FR3073524A1 - DEVICE FOR DISTILLATION OF THE ALAMBIC CHARENTAIS TYPE COMPRISING AN IMPROVED FIRE TOWER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a distillation device (10) for the production of spirits, of the Charentais still type, comprising at least one boiler (12), a heating device (20), a fire tower (34) which surrounds the wall device (16) of the boiler (12), which is designed to channel the hot gases from the heater (20), characterized in that the fire tower (34) has at least a first stage and a second stage which each surround the boiler (12) and which each have an annular shape adapted to channel said hot gases and a first stage flap which is interposed between the first stage and the second stage and which is movable between an open position in which the Hot gases can flow from the first floor to the second floor of the fire tower (34), and a closed position.

Description

Charentais still type distillation device comprising an improved fire lathe

The present invention relates to a distillation device for the production of spirits, of the Charentais still type, comprising an improved fire lathe.

The distillation device according to the invention is in particular suitable for the production of Cognac.

In general, a still of the Charentais type has a boiler, also called cucurbite, which is delimited by a bottom and a peripheral wall and which is intended to contain a liquid to be distilled.

A heating device is arranged below the boiler to raise the temperature of the liquid to be distilled.

The heating device comprises for example a gas burner which is arranged in a combustion chamber.

The boiler is surmounted by a marquee in the shape of a Moorish head, onion or olive, extended by a swan neck.

The swan neck continues with a serpentine which crosses a cooling basin, forming a condenser device to condense part of the gaseous fluid coming from the marquee.

The distillation process for obtaining a brandy such as Cognac is as follows. It is a Charentaise distillation process carried out according to the traditional so-called "ironing" method.

The process comprises two successive stages, which are the distillation of wine and the distillation of brouillis.

As the first stage of wine distillation, white wine is introduced into the boiler.

The boiler is heated through the gas burner in the combustion chamber to bring the wine to a boil.

Vapors of alcohol are then released during this heating and accumulate in the marquee, then engage in the swan neck then in the coil crossing the cooling tank.

On contact with the coolant, the alcohol vapors condense to flow as a mist. Brouillis is a slightly cloudy distillate obtained after this first distillation. Its volumetric alcoholic strength is between approximately 27% and 32%.

The brouillis is then poured into the boiler for a second distillation, also called "good heating".

The distillation process which has just been described for wine is applied in the same way to distil brouillis.

During the bruising distillation phase, the first fractions of the distillate obtained are the heads. These buds are very rich in alcohol (alcohol content between 78% and 82%) and are discarded.

The second fraction of the distillate is called the heart. This fraction contains at most 72% alcohol and is intended to age in barrels, in order to form Cognac.

The third and fourth fractions from the brouillage distillation phase are the seconds and the tails, which are also discarded.

A disadvantage of this type of device is that the energy that it is necessary for the heating device to supply to bring the white wine or the scramble to a boil in the boiler at the start of the first or second distillation cycle is very important. The heating time of the wine or brouillis in order to bring them to a boil is also very high.

In order to reduce this energy and reduce the heating time, it is known to equip the still with a fire tower which surrounds the peripheral wall of the boiler and which is designed to channel the hot gases coming from the heating device. , in order to transmit part of the calories, from the hot gases to the liquid to be distilled, through the wall of the boiler.

The lathe is connected to a chimney to extract the hot gases to the outside of the distillation device.

Also, the fire lathe consists of a single duct whose height corresponds to the minimum volume of the liquid contained in the boiler at the end of heating, this in order not to heat the wall of the boiler if it is not in contact with the liquid, to avoid damaging the boiler.

An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of the fire lathe.

To this end, the invention relates to a distillation device for the production of spirits, of the Charentais still type, comprising at least:

- a boiler which is delimited by a bottom and a peripheral wall and which is designed to contain a liquid to be distilled,

- a heating device which is arranged below the boiler to raise the temperature of the liquid to be distilled,

- a fire lathe which surrounds the peripheral wall of the boiler at least in part, and which is designed to channel the hot gases coming from the heating device, and

- a chimney which is connected to the fire lathe to extract the hot gases towards the outside of the distillation device, characterized in that the fire lathe comprises at least:

a first stage and a second stage which each surround the boiler and which each have an annular shape suitable for channeling said hot gases, the first stage being arranged below the second stage,

a first stage flap which is interposed between the first stage and the second stage and which is movable between an open position in which the hot gases can circulate from the first stage to the second stage of the fire lathe, and a position closed which prevents the passage of hot gases between the first stage and the second stage of the fire tower,

- a device for measuring the level of the liquid contained in the boiler, and

- A control device which is adapted to control the opening and closing of said stage flap so as to selectively circulate the hot gases through the first stage, or through the first stage and the second stage, depending on the level of the liquid measured by the measuring device.

The distillation device according to the invention makes it possible to extend the exchange surface of the fire tower to a surface of the boiler which covers the entire area bathed by the liquid to be distilled, the device thus makes it possible to make the most of the calories of the hot gases from the heater.

According to another characteristic, each stage of the fire tower is connected to the chimney by means of an extraction flap which is movable between an open position in which the hot gases can circulate from the associated stage of the fire tower , to the chimney, and a closed position in which the hot gases cannot circulate to the chimney, and the control device opens the extraction flap associated with the highest stage through which the hot gases pass .

This characteristic makes it possible to extract the hot gases at the level of the highest stage through which the hot gases pass.

According to another characteristic, the fire lathe includes:

- a third stage which surrounds the boiler and which is arranged above the second stage, and

- a second stage flap which is interposed between the second stage and the third stage, and which is movable between an open position in which the hot gases can circulate from the second stage to the third stage of the fire tower, and a closed position which prevents the passage of hot gases between the second stage and the third stage of the fire lathe.

According to another characteristic, each floor has an internal partition.

Each internal partition allows the hot gases to be forced to the upper floor or to the chimney.

According to another characteristic, the distillation device comprises an extractor which is arranged in the chimney and which is designed to promote the extraction of hot gases.

The invention also relates to the use of a distillation device of the type described above, for the distillation of wine or wine distillate for the production of Cognac.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic view which illustrates a distillation device comprising a three-stage fire tower, according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view in section passing through the center of the boiler, which illustrates the lathe of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a schematic view which illustrates the three stages of the fire lathe in a configuration corresponding to a high level of liquid in the boiler;

- Figure 4 is a schematic view which illustrates the three stages of the fire lathe in a configuration corresponding to an intermediate level of liquid in the boiler;

- Figure 5 is a schematic view which illustrates the three stages of the fire lathe in a configuration corresponding to a low level of liquid in the boiler.

In the description and the claims, the expressions “upper”, “lower” and “bottom”, “top” will be used without limitation, with reference to the upper part and to the lower part respectively of FIG. 1.

In all of these figures, identical or analogous references represent identical or analogous organs or sets of organs.

To make the description easier to understand, identical elements are indicated by the same reference numerals distinguished by the letter "a" for elements relating to the first stage of the fire lathe, by the letter "b" for elements relating to the second stage and by the letter "c" for items relating to the third floor.

FIG. 1 shows a distillation device 10 for the production of spirits, of the Charentais alembic type, which comprises a boiler 12, also called cucurbite.

The boiler 12 is delimited by a bottom 14 and a peripheral wall 16 which is intended to contain a liquid 18 to be distilled.

A heating device 20 is arranged below the boiler 12 to raise the temperature of the liquid 18 to be distilled.

The heating device 20 comprises a gas burner 22 which is arranged in a combustion chamber 24.

Also, the boiler 12 is surmounted by a marquee 26 in the shape of a Moorish head, onion or olive, extended by a swan neck 28.

The swan neck 28 continues with a coil 30 which passes through a cooling basin 32, forming a condenser device for condensing part of the gaseous fluid coming from the marquee 26.

In addition, the distillation device 10 comprises a fire tower 34 which surrounds the peripheral wall 16 of the boiler 12 and which is designed to channel the hot gases coming from the heating device 20.

The lathe 34 is connected to a chimney 35 to extract the hot gases to the outside of the distillation device 10.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the fire lathe 34 comprises three vertically superimposed stages, a lower first stage 36a, an intermediate second stage 36b which is arranged above the first stage 36a and a third upper stage 36c which is arranged above the second floor 36b.

Each stage 36a, 36b, 36c surrounds the boiler 12 and each stage has an annular shape suitable for channeling the hot gases coming from the combustion chamber 24.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each stage 36a, 36b, 36c has a generally parallelepipedic section which is delimited by an upper face 38, a lower face 40, an outer peripheral face 42 and an inner face 44 which is formed by a portion of the wall 16 of the boiler 12.

With reference to FIG. 1, the first stage 36a of the fire tower 34 is connected to the combustion chamber 24 by a duct 45 which makes it possible to convey the hot gases from the combustion chamber 24 to the first stage 36a.

The lathe 34 has a series of flaps, or valves, to allow the hot gases to be guided selectively through the stages 36a, 36b, 36c of the lathe 34, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5 .

To this end, the fire lathe 34 comprises a first stage flap 46 which is interposed between the first stage 36a and the second stage 36b and which is movable between an open position in which the hot gases can circulate from the first stage 36a up to the second stage 36b of the fire tower 34, and a closed position which prevents the passage of hot gases between the first stage 36a and the second stage 36b of the fire tower 34.

Similarly, the fire lathe 34 has a second stage flap 48 which is interposed between the second stage 36b and the third stage 36c and which is movable between an open position in which the hot gases can circulate from the second stage 36b to 'to the third stage 36c of the fire tower 34, and a closed position which prevents the passage of hot gases between the second stage 36b and the third stage 36c of the fire tower 34.

In addition, with reference to FIG. 3, each stage 36a, 36b, 36c has an internal partition 50a, 50b, 50c respectively, each internal partition 50a, 50b, 50c extending across the associated stage to block gases hot.

The internal partition 50a associated with the first stage 36a is arranged downstream of the duct 45 and upstream of the first stage flap 46, in the direction of flow of the hot gases.

The internal partition 50b associated with the second stage 36b is arranged downstream of the first stage flap 46 and upstream of the second stage flap 48, in the direction of flow of the hot gases.

The internal partition 50c associated with the third stage 36c is arranged directly downstream of the second stage flap 48, in the direction of flow of the hot gases.

According to another aspect, each stage 36a, 36b, 36c of the fire tower 34 is connected to the chimney 35 by means of an extraction flap 52a, 52b, 52c respectively, which is movable between an open position in which the hot gases can circulate from the stage of the associated fire tower 34 to the chimney 35, and a closed position in which the hot gases cannot circulate to the chimney 35.

In addition, the distillation device 10 comprises a device for measuring (not shown) the level of the liquid contained in the boiler 12 and a control device 52.

The control device 52 is adapted to control the opening and closing of the various flaps described above, so as to selectively circulate the hot gases through the desired stage or stages, according to the level of the liquid contained in the boiler 12 , as described in the operating example below.

FIG. 3 shows the boiler 12 in a configuration called "high level" in which the level of the liquid 18 is maximum, that is to say that the level of the liquid 18 detected by the level measurement device is greater than the second stage 36b of the fire tower 34, ie greater than the line A visible in FIG. 1.

In this “high level” configuration, the first stage flap 46 and the second stage flap 48 occupy their open position, and only the extraction flap 52c associated with the third stage 36c is open, so that the hot gases circulate freely from the combustion chamber 24, to the chimney 35, passing successively through the three stages 36a, 36b, 36c.

FIG. 4 shows the boiler 12 in a configuration known as “intermediate level” in which the level of the liquid 18 is at the level of the second stage 36b of the fire tower 34, that is to say comprised between the line A and line B visible in Figure 1.

Indeed, the part of the heated boiler which is heated must always be in contact with liquid.

In this "intermediate level" configuration, the first stage flap 46 occupies its open position and the second stage flap 48 occupies its closed position, and only the extraction flap 52b associated with the second stage 36b is open, so that the hot gases circulate freely from the combustion chamber 24, to the chimney 35, passing successively through the first stage 36a and the second stage 36b.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows the boiler 12 in a configuration known as “low level” in which the level of the liquid 18 is at the level of the first stage 36b and below the second level 36b of the fire lathe 34, this is i.e. below the line B visible in Figure 1.

In this “low level” configuration, the first stage flap 46 and the second stage flap 48 each occupy their closed position, and only the extraction flap 52a associated with the first stage 36a is open, so that the gases heat flow freely from the combustion chamber 24, to the chimney 35, passing only through the first stage 36a.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the distillation device 10 includes an extractor 54 which is arranged in the stack 35 and which is designed to promote the extraction of hot gases. The extractor 54 makes it possible to maintain a constant pressure in the combustion chamber 24 for the proper functioning of the burner 22, regardless of the number of stages of the fire lathe 34 traversed by the hot gases.

The present description of the invention is given by way of nonlimiting example.

It will be understood that the fire lathe 34 may comprise more than three stages.

Likewise, the shape and the section of the stages 36a, 36b, 36c of the fire lathe 34 may have various shapes and sections, such as a semicircular section for example.

It is also possible to design a single spiral duct which forms a plurality of superimposed stages, the redirection of the hot gases being carried out by means of different flaps.

Claims (6)

1. Distillation device (10) for the production of spirits, of the Charentais alembic type, comprising at least: - a boiler (12) which is delimited by a bottom (14) and a peripheral wall (16) and which is designed to contain a liquid (18) to be distilled, a heating device (20) which is arranged below the boiler (12) to raise the temperature of the liquid (18) to be distilled, - a fire lathe (34) which surrounds the peripheral wall (16) of the boiler (12) at least in part, and which is designed to channel the hot gases coming from the heating device (20), and - A chimney (35) which is connected to the fire lathe (34) to extract the hot gases to the outside of the distillation device (10), characterized in that the fire lathe (34) comprises at least: - a first stage (36a) and a second stage (36b) which each surround the boiler (12) and which each have an annular shape suitable for channeling said hot gases, the first stage (36a) being arranged below the second stage ( 36b) - a first stage flap (46) which is interposed between the first stage (36a) and the second stage (36b) and which is movable between an open position in which the hot gases can circulate from the first stage (36a) to '' on the second stage (36b) of the fire tower (34), and a closed position which prevents the passage of hot gases between the first stage (36a) and the second (36b) stage of the fire tower (34), a device for measuring the level of the liquid (18) contained in the boiler (12), and - a control device (52) which is adapted to control the opening and closing of said stage flap (46) so as to selectively circulate the hot gases through the first stage (36a), or through the first stage (36a) and the second stage (36b), depending on the level of the liquid (18) measured by the measuring device. 2. Distillation device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that each stage (36a, 36b) of the fire tower (34) is connected to the chimney (35) by means of an extraction flap (52a, 52b) which is movable between an open position in which the hot gases can circulate from the stage (36a, 36b) associated with the fire tower (34), to the chimney (35), and a closed position in which the hot gases cannot flow to the chimney (35), and in that the control device opens the extraction flap (52a, 52b) associated with the highest stage (36a, 36b) crossed by hot gases. 3. Distillation device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the fire lathe (34) comprises: a third stage (36c) which surrounds the boiler (12) and which is arranged above the second stage (36b), and - a second stage flap (48) which is interposed between the second stage (36b) and the third stage (36c), and which is movable between an open position in which the hot gases can circulate from the second stage (36b) to the third stage (36c) of the fire tower (34), and a closed position which prevents the passage of hot gases between the second stage (36b) and the third stage (36c) of the fire tower (34). 4. Distillation device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each stage (36a, 36b, 36c) has an internal partition (50a, 50b, 50c). 5. Distillation device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an extractor (54) which is arranged in the chimney (35) and which is designed to promote the extraction of hot gases . 6. Use of a distillation device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, for the distillation of wine or wine distillate for the production of Cognac.