GB892357A - Plant for storing fermentable liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

892,357. Storing fermentable liquids. PERNOD & RICARD. July 7, 1960 [July 7, 1959], No. 23768/60. Class 49. Apparatus for storing a fermentable liquid, such as a fruit juice, under sterile conditions, comprises a storage tank 1 connected to a holder 10 containing an inert gas such as nitrogen at substantially constant pressure, through a pipe 6, a three-way valve 7, a pipe 8 including a sterilizing filter 11, and threeway valves 12 and 13. The valve 7 is connected to the valve 12 by a pipe 9 including a bubble tube 15 and sterilizing filters 11a and 11b. A reservoir 17 containing sulphuric acid is connected to the middle of the bubble tube by a pipe 16, including a valve 18, and to the pipe 8 through a valve 19. Sterilizing steam, from a pipe 4, or a fermentable liquid from a pipe 5, can be fed into the tank through a three-way valve 3 and a pipe 2. The apparatus can be vented to atmosphere through a pipe 14 connected to the valve 13. The apparatus is sterilized by admitting steam through the valve 3 and allowing it to escape through the vent pipe 14 and is then filled with inert gas from the holder 10. The tank 1 is then filled with fermentable liquid and the bubble tube 15 is charged with sulphuric acid from the reservoir 17. Valves 7 and 12 are then operated to put the tank 1 in communication with the holder 10, through the pipe 9, and the bubble tube 15, instead of through the pipe 8. If fermentation of the liquid commences, the carbon dioxide generated causes an increase in the pressure of gas in the apparatus, which is indicated by a marked increase in the rate of flow of gas through the bubble tube, compared with that due to ordinary temperature variations. One or more of the three-way valves 3, 7, 12 and 13, particularly the valve 7, may be replaced by pairs of twoway valves, each of which is preferably enclosed by a jacket filled with an antiseptic liquid or vapour at a pressure of several atmospheres.