AUTOMATIC DENSITYMETER

Abstract

The automatic hydrometer is used to program the density of must in a winemaking tank. It uses the CO2 produced during this process, collected in a bell placed vertically in the tank, to force the must, which is filled with liquid, down towards the bottom of the bell (open opening). Two level sensors define: the high level (bell full of liquid) and the low level (bell empty, liquid replaced by CO2). The duration of these cycles is taken into account by the system's electronics: the cycle duration is shorter when the CO2 flow rate is high, thus also indicating a higher rate of sugar conversion to alcohol, and consequently a lower density. Since these elements are modeled in the tank management software, the tank's temperature control can be adjusted according to the programmed desired density.

Description

AUTOMATIC DENSIMETER I1 is known that the control of the density of the musts makes it possible to ensure in a formal way the control of the vinification. EMI0001.0002 / known I1 is also that some densimeters have sufficient precision to achieve such - EMI0001.0003 sadly, but this equipment is expensive, considering / Phone the necessary precision of the measurements, and an investment is not economically justified, especially since it is necessary to have one control channel per vinification vat, . to treat .. tanks of 100 to 250 hectolitres, corresponding to the capacity of the tanks most commonly installed. The least expensive systems, however, require the installation of sensors positioned with high precision, if significant measurements are to be obtained, which is not very compatible with the equipment encountered in cellars. The device that is the subject of the invention solves these various difficulties, since it does not require any precise infrastructure. It can be installed in tanks of all types and sizes, and automatically takes into account the temperature of the must in which it is immersed. It is inexpensive, and can work with all types of treated wines, reds, rosés and whites. PRINCIPLE A preferably insulated enclosure, in the shape of a bell, is installed vertically within a tank. During vinification, the C02 released during the transformation into alcohol of the sugar contained in the must escapes freely through the neck of the tank, while the C02 released by the must filling the submerged chamber escapes. accumulates in the upper part of the bell, pushing the liquid towards the free opening of the latter, in the lower part. Two level sensors - consisting of two electrodes, according to the description of the invention, and not limited to, and referred to in the text below as the electrode - are attached to a wall of the bell> the .un in the upper part, the other in the lower part; when the level of the must thus pushed back reaches the low electrode of the fluid level detection system, the resistive circuit which results (the 2 electrodes being in the air), makes it possible to trigger the opening of a device, allowing the evacuation of C02 from the top of the bell, such as a suction system or a very low pressure drop solenoid valve, device by way of example, and not limitatively -. referred to below in the text as the solenoid valve -, solenoid valve placed at the level of the top of the bell, on the tube connecting it to the open air - The C02 thus escapes under the effect the hydrostatic pressure of the wort, until the liquid reaches the upper electrode, blocking the C02 evacuation system (closing for example of the solenoid valve), and thus stopping the filling of the bell. It is recorded, in the apparatus, the time required, in seconds for example, for the bell to be emptied of its must, replaced by C02. It is the durations of the successive cycles that are significant. In. effect these times are all the shorter as the release of C02 is important, therefore that the fermentation is active, and that the rate of transformation of the sugar contained in the must is high, and therefore that the density decreases more quickly. It is the taking into account of this duration by the modeling of the phenomenon, introduced in the software of the control computer of the tank, that the temperature of the latter will be slaved to the programming of the variation of the density in time. SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED To do this, given the fact that for an imposed density variation (refer to Fig.l; Pl.l), a density variation between points 1 and 2 (on curve a), is weaker than between points 4 and 5 (on the same curve). The duration of filling by C02 of the volume defined by the two level electrodes in the enclosure means that the time corresponding to segment 1-2, on C3 (abscissa of times) is longer than segment 4-5 on the same abscissa. Consequently, on curve b - representing the change in temperature acting on vinification - points 1 and 2 (on curve b) correspond to a fraction of the temperature curve representing a slower variation than that represented by the curve fraction, points 4 and 5 of curve b. the same figure, the ordinates a) and b), represent respectively: by (a), the density, (varies from 1000 to 900); and by b), the value of the temperatures from 20 to 30° C., in the example shown; the abscissa C3 corresponds to the durations of filling of the enclosure by le-C02, at variable temperatures for the same volume of C02 emitted. DESCRIPTION device comprises, according to one of the preferred and non-limiting forms of the invention - Fig.2; Pl. 1 - as installed in a wine vat, Fig. 3; P1.2, representing more particularly the measurement bell itself - A density measurement enclosure (1), in the form of a bell (2), preferably cylindrical, with a free opening at the lower part, and having a bottom for example hemispherical the upper part. The wall of the enclosure is preferably insulated (for example, double wall in food-grade plastic material, lined with an insulating foam, forming a thermal barrier), so that during the duration of each cycle the measurement is carried out at a stable temperature ( temperature of the wort filling the enclosure of the hydrometer), while the temperature of the wort filling the entire tank (17) is regulated from the exchanger (3), controlled by the probe (4); the regulator, is housed in the electronic housing of the densimeter (5) in connection with the microcomputer (6), the exchanger (3) supplied by the actuator (18), with hot or cold fluid (generator (19) ). The / c2gc is maintained in the tank by a support tube (7), fitted with a pipe in which the C02 escapes, at (8), an exhaust controlled by the elec- loss tro-valve very low / charging (9), placed in the open air. The exhaust tube (8) is at its lower part integral with the top of the bell, protected by a filter (Jp), preventing particles in suspension in the must from disturbing the proper functioning of the solenoid valve. The wort level detection electrodes in the bell are fixed one above the other; at least two of them define 2 levels, the electrodes (11) and (13), in connection with the electronic box (5). The electrode (11) corresponds to the high filling level of the bell. The discharge of the liquid (wort) from level (11), upper electrode, to level (13), lower electrode, corresponding to the filling -volume V3, of the bell with C02. The filling time is taken into account in the density / temperature modeling for the operation of the instrument. The electrodes (15) and (16) placed between the electrodes (11) and (13), define reduced volumes, such as V1 for one and V2 for the other, with respect to V3; they are used to carry out measurements, with recorded durations that differ little from the start to the end of vinification, despite the variation in speed of the flows. As soon as the level (13) is reached, the volume V3 being defined, the C02 filling time of the bell is recorded, and the solenoid valve (9) is opened. It will remain open until the must is detected by the electrode (11), corresponding to a new filling of the bell, to start a new cycle. An improvement consists in the use of a fifth electrode at (12), very close to, or below the electrode (13) defining the volume V3. The C02 filling measurement of the bell is always defined in this arrangement, by the times spent during the discharge of the wort between the electrodes (11) and (13); but the opening of the solenoid valve (9) is triggered only from the detection of a high resistance between the points (11) and (12) This latency time ensures that a local disturbance will not falsify the measurement by triggering the solenoid valve too quickly. Correlatively, the evolution of the rate of sugar trans formed alcohol, by the action of yeasts (present on the skin of the grapes or directly in the must), corresponds to a known variation in the density of the liquid, with the generation of C02, throughout this period. It constitutes the means of controlling vinification, by density, by enslaving the thermal regulation of the vinification vat, to the programming of the evolution of the density of the must over time, the release of C02 being measured. To ensure that, throughout the time of programmed vinification, the must is sufficiently charged with dissolved oxygen, the apparatus according to the invention advantageously combines with a hydrometer as described, an assembly comprising a pumping-up pump (14 ) must, from bottom to top, and a diffuser of this must in (20), which distributes a half-sphere of liquid (21) on the hat present in the tank. On the winding pipe (22), a venturi absorbs air by the play of the pressure differential in the venturi; this amount of air sucked in, and therefore ox- EMI0006.0001 zygene (for 1 / 5th of this volume of air) is modulated by a solenoid valve (23). The action of the latter is controlled by an oximeter, the sensitive sensor of which is arranged on the winding pipe, close to the venturi, at (24); the associated electronics is incorporated in the regulation box (5). The same densimetry device constitutes an autonomous device for measuring the density of musts, which can be used for measurements in laboratories, in vat rooms. The apparatus comprises, housed in a box (26), FIG. 4, Pl. 3 - the tank. (17) into which the must is introduced, the bell (2), of reduced volume, included in the vat, and the level sensors, (11) and (13); - the hydraulic circuits, solenoid valve (9) and filter (10); - temperature measurement and regulation, controlled by the probe (4), placed in the tank. The volumes treated are reduced to a few liters, and the temperature is fixed at a value such that it is possible to quickly carry out several cycles of filling and emptying the bell. The device can be connected to a printer (25).

Claims

CLAIMS 1 / The system for measuring the density of musts during vinification uses carbon dioxide (CO2), produced during vinification, as a measuring element, as well as a driving force in the density measurement and regulation apparatus. 2 / The densimeter according to claim 1 is characterized in that the measurement of the density of the musts during vinification is carried out as a function of the time required to obtain a determined volume of CO2, the time required to obtain this volume being shorter the faster the change in density resulting from the transformation of sugar into alcohol. 3 / The densimeter according to claims 1 and 2 is characterized in that a bell (2), arranged vertically in a vinification tank (17) with its opening facing downwards, constitutes the enclosure of the density regulator.The bell defines a volume, initially filled with must at the start of a measurement cycle, and at the end of the cycle with a volume of CO2 accumulated in the upper part of this bell, the must having been pumped back as it was produced, said volume being materialized by the position of 2 sensors in the bell (2). 4 / Densimeter according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the bell (2) is equipped with level sensors, such as (11), (12) and (13); these sensors consist of electrodes, fixed inside the bell, detecting between 2 of them, a sudden variation in resistivity: this, passing to a value practically zero, when the 2 electrodes are immersed in the must, and to a very high value when at least one of them is in the air; this sudden variation in resistivity is detected by the associated electronic circuit controlling the opening and closing of the CO2 produced evacuation device (9).5 / A densimeter according to any one of the claims, characterized in that an electronic counter measures the time required for the released CO2 to push the wort level from the top of the bell electrode (11) to the level of the bottom of the bell electrode (13); this time is shorter the higher the CO2 release, and therefore the faster the decrease in density. 6 / A densimeter according to any one of the claims, characterized in that the evacuation of the released CO2 in the densimeter bell is achieved due to the hydrostatic pressure of the wort at the bottom of the bell, as soon as the evacuation device, such as a very low pressure drop solenoid valve (9) placed at the top of the bell, is opened by the action of the electronic circuit connected to the bottom electrode (13).7 / A hydrometer according to any one of the claims, characterized in that the hydrometer bell (2) is equipped with a filter (10) at the orifice through which the CO2 produced in the bell flows out upon activation of the evacuation device (9). 8 / A hydrometer according to any one of the claims, characterized in that a temperature probe (4) is placed in the tank (17) at the level of the hydrometer bell (2); this probe allows the temperature of the must to be read and serves as a sensor for regulating this temperature. 9 / Densimeter according to any one of the claims, characterized in that the bell (2) of the densimeter has several level detection points --electrodes (15) and (16) - allowing for the measurement of density, cycle durations (filling and emptying of the bell) linked to the speed of the CO2 flow rate as it is formed. EMI0009.0001 sem b labelsThis is to obtain measurements of durations substantially from the beginning, during or at the end of vinification, in order to maintain the accuracy of the measurements, while reducing the time required for them. 10 / Densimeter according to any one of the claims, characterized in that the density measuring device is associated with the must oxygenation device by means of a venturi disposed on the discharge pipe of the pumping pump (14), the introduction into the must of the air passing through the venturi being modulated in quantity by a solenoid valve (23), placed on the suction pipe of the venturi (22); its control is triggered by the probe (24) of an oximeter measuring the dissolved oxygen level.11 / A densimeter according to any one of the claims, characterized in that this system allows the programming of the evolution of the must density during vinification, by the programming of the temperature regulation of the must, thanks to the possibility of mathematical modeling of the temperature values ​​in relation to the desired densities. 12 / A densimeter according to any one of the claims, characterized in that the described device makes it possible to constitute an autonomous densimetric measurement apparatus, specially adapted to laboratories and wineries. The characteristic elements of the system include: a chamber for receiving the must, the measuring bell (2), and its level detectors (11), (13), the solenoid valve (9) and the filter at the top of the bell (10) for the evacuation of CO2, as well as the. EMI0009.0010 electronic box containing the various circuits / they The control and measurement components are housed in a frame that forms the body of the equipment.