DE102017208082A1 - Decanting device with a membrane electrode assembly for generating oxygen from water, as well as household appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a decanter (1) for wine (3), with a receptacle (2) for wine, and with an oxygen generating means (4) which generates oxygen, and which with the receiving vessel (2) for supplying the generated oxygen in the Receiving vessel (2) can be coupled, wherein the oxygen generating means (4) comprises a membrane electrode assembly (5), with which by water electrolysis oxygen from water (10) can be generated. The invention also relates to a household appliance.

Description

The invention relates to a decanter for wine, with a receptacle for wine. The decanter also has an oxygen generating device which generates oxygen. The oxygen generating device is connected to the receiving vessel for supplying the generated oxygen into the receiving vessel for decantation of the wine taking place therewith. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a household appliance with such a decanter.

Still wines are decanted depending on their type and age before drinking. Decanting is done to retain trub or tartar. Off-flavors, such as sulfur compounds, such as Böckser, can be reduced by exposure to air or the oxygen contained therein.

An apparatus for accelerated decanting of wine is for example from the DE 10 2004 011 396 A1 known. The device there has a gas discharge unit in which a supplied gas stream is passed between two electrodes and there ignites a gas discharge. This takes place in a gas discharge chamber of this unit. There may also be a dielectric between the electrodes. The oxygen generated in the gas discharge is then passed via a feed line via a pouring and pouring opening of the receiving vessel into the receiving vessel and fed to the wine. The gas discharge unit is supplied with a high voltage source in order to provide sufficient electrical energy for the gas discharge.

Such a design requires a lot of energy and on the other hand, safety-critical. Especially the need to handle high voltage can lead to safety critical conditions. On the other hand, existing components must be isolated to the greatest extent possible in order not to endanger a user of the system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a decanter in which a decantation of wine can be made easier and safer.

This object is achieved by a decanter and a household appliance according to the independent claims.

One aspect of the invention relates to a wine decanter. The decanter has a receptacle for wine. The decanter also has an oxygen generating device. The oxygen generating device is designed to generate oxygen. The oxygen generating device is coupled to the receiving vessel for supplying the generated oxygen into the receptacle, in particular connected. Due to the oxygen and the corresponding interaction with the wine, this decantation can take place. The oxygen generating device has at least one membrane-electrode arrangement, with which by water electrolysis oxygen from water provided can be generated. Such a configuration allows a highly functional decanting of wine and on the other hand is easy and safe for a user. It is no longer necessary to provide electrical modes that handle high voltage. In addition, the structure of such an oxygen generating device is much more compact, so that the space required for such a decanter is reduced.

In a water electrolysis, water is split at the membrane-electrode assembly into protons and oxygen. The protons are transported across the membrane of this arrangement and oxygen is excreted into the environment and thus discharged into the interior of the storage area. At the cathode of this membrane-electrode assembly, the protons react with the oxygen of the air in the storage area and water molecules are thereby formed again. These are then deposited at the cathode of the membrane-electrode assembly.

The supply of the system or the device with water can be done by continuous supply of water from the outside. In this context, an open system is then formed. In such an open system, the water is consumed and must be removed from the system at the cathode. Moreover, in an open system, it can not be ruled out that particles will detach from the membrane-electrode assembly and thus lead to contamination of the water. This can also lead to damage of the electrodes and thus of the anode and / or the cathode or the membrane and thus affect the efficiency and the life of the oxygen generating device. The provision of high water quality water at the anode of the assembly thus also constitutes a preferred requirement for the system to function permanently.

In particular, it is provided that the membrane electrode assembly has at least one proton exchange membrane, a so-called PEM (proton exchange membrane). This is a particularly advantageous embodiment, since there through this membrane, the generation of oxygen Water can be done very efficiently. In addition, this embodiment is also beneficial to the compact structure contributing.

With the proton exchange membrane both an acidic electrolysis and an alkaline electrolysis is possible, in which then an OH molecule is transported across this membrane.

It is preferably provided that this proton exchange membrane is arranged between the two electrodes of the membrane-electrode arrangement.

Preferably, the oxygen generating means comprises a container for water, which is fluid-conductively connected to the anode of this membrane-electrode assembly. By such a configuration, the water required for the electrolysis of water is provided directly and sufficiently. The fluid-conducting coupling can be formed, for example, on the basis of a capillary action. Also, the supply with an explicit pump can be provided.

In particular, it is provided that the oxygen generating device has a supply line for supplying the oxygen into the receiving vessel. A very targeted supply of the oxygen produced is thereby made possible. In addition, it is then also possible by this embodiment, the membrane-electrode assembly to be arranged somewhat spaced from the receptacle.

It can also be provided that the supply line opens from outside the receptacle to a bottom of the receptacle. By such an oxygen supply from below the receptacle, a region lying opposite the bottom with a pouring and pouring opening of the receptacle is freely accessible without restriction, so that the optionally refilling of wine into the receptacle is made possible without restriction. In addition, through such a bottom-side connection of the supply line, this supply line quasi hidden and dangling not circumferentially inserted from above in the receptacle. Moreover, it is also made possible by such a configuration that even at a low level of wine in the receptacle oxygen is always introduced into the wine, so that no undesirably large distance between a surface of the wine or a level and the end of the supply line is formed.

It can be provided that in the bottom of the receptacle a coupling unit is arranged, to which the supply line can be coupled. This also allows fast handling for coupling or uncoupling. On the other hand, the components can be separated to be cleaned individually. The coupling unit may preferably have an automatic closing unit, so that in the decoupled state with the supply line, the coupling unit is also closed and no leakage of wine from the receptacle on the ground can occur to the outside.

In a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the supply line opens into the receptacle via a pouring and pouring opening of the receptacle facing away from the bottom. An advantage of this embodiment is the fact that the supply line can be handled easily and can be removed or inserted without the lifting or tilting of the receptacle or otherwise positioned to the receptacle. In particular, thus, the immersion depth of the supply line from above into the receptacle can also be set very easily and quickly.

It can be provided that the supply line is formed on its opening into the receptacle end as a diffuser. A diffuser is an expanding element in the flow direction, in particular widening like a funnel. A particularly advantageous introduction and distribution of the oxygen produced in the wine is thereby made possible.

A diffuser should ensure that the oxygen introduced is supplied to the wine as extensively as possible. The diffuser can have many small openings from which gas can escape in many small bubbles.

In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the decanting device has a filter unit with which room air can be filtered. The filter unit is connected to the oxygen generating device. In particular, this connection is such that the generated oxygen of the oxygen generating device and the filtered room air can be supplied to the receptacle. Such a gas mixture with the specified gas proportions can allow even more customized and needs-based decantation of wine in individual situations.

The decanter can have a pump, with which the generated oxygen or the gas mixture with the generated oxygen and the filtered room air promotes and injects via the supply line into the receptacle. However, the feeding of said gaseous media can also be done without such a pump.

In addition to the advantageous embodiment already explained above, in which the oxygen generating device has a separate container in which the water is provided for the electrolysis of water, the required water for this electrolysis of water can alternatively also be produced by a condensation of water gas from air. An explicit tank or tank is then not required in this embodiment. It is then also not necessary to provide water, either by the user or for example a Festwasseranschluss.

In a further advantageous embodiment it can be provided that the oxygen generating device has an oxygen storage unit for storing the generated oxygen. As a result of such a configuration, it is thus possible to generate and reserve a certain amount of oxygen, so that sufficient oxygen is always available for decanting and can be retrieved individually, quickly and comprehensively.

In particular, it is provided that the decanting device has a Venturi nozzle with which the oxygen produced can be supplied to the wine during pouring out of the receiving vessel. A user-specific guidance of the position of the Venturi nozzle and / or of the receptacle for supplying the oxygen produced during the pouring out of the wine is then also provided.

The already mentioned above diffuser, which can be arranged at a receiving vessel facing the end of the supply line, also allows a larger area distribution of the introduced generated oxygen. Alternatively, the diffuser can also be integrated in the receptacle, in particular a bottom of the receptacle, and thus not be part of the supply line. The supply line can then be coupled to this integrated diffuser in such a configuration. The diffuser as a separate component can then be arranged in such a configuration then non-destructively releasably on the receptacle to allow in particular an improved cleaning can.

Preferably, the decanter has at least one sensor for detecting pollutants. In particular, such a sensor is a VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) sensor. By such a configuration, the situation-dependent requirements for decanting can be taken even better account. In particular, depending on the information of this at least one sensor, the demand for oxygen can then be determined and thus the decanting can be improved.

Preferably, the decanter has a control unit, with which at least the addition of oxygen produced in the receptacle in time and / or quantity and / or concentration is controllable. This also advantageously supports a particularly needs-based decanting process. Since the decantation is also dependent on the particular wine and / or the environmental conditions, the individual situations can be better taken into account by means of these advantageous embodiments, in order finally to enable the best possible provision of the wine to be tasted.

In particular, it is provided that the control unit is designed to control the addition of the oxygen produced depending on the wine to be decanted and / or depending on the ambient conditions.

The duration of the decantation depends in particular on the available amount of oxygen (volume flow) and the oxygen requirements of the respective wine. This relates to the oxygen concentration of the volume flow based on the amount of wine or the volume of wine flowed through. The generated interface between gas, with corresponding partial pressure of oxygen, and the wine also determines the decantation time. At short high oxygen demand and low-power electrolysis unit, an oxygen storage, as mentioned above, be advantageous to then provide the increased oxygen demand can.

It is also possible that corresponding information about the decanted wine and / or environmental conditions from databases, for example, over the Internet, are available. This information can then be processed via the control unit and the decantation process can be controlled individually depending thereon. However, information can also be stored in the decanter itself. The decanter may also include sensors to determine the humidity and / or the temperature in the environment of the wine and thus also of the receptacle, which information can then be incorporated into the control of the decanting. Another information to be considered in this regard may be the storage life of the wine to be decanted and the course of storage. Also substance data of the wine can be considered in this regard. Especially the VOC sensor can also be used to detect slight off-flavors, such as Böckser, and accordingly to control the decanting process depending on it, for example to stop or to continue with increased oxygen input.

By supplying oxygen, oxidation reactions are promoted, which counteract the reductive notes in the wine.

Furthermore, one aspect of the invention also relates to a household appliance, in particular a wine storage cabinet or a wine storage cabinet, with a decanter according to the above-mentioned aspect or an advantageous embodiment thereof. The household appliance may for example also be a refrigerator or a refrigerated combined freezer, which is designed for storing and preserving food and which additionally has such a decanter. This can for example be arranged in a receiving space of this household refrigerator, which is separated from a refrigerator compartment and separated from a freezer compartment. The decanter can also be designed as a household appliance independent device.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or in isolation, without the frame to leave the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are to be regarded as encompassed and disclosed, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, but which emerge and can be produced by separated combinations of features from the embodiments explained. Embodiments and combinations of features are also to be regarded as disclosed, which thus do not have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim.

• 1 eine vereinfachte Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Dekantiervorrichtung; und
• 2 eine vereinfachte Darstellung von Teilkomponenten einer Sauerstofferzeugungseinrichtung der Dekantiervorrichtung.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

• 1 a simplified representation of an embodiment of a decanter; and
• 2 a simplified representation of sub-components of an oxygen generating device of the decanter.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In 1 is a schematic representation of a decanter 1 shown for decanting wine. The decanter 1 has a receptacle 2 on, in the wine 3 is contained and in particular is decanted in it. The decanter 1 also has an oxygen generating device 4 which is designed to generate oxygen. The oxygen production facility 4 is to supply the generated oxygen with the receptacle 2 coupled. The oxygen production facility 4 has a membrane electrode assembly 5 on, with which by water electrolysis oxygen from water can be generated. The membrane electrode assembly 5 has at least one proton exchange membrane 6 ( 2 ) on.

In 2 is the oxygen generator 4 represented with at least partial components. The oxygen device or the oxygen generating device 4 is designed for targeted and defined adjustment of oxygen or oxygen content. The membrane electrode assembly 5 has an anode 7 and a cathode 8th on, between which the already mentioned proton exchange membrane 6 is arranged. The oxygen production facility 4 moreover, in the embodiment shown, a container 9 on, in the water 10 is included, which is needed for the electrolysis of water. The container 9 , especially the water 10 , is fluid-conducting with the anode 7 coupled to the corresponding water 10 the anode 7 to be able to supply. This can be done via a pump or via capillary action. With regard to the mode of operation, reference may be made to the explanation already given above. The ambient air L is here according to the membrane electrode assembly 5 fed. The further reactions were already explained in this regard.

The decanter 1 also has a supply line 11 ( 1 ), by means of which the oxygen produced in the receptacle 2 and thus the wine 3 can be supplied. The supply line 11 can be directly or indirectly with at least one oxygen outlet 5a the membrane-electrode assembly 5 be connected. The supply line 11 can have a sprue and spout opening 12 of the receptacle 2 in the receptacle 2 be introduced and thus from above into the wine 3 be arranged immersed. As you can see, one is in the receptacle 2 opening end 13 the supply line 11 as a diffuser 14 educated.

In an alternative embodiment it can be provided that the supply line 11 to a floor 15 of the receptacle 2 opens and thus from outside the receptacle 2 from below to the ground 15 is introduced. In this context, the bottom 15 has an opening, to which this supply line 11 can be coupled. It can be provided here that a coupling region 16 in the ground 15 is integrated and the supply line 11 to this coupling area 16 Non-destructively releasably coupled and removable again. Again, the supply line 11 at the end 13 a diffuser 14 exhibit. The diffuser 14 alternatively, however, can also be separate from the supply line 11 be formed and part of the coupling area 16 be. The diffuser 14 can in the ground 15 be integrated trained or non-destructively releasably removable.

In an advantageous embodiment, the decanter 1 a filter unit 17 on. The filter unit 17 is designed for filtering the room air. The filter unit 17 is in particular with the oxygen generating device 4 connected such that the generated oxygen of the oxygen generating device 4 and the filtered room air of the filter unit 17 the receptacle 2 can be supplied. This can be done in particular via the supply line 11 respectively. However, it can also be provided separate supply lines.

In particular, the oxygen generating device has 4 an oxygen storage unit 18 on. In the oxygen storage unit 18 Caused oxygen can be cached. In addition, the decanter 1 a pump 19 with which at least the oxygen produced, which in the membrane electrode assembly 5 is produced in the receptacle 2 be funded, in particular via the supply line 11 ,

In addition, the decanter features 1 in an advantageous embodiment, at least one sensor 20 which is preferably a VOC sensor. The sensor 20 is designed to detect a pollutant concentration. The decanter 1 In an advantageous embodiment, a control unit 21 which are used to control the production of oxygen and / or to control the supply of the oxygen produced to the wine 3 is trained. The control can be carried out depending on wine-specific parameters and / or environment-specific parameters and this Zuleit can then also in terms of time and / or quantity and / or concentration by the control unit 21 to be controlled.

The decanter 1 may be part of a household appliance or designed as a separate stand-alone device. The household appliance may for example be a wine bottle storage cabinet. However, the household appliance may also be a household refrigerator.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Decanter

2

receptacle

3

Wine

4

Oxygen generator

5

Membrane electrode assembly

5a

oxygen outlet

6

Proton exchange membrane

7

anode

8th

cathode

9

container

10

water

11

supply

12

Pouring and pouring opening

13

The End

14

diffuser

15

ground

16

coupling region

17

filter unit

18

Oxygen storage unit

19

pump

20

sensor

21

control unit

L

ambient air

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102004011396 A1 [0003]

Claims (14)

Decanter (1) for wine (3), with a receptacle (2) for wine, and with an oxygen generating means (4) which generates oxygen, and which with the receiving vessel (2) for supplying the generated oxygen into the receptacle (2) can be coupled, characterized in that the oxygen generating means (4) comprises a membrane-electrode assembly (5), with which by water electrolysis oxygen from water (10) can be generated. Decanting device (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the membrane electrode assembly (5) has at least one proton exchange membrane (6). Decanting device (1) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the oxygen generating means (4) comprises a container (9) for water (10) which is fluid-conductively coupled to the anode (7) of the membrane-electrode assembly (5). Decanting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the oxygen generating device (4) has a feed line (11) for supplying the oxygen into the receptacle (2). Decanting device (1) after Claim 4 , characterized in that the supply line (11) from outside the receiving vessel (2) to a bottom (15) of the receiving vessel (2) opens. Decanting device (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the feed line (11) via a bottom (15) of the receiving vessel (2) facing away pouring and pouring opening (12) of the receiving vessel (2) into the receptacle (2) opens. Decanting device (1) after Claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that the supply line (11) at its opening into the receptacle (2) end (13) is designed as a diffuser (14). Decanting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decanting device (1) has a filter unit (17) with which room air can be filtered, wherein the filter unit (17) is connected to the oxygen generating device (4), so that the generated oxygen of the oxygen generating means (4) and the filtered room air to the receiving vessel (2) can be fed. Decanting apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the oxygen generating means (4) comprises an oxygen storage unit (18) for storing the generated oxygen. Decanting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decanting device (1) has a Venturi nozzle, with which the oxygen produced to the wine (3) during pouring out of the receptacle (2) is zuleitbar. Decanting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decanter (1) has at least one VOC sensor (20). Decanting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decanting device (1) has a control unit (21) with which at least the addition of oxygen produced in the receptacle (2) in time and / or quantity and / or concentration is controllable , Decanting device (1) after Claim 12 , characterized in that the control unit (21) is adapted to control the addition of the generated oxygen depending on the wine to be decanted (3) and / or depending on environmental conditions. Domestic appliance, in particular wine bottle storage cabinet, with a decanter (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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