Fluidized Bed Extractor for Hop Aroma Separation in Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting aroma substances from solid hop products in beer production, such as hydrocyclones and filters, face challenges like clogging, high investment costs, and inefficient separation, leading to residue issues and capacity reductions in brewing processes.
Innovation Solution
A fluidized bed extractor is used to separate solids from brewing liquids by controlling flow speeds, allowing soluble aroma substances to be released while preventing clogging, with optional addition of a fine filter for further purification and adjustable capacity through vessel cross-section modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a hydrocyclone is used for separating hop trub particles, then separation capacity is improved, but device complexity and adjustment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex flow-mechanical hydrocyclone system with a simple filtration system using filter cartridges. Instead of relying on complex centrifugal separation mechanics, the invention uses straightforward mechanical filtration where hop trub particles are physically blocked by filter media with specific pore sizes, dramatically simplifying the separation mechanism while maintaining effective capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable or easily replaceable filter cartridges that can be quickly changed when clogged, rather than maintaining complex adjustable hydrocyclone systems. This approach reduces device complexity and makes capacity adjustment as simple as replacing filter elements with different specifications, eliminating the need for intricate flow-mechanical adjustments.
2Device complexity
If a filter is used for hop trub separation, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases due to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses clogging by implementing a system with multiple filter cartridges arranged in parallel, allowing the effective filtration area to be dynamically adjusted. When one filter becomes clogged, others continue operating, and the system can be easily reconfigured by adding or removing filter elements. This parameter adjustment approach maintains reliability while keeping the simple filter-based structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration system is divided into multiple independent filter cartridges that can operate in parallel. This segmentation ensures that if one filter clogs, the others continue to function, maintaining system reliability. The modular design also simplifies maintenance and allows easy adjustment of total filtration capacity by adding or removing individual cartridge elements.
3Productivity
If whirlpool vessels are dimensioned larger for proper separation, then separation effectiveness is improved, but investment costs and wort losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the separation function from the large-scale whirlpool vessel and implements it through compact filter cartridges placed in the wort circulation line. This extraction allows effective hop trub separation to occur in a small footprint device rather than requiring oversized whirlpool vessels, thereby reducing both investment costs and wort losses while maintaining separation effectiveness.
4Manufacturing precision
If additional filtration is added for hop trub separation, then separation quality is improved, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal filter cartridge design that handles both hop trub separation and general filtration needs in a single system. The same filter cartridge technology serves multiple functions: separating hop particles during brewing, filtering the finished beer, and potentially handling other filtration tasks. This multi-functionality improves separation quality without adding complex specialized equipment for each function.
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 fluidized bed extractor effectively separates solids from brewing liquids, reducing residue and investment costs, and allows for adjustable capacity and high-purity brewing liquids, enhancing the extraction of hop aroma substances without clogging issues.
Implementation Method 1
The feeding speed of the feed pump is set to a value at which the average vertical feeding speed of the brewing liquid in the fluidized bed extractor is lower than the average vertical sedimentation speed of the solid particles
Data Source
AI summary
A device for extracting aroma substances from vegetable aroma carriers into a brewing liquid, in particular into beer, includes a fluidized bed extractor accommodating a suspension bed including the brewing liquid and solid particles contained in aroma carriers. The fluidized bed extractor has at least an inlet and an outlet for the brewing liquid. A feed pump pumps the brewing liquid from the inlet through the fluidized bed extractor to the outlet. A feeding speed of the feed pump is set to a value at which an average vertical feeding speed of the brewing liquid in the fluidized bed extractor is lower than an average vertical sedimentation speed of the solid particles in the fluidized bed extractor.