JP2021010850A - Distillation method and distillation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To enhance efficiency of distillation operation by generating Joule heat in a distillation raw-liquid without applying heat to the distillation raw-liquid from the outside.SOLUTION: A distillation apparatus 10 includes a distillation raw-liquid storage tank 11 and a distillation heating pipe 12, and a distillation raw-liquid M in the distillation raw-liquid storage tank 11 is returned to the distillation raw-liquid storage tank 11 via a circulation pipe 23. The distillation raw-liquid M flowing in a heating flow path 13 is heated via Joule heat generated by current flowing through an electrode member 24. Steam generated from the distillation raw-liquid M in the heating flow path 13 by the heating is cooled by a cooling unit 31 so as to be aggregated. A condensed distillate L is collected into a collection tank 38.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a distillation technique for producing distilled liquor such as shochu and whiskey.

Distilled liquor is produced by fermenting raw materials such as grains and fruits and distilling the fermented liquor, that is, mash, as a distillate stock solution. Distilled liquor includes shochu, whiskey, brandy, and wokka. Shochu is produced by distilling fermented potatoes, whiskey is produced by distilling fermented malt, and brandy is produced by distilling fermented fruit. Will be done.

Distillation methods for distilling the fermentation broth include a single distillation method and a continuous distillation method. The simple distillation method is a distillation method in which mash is heated and evaporated in a distillation pot, and distilled liquor is produced by condensing the generated steam with a cooler. The mash heating method in the distillation pot includes an indirect heating method in which the outside of the distillation pot is heated by steam and a direct heating method in which steam is directly injected into the mash.

The continuous distillation method uses a vertical distiller partitioned by a large number of horizontal shelves with innumerable holes, and supplies alcohol from the upper end of the distiller and steam from the lower end of the distiller. It is a method of separating alcohol. The waste liquid is discharged from the lower end of the distiller, and the mash can be continuously supplied to the distiller.

Patent Document 1 describes a pot still, and describes a pot still in which steam is directly blown into the distillation pot to distill the distillation pot at a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-287357

When the distillation stock solution, that is, the mash is heated while the distillation pot is depressurized, the distillation temperature of the mash becomes lower due to the decompression, and the heating temperature of the mash becomes lower than when distilling at normal pressure. There is an advantage that the occurrence of can be suppressed. On the other hand, in the case of the indirect heating type in which the distillation pot is heated from the outside, the outer surface temperature of the distillation pot is set by a heat medium rather than the temperature of the mash so that the mash supplied to the inside of the distillation pot has a predetermined heating temperature. It needs to be increased, the mash may be overheated above the prescribed heating temperature, and the distilled liquor may generate full flare.

On the other hand, in the case of the direct heating type in which steam is directly injected into the mash, it is possible to prevent the mash from being overheated, but since steam is directly injected into the mash, the distillation pot after the distillation treatment The amount of distillation residue consisting of the distillation waste liquid and residual mash remaining in the mash increases. Therefore, it takes time to process the distillation residue, and the distillation operation including the residue treatment cannot be performed efficiently. Even in the continuous distillation method, the mash is supplied from the upper end of the distiller, and the steam supplied from the lower end is injected into the mash while dropping the mash from the many holes provided in the shelf, and the lower end of the distiller. It is inevitable that the amount of distillation residue discharged from will increase.

In this way, when the mash is heated by steam, it is necessary to install not only a distillation pot and a distiller but also a boiler that generates steam, and it is inevitable that the equipment for distillation including the boiler will be enlarged.

An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of distillation work by generating Joule heat in the distillation stock solution without applying heat to the distillation stock solution from the outside.

In the distillation method of the present invention, the distillation stock solution contained in the stock solution storage tank is supplied to the inlet of the distillation heating tube in which the heating flow path for transporting the distillation stock solution is formed, while the circulation port of the stock solution storage tank is described. A circulation step of returning the distilled stock solution flowing out from the stock solution outlet of the distillation heating tube and forming a circulating flow of the distilled stock solution returning from the stock solution storage tank to the stock solution storage tank via the heating flow path, and the distillation heating. A heat generation step in which power is supplied from the power supply unit to the electrode members provided in pairs with the tubes, and a current is passed from the electrode members to the distillation stock solution in the heating flow path to generate Joule heat in the circulating flow. It has a condensation step of condensing steam generated from a distillation stock solution in a heating flow path by a cooling unit.

The distillation apparatus of the present invention includes a stock solution storage tank for storing a distillation stock solution and a distillation heating tube in which a heating flow path for transporting the distillation stock solution is formed, and the discharge port of the stock solution storage tank and the flow of the distillation heating tube. A supply pipe is provided between the inlet and the distillation heating pipe, a circulation pipe is provided between the stock solution outlet of the distillation heating pipe and the circulation port of the stock solution storage tank, and a current is passed through the distillation stock solution flowing through the heating flow path to Joule heat. The electrode members for generating the above are provided in pairs with the distillation heating tube, a power supply unit for supplying power to the electrode members is connected to the electrode members, and steam generated from the distillation stock solution in the heating flow path is condensed. The cooling unit to be used is connected to the steam outlet of the distillation heating tube.

In order to heat the distillation stock solution, Joule heat is used to generate heat to heat the distillation stock solution, so that the distillation stock solution is not overheated and furfural is added to the distillation solution due to overheating of the distillation stock solution. High-quality distilled liquor can be produced without the occurrence of. Further, since the distillation stock solution is heated by heat generation, scale does not adhere to the inner wall surface of the distillation heating tube, and the distillation heating tube can be easily cleaned regularly. Further, as in the conventional case, when steam is injected into the distillation stock solution to heat the distillation stock solution, the amount of the distillation residue increases and the treatment takes time. However, when the distillation stock solution is heated by Joule heat, the distillation residue Distillation work including residue treatment can be efficiently performed without increasing.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the distillation apparatus which is one Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the control circuit of the power supply unit shown in FIG. It is a characteristic diagram which shows the relationship between the voltage which outputs the setting maximum power of an output transformer, and the current. (A) is a vertical sectional view showing a modified example of a distillation heating tube, and (B) is a sectional view taken along line BB in (A).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the distillation apparatus 10 includes a stock solution storage tank 11 for storing the distillation stock solution M, and a distillation heating tube 12 for distilling the distillation stock solution M to generate steam. Is formed with a heating flow path 13 for carrying the distillation stock solution M. The fermented liquid, that is, mash, which is the distilled stock solution M, is supplied to the stock solution storage tank 11 by the injection pipe 14.

An inflow port 15 is provided at the lower end of the distillation heating pipe 12, and a supply pipe 17 is connected between the discharge port 16 provided at the lower end of the stock solution storage tank 11 and the inflow port 15. A pump 18 is provided in the supply pipe 17, and the distillation stock solution M discharged from the discharge port 16 of the stock solution storage tank 11 by the pump 18 is a heating flow path 13 from the inflow port 15 of the distillation heating pipe 12 by the supply pipe 17. Is supplied to.

A stock solution outlet 21 is provided at the upper end of the distillation heating pipe 12, and a circulation for returning the distilled stock solution M to the stock solution storage tank 11 is provided between the circulation port 22 of the stock solution storage tank 11 and the stock solution outlet 21. A pipe 23 is provided. Through the circulation pipe 23, the distillation stock solution M that has flowed to the upper end in the heating flow path 13 of the distillation heating pipe 12 flows out from the stock solution outlet 21 and is returned to the stock solution storage tank 11. In this way, the distillation stock solution M is returned from the stock solution storage tank 11 to the stock solution storage tank 11 via the heating flow path 13 by the stock solution storage tank 11, the distillation heating pipe 12, the supply pipe 17, and the circulation pipe 23. Circulation flow is formed.

The distillation heating tube 12 shown in FIG. 1 has five ring-shaped electrode members 24 and a cylindrical member 25 arranged between them. The electrode member 24 is formed of a conductor such as titanium or stainless steel, and the cylindrical member 25 is formed of an insulating member such as resin. The two electrode members 24 adjacent to each other in the flow direction of the distillation stock solution M in the heating flow path 13 form a pair, and the distillation heating tube 12 has four pairs of electrode members 24. The inflow side joint portion 26 is attached to the electrode member 24 at the lower end portion, and the outflow side joint portion 27 is attached to the electrode member 24 at the upper end portion. The joint portion 26 is provided with an inflow port 15, and the joint portion 27 is provided with a stock solution outlet 21.

A high-frequency current is supplied to each electrode member 24 from the power supply unit 28 so that the two paired electrode members 24 have opposite polarities. The number of the electrode members 24 constituting the distillation heating tube 12 is not limited to five, and may be any number as long as there are a plurality of electrode members 24. Further, the electrode member 24 is not limited to the ring shape, and may be a plate-shaped electrode member. In FIG. 1, the supply pipe 17 and the circulation pipe 23 are represented by lines for convenience, but are formed of a tubular member having an inner diameter similar to that of the heating flow path 13. In FIG. 1, the distillation heating tube 12 is shown in a substantially vertical direction, but the distillation heating tube 12 may be arranged in an inclined manner.

When the pump 18 is driven while the distillation stock solution M is stored in the stock solution storage tank 11, the distillation stock solution M flows into the heating flow path 13 from the inflow port 15 of the distillation heating pipe 12 through the supply pipe 17. .. The distilled stock solution M that has flowed into the heating flow path 13 is held so that the liquid level S is higher than the stock solution outlet 21, and flows into the circulation pipe 23 from the stock solution outlet 21. As a result, the distillation stock solution M is returned to the stock solution storage tank 11. In this way, electric power is supplied from the power supply unit 28 to the electrode member 24 under the state in which the distillation stock solution M circulates in the heating flow path 13, that is, in the circulation step. The power supply unit 28 has a common terminal COM on the low potential side connected to one of two paired electrode members 24 and an output terminal Hi on the high potential side connected to the other, and the power supply unit 28 has a power supply unit 28. A high frequency current is applied to the pair of electrode members. When an electric current flows through the distillation stock solution M between the paired electrode members 24, Joule heat is generated in the distillation stock solution M, and a heat generation step of heating the distillation stock solution M by the Joule heat is executed. When the distillation stock solution M in the distillation heating tube 12 is heated, the distillation stock solution M is returned to the stock solution storage tank 11 and circulates in the stock solution storage tank 11, so that the temperature of the distillation stock solution M in the stock solution storage tank 11 is also raised. Be done. As a result, a vapor component is generated from the circulating distillation stock solution M.

The stock solution outlet 21 is provided at a position lower than the liquid level S of the distillation stock solution M in the distillation heating pipe 12 so that the vapor component generated in the distillation heating pipe 12 does not enter the circulation pipe 23 from the stock solution outlet 21. Has been done. Further, a bent portion 29 whose upper portion is substantially the same as or higher than the liquid level S is provided in the circulation pipe 23 so that the gas in the heating flow path 13 does not flow into the circulation pipe 23. It is in a water-sealed state.

The distillation apparatus 10 has a cooling unit 31 in order to condense the vapor component generated from the circulating distillation stock solution M. A steam supply pipe 32 is provided above the stock solution storage tank 11 in order to supply the steam component generated in the stock solution storage tank 11 to the cooling unit 31. Further, in order to supply the steam component generated in the distillation heating pipe 12 and separated from the distillation stock solution M to the cooling unit 31, the steam outlet 33 of the distillation heating pipe 12 is connected to the steam supply pipe 32 by the connection pipe 34. Has been done.

The cooling unit 31 is provided with a cooling jacket for cooling the steam supplied from the undiluted solution storage tank 11 and the distillation heating pipe 12, and the cooling jacket is supplied with cooling water from the cooling water supply pipe 35 to be cooled water. It is discharged from the discharge pipe 36. The steam is cooled and condensed by the cooling unit 31 to produce a distillate, that is, distilled liquor L. The distillate L condensed in the condensing step in this way is supplied to the recovery tank 38 by the product guide 37.

A suction pump 39 is connected to the recovery tank 38 in order to suck the vapor in the undiluted solution storage tank 11 and the distillation heating tube 12 into the cooling unit 31 and suck the condensed distillation liquid L into the recovery tank 38. The pressure of the circulation flow path is set to a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure by the suction pump 39.

The circulation pipe 23 is provided with a transparent sight glass 41 so that the distillation stock solution M circulating inside the circulation pipe 23 can be visually observed from the outside. Further, in order to extract a sample of the distillation stock solution M flowing in the supply pipe 17, a sample take-out valve 42 is provided in the supply pipe 17, and in order to extract a sample of the distillation stock solution M flowing inside the circulation pipe 23. The circulation pipe 23 is provided with a sample take-out valve 43. A three-way valve 44 is provided in the supply pipe 17 in order to discharge the distillation residue in the stock solution storage tank 11 to the outside after the distillation operation of the distillation solution L from the distillation stock solution M is completed. However, the distillation residue may be discharged from the upper surface of the stock solution storage tank 11.

The stock solution storage tank 11 is kept warm by the heat retaining jacket 45, and hot water is supplied from the hot water supply pipe 46 into the heat retaining jacket 45 and discharged to the outside from the hot water discharge pipe 47. As a result, the hot water in the heat insulating jacket 45 is maintained at a constant temperature.

In order to heat the distillation stock solution M, the distillation stock solution M is not overheated because the distillation stock solution M is heated by the Joule heat without heating the outside of the distillation pot as in the conventional case. .. As a result, furfural is not generated in the distilled liquid due to overheating of the distilled stock solution, and high-quality distilled liquor can be produced. Further, since the distillation stock solution M is heated by heat generation, scale does not adhere to the inner wall surface of the distillation heating tube 12, and the distillation heating tube 12 can be easily cleaned regularly.

On the other hand, when steam is injected into the distillation stock solution to heat the distillation stock solution as in the conventional case, the amount of distillation residue increases and the treatment takes time. However, when the distillation stock solution M is heated by Joule heat, it is distilled. Distillation work including residue treatment can be efficiently performed without increasing the residue.

The distillation stock solution M circulates between the stock solution storage tank 11 and the distillation heating pipe 12, and the steam generated in the stock solution storage tank 11 is sent to the cooling unit 31 by the steam supply pipe 32, and the steam generated in the distillation heating pipe 12 is sent. It is sent to the cooling unit 31 by the connecting pipe 34. In this way, since the distillation stock solution M is circulated to evaporate the alcohol component, the distillation efficiency can be improved. As shown in FIG. 1, when the heating flow path 13 and the stock solution storage tank 11 are depressurized to atmospheric pressure or lower by the suction pump 39, the alcohol component can be vaporized more efficiently.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the power supply unit. The power supply unit 28 has an output transformer 51 having a primary coil and a secondary coil, and a tap changer 52. The secondary side coil of the output transformer 51 includes a power feeding tap V0 on the low potential side and a plurality of power feeding taps V1 to V4 on the high potential side having different output voltages. The tap changer 52 has a common terminal COM connected to the power supply tap V0 on the low potential side of the output transformer 51 and an output terminal Hi on the high potential side connected to all the power supply taps V1 to V4 on the high potential side. Have. When the common terminal COM on the low potential side is connected to one of the two types of electrode members 24 paired with each other and the output terminal Hi on the high potential side having the opposite polarity is connected to the other, the electrode from the output transformer 51 A current is applied to the distillate stock solution M between the pairs. In order to supply a high frequency current to the electrode pair, the alternating current of the commercial power source is rectified to direct current and then converted to a high frequency of, for example, 20 kHz by an inverter.

The tap changer 52 is provided with switches 53 to 56 including relays and the like in the output wiring for connecting the respective power supply taps V1 to V4 to the output terminal Hi. Therefore, when one switch 53 is turned on and the other switch is turned off, the output terminal Hi is connected to the power supply tap V4. The same applies to other power supply taps. The switches 53 to 56 are switched and controlled by a switching signal from the controller 60.

The controller 60 includes a detection signal from the conductivity sensor 61 for detecting the conductivity of the distillation stock solution M supplied to the distillation heating tube 12, and a detection signal from the current sensor for detecting the current flowing through the electrode member 24. Is to be sent. Further, a detection signal from the temperature sensor 63 that detects the temperature of the distillation stock solution M supplied to the distillation heating tube 12 is sent to the controller 60.

When the temperature of the distillation stock solution M rises, the conductivity becomes high and electricity easily flows. By circulating the distillation stock solution M, as the number of circulations increases with the passage of time, the temperature of the distillation stock solution M supplied from the inflow port 15 to the heating flow path 13 increases. Therefore, when the distillation treatment time elapses and the conductivity becomes high, the current easily flows through the distillation stock solution M, and the current becomes high.

From the start of heating to the end of heating, when one specific power supply tap is always connected to the electrode member to heat the distillation stock solution M, the current flowing from the power supply unit 28 to the electrode member 24 is the set maximum power Wmax of the output transformer 51. The current of, that is, the maximum current is not exceeded. Therefore, when the current flowing through the distillation stock solution M increases to the maximum current value due to the temperature rise of the distillation stock solution M, the current value does not increase any more. Therefore, in the method in which one specific power feeding tap is always connected to the electrode member, the heating efficiency cannot be improved when the distillation stock solution M is circulated for Joule heating.

Therefore, when the distillation stock solution M is circulated, in order to efficiently perform distillation, when the conductivity of the distillation stock solution becomes high and the current flowing through the distillation stock solution M becomes high, the power supply tap with a low voltage is switched to. The current flowing through the distillation stock solution M is controlled to be high. When the set maximum power Wmax of the output transformer 51 is output by lowering the voltage, the current supplied to the distillation stock solution can be increased. As a result, the temperature of the distillation stock solution M can be rapidly increased.

For example, the set maximum power Wmax of the output transformer 51 shown in FIG. 2 is 70 kW, the voltage of the power supply tap V4 on the high potential side is 2500 V, the voltage of the power supply tap V3 is 1900 V, the voltage of the power supply tap V2 is 1400 V, and the power supply tap V1. The voltage of is 1000V. In this case, the maximum current flowing through the distillation stock solution M is 28A when the 2500V power supply tap V4 is turned on, and the maximum current flowing through the distillation stock solution M is 36.8A when the power supply tap V3 is turned on. Is. Further, when the feeding tap V2 is turned on, the maximum current flowing through the distillation stock solution M is 50A, and when the feeding tap V1 is turned on, the maximum current flowing through the distillation stock solution M is 70A.

In the case of this output transformer 51, when the switch 53 is turned on and the other switches are turned off, power is applied to the electrode member 24 from the power feeding tap V4 of the output transformer 51 so that the maximum current does not exceed 28 A. Will be done. When a voltage is applied from the power supply tap V4 from the start to the end of heating of the distillation stock solution M, the maximum current does not exceed 28A, and the temperature of the distillation stock solution M is raised to increase the conductivity. However, the maximum current of 28A is maintained. However, if this current is kept flowing, it will take time to heat up to the target temperature. As described above, even if the conductivity becomes high, if the current value is not higher than 28A, the distillation stock solution M cannot be heated efficiently.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the maximum current 28A when the current value is 2500V approaches or reaches a predetermined range, the output voltage of the output transformer 51 is automatically reduced. For example, when the conductivity of the distillation stock solution M becomes higher than that at the initial stage of heating, the output voltage is reduced to 1900V. In the case of an output transformer 51 having a set maximum power of 70 kW, if the output voltage is 1900 V, a maximum current of 36.8 A can flow.

In this way, when the power supply tap V4 is turned on and the maximum current of the power supply tap V4 is 28A, when the current value approaches or reaches a predetermined range of 28A, the power supply tap V4 is turned off and the power supply tap V3 is turned on. Switch to and set the voltage to 1900V. As a result, the maximum current can be increased to 36.8 A. Similarly, as the conductivity increases due to the temperature rise of the distillation stock solution M, the feed tap V2 and the feed tap V1 are sequentially switched. As a result, the current value supplied to the distillation stock solution M can be increased, so that the set maximum power can be supplied to the distillation stock solution M from the output transformer 51, and the distillation stock solution can be heated quickly in a short time. it can.

Depending on the type of the distillation stock solution M, the distillation stock solution is heated to the target temperature by switching from the power supply tap V3 to the power supply tap V2 without switching from the power supply tap V4 to the power supply tap V1.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the voltage and the current that output the set maximum power of the output transformer when the power supply tap of the output transformer 51 shown in FIG. 2 is switched to the power supply taps V4 to V1.

When the set maximum power Wmax is 70 kW, when the power supply tap V4 is turned on to heat the distillation stock solution M, the temperature of the distillation stock solution M rises, the conductivity becomes high, and the current value is 2500V. When the upper limit of 28A is approached or reached, the tap switching machine 52 turns off the power supply tap V4 and turns on the power supply tap V3. As a result, the current value can be increased until the maximum current value approaches 36.8 A. Similarly, when the temperature of the distillation stock solution M further rises and the current value approaches or reaches the upper limit of 36.8 A when the voltage is 1900 V, the tap changer 52 turns off the power supply tap V3 and turns the power supply tap V2. It is turned on. As a result, the current value can be increased until the maximum current value approaches 50 A. Further, when the current value approaches or reaches the upper limit of 50 A when the current value is 1400 V, the power supply tap V2 is turned off and the power supply tap V1 is turned on. As a result, the current value can be increased until the maximum current value approaches 70 A.

From the start of heating to the end of heating, when one specific power supply tap is always connected to the electrode member to heat the distillation stock solution, the current value is maintained without exceeding the current value which is the set maximum power according to the applied voltage. .. Therefore, it takes time to heat the distillation stock solution M. On the other hand, when the voltage is lowered according to the conductivity by the tap switching machine 52 so that the set maximum power Wmax is output, the current value is increased to match the lowered voltage, so that the distillation stock solution is used. M can be efficiently heated by Joule heat.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the mode of switching and controlling the tap changer 52 based on the detection signal from the conductivity sensor 61, the voltage is switched according to the conductivity of the distillation stock solution M. For example, if it is detected that the conductivity of the distillation stock solution M has increased while the switch 53 is turned on at the initial stage of distillation, the switch 54 of the tap switching machine 52 is switched on by a signal from the controller 60. , Other switches are set to off. In this way, when the maximum power consisting of the voltage of the power supply tap V4 and the output current corresponding to the voltage approaches the set maximum power of the output transformer 51, the tap switcher 52 switches to the low voltage power supply tap V3. .. As the conductivity increases, the tap changer 52 sequentially controls the on / off of the switch and lowers the voltage, so that the current value supplied to the distillation stock solution M can be increased.

The controller 60 includes a microprocessor that calculates a control signal for the tap switching device 52 based on a detection signal from the sensor, and a memory that stores a control program, map data, a calculation formula, and the like. In the form of controlling the tap switching machine 52 based on the detection signal from the conductivity sensor 61, the map data and the calculation formula showing the relationship between the conductivity range of the distillation stock solution M and the voltage value according to the conductivity are the controllers. It is stored in 60. The on / off of the switch of the tap switching machine 52 is controlled based on the stored data and the calculation formula.

When the conductivity of the distillation stock solution M changes, the current flowing through the electrode member 24 also changes. Therefore, the tap switching machine 52 may be controlled based on the detection signal from the current sensor 62. In that case as well, as in the case where the tap changer 52 is controlled by the signal from the conductivity sensor 61 described above, the tap changer 52 is controlled as the current value rises, and the low voltage feeding tap is an electrode member. Connected to.

As described above, as the control mode of the tap switching device 52, there are a mode of controlling based on the detection signal of the conductivity sensor 61 and a mode of controlling based on the detection signal of the current sensor 62, and any of them can be applied. Is. However, the tap changer 52 is controlled based on the detection signals from both sensors, and the switches 53 to 56 are switched when the detection signals from both sensors approach the set maximum power of the output transformer 51, respectively. You may do so. Further, the switches 53 to 56 may be switched when the detection signal from one of the sensors approaches the allowable power value of the output transformer.

Since the conductivity changes depending on the temperature of the distillation stock solution M, the temperature of the distillation stock solution M is detected by the temperature sensor 63 without directly detecting the conductivity, and the temperature is converted into the conductivity to switch the power supply tap. You can do it.

Next, a distillation method for producing the distillation solution L by distilling the distillation stock solution M using the distillation apparatus 10 described above will be described.

For example, when shochu is produced by the distillation apparatus 10, the mash produced by fermenting potatoes, that is, the distillation stock solution M, is supplied to the stock solution storage tank 11. The pump 18 is driven in a state where a predetermined amount of the distilled stock solution M is stored in the stock solution storage tank 11. By driving the pump 18, the distillation stock solution M is supplied to the heating flow path 13 from the lower end of the distillation heating pipe 12, and flows upward inside. The distilled stock solution M that has reached the stock solution outlet 21 in the heating flow path 13 is guided by the circulation pipe 23 and returned to the stock solution storage tank 11. In this way, the circulation step is executed, and the distillation stock solution M in the stock solution storage tank 11 is circulated and supplied to the inside of the distillation heating pipe 12.

Electric power is supplied from the power supply unit 28 to the electrode member 24 in a state where the distillation stock solution M is circulating. As a result, a current flows from the paired electrode members 24 to the distillation stock solution M, and Joule heat is generated in the circulating flow. By this heat generation step, the distillation stock solution M is distilled, and the alcohol component dissolved inside evaporates. Further, since the circulating flow is distilled, a distilled liquid, that is, distilled liquor can be produced by a small distillation heating tube 12 without using a large distillation pot as in the conventional case. The vapor of the alcohol component generated from the distillation stock solution is condensed by the cooling unit 31. The distillate produced by this condensation step is collected in the recovery tank 38 to produce shochu.

When the distillate contained in the recovery tank 38, that is, the distilled liquor, is further distilled to increase the alcohol concentration, a distillation operation is further performed using another distillation apparatus. The distillation apparatus used for such re-distillation is the same distillation apparatus 10 as that shown in FIG. 1, and the undiluted solution storage tank 11 shown in FIG. 1 is replaced with the recovery tank 38. By providing the distillation apparatus 10 in a plurality of stages in this way, the recovery efficiency of the distillation solution L from the distillation stock solution M can be improved.

As described above, in the distillation apparatus 10, since the distillation stock solution M is heated by Joule heat, the distillation stock solution M can be adjusted to the boiling point temperature of the target distillation, and the generation of furfural is suppressed. be able to. Further, since the distillation stock solution M is heated by Joule heat, the amount of heat given to the distillation stock solution is used as it is as heat of vaporization, and the distillation efficiency can be improved.

As the output transformer 51, not only an output of 70 kW but also an output of about 25 kW to 150 kW can be used. Further, the maximum output of the output transformer 51 may be set as the set maximum power Wmax, and the output of about 80% of the maximum output of the output transformer 51 may be set as the set maximum power Wmax. Further, the voltage may be lowered when the maximum current of the set maximum power is reached, or the voltage may be lowered when the maximum current approaches a predetermined value range.

FIG. 4 (A) is a vertical sectional view showing a modified example of the distillation heating tube 12, and FIG. 4 (B) is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4 (A).

The distillation heating tube 12 has a tube member 48 having a rectangular cross section made of an insulating material, and the tube member 48 is formed by abutting two tube member pieces 48a and 48b having a U-shaped cross section. .. Two plate-shaped electrode members 24 are attached to the inner surface of the tube member 48 in pairs facing each other, and one electrode member 24 is connected to the common terminal COM of the power supply unit 28 and the other electrode. The member 24 is connected to the output terminal Hi on the high potential side of the power supply unit 28.

A joint portion 26 having an inflow port 15 is integrally provided at one end of the pipe member 48, and a joint portion 27 having a stock solution outlet 21 is integrally provided at the other end. As described above, the distillation heating tube 12 provided with the paired electrode members 24 may be a ring-shaped electrode member 24 as shown in FIG. 1 or a plate-shaped electrode member 24 as shown in FIG. Is also good.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof. The distillation apparatus 10 can produce not only shochu but also distilled liquors such as whiskey and brandy.

10 Distiller 11 Stock solution storage tank 12 Distillation heating pipe 13 Heating flow path 14 Injection pipe 15 Inflow port 16 Discharge port 17 Supply pipe 21 Stock solution outlet 22 Circulation port 23 Circulation pipe 24 Electrode member 28 Power supply unit 31 Cooling unit 32 Steam supply pipe 38 Recovery tank 51 Output transformer 52 Tap switching machine 53 to 56 Switch 60 Controller

Claims (6)

The distillation stock solution stored in the stock solution storage tank is supplied to the inlet of the distillation heating tube in which the heating flow path for transporting the distillation stock solution is formed, while the stock solution outlet of the distillation heating tube is supplied to the circulation port of the stock solution storage tank. A circulation step of returning the distillation stock solution flowing out of the stock solution and forming a circulating flow of the distillation stock solution returning from the stock solution storage tank to the stock solution storage tank via the heating flow path.
A heat generation step in which electric power is supplied from the power supply unit to the electrode members provided in pairs with the distillation heating tube, and an electric current is passed from the electrode members to the distillation stock solution in the heating flow path to generate Joule heat in the circulating flow. When,
A condensation step in which the steam generated from the distillation stock solution in the heating flow path is condensed by the cooling unit, and
Distillation method. In the distillation method according to claim 1,
The voltage applied to the electrode member decreases as the current flowing through the distillation stock solution increases so that the power supply unit outputs the set maximum power in response to the increase in the conductivity of the distillation stock solution in the heating flow path. Distillation method. A supply pipe is provided between a stock solution storage tank for storing the distillation stock solution and a distillation heating pipe in which a heating flow path for transporting the distillation stock solution is formed, and between the discharge port of the stock solution storage tank and the inflow port of the distillation heating pipe. Is provided, and a circulation pipe is provided between the stock solution outlet of the distillation heating pipe and the circulation port of the stock solution storage tank.
An electrode member for generating Joule heat by passing an electric current through the distillation stock solution flowing through the heating flow path is provided in pairs with the distillation heating tube.
A power supply unit that supplies electric power to the electrode member is connected to the electrode member, and the power supply unit is connected to the electrode member.
A distillation apparatus for connecting a cooling unit that condenses steam generated from a distillation stock solution in the heating flow path to a steam outlet of the distillation heating pipe. In the distillation apparatus according to claim 3,
The power supply unit
An output transformer with multiple power taps that output output voltages with different voltages, and
A tap changer that switches on any one of the plurality of power supply taps and outputs electric power to the electrode member.
A switching signal is output to the tap switching machine so that the voltage applied to the electrode member decreases as the current flowing through the distillation stock solution increases in accordance with the increase in the conductivity of the distillation stock solution in the heating flow path. Controller and
Distillation equipment. In the distillation apparatus according to claim 4.
It has a conductivity sensor that detects the conductivity of the distillation stock solution supplied to the heating flow path and sends a detection signal according to the conductivity to the controller.
A distillation apparatus that switches to a feeding tap with a low output voltage so as to increase the current when the conductivity becomes high and the current approaches or reaches the set maximum power corresponding to the output voltage of the output transformer. In the distillation apparatus according to claim 4.
It has a current sensor that detects a current flowing from the power supply unit to the electrode member according to the conductivity of the distillation stock solution and outputs a detection signal to the controller.
A distillation apparatus that switches to a feeding tap with a low output voltage so as to increase the current when the conductivity becomes high and the current approaches or reaches the set maximum power corresponding to the output voltage of the output transformer.

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