Alcohol Content Control in Beverage Condensate via Feedback Valve
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plants for reducing alcohol content in beverages require manual adjustment and monitoring, which is inefficient and prone to errors, especially when dealing with varying alcohol content in condensates.
Innovation Solution
A plant equipped with a control valve and a measuring device that detects the alcohol content in condensate, allowing for automatic control and adjustment of the volume flow to achieve a setpoint alcohol concentration, preventing premature discharge and ensuring continuous operation without pressure fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a needle valve is used for manual adjustment of alcohol content, then the plant can operate with simple structure, but constant manual monitoring and adjustment is required which reduces productivity and increases operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a measuring device to automatically detect alcohol content in the condensate and a control valve to automatically adjust the volume flow, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and adjustment. The system serves itself by continuously measuring and self-regulating the alcohol content based on predetermined setpoint values.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring device provides continuous feedback on the alcohol content to the control system, which then adjusts the control valve to maintain the desired alcohol concentration. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures automatic regulation without manual intervention.
2Device complexity
If manual monitoring is used to check alcohol content display, then the control system remains simple, but errors and operational interruptions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring device continuously and automatically monitors the alcohol content, eliminating human error and ensuring consistent operation. The system reliably detects alcohol content without manual intervention, maintaining operational consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual visual inspection and manual adjustment process is replaced with an automatic measuring device and control valve system. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with automated instrumentation improves reliability by eliminating human error and ensuring continuous accurate monitoring.
3Adaptability or versatility
If alcohol content varies in condensate, then the process becomes more challenging to control, but manual readjustment increases time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring device provides real-time feedback on varying alcohol content, allowing the control valve to automatically adjust and maintain the desired setpoint concentration. This continuous feedback and adjustment eliminates time loss associated with manual readjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic control system ensures continuous monitoring and adjustment of alcohol content without interruption. The measuring device and control valve work continuously to maintain optimal alcohol concentration, eliminating downtime for manual interventions.
4Device complexity
If condensate is discharged without alcohol content detection, then the process is simpler, but unvaporizable substances may be introduced into the beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring device detects the alcohol content in the condensate before discharge, providing feedback to the control system. This ensures that only condensate with appropriate alcohol content is discharged, preventing contamination of the beverage with unvaporizable substances.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual checking and judgment about condensate quality is replaced with an automatic measuring device that objectively detects alcohol content. This substitution ensures accurate detection and prevents harmful substances from being introduced into the beverage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simple and automatic control of the alcohol content in condensates, preventing the introduction of unvaporizable substances into the beverage and ensuring consistent production of reduced-alcohol beverages with set alcohol levels, reducing manual intervention and operational errors.
Implementation Method 1
a measuring device for determining an alcohol content in the condensate is provided in the line leading to the control valve
Implementation Method 2
a line carrying a condensate comprises a control valve to which a return line leading into a first column of the rectifier is connected and a discharge line leading into an alcohol tank is connected
Implementation Method 3
Vapours are separated by the rectifier. These vapours may include alcohol, perfumes and/or aromatic substances. The alcohol is separated from the vapours.
Implementation Method 4
a condenser and a cooler are provided downstream of the rectifier
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a plant and a method for reducing an alcohol content in a beverage, with a degasser (30) to which the alcohol-containing beverage is supplied from a storage container (27) connectable thereto, with a rectifier (23) which comprises a first column (31) and a second column (29) which are arranged one above the other in a common housing or which are arranged separately and spatially adjacent to one another, with a line (26) branching off from a bottom (24) of the second column (29), in which line a pump (45) is provided which conveys a reduced-alcohol beverage to a separator (14), from which the reduced-alcohol beverage is conveyed out of the plant (10) or supplied to a collecting container (21) via an outlet line (16), having a condenser (34) which is connected downstream of the rectifier (23), with a line (44) which discharges from the condenser (34) and in which a pump (46) is provided, through which a condensate discharged from the condenser (34) is fed via a return line (63) to the first column (31) and/or is fed via a discharge line (63) to an alcohol tank (49), wherein a controllable control valve (61) to which the return line (62) and the discharge line (63) is connected is provided at the end of the line (44), and a measuring device (65) for determining an alcohol content in the condensate is provided in the line (44) upstream of the controllable control valve (61). (See Figure 1)