GB976839A - Improvements in apparatus for the continuous mashing of malt - Google Patents

Abstract

In an apparatus for continuously mashing malt, ground malt mash is fed from a grist case 30 through a rotary valve 31 and is conveyed by a feed screw 32, which admits hot water to it, into a first container 22 and after a rest period, a more activated conversion is obtained by under-letting effected by hot water and/or steam fed in through spray rings 46. After conversion separation of the spent malt from liquor is effected by a straining cone 36, the liquor being pumped by a pump 39 through a conduit 40 either to storage through conduit 42 or back into the top of the container via conduit 45 for passage through the mass of malt material therein to effect clarification, whilst the spent malt is conveyed through an opened sluice valve 25 and fed by a screw 27 <PICT:0976839/C6-C7/1> (synchronized with screw 32 to balance inflow and outflow of material) into the top of a second container 23. Strong liquor settling out in the screw 27 is collected in a sump 62 thereto and a pump 65 returns it via conduits 64, 66 to the top of the first container 22. The spent malt is then extracted a second time in container 23 by sparging hot water and/or steam fed in by spray rings 57 and a conical strainer 48 separates spent malt from liquor the latter being fed by a pump 55 and conduits 52, 54, 56 to storage whilst spent malt escapes via an outlet 49 and sluice valve 50 to a feed screw 51 which removes it either for disposal or conveyance by a pump 60 through conduits 58, 61 back to the top of the container. Both containers 22 and 23 are provided with several temperature indicating devices at several levels in order that control of the process may be effected; in addition all outlets are valve controlled, as shown, and if desired the first container may be isolated from the second, e.g. as is necessary when starting up the process.