Fermentation Vessel With Porous Ceramic Walls And Partial Cementitious Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for fermentation and storage of alcoholic beverages face challenges in maintaining transpiration characteristics due to the need for ad hoc molds for different sizes, leading to difficulties in preserving the porosity and permeability of ceramic materials, which complicates the fermentation and aging processes.
Innovation Solution
A container with a substantial portion of its walls made of ceramic material with controlled porosity, featuring a truncated pyramid shape and a partial cementitious support structure that leaves a significant surface area exposed to the environment, allowing for adjustable transpiration and reducing the need for forced air systems and complex mold production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ad hoc molds are made for different sizes of vats, then the container can be customized for different fermentation needs, but the difficulty in making suitable homogeneous material castings increases and the transpiration characteristics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The container wall is divided into modular ceramic elements or panels that can be assembled in different configurations to create vats of various sizes. This segmentation allows customization without requiring new molds for each size, as the same standardized modules can be combined differently.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized set of ceramic elements is designed to serve multiple container sizes and configurations. These universal modules can be used to construct small, medium, and large fermentation vessels, eliminating the need for ad hoc molds for each specific size while maintaining consistent material properties and transpiration characteristics.
2Strength
If the external surface of ceramic slabs is completely covered by cementitious support structure, then structural stability is improved, but the transpiration characteristics and porosity of the ceramic material are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cementitious support structure is applied selectively rather than uniformly across the entire external surface. It is concentrated at critical locations such as corners, edges, and junctions where structural strength is most needed, while leaving the central areas of ceramic slabs exposed to maintain transpiration characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of completely covering the external surface with cementitious material, only a partial coverage is applied - specifically the portions necessary for structural integrity. This partial action preserves the beneficial transpiration properties of the ceramic material while providing sufficient structural support.
3Reliability
If ceramic material with controlled porosity is used, then transpiration characteristics are improved, but the need for complex mold production and ad hoc manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is constructed from standardized ceramic modules or panels with controlled porosity, rather than casting large monolithic pieces. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by using repeatable, smaller-scale production processes for each module, reducing mold complexity while maintaining the desired transpiration characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The ceramic elements are produced with controlled porosity parameters through standardized manufacturing processes. By establishing consistent porosity parameters in the ceramic material specification and using standardized production methods, the complexity of ad hoc mold production is reduced while ensuring reliable transpiration characteristics.
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 design allows for a simple, adaptable, and cost-effective solution that maintains the transpiration characteristics of ceramic materials, reducing maintenance and operational costs while ensuring efficient fermentation and aging processes.
Implementation Method 1
a substantial portion of the walls of said container is made of controlled porosity ceramic material
Implementation Method 2
preserve the transpiration characteristics
Implementation Method 3
chambers formed between the containment wall and external metal support and the side of the porous material panels facing this wall are intended to assume the function of conduits for a forced flow of air or other gas
Implementation Method 4
The metal wall which completely encloses said porous panels towards the outside also has a thermal barrier function
Data Source
AI summary
A container for food liquids, in particular for the storage and/or fermentation of alcoholic beverages, has a body in which a substantial portion of the walls of the container is made of a ceramic material with controlled porosity. The body of the container is shaped as a truncated pyramid, in which each of the faces of the side wall includes a slab of ceramic material with controlled porosity, and in which a support structure made of cementitious material is formed along the external corners of the side wall and in correspondence with the bases of the truncated pyramid. Axial openings are defined in the bases of the container and are adapted to cooperate with suitable closing members.