Reactive Still with Removable Copper Articles for Sulfur Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Copper stills used in beverage distillation face challenges such as material degradation, corrosion, and the need for multiple stills due to fixed reactive surfaces, which limits versatility and cleaning efficiency, and can result in inconsistent sulfur compound modification.
Innovation Solution
A still comprising inert materials like stainless steel with removable reactive articles, such as copper, silver, or titanium dioxide, that can be easily installed and replaced to control sulfur compound levels and distillation rates, allowing for efficient production of various beverages without cross-influence of tastes and smells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If copper stills are used for beverage distillation, then sulfur-containing compounds are modified effectively, but material degradation and corrosion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The still is divided into two functional parts: a corrosion-resistant stainless steel structure and removable copper reactive articles. This segmentation allows the copper components to be replaced when degraded, while the main still body remains durable and can be reused indefinitely.
Solution Approach 2:
The copper reactive articles are designed to be disposable or recoverable. When they become degraded or contaminated, they can be removed and replaced with fresh copper articles, while the main still body is retained and reused for subsequent distillation batches.
2Reliability
If copper stills are used, then sulfur compound modification is achieved, but cleaning becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the copper reactive articles from the main still body, the cleaning process can be segmented: the stainless steel still body requires minimal cleaning, while the copper articles can be quickly removed, cleaned separately, or replaced entirely, significantly reducing overall cleaning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The copper reactive articles are extracted as removable components from the still assembly. This allows them to be taken out for separate cleaning or replacement without needing to disassemble or thoroughly clean the entire still system, thereby reducing cleaning time and effort.
3Reliability
If fixed copper reactive surfaces are used, then sulfur modification is consistent, but versatility for different beverages is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The copper reactive articles are made replaceable rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to different production requirements. Different copper articles can be installed depending on the specific beverage being produced, enabling versatility while maintaining consistent sulfur modification through standardized copper components.
Solution Approach 2:
The stainless steel still body serves as a universal platform that can accommodate different copper reactive articles for various beverage types. This universal design allows a single still to produce multiple beverage products by simply changing the copper articles, thereby achieving both consistency and versatility.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple separate stills are used for different beverages, then taste cross-contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple beverage production capabilities are merged into a single still system by using interchangeable copper reactive articles. This allows different beverage types to be produced in one still without cross-contamination, as the copper articles can be completely removed and replaced between batches, eliminating the need for multiple separate stills.
Solution Approach 2:
The copper reactive articles are extracted as removable components that can be completely taken out between production batches. This extraction capability prevents taste cross-contamination by ensuring no copper residue remains in the still body, while avoiding the need for multiple permanent stills.
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 configuration enables the production of high-quality beverages with controlled sulfur content, reduces the need for multiple stills, and facilitates quick batch changes and thorough cleaning, while maintaining the quality of distillates comparable to entirely copper stills.
Implementation Method 1
The reactive article is made of a reactive material, such that it reacts with the distillate and reduces the levels of sulfur-containing compounds
Implementation Method 2
Distillation is a process of separating component substances from a liquid mixture by selective evaporation and condensation
Implementation Method 3
Distillation is a process of separating component substances from a liquid mixture by selective evaporation and condensation
Data Source
AI summary
A method of batch distilling including providing a first substrate that upon distillation releases vapour having deleterious sulfur compounds, providing an inert still, adding the first substrate to the still, installing at least one first reactive article in the still and subsequently performing a first distillation run on the first substrate, such that the installed at least one first reactive article has a first exposed area that is exposed to the distillate, and collecting a first desired fraction from the first run. The distillation during the collection of the first desired fraction is performed at a rate of less than 5 L/(hr*m2) of collected first fraction per first exposed area. Compatible still and kit are also provided.