JP2021101655A - Production method of alcoholic beverage, infusion method, beverage, and production apparatus of beverage - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a production apparatus of a beverage capable of dissolving nitrogen molecules of a specific, preferably saturation concentration in tannin-containing alcoholic beverage in a short time.SOLUTION: A production apparatus of a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage includes a hollow fiber membrane module having a gas phase part, a liquid phase part, and a hollow fiber membrane installed between the gas phase part and the liquid phase part, a gas supply unit to supply nitrogen gas to the gas phase part, and a beverage supply unit to supply a beverage to the liquid phase part. A tannin-containing alcoholic beverage dissolving nitrogen is produced by adding the nitrogen gas supplied to the gas phase part by the hollow fiber membrane module to the tannin-containing alcoholic beverage supplied to the liquid phase part in the hollow fiber membrane module.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing an alcoholic beverage containing tannin (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as "beverage"), a method for injecting a beverage produced using the production method, and a beverage produced using the production method. , And a beverage manufacturing apparatus for producing a nitrogen gas-dissolved beverage.

Alcoholic beverages rich in tannins, such as whiskey, bourbon, brandy, red wine, and effervescent red wine, are loved by many because their tannins give them a pleasant astringency and a rough astringency. On the other hand, due to its astringency, many people are not good at alcohol beginners. For this reason, in response to the recent shrinking trend of the total alcoholic beverage market, various low-alcohol content beverages pursuing reduced astringency and ease of drinking have been proposed in order to improve appeal to alcohol beginners (Patent Documents). See 1 and 2).
However, since the astringency increases as the alcohol content is increased, it cannot be said that the development of an alcoholic beverage that reduces the astringency and pursues ease of drinking has not been sufficient for alcoholic beverages having a high alcohol content.

JP-A-2019-165709 JP-A-2019-165710

Therefore, an object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for producing a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage having improved taste, particularly astringency.
Another object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for producing an alcoholic beverage in which nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule) is dissolved in a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage in a short time to improve taste, particularly astringency. ..
Further, the problem to be solved by the present invention is a method for producing a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage having improved taste, particularly astringency, in which bubbles of nitrogen gas foaming when poured into a container have a longer duration and a longer duration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing the beverage, which has a longer retention time of a foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid.
Further, the problem to be solved by the present invention is a method of injecting a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage having improved taste, particularly astringency, into a container, and the duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into the container is longer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for injecting the beverage into a container, which is long and can have a longer retention time of a foam layer formed on the beverage liquid surface.
Further, the problem to be solved by the present invention is a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage having improved taste, particularly astringency, in which bubbles of nitrogen gas foaming when poured into a container have a longer duration and a beverage liquid. The object is to provide the beverage, which can have a longer retention time of the foam layer formed on the surface.

Further, the problem to be solved by the present invention is an apparatus for producing a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage having improved taste, particularly astringency, which can dissolve nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule) in the beverage in a short time. To provide the manufacturing equipment of.

As a result of various studies, the inventors of the present application can solve the above-mentioned problems by adding nitrogen gas to an alcoholic beverage containing tannin, particularly by applying nitrogen gas under pressure through a hollow fiber membrane. The present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention relates to a method for producing a beverage, which comprises a step of adding nitrogen gas to a pressurized tannin-containing alcoholic beverage through the hollow fiber membrane in the hollow fiber membrane module.

Further, according to the present invention, a beverage that has undergone a step of pressurizing and adding nitrogen gas to a pressurized tannin-containing alcoholic beverage through a hollow fiber membrane in a hollow fiber membrane module is poured into a container under atmospheric pressure. Regarding the method of injecting a beverage into a container.

The present invention also relates to the above-mentioned beverage, which is stored in a closed container and the amount of dissolved nitrogen in the tannin-containing alcoholic beverage is in the range of 0.002 to 0.22 gas volume.

Further, the present invention comprises a hollow yarn film module having a gas phase portion, a liquid phase portion, and a hollow yarn membrane interposed between the gas phase portion and the liquid phase portion, and nitrogen in the gas phase portion. A gas supply unit for supplying gas and a beverage supply unit for supplying a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage to the liquid phase unit are provided, and in the hollow yarn membrane module, the tannin-containing alcoholic beverage supplied to the liquid phase unit is provided. The present invention relates to a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage production apparatus, which produces a nitrogen-dissolved beverage by adding nitrogen gas supplied to the gas phase portion by the hollow yarn membrane module.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for producing a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage having improved taste, particularly astringency. Further, it is possible to provide a method for producing the alcoholic beverage in which the taste, particularly the astringency, is improved by dissolving nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule) in the tannin-containing alcoholic beverage in a short time. Further, according to the present invention, it is a method for producing a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage having improved taste, particularly astringency, in which bubbles of nitrogen gas foaming when poured into a container have a longer duration and a beverage liquid. It is possible to provide a method for producing the beverage, which has a longer retention time of the foam layer formed on the surface. Further, according to the present invention, it is a method of injecting a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage having improved taste, particularly astringency, into a container, in which bubbles of nitrogen gas foaming when poured into the container have a longer duration and a longer duration. It is possible to provide a method for injecting the beverage into a container, which can extend the holding time of the foam layer formed on the beverage liquid surface. Further, according to the present invention, a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage having improved taste, particularly astringency, has a longer duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that effervescent when poured into a container, and is on the surface of the beverage liquid. It is possible to provide the beverage, which can have a longer retention time of the foam layer formed.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for producing a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage having improved taste, particularly astringency, which can dissolve nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule) in the beverage in a short time. can do.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the beverage manufacturing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a transparent container (translucent container) used in Examples and Comparative Examples of the present invention. It is a schematic perspective view of the beverage manufacturing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a right side view of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. It is a view of arrow A of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. In the right side view shown in FIG. 4, the inside of the support member 22 of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 and the inside of the housing 21 are shown excluding the wall that obstructs the field of view. It is a front view of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 6, and is the figure which showed except the wall which obstructs the view so that the inside of the support member 22 and the inside of a housing 21 can be seen. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the hollow fiber 61 shown in FIG. 8, and is the figure which shows by cutting out a part of the hollow fiber 61, and is enlarged in the circle surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line. It is a figure which shows the structure which provided the tube member 64 further to the hollow fiber membrane module 26 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the beverage manufacturing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of the manufacturing process of the apparatus used in the Example of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of the manufacturing process of the apparatus used in the comparative example of this invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

The method for producing a tannin-containing alcoholic beverage of the present invention includes a step of adding nitrogen gas to the pressurized beverage through the hollow fiber membrane in the hollow fiber membrane module.

The beverage manufacturing apparatus of the present invention has a hollow fiber membrane module having a gas phase portion, a liquid phase portion, and a hollow fiber membrane interposed between the gas phase portion and the liquid phase portion, and the gas phase portion. The hollow fiber membrane module has a gas supply unit for supplying nitrogen gas to the liquid phase unit and a beverage supply unit for supplying a beverage to the liquid phase unit. The nitrogen gas supplied to the gas phase portion by the membrane module is added to produce a nitrogen-dissolved beverage.

First, the tannin-containing alcoholic beverage used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is an alcoholic beverage containing tannin, but the alcohol content is 10% or more from the viewpoint of excellent astringency reduction effect. Is preferable. For example, whiskey, bourbon, brandy, red wine (not effervescent), effervescent red wine.

As the hollow fiber membrane module used in the present invention, a known structure is used as long as it has a structure in which nitrogen molecules supplied to the gas phase side can be added to the beverage supplied to the liquid phase side via the hollow fiber membrane. be able to. For example, an internal recirculation type hollow fiber in which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes are converged and arranged in a housing, nitrogen gas is supplied to the space between the outside of the hollow fiber membrane and the housing, and a beverage is flowed inside the hollow fiber membrane. Not only the membrane module, but also an external recirculation type hollow fiber membrane module in which a beverage is flowed in a space between the outside of the hollow fiber and the housing and nitrogen gas is supplied to the inside of the hollow fiber membrane can be used. The type of the external reflux type hollow fiber membrane module or the internal reflux type hollow fiber membrane module may be selected for the purpose of dissolving nitrogen molecules in the beverage, but either structure may be used. It is preferable to use an internal reflux type hollow fiber membrane module so that nitrogen gas can be efficiently and evenly added to the beverage even at a small flow rate, such as when the beverage is provided to the beverage.

Such a structure of the hollow fiber membrane module and a method of filling the hollow fiber membrane may be configured so that omnipresent does not occur in the beverage flowing on the liquid phase side, and is suitable for, for example, JP-A-2-102714. Several modular structures are disclosed.

As for the dimensions of the hollow fiber membrane applied to the hollow fiber membrane module used in the present invention, the smaller the outer diameter of the hollow fiber membrane, the larger the film area can be obtained even if the diameter of the makisu is small. Therefore, the outer diameter of the hollow fiber membrane is preferably 70 μm or more and 370 μm or less, and more preferably 150 μm or more and 280 μm or less. On the other hand, the inner diameter of the hollow fiber membrane is preferably in the range of 30 μm or more and 310 μm or less, and more preferably in the range of 80 μm or more and 220 μm or less.

The membrane area per hollow fiber membrane module can increase the amount of dissolved nitrogen in a short time, prolong the duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foam when poured into a container, and preferably also a refoaming phenomenon. It is possible, and the retention time of the foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid can be lengthened, so that it is preferably ^{0.018 m 2 or more.} Furthermore, the membrane area is more preferably at 0.18 m ² or more, more preferably 1 m ² or more, 2m ² or more ranges are particularly preferred. On the other hand, the upper limit of the membrane area is not particularly limited, but when the membrane area is large, the amount of cleaning liquid and the cleaning time may increase during cleaning before beverage production, so that the viewpoint is excellent in handleability during beverage production. from, preferably in the range of 400 meters ² or less, more preferably in the range of 120 m ² or less, more preferably 40 m ² or less of the range, 20 m ² or less in the range particularly preferable. Therefore, the amount of dissolved nitrogen can be increased in a short time, the duration of the bubbles of the nitrogen gas that foams when poured into the container is lengthened, preferably the refoaming phenomenon is possible, and further, on the surface of the beverage liquid. From the viewpoint that the retention time of the formed foam layer can be lengthened, the film area is in ^{the range of 0.018 m 2} or more, and from the viewpoint of excellent handleability during beverage production, 0.018 to 400 m ² The range is preferably 0.18 to 120 m ² , more preferably 1 to 40 m ² , and particularly preferably ^{2 to 20 m 2.}

The processing flow rate per hollow fiber membrane module can increase the amount of dissolved nitrogen in a short time, prolong the duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foam when poured into a container, and preferably also a refoaming phenomenon. It is not particularly limited as long as it is possible and the retention time of the foam layer formed on the drinking liquid surface can be lengthened. From the viewpoint of productivity during beverage production, the processing flow rate per hollow fiber membrane module is preferably in the range of 1 [ml / sec] or more, more preferably in the range of 10 [ml / sec] or more, and is 20 [ A range of [ml / sec] or more is more preferable. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of module handleability, the processing flow rate per hollow fiber membrane module is preferably in the range of 6000 [ml / sec] or less, more preferably in the range of 1000 [ml / sec] or less, and is more preferably 500 [ml / sec]. The range of [ml / sec] or less is more preferable, and the range of 200 [ml / sec] or less is most preferable.

The hollow fiber can be a sheet-like material formed in a sheet shape, for example, a bamboo blind shape by the hollow fibers or another thread shape. The sheet-like material organized in a bamboo blind shape is preferably a knit or woven fabric in which a hollow fiber membrane is used as a weft or a warp and another yarn such as a monofilament yarn or a multifilament yarn made of polyester is used as a warp or a weft. .. The sheet-like material organized in a bamboo blind shape can be incorporated into the housing in the state of a superposed body, a wound body, a convergent body, or the like. Further, it is possible to take an appropriate shape such as incorporating a three-dimensional structure in which a hollow fiber is twilled around a tubular core.

The hollow fiber membrane used in the hollow fiber membrane module used in the present invention usually has a membrane structure in which at least a skin layer (dense layer) and a layer having pores (porous layer) are laminated. The hollow fiber membrane used as the hollow fiber membrane module can be used without limitation. For example, the hollow fiber membranes listed below are preferably used.

The material of the hollow thread film used in the present invention is preferably a film made of a highly hydrophobic material, for example, a polyolefin resin (for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly (4-methylpentene-1) resin, etc.), a fluorine-containing resin (for example,). Polyvinylidene fluoride, PTFE, PFA, etc.) are preferable, and among them, polyolefin resins such as poly (4-methylpentene-1) resin and polypropylene are more preferable. The film structure is not particularly limited as long as at least a skin layer (dense layer) and a layer having pores (porous layer) are laminated, but a skin layer (dense layer) is preferable. It is preferable that the film is a heterogeneous film in which a support layer having pores (porous layer) is laminated, and further, a skin layer (dense layer) on the outside and a support layer (porous layer) having pores on the inside are formed. More preferably, it is a laminated heterogeneous film. The pore diameter of the pores is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the range of 0 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and more preferably in the range of 0.1 nm or more and 50 nm or less.

The hollow thread film used in the hollow thread film module used in the present invention has a nitrogen permeation rate of 1.0 × ^10-6 [cm ³ (STP) / cm ² · sec · cmHg] or more and 200 × 10 ^{-5. [cm 3 (STP) / cm} 2 · sec · cmHg] is preferably in the range of further ^{2 × 10 -6 [cm 3 (} STP) / cm 2 · sec · cmHg] or more, 100 × ^{10 -5} It is more preferably in the range of [cm ³ (STP) / cm ² · sec · cmHg] or less, and more preferably 2 × 10 ⁻⁶ [cm ³ (STP) / cm ² · sec · cmHg] or more, 10 × 10 ^−. Most preferably, it is in the range of ⁵ [cm ³ (STP) / cm ^{2 · sec · cm Hg] or less.} By selecting the hollow fiber membrane in the above range, it is possible to suppress the leakage of the beverage while improving the air supply performance of the module, which is preferable.

The nitrogen permeation rate can be easily measured according to ASTM-D1434.

In particular, a hollow fiber inhomogeneous membrane made of a poly (4-methylpentene-1) resin is preferable from the viewpoint of being excellent in gas permeability such as nitrogen gas and being able to suppress leakage of beverages. The inhomogeneous film is a well-known technique, and is, for example, JP-A-2-38250, Square root 2-54377, Square root 4-15014, Square root 4-50053, and JP-A-5-6656. It is described in detail in the issue.

As described above, the hollow fiber membrane module used in the present invention has a simple structure, excellent pressure resistance, and is easy to manufacture. However, in the present invention, the liquid contact area with a beverage is large. In addition, since nitrogen gas can be easily added to the beverage under high pressure conditions, the amount of nitrogen molecules dissolved in the beverage (hereinafter referred to as "dissolved nitrogen amount") can be improved.

In the hollow fiber membrane module, the beverage flowing on the liquid phase side is pressurized by a pump or the like or placed in a storage container such as a tank and pressurized with an inert gas, preferably nitrogen gas, from the storage container. Extrude and introduce into the hollow fiber membrane module. The pressure when pressurizing the beverage flowing on the liquid phase side can increase the amount of dissolved nitrogen in a short time, prolong the duration of the bubbles of nitrogen gas that foam when poured into the container, and preferably re-foam. Since the phenomenon is possible and the holding time of the foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid can be lengthened, it is preferable to pressurize in the range of 0.1 [MPa] or more as the lower limit value. It is more preferable to pressurize in the range of 2 [MPa] or more, and further preferably to pressurize in the range of 0.25 [MPa] or more. On the other hand, the pressure when pressurizing the beverage flowing on the liquid phase side is preferably in the range of 0.8 [MPa] or less as the upper limit value from the viewpoint of excellent pressure resistance of the module, and is 0.65 [MPa]. It is more preferable to pressurize in the following range, and it is further preferable to pressurize in the range of 0.4 [MPa] or less. Therefore, the amount of dissolved nitrogen can be increased in a short time, the duration of the bubbles of the nitrogen gas that foams when poured into the container is lengthened, preferably the refoaming phenomenon is possible, and further, on the surface of the drinking liquid. From the viewpoint that the holding time of the formed foam layer can be lengthened and the pressure resistance of the module is excellent, the beverage flowing on the liquid phase side is pressurized in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa]. The pressure is preferably in the range of 0.2 to 0.65 [MPa], more preferably in the range of 0.25 to 0.4 [MPa], and even more preferably in the range of 0.25 to 0.4 [MPa]. In this specification, each pressure value is indicated by a gauge pressure.

It is important to adjust the pressure on the gas phase side in the hollow yarn membrane of the hollow yarn membrane module according to the consumption of nitrogen gas used and the desired amount of dissolved nitrogen, but the amount of dissolved nitrogen can be adjusted in a short time. It can be increased, the duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into a container is lengthened, preferably a re-foaming phenomenon is possible, and the retention time of the foam layer formed on the drinking liquid surface is extended. Since it can be made longer, it is preferable to set the lower limit value to a pressure equal to or higher than the saturated vapor pressure at that temperature of the nitrogen molecule to be added in water, and 0.1 [MPa] with respect to the nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule). It is more preferable to pressurize in the above range, further preferably in the range of 0.2 [MPa] or more, and particularly preferably in the range of 0.25 [MPa] or more. On the other hand, the upper limit of the pressure on the gas phase side is preferably in the range of 0.8 [MPa] or less with respect to nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule) from the viewpoint of excellent pressure resistance of the module, and is 0.65. It is more preferable to pressurize in the range of [MPa] or less, and it is particularly preferable to pressurize in the range of 0.4 [MPa] or less. Therefore, the amount of dissolved nitrogen can be increased in a short time, the duration of the bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into the container is lengthened, preferably the refoaming phenomenon is possible, and further, on the surface of the drinking liquid. From the viewpoint that the holding time of the formed foam layer can be lengthened and the pressure resistance of the module is excellent, the gas phase side is 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa] with respect to nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule). ], It is more preferable to pressurize in the range of 0.2 to 0.65 [MPa], and it is particularly preferable to pressurize in the range of 0.25 to 0.4 [MPa].

At that time, the pressurizing means on the gas phase side may be supplied by a pump or the like, but when it is provided by a pressure vessel such as a cylinder, it is appropriate to reduce the pressure from the pressure inside the cylinder via a pressure adjusting valve. It is preferable to adjust the pressure to a suitable pressure before use.

There is no particular limitation on the temperature of the beverage when nitrogen molecules are added through the hollow thread film (hereinafter referred to as "liquid temperature"), but the amount of dissolved nitrogen is increased in a short time, and the nitrogen gas that foams when poured into a container. It is preferable that the liquid temperature is low because the duration of the bubbles can be lengthened, preferably the refoaming phenomenon can be performed, and the holding time of the foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid can be lengthened. The lower limit of the liquid temperature is preferably above the freezing point of the liquid, but is preferably 1 ° C. or higher, more preferably 3 ° C. or higher, and even more preferably 5 ° C. or higher. On the other hand, the upper limit is preferably in the range of room temperature (23 ° C.) or lower. Therefore, the amount of dissolved nitrogen is increased in a short time, the duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into a container is lengthened, preferably a refoaming phenomenon is possible, and further, it is formed on the surface of the beverage liquid. From the viewpoint that the retention time of the foam layer can be lengthened and the taste is excellent, the liquid temperature is preferably in the range above the freezing point, more preferably in the range of 1 to room temperature ° C, and even more preferably 3 ° C. The range of ~ room temperature ° C. is preferable, and the range of 5 ° C. to room temperature ° C. is particularly preferable. The hollow fiber membrane module may be provided with a temperature control device to adjust the temperature to the above level.

The nitrogen gas used in the present invention may have a nitrogen concentration of 78 vol% or more and may be air or the like, but from the viewpoint of suppressing the generation of unpleasant taste in the beverage, 95 vol% or more, preferably 98 vol% or more. Moreover, it is preferable that air is supplied to the hollow fiber membrane in the hollow fiber membrane module as a gas component of nitrogen molecules composed of 100 vol% or less. At that time, it is preferable that the oxygen concentration in the gas phase portion is low because oxidative deterioration of the beverage can be prevented, and it is preferable that the concentration is lower than that of air (air), but the range of 5 vol% or less is more preferable and 2 vol. The range of% or less is more preferable, and 0 vol% (below the detection limit) is most preferable. In particular, when a gas component having a nitrogen concentration of 100 vol% or a gas component having an oxygen concentration of 0 vol% (below the detection limit) is used, oxygen molecules contained in the beverage due to the reverse diffusion phenomenon are transmitted through the hollow thread film. Since it shifts to the gas phase part, it is possible to quickly reduce the oxygen concentration in the beverage, improve the taste of the beverage, and particularly suppress the acidity (sour taste) and miscellaneous taste, which is preferable.

In the present invention, the amount of nitrogen molecules dissolved in the beverage in the hollow filament module is particularly limited as long as the amount of dissolved nitrogen molecules foams when poured into a container under atmospheric pressure in the post-dissolution step. Although not, it prolongs the duration of the bubbles of nitrogen gas that foam when poured into the container, preferably the refoaming phenomenon, and further prolongs the retention time of the foam layer formed on the drinking liquid surface. Therefore, the lower limit value is preferably 0.002 gas volume or more, more preferably 0.01 gas volume or more, further preferably 0.04 gas volume or more, and 0.05. It is particularly preferable that the volume is equal to or higher than the gas volume. on the other hand. The upper limit is preferably 0.22 gas volume or less, more preferably 0.16 gas volume or less, and 0. It is particularly preferable that the gas volume is 12 or less. Therefore, the duration of the bubbles of the nitrogen gas that foams when poured into the container is lengthened, preferably the re-foaming phenomenon is possible, and the retention time of the foam layer formed on the drinking liquid surface is lengthened. From the viewpoint of device safety and suppression of nitrogen molecule consumption, the gas volume is preferably in the range of 0.002 to 0.22, preferably in the range of 0.01 to 0.16 gas volume. It is preferably in the range of 0.04 to 0.15 gas volume, more preferably in the range of 0.05 to 0.12 gas volume. However, one gas volume of nitrogen gas means the amount of nitrogen molecules dissolved per unit amount of beverage in terms of volume at 25 ° C. under atmospheric pressure.

As described above, the beverage before the treatment of adding nitrogen molecules is introduced into the liquid phase portion in the hollow fiber membrane module, while the gas containing nitrogen molecules supplied from the nitrogen bomb is introduced into the gas phase portion. Nitrogen molecules are dissolved in the beverage through the hollow fiber membrane, and at this point, that is, in the hollow fiber membrane module, the nitrogen molecules are preferably maintained in a dissolved state without foaming in the beverage. It is preferable to foam when the hollow fiber membrane module is discharged and then poured into the container.

In the method for producing a beverage of the present invention, sugars such as sucrose, glucose, fructose, xylose, fructose-glucose solution, sugar alcohol, milk components, antioxidants, and pH adjusters are used with respect to the beverage obtained through the above-mentioned steps. It has a process of adding additives such as emulsifiers and fragrances, water and carbonated water, a process of storing in a container that can be stored while maintaining the pressure related to the beverage, and a process of pouring into the container under atmospheric pressure. You may have. The container that can be stored while maintaining the pressure related to the beverage may be a storage container for business use, a can for consumers, a bottle such as PET, or the like.

A beverage stored in a closed container, which is a container that can be stored while maintaining the pressure related to the beverage, has a dissolved nitrogen content of 0.002 gas volume or more, preferably 0.04 gas volume or more, more preferably 0.04 gas volume or more. Is particularly preferably 0.05 gas volume or more. It is desirable that the gas volume is 0.22 or less.

The method for producing a beverage of the present invention can dissolve nitrogen gas having a desired, preferably saturated concentration, in the beverage in a short time. Therefore, the duration of the bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into the container is longer, preferably the re-effervescence phenomenon is possible, and the retention time of the foam layer formed on the beverage liquid surface is longer. be able to. Furthermore, the beverage provided by the method of the present invention has a mellow mouthfeel and texture due to the presence of air bubbles, and a smooth and creamy taste (tongue) while maintaining the taste as compared with the beverage before adding nitrogen gas.・ Tactile sensation on the inside of the cheek, inside of the lips, and cells such as the gums), and taste, especially astringency (tactile sensation felt by contracting cells on the inside of the tongue, inside the cheeks, inside the lips, and gums) It is possible to improve (complex sensation that combines bitterness).

It is also possible to dissolve carbon dioxide molecules in the beverage using the hollow thread membrane module, but whiskey, bourbon, brandy, and red wine (however, in terms of effervescence) are used as tannin-containing alcoholic beverages used in the present invention. In the case of (not), the amount of carbon dioxide molecules dissolved in the beverage is preferably less than 300 ppm, more preferably 250 ppm or less, still more preferably 100 ppm or less, particularly from the viewpoint of suppressing acidity (sour taste) and unpleasant taste. It is preferable to adjust the range so that it is preferably in the range of 50 ppm or less, most preferably 10 ppm or less. Increased acidity not only tends to impair the mellow mouthfeel and texture, and the smooth, creamy taste, but also stimulates cells such as the tongue, the inside of the cheeks, the inside of the lips, and the gums to increase astringency. Since there is a tendency, it is preferable to set the amount of carbon dioxide molecules dissolved in the beverage in the above range because the astringency tends to be alleviated.

The beverage manufacturing apparatus of the present invention contains sugars such as sucrose, glucose, fructose, xylose, fructose-glucose solution, and sugar alcohol, milk components, antioxidants, and pH adjusters, with respect to the beverage obtained through the above-mentioned steps. It has a configuration in which additives such as emulsifiers and fragrances, water, carbonated water, etc. are added, a configuration in which the beverage is stored in a container that can be stored while maintaining the pressure, and a configuration in which the beverage is poured into the container under atmospheric pressure. You may have. The container that can be stored while maintaining the pressure related to the beverage may be a storage container for business use, a can for consumers, a bottle such as PET, or the like.

The beverage manufacturing apparatus of the present invention can dissolve a desired, preferably saturated concentration of nitrogen gas in a beverage in a short time. Therefore, the duration of the bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into the container is longer, preferably the re-effervescence phenomenon is possible, and the retention time of the foam layer formed on the beverage liquid surface is longer. be able to. Furthermore, the beverage provided by the beverage manufacturing apparatus of the present invention has a mellow mouthfeel and texture, and a smooth and creamy taste due to the presence of air bubbles, while maintaining the taste even when compared with the beverage before adding nitrogen gas. It is possible to improve the taste, especially the astringency.

(Structure of beverage manufacturing equipment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a beverage manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The beverage manufacturing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes a hollow fiber membrane module 101, a gas supply unit 102, a beverage supply unit 103, a pouring unit 24, and a cooling unit 107. The gas supply unit 102 supplies nitrogen gas to the hollow fiber membrane module 101. The beverage supply unit 103 supplies the beverage to the hollow fiber membrane module 101. The pouring section 24 pours the beverage that has passed through the hollow fiber membrane module 101 into the container 15. The gas supply unit 102 corresponds to the nitrogen tank 1, the pressure regulating valve 2, and the nitrogen gas pipe 3, which will be described later with reference to FIG. The beverage supply unit 103 corresponds to a nitrogen tank 1, a pressure regulating valve 7, a nitrogen gas pipe 8, a tank 9, and a beverage pipe 10, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

The hollow fiber membrane module 101 has a gas phase portion 104, a hollow fiber membrane 105, and a liquid phase portion 106. The gas phase portion 104 is configured to have a region in which a gas is present at the time of use, and the liquid phase portion 106 is configured to have a region in which a liquid is present at the time of use. The hollow fiber membrane module 101 corresponds to the hollow fiber membrane module 11 described later with reference to FIG. In the hollow fiber membrane module 101, the gas phase portion 104 corresponds to the gas phase side described later with reference to FIG. 13, and the hollow fiber membrane 105 corresponds to the hollow fiber of the hollow fiber membrane module 11 described later with reference to FIG. Corresponding to the membrane, the liquid phase portion 106 corresponds to the liquid phase side described later with reference to FIG.

Further, the hollow fiber membrane 105 is interposed between the gas phase portion 104 and the liquid phase portion 106 in the hollow fiber membrane module 101, and the liquid in the liquid phase portion 106 is vaporized through the hollow fiber membrane 105. It is possible to add the gas molecule of the phase portion 104 and dissolve it.

The gas supply unit 102 includes a gas tank 30 and a gas pressurizing unit 115. The nitrogen gas in the gas tank 30 is supplied to the hollow fiber membrane module 101 by the pressure generated by the gas pressurizing unit 115. The gas pressurizing unit 115 may be configured to generate pressure by the gas pressure in the gas tank 30, or may be a gas pressurizing pump (not shown) provided in the flow path of the nitrogen gas.

As a method of supplying nitrogen gas to the gas tank 30,
(1) A method of using a replaceable gas cylinder or gas cartridge as the gas tank 30.
(2) A method of supplying a nitrogen-enriched gas to a gas tank 30 after separating and removing oxygen from air using a nitrogen-enriched membrane.
(3) A container before serving of a beverage (for example, a cup container for coffee containing ice) sealed with a plastic lid in a state of being filled with nitrogen gas is used as a supply source of nitrogen gas to the gas tank 30 and is used as a beverage. A method of sucking nitrogen gas by an intake mechanism (not shown) provided in the manufacturing apparatus 20 and supplying it to the gas tank 30.
(4) A nitrogen gas container (plastic capsule or bag) is attached to the container before serving the beverage, and the nitrogen gas container is used as a supply source of nitrogen gas to the gas tank 30 to manufacture the beverage. Examples thereof include a method of sucking nitrogen gas by an intake mechanism (not shown) provided in the device 20 and supplying it to the gas tank 30.
As the intake mechanism, a container before serving the beverage or a nitrogen gas container is set in a fixing holder (not shown) provided in the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20, and a needle (which may be a hollow needle) for drilling is made of plastic. A mechanism for taking out nitrogen gas inside by providing a hole in the lid or capsule of the plastic or a bag can be mentioned.

The beverage supply unit 103 includes a beverage tank 39 and a beverage pressurizing unit 116. The beverage in the beverage tank 39 is supplied to the hollow fiber membrane module 101 by the pressure generated by the beverage pressurizing unit 116. The beverage pressurizing unit 116 may be configured to generate pressure by the gas pressure in the gas tank 30, or may be a beverage pressurizing pump (not shown) provided in the beverage flow path.

The gas pressurizing unit 115 that pressurizes the nitrogen gas supplied to the gas phase unit 104 corresponds to the nitrogen tank 1 and the pressure adjusting valve 2 described later with reference to FIG. 13, and serves the beverage to be supplied to the liquid phase unit 106. The beverage pressurizing unit 116 for pressurizing corresponds to the gas pressure and pressure adjusting valve 7 of the nitrogen tank 1 described later with reference to FIG.

The cooling unit 107 cools the inside of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 100. The lower the temperature of the beverage, the smaller the bubbles of nitrogen gas when poured into the container, the longer the duration of the bubbles, and preferably the more refoaming. Further, since the smoothness and creaminess of the texture are increased, it is preferable to cool the beverage by the cooling unit 107 from the time when nitrogen gas is added to the beverage until immediately before pouring. The cooling unit 107 corresponds to the cooling device 49 and the fan device 47, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.

The nitrogen gas supplied from the gas supply unit 102 is supplied to the gas phase unit 104 of the hollow fiber membrane module 101. Further, the beverage supplied from the beverage supply unit 103 is supplied to the liquid phase unit 106 of the hollow fiber membrane module 101. As a result, the beverage manufacturing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment adds nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule) of the gas phase portion 104 to the beverage of the liquid phase portion 106 via the hollow fiber membrane 105 to produce a nitrogen-dissolved beverage.

The beverage that has passed through the liquid phase portion 106 is poured into the container 15 under atmospheric pressure via the pouring portion 24. The pouring portion 24 may have a configuration described later with reference to FIG. 3, for example. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when at least a part of the container 15 is a transparent container having a structure in which the glass diameter increases in the vertical direction upward, the flow of bubbles falling in the beverage (cascade phenomenon). ) Can occur. Even in that case, since the duration of the nitrogen gas bubbles can be extended, the cascade phenomenon can be maintained for a long time.

According to the beverage manufacturing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule) can be dissolved in the beverage in a short time. Further, according to the beverage manufacturing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the duration of the bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into the container is longer, and the retention time of the foam layer formed on the beverage liquid surface is longer. Can produce long beverages. Further, the beverage production apparatus 100 can use a gas other than nitrogen (for example, oxygen or carbon dioxide gas), and can produce a gas-dissolved beverage in which the gas is dissolved.

(Application to beer server method)
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a beverage manufacturing apparatus when the present invention is applied to a beer server system as an embodiment of the present invention. The beer server method is a method of manually pouring a beverage by operating a lever. As shown in FIG. 3, the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 has a housing 21 that can be installed on the floor and a support member 22 that is installed on the upper surface 21a of the housing 21. In the present embodiment, the beverage production apparatus 20 uses red wine as a beverage and dissolves nitrogen in the red wine to produce nitrogen-dissolved red wine as a nitrogen-dissolved beverage. However, the beverage production apparatus 20 can also produce the nitrogen-dissolved beverage by using a beverage other than the above-mentioned red wine (for example, an alcoholic beverage containing other tannins such as whiskey). Further, the beverage production apparatus 20 can use a gas other than nitrogen (for example, oxygen or carbon dioxide gas), and can produce a gas-dissolved beverage in which the gas is dissolved. A frame member 21b for positioning the support member 22 is provided on the upper surface 21a of the housing 21. The frame member 21b has a shape that covers the lower side of the support member 22.

The housing 21 has a hexahedral hollow box shape, and is made of, for example, a stainless steel plate. The housing 21 houses a beverage tank 39 (see FIG. 6) for storage and a gas tank 30 (see FIG. 6) for storing nitrogen gas, as will be described in detail later. The beverage tank 39 corresponds to a tank 9 described later with reference to FIG. The gas tank 30 corresponds to the nitrogen tank 1 described later with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the beverage tank 39 and the gas tank 30 are provided in the housing 21, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the beverage tank 39 and the gas tank 30 may be provided outside the housing 21.

When the beverage in the beverage tank 39 is emptied, the user of the beverage production apparatus 20 replaces the beverage with a new beverage tank 39 filled with the beverage. When the nitrogen gas in the gas tank 30 is emptied, the user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 replaces it with a new gas tank 30 filled with nitrogen gas. The beverage tank 39 and the gas tank 30 are replaced by the user of the beverage production apparatus 20 by opening the door (not shown) of the housing 21. In addition, the beverage tank 39 and the gas tank 30 are not replaced, and the user of the beverage production apparatus 20 receives the beverage tank 39 and the gas tank 30 with respect to the beverage tank 39 and the gas tank 30 in a state where the beverage tank 39 and the gas tank 30 are housed in the housing 21. Beverages and nitrogen gas may be replenished.

The support member 22 supports the pouring portion 24 and houses the hollow fiber membrane module 26 (see FIG. 5). The pouring unit 24 has a lever member 25 operated by the user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20, and a spout 24a for pouring the nitrogen-dissolved beverage produced by the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20. The lever member 25 has a two-way valve (not shown).

The support member 22 is a hollow member having a triangular tubular shape having a triangular cross section in the horizontal direction, and is made of, for example, a stainless steel plate. A pouring portion 24 is fixed and supported on one surface (hereinafter, referred to as "first surface") 22a of the surface of the support member 22. The user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 operates the lever member 25 of the pouring portion 24 provided on the first surface 22a to use the beverage producing apparatus 20. When the lever member 25 is operated, the two-way valve of the lever member 25 opens, and the nitrogen-dissolved beverage is poured from the spout 24a under atmospheric pressure. When the lever member 25 is not operated, the two-way valve of the lever member 25 is closed.

Here, the operation of the lever member 25 means, for example, that the lower side (the side of the spout 24a, referred to as "fixed end of the lever member 25") is fixed and the lever member 25 rises substantially vertically, and the upper side (spout 24a) is operated. The act of moving the side opposite to the "free end of the lever member 25"). The movement of the free end of the lever member 25 may be performed with the fixed end of the lever member 25 as a fulcrum. The direction of movement of the free end of the lever member 25 may be any direction. The larger the amount of movement of the free end of the lever member 25, the larger the opening degree of the two-way valve of the lever member 25 may be. If the free end of the lever member 25 moves without distinguishing between the case where the amount of movement of the free end of the lever member 25 is small and the case where the amount of movement is large, the two-way valve of the lever member 25 is opened at a constant opening degree. May be good.

The two-way valve of the lever member 25 corresponds to the two-way valve 13 described later with reference to FIG. Further, the spout 24a corresponds to the supply port 14 described later with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. The lower portion 22c of the support member 22 is a lower end having a triangular tubular shape and has a downward opening. The upper surface 21a of the housing 21 has an upward opening at a position communicating with the opening of the lower portion 22c of the support member 22, and the opening of the upper surface 21a of the housing 21 and the opening of the lower portion 22c of the support member 22. , A communication hole 52 (see FIG. 6) leading from the inside of the housing 21 to the inside of the support member 22 is formed. The frame member 21b has an opening so as not to block the communication hole 52.

The upper portion 22b of the support member 22 is the upper end of the triangular tubular shape and has an upward opening. The beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 has a lid member 23 that closes the opening of the upper portion 22b of the support member 22 by being placed on the upper portion 22b of the support member 22. The user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 can attach / detach the lid member 23 to / from the upper portion 22b of the support member 22. The lid member 23 has a triangular plate shape, and is composed of, for example, a stainless steel plate. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the lid member 23 is removed from the upper portion 22b of the support member 22.

The user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 can observe the inside of the support member 22 by removing the lid member 23 from the upper portion 22b of the support member 22. The upper portion 22b of the support member 22 has an inclination that is highest on the side of the first surface 22a and gradually decreases as the distance from the first surface 22a increases. Due to this inclination, the opening area of the upper portion 22b of the support member 22 can be made wider than that in the case where there is no inclination, and the user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 can better observe the inside of the support member 22. It is possible, and it is possible to facilitate the work on the inside of the support member 22. The inclination of the upper portion 22b of the support member 22 is not limited to the shape in which the side of the first surface 22a is the highest, and the inclination of the upper portion 22b may be the shape in which the other portion is the highest and gradually decreases. The upper portion 22b of the support member 22 may have a shape that does not tilt.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line A of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the lid member 23 is removed from the upper portion 22b of the support member 22. The support member 22 includes a first plate member 22d having a first surface, a second plate member 22e having a side in contact with the side of the first plate member 22d, a side of the second plate member 22e, and a second plate member 22e. It has a third plate member 22f having a side in contact with the side of one plate member 22d. The second plate member 22e and the third plate member 22f may be separate and removable, but in the present embodiment, the second plate member 22e and the third plate member 22f are integrated. Is.

In the present embodiment, the first plate member 22d, the second plate member 22e, and the third plate member 22f are separate and removable, but the first plate member 22d and the second plate member 22d The plate member 22e and the third plate member 22f may be integrated. In the present embodiment, the first plate member 22d is fixed on the housing 21, but may be removable from the housing 21.

The hollow fiber membrane module 26 is housed inside the support member 22. The hollow fiber membrane module 26 corresponds to the hollow fiber membrane module 11 described later with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is fixed to the first plate member 22d by the fixing member 22g. The hollow fiber membrane module 26 has a pipe member 27 at its upper end that communicates with the liquid phase portion 69 (see FIG. 9) of the hollow fiber membrane module 26.

The pouring portion 24 has a spout 24a at one end and a pipe member 29 at the other end. The spout 24a and the pipe member 29 are connected via a two-way valve of the lever member 25, and when the user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 operates the lever member 25, the two-way valve of the lever member 25 opens and pours. The mouth 24a and the pipe member 29 communicate with each other.

The open end of the pipe member 27 of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 and the open end of the pipe member 29 of the pouring portion 24 are connected by a connecting member 28. The connecting member 28 is a bag nut provided so as not to be detached from the pipe member 27. The open end of the pipe member 27 and the open end of the pipe member 29 are faced to each other, the pipe shafts are aligned with each other, the connecting member 28 is rotated around the pipe shaft as a rotation axis, and the thread of the connecting member 28 is threaded on the thread of the pipe member 29. The pipe member 27 and the pipe member 29 are connected by screwing the ridges. The tube member 27 may be a member that is longer and more flexible than the length from the upper end of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 to the open end of the tube member 29. According to this configuration, the hollow fiber membrane module 26 can be easily handled when the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is replaced. Further, the pipe member 27 may have a two-way valve (not shown) in the flow path thereof. By closing the two-way valve of the pipe member 27, it is possible to prevent an unexpected beverage leakage such as when a beverage is supplied to the hollow fiber membrane module 26 before the pipe member 27 and the pipe member 29 are connected. be able to.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the inside of the support member 22 of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 and the inside of the housing 21 excluding the wall that obstructs the field of view in the right side view shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 7 is a front view of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 6, which is a view showing the inside of the support member 22 and the inside of the housing 21 excluding the wall that obstructs the field of view so that the inside can be seen. ..

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the present embodiment, one fixing member 22 g is provided at a position substantially at the center of the vertical position in the figure of the hollow fiber membrane module 26. Two or more fixing members 22g may be provided at two or more positions in the vertical position of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 in the drawing. The fixing member 22g is a metal plate whose central portion is curved according to the shape of the hollow fiber membrane module 26. The hollow fiber membrane module 26 is fitted and fixed to the fixing member 22g by bending the fixing member 22g. The hollow fiber membrane module 26 may be fixed by being screwed to the fixing member 22g. The fixing member 22g is fixed to the first plate member 22d by screwing both ends thereof to the first plate member 22d. As a result, the hollow fiber membrane module 26 fixed to the fixing member 22g is fixed to the first plate member 22d. To remove the hollow fiber membrane module 26 from the first plate member 22d, the fixing member 22g may be unscrewed to the first plate member 22d at one end or both ends.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, when the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is fixed to the first plate member 22d, the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is separated from the first plate member 22d, but the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is It may be in contact with the first plate member 22d. In this case, the hollow fiber membrane module 26 may be fixed to the first plate member 22d by sandwiching the hollow fiber membrane module 26 between the fixing member 22g and the first plate member 22d. According to this configuration, the hollow fiber membrane module 26 can be reliably fixed to the first plate member 22d without screwing the hollow fiber membrane module 26 to the fixing member 22g.

Further, in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is fixed to the first plate member 22d, the hollow fiber membrane module 26 does not come into contact with the upper surface 21a or the frame member 21b of the housing 21 and is not in contact with the upper surface. It is fixed to the first plate member 22d above the 21a and the frame member 21b. When the second plate member 22e and the third plate member 22f are removed from the housing 21, the connection position between the pipe 36 and the pipe member 37 and the connection position between the pipe 42 and the pipe member 43 are exposed, and the hollow fiber membrane module is exposed. When the 26 is replaced, the connection between the pipe 36 and the pipe member 37 can be easily released and the connection between the pipe 42 and the pipe member 43 can be easily released. When the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is fixed to the first plate member 22d, the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is above the upper surface 21a and the frame member 21b of the housing 21 (in the configuration of FIG. 7, above the frame member 21b). The hollow fiber membrane module 26 may be more stably fixed to the first plate member 22d by being placed directly on the first plate member 22d. The hollow fiber membrane module 26 is placed on the upper surface 21a or the frame member 21b of the housing 21 via a cushioning member (for example, a rubber flat plate or a mesh-like rubber flat plate) (not shown) that cushions impact and vibration. It may be done. In FIG. 5, the pipe 36 and the pipe member 37 are not shown.

The inside of the housing 21 is partitioned by a partition member 45 and is divided into a left chamber 48 and a right chamber 51. A shelf member 53 is provided in the right ventricle 51 of the housing 21. The shelf member 53 is a mesh-like member through which pipes can pass. The gas tank 30 and the beverage tank 39 are housed in the right ventricle 51 and below the shelf member 53.

A cooling device 49 is housed in the left ventricle 48 of the housing 21. The cooling device 49 may be cooled by a steam compression refrigeration cycle, or may be cooled by any other means such as air cooling and water cooling. The cooling device 49 cools the inside of the right ventricle 51 of the housing 21 through the opening 46 provided in the partition member 45. A fan device 47 is provided on the shelf member 53 of the right ventricle 51. The fan device 47 circulates cold air in the right ventricle 51 by rotating a fan (not shown). Since the shelf member 53 is a mesh-like member, the fan device 47 can circulate cold air above and below the shelf member 53 as well. Further, the fan device 47 is arranged directly below the communication hole 52 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and is configured to be able to blow air upward. With this configuration, the fan device 47 can also send cold air to the inside of the support member 22 through the communication hole 52. Temperature measuring means (for example, temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of nitrogen gas in the gas tank 30, temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the beverage in the beverage tank 39, hollow thread film module 26) in various places in the right chamber 51. A temperature measuring means) for measuring the temperature of the above may be provided, and the cooling temperature by the cooling device 49 may be adjusted based on the temperature measurement result by the temperature measuring means. The cooling device 49 and the fan device 47 can control the temperature (liquid temperature) of the beverage when nitrogen gas is added.

The gas tank 30 stores high-pressure nitrogen gas. A pipe 31 is connected to the gas tank 30, and when the gas tank 30 is opened, the nitrogen gas in the gas tank 30 is supplied to the outside of the gas tank 30 via the pipe 31 by the pressure (gas pressure) in the gas tank 30. The pipe 31 is branched into a pipe 32 and a pipe 33. The pipe 32 is connected to the pipe 36 via the pressure regulating valve 34, and then the pipe 36 is connected to the pipe member 37 of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 through the communication hole 52. The pipe 33 is connected to the pipe 38 via the pressure regulating valve 35, and then the pipe 38 is connected to the pipe member 39a of the beverage tank 39. When the gas tank 30 is opened, the nitrogen gas in the gas tank 30 is supplied into the hollow fiber membrane module 26 through the flow paths of the pipe 31, the pipe 32, the pressure regulating valve 34, the pipe 36, and the pipe member 37. The pressure regulating valve 34 corresponds to the pressure regulating valve 2 described later with reference to FIG. 13, and the pressure regulating valve 35 corresponds to the pressure regulating valve 7 described later with reference to FIG.

The beverage tank 39 stores beverages. One end of the pipe member 39a of the beverage tank 39 is connected to the pipe 38, and the other end of the pipe member 39a is open in the space above the liquid level of the beverage in the beverage tank 39. One end of the pipe member 39b is inserted into the liquid of the beverage in the beverage tank 39, and the other end of the pipe member 39b is connected to the pipe 40. When the gas tank 30 is opened, the nitrogen gas in the gas tank 30 passes through the flow paths of the pipe 31, the pipe 33, the pressure regulating valve 35, the pipe 38 and the pipe member 39a, and is placed on the liquid level of the beverage in the beverage tank 39. It is supplied to the space. The space above the liquid level of the beverage in the beverage tank 39 is sealed, and when nitrogen gas is supplied to the space above the liquid level of the beverage in the beverage tank 39, pressure is applied to the beverage, and the beverage becomes a beverage. Flows from one end to the other end of the tube member 39b inserted into the liquid.

The other end of the pipe member 39b of the beverage tank 39 is connected to the pipe 40. The pipe 40 is connected to the pipe 42 via the flow meter 41, and then the pipe 42 passes through the communication hole 52 and is connected to the pipe member 43 of the hollow fiber membrane module 26. The beverage that has flowed from one end to the other end of the pipe member 39b by opening the gas tank 30 passes through the flow paths of the pipe member 39b, the pipe 40, the flow meter 41, the pipe 42, and the pipe member 43, and is a hollow fiber membrane. It is supplied in the module 26.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The hollow fiber membrane module 26 is configured by providing the hollow fiber 61 in a sealed case 60.

The hollow fiber 61 can be used in any structure as long as gas molecules can be supplied to the beverage. In the present embodiment, a plurality of hollow fibers 61 are provided and bundled, and both ends thereof are integrated by an integrating member 62. The integrated member 62 is a resin member, and is provided by, for example, injection molding at both ends of a bundle of a plurality of hollow fibers 61. As the material of the resin member, any known resin material can be used as long as it can seal the housing portion and the hollow thread film. For example, an epoxy resin, a polyurethane resin, or a polyolefin resin (for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly) can be used. (4-Methylpentene-1) resin, etc.), fluorine-containing resin (for example, polyvinylidene fluoride, PTFE, PFA, etc.), polymer materials such as silicone resin, etc., among which, repeated use at high temperature (high temperature cleaning) Polyurethane resin is preferable from the viewpoint of minimizing the influence on the taste even if (including).

Among the above, as the epoxy resin, an epoxy resin such as novolac type epoxy resin, bisphenol A type epoxy resin, bisphenol F type epoxy resin, alicyclic epoxy resin, biphenyl type epoxy resin, brominated epoxy resin is used as the main agent, and As the curing agent, those containing an aliphatic polyamine, an aromatic polyamine, a polyamide amine, an acid anhydride-based resin and the like can be used. The epoxy resin may be used alone, may be used by blending a reactive diluent to adjust the viscosity, or may be diluted with an organic solvent.

Further, as the polyurethane resin, a so-called two-component polyurethane resin composed of two liquids, which is a main agent containing a polyisocyanate component and a curing agent containing a polyol component, can be used. Examples of the polyisocyanate component contained as a main agent include polyisocyanates having two or more isocyanate groups in one molecule, urethane prepolymers having an isocyanate group at the terminal obtained by reacting the polyisocyanate with a polyol, and the like. .. Examples of the polyisocyanate having two or more isocyanate groups in one molecule include chain aliphatic polyisocyanates such as ethylene diisocyanate, tetramethylene diisocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate; and alicyclic such as isophorone diisocyanate and 4,4-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate. Formula polyisocyanate; such as 1,3- or 1,4-phenylenediocyanate, 2,4- or 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,2'-, 2,4'-or 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, etc. Aromatic polyisocyanates; aromatic aliphatic polyisocyanates of m- or p-xylylene diisocyanate and α, α, α', α'-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate; modified products of these polyisocyanates. Examples of the polyol to be reacted with the polyisocyanate include castor oil, partially dehydrated castor oil, and / or an ester exchange reaction between a polyether polyol such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polytetramethylene glycol and castor oil, or castor oil fatty acid. Examples thereof include castor oil fatty acid ester obtained by the esterification reaction of. The polyol component contained as a curing agent is a polyol used in the urethane prepolymer having an isocyanate group; a hydroxyl group obtained by reacting the polyol with the polyisocyanate at an equivalent ratio (isocyanate group / hydroxyl group) of less than 1. Urethane prepolymers with; amine polyols such as N, N, N', N'-tetrax (2-hydroxypropyl) ethylenediamine, N, N, N', N ", N" -pentakis (2-hydroxypropyl) diethylenetriamine; Examples include a mixture of two or more of the above. The urethane resin may be used alone, may be used by blending a reactive diluent to adjust the viscosity, or may be diluted with an organic solvent.

Both ends of each of the plurality of hollow fibers 61 have openings leading to the hollow, and these openings are exposed outside the integration member 62 even after the plurality of hollow fibers 61 are bundled and integrated by the integration member 62. There is.

The beverage supplied from the tube member 43 is supplied into each of the hollow fibers 61 from one end of the plurality of hollow fibers 61. The beverage supplied into the hollow fiber 61 flows from the tube member 27 to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane module 26. A gap 63 is provided between the plurality of hollow fibers 61 and the case 60. The beverage supplied from the tube member 43 does not flow into the gap 63. The nitrogen gas supplied from the pipe member 37 fills the gap 63.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the hollow fiber 61 shown in FIG. 8, in which a part of the hollow fiber 61 is cut out and the inside of the circle surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line is enlarged. The hollow fiber membrane 65 of the hollow fiber 61 in the present embodiment has a skin layer 65a on the outside and a porous layer 65b on the inside. The skin layer 65a is a dense layer, and the porous layer 65b is a layer having pores. Nitrogen gas 67 is supplied to the gas phase portion 66 outside the hollow fiber 61, and the beverage 70 is supplied to the liquid phase portion 69 inside the hollow fiber 61. The nitrogen molecule 68 in the nitrogen gas 67 moves through the hollow fiber membrane 65 in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, and becomes the dissolved nitrogen molecule 71 dissolved in the beverage 70.

In the present embodiment, the hollow fiber membrane 65 is a heterogeneous non-porous membrane having a skin layer 65a and a porous layer 65b, but the hollow fiber membrane applicable to the present invention is not limited to this. , A homogeneous non-porous film composed of only the skin layer may be applied, a porous film composed of only the porous layer may be applied, or the skin layer is sandwiched between the porous layers. A film of composition may be applied.

Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration of internal perfusion in which a beverage is supplied to the inside of the hollow fiber 61 and nitrogen gas is supplied to the outside of the hollow fiber 61 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. The structure of external perfusion may be such that nitrogen gas is supplied to the inside of the hollow fiber 61 and a beverage is supplied to the outside of the hollow fiber 61.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration in which a tube member 64 is further provided on the hollow fiber membrane module 26 shown in FIG. The pipe member 64 is a member that communicates the gap portion 63 with the outside of the hollow fiber membrane module 26. The nitrogen gas supplied from the pipe member 37 into the hollow fiber membrane module 26 can be exhausted from the pipe member 37 to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane module 26. If the gap 63 is left filled with nitrogen gas, water vapor in the beverage may be transferred to the nitrogen gas in the gap 63. In addition, dew condensation water may be generated in the gap 63. By providing the pipe member 37, nitrogen gas mixed with water vapor, condensed water, and the like can be discharged.

The position of the pipe member 37 in the hollow fiber membrane module 26 may be any position, but when the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is vertically arranged as in the present embodiment, the air supply port of nitrogen gas is used. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, it is preferable that a certain tube member 37 is provided on the upper side of the hollow fiber membrane module 26. By supplying nitrogen gas from the upper side of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 in this way, it is possible to prevent water vapor, condensed water, etc. accumulated in the lower side of the gap 63 of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 from entering the pipe member 37. Alternatively, water vapor and dew condensation water adhering to the gas phase portion 104 as water droplets or the like can be removed to the gap portion 63 near the tube member 64 at the lower part of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 by the combined effect of air blow by nitrogen gas and gravity. This is preferable because it is possible to prevent a substantial decrease in the effective film area even during continuous use and it is easy to maintain the performance. Further, by supplying nitrogen gas from the upper side of the hollow fiber membrane module 26, it is easy to discharge water vapor, condensed water, etc. in the gap 63 from the lower part of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 to the outside through the pipe member 64. (It is particularly effective when the pipe member 64 is provided as shown in FIG. 10). Further, by supplying nitrogen gas from the upper side of the hollow fiber membrane module 26, the flow of the liquid (beverage) and the flow of the gas (nitrogen gas) in relation to the beverage supplied from the lower side of the hollow fiber membrane module 26. Since the direction of the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is opposite (countercurrent), nitrogen gas can be efficiently added to the beverage in the hollow fiber membrane module 26.

The hollow fiber membrane module 101 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the hollow fiber membrane module 26. The gas supply unit 102 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the gas tank 30, the pipe 31, the pipe 32, the pressure regulating valve 34, and the pipe 36. The beverage supply unit 103 shown in FIG. 1 includes a gas tank 30, a pipe 31, a pipe 33, a pressure regulating valve 35, a pipe 38, a beverage tank 39, a pipe 40, and a flow meter 41 (the flow meter 41 may be omitted). And corresponds to the pipe 42. The gas phase portion 104 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the gas phase portion 66. The hollow fiber membrane 105 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the hollow fiber membrane 65. The liquid phase portion 106 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the liquid phase portion 69. The gas pressure and pressure adjusting valve 35 of the gas tank 30 corresponds to the beverage pressurizing unit 116 shown in FIG. 1, and the gas pressure and pressure adjusting valve 34 of the gas tank 30 corresponds to the gas pressurizing unit 115 shown in FIG. Corresponds to. Further, the fan device 47 and the cooling device 49 correspond to the cooling unit 107 shown in FIG.

(Operation of beverage manufacturing equipment)
Hereinafter, the operation of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 3 will be further described.
First, the user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 confirms that the lever member 25 of the pouring portion 24 is not operated, sets the pressures of the pressure adjusting valve 34 and the pressure adjusting valve 35 to the target pressures, and then sets the gas tank. 30 is opened. The user of the beverage manufacturing device 20 operates the cooling device 49 and the fan device 47 to adjust the temperature as described above. After that, the user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 arranges the container directly under the spout 24a and operates the lever member 25. By this operation, the two-way valve of the lever member 25 is opened, and the gas tank 30, the pipe 31, the pipe 33, the pressure adjusting valve 35, the pipe 38, the pipe member 39a, the beverage tank 39, the pipe member 39b, the pipe 40, the flow meter 41, The two-way valve of the pipe 42, the pipe member 43, the hollow thread 61, the pipe member 27, the pipe member 29, and the lever member 25 and the flow path of the spout 24a are opened to the atmosphere at the spout 24a, and nitrogen is dissolved from the spout 24a. The beverage is poured into the container.

A flow rate adjusting valve (not shown) may be provided between the hollow fiber membrane module 26 and the pouring portion 24. By controlling the flow rate of the nitrogen-dissolved beverage poured from the spout 24a into the container by this flow rate adjusting valve, for example, the residence time of the beverage in the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is lengthened, and the nitrogen gas (nitrogen gas into the beverage) ( The amount of dissolved nitrogen molecule) can be increased. When the flow rate adjusting valve is provided, the position of the flow meter 41 may be before or after the flow rate adjusting valve, or the flow meter 41 may be integrated with the flow rate adjusting valve. Further, the flow meter 41 may be a pressure gauge.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a beverage manufacturing apparatus capable of dissolving nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule) in a beverage in a short time. Further, according to the present embodiment, a beverage having a longer duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into a container and a longer retention time of a foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid is produced. Beverage manufacturing equipment, can be provided.

Next, in the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, an operation for replacing the hollow fiber membrane module 26 will be described.

When removing the hollow fiber membrane module 26 from the beverage manufacturing apparatus 20, first, the gas tank 30 is closed to stop the gas supply. Next, for example, the pressure of the beverage tank 39 is released by opening a gas vent plug (not shown) for venting the space above the liquid level of the beverage in the beverage tank 39. The completion of depressurization may be made known by, for example, the feeling or sound of touching that the gas ejection has been completed with the degassing plug open, or a pressure gauge that displays the pressure in the beverage tank 39. (Not shown) may be provided so that it can be known by the numerical value of the pressure gauge. At this time, the pressure values of the pressure adjusting valve 34 and the pressure adjusting valve 35 are left as they are without being adjusted. By doing so, when a new hollow fiber membrane module 26 is attached, it is not necessary to readjust the pressure values of the pressure adjusting valve 34 and the pressure adjusting valve 35, and smooth work can be performed.

When the pressure release of the beverage tank 39 is completed, the lid member 23 is removed from the support member 22, and the second plate member 22e and the third plate member 22f are removed from the housing 21. Subsequently, the connection between the pipe member 27 and the pipe member 29 is removed. Subsequently, the connection between the pipe 42 and the pipe member 43 is removed. Subsequently, the connection between the pipe 36 and the pipe member 37 is removed. Next, the fixing member 22g is removed, and the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is removed from the first plate member 22d. This completes the removal of the hollow fiber membrane module 26, and when attaching a new hollow fiber membrane module 26, the procedure may be reversed from that of the removal.

(Example of control of beverage manufacturing equipment)
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a beverage manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. The beverage manufacturing device 300 of the present embodiment includes a hollow fiber membrane module 301, a gas supply unit 302, a beverage supply unit 303, a cooling unit 307 that cools the inside of the beverage production device 300, and a gas supplied from the gas supply unit 302. The electromagnetic valve 308 that adjusts the pressure of the beverage, the electromagnetic valve 309 that adjusts the pressure of the beverage supplied from the beverage supply unit 303, the electromagnetic valve 310 that adjusts the amount of the beverage supplied from the hollow fiber membrane module 301, and the electromagnetic valve 310. A container 15 that receives a beverage from the hollow fiber membrane module 301, a control unit 311 that controls each configuration, and a user of the beverage production apparatus 300 input an instruction to the control unit 311 and from the control unit 311. It is configured to include an input / output unit 312 for outputting information. The gas supply unit 302 supplies nitrogen gas to the hollow fiber membrane module 301. The beverage supply unit 303 supplies the beverage to the hollow fiber membrane module 301. As the input / output unit 312, for example, a touch panel capable of input and output, an input-only button, and a display-only display can be used.

The gas supply unit 302 corresponds to the nitrogen tank 1 and the nitrogen gas pipe 3 which will be described later with reference to FIG. The solenoid valve 308 corresponds to the pressure regulating valve 2 described later with reference to FIG. The beverage supply unit 303 corresponds to the nitrogen tank 1, the nitrogen gas pipe 8, the tank 9, and the beverage pipe 10 which will be described later with reference to FIG. The solenoid valve 309 corresponds to the pressure regulating valve 7, which will be described later with reference to FIG. The solenoid valve 310 corresponds to the two-way valve 13 described later with reference to FIG.

The hollow fiber membrane module 301 has a gas phase portion 304, a hollow fiber membrane 305, and a liquid phase portion 306. The gas phase portion 304 is configured to have a region in which a gas is present, and the liquid phase portion 306 is configured to have a region in which a liquid is present. The hollow fiber membrane module 301 corresponds to the hollow fiber membrane module 11 described later with reference to FIG. In the hollow fiber membrane module 301, the gas phase portion 304 corresponds to the gas phase side described later with reference to FIG. 12, and the hollow fiber membrane 305 is a hollow fiber membrane of the hollow fiber membrane module 11 described later with reference to FIG. The liquid phase portion 306 corresponds to the liquid phase side described later with reference to FIG. Further, in the hollow fiber membrane module 301, a hollow fiber membrane 305 is interposed between the gas phase portion 304 and the liquid phase portion 306, and the liquid in the liquid phase portion 306 is vaporized through the hollow fiber membrane 305. It is possible to add the gas molecule of the phase portion 304 to dissolve it.

The gas pressure and pressure adjusting valve 7 of the nitrogen tank 1 described later with reference to FIG. 12 corresponds to a beverage pressurizing unit (including the beverage supply unit 303) that pressurizes the beverage supplied to the liquid phase unit 306. The gas pressure and pressure adjusting valve 2 of the nitrogen tank 1 described later with reference to FIG. 12 corresponds to a gas pressurizing section (including the gas supply section 302) that pressurizes the nitrogen gas supplied to the gas phase section 304.

The nitrogen gas supplied to the hollow fiber membrane module 301 by the gas supply unit 302 is supplied to the gas phase unit 304 of the hollow fiber membrane module 301. Further, the beverage supplied to the hollow fiber membrane module 301 by the beverage supply unit 303 is supplied to the liquid phase unit 306 of the hollow fiber membrane module 301. As a result, the beverage manufacturing apparatus 300 of the present embodiment manufactures a nitrogen-dissolved beverage by adding nitrogen molecules of the nitrogen gas of the gas phase portion 304 to the beverage of the liquid phase portion 306 via the hollow fiber membrane 305.

The user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 300 uses the input / output unit 312 to input the pressure (pressure in the gas phase unit 304) of the flow path via the solenoid valve 308. The control unit 311 receives the pressure in the flow path via the solenoid valve 308 input from the input / output unit 312. The control unit 311 controls the opening degree of the solenoid valve 308 based on the pressure received via the input / output unit 312. For example, the relationship between the pressure input from the input / output unit 312 and the opening degree of the controlled solenoid valve 308 is stored as a table in a storage unit (not shown) in the control unit 311. Control using this table is performed.

A gas phase pressure sensor (not shown) that detects the pressure in the flow path via the solenoid valve 308 may be provided. In this case, the control unit 311 performs feedback control on the solenoid valve 308 to match the pressure detected by the gas phase side pressure sensor with the pressure received via the input / output unit 312.

The user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 300 uses the input / output unit 312 to input the pressure (pressure in the liquid phase unit 306) of the flow path via the solenoid valve 309. The control unit 311 receives the pressure in the flow path via the solenoid valve 309 input from the input / output unit 312. The control unit 311 controls the opening degree of the solenoid valve 309 based on the pressure received via the input / output unit 312. For example, the relationship between the pressure input from the input / output unit 312 and the opening degree of the controlled solenoid valve 309 is stored as a table in a storage unit (not shown) in the control unit 311. Control using this table is performed.

A liquid phase pressure sensor (not shown) that detects the pressure in the flow path via the solenoid valve 309 may be provided. In this case, the control unit 311 performs feedback control on the solenoid valve 309 to match the pressure detected by the liquid phase side pressure sensor with the pressure received via the input / output unit 312.

The user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 300 inputs the cooling temperature by the cooling unit 307 using the input / output unit 312. The cooling temperature input from the input / output unit 312 is received by the control unit 311. The control unit 311 controls the cooling temperature by the cooling unit 307 based on the cooling temperature received via the input / output unit 312. For example, the relationship between the cooling temperature input from the input / output unit 312 and the cooling temperature by the cooling unit 307 to be controlled is stored in a storage unit (not shown) in the control unit 311 as a table, and the control unit 311 Performs control using this table.

For example, a module temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature of the hollow fiber membrane module 301 may be provided. In this case, the control unit 311 performs feedback control on the cooling unit 307 to match the temperature detected by the module temperature sensor with the cooling temperature via the input / output unit 312.

The user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 300 uses the input / output unit 312 to instruct the container 15 to supply the nitrogen-dissolved beverage, that is, input the beverage supply instruction. The beverage supply instruction input from the input / output unit 312 is received by the control unit 311. The control unit 311 controls the solenoid valve 310 based on the beverage supply instruction received via the input / output unit 312. For example, when a beverage supply instruction is input from the input / output unit 312, the opening degree and opening time of the solenoid valve 310 to be controlled are stored in a storage unit (not shown) in the control unit 311, and the control unit 311 Controls the stored solenoid valve 310 using the opening degree and the opening time. A plurality of types of beverage supply instructions may be prepared, and the opening and opening times of the solenoid valve 310 may be different depending on the plurality of beverage supply instructions so that beverages of various capacities can be supplied.

A flow rate sensor (not shown) that detects the flow rate of the flow path via the solenoid valve 310 may be provided. In this case, the control unit 311 performs feedback control on the solenoid valve 310 to match the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor with the flow rate to be supplied by the beverage supply instruction received via the input / output unit 312.

When the control of the control valve 308, the control valve 309, and the cooling unit 307 is completed, the control unit 311 instructs the input / output unit 312 to display the beverage supply availability. Upon receiving this instruction, the input / output unit 312 displays to the user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 300 that the beverage can be supplied. The user of the beverage manufacturing apparatus 300 confirms the display indicating that the beverage can be supplied, and inputs the beverage supply instruction using the input / output unit 312. Upon receiving the beverage supply instruction, the control unit 311 controls the solenoid valve 310 to supply the nitrogen-dissolved beverage, that is, to produce the nitrogen-dissolved beverage.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a beverage manufacturing apparatus capable of dissolving nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule) in a beverage in a short time. Further, according to this embodiment, a beverage having a longer duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into a container and a longer retention time of a foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid is produced. Beverage manufacturing equipment, can be provided.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, the nitrogen-dissolved beverage supplied from the hollow fiber membrane module 11, 26, 101 or 301 by providing the hollow fiber membrane module 11, 26, 101 or 301. The amount of dissolved nitrogen in the above is preferably 0.002 gas volume or more, more preferably 0.035 gas volume or more, further preferably 0.04 gas volume or more, preferably 0.22 gas volume or less, more preferably 0. It can be in the range of 15 gas volume or less, more preferably 0.12 gas volume or less. The amount of dissolved nitrogen is preferably in the range of 0.002 to 0.22 gas volume, more preferably in the range of 0.035 to 0.22 gas volume, and further preferably in the range of 0.04 to 0.22 gas volume. Therefore, it is possible to produce a beverage having a longer duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into a container and a longer retention time of a foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, the amount of dissolved nitrogen in the beverage can be increased in a short time. Specifically, for example, the residence time of the beverage in the hollow fiber membrane module 26 is from 0 seconds or more, preferably less than 1 minute, more preferably 45 seconds or less, still more preferably 30 seconds or less, particularly preferably. The amount of dissolved nitrogen in the beverage can be increased to, for example, the above gas volume range by pressurizing the gas phase portion 66, even if the range is within 10 seconds, most preferably within 1 second. The "residence time of the beverage in the hollow fiber membrane module 26" means that the beverage does not flow out of the hollow fiber membrane module but stays in the hollow fiber membrane module in a state where the gas phase portion 66 is pressurized. Time, specifically, the two-way valve 13 of the pouring portion 24 in FIGS. 1, 3 to 6 and 12, the flow rate adjusting valve (not shown) between the hollow fiber membrane module 26 and the pouring portion 24, and FIG. The time when the electromagnetic valve 310 is closed is shown. Therefore, when the "dwelling time of the beverage in the hollow fiber membrane module 26" is "0 seconds", it is "continuous", that is, it is poured into the hollow fiber membrane module such as the two-way valve 13, the flow rate adjusting valve, or the solenoid valve 310. It means that the beverage is kept flowing without closing the valve or valve between the mouth and the mouth.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, by controlling the flow path of the beverage as described above, the processing flow rate in the hollow fiber membrane module 11, 26, 101 or 301 is preferably 1 [. ml / sec] or more, more preferably 20 [ml / sec] or more, still more preferably 50 [ml / sec] or more, preferably 6000 [ml / sec] or less, more preferably 3000 [ml / sec] or less, and further. The range is preferably 1000 [ml / sec] or less, and particularly preferably 500 [ml / sec] or less. By setting the treatment flow rate in the range of 1 [ml / sec] or more and 6000 [ml / sec] or less, it is possible to improve the productivity at the time of beverage production and the handleability of the module at the same time.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, the membrane area of the hollow fiber membrane of the hollow fiber membrane modules 11, 26, 101 or 301 can be in the range of ^{0.018 m 2 or more.} By setting the membrane area of the hollow fiber membrane in ^{the range of 0.018 m 2} or more, the amount of dissolved nitrogen can be increased in a short time, and the duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into a container is lengthened. , Preferably, the refoaming phenomenon is also possible, and the retention time of the foam layer formed on the drinking liquid surface can be further extended.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, the hollow fiber membrane of the hollow fiber membrane module 11, 26, 101 or 301 can be a membrane having a skin layer and a porous layer. By forming the hollow fiber membrane into a membrane having a skin layer and a porous layer, a highly hydrophobic membrane can be obtained.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, the hollow fiber membrane of the hollow fiber membrane module 11, 26, 101 or 301 can be a membrane made of a polyolefin resin. By forming the hollow fiber membrane into a film made of a polyolefin resin, a highly hydrophobic film can be obtained.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, a flow path via the pressure control valve 7, a flow path via the pressure control valve 35, a flow path from the beverage supply unit 103 to the liquid phase unit 106, or electromagnetic waves. The pressure in the flow path through the valve 309 can be in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa]. That is, it is possible to pressurize the beverage flowing through the liquid phase side, the liquid phase portion 69, 106 or 306 in the hollow fiber membrane module 11, 26, 101 or 301 in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa]. .. By pressurizing the beverage in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa], the amount of dissolved nitrogen can be increased in a short time, and the duration of the bubbles of the nitrogen gas that foams when poured into the container is extended. However, preferably, the refoaming phenomenon is possible, the holding time of the foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid can be lengthened, and the pressure resistance of the module is excellent.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, a flow path via the pressure regulating valve 2, a flow path via the pressure regulating valve 34, a flow path from the gas supply section 102 to the gas phase section 104, or electromagnetic waves. The pressure in the flow path through the valve 308 can be in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa]. That is, in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa] with respect to the nitrogen gas (nitrogen molecule) flowing through the gas phase side, the gas phase portion 66, 104 or 304 in the hollow fiber membrane module 11, 26, 101 or 301. It can be pressurized. By pressurizing in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa], the amount of dissolved nitrogen can be increased in a short time, and the duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into a container is lengthened. Preferably, the refoaming phenomenon is also possible, the holding time of the foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid can be lengthened, and the pressure resistance of the module is excellent.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, a tank 9 or a beverage tank 39 for storing a beverage can be provided. By providing the tank 9 or the beverage tank 39 for storing the beverage, the beverage stored in the tank 9 or the beverage tank 39 is supplied to the liquid phase of the hollow fiber membrane module 11 or 26, thereby causing the inside of the tank 9 or the beverage tank 39. It is possible to manage the remaining amount of beverages and to supply beverages in a stable manner.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, a nitrogen tank 1 or a gas tank 30 for storing nitrogen gas can be provided. By providing the nitrogen tank 1 or the gas tank 30, the nitrogen stored in the nitrogen tank 1 or the gas tank 30 is supplied to the gas phase of the hollow fiber membrane module 11 or 26 to reduce the remaining amount in the nitrogen tank 1 or the gas tank 30. It can be managed and a stable supply of nitrogen gas can be achieved.

As shown in each of the above embodiments, according to the present invention, the hollow fiber membrane module 26, the gas tank 30, the cooling device 49 for cooling the beverage tank 39, and the fan device 47 can be provided. By cooling the hollow fiber membrane module 26, the gas tank 30, and the beverage tank 39, the amount of dissolved nitrogen can be increased in a short time, and the duration of bubbles of nitrogen gas that foams when poured into a container is lengthened. Preferably, the refoaming phenomenon is also possible, and the retention time of the foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid can be lengthened.

As shown in each of the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, the hollow fiber membrane module 301, the gas supply unit 302, and the cooling unit 307 for cooling the beverage supply unit 303 can be provided. By cooling the hollow fiber membrane module 301, the gas supply unit 302, and the beverage supply unit 303, the amount of dissolved nitrogen can be increased in a short time, and the duration of the nitrogen gas bubbles that foam when poured into the container is further extended. The length is increased, preferably the refoaming phenomenon is possible, and the retention time of the foam layer formed on the surface of the beverage liquid can be lengthened.

As shown in each of the above embodiments, according to the present invention, a pouring portion 24 for pouring a nitrogen-dissolved beverage into a container under atmospheric pressure can be provided. Under atmospheric pressure, that is, in a human living environment, the nitrogen-dissolved beverage can be poured into a container by the pouring unit 24, and the nitrogen-dissolved beverage can be easily and safely produced.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples.

(Sensory evaluation method and evaluation criteria)
The results of the sensory evaluation are shown by summarizing the evaluation results of five panelists trained using various alcoholic beverages (at 8 ° C.) as a standard sample.

(Evaluation of taste, etc.)
In each Example / Comparative Example, the astringency, umami, sweetness, mouthfeel, and aroma of the alcoholic beverage (8 ° C) before and after the addition of the nitrogen molecule were changed with respect to the alcoholic beverage (8 ° C) before the addition of the nitrogen molecule. Sensory evaluation was performed on the following five-point scale.

"Astringency" (perception felt by contracting cells such as the tongue, the inside of the cheek, the inside of the lips, and the gums)
1 (I feel the suppression of perception very much)
2 (feels suppression of perception)
3 (Slightly feels suppression of perception)
4 (I don't feel any change in perception)
5 (I feel the deterioration of perception even a little)

"Umami", "sweetness", "mouthfeel" (mellow mouthfeel and texture), "fragrance"
1 (I feel the improvement of perception very much)
2 (feel an improvement in perception)
3 (I feel a slight improvement in perception)
4 (I don't feel any change in perception)
5 (I feel a slight decrease in perception)

(Observation of bubbles and measurement of bubble life)
After pouring 150 cc of the alcoholic beverage produced in each example into a glass container (transparent container 15 shown in FIG. 2) (200 cc, diameter of the glass mouth portion 6.5 cm), bubbles called caste (kotaki) are poured into the beverage. It was observed whether the descending phenomenon of the group could be observed with the naked eye.

In addition, the retention time of the bubble group in the beverage (the time until the cascade phenomenon disappears, which can be visually confirmed) was measured. In addition, the retention time of the foam layer formed above the beverage liquid surface (time until all the bubbles that can be visually confirmed disappeared) was measured. The measurement was performed 10 times and averaged (rounded to the nearest whole number).

(Examples 1 to 13)
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the beverage manufacturing apparatus used in Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Example 1. This beverage making device can supply nitrogen gas from the nitrogen tank 1 to the hollow fiber membrane module 11 and also supply nitrogen gas to the tank 9. Beverages can also be supplied from the tank 9 to the hollow fiber membrane module 11.

The hollow fiber membrane module 11 is laminated with "PF-001D" (skin layer (outer layer)" manufactured by DIC Co., Ltd. (skin layer (outer layer) and a porous layer (inner side) having a hollow fiber hole diameter of 5 to 20 nm) as an internal reflux type hollow fiber membrane module. A hollow fiber membrane made of poly (4-methylpentene-1) resin having an asymmetric membrane, both ends of which are sealed with a two-component polyurethane resin, and the membrane area is 0.5 [m ² ], hereinafter referred to as "001D"). Was used by connecting two in series, and after washing with ultrapure water for 72 hours before the test, the inside of the module was dried with sterile air. Further, it was washed with clean water (23 ° C.) for 3 minutes.

In Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Example 1, 5 liters of an alcoholic beverage (in a state of 8 ° C.) was supplied to a tank 9 (diameter 24.5 cm × depth 22 cm) of the beverage production apparatus and stored in advance. With the two-way valve 13 closed, the nitrogen gas was stored in the tank 9 by supplying nitrogen gas to the tank 9 through the nitrogen gas pipe 8 while adjusting the pressure from the nitrogen tank 1 to the pressure shown in the table by the pressure regulating valve 7. The alcoholic beverage was extruded and passed through the beverage pipe 10 to the liquid phase side in the hollow fiber membrane module 11.

Next, while keeping the two-way valve 13 closed and adjusting the pressure from the nitrogen tank 1 to the pressure shown in the table by the pressure regulating valve 2, nitrogen gas is sent to the gas phase side in the hollow filament module 11. Nitrogen gas was added to the alcoholic beverage supplied through the gas pipe 3 and flowing on the liquid phase side (the discharge port of the undissolved nitrogen gas was closed). A cooling device was provided for all the pipes from the beverage pipe 10 to the beverage pipe 12 via the hollow fiber membrane module 11, and the condition was set so that the alcoholic beverage was maintained at 8 ° C. Further, the hollow fiber membrane module 11 is provided with a transparent window so that the end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle inside can be observed, and the beverage discharged from the inside of the hollow fiber membrane (liquid phase side) was observed. No nitrogen gas bubbles were found inside the module.

After 2 minutes had passed, the two-way valve 13 was opened, and the alcoholic beverage was injected into the transparent container 15 shown in FIG. 2 from the supply port 14. Table 1 shows the flow rate [ml / sec] per unit time of the injected alcoholic beverage and the amount of dissolved nitrogen in the beverage. Further, the alcoholic beverage injected into the transparent container 15 was subjected to sensory evaluation, observation of bubbles and measurement of bubble life, and the results are shown in Table 1, respectively.

(Comparative Example 1)
FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of the beverage manufacturing apparatus used in the comparative example. Alcoholic beverages (at 8 ° C., used immediately after opening) were supplied to a tank 9 similar to the beverage manufacturing apparatus used in the above embodiment and stored in advance. With the two-way valve 13 closed, the nitrogen gas was stored in the tank 9 by supplying nitrogen gas to the tank 9 through the nitrogen gas pipe 8 while adjusting the pressure from the nitrogen tank 1 to the pressure shown in the table by the pressure adjusting valve 7. The alcoholic beverage was extruded and the beverage pipe 10 was passed through the two-way valve 13. A cooling device was provided in the beverage pipe 10 to maintain the temperature of the alcoholic beverage at 8 ° C.

After the predetermined time shown in Table 3 had elapsed, the two-way valve 13 was opened, and the alcoholic beverage was injected into the transparent container 15 shown in FIG. 2 from the supply port 14. Table 1 shows the flow rate [ml / sec] of the injected alcoholic beverage per unit time and the amount of dissolved nitrogen in the alcoholic beverage. Further, for the alcoholic beverage injected into the transparent container, sensory evaluation, observation of bubbles and measurement of bubble life were performed, and the results are shown in Table 1.

Each alcoholic beverage in the table used the following.
Whiskey ・ ・ ・ Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. "Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years Shelly Edition" (alcohol content 40%)
Red wine: "Frangia Dark Red" manufactured by Mercian Corporation (alcohol content 12.5%) * Non-foaming white wine: "Frangia white" manufactured by Mercian Corporation (alcohol content 11.5%)
Sake ・ ・ ・ Gekkeikan "Gekkeikan Josen" (alcohol content 15%)
In each case, the dissolved carbon dioxide amount is less than 1 ppm.

Comparing the sake of Comparative Example 1 with those of Examples 1 to 3, whiskey, red wine, and white wine were able to reduce astringency. In addition, whiskey, red wine, and white wine have improved mouthfeel (mellow mouthfeel and texture), taste and aroma, and not only can you observe the cascade phenomenon, but also retain air bubbles in the beverage for a long time. I was able to. In particular, the whiskey and red wine used in Examples 1 and 2 had a remarkable tendency. Alcoholic beverages, especially whiskey and red wine, which have an excellent effect of reducing astringency even if the alcohol content is high, were obtained.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the individual embodiments and examples described above, and any combination of elements of the individual embodiments and examples is included in the present invention and can be conceived by those skilled in the art. It also includes various modifications, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above. That is, various additions, changes and partial deletions are possible without departing from the conceptual idea and purpose of the present invention derived from the contents defined in the claims and their equivalents.

1 Nitrogen tank (high pressure container)
2 Pressure regulating valve 3 Nitrogen gas piping 4 Nitrogen gas air supply port 5 Undissolved nitrogen gas discharge port 6 Undissolved nitrogen gas piping 7 Pressure regulating valve 8 Nitrogen gas piping 9 Tank (pressure resistant storage container)
10 Beverage piping 11 Hollow fiber membrane module 12 Beverage piping 13 Two-way valve 14 Supply port 15 Container P1 Pressure gauge P2 Pressure gauge F1 Flow meter 20 Beverage manufacturing equipment 24 Pouring part 24a Spout 25 Lever member 26 Hollow fiber membrane module 30 Gas tank 34 Pressure regulating valve 35 Pressure regulating valve 39 Beverage tank 49 Cooling device 100 Beverage manufacturing device 101 Hollow fiber membrane module 102 Gas supply section 103 Beverage supply section 104 Gas phase section 105 Hollow fiber membrane 106 Liquid phase section 107 Cooling section 115 Gas addition Pressure section 116 Beverage pressurization section

Claims (29)

A method for producing a beverage, which comprises a step of adding nitrogen gas to the pressurized beverage through the hollow fiber membrane in the hollow fiber membrane module.
A method for producing a beverage, wherein the beverage is an alcoholic beverage containing tannin. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the beverage flowing on the liquid phase side is pressurized in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa] in the hollow fiber membrane module. The production method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the film area of the hollow fiber membrane ^{is in the range of 0.018 m 2 or more.} The production method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the nitrogen partial pressure on the vapor phase side of the hollow fiber membrane module is in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa]. The method for producing a beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the step, the amount of dissolved nitrogen in the beverage is in the range of 0.002 to 0.22 gas volume. The production method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the processing flow rate in the hollow fiber membrane module is in the range of 1 to 6000 [ml / sec]. The production method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the hollow fiber membrane used in the hollow fiber membrane module has a skin layer and a porous layer. The production method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the hollow fiber membrane is a polyolefin resin. The production method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the beverage is whiskey or red wine. The production method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a step of pouring the beverage obtained in the step into a container under atmospheric pressure. The manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein the container has a structure in which at least a part thereof has a structure in which the glass diameter increases in the vertical direction. In the hollow fiber membrane module, a beverage that has undergone a step of pressurizing and adding nitrogen gas to a pressurized beverage through the hollow fiber membrane is poured into a container under atmospheric pressure, and is a method of injecting the beverage into the container. ,
A method for injecting a beverage, wherein the beverage is an alcoholic beverage containing tannin. The injection method according to claim 12, wherein the container has a structure in which at least a part thereof has a structure in which the glass diameter increases in the vertical direction. The injection method according to claim 12 or 13, which causes a flow of falling bubbles in the beverage. A beverage that is stored in a closed container and has a dissolved nitrogen content in the beverage in the range of 0.002 to 0.22 gas volume. The beverage according to claim 15, wherein the closed container is a can or a bottle. A hollow fiber membrane module having a gas phase portion, a liquid phase portion, and a hollow fiber membrane interposed between the gas phase portion and the liquid phase portion.
A gas supply unit that supplies nitrogen gas to the gas phase unit and
A beverage supply unit that supplies beverages to the liquid phase unit and
Have,
In the hollow fiber membrane module, nitrogen gas supplied to the gas phase portion by the hollow fiber membrane module is added to the beverage supplied to the liquid phase portion to produce a nitrogen-dissolved beverage.
The beverage is an alcoholic beverage containing tannins,
Beverage manufacturing equipment. The membrane area of the hollow fiber membrane is in the range of ^{0.018 m 2 or more.}
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to claim 17. The hollow fiber membrane has a skin layer and a porous layer.
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to claim 17 or 18. The hollow fiber membrane is made of a polyolefin resin.
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 19. The beverage supply unit has a beverage pressurizing unit that pressurizes the beverage to be supplied to the liquid phase unit.
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 20. The beverage pressurizing unit pressurizes the beverage flowing through the liquid phase unit in the hollow fiber membrane module in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa].
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to claim 21. The gas supply unit has a gas pressurizing unit that pressurizes the nitrogen gas supplied to the gas phase unit.
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 22. The gas pressurizing section pressurizes the nitrogen gas in the gas phase section in the hollow fiber membrane module in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 [MPa].
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to claim 23. Equipped with a beverage tank for storing beverages
The beverage supply unit supplies the beverage stored in the beverage tank to the liquid phase unit.
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 24. Equipped with a gas tank for storing nitrogen gas
The gas supply unit supplies nitrogen gas stored in the gas tank to the gas phase unit.
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 25. A cooling unit for cooling the hollow fiber membrane module, the beverage supply unit, and the gas supply unit.
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 26. The beverage is a raw material extract beverage, a soft drink or a milk beverage,
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 27. A pouring section for pouring the nitrogen-dissolved beverage into a container under atmospheric pressure is provided.
The beverage manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 28.

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