Distillation device comprising a mechanical vapor compression heating system and a condenser optimized to reduce energy consumption
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023001472
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-02-17
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-05
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-02-17
AI Technical Summary
Existing distillation devices are complex and energy-intensive due to multiple circuits and components, particularly the heat pump and steam jet pump, which increase costs and operational complexity.
A simplified distillation device design utilizing a single fluid circuit with a condenser, cooler, and separator, leveraging latent heat of alcohol vapors to heat the liquid, and incorporating renewable energy sources to optimize energy use.
Reduces energy consumption and component complexity by utilizing latent heat and renewable energy, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective distillation process.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Distillation device comprising a heating system by mechanical vapor compression and a condenser optimized to reduce energy consumption
[0001] The present application relates to a distillation device comprising a heating system by mechanical vapor compression and a condenser optimized to reduce energy consumption. This device is more particularly suitable for the production of Cognac.
[0002] According to an embodiment visible in [Fig.l] and described in the document FR3117042, a distillation device such as a Charentais-type still comprises a boiler 10 configured to contain a liquid to be distilled, a heating system 12 for the liquid to be distilled, a capital 14 surmounting the boiler 10 at the level of which condensation and reflux phenomena take place, as well as a swan neck 16 which collects the alcohol vapors leaving the capital 14 and conveys them to a coil 18 positioned in a refrigerating system 20.
[0003] The refrigerating system 20 comprises a tank 22, in which the coil 18 is positioned, immersed in water, divided by a horizontal partition into upper and lower parts. The upper parts of the tank 22 and the coil 18 form a condenser 24 in which the alcohol vapors change phase, passing from the gaseous state to the liquid state. The lower parts of the tank 22 and the coil 18 form a cooler 26 in which the condensed liquid is cooled, a cooling system 28 being provided to cool the water present in the lower part of the tank 22.
[0004] The heating system 12 comprises: a. a first circuit 30 which comprises a first end 30.1 opening into the lower part of the boiler 10, a second end 30.2 opening into the upper part of the boiler 10 as well as a first circulation pump 30.3 configured to circulate the liquid to be distilled from the first end 30.1 to the second end 30.2 of the first circuit 30; b. a second circuit 32 which comprises a first end 32.1 opening into the upper part of the condenser 24, a second end 32.2 opening into the lower part of the condenser 24 as well as a second circulation pump 32.3 configured to circulate the water from the condenser 24 from the first end 32.1 to the second end 32.2 of the second circuit 32; c. a third circuit 34 in which a heat transfer fluid circulates, which comprises a heat exchanger 34.1 crossed by the first circuit 30, ensuring a heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid and the liquid to be distilled, a heat pump 34.2, crossed by the second circuit 32, ensuring a heat transfer between the water of the condenser 24 and the heat transfer fluid as well as a third circulation pump 34.3 for circulating the heat transfer liquid through the heat exchanger 34.1 and the heat pump 34.2.
[0005] The heat pump 34.2 operates at very high temperature and has, in the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid, an expansion valve which reduces the pressure of the heat transfer fluid, an evaporator in which the water from the condenser 24 circulates and a compressor which increases the pressure and the heat of the heat transfer fluid.
[0006] This solution is not fully satisfactory because the heating system comprises at least three circuits. In addition, the heat pump 34.2 is a relatively complex and expensive device.
[0007] Document WO2016 / 066622 describes a whisky distillation device which comprises a heating system using water vapor.
[0008] According to this document, the refrigerating system is divided into two separate parts, namely a condenser and a cooler, connected by a pipeline.
[0009] The heating system comprises: a. a first circuit which comprises a first end opening into the lower part of the boiler, a second end opening into the upper part of the boiler as well as a first circulation pump configured to circulate the liquid to be distilled from the first end to the second end of the first circuit; b. a second circuit which comprises a first end opening into the lower part of the condenser, a second end opening into the upper part of the condenser, a second circulation pump configured to circulate the water from the condenser from the first end to the second end of the second circuit as well as a separator; c. a third steam circuit which comprises a steam source, a steam jet pump powered by steam from the separator and a heat exchanger ensuring heat transfer between the steam and the liquid to be distilled which circulates in the first circuit; d. a rotating fan compressing the steam exiting the separator and powering the steam jet pump.
[0010] This solution is relatively complex due to the presence of a steam jet pump, the number of circuits and components.
[0011] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the art prior.
[0012] To this end, the invention relates to a distillation device comprising: a. a boiler configured to contain a liquid to be distilled, b. a heating system comprising at least one first exchanger thermal configured to ensure heat transfer between a heat transfer fluid and the fluid to be distilled contained in the boiler, c. a condenser configured to condense alcohol vapors from the boiler, d. a cooler configured to cool the alcohol condensed in the condenser, e. a fluid circuit, in which the heat transfer fluid circulates, comprising at least one pipe which passes through the first heat exchanger and has a pipe inlet and a pipe outlet.
[0013] These elements are common to the distillation device of the invention and to those of the prior art.
[0014] According to the invention, the condenser comprises a tank which has an inlet for the alcohol vapors coming from the boiler and an outlet connected to the cooler as well as at least one conduit, in which the heat transfer fluid circulates, which passes through the tank and extends between first and second ends, the first end being connected to the pipe outlet.
[0015] In addition, the fluid circuit comprises a separator in the lower part of which the second end of each condenser conduit opens, the pipe inlet opening in the upper part of the separator.
[0016] The invention makes it possible to obtain a distillation device using the latent heat of alcohol vapors to heat the liquid to be distilled, simple, which comprises a limited number of fluid circuits and components.
[0017] Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description of the invention which follows, a description given by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings, among which:
[0018] [Fig. 1] is a schematic representation of a distillation device illustrating an embodiment of the prior art,
[0019] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of a distillation device illustrating a embodiment of the invention,
[0020] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of a distillation device illustrating a another embodiment of the invention.
[0021] According to an embodiment visible in Figures 2 and 3, a distillation device comprises a boiler 40 configured to contain a liquid to be distilled, at least one heating system 42 for the liquid to be distilled, a capital 44.1 surmounting the boiler 40 at the level of which condensation and reflux phenomena take place. as well as a swan neck 44.2 collecting the alcohol vapors leaving the capital 44.1 and conveying them to a refrigeration system 46.
[0022] The boiler 40 comprises a feed 48 configured to introduce into the boiler 40 a given volume of liquid to be distilled, called a batch.
[0023] The liquid to be distilled may be preheated before being introduced into the boiler 40.
[0024] According to a non-limiting application, this distillation device is used for the production of Cognac or any other alcohol in batches.
[0025] The heating device may comprise several heating systems 42 using liquid vapor, as illustrated in document FR3117042.
[0026] Whatever the embodiment, the heating system 42 comprises at least a first heat exchanger 50 configured to ensure heat transfer between a heat transfer fluid and the liquid to be distilled.
[0027] According to one configuration, the first heat exchanger 50 is positioned outside the boiler 40 and the heating system 42 comprises a first fluid circuit 52, in which the liquid to be distilled circulates, which comprises a first end 52.1 opening into the boiler 40, a second end 52.2 opening into the boiler 40 via an expansion valve and a specific diffuser positioned in the liquid to be distilled, as well as a first circulation pump 52.3 configured to circulate the liquid to be distilled from the first end 52.1 to the second end 52.2 of the first fluid circuit 52, the first heat exchanger 50 being crossed by the liquid to be distilled circulating in the first fluid circuit 52.
[0028] The expansion valve provided at the second end 52.2 allows pressurization of the fluid in the first fluid circuit 52 upstream of the second end 52.2, which prevents the formation of steam in particular at the first heat exchanger 50 as well as in the first fluid circuit 52 between the boiler 40 and the first heat exchanger 50.
[0029] The diffuser provided at the second end 52.2 is configured to obtain a gentle diffusion of the gases in the liquid to be distilled. This diffuser comprises a conduit provided with a multitude of holes. According to an arrangement visible in [Fig.2], the conduit is bent and closed at one of its ends. The sum of the sections of the holes is between 0.5 and 1.5 times the internal section of the conduit. The holes are distributed according to four generators positioned at 90°, the holes of each generator having different sections which increase towards the closed end.
[0030] The expansion valve and the diffuser make it possible to avoid vibration phenomena which are harmful to the proper functioning of the distillation device.
[0031] Of course, the invention is not limited to this configuration. The first Heat exchanger 50 could be integrated into the wall of boiler 40 or positioned inside boiler 40.
[0032] The refrigeration system 46 includes a condenser 54 configured to condense the alcohol vapors exiting the boiler 40 and a cooler 56 positioned below the condenser 54 and configured to cool the condensed alcohol in the condenser 54. The positioning of the cooler 56 below the condenser 54 allows gravity flow of the condensed alcohol from the condenser 54 to the cooler 56.
[0033] According to one configuration, the cooler 56 comprises a first tank 58 containing a cooling liquid, a coil 60 positioned in the first tank 58 in which the condensed alcohol circulates as well as a cooling system 61 configured to cool the cooling liquid. The coil 60 comprises a coil inlet 60.1 opening into the lower part of the condenser 54 and a coil outlet 60.2 located in the lower part and outside the first tank 58.
[0034] The cooler 56 is not described further because it may be identical to those of the prior art.
[0035] The condenser 54 comprises a second tank 62, positioned above the first tank 58, having a lower wall 62.1, an upper wall 62.2 and a side wall 62.3 connecting the lower and upper walls 62.1, 62.2. This second tank 62 comprises an inlet 64.1 for the alcohol vapors coming from the boiler 40, connected to the swan neck 44.2 and located in the upper part of the second tank 62, more particularly in the upper part of its side wall 62.3, as well as an outlet 64.2 for the alcohol condensed in the condenser 54, connected to the cooler 56, in particular to the inlet of the coil 60.1, and located in the lower part of the second tank 62, more particularly at its lower wall 62.1. According to one configuration, the outlet 64.2 of the tank 62 is offset downwards relative to the inlet 64.1.
[0036] The condenser 54 is configured to ensure a heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid passing through the first heat exchanger 50 and the alcohol vapors leaving the boiler 40. The condenser 54 comprises at least one conduit 66, in which the heat transfer fluid circulates, passing through the lower and upper walls 62.1, 62.2, each having a first end 66.1 located below the lower wall 62.1 and supplied with heat transfer fluid coming from the first heat exchanger 50 as well as a second end 66.2 located above the upper wall 62.2.
[0037] The condenser 54 comprises several conduits 66 parallel to each other. For information purposes, the conduits 66 have an internal diameter of between 5 mm and 50 mm and a thickness of less than 3 mm. Each of them is made of a thermally conductive material promoting thermal exchanges between the interior and the exterior. of the conduit 66. The second tank 62 and the conduits 66 are configured to optimize the condensation of the alcohol vapors and ensure optimal heat transfer between the alcohol vapors and the heat transfer fluid.
[0038] Whatever the configuration, the condenser 54 comprises at least one conduit 66 passing through the second tank 62 and extending between first and second ends 66.1, 66.2, the first end 66.1 being supplied with heat transfer fluid coming from the first heat exchanger 50. According to one configuration, each conduit 66 is oriented vertically, the heat transfer fluid flowing in each conduit 66 from bottom to top. The heat transfer fluid circulates in each conduit 66 in the opposite direction to the alcohol vapors circulating in the second tank 62.
[0039] The distillation device comprises a second fluid circuit 68, in which the heat transfer fluid circulates, comprising a separator 70 positioned just above the upper wall 62.2 of the tank 62 of the condenser 54, in the lower part of which the second end 66.2 of each conduit 66 of the condenser 54 opens, at least one pipe 72 which has a pipe inlet 74.1 opening in the upper part of the separator 70 and a pipe outlet 74.2 connected to the first end 66.1 of each conduit 66 of the condenser 54 as well as at least one blower 76 ensuring circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the second fluid circuit 68 from the pipe inlet 74.1 to the pipe outlet 74.2, said pipe 72 passing through the first heat exchanger 50 to carry out a heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid and the liquid to be distilled.
[0040] According to one embodiment, the separator 70 comprises an enclosure containing the liquid and gaseous phases of the heat transfer fluid.
[0041] According to one embodiment, the heat transfer fluid is water in the form of vapor and liquid.
[0042] According to one configuration, the second fluid circuit 68 comprises a buffer tank or a feeder 78 located between the condenser 54 and the cooler 56, said buffer tank or said feeder 78 comprising an inlet connected by a section of the pipe 72 to the first heat exchanger 50, the first end 66.1 of each conduit 66 opening into said buffer tank or being connected to said feeder 78.
[0043] In operation, the volume located in the second tank 62 and outside the conduits 66 contains in the upper part the alcohol vapors coming from the boiler 40 and in the lower part the condensed alcohol which flows into the coil 60 by gravity. The heat transfer fluid enters the conduits 66 in the liquid state. In the conduits 66, the heat transfer fluid partially evaporates so that the heat transfer fluid is in the form of a mixture of gas and liquid at the outlet of the conduits 66 and in the separator 70. In the separator 70, the liquid and gaseous phase of the heat transfer fluid are separated, the liquid phase of the heat transfer fluid being located, in the lower part of the separator 70, under the gaseous phase of the heat transfer fluid which enters the pipe 72. The blower 76 maintains a relative vacuum in the separator 70, promoting the maintenance of boiling of the heat transfer fluid. The blower 70 sucks and pushes by compressing it the heat transfer fluid in the gaseous state towards the first heat exchanger 50.
[0044] According to the invention, the refrigerating system 46 comprises a condenser 54, a cooler 56 and a separator 70 forming a compact assembly, the condenser 54 being interposed between the cooler 56 and the separator 70. As with the prior art, the distillation device uses the latent heat of the alcohol vapors to heat the liquid to be distilled. However, the distillation device of the invention is simpler and comprises a smaller number of fluid circuits and components compared to the distillation devices of the prior art.
[0045] According to one embodiment, the second fluid circuit 68 comprises at least one second heat exchanger 80 located upstream of the first heat exchanger 50, downstream of the blower 76, and configured to provide thermal energy to the heat transfer fluid circulating in the pipe 72 as well as a control for controlling the heat exchanges at the level of the second heat exchanger 80.
[0046] This second heat exchanger 80 makes it possible to reinject energy, preferably renewable or recovered, into the second fluid circuit 68. This possibility makes it possible, in transient conditions (before boiling of the liquid to be distilled in the boiler 40) or in steady state (the liquid to be distilled being boiling in the boiler 40), to reduce the energy absorbed by the blower 76.
[0047] According to an embodiment visible in [Fig.2], the second heat exchanger 80 is positioned downstream of the blower 76, between the blower 76 and the first heat exchanger 50.
[0048] According to another embodiment visible in [Fig. 3], the second heat exchanger 80 is positioned upstream of the blower 76, between the separator 70 and the blower 76. This embodiment makes it possible to reduce the energy potential of the energy injected at the level of the second heat exchanger 80. This makes it possible, among other things, to reduce the temperature of the supply fluid circulating in the second heat exchanger 80 used to heat the heat transfer fluid circulating in the second fluid circuit 68.
[0049] According to an embodiment visible in [Fig. 3], the second fluid circuit 68 comprises at least a third heat exchanger 82 located downstream of the first heat exchanger 50, upstream of the condenser 54, and configured to recover part of the thermal energy of the heat transfer fluid as well as a control, to control the heat exchanges at the level of the third heat exchanger 82, which may be the same as that controlling the second heat exchanger 80.
[0050] The third heat exchanger 82 is intended to condense the heat transfer fluid before its return to the condenser 54. The recovered energy will be used for preheating the liquid to be distilled. For example, the energy recovered at the third heat exchanger 82 makes it possible to preheat a new batch of liquid to be distilled before its introduction into the boiler 40 to a temperature between 80 and 85°.
[0051] At the start of the distillation process, the liquid to be distilled is not heated sufficiently to produce alcohol vapors. Consequently, the thermal energy of the heat transfer fluid leaving the separator 70 is not sufficient to heat the liquid to be distilled. Thus, at the start of the distillation process, the second heat exchanger 80 provides the heat transfer fluid with sufficient thermal energy to heat the liquid to be distilled in the first heat exchanger 50 and cause the evaporation of the liquid to be distilled. As soon as the distillation process is initiated, the latent heat of the alcohol vapors is transferred to the heat transfer fluid which is conveyed via the pipe 72 to the first heat exchanger 50 in order to heat the liquid to be distilled.
[0052] The thermal energy is supplied to the second heat exchanger 80 by a heat transfer fluid. To reduce the carbon footprint, the distillation device comprises at least one renewable energy source, such as at least one solar thermal collector and / or at least one sand cell recharged by a renewable energy source for example, to supply the second heat exchanger 80 with thermal energy.
[0053] In steady state, the second heat exchanger 80 powered by a renewable energy source is used to reduce the work and energy consumption of the blower 76 and thus the carbon footprint of the distillation device.
[0054] The third heat exchanger 82 allows the condensation of the heat transfer fluid before its return to the condenser 54 at the end of distillation when the temperature of the liquid to be distilled is around 100°C. In this case, the third heat exchanger 82 is activated and the captured energy is used, for example, to preheat the liquid to be distilled prior to its introduction into the boiler 40.
[0055] To give an order of magnitude, during operation in steady state and at the end of distillation, the heat transfer fluid has a temperature of the order of 85°C at the outlet of the separator 70, of the order of 120°C at the outlet of the blower 76, of the order of 135°C at the outlet of the second heat exchanger 80, of the order of 105°C at the outlet of the first heat exchanger 50 as well as a temperature of the order of 85°C at the outlet of the third exchanger 82 and at the inlet of the condenser 54.
Claims
Claims
1. Distillation device comprising a boiler (40) configured to contain a liquid to be distilled, a heating system (42) comprising at least one first heat exchanger (50) configured to ensure heat transfer between a heat transfer fluid and the fluid to be distilled contained in the boiler (40), a condenser (54) configured to condense alcohol vapors coming from the boiler (40), a cooler (56) positioned under the condenser (54) and configured to cool the alcohol condensed in the condenser (54) as well as a fluid circuit (68), in which the heat transfer fluid circulates, comprising at least one pipe (72) which passes through the first heat exchanger (50) and has a pipe inlet (74.1) and a pipe outlet (74.2); characterized in that the condenser (54) comprises a tank (62) which has an inlet (64.1) for the alcohol vapors coming from the boiler (40) and an outlet (64.2) connected to the cooler (56) as well as at least one conduit (66), in which the heat transfer fluid circulates, which passes through the tank (62) and extends between first and second ends (66.1, 66.2), the first end (66.1) being connected to the pipe outlet (74.2), and in that the fluid circuit (68) comprises a separator (70) in the lower part of which the second end (66.2) of each conduit (66) of the condenser (54) opens, the pipe inlet (74.1) opening in the upper part of the separator (70) and in that the separator (70) is positioned just above the upper wall (62.2) of the tank (62) of the condenser (54).
2. Distillation device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the condenser (54) comprises several conduits (66) oriented vertically, the heat transfer fluid flowing in each conduit (66) from bottom to top, and in that the tank (62) has a lower wall (62.1), an upper wall (62.2) as well as a side wall (62.3) connecting the lower and upper walls (62.1, 62.2), said lower and upper walls (62.1, 62.2) being crossed by each conduit (66), the outlet (64.2) of the tank (62) being offset downwards relative to the inlet (64.1) so that the alcohol vapors circulate in the tank (62) in the opposite direction to the heat transfer fluid circulating in each conduit (66).
3. Distillation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid circuit (68) comprises a reservoir buffer or a manifold (78) located between the condenser (54) and the cooler (56), said buffer tank or said manifold (78) comprising an inlet (78.1) connected by a section of the pipe (72) to the first heat exchanger (50), the first end (66.1) of each conduit (66) opening into said buffer tank or being connected to said manifold (78).
4. Distillation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distillation device comprises at least one blower (76) configured to ensure circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the fluid circuit (68) from the pipe inlet (74.1) to the pipe outlet (74.2), maintain a relative vacuum in the separator (70) and compress the heat transfer fluid.
5. Distillation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid circuit (68) comprises at least one second heat exchanger (80) configured to supply thermal energy to the heat transfer fluid circulating in the pipe (72) as well as a control for controlling the heat exchanges at the level of the second heat exchanger (80).
6. Distillation device according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the second heat exchanger (80) is positioned between the separator (70) and the blower (76).
7. Distillation device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the distillation device comprises at least one renewable energy source for supplying the second heat exchanger (80) with thermal energy.
8. Distillation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid circuit (68) comprises at least a third heat exchanger (82) located downstream of the first heat exchanger (50), upstream of the condenser (54), and configured to recover part of the thermal energy of the heat transfer fluid as well as a control for controlling the heat exchanges at the level of the third heat exchanger (82).
9. Distillation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first heat exchanger (50) is positioned outside the boiler (40) and in that the heating system (42) comprises a fluid circuit (52), in which the liquid to be distilled circulates, which comprises a first end (52.1) opening into the boiler (40), a second end (52.2) opening into the boiler (40) via an expansion valve as well as a circulation pump (52.3) configured to circulate the liquid to be distilled from the first end (52.1) to the second end (52.2) of the first fluid circuit (52), the first heat exchanger (50) being crossed by the liquid to be distilled circulating in the first fluid circuit (52).
10. Distillation device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second end (52.2) opens into the boiler (40) via a diffuser positioned in the liquid to be distilled and configured to obtain a gentle diffusion of the gases in the liquid to be distilled.