Working Gas Condensation Temperature Control for Fermentation Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional temperature control methods for fermentation processes, such as those in wine and beer production, fail to adapt to the time and spatially dependent heat production characteristics of chemical and biochemical reactions, leading to inconsistent temperature profiles and potential yeast death, incomplete fermentation, and altered flavor profiles due to thermal shocks and gradients.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing working gas condensation to control temperature within a container, where a lattice of reservoir sections with controlled working gas pressure provides localized thermal coverage, ensuring that only areas requiring heating or cooling are affected, minimizing temperature gradients and maintaining a consistent set-point temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional external cooling jacket with chilled water or glycol is used, then rapid cooling capability is provided, but unnecessary cooling occurs and temperature gradients are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the temperature control system into multiple independent heating zones, each with its own heating element and temperature sensor. This segmentation allows each zone to be controlled independently based on local temperature requirements, preventing temperature gradients and unnecessary heating/cooling in areas that already maintain the set-point temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local temperature control by placing multiple heating elements and sensors at different locations within the reaction vessel. Each heating element provides heating only to its local zone, allowing the system to adapt to spatially dependent heat production characteristics and provide precise temperature control without creating thermal gradients.
2Measurement precision
If temperature control element is submerged in reaction vessel, then local temperature control is achieved, but temperature gradients and thermal shocks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple distributed heating elements rather than a single submerged element, distributing the thermal input throughout the reaction volume. This prevents localized thermal shocks while maintaining accurate temperature control through multiple sensors that monitor different zones independently.
3Stability of the object's composition
If artificial agitation is used to homogenize reaction volume, then uniform temperature distribution is improved, but oxidation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the reaction vessel into multiple thermal zones with independent heating and sensing, eliminating the need for artificial agitation to achieve temperature uniformity. Each zone maintains its own temperature set-point, and the distributed heating elements ensure homogeneous temperature distribution without mechanical mixing that could cause oxidation.
4Power
If external heating jacket with steam or hot water is used, then heating capability is provided, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the external heating jacket with multiple internal heating elements distributed throughout the reaction vessel. Each element is controlled independently by its own temperature sensor, providing both the necessary heating power and precise temperature control by addressing only the local thermal requirements of each zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local heating control where each heating element is responsible for a specific zone within the reaction vessel. This allows the system to provide high heating power where needed while maintaining precise temperature control, as each zone can be heated independently according to its local heat loss 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 approach ensures precise temperature control, preventing thermal shocks, optimizing reaction rates, reducing undesirable side-reactions, and improving batch consistency by adapting to local heat requirements without the need for advanced controls or programming.
Implementation Method 1
enabling working gas condensation at or near a selected temperature of the volume of medium thermal coverage
Implementation Method 2
enabling refrigerant vaporization at or near a selected temperature of the volume of medium thermal coverage
Implementation Method 3
a wall with an exterior surface structured to be thermally coupled with a volume of the medium in the container and to provide thermal change to the volume of the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of controlling temperature of a medium by refrigerant vaporization, or working gas condensation, or a combination of both, the system including a container, at least one a working gas reservoir having at least one reservoir section that includes a wall with an exterior surface structured to be thermally coupled with a volume of the medium in the container and to provide a volume of medium thermal coverage in the container, a condensation apparatus to provide regulation of working gas condensation in the reservoir, whereby the working gas reservoir forms a vapor space in each of the at least one reservoir section in response to receiving the working gas and to the condensation apparatus regulation of condensation to enable working gas condensation at or near a selected temperature of the volume of medium in the container that is thermally coupled to the respective reservoir section.