Distillation Apparatus

Abstract

To provide a distillation apparatus which can obtain the same distillation effect as that obtained at flat or low altitudes even when used at high altitudes. The distillation apparatus 100 comprises a still kettle 10, a cover 20 provided above the still kettle with a steam outlet 21 on top of it that is connected to the inside of the still kettle, a first condenser 30 having one end connected to the steam outlet, and a second condenser 40 having one end connected to the other end of the first condenser, and the steam outlet is provided with a pressure control valve 50. Even when used at high altitudes, the same distillation effect can be obtained as at plains or low altitudes.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to distillation apparatus, and in particular, but not exclusively, to distillation apparatus for use at high altitudes. [Background technology]

[0002] The brewing process of sake can be broadly divided into three steps: koji making, brewing, and packaging. The brewing process includes steps such as soaking, steaming, cooling, seed removal, fermentation, distillation, cooling, re-seed removal, re-fermentation, and re-distillation.

[0003] Distillation is a thermodynamic separation technique that utilizes the difference in boiling points of each component in a liquid or solid mixture to separate the components by first evaporating the low-boiling point components and then condensing them. For example, a simple distillation method in which evaporated alcohol is recovered and condensed to produce distilled liquor is common.

[0004] In conventional fermentation and distillation methods, fermented and matured mash is placed in a distillation pot, and the fermented mash in the distillation pot is heated using steam. The mixture of water, alcohol, etc. in the fermented mash is evaporated into steam, and the volatile substances in the fermented mash in the lower stage are constantly evaporated, condensed, and refluxed, so that the volatile substances in the fermented mash in the lower stage become thinner with each stage, and the volatile substances in the fermented mash in the upper stage become thicker with each stage. As a result, the steam containing alcohol escapes from the fermented mash stage, enters a condenser where it is cooled, and the distilled liquid is distilled. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The inventor found that when the distillation apparatus of the prior art is used at high altitude, the distillation effect obtained is different from that obtained when it is used at low altitude due to insufficient air pressure. In order to obtain the same distillation effect when distilling at high altitude as when it is used at low altitude or low altitude, the present invention provides a distillation apparatus comprising a still, a cover provided above the still and having a steam outlet connected to the inside of the still, a first condenser having one end connected to the steam outlet, and a second condenser having one end connected to the other end of the first condenser, and the steam outlet is provided with a pressure control valve.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the inside of the still has a tray structure.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the shelf structure includes a plurality of shelves.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the number of the plurality of shelves is 2 to 5.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the spacing between each of the shelves is 15-20 cm.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first condenser comprises a neck portion having one end connected to the steam outlet, and a lye pipe having one end connected to the other end of the neck portion.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the neck portion is a swan neck and the lye pipe is a lye arm.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, there is an included angle between the neck and the lye pipe.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressure control valve has a pressure threshold, and the pressure threshold is 1 atmosphere.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the distillation apparatus further includes a heater disposed below the still. Effect of the Invention

[0015] In short, by using the distillation apparatus of the present invention at high altitudes, the same distillation effect can be obtained as at flat or low altitudes.

[0016] Various features and components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, but are drawn in a manner best suited to present specific features and components relevant to the present invention, and the same or similar reference numerals are used to represent similar components and parts among different drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a distillation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] In order to make the technical meaning of the present invention more detailed and complete, the following description is given of the embodiments and specific embodiments of the present invention. However, the following description is not the only way to implement or operate the specific embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand the necessary technical content of the present invention through the following description. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, various modifications and adaptations can be made to the present invention to adapt to different applications and situations. Such embodiments also belong to the scope of the utility model registration claims of the present invention.

[0019] In the description of the present invention, "a" and "the" may also be construed as plural unless the context dictates otherwise.

[0020] In describing the present invention, unless the context dictates otherwise, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "having," or "containing" are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude other unrecited elements or method steps.

[0021] In describing the present invention, the orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," etc. are orientations or positional relationships indicated based on the drawings, and are merely intended to facilitate easy description of the present invention. They do not indicate or suggest that the devices or elements shown necessarily have a specific orientation or are configured and operated in a specific orientation, and should not be understood as limitations on the present invention.

[0022] In the description of the present invention, the terms "provided", "attached", "coupled", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, such as firmly attached, detachably connected, mechanically connected, directly connected, indirectly connected via an intermediate medium, etc. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0023] 1, the present invention provides a distillation apparatus 100 including a still 10, a cover 20, a first condenser 30, a second condenser 40, and a pressure control valve 50. The distillation apparatus 100 further includes a heater 60. Specifically, the cover 20 is provided above the still 10, a steam outlet 21 is provided above the cover 20 and communicates with the inside of the still 10, the pressure control valve 50 is provided at the steam outlet 21, one end of the first condenser 30 is connected to the steam outlet 21, and one end of the second condenser 40 is connected to the other end of the first condenser 30.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, in order to solve the problems that the conventional manual feeding of mash into the still takes a long time, quality control is difficult, and it is difficult to use a fully automatic or semi-automatic machine instead, the still 10 has a shelf structure including a plurality of shelves 11. The number of the plurality of shelves 11 is, for example, 2 to 5, but is not limited thereto, and the specific number can be adjusted according to actual needs. The present invention is not limited thereto, and further, each of the shelves 11 can be independently attached and detached, making adjustment easy.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interval x between the shelves 11 is 15-20 cm, specifically, the following values ​​or values ​​within any two ranges thereof, such as 15 cm, 15.5 cm, 16 cm, 16.5 cm, 17 cm, 17.5 cm, 18 cm, 18.5 cm, 19 cm, 19.5 cm, or 20 cm. If the interval x is higher than 20 cm or lower than 15 cm, steam cannot rise smoothly, which may cause a situation of production failure. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the shelves 11 further includes a plurality of holes (not shown) to help steam pass and rise.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the still 10 and the cover 20 is 5 mm or less, specifically, the following values ​​or values ​​within any two ranges thereof, for example, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, or 5 mm, preferably 2 mm, which effectively improves the convenience when a user tilts the still 10 or removes the cover 20. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover 20 is sealed on the top of the still 10, more specifically, the cover 20 is screwed on the top of the still 10 via an eye screw (not shown).

[0027] The function of the first condenser 30 is to condense and reflux the steam to promote the flow into the second condenser 40. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first condenser 30 comprises a neck 31 and a lye pipe 32, one end of the neck 31 is connected to the steam outlet 21, and one end of the lye pipe 32 is connected to the other end of the neck 31.

[0028] The function of the neck 31 is to allow the steam to condense after rising and reflux along the neck wall. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the neck 31 may be, for example, a swan neck, and the length, shape and width can be adjusted according to actual needs to affect the body flavor of the distillation concentrate produced. The shape of the neck 31 may be, for example, a straight swan neck, a lantern swan neck, a bulge swan neck or a stupa swan neck. It is believed that a long or narrow swan neck will increase the reflux and the body flavor of the distillation concentrate produced will be lighter, and a short or wide swan neck will decrease the reflux and the flavor of the distillation concentrate produced will be mellower. Meanwhile, the connection between the cover 20 and the neck 31 is preferably fixed with a piping clamp hanger to facilitate quick attachment and detachment.

[0029] The function of the lye pipe 32 is to adjust the reflux rate of steam. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lye pipe 32 can be, for example, a Lyne arm, and the shape, length and width can be adjusted according to actual needs to affect the body flavor of the distillation raw liquid produced. The lye pipe 32 can be, for example, an upward-type Lyne arm, a downward-type Lyne arm, or a horizontal-type Lyne arm. It is believed that when the upward angle is large, the reflux is large and the body flavor is light; when the downward angle is large, the reflux is small and the body flavor is mellow. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lye pipe 32 is a downward-horizontal Lyne arm or a horizontal-upward Lyne arm.

[0030] The function of the second condenser 40 is to condense the vapor to facilitate the collection of the distillate. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second condenser 40 may be, for example, a cold water reflux device. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second condenser 40 has a coil type heat exchanger inside.

[0031] The pressure control valve 50 is normally in a closed state, and the still 10 and the cover 20 form a closed system; when the pressure of the steam in the system exceeds a pressure threshold, the pressure control valve 50 opens, and the steam in the system flows from the steam outlet 21 to the first condenser 30, so that the condensation and reflux process can be effectively continued. Therefore, even if the distillation apparatus 100 is used at high altitude, the steam will not be blocked from flowing from the steam outlet 21 to the first condenser due to insufficient air pressure. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressure threshold can be adjusted according to actual needs, and is not particularly limited in the present invention. Preferably, the pressure threshold can be 1 atmosphere or other atmospheric pressure corresponding to low altitude. According to some other embodiments of the present invention, the pressure control valve 50 is a pressure relief valve.

[0032] In short, by using the distillation apparatus of the present invention at high altitudes, the same distillation effect can be obtained as at flat or low altitudes.

[0033] Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the above description is only the preferred embodiment and the embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. That is, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and adaptations to the present invention to adapt to different applications and situations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and such embodiments also belong to the scope of the utility model registration claims of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 100 Distillation Apparatus 10 Distillation pot 11 Shelf 20 Lid 21 Steam outlet 30 First condenser 31 Neck 32 Lye Pipe 40 Second condenser 50 Pressure Control Valve 60 Heater x-Spacing

Claims

1. A distillation pot and A cover provided above the still and having a steam outlet on the cover that is connected to the inside of the still; a first condenser having one end connected to the vapor outlet; a second condenser having one end connected to the other end of the first condenser, The distillation apparatus, wherein the vapor outlet is provided with a pressure control valve.

2. The distillation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inside of the still has a tray structure.

3. The distillation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tray structure comprises a plurality of trays.

4. The distillation apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the number of the plurality of shelves is a predetermined number between two and five.

5. 4. The distillation apparatus of claim 3, wherein the spacing between each of said plurality of shelves is a predetermined distance between 15 cm and 20 cm.

6. 2. The distillation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first condenser comprises a neck having one end connected to the vapor outlet and a lye pipe having one end connected to the other end of the neck.

7. 7. The distillation apparatus of claim 6, wherein the neck is a swan neck and the lye pipe is a lye arm.

8. 8. A distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein there is an included angle between the neck and the lye pipe.

9. 2. The distillation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure control valve has a pressure threshold, the pressure threshold being 1 atmosphere.

10. 2. The distillation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heater disposed below the still.

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