Moving Filter Surface for Continuous Wort Clarification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional lautering process in beer brewing is time-consuming, typically lasting over 90 minutes, and has not been successfully shortened or converted into a continuous process, despite decades of optimization, leading to a desire for faster and clearer wort extraction.
Innovation Solution
A device and method where a separating device with a surface having openings is moved relative to the mash during separation, preventing the buildup of a filter layer and allowing continuous or discontinuous operation, optimizing each process step individually for wort extraction and clarification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the lautering process uses a stationary filter layer to separate wort from spent grain, then wort clarification is achieved, but the process time becomes excessively long (90-120 minutes per brew)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the filter surface movable instead of stationary. The filter surface is moved continuously or intermittently in the direction of wort flow during the lautering process, preventing spent grain particles from accumulating and clogging the filter openings. This dynamic movement maintains high filtration efficiency throughout the entire process, reducing lautering time from 90-120 minutes to significantly shorter durations while preserving wort clarification quality.
2Productivity
If the lautering process is optimized to reduce time, then productivity increases, but continuous operation becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous operation capability by continuously moving the filter surface in the direction of wort flow throughout the entire lautering process. This continuous movement prevents filter clogging and maintains constant filtration efficiency, enabling the process to run continuously without interruption for 90-120 minutes. The useful action of wort separation is maintained continuously without degradation, achieving both high productivity and operational continuity.
3Manufacturing precision
If a filter layer is formed on a stationary false bottom, then wort separation from spent grain is effective, but the filter surface becomes blocked reducing throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the filter surface dynamic rather than stationary. The filter surface moves continuously or intermittently in the direction of wort flow, which prevents spent grain particles from accumulating and blocking the filter openings. This dynamic movement maintains open filter pores throughout the process, preserving high wort separation efficiency while sustaining high throughput rates without the degradation that occurs with stationary filters.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If the filter surface remains in contact with mash throughout the process, then separation continues, but filter clogging occurs reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by moving the filter surface in the direction of wort flow during the separation process. This movement prevents spent grain from accumulating on the filter surface and blocking the openings, maintaining high separation efficiency throughout the entire 90-120 minute duration. The filter surface remains effective for the full process time without the clogging that would otherwise reduce separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous movement of the filter surface ensures that the separation action remains efficient throughout the entire process duration. By preventing clogging through continuous motion, the useful separation action is maintained at high efficiency levels for the complete 90-120 minutes, rather than degrading over time as occurs with stationary filters.
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
This approach significantly reduces refining time, enabling wort extraction in under 45 minutes, allows for continuous operation, and maintains high throughput with minimal surface blocking, resulting in improved efficiency and beer quality.
Implementation Method 1
A device V, in particular a device for extracting wort from mash or for clarifying wort, with at least one separating device T, having a surface FA with a plurality of openings OP, wherein the surface FA is moved relative to the mash MA during the separation of the mash MA
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (V) for obtaining a wort (WO) from a mash (MA) in the beer brewing or beverage industry, said device at least comprising: a receiving device (AG) for receiving the mash (MA); at least one separation device (T; T1, T2), each separation device having a surface (FA; FA1, FA2) and the surface (FA) having a plurality of openings (OP). The device (V) is preferably suitable for separating the mash (MA) into the wort (WO) and a residual mash (RM) by means of the surface (FA) of the separation device (T). The surface (FA; FA1, FA2), or part thereof, can be brought into contact with the mash (MA), when the mash (MA) is present in the receiving device (AG) for separation into the wort (WO) and the residual mash (RM). During the operation of the device (V), the surface (FA) is moved or can be moved, or can be rotated relative to the mash (MA), the residual mash (RM) and/or the receiving device (AG).