Dual-Diffuser Air Injection for Grape Cap Breakup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wine-making systems for breaking up the cap during maceration are inefficient, costly, and prone to breakdowns due to the use of bulky and moving parts, or they fail to effectively extract polyphenolic and aromatic compounds due to uniform air injection at the same pressure and beam aperture conditions.
Innovation Solution
A wine-making tank with dual injection of pressurized air or gases through diffusers located at different heights, injecting simultaneously into at least two points of the cap, varying pressure and beam aperture conditions to efficiently break up the cap and maximize compound extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If systems with dynamic position means for pressurised injection of air are used, then the cap breaking efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance cost increase due to bulky moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The tank bottom is divided into multiple zones with separate diffusers positioned at different heights and locations. Each diffuser operates independently to address cap formation in different regions, eliminating the need for a single complex moving injection system while achieving comprehensive cap breaking coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates dynamic air injection patterns by positioning diffusers at different heights (e.g., first diffuser at 0.5m from bottom, second diffuser at 1.0m from bottom) to adapt to varying cap positions during maceration, achieving effective cap breaking without mechanical moving parts.
2Device complexity
If uniform air injection at the same level is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cap breaking efficiency decreases due to uniform pressure and beam aperture conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Different diffusers are positioned at different heights and locations within the tank, creating localized variations in air injection pressure and beam aperture conditions. This allows each zone to receive optimized air injection tailored to local cap formation characteristics, improving overall cap breaking efficiency while maintaining a simple fixed-device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-level uniform injection to multi-level stratified injection by positioning diffusers at different vertical heights (e.g., 0.5m, 1.0m, 1.5m from tank bottom), adding vertical dimensionality to the air injection process. This creates varied pressure and beam aperture conditions across different zones, enhancing cap breaking effectiveness without increasing device complexity.
3Device complexity
If diffusers are located at the same height, then the device complexity is minimized, but the extraction of polyphenolic and aromatic compounds is limited due to insufficient cap disruption
Solution Approach 1:
Diffusers are positioned at different vertical heights (e.g., first diffuser at 0.5m from bottom, second diffuser at 1.0m from bottom) to create localized variations in air injection intensity. This stratified positioning ensures thorough disruption of the cap structure, maximizing the release and extraction of polyphenolic and aromatic compounds from grape skins while maintaining a simple fixed-device configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds vertical stratification by positioning multiple diffusers at different heights within the tank, transforming the air injection process from a single-plane operation to a multi-level three-dimensional operation. This enhances cap disruption and compound extraction efficiency without requiring complex mechanical systems.
4Ease of repair
If pressurised air injection means are positioned in the lower portion of the tank, then the maintenance requirements are reduced, but the effectiveness is limited by fixed position
Solution Approach 1:
The air injection system is segmented into multiple fixed diffusers positioned at different heights and locations within the tank. Each diffuser is a simple, stationary component that can be easily maintained or replaced independently, eliminating the need for complex moving parts while achieving comprehensive and effective cap breaking coverage throughout the tank volume.
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
The system efficiently breaks up the cap, maximizing the extraction of polyphenolic and aromatic compounds by subjecting it to plastic deformation, while minimizing maintenance and operational issues.
Implementation Method 1
the pressurised injection of air or other gases in a controlled manner for the purpose of extracting polyphenolic and aromatic compounds
Implementation Method 2
The cap is therefore subjected to plastic deformation which breaks up said cap efficiently
Implementation Method 3
dual injection with diffusers or nozzles which inject air in pairs into the tank, simultaneously striking at least two points of the cap
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and equipment for the pressurized injection of air or other gases in a controlled manner into wine making tanks or similar for the purpose of efficiently breaking up the cap and extracting the polyphenolic and aromatic compounds from the skins to the liquid portion (must) after the crushing of the grapes using the method for pumping over the grape harvest during the maceration thereof.