least 10 minutes; and wherein the protein-containing coagulum was obtained by means of the device (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or the system (S) according to claim 7 or the method according to any one of claims 8 to 12.

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