DE102006030051A1 - Producing a mixture of weiss beer, speise and yeast comprises adjusting the beer/speise flow rate ratio in response to the apparent extract content and then adding the yeast - Google Patents

Abstract

Producing a mixture of top-fermented weiss beer, speise (wort) and yeast comprises adding a continuous stream of speise to a continuous stream of weiss beer, mixing the beer and speise, determining the apparent extract content of the mixture, adjusting the beer/speise flow rate ratio in response to the apparent extract content, and then adding the yeast. An independent claim is also included for an arrangement for producing a mixture of top-fermented weiss beer, speise and yeast, comprising a beer pipeline and a speise pipeline connected to a multi-way valve; a flow meter in the beer pipeling; a flow meter and regulating valve in the speise pipeline; a mixer, an extract measuring device and a carbon dioxide measuring device in a pipeline leading from the multi-way valve; and a control unit that receives signals from the flow meters, the extract measuring device and the carbon dioxide measuring device and controls the regulating valve.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The The invention relates to a method for providing a mixture from top-fermented wheat beer and food, then Yeast is added, taking from the mixture of wheat beer, food and Yeast unwanted Trubpartikel be separated, and an arrangement for carrying out the Process.

Top-fermented wheat / wheat beers are made using at least 50 wheat malt. In principle, wheat beers can be divided into yeast-free (crystal wheat) and yeast-containing (yeast-thick) beers (yeast wheat). The present invention relates to the latter, wherein the carbonic acid content (CO ₂ ) is ensured by secondary fermentation in the bottle. In these beers, the volume of bottle fermentation is determined by accurately adjusting the residual extract and the amount of yeast just prior to bottling. This process step requires accurate work.

In order to obtain enough CO ₂ for the secondary fermentation, extra-extract-rich wort must be added to the so-called "green beer" obtained from the main fermentation. The term "food" refers to a precisely metered amount (about 6 to 7%) of first wort, which must first be sterilized and cooled, unless sterilization takes place by removal from a brew which is produced at the time of the addition By adding the food, a difference of about 12% to the final degree of fermentation is produced, and sufficient fermentation of CO ₂ is achieved by fermenting the extract fed in. After the addition of the food, a further addition of yeast is necessary for the secondary fermentation Bottled fermentation is carried out either without prior or with prior tank storage.

at the bottle fermentation without intermediate tank storage, this is mixed with food and yeast Young beer bottled and stored in two stages, wherein in the first stage (3 to 7 Days at 12 to 20 ° C) the extract is fermented to 0.1 to 0.2% and the diacetyl reduced becomes. The pressure rises in the bottle to 1.5 to 2 bar overpressure. In the second stage (14 to 21 days at 5 ° C), the pressure rises to 3 bar overpressure.

at the bottle fermentation with intermediate tank storage, the beer is in a short time after Tanks finally fermented (6 days warm tank, 14 days cold tank at 1 ° C) and thereby mature. After that, in the same two vorg. Steps in the Bottle fermented.

The The above-mentioned mixing of green beer, food and yeast is done so far batchwise, in the so-called batch process, in a Mischbottich (mixing tank) or continuously by means of a volumetric mixing over one Volume ratio control. In the batch process, but also in continuous processes, must be taken in a special way, that in the mixing processes after the main fermentation an oxygen uptake is avoided. In the continuous Although volumetric mixing is the danger of oxygen uptake less given, however, can so far in both known methods, the extract fluctuations caused by stratification extracts in the storage tank (source tank), not appropriate considered and be compensated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an arrangement for providing a mixture of top-fermented wheat beer and food of the generic type described above, which can take into account and compensate for disturbances such as extract fluctuations in green beer and different CO ₂ concentrations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These The object is procedurally by the features in the claim 1 solved. Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are the subject the dependent claims. A Arrangement for implementation of the method is characterized by the features of the independent claim 6. Advantageous embodiments of the arrangement include the subclaims.

there a first inventive idea is the addition the food to Hefeweizen (young beer) and the mixture of these components spatially from the Hefegabe and time to separate and only after dosing and mixing Add the yeast to the mixture with the green beer. The Mixing of Hefeweizen / food mixture is doing for example via a static mixer made a homogenization of the mixture ensures.

The Dosing of the food is carried out according to a second inventive Basic idea continuously in the volume flow of the green beer (inline system) depending from this (ratio regulation) and depending of the apparent extract content in the mixed volume of yeast wheat and food (extract control). The dosing point for the food lies here before the Hefegabe and their regulation and a downstream separator for turbidity adjustment.

Summarized exist opposite to that previously known prior art measures according to the invention for providing a mixture of top-fermented wheat beer and Food in that a continuous first volume flow of top-fermented wheat beer continuous second volume flow feed is fed (so-called. Inline dosing) that wheat beer and food that are mixed in the apparent extract content Mixture of wheat beer and feed is detected that the volumetric flow ratio between wheat beer and food in dependence is regulated by the apparent extract content, and that the yeast addition after the detection and control of the apparent extract content takes place.

The feed (cold wort) is provided refrigerated in a food storage tank and is sterilized prior to its metering by a temperature treatment in an Ultra High Temperature (UHT) system to eliminate secondary contamination. The controlled variable is the apparent extract content E _S in the mixture of green beer and feed, the analytical technique used ensuring a control deviation of ± 0.1 degrees Plato. As a result, a constant homogeneous extract content is achieved and the extract stratifications in the storage tank (source tank) are sufficiently compensated or compensated.

By The dosage of the food in front of the separator becomes unwanted particles of turbidity removed from the young beer / food mixture, creating a sustainable Influencing the beer is excluded by Trubsubstanzen. Flow fluctuations up to the complete interruption of the flow Hefeweizen (for example, by slurrying the separator) by the arrangement according to the invention quickly corrected, if, as this continues to be proposed procedural design provides, with strong reduction the flow of the mixture of wheat beer and feed to this Timing given control parameters are frozen and if at Resumption of the full flow first for a certain time the frozen volume flow ratio between wheat beer and feed is realized, until then the extract control again starts. Destination tank is for example a filling tank in front of a bottle filler. Around to prevent a renewed stripping of the extract at longer rest periods, it is appropriate, a circulation in the target tank.

The apparent extract E _S is inventively determined in the mixture of green beer and food. Since this measured value is influenced by the CO ₂ content, an advantageous embodiment of the proposed method according to the invention also provides to determine the CO ₂ value in this mixture in order to correct the measured value for the apparent extract E _S or to compensate. If larger tolerances are accepted in the extract measurement, can be dispensed with the CO ₂ compensation in the manner described above. This is especially true when the CO ₂ content is relatively constant.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the control according to the invention, it is provided that the measured analysis values (extract content and CO ₂ content) mutually monitor each other. The mutual monitoring is not absolutely necessary for the method according to the invention; however, it gives a higher level of confidence in analysis errors.

It It has been found that the flow fluctuations occur in Hefeweizen a more regulatory challenge with a view to represent the necessary speed of regulation than this in terms of usually given extract fluctuations that need to be corrected, the case is. To deal adequately with this situation, sees a further embodiment of the method according to the invention suggest that flow fluctuations in wheat beer faster than there Extract fluctuations are corrected.

The arrangement for providing a mixture of top-fermented wheat beer and food provides, seen in the flow direction, in the run-up to a metering point for yeast and a latter downstream separator that merges a first pipe for top-fermented wheat beer (Hefeweizen) and a second pipe for feeding to a multi-way valve be arranged in the first pipe, a first flow meter and in the second pipe, a second flow meter and subsequently a control valve are arranged, that in a multi-way valve downstream first pipe, which is fed from the first and the second pipe, seen in the flow direction , a mixer, an extractor, and a CO ₂ meter, and that a controller connected via signal lines to each of the first flow meter, the second flow meter, the extract meter, and the CO ₂ meter controls the regulator valve.

These inventive arrangement creates the opportunity the so-called "in-line" dosage of the food in the Hefeweizen, where the two volume flows subsequently preferably mixed in a static mixer. In the mixture of Hefeweizen and food determined by the extractor apparent extract controls the volume flow ratio between wheat beer and food.

The inventive arrangement includes a controller, which preferably has a so-called cascade control performs. Here, the main control loop, the extract control, a fast ratio control to regulate the required mixing ratio between green beer and feed (auxiliary control loop) underlaid. This allows flow fluctuations, for example, during the slurrying of Separators, quickly compensated and short-term errors in the mixing ratio compensated become (fast reaction time with disturbing influences).

The control variable of the main control is the apparent extract content E _S in the mixture of green beer and food. The subordinate ratio control is not necessarily required for the process, but it significantly improves the control behavior. The transient response is more optimal and mixing errors are lower.

At the Blow of the separator, the control parameters are frozen to go after the Blow immediately be able to drive the same mixture ratio again. there is for short time the extract control suspended, and it is only on ratio regulation hazards. The freezing of the control parameters can be achieved by other means be bypassed, it leads but in this case to a worse control behavior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment The invention is illustrated in the single figure of the drawing and will be described below. It shows

1 in a schematic representation of the arrangement for dosing the food (cold wort) in conjunction with a UHT system for their sterilization, the upstream and downstream areas (Jungbierlagerung or yeast addition and control and a separator for the separation of unwanted Trubpartikel) are not shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An arrangement 1 for dosing of food (cold wort / wort) S is from a storage tank (source tank), not shown, top-fermented wheat beer B, in the present case Hefeweizen (young beer), via a first pipeline 2 fed. Input side is in the first pipeline 2 a first flow meter 5 arranged, with which a first volume flow Q _B of Hefeweizen B supplied there is measured. The first pipeline 2 flows into a multi-way valve 8th , to which in addition a second pipeline 3 , via which the food S is metered, is connected. To the multi-way valve 8th , in which Hefeweizen B and Speise S are merged, is still a downstream first pipeline 2 * connected the two components to be mixed, Hefeweizen B and Speise S, to a mixer 9 , which is preferably designed as a static mixer transports. In this intensive mixing and homogenization of Hefeweizen / feed mixture B * takes place. Behind the static mixer 9 , seen in flow direction, are in the downstream first pipeline 2 * an extract measuring device 10 to measure the apparent extract E _S and then a CO ₂ measuring device 11 for measuring the relevant CO ₂ concentration in Hefeweizen / feed mixture B * provided. The continued downstream first pipeline 2 * via an unillustrated means for yeast addition and yeast control and then in a separator, also not shown, in the unwanted sediment particles from the Hefewei zen / food mixture B * are deposited before the latter enters a bottling tank in front of a bottle filler.

In front of the multiway valve 8th are in the second pipeline 3 , seen in the flow direction of the supplied there food S, a control valve 7 and before that a second flow meter 6 arranged. In the latter, a second volume flow Q _{S of} the supplied food S is measured. The second pipeline 3 has its origin in a food storage tank, not shown, and it leads in this way via an ultra-high-temperature (UHT) system 16 , wherein of the food S first with a hot water W via a fourth pipe 13 in countercurrent acted heat exchanger 16a and then a heat holder 16b be flowed through. The food S is controlled by a speed-controlled first conveyor 14 through the second pipeline 3 and the hot water W is via a second conveyor 15 through the fourth pipeline 13 pumped.

To the multi-way valve 8th is still a third pipeline 4 from which cleaning agent R is discharged into the environment in the course of a CIP (cleaning in place, equivalent to cleaning in place in the flow) from the entire arrangement described above. For optimal control of CIP cleaning involves the third pipeline 4 , seen in the flow direction, a first shut-off valve 17 , which is preferably designed as a disc valve, and subsequently a switching valve 19 in which, in certain operating situations of the CIP cleaning, a discharge of product and / or cleaning agent into a gully 21 can be carried out. Details of a related CIP cleaning are not the subject of the invention and therefore remain unmentioned here. The multiway valve 8th can be performed for example as a so-called. Double seat valve, wherein it is advantageous in certain operating situations of the arrangement according to the invention 1 to subject the existing between the two closing elements of the double seat valve so-called. Leakage cavity of a flow cleaning. For this purpose, this non-designated leakage cavity is via a purge line 20 and a second shut-off valve 18 with the third pipeline 4 connected, wherein the junction in the latter before preferably between the first shut-off valve 17 and the switching valve 19 lies.

The measured values first volume flow Q _B , second volume flow Q _S , apparent extract E _S and CO ₂ concentration are a regulator 12 fed to the control valve 7 with a first manipulated variable y and the first conveyor to be controlled in terms of speed 14 with the second manipulated variable y ₁ drives.

The regulation in the context of the arrangement 1 for dosing the food S is constructed as a so-called cascade control. Task of this cascade control is the measurement and control of the apparent extract E _S in the total flow of Hefeweizen / feed mixture B *, formed by the first volume flow Q _B and the second volume flow Q _S. The apparent extract E _S forms a so-called main variable x in the context of the extract control. Since the main controlled variable x obviously depends on the ratio of the first and the second volume flow Q _B or Q _S , the control is further improved by measuring both volume flows Q _B , Q _S separately, as by the flow meters 5 . 6 happens, and puts it in relation to each other within the framework of a relationship. This ratio provides in the context of vorg. Cascade control is the so-called auxiliary control, wherein the first volume flow Q _B an auxiliary control variable x _H and the second volume flow Q _{S form} a switched first disturbance z. As a result, the fluctuations of the second volume flow Q _{S are} taken into account in the Störwertaufschaltung.

The apparent extract E _S in via the first pipeline 2 fed Hefeweizen B is not even due to its storage (stratification). To compensate for this, depending on the content of apparent extract E _S more or less sterilized food S (UHT plant 16 ) in the first volume flow Q _B (Hefeweizen B) dosed (extract control, main control). This control can be done with the help of different actuators, such as with control valves 7 (as provided in the embodiment), via positive pumps with speed adjustment (frequency converter, variable speed) or over Krei selpumpen with speed adjustment. The latter solution is not among the preferred because the control behavior of centrifugal pumps is rather unfavorable.

Underlying the main control is the ratio control (auxiliary control), which can react quickly to disturbances z (eg flow fluctuations in the second volume flow Q _S ) or flow fluctuations in the first volume flow Q _B (eg during blowdown of the separator), compensates them quickly and compensates short-term errors in the mixing ratio ,

It is in this context advantageous if, during the slurrying of Separators the control parameters are frozen to immediately after the slurrying again the same mixing ratio to be able to drive. It is for exposed for a short time the extract control and only on ratio regulation hazards. The freezing of the control parameters can be done by others, here not shown measures to be bypassed. this leads to but usually to worse control behavior.

The apparent extract E _S (main controlled variable x) is determined in Hefeweizen / feed mixture B *. Since this value is influenced by the CO ₂ content of this mixture B *, the CO ₂ value in the mixture B * is also determined (CO ₂ measuring device 11 ; second disturbance z ₁ ), so that thus a correction or compensation of the measured value for the apparent extract E _S can take place. If larger tolerances can be accepted in the extract measurement, can be dispensed with the CO ₂ compensation. This is especially true when the CO ₂ content is relatively constant.

The proposed control is further characterized in an advantageous embodiment in that the analysis values ES (x) and CO ₂ (z ₁ ) are mutually monitored. This mutual monitoring is not absolutely necessary for the method according to the invention; but it gives security with analysis errors.

The of the extract regulation under the main regulation subordinate ratio regulation (fast Auxiliary regulation) is for the inventive method if not absolutely necessary; but it improves considerably the control behavior. The transient response is optimal and mixing error are lower.

1

arrangement for the dosage of food

2

first Pipeline (top-fermented Wheat beer; Hefeweisen / green beer)

2 *

downstream first pipeline (mixture of top-fermented wheat beer

and Food)

3

second Pipe (food / cold wort / wort)

4

third Pipeline (detergent removal)

5

first Flow meter (Hefeweizen / Jungbier)

6

second Flow meter (food / cold wort / wort)

7

control valve

8th

Multi-way valve

9

(Static) mixer

10

Extract meter

11

CO ₂ meter

12

regulator (Cascade control)

13

fourth pipeline

14

first Conveyor

15

second Conveyor

16

UHT plant (Ultra-high-temperature-conditioning)

16a

heat exchangers

16b

heat holding

17

first shut-off valve

18

second shut-off valve

19

switching valve

20

flushing line

21

gully

x

Main controlled variable (apparent extract E _S )

x _H

Auxiliary control variable (first volume flow Q _B (flow)

top fermented wheat beer (Hefeweizen) B

y

first Control variable (control valve)

y ₁

second Manipulated variable (first Conveyor)

z

first disturbance (second volume flow Q _S (flow) feed S)

z ₁

second disturbance (CO ₂ measurement / concentration)

B

top fermented wheat beer (Hefeweizen / Jungbier)

B *

mixture from top-fermented wheat beer and food

E _S

apparent extract

Q _B

first Flow rate (flow) upright wheat beer (Wheat beer)

Q _S

second Volume flow (feed) feed

R

cleaning supplies

S

food (Cold wort / wort)

W

hot water

Claims (9)

A method of providing a mixture of top fermented wheat beer (B) and food (S) to which yeast is subsequently added, separating unwanted sediment particles from the mixture of wheat beer, food and yeast, characterized in that: a continuous first volume flow (Q _B ) top-fermented wheat beer (B) is fed with a continuous second volume flow (Q _S ) feed (S), • that wheat beer (B) and feed (S) are mixed, • that the apparent extract content (E _S ) in the mixture (B *) from wheat beer (B) and supply (S) is detected, • that the volume flow ratio between white beer and feed is regulated in dependence on the apparent extract content (e _S) (Q Q _{S B} /), • and that the Hefegabe after the detection and control the apparent extract content (E _S ) takes place. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the CO ₂ concentration in the mixture of wheat beer (B) and feed (S) is determined and this concentration is used to correct the apparent extract (E _S ). A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the extract and the CO ₂ measurement monitor each other. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized that flow fluctuations in wheat beer (B) faster than there Extract fluctuations are corrected. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized that with strong reduction of the flow of the mixture of wheat beer (B) and Food (S) frozen the control parameters given at that time be that at resumption of the full flow first for a certain Time the frozen volume flow ratio between wheat beer (B) and food (S) is realized, until then also the extract control is resumed. Arrangement for providing a mixture of top-fermented wheat beer (B) and food (S), with a metering point for yeast and a downstream separator, characterized in that • a first pipeline ( 2 ) for top-fermented wheat beer (B) and a second pipeline ( 3 ) for food (S) on a multiway valve ( 8th ), that in the first pipeline ( 2 ) a first flow meter ( 5 ) and in the second pipeline ( 3 ) a second flow meter ( 6 ) and subsequently a control valve ( 7 ), that in one of the multi-way valve ( 8th ) downstream first pipeline ( 2 * ), consisting of the first and the second pipeline ( 2 . 3 ), seen in the flow direction, a mixer ( 9 ), an extract measuring device ( 10 ) and a CO ₂ measuring device ( 11 ) and that via signal lines in each case with the first flow meter ( 5 ), the second flow meter ( 6 ), the extract measuring device ( 10 ) and the CO ₂ measuring device ( 11 ) connected controller ( 12 ) the control valve ( 7 ) controls. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the mixer ( 9 ) is designed as a static mixer. Arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, characterized characterized in that the controller ( 12 ) performs a cascade control that regulates the apparent extract (E _S ) in a main control loop and the volume flow ratio between wheat beer and feed (Q _B / Q _S ) in an auxiliary control loop. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterized that the auxiliary control loop works faster than the main control loop.