RU204375U1 - Automatic compact household distiller for the production of ethyl alcohol - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of engineering and technologies intended for the separation and refining of liquid multicomponent alcohol-containing mixtures in domestic conditions and providing for heating to the evaporation temperature, subsequent distillation and condensation of fermented food raw materials and obtaining a solution of ethyl alcohol as the final product. The device contains a distillation cube connected in series using tubes, which includes a heat-insulated metal body of arbitrary shape, a high-frequency induction heat source, security system sensors and a cover, a steam chamber, which includes a heat-insulated metal body of an arbitrary shape and volume, a corresponding cover, inlet and outlet pipes alcohol vapors, safety sensors, coil, cooler, including a casing of arbitrary shape and volume, a corresponding cover, a combined cooling system based on the use of Peltier elements, branch pipes for inlet and outlet of alcohol vapors, circulation of a liquid end product, a microprocessor control system based on using an ARM control module. The technical result is to provide a safe, fully automated and convenient for the end user to obtain a high-quality solution of ethyl alcohol. The technical result is achieved through the use of cloud technologies and microprocessor control, the use of an integrated cooling system, the use of effective thermal insulation materials and an induction heat source.

Description

The utility model relates to the field of engineering and technologies intended for the separation and refining of liquid multicomponent alcohol-containing mixtures in domestic conditions and providing for heating to the evaporation temperature, subsequent distillation and condensation of fermented food raw materials and obtaining a solution of ethyl alcohol as the final product.

Known Universal installation for the distillation of alcohol-containing products from patent document No. RU 154 523 U1, including a series-connected evaporator tank with a drain valve, a cylindrical vertical rectification column, consisting of a side bar fixed on the evaporator tank, a reflux condenser with an opening for steam, a refrigerator, a sensor temperature, a tap for water supply, while the evaporator tank is equipped with an induction heater and a removable lid, the rectification column is installed on the side wall of the evaporator tank, is collapsible and consists of a lower drawer side, inside which there is a removable set of fractionating discs, a drawer drawer for a steam box, connected to it by two branch pipes with taps, between which there is a damper made with the possibility of turning on an axis, tsar for selection of the tail fraction, tsar for selection of ethyl alcohol, dephlegmator for selection of the head fraction, while tsar for selection of the tail fraction, tsar for selection of ethyl alcohol and dephlegmator are connected with refrigerators by means of branch pipes with taps, refrigerators have drain holes for alcohol, while the drain of the refrigerator for the selection of ethyl alcohol is equipped with a charcoal filter and a sump with a hydrometer, all heat-generating surfaces of the unit have an insulating coating "Korund", the unit is equipped with a control panel for automatic regulation temperature and is located on a support with the ability to move. The disadvantages of this device are its large dimensions, which reduces the ease of use of the installation, especially in domestic conditions, as well as the weak autonomy of the process.

Known Device for distillation of mash from patent document RU 2 255 973 C2, containing an evaporation tank for heating and vaporization of mash, a refrigerator for running water, made in the form of a container with a conical bottom, a collection of the finished product. The disadvantages of this device are that its use requires constant monitoring by the user, in addition, the use of the device is unsafe due to the lack of automated control over the performance of the device.

Known bidistiller (patent document RU 2 656 313 C2) with two stages of distillation. Each distillation stage includes an evaporation chamber, a condensation chamber equipped with a condenser, a separator, pipelines and branch pipes, and a control unit. The original tap water that has passed through the first stage condensation chamber enters the first stage evaporation chamber. When the required level is reached, the electric heating element is automatically turned on. The distillate obtained in the first stage is fed into the evaporation chamber of the second stage. When the required distillate level is reached in the second stage evaporation chamber, the electric heating element is automatically switched on, and the electric valve for water supply to the second stage condensation chamber opens. The closing of the electric valve occurs when the electric heating element of the second stage is turned off. To reduce the temperature of the obtained bidistillate, a cooler is installed at the outlet of the second stage. The double distiller has the ability to take the distillate after the first stage. The disadvantages of the presented device are a narrow field of application (obtaining distilled water mainly for use in medicine), automation of the processes of transition to the stages of distillation does not provide full control of the safety system of the device.

Known Distiller using an induction heat source from patent document KR1018713200000, used for the distillation of alcohol-containing products in order to obtain alcoholic beverages. An induction heat source heats the container with alcohol-containing products, facilitating the evaporation of alcohol that collects in the external container. The device is equipped with an automated heating temperature control system, as well as, in some embodiments, a protective block against the magnetic field of the induction heating vessel. The disadvantages of this device are a complex heating system due to the use of induction coils, the lack of a special cooling system.

The known Method of automated control of the alcohol column of the distillation unit from the patent document RU0002534351, characterized by the fact that the pressure in the lower part of the alcohol column is regulated by supplying heating steam to the column, the alcohol selection is controlled from one of the upper plates of the column, the value of which is adjusted as a function of the difference the set and current values of the temperature of the vapor phase above the control plate of the column, regulation of the flow rate of cooling water entering the dephlegmator of the alcohol column is carried out, and the flow of cooling water into the dephlegmator of the alcohol column is adjusted as a function of the difference between the set and current values of the condensate temperature at the outlet of the dephlegmator of the alcohol column. The disadvantage of this device is its complex structure and size, suggesting only industrial use without the possibility of domestic use.

Known is a distillation device according to patent document WO2009018874, comprising a heat-heated flask with a liquid, a heated piston of an evaporator for absorbing a product to be evaporated; a cooled condensing piston for condensing the distillate from the product into condensate; and a drive for moving the evaporator piston, in which the gas chambers of the evaporator piston and the condenser bulb are in fluid communication with each other. The evaporator piston and condenser piston are rigidly connected to each other. The cooling system in the device is implemented using Peltier elements. The disadvantages of this device are its narrow application (it is used for the distillation of a small amount of liquid, mainly for work in laboratories), the absence of an automated control system for the distillation process.

Known Fractional distillation apparatus according to patent document KR100576843, which is a device of a distillation column and a plurality of trays located in a multistage column, a fractional distillation apparatus using thermoelectric elements, consisting of evaporating and condensing parts. The disadvantages of this device are its complex composition, which presupposes mainly industrial rather than domestic use, the lack of automated control over the distillation processes.

Known Distiller for the production of alcohol (patent document CN2431287) in a domestic environment. The device has a small size, contains a distillation cube, a coil, a condenser. The disadvantage of this device is the need to control the process of alcohol production by users.

The closest analogue of the claimed device is a Distiller based on the use of Peltier elements from patent document US20020130029. This device contains heating and condensation sections, between which Peltier elements are placed in such a way that they provide both heating of water in the corresponding sector and its cooling with condensation on the other side. The disadvantage of this device is its narrow applicability (water distillation), the absence of an automated control system for the distillation process.

The claimed technical solution is intended to eliminate the identified shortcomings, to provide a safe, fully automated and convenient for the end user to obtain a high-quality solution of ethyl alcohol.

Figure 1 shows a diagram of a general view of the claimed technical solution. The device contains a distillation cube (1), a steam chamber (2), a coil (3), a cooler (4) connected in series with the help of tubes.

The alembic can be made of metals and alloys used in the food industry: stainless steel, copper, aluminum, or a material of similar properties. The alembic contains a body of arbitrary shape and volume, a corresponding lid (5) and a heat source (6). The lid, with the help of a food-grade polymer sealant, hermetically closes the volume of the distillation cube and the steamer, in the volume above the distillation cube it has an inclined surface to set the direction of the evaporated gases, and the sealed cavity inside the lid additionally serves as a heat insulator, contains nozzles designed to be connected to the distillation cube of the steamer in a detachable way through the coil tube. The heat source (6) is a high-frequency induction heater with a power supply installed under the bottom of the alembic outside the volume of the alembic. The distillation still contains a safety valve and a temperature and pressure sensor designed to measure the temperature and pressure of the vapor inside the distillation still body. Also, the distillation cube may additionally contain safety elements: a sensor for setting the distillation cube in the operating position, a sensor for closing the lid, one or more liquid level sensors, an alcohol vapor concentration sensor, a liquid leakage sensor, a gas leak sensor. Signals from all sensors are received and processed by the microprocessor ARM-module of the control system (the control system diagram is shown in figure 2). A set of sensors and a safety valve form a system of passive and active protection of the device. The number, location, type of installation and switching of elements of the security system may vary depending on the design and operational features of the device. Also, the alembic can additionally contain a device for quick removal from the device body. The distillation still body is thermally insulated (7) with a mineral heat insulator, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, foam glass or similar non-combustible, environmentally friendly materials with low thermal conductivity.

The dry pot can be made of metals and alloys used in the food industry: stainless steel, copper, aluminum or a material similar in properties. Sukhoparnik contains a housing of arbitrary shape and volume, a corresponding cover, branch pipes for supply and removal of alcohol vapors. The lid, using a food-grade polymer sealant, hermetically closes the volume of the steam chamber, contains branch pipes designed to be connected to the still and the cooler in a detachable way, for internal connections in a one-piece way, while the branch pipes for supplying alcohol vapors are below the outlet branch pipes. The steam chamber can contain one, two or more independent sealed volumes, the supply and output of alcohol vapors to which is carried out by opening / closing the valves. Outside the steam box body, but inside the device body, air fans can be located, which reduce the temperature of the steam box by blowing. The steamer is integrated into the safety system of the steamer, but can be additionally equipped with a safety valve, temperature and pressure sensors designed to measure the temperature and vapor pressure inside the casing of the steamer. Also, the steam bath may additionally contain safety elements: one or more liquid level sensors, an alcohol concentration sensor, a liquid leakage sensor, a gas leakage sensor. Signals from all sensors are received and processed by the ARM microprocessor module of the control system. The number, location, type of installation and switching of elements of the security system may vary depending on the design and operational features of the device. The removable cover of the dry steamer provides access to the inside of the dry steamer for cleaning and loading the inside of the steamer with products that impart aromatic properties to the final product, for example, fruits, dried fruits or herbs. The body of the dry chamber is thermally insulated (7) using a mineral heat insulator, foam, polyurethane foam, foam glass or similar non-combustible, environmentally friendly materials with low thermal conductivity.

The coil is a spirally wound tube made of metals and alloys used in the food industry: stainless steel, copper, aluminum or a material similar in properties. The coil is located above the lid of the distillation cube, has a slope relative to the horizontal plane, and is connected to the branch pipes of the distillation cube and the steam chamber by a detachable method. The number of turns, the inner diameter and the wall thickness of the tube may vary depending on the design and operational features of the device.

The cooler can be made of metals and alloys used in the food industry: stainless steel, copper, aluminum or a material of similar properties. The cooler contains a housing of arbitrary shape and volume, a corresponding lid (8), a combined cooling system (9), branch pipes for the supply and removal of alcohol vapors, and circulation of the liquid end product. The cooler cover can contain a removable flow-through filter element (a membrane or bulk filter can be used, the composition of the filter material can be any), a removable cooler cover allows cleaning the cooler body from the inside. Inside the cooler case, there may be additionally cooling plates located at an angle to the horizontal surface of the device, ensuring free rolling of drops of the liquid end product, made of metals and alloys used in the food industry: stainless steel, copper, aluminum or a material similar in properties (optional , a functional thin film coating can be applied to the surface of the material of the cooling plates). The cooler can be equipped with a temperature sensor, one or more liquid level sensors, an alcohol vapor concentration sensor, a liquid leakage sensor, a gas leakage sensor. Signals from all sensors are received and processed by the microprocessor ARM-module of the control system. The number, location, type of installation and switching of elements of the security system may vary depending on the design and operational features of the device.

The cooling system used in this device is combined. The system is based on the principle of thermoelectric energy conversion using Peltier modules (or a combination of modules). The first part of the system serves for cooling and thermal stabilization of the cooler body and for condensing vapors on the inner surface of the cooler body and cooling plates. For the implementation of the second part of the cooling system, a tube is additionally located at the bottom of the cooler body, which serves to take the liquid end product, move it with a pump through an external heat exchanger and throw the cooled condensate back into the cooler onto the cooling plates, and when using a tee and valve system, supply into the outlet dispenser of the device (10). Any number of Peltier modules can be used for implementation, depending on the tasks containing any number of cascades, Peltier modules can have different technical designs, materials such as aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride ceramics, metal with a ceramic coating, and similar materials can be used as heat conductors. materials, or without heat conductors (using dielectric functional coatings). Thermal stabilization of the heat-generating side of Peltier modules (or a combination of modules) can be carried out by natural air cooling (11), air cooling with forced blowing of fans (12), water cooling in a closed loop. Modules (or combination of modules) Peltier can be optionally equipped with a dew point sensor. The power supply of the above Peltier modules can additionally be carried out using the technologies of pulse-width modulation and (or) PID control.

The tubes that connect all the elements of the device can be made of materials used in the food industry: stainless steel, copper, aluminum or a metal or alloy similar in properties, glass, various types of plastic or other material with similar properties.

The device has an automatic control system (the diagram is shown in Figures 2-3), consisting of a control board - an AMR central processor, a system of sensors and actuators. In figure 2, the numbers indicate:

13 - AMP central processing unit

14 - large vat 15 - small vat

16 - weather station

17 - leakage sensor

18 - alcohol sensor

19 - liquid level sensor

20 - liquid level sensor BK

21 - TFT screen with sensor

22 - pressure sensor

23 - inductor sensor

24 - system of automatic restart of the CPU in case of freezing

25 - block of transistors

26 - fans

27 - relay block

28 - diaphragm pump

29 - cooling pump

30 - pumping pump

31 - valve

32 - thermoelectric module (TEM)

33 - thermocouple

34 - ARM microprocessor

The control system ensures the autonomous and safe operation of all systems and elements of the device - induction heating and temperature stabilization in the distillation cube, ensuring the operation of the combined cooling system, passive and active protection systems. According to the algorithm specified by the software (examples of algorithms are presented in figure 3), an automatic interrogation and calibration of all installed sensors are performed, control signals are generated and transmitted via communication channels to the actuators. The control system has the ability to remotely control and alert the user, exchange data with cloud services to adjust the work program, and is equipped with an emergency stop system.

Utility model dynamics.

A distillation cube with a previously prepared alcohol-containing mixture, with a certain concentration of ethyl alcohol, is installed in the device, closed with a sealed lid, and connected to the gas mains. When the distillation procedure is started on the device or on the control panel, an automatic check of the safety sensors is performed - the installation of the distillation still, the closing of the lid, the level (and concentration) of the alcohol-containing liquid. After that, the control system for the induction heater and the first stage of the cooling system is turned on. The distillation still and its contents are heated to a temperature of 75 ° C, while there is an intense release of alcohol vapors, which, under the influence of the excess pressure created in the sealed distillation still, moves along the coil tube through the steam supply pipe to the dry steamer body. Condensation of alcohol vapors occurs inside the body of the steam boiler, and due to the continuous supply of heat supplied with the mixture of vapors, the condensate re-boils. The re-formed vapors are directed to the vapor outlet, and the lighter fractions, the boiling point of which is lower than the boiling point of alcohol, remain at the bottom of the steam box body, and the pumping of vapors through the steam box is blocked by a valve. In the presence of additional independent volumes of the dry chamber, each volume is sequentially filled and sealed. The temperature sensor allows the temperature of the re-formed steam to be monitored. Then the vapors move from the steam chamber through the tube to the cooler body. The process of phase transition of vapors into liquid, which occurs in the cooler, is accompanied by the release of heat, which is absorbed by the two-level cooling system - at the first stage on the walls of the cooler and inclined plates, and when a sufficient amount of condensate is accumulated, by pumping it through an external heat exchanger cooled by thermoelectric Peltier modules ...

After passing through an external heat exchanger, the final liquid product passes through a filter element located in the cooler cover. Changes in temperature, vapor pressure, concentration of the final product are recorded by sensors that transmit information signals to the control board. The control board collects and analyzes the information received, generates and sends the corresponding control signal to the executing devices and mechanisms, and also exchanges information with the user through the screen and the mobile application. The resulting product is cooled to a comfortable temperature for use and is fed to the user through the dispenser. After stopping the process and cooling to room temperature, the distillation cube is removed from the device, the remaining raw materials are removed from the distillation cube, and if necessary, cleaning is carried out.

Submitted for registration Automatic compact household distiller for the production of ethyl alcohol provides a safe, fully automated and convenient for the end user to obtain a high quality solution of ethyl alcohol. The technical result is achieved due to the following features:

microprocessor control and management of each stage of the distillation process and, accordingly, no need for manual control and constant presence of the user;

use of a combined cooling system based on thermoelectric energy conversion;

use as a heat source of a high-frequency induction heater located outside the alembic, which has low energy consumption, low thermal inertia, and high service life;

the use of effective heat-insulating materials can significantly reduce the weight and size characteristics of the device, converting it into the category of compact desktop household appliances;

the use of cloud technologies and microprocessor control allows the device to be classified as a new class of Internet devices and integration into the “smart home” system.

Claims (7)

1. Automatic compact household distiller for the production of ethyl alcohol, containing a distillation cube connected in series by means of tubes, including a heat-insulated metal case, a high-frequency induction heat source, a safety valve and a lid, a steam chamber, including a heat-insulated metal case, a corresponding lid, branch pipes supply and removal of alcohol vapors, coil, cooler, including a housing, a corresponding cover, a cooling system based on the use of Peltier elements, branch pipes for supply and removal of alcohol vapors, circulation of a liquid end product, characterized in that the distillation still contains a temperature and pressure sensor ; the distillation cube and dry chamber are equipped with an automated security system; The claimed device contains a microprocessor control system based on the use of an ARM control module; the cooling system of the claimed device is a combined one, consisting of Peltier elements, a tube for intake of the liquid end product, a pump for moving the liquid back to the cooling plates of the Peltier elements. 2. Automatic compact household distiller for the production of ethyl alcohol according to claim 1, characterized in that the distillation cube contains a sensor for setting the distillation cube in the operating position, a sensor for closing the lid, one or more liquid level sensors, an alcohol vapor concentration sensor, a liquid leakage sensor, gas leakage sensor. 3. Automatic compact household distiller for the production of ethyl alcohol according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the steam boiler is equipped with a safety valve, temperature and pressure sensors. 4. Automatic compact household distiller for the production of ethyl alcohol according to claim 1, or 2, or 3, characterized in that the cooler is equipped with a temperature sensor, one or more liquid level sensors, an alcohol vapor concentration sensor, a liquid leakage sensor, a gas leakage sensor. 5. Automatic compact household distiller for the production of ethyl alcohol according to claim 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, characterized in that the Peltier elements are additionally equipped with a dew point sensor. 6. Automatic compact household distiller for the production of ethyl alcohol according to claim 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, characterized in that the electrical power supply of the Peltier modules is additionally carried out using the technologies of pulse-width modulation and PID control. 7. Automatic compact household distiller for the production of ethyl alcohol according to claim 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, characterized in that the electrical power supply of the Peltier modules is additionally carried out using the technology of pulse-width modulation or PID control.

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