Grape Press Juice Separation With pH-Conductivity Calibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for distinguishing grape juice from the pulp zone and skin zone in a pressing chamber are not precise enough, leading to lower quality juices from the skin zone being included in the final product, and there is a need for a cost-effective solution that improves separation without complicating the implementation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving real-time pH and conductivity measurements downstream of the pressing chamber, with a set pH value determined based on a measured pH/conductivity pair, and an installation with sensors and a control unit to manage juice collection paths and treatment, allowing precise separation of juices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If real-time and continuous pH measurement is used to separate juices, then the separation capability is improved, but the precision of distinguishing juice nature is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the juice collection process into distinct phases (pulp zone juice collection and skin zone juice collection) based on pH thresholds. By dividing the continuous pressing process into separable stages and applying different handling procedures to each stage, the system achieves both adaptability in separation and precision in distinguishing juice nature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pH as a critical parameter to distinguish between pulp zone juices and skin zone juices. By monitoring pH changes in real-time and using predetermined pH thresholds, the system can precisely identify when the juice nature changes from pulp to skin zone, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining separation capability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple measurement parameters (pH and conductivity) are used to determine set pH value, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurements of both pH and conductivity during a calibration phase before actual juice collection. These preliminary measurements are used to calculate a predetermined pH threshold value that will be used during production. By performing the complex multi-parameter analysis in advance rather than in real-time during juice collection, the system achieves high determination accuracy while keeping the operational device complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the measured pH and conductivity values to automatically calculate and set the appropriate pH threshold for juice separation. This self-calibrating approach eliminates the need for manual intervention or complex real-time control systems, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the set pH value is determined based on pH/conductivity pair measurement, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs pH and conductivity measurements during a calibration phase before actual juice production begins. This preliminary action allows the system to determine the optimal pH threshold value in advance, ensuring high manufacturing precision during juice separation without causing time loss during the actual production process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous monitoring of pH during juice collection, allowing it to immediately detect when the predetermined pH threshold is reached and switch from collecting pulp zone juices to collecting skin zone juices. This continuous monitoring ensures that the transition between juice types occurs at the precise moment it happens in the pressing process, maintaining manufacturing precision without time loss.
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 method and installation enable precise separation of grape juices from the pulp and skin zones, ensuring higher quality by distinguishing juice types accurately and allowing for real-time adjustments to collection and treatment processes.
Implementation Method 1
a step of measuring in real time and continuously the pH of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber
Implementation Method 2
a step of measuring the pH and conductivity of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber to record a pair of pH/conductivity values
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A method for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber (12) of a press (11), the nature of the juice produced by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber (12) in order to distinguish juice from the pulp zone of the grapes from juice from the skin zone of the grapes, said method comprising at least one step of storing a setpoint pH value and a step of continuously measuring the pH of the juice collected downstream of the pressing chamber (12) in real time, at least until the stored setpoint pH value is reached. Prior to the step of storing said setpoint pH value, said method comprises a step of measuring the pH and conductivity of the juice collected downstream of the pressing chamber (12) to record a pH/conductivity pair, and a step of determining the setpoint pH value to be stored based on the measured pH/conductivity pair.