Pulsed Air Injection Nozzles for Vinification Cap Wetting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air injection methods for vinification tanks are inefficient in breaking and wetting the cap during fermentation, require manual operation, and result in flavor and alcohol loss due to high air flow, especially in tall and narrow tanks.
Innovation Solution
A method of controlled air injection using independently actuated nozzles with programmable modulation of air jet duration and frequency, coordinated by a microprocessor, to generate shock waves that disgregate and flood the cap without violent action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual air injection is used to break the cap, then the cap can be disaggregated, but the process requires long application times and skilled personnel intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the air injection function into multiple independent nozzles distributed throughout the tank, each controlled separately by a microprocessor. This segmentation allows parallel operation of multiple nozzles, significantly reducing the time required to break the cap compared to single-point manual injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The microprocessor-controlled system automates the air injection process, eliminating the need for skilled personnel to manually operate the system. The system self-regulates nozzle operation based on pre-programmed sequences, making the process independent of operator skill and reducing labor requirements.
2Productivity
If compressed air is injected to break the cap, then the cap can be disaggregated, but flavor and alcohol are lost through vaporization
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulsed air injection rather than continuous injection. The microprocessor controls nozzles to deliver short bursts of air at intervals, creating shock waves that break the cap while minimizing the total air volume introduced. This periodic action reduces the time for flavor and alcohol vaporization to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple nozzles are positioned at different locations throughout the tank to deliver air injection locally where needed. This distributed approach concentrates the breaking action at specific points rather than introducing large volumes of air throughout the entire tank, thereby reducing overall flavor and alcohol loss.
3Productivity
If air injection nozzles are positioned at the bottom of the tank, then the cap can be broken from below, but the nozzles obstruct the extraction blade and prevent complete tank emptying
Solution Approach 1:
The system positions nozzles on the vertical walls of the tank rather than at the bottom, changing the spatial dimension of air injection. This wall-mounted positioning allows nozzles to project air horizontally into the cap from the sides, maintaining effective cap breaking while clearing the bottom area for unobstructed extraction blade operation and complete tank emptying.
4Device complexity
If a single nozzle is used for air injection, then the system is simple, but the cap cannot be completely broken without repeated manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple nozzles distributed throughout the tank instead of a single nozzle. Each nozzle contributes to breaking the cap in its local area, and the microprocessor coordinates their operation to achieve complete cap disintegration in a single automated cycle, eliminating the need for repeated manual interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple nozzle functions into a single coordinated operation controlled by the microprocessor. All nozzles work simultaneously or in sequence according to a pre-programmed pattern, merging their individual effects into a comprehensive cap-breaking action that achieves completeness without requiring multiple separate manual operations.
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
Achieves efficient cap disgregation and wetting with minimal air consumption, reducing flavor and alcohol stripping, and allowing for automated operation.
Implementation Method 1
modulate their operation in order to create shock waves which disintegrate and flood the cap without violent action
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for air injection into a vinification tank (1) use air injection nozzles (2) installed therein. A rule is applied for automatic variation of injections with time, by a coordinated and combined action of the nozzles, so that for each of the installed nozzles the delivered air jets may be modulated in duration and frequency and combined with the jets delivered by the other nozzles according to a programmable sequence.