Brewing system with a hot-water stratified storage tank
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023837177
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-11-28
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing brewing systems face challenges in thermal energy efficiency due to large space requirements for heating heat exchangers, especially during retrofitting, as they need large heating surfaces for low-temperature heating mediums, which is costly and inefficient.
A brewing system utilizing a hot water layered storage tank with separate high-temperature and low-temperature ranges, employing fresh water as a heat transport medium for direct heating of the mash, reducing the need for extensive heat exchangers and allowing for efficient thermal energy recovery from wort boiling and cooling.
This approach enhances thermal efficiency, reduces space requirements, and lowers energy consumption by enabling direct and rapid heating of the mash, achieving lower evaporation rates and more even temperature distribution, while minimizing thermal energy loss.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Brewing system with a hot water stratified storage tank
[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The present invention relates to brewing systems with a hot water stratified storage tank having a high-temperature range and a low-temperature range according to the respective preambles of patent claims 1, 2 and 3.
[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Energy management in brewing plants is becoming increasingly important in light of rising energy costs. The majority of the energy required for a brewing process in a brewing plant is thermal energy. The recovery of thermal energy from waste heat from the brewing process, for example, when cooling wort, and the reuse of this energy to heat process liquids, such as lauter wort before it is introduced into the wort kettle, is well known and has long been used in practice. This makes continuous efforts to minimize heat losses in the various heat exchange processes and improve the thermal energy efficiency of brewing plants all the more important. Heat exchange circuits are typically provided for this purpose, which are separate from the flow of the brewing process liquid, such as wort or beer. STATE OF THE ART
[0006] EP 2 516 614 B1 discloses a device and method for energy recovery in a brewery, wherein a heat exchange circuit is provided that is separate from the process fluid flow. The heat exchange circuit contains a heat transfer fluid, for example, water, and forms a closed piping system with heat exchangers for heat transfer between the process fluid and the heat transfer fluid, as well as with a storage tank for the heat transfer fluid that forms the energy storage device and is designed as a stratified storage tank.
[0007] The thermal energy recovered from wort boiling and wort cooling is collected in the energy storage tank. The thermal energy recovered during wort boiling, for example, via a pan vapor condenser in the hotter headspace of the stratified storage tank, is reused for lautering wort heating. The thermal energy recovered from wort cooling using a wort cooler can be used for indirect heating of the mash.
[0008] The hot water from the energy storage system is fed into a heating heat exchanger in a mash tun, which heats the mash in the mash tun. A disadvantage is that, due to the relatively low heating medium temperatures, the heating surfaces of the heating heat exchanger must be very large in order to transfer the required thermal energy from the heat transfer fluid flowing in the closed heat exchange system into the mash. This results in a large space requirement for the heating heat exchanger in or on the mash tun. Especially when retrofitting or converting existing systems, the heating surfaces are limited, and the mash tuns usually have to be replaced, which is costly. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a generic, improved brewing plant which is more space-saving and which is or can be upgraded to increase thermal efficiency without major replacement of boilers or containers and by using existing plant components.
[0010] This object is achieved according to a first embodiment of the invention by a brewing system having the features of claim 1.
[0011] A first variant of a brewing system according to the invention with a hot water stratified storage tank having a high-temperature region and a low-temperature region, which has at least one high-temperature water inlet, at least one high-temperature water outlet, at least one low-temperature water inlet and at least one low-temperature water outlet, with a mash vessel, a lauter tun or mash filter fluidly connected to the mash vessel via a mash line, a wort kettle having a lauter wort inlet, a wort outlet and a vapor condenser with a low-temperature water connection and a high-temperature water connection, wherein the lauter wort inlet is fluidly connected directly or indirectly to the lauter tun or the mash filter via a lauter wort line,The low-temperature water outlet of the hot water stratified storage tank is fluidly connected to the low-temperature water connection of the vapor condenser, and the high-temperature water inlet of the hot water stratified storage tank is fluidly connected to the high-temperature water connection of the vapor condenser. The system is characterized in that the hot water stratified storage tank is fluidly connected to a fresh water supply via a fresh water supply line, and the high-temperature water outlet of the hot water stratified storage tank is fluidly connected to a hot water inlet of the mash vessel via a mash water line. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the object is achieved by a brewing system having the features of claim 2.
[0012] This alternative second variant of the brewing system with a hot water stratified storage tank having a high-temperature region and a low-temperature region, which has at least one high-temperature water inlet, at least one high-temperature water outlet, at least one low-temperature water inlet and at least one low-temperature water outlet, with a mash vessel, a lauter tun or mash filter fluidly connected to the mash vessel via a mash line, a wort kettle having a lauter wort inlet, a wort outlet and a vapor condenser with a low-temperature water connection and a high-temperature water connection, wherein the lauter wort inlet is fluidly connected directly or indirectly to the lauter tun or the mash filter via a lauter wort line, wherein the wort outlet is fluidly connected directly or indirectly to a wort cooler,which is supplied with cold water via an external inlet to a cold water inlet, which is heated in the wort cooler, and which has a hot water outlet fluidly connected to the high-temperature water inlet of the hot water stratified storage tank via an internal inlet line for discharging the heated water, is characterized in that the external inlet line is fluidly connected to the fresh water supply and that the external inlet line and the internal inlet line form the fresh water supply line of the hot water stratified storage tank.
[0013] According to a third embodiment of the invention, the object is achieved by a brewing system having the features of claim 3.
[0014] An alternative third variant of a brewing system according to the invention with a hot water stratified storage tank having a high-temperature region and a low-temperature region, which has at least one high-temperature water inlet, at least one high-temperature water outlet, at least one low-temperature water inlet and at least one low-temperature water outlet, with a mash vessel, a lauter tun or mash filter fluidly connected to the mash vessel via a mash line, a wort kettle having a lauter wort inlet, a wort outlet and a vapor condenser with a low-temperature water connection and a high-temperature water connection, wherein the lauter wort inlet is fluidly connected directly or indirectly to the lauter tun or the mash filter via a lauter wort line,wherein the low-temperature water outlet of the hot water stratified storage tank is in fluid connection with the low-temperature water connection of the vapor condenser and the high-temperature water inlet of the hot water stratified storage tank is in fluid connection with the high-temperature water connection of the vapor condenser, wherein the wort outlet is directly or indirectly fluidly connected to a wort cooler, to which cold water is supplied via an external inlet line to a cold water inlet, which is heated in the wort cooler, and which has a hot water outlet for the discharge of the heated water, which is fluidly connected via an internal inlet line to the high-temperature water inlet of the hot water stratified storage tank, is characterized in thatthat the hot water stratified storage tank is in fluid communication with a fresh water supply via a fresh water supply line, and that the high-temperature water outlet of the hot water stratified storage tank is in fluid communication with a hot water inlet of the mash vessel via a mash water line, and that the outer inflow line is fluidly connected to the fresh water supply, and that the outer inflow line and the inner inflow line form the fresh water supply line of the hot water stratified storage tank.
[0015] ADVANTAGES
[0016] Common to all three variants of the brewing system according to the invention is the advantageous use of fresh water as a heat transfer medium in an open heat transfer system for the exchange of thermal energy between the individual system components. The water supplied to the brewing system from a fresh water tank or a sufficiently dimensioned fresh water line, i.e., from the fresh water supply, is heated either in the vapor condenser (variant according to claim 1) or in the wort cooler (variant according to claim 2) or in the vapor condenser and the wort cooler (variant according to claim 3) and temporarily stored in the hot water stratified storage tank as a buffer for the thermal energy.From there, it is introduced as hot process fluid (brewing water) into the mash vessel, for example, a mash tun, into the mash present there, where it quickly mixes with the mash and heats it directly - in contrast to indirect heating using a heat exchanger as in the prior art. This direct heating of the mash is faster and less reactive, since the direct mixing leads almost immediately to a uniform temperature distribution. This process according to the invention can also be referred to as the addition of process fluid (brewing water) during mashing. The target temperature in the mash is determined by the amount of hot, fresh brewing water introduced from the hot water stratified storage tank into the mash vessel, as well as by its temperature and the amount of mash initially contained in the mash vessel and its initial temperature.
[0017] Through the inventive combined energy recovery from wort boiling and wort cooling (according to claim 3) at a similarly high temperature level, the evaporation rate can be reduced further than is possible in systems with an energy storage unit contained in a separate heat recovery circuit, where wort boiling and lauter wort heating must be in balance. The evaporation rate indicates the percentage of water evaporated per hour, based on the amount of cast wort obtained from wort boiling as a base value (100%). This balance of energy from wort boiling and lauter wort heating is only achieved in the prior art with an evaporation rate of approximately 4 to 4.5% in a heat recovery circuit separate from the brewing liquor stream. However, significantly lower evaporation rates (approximately 2 to 3.5%) are technologically necessary.The solution according to the invention with the use of fresh water for heat recovery from wort boiling and wort cooling enables a reduction in the evaporation coefficient when the brewery has a hot water surplus and thus a saving in primary energy requirements compared to the state of the art.
[0018] It is particularly advantageous if the hot, fresh brewing water from the hot water stratified storage tank is introduced into the mash tun near the bottom of the mash tun, i.e. from below into the existing mash. The turbulent flow created by the (lighter) hot brewing water rising above the cooler, more viscous mash in the mash ensures rapid mixing and thus quickly achieves an even temperature distribution in the diluted mash. A pipe arrangement for the introduction of the hot brewing water into the mash tun near the outer bottom area is particularly advantageous, as this is where the turbulence of any mash agitators present in the mash tun is at its highest, thus achieving the fastest mixing. It is ideal if the agitator of such a mash agitator is equipped with reinforcements, as this greatly accelerates the mixing process.
[0019] Further preferred and advantageous design features of the brewing systems according to the invention are the subject of subclaims 4 to 10.
[0020] Preferably, the temperature of water exiting the high-temperature water connection of the vapor condenser during brewing operation of the brewing system is in the range of 95°C to 99°C, preferably between 96°C and 99°C, and more preferably between 98°C and 99°C. Such a high recovery of thermal energy from the vapor rising from the wort kettle ensures effective minimization of thermal energy loss.
[0021] It is also particularly advantageous if the temperature of the water exiting the wort cooler into the internal inlet line during brewing operation of the brewing system is in the range of 95°C to 97°C, preferably between 96°C and 97°C. This also results in very efficient heat recovery. It is particularly advantageous if the temperature of the water exiting the wort cooler into the internal inlet line during brewing operation of the brewing system is a maximum of 2°C, preferably a maximum of 1°C, lower than the temperature of the hot wort entering the wort cooler. This further improves heat recovery and further reduces the loss of thermal energy.
[0022] In a further advantageous development, the temperature of the water entering the wort cooler from the external inlet line, which is fluidly connected to the fresh water supply, is warmer than 0°C and colder than 10°C, preferably 6°C or colder, more preferably 4°C or colder. This not only absorbs a particularly high amount of thermal energy from the fresh water introduced into the wort cooler, but also significantly cools the wort, which is advantageous for certain types of beer.
[0023] Finally, it is also particularly advantageous if the temperature of water flowing from the high-temperature water outlet of the hot water stratified storage tank into the hot water inlet of the mash vessel during brewing operation of the brewing system in the high-temperature water outlet is in the range of 90°C to 99°C, preferably 95°C or higher, more preferably 96°C or higher.
[0024] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one high-temperature water inlet and at least one high-temperature water outlet of the hot water stratified storage tank are each formed by a common high-temperature water connection of the hot water stratified storage tank. Such a high-temperature water connection can thus be flowed through in both directions and used as both an inlet and an outlet. To accommodate the different fill levels of the hot water stratified storage tank, the high-temperature water connection is fed by several tank connections located at different heights, which can be switched on or off via a shut-off device depending on the fill level.
[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one low-temperature water inlet and at least one low-temperature water outlet of the hot water stratified storage tank are each formed by a common low-temperature water connection of the hot water stratified storage tank. Such a low-temperature water connection can thus also be flowed through in both directions and used as both an inlet and an outlet.
[0026] In a design not shown, the heat from the condensate is recovered via an additional condensate heat exchanger. The heat from the hot condensate is recovered using cold water, generating hot water at approximately 80°C.
[0027] A further advantageous embodiment of the brewing system according to the invention with a fresh water energy storage system additionally features a low-temperature primary energy source, for example, a wood chip or wood pellet heating system with final heating water temperatures of up to 110°C. Such heating systems below 110°C are not subject to TÜV inspection and are used in large numbers in domestic applications. Therefore, they are relatively cost-effective compared to high-temperature heating systems. The hot water stratified storage tank would have to be designed as a pressure vessel. Head temperatures of 106°C to 108°C would then prevail in such a pressure vessel. This "head energy" could then be used to heat the wort boiling process. Ideally, an external boiler designed as a plate heat exchanger or tube bundle heat exchanger is provided for this purpose.
[0028] An additional external heating system as a primary energy source preferably has low return temperatures, with an ideal spread between the flow and return temperatures of 10 to 20 Kelvin. Therefore, the brewery plant should be operated in such a way that, during operation (e.g., during a production week), a similar or the same temperature spread is achieved in the hot water stratified storage tank between its high-temperature and low-temperature ranges. It is therefore advantageous to use the thermal energy from the hot water stratified storage tank to heat other consumers in the brewery in order to achieve such a wide temperature spread in the hot water stratified storage tank. Other heat sinks in which thermal energy from the hot water stratified storage tank can be used include building heating, bottle washing machines, or cleaning systems.
[0029] Other heat sources can also be used to heat the hot water stratified storage tank via secondary heat exchangers, for example waste heat from beer cooling or from compressed air generation.
[0030] Finally, the brewing system according to the invention advantageously also provides for the, preferably complete, thermal insulation of the brewing vessels, in particular the wort kettle and the whirlpool. This creates a brewing system with a comprehensive energy-saving and energy-recovery concept. The consistent thermal insulation of the brewing vessels and minimal heat losses enable heat recovery from the hot wort at the highest possible temperature level, thus ensuring the best possible use of the recovered energy. Due to the higher temperature difference, a smaller amount of hot water is required for heat recovery, which is advantageous for avoiding excess hot water.
[0031] Preferred embodiments of the invention with additional design details and further advantages are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0032] Advantageously, the entire hot water circuit is connected to a CIP cleaning system so that any residues and deposits can be removed. The hot water stratified storage tank preferably has cleaning devices, such as spray heads, for cleaning the tank.
[0033] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] It shows:
[0035] Fig. 1 A simplified system diagram of a brewing system according to the invention.
[0036] PRESENTATION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] Fig. 1 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a brewing plant according to the invention, wherein only the essential apparatus components of the brewing plant are shown and only the fluid connection lines required for the description of the invention are shown.
[0038] The brewing system 1 has a hot water stratified storage tank 2, which forms a thermal energy storage unit of the brewing system 1. Furthermore, a mash tun 3, a lauter tun 4, a wort kettle 5 and a whirlpool 8 as well as a cold water storage tank 7 are shown in Fig. 1 as essential equipment components of the brewing system 1. The cold water storage tank 7 is connected to an external fresh water source Q, as symbolized by the arrow Q, and forms a buffer tank for a fresh water supply 7'. To achieve the lowest possible water hardness of the fresh water, a water softening system (not shown) is preferably provided between the fresh water source Q and the cold water storage tank 7.
[0039] The hot water stratified storage tank 2 is a container, for example a tank, for storing water with different temperature stratifications. The hot water stratified storage tank 2 forms a high-temperature zone 2' with a hotter water layer in its upper tank area and a low-temperature zone 2" with a less hot water layer in its lower tank area.
[0040] The hot water stratified storage tank 2 is provided in its upper tank area with three high-temperature water inlets 20, 21, 22, each forming a tank connection, through which hot water can be introduced into the upper area of the hot water stratified storage tank 2. Furthermore, a high-temperature water outlet 23, also forming a tank connection, is provided in the upper tank area of the hot water stratified storage tank 2, through which hot water can be discharged from the hot water stratified storage tank 2. Of course, it is also possible to provide more or fewer water inlets or outlets. It is also possible to combine at least one water inlet and one water outlet, so that through such a combined high-temperature water connection 26, both hot water can be introduced into the high-temperature area 2' of the hot water stratified storage tank 2 and water can be withdrawn from it.In order to take into account the different filling levels of the hot water stratified storage tank 2, the high-temperature water connection 23 can advantageously be fed from several tank connections (water inlet and / or water outlet) located at different heights, which can be switched on or off via a respective shut-off device depending on the filling level.
[0041] In the lower tank area of the hot water stratified storage tank 2 comprising the low-temperature area 2", preferably at its lower bottom, at least one low-temperature water inlet 24 and at least one low-temperature water outlet 25 are provided, to which a first low-temperature fluid line 25' and a second low-temperature fluid line 25" are connected and which also each form a tank connection. These can also be combined in a single low-temperature water connection 27, so that this combined low-temperature water connection 27 can serve both as a water inlet and as a water outlet. Of course, it is also possible to provide more than two layers in the hot water stratified storage tank 2, in which case additional water inlets and water outlets are provided for further layers.
[0042] Fresh water is fed from the cold fresh water supply 7' of the cold water storage tank 7 to the hot water stratified storage tank 2 through a fresh water supply line 70. The cold fresh water is first fed from the cold water storage tank 7 to a wort cooler 9, which is designed as a heat exchanger, through an external inlet line 71. The cold fresh water fed through the external inlet line 71 enters a cold water inlet 90 of the wort cooler 9 and is heated in the heat exchanger of the wort cooler 9 by hot wort, which is fed from the whirlpool 8 to the wort cooler 9 through a wort outlet line 80 described below. The temperature of the fresh water at the outlet from the wort cooler 9 is in the range of 95°C to 97°C or can even reach a temperature of up to 99°C.This hot fresh water leaves the wort cooler 9 through a hot water outlet 91 and is fed from there through an internal inlet line 72, which—like all hot water lines (high-temperature and low-temperature lines) of the brewing system 1—is preferably thermally insulated throughout. It enters the high-temperature zone 2' of the hot water stratified storage tank 2, where it enters the high-temperature zone 2'. The hot water stratified storage tank 2 is thus supplied with hot water during brewing operation of the brewing system.
[0043] 1 heated fresh water is supplied.
[0044] In principle, it is also possible, and in practice, when starting up the brewing system 1, to first introduce cold fresh water from the fresh water reservoir 7 into the hot water stratified storage tank 2 at the beginning of an operating cycle and then initially heat it in a heating circuit 28. The heating circuit 28 has an external heating device 29, which is heated using primary energy, for example, gas, fuel oil, wood chips, or wood pellets. The heating device 29 is connected via the second low-temperature fluid line 25" to the low-temperature water outlet 25 of the hot water stratified storage tank.
[0045] 2 and connected via a second high-temperature fluid line 22' to the high-temperature water inlet 22 of the hot water stratified storage tank 2. In this way, the water drawn from the lower low-temperature region 2" of the hot water stratified storage tank 2 can be circulated by a pump (not shown) through the external heating device 29 and the high-temperature fluid line 22' back into the high-temperature region 2' of the hot water stratified storage tank 2, so that the cold fresh water originally introduced into the hot water stratified storage tank 2 is quickly heated to the intended operating temperatures.
[0046] Cold fresh water from the fresh water reservoir 7' is also supplied to a first mixing device 35 assigned to the mash vessel 3 and a second mixing device 48 assigned to the lauter tun 4 via a fresh water line 73 connected directly to the cold water tank 7 or - as in the example shown - branching off from the external inlet line 71. Hot water is also supplied to the respective mixing devices 35, 48 via a hot water line 36 fed with hot fresh water from the high-temperature water outlet 23 (as shown in Fig. 1) or, for example, from the high-temperature fluid line 21'. In both mixing devices, the cold fresh water is mixed with the hot water from the hot water stratified tank 2 to achieve the desired temperature.
[0047] Upstream of the mash vessel 3 is a pre-mashing device 31, into which crushed malt or other starch carriers are fed from a supply (not shown) through a feed line 30. In the first mixing device 35 assigned to the mash vessel 3, the cold fresh water is mixed with the hot fresh water to achieve the desired temperature, and this tempered water is fed to the pre-mashing device 31. In the pre-mashing device 31, the starch carriers are then mixed in the flow with tempered fresh water (between 35 and 65°C, preferably above 50°C) supplied from the first mixing device 35 to form a suspension, the so-called mash, which is then fed into the mash vessel 3. From the mash vessel 3, the mash is fed through a mash line 34 into the lauter tun 4, where the mash is clarified.For this purpose, the malt extract in the lauter tun 4 is extracted with hot water, the so-called sparging water, which is added to the lauter tun 4 at a temperature of 78 - 80°C from the second mixing device 48 assigned to the lauter tun 4. The lauter wort obtained in the lauter tun 4 is discharged from the lauter tun 4 through a lauter wort outlet 40 and a lauter wort line 41 and initially temporarily stored in a lauter wort container 4'.
[0048] In total, approximately 50% of the fresh brewing water is added during mashing, and the other 50% is added in the lauter tun to wash out the remaining extract from the spent grain cake after the first wort has been drawn off. To save energy, the final mash can be done with cold water. The cold water displaces the last extract from the spent grain cake and utilizes the stored heat in the spent grain, as it doesn't need to be heated by other thermal energy sources; instead, it extracts heat from the spent grain cake, thereby warming itself up.
[0049] The lauter wort is fed from the lauter wort container 4' or directly from the lauter tun 4 through the first lauter wort line 41 and a second lauter wort line 42 fluidly connected to it to a lauter wort heater 43, which is also designed as a heat exchanger. The supplied lauter wort enters this heat exchanger through a low-temperature wort inlet 44, is heated there, and exits again through a high-temperature wort outlet 45, from where the heated lauter wort is led through a third lauter wort line 52 to a lauter wort inlet 50 of the wort kettle 5, through which it enters the wort kettle 5. Alternatively, with a low brewing sequence, the lauter wort can also be collected in the whirlpool 8 and heated from there with a lauter wort heater 43 during transfer to the wort kettle 5.The wort kettle 5 is conventionally provided with a lautering wort inlet 50, a wort outlet 51, and a wort vapor chimney 5', through which wort vapor, so-called vapor, generated during wort boiling, escapes. A vapor condenser 6, designed as a heat exchanger, is assigned to the wort kettle 5 in a generally known manner and is fluidly connected to the wort vapor chimney 5', so that vapor flows into the vapor condenser 6 and can condense there, as described further below. For boiling the wort, a generally known external wort boiler 43, described below, is assigned to the wort kettle 3.
[0050] A wort circulation line 54 leads from the wort outlet 51 of the wort kettle 5 through the primary energy-powered external wort boiler 55 back to a hot wort inlet 56 of the wort kettle. The preheated wort contained in the wort kettle, originally introduced into the wort kettle 5 via the lautering wort line 52, is circulated by a circulation pump (not shown) through this wort circulation line 54 and the external wort boiler 55, and is further heated to boiling temperature by the external wort boiler 55. Instead of this external circulation heating, any other known type of wort heating can of course be provided, for example, by means of an internal boiler or by means of heat exchangers located in the wall of the wort kettle 5.
[0051] The finished wort exiting the wort outlet 51 is conveyed through a wort transfer line 53 branching off the wort circulation line 53 into the whirlpool 8, where a solid-liquid separation takes place in a generally known manner. The liquid phase of the wort separated in this process, the so-called cast-out wort, is discharged from the whirlpool 8 through the wort discharge line 80 and—as described above—into the wort cooler 9. The cooled cast-out wort exiting the wort cooler 9 is then discharged from the brewing system 1 through a fermentation cellar line 92 and, for example, introduced into a fermentation tank G (not shown), which is symbolized by the arrow G. The brewing plant according to the invention is thus flowed through by the brewing fluid in the fresh water flow from the source Q to the fermentation tank G, which fluid passes from the fresh water via the mash, the lauter wort, the wort, and finally the cast wort, which is led through the fermentation cellar line 92 into the fermentation tank G.
[0052] In the brewing system 1 of the invention, the temperature management, in particular the heat recovery, is carried out by means of the brewing fluid, as described below.
[0053] From the low-temperature water outlet 25 of the hot water stratified storage tank 2, the first low-temperature fluid line 25' leads to a low-temperature water connection 60 of the vapor condenser 6 assigned to the wort kettle 5. In the vapor condenser 6, the vapor rising from the wort kettle 5 is cooled and condensed by means of the water supplied through the low-temperature fluid line 25' at a temperature of, for example, approximately 80°C, with the recovered vapor condensate being discarded. The heat from the hot vapor condensate can be recovered using a condensate cooler (not shown), for example to heat fresh water. During this condensation process in the vapor condenser 6, the low-temperature water supplied through the low-temperature fluid line 25' is heated, for example to a temperature between 95°C and 99°C.This heated water is fed through a first high-temperature fluid line 2T to the high-temperature water inlet 21 of the hot water stratified storage tank 2 and there introduced into the high-temperature area 2'.
[0054] The high-temperature region 2' of the hot water stratified storage tank 2 is fluidly connected to the mash vessel 3 via a mash water line 32, starting from a high-temperature water outlet 23. The mash water line 32 opens there into a hot water inlet 33 at the bottom of the mash vessel 3, so that hot water, conveyed by a pump (not shown) from the high-temperature region 2' of the hot water stratified storage tank 2, at a temperature in the range of 90°C to 99°C and preferably higher than 95°C, enters the mash contained in the mash vessel 3 from below.This creates turbulence in the mash, whose initial temperature is significantly lower than the temperature of the hot water introduced. This turbulence is caused by an agitator in the mash vessel. This ensures rapid mixing of the introduced hot water with the existing mash. Within a very short time, a mixing temperature is evenly distributed throughout the mash, lying between the original mash temperature and the temperature of the hot water introduced. In this way, the mash can be brought to a specified temperature level in a very short time, which must be maintained for a specified period of time during a so-called mash rest.Since beer brewing typically involves several consecutive mash rests, each with a higher temperature, the mashing process—and thus the entire brewing process—is accelerated. A predetermined rest temperature can be set quickly and effectively by appropriately introducing hot fresh water from the high-temperature stratified storage tank 2 into the mash vessel 3. This temperature adjustment by introducing hot fresh water into the mash is significantly more responsive than conventional heating of the mash vessel 3 with an internal or external heating device using heat exchangers, whose heat transfer into the mash is significantly slower.
[0055] The fresh water heated in the vapor condenser 6 is also used as a heating medium in the lauter wort heater 43 by being branched off through a high-temperature branch line 21" branching off from the first high-temperature fluid line 2T and being conducted as a partial flow to a high-temperature fluid connection 46 of the lauter wort heater 43. The fresh water exiting the lauter wort heater 43 through a low-temperature fluid outlet 47 and cooled to a temperature of approximately 80 °C is led through a low-temperature return line 48 to the low-temperature water inlet 24 of the hot water stratified storage tank 2 and there enters the low-temperature region 2" of the hot water stratified storage tank 2. Other heat generators and heat consumers not shown in the diagram in Fig. 1 can also be integrated, for example directly or via heat exchangers, into the brewing fluid flow initially formed by the supplied fresh water.In the brewing system 1 of the present invention, the brewing fluid is therefore also used as a heat transport medium, so that, in contrast to the prior art, no separate fluid circuit is required for the recovery of thermal energy.
[0056] Reference symbols in the claims, the description and the drawings serve only to improve the understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection.
[0057] List of reference symbols
[0058] They refer to:
[0059] 1 brewing system
[0060] 2 hot water stratified storage tanks
[0061] 2' high temperature range
[0062] 2" low temperature range
[0063] 3 mash vessel
[0064] 4 Lauter tun
[0065] 4' lauter wort tank
[0066] 5 wort pan
[0067] 5' wort steam chimney
[0068] 6 Vapor condenser
[0069] 7 cold water tanks
[0070] 7' fresh water supply
[0071] 8 Whirlpool
[0072] 9 wort coolers
[0073] 20 High-temperature water inlet
[0074] 21 High-temperature water inlet
[0075] 21' high-temperature fluid line
[0076] 21" high-temperature branch line
[0077] 22 High-temperature water inlet
[0078] 22' high-temperature fluid line
[0079] 23 High-temperature water outlet
[0080] 24 Low-temperature water inlet
[0081] 25 Low-temperature water outlet
[0082] 25' low-temperature fluid line
[0083] 25" low-temperature fluid line
[0084] 26 High-temperature water connection
[0085] 27 Low-temperature water connection
[0086] 28 Heating circuit Heating device Mash water line Hot water inlet Mash line First mixing device Hot water line Lauter wort outlet First lauter wort line Second lauter wort line Lauter wort heater
[0087] Low-temperature wort inlet High-temperature wort outlet High-temperature fluid connection Low-temperature fluid outlet Second mixing device Lauter wort inlet
[0088] Wort outlet third lauter wort line wort transfer line
[0089] Low-temperature water connection High-temperature water connection Fresh water supply line Outer inlet line Inner inlet line Fresh water line Wort drain line Cold water inlet Hot water outlet Fermentation cellar line
[0090] fermentation tank
[0091] Fresh water source
Claims
Patent claims Brewing system with a hot water stratified storage tank (2) having a high-temperature region (2') and a low-temperature region (2"), which has at least one high-temperature water inlet (20, 21, 22), at least one high-temperature water outlet (23), at least one low-temperature water inlet (24) and at least one low-temperature water outlet (25), with a mash vessel (3), a lauter tun (4) or mash filter fluidically connected to the mash vessel (3) via a mash line (34), a wort kettle (5) having a lauter wort inlet (50), a wort outlet (51) and a vapor condenser (6) with a low-temperature water connection (60) and a high-temperature water connection (61), wherein the lauter wort inlet (50) is connected directly or indirectly to the lauter tun (4) or the Mash filter is fluidly connected,wherein the low-temperature water outlet (25) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2) is in fluid communication with the low-temperature water connection (60) of the vapor condenser (6) and the high-temperature water inlet (21) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2) is in fluid communication with the high-temperature water connection (61) of the vapor condenser (6), characterized in that the hot water stratified storage tank (2) is in fluid communication with a fresh water supply (7') via a fresh water supply line (70) and in that the high-temperature water outlet (23) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2) is in fluid communication with a hot water inlet (33) of the mash vessel (3) via a mash water line (32). Brewing system with a hot water stratified storage tank (2) having a high-temperature area (2') and a low-temperature area (2"), which has at least one high-temperature water inlet (20, 21, 22), at least one high-temperature water outlet (23),at least one low-temperature water inlet (24) and at least one low-temperature, Water outlet (25), with a mash vessel (3), a lauter tun (4) or mash filter fluidly connected to the mash vessel (3) via a mash line (34), a wort kettle (5) having a lauter wort inlet (50), a wort outlet (51) and a vapor condenser (6) with a low-temperature water connection (60) and a high-temperature water connection (61), wherein the lauter wort inlet (50) is fluidly connected directly or indirectly to the lauter tun (4) or the mash filter via a lauter wort line (52), wherein the wort outlet (51) is fluidly connected directly or indirectly to a wort cooler (9), to which cold water is supplied via an external inlet line (71) to a cold water inlet (90) which is heated in the wort cooler (9), and which has a hot water outlet fluidly connected to the high-temperature water inlet (20) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2) via an internal inlet line (72) (91) for the outlet of the heated water, characterized in that the outer inflow line (71) is fluidly connected to the fresh water supply (7') and that the outer inflow line (71) and the inner inflow line (72) form the fresh water supply line (70) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2).Brewing system with a hot water stratified storage tank (2) having a high-temperature region (2') and a low-temperature region (2"), which has at least one high-temperature water inlet (20, 21, 22), at least one high-temperature water outlet (23), at least one low-temperature water inlet (24) and at least one low-temperature water outlet (25), with a mash vessel (3), a lauter tun (4) or mash filter fluidically connected to the mash vessel (3) via a mash line (34), a wort kettle (5) having a lauter wort inlet (50), a wort outlet (51) and a vapor condenser (6) with a low-temperature water connection (60) and a high-temperature water connection (61), wherein the lauter wort inlet (50) is connected directly or indirectly to the lauter tun (4) via a lauter wort line (52). or the mash filter, wherein the low-temperature water outlet (25) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2) is in fluid connection with the low-temperature water connection (60) of the vapor condenser (6) and the high-temperature water inlet (21) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2) is in fluid connection with the high-temperature water connection (61) of the vapor condenser (6), wherein the wort outlet (51) is directly or indirectly fluidly connected with a wort cooler (9) to which cold water is fed via an external inlet line (71) to a cold water inlet (90), which is heated in the wort cooler (9), and which has a hot water outlet (91) for the discharge of the heated water, which is fluidly connected via an internal inlet line (72) to the high-temperature water inlet (20) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2), characterized in thatthat the hot water stratified storage tank (2) is in fluid connection with a fresh water supply (7') via a fresh water supply line (70) and that the high-temperature water outlet (23) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2) is in fluid connection with a hot water inlet (33) of the mash vessel (3) via a mash water line (32) and that the outer inflow line (71) is fluidly connected to the fresh water supply (7') and that the outer inflow line (71) and the inner inflow line (72) form the fresh water supply line (70) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2). Brewing plant according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the temperature of water emerging from the high-temperature water connection (61) of the vapor condenser (6) during the brewing operation of the brewing plant (1) is in the range of 95°C to 99°C, preferably between 96°C and 99°C and more preferably between 98°C and 99°C. Brewing system according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the temperature of water exiting the wort cooler (9) into the inner inflow line (72) during brewing operation of the brewing system is in the range of 95°C to 97°C, preferably between 96°C and 97°C. Brewing system according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the temperature of water exiting the wort cooler (9) into the inner inflow line (72) during brewing operation of the brewing system is a maximum of 2°C, preferably a maximum of 1°C, lower than the temperature of the hot wort entering the wort cooler (9). Brewing system according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the temperature of water entering the wort cooler (9) from the external inflow line (71) fluidly connected to the fresh water supply (7') is warmer than 0°C and colder than 10°C, preferably 6°C or colder, more preferably 4°C or colder.Brewing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature of water flowing from the high-temperature water outlet (23) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2) into the hot water inlet (33) of the mash vessel (3) during brewing operation of the brewing system in the high-temperature water outlet (23) is in the range of 90°C to 99°C, preferably 95°C or higher, more preferably 96°C or higher. Brewing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that. that at least one high-temperature water inlet (21) and at least one high-temperature water outlet (23) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2) are formed by a common high-temperature water connection (26) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2). Brewing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one low-temperature water inlet (24) and at least one low-temperature water outlet (25) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2) are formed by a common low-temperature water connection (27) of the hot water stratified storage tank (2).