Fermentation Tank With Internal Gas Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wine-making processes, particularly those for sparkling white wines, face contamination risks and require high sulfite levels due to external piping and oxygenation methods, limiting wine aging potential and necessitating chemical preservatives.
Innovation Solution
A wine-making tank with integrated gas adduction nozzles and pressure control systems allows for controlled oxygenation and pressure management within the tank, minimizing sulfite use and preventing contamination by enabling all vinification processes internally, including micro-oxygenation and lees handling without external movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wine is transferred between tanks via external pumps and pipes, then wine can be moved and processed, but contamination risk increases and preservation quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the wine transfer and processing functions directly within the fermentation tank by installing internal pipelines, pumps, and heat exchangers. This eliminates the need for external piping systems, thereby preventing contamination while maintaining operational capability for wine movement and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful external piping system is extracted and replaced by an internal integrated system. The wine transfer function is taken out from the external environment and relocated inside the tank, eliminating the contamination source while preserving the essential operational function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional oxygenation methods are used, then wine can be oxygenated, but sulfite concentration must be increased for preservation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs precise control of oxygenation parameters through integrated systems that can regulate the amount and timing of oxygen introduction. This allows optimized oxygenation that achieves the desired effect without requiring excessive sulfite addition for preservation, thereby reducing sulfite concentration while maintaining wine quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system includes monitoring and control mechanisms that provide feedback on oxygenation levels and wine composition. This enables real-time adjustment of oxygenation and sulfite addition, preventing over-use of sulfites by precisely controlling the oxygenation process to achieve preservation without excessive chemical additives.
3Productivity
If wine is recirculated through external pipelines with multiple devices, then wine can be continuously oxygenated and processed, but device complexity and contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions (recirculation, oxygenation, heat exchange, filtration) that were previously distributed across separate external devices are merged into an integrated internal system within the tank. This reduces the number of external components and connections, simplifying the overall system while maintaining recirculation productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal pipeline system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - recirculation, oxygenation, heating/cooling, and filtration - all within the same integrated structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate external devices for each function, reducing system complexity while maintaining high productivity.
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 tank effectively reduces sulfite addition, maintains wine quality, and extends preservation time by controlling oxygen levels and preventing oxidation, allowing for long-term storage and extraction of noble substances without mechanical movement or external contamination.
Implementation Method 1
second gas adduction nozzles, associated with said gas supply means for supply of gases, provided inside said cylindrical vessel and located at an intermediate height of the latter; said second gas adduction nozzles being adapted to insufflate inert gas and / or air intended to determine a micro-oxygenation of the liquid mass
Implementation Method 2
pressure control means, adapted to define and maintain a predetermined pressure within said cylindrical vessel
Implementation Method 3
said gas being mixed appropriately in order to slow down or accelerate the process of oxidation of the must
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The tank (1) comprises a cylindrical vessel (2), air tight sealing means (4), associated at the top of this, pressure control means (6), and in addition: first gas adduction nozzles (71 ), located in proximity of the bottom (22) of said cylindrical vessel (2); seconds gas adduction nozzles (72), provided at an intermediate height of said cylindrical vessel (2); third gas adduction nozzles (73), provided in the upper part of said cylindrical vessel (2), above the maximum level reached by the liquid; power and control means (8), functionally connected to said pressure control means (6), first, second and third gas adduction nozzles (71, 72, 73), adapted to determine for the same respective predetermined operative phases, in order to perform vinification processes with controlled oxidation, even without the addition of sulphites. The tank (1) is advantageously equipped with organs for taking the must from the bottom and spreading it from the top (5), by up-down shaking, activated by said power and control means (8).