WO2010086184A1

WO2010086184A1 - Method for removing alcohol from beverages and related apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2010086184A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/000576
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcus Hertel
Original assignee: Marcus Hertel
Priority date: 2009-02-01
Filing date: 2010-02-01
Publication date: 2010-08-05
Also published as: AT507860A2; DE112010000824A5; AT507860B1; AT507860A3

Abstract

A method for removing alcohol from a beverage is described. To this end, provision is made to remove the alcohol from the beverage only at the consumer, that is to say shortly before consumption, whereby, in addition to advantages in terms of the apparatus and logistics, also the possibility is achieved of sharply increasing the number of different beverages offered from which alcohol has been removed. By way of the method according to the invention, it becomes possible in particular for small and/or medium-sized businesses to provide the beverages thereof also with the alcohol removed. The invention also relates to a removal apparatus suitable for carrying out the method.

Description

Method for dealcoholization of beverages and associated device

The invention relates to a process for dealcoholization of beverages and to a device suitable for carrying out the process. Here, a dealcoholization is understood to mean any reduction in the alcoholic strength of a drink to the point of complete removal and under ethanol ethanol.

In the past, more and more recent processes for the de-alcoholification or dealcoholization of beverages were presented, all of which have the disadvantage that the dealcoholization takes place in or near the production site of the beverage - or the beverage before bottling extra to another company, which has a Facility for reducing or removing the alcohol, must be brought to dealcoholization - and that the drink must be brought in Dealkoholisierter form to the consumer or middleman. The latter has the disadvantage that this is associated with a great logistical effort. In addition, the acquisition and operating costs for equipment for dealcoholization are so high that the purchase is not worthwhile, especially for small and medium-sized companies. As a result, these companies have to buy dealcoholized products or give up distribution.

In principle, a de- or dealcoholization can be differentiated according to two types, and there are also combinations. Essentially, there is the possibility of biological processes or of a stopped fermentation, ie the prevention or reduction of alcohol production, or a subsequent removal of the alcohol by so-called physical processes.

The most important physical processes used include thermal processes such as distillation or rectification, desorption with gases or vapors and their further development in the form of negative pressure desorption and extraction with liquids or compressed but also with supercritical gases. About that In addition, various permeation or membrane separation processes such as, for example, reverse osmosis or dialysis, including electrodialysis, are known for dealcoholization of beverages. The methods mentioned can be found in the relevant specialist literature such as, for example, [Back, W., Selected Topics of Brewery Technology, Fachverlag Hans Carl GmbH, Nuremberg, ISBN: 3-418-00802-X, 2005]. The listed dealcoholization methods can only be examples because of the variety of existing methods. Of course, the invention explained in more detail below refers to all physical methods.

According to the invention, it is now intended to carry out dealcoholization only at the consumer or middleman such as the catering trade, ie also immediately before consumption. This not only results in logistical advantages, such as the fact that the special distribution for dealcoholated drinks is eliminated. In addition, beverage manufacturers - such as breweries - no longer need to acquire equipment for dealcoholization. For consumers, when using the method has the advantage that the choice of dealcoholated drinks is greatly increased and everyone can consume his favorite drink dealcoholisiert, if it is offered alcoholic. The process therefore brings immense benefits - especially from the point of view that the consumption of dealcoholated drinks for reasons of health awareness but also for traffic-technical reasons has increased sharply and - as forecasts show - will continue to increase.

Another important advantage of the method according to the invention results from the fact that no measures for longer preservation of dealcoholated drinks must be completed. In a dealcoholation with the manufacturer due to the reduced alcohol content - alcohol acts antimicrobial - the resulting drinks must be taken further preservation measures or contamination must be avoided. A preservation is usually done by heating the bottled beverage. Due to the high temperatures, however, this leads to a negative taste change. In addition, drinks may also be exposed to radiation or added to the beverage for preservation antimicrobial or chemical substances. However, these bring with them a certain health risk. and should be avoided, in particular due to their obligation to declare and changes in consumer awareness. These disadvantages can be avoided in a Dealkoholisierung immediately before the consumption of the beverage due to the low time available for contamination, resulting in more flavor and health benefits for the drink.

"Immediately before consumption" is understood to mean that dealcoholization does not take place with the manufacturer, but with the consumer or middleman such as the catering trade - and as a rule with the following consumption immediately after consumption. For example, in buffer or storage containers, if these take place at the consumer or middleman.

In principle, a dealcoholation of a beverage can take place just before consumption just as it does with the manufacturer, with the exception that the required dealcoholization apparatus must be designed to be significantly smaller and therefore less material-intensive.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for dealcoholization is connected directly to a dispensing system. Thus, a drink can be dealcoholated during or just before serving. Thus, in particular a bypass line is provided here, via which the beverage can be passed to the dealcoholization apparatus before the beverage is squeezed out - if so desired.

Since in the dealcoholation always water escapes from the drink, the dispensing system is preferably connected to an apparatus for dilution with water, so that in the course of the process again to a certain proportion of water, in particular for redilution to the starting content, can be added.

In the case of CO ₂ -containing drinks, a desired amount of CO _{2 should be} added to the beverage again after the dealcoholization process. For this purpose, appropriate equipment such as gas lines and gas containers are provided. - A -

In a further advantageous variant of the invention, following the dealcoholization, further substances, here in particular flavorings or in some cases also the starting product, are added to the beverage. An addition of the starting product can also be used in particular to correct excessive dealcoholization. The addition of other substances, in particular flavorings, can at least partially offset the changes in the flavor of the starting product occurring in the course of dealcoholization. In the case of beer as a drink to dealcoholize, the end product may - even if the starting product was brewed according to the German Purity Law - after the addition of most other substances no longer be referred to as beer. However, since consumers know from the initial dealcoholisation of the dealcoholised beverage that the beer was produced, the term beer in this case no longer plays such an important role.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the alcohol content of the resulting beverage - in particular continuously - measured to ensure that a desired final alcohol content - optionally taking into account a dilution - is also achieved in the drink / is. The device is for this purpose connected to an apparatus for measuring the alcohol, which works for example via a density measurement.

Moreover, it is advantageous in a dealcoholization of beer, in particular, when the apparatus for dealcoholization is connected directly to a dispensing unit, since the quantities of CO ₂ required for carbonization are also available here.

If the dealcoholization is carried out at lower or higher pressures than atmospheric pressure, the device is connected to apparatus for adjusting and / or regulating the operating pressure, for example pumps or fans or control units. For the generation of a negative pressure, water jet pumps, which are connected to a water-bearing point, can be used in particular because of the conditions in dealcoholization in dispensing systems. So that the dealcoholization of the beverage takes place in the private household from bottle goods, it is advisable to pour the drink only from the bottle into a storage container, from which then the actual dealcoholization process is started.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the dealcoholization is carried out by means of a distillation, and here in particular by means of a rectification. In order to achieve low boiling temperatures, the pressure during the distillation is preferably reduced by means of suitable equipment. In the case of dealcoholization in a dispensing or dispensing plant, this is advantageously connected directly to a distillation or rectification unit.

The rectification unit may in this case be designed, for example, as a spray, bottom or packed column. Advantageously, it is designed to reduce the pressure loss and to achieve a high number of separation stages at low altitude as an ordered packing or as a rotary column.

Especially in the case of the small throughputs resulting in contrast to the industrial dealcoholization, the advantages of columns with rotating internals can be exploited here, without the disadvantages occurring in the case of large rotation columns, such as the high energy input for rotation or the effort required to achieve stable guidance Rotation device, noticeably come to fruition. The immense advantages of this type of column in terms of a low pressure drop - especially at low system pressures - and in particular on the per-unit length achievable number of separation stages (separation level) can thus be fully utilized here. The rotating column may in this case, for example, rotating inserts in the form of flat, wound to the spiral metal bands, brushed rotors, smooth cylinder with narrow gap between cylinder and column wall or rotors with rotor and stator - so-called segment columns - included. With these inserts, the return, here the drink, is thrown by the centrifugal force against the column wall, whereby it sprays aerosol-like. Thus, the rising vapor (or desorbing gas as described later) finds a large exchange surface for the required heat and mass transfer with the return. The theoretical separation number of a rotary column depends on both the throughput of the beverage as well as the speed and the shape of the rotor. Increasing the speed here causes a turbulence gain in the exchange space and thus the separation efficiency up to an optimum value. Depending on the throughput of the beverage, the optimum speed for dealcoholization is between 100 and 8000 min ^-1 , preferably between 1000 and 3000 min ^-1 . Thus, in comparison to other column types very low separation levels can be realized. Depending on the throughput, it is possible to achieve separation step heights of in some cases more than 10 separation stages per mm column height at low pressure drops. As a result, the column height can be greatly reduced with the same or improved separation performance compared to other column types, whereby the space required for a column in a dispensing or dispensing system is drastically minimized. Thus, in a rotary column with cylindrical internals at a column height of only 50 cm even at a beverage throughput of about 0.5 l / min over 30 separation stages were achieved, the alcohol content in the resulting beverage could be reduced to well below 5% of the initial value ,

In a likewise advantageous embodiment, the distillation takes place by means of membrane separation processes, here in particular by means of dialysis or reverse osmosis. In a Dealkoholisierung in a dispensing or dispensing system this is advantageously connected directly to the required membrane and the other facilities. The respective volume flows are advantageously adjusted so that a desired degree of dealcoholization of the beverage results after only one pass.

In a very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the dealcoholization takes place by means of a desorption, and in particular at reduced pressures. Because of its advantages, this embodiment is explained more clearly below:

Here, the dealcoholation is carried out by a desorption with gases, especially with air. For this purpose, a gas is passed through and / or via a drink to be dealcoholized. Ethanol is desorbed during the process from the beverage into the gas, which is then removed and optionally further steps. Because there is always a higher concentration of ethanol than water in the escaping gas due to the equilibrium that arises (ethanol has a higher Henry constant compared to the water contained), the alcohol content of the drink to be dealcoholized is reduced during the process. Due to the conditions in a desorption at atmospheric or higher pressures but a larger amount of gas is needed for the process, so that this can usually be carried out economically only by means of oxygen, which in a dealcoholation at a beverage manufacturer due to the associated oxidation of beverage ingredients on the However, since the dealcoholised drinks are consumed immediately after dealcoholization, this problem no longer exists, and consequently dealcoholization by the indicated process can also be achieved for the first time by desorption at atmospheric pressures and / or the exclusive use of air without significant oxidative changes, which is also due to the fact that dealcoholization in the dispensing system at low temperatures is required lgt.

In addition, the dealcoholation can be made even more effective by desorption by reducing the pressure during the process, which is why this further development of the desorption is extremely advantageous for the specified method. This will be explained in more detail below because of its meaning. The process variants given here can be applied mutatis mutandis to a desorption at higher pressures.

If the pressure surrounding the beverage is significantly reduced during the desorption process, the amount of gas required for dealcoholization can be drastically reduced, so that dealcoholization can be carried out economically by desorption even when inert gases are used, and thus without oxidation due to the use of air , This is especially in a temporary storage of the beverage - in a storage or buffer tank - before serving advantage. In this text, the term gas is used, since it is preferable to work with substances in the gaseous state. In principle, however, the use of "condensable gases", ie vapors, is also possible for carrying out the process, which are therefore likewise to be understood by the term gas used here.

The principle can be referred to as Niederdruckdesorption, ie as desorption at reduced ambient pressures. In this case, a gas at low pressure is passed through and / or over the beverage to be de-alcoholated or dealcoholated. By low pressures are meant pressures below the ambient air pressure, in particular below 700 mbar absolute. It also sets at low pressures between the gas phase and the liquid phase, a balance, the concentration of the ethanol in the gas phase is always higher because of the reduced pressure surrounding the drink than at prevailing atmospheric pressure or higher pressures. With suitable guidance, the bubbles flowing through the beverage during desorption are saturated with the alcohol to be removed, even at the low pressures, and the alcohol accumulates in the course of desorption from the liquid much more efficiently than would be the case at higher pressures.

The significant increase in efficiency achieved by the pressure reduction of the process given here can be explained as follows:

Between the liquid phase and the gas phase, an equilibrium is established, which can be described for the component / by the following equation (1):

y, -P = H ₉ (T) - X ₁ (1)

Here, y _{t is} the concentration (mole fraction) of the component (s) in the gaseous phase, x, the concentration of the component / liquid j in equilibrium with the concentration in the gas phase, and P the prevailing system pressure in gas and gas

Liquid phase. H _U (T) is the Henry constant of the component (s) in component j.

The Henry constant is a property of the mixture and depends strongly on the prevailing temperature T. The influence of the pressure on the Henry constant can at not too high pressures (<10 bar) are neglected. Strictly speaking, equation (1) is valid only at concentrations X ₁ <10 ^"3. At higher concentrations, the interactions (reality) in the liquid phase still have to be taken into account in the form of activity coefficients, but they differ at low concentrations of one component. in the liquid phase (<5%) does not noticeably decrease from the value of one, so that they can be neglected with a good approximation, therefore, always below is a constant Henry constant for ethanol in a beverage or in its main constituent water at a constant temperature went out.

It can be seen directly from the given equation (1) that the lower the prevailing system pressure, the higher the equilibrium concentration of a component / in the gas phase. This fact makes use of the method described here.

During a desorption process, with suitable process control, an equilibrium is established between the gas passing through and / or overflowing the gas and an equilibrium concentration of the ethanol in the resulting gas bubbles results. The method now specifically influences the level of the concentration of ethanol. By reducing the pressure, it is achieved that the concentration of ethanol in the gas phase increases sharply. Thus, in the case of a gas quantity identical to regular dealcoholization by desorption, a significantly higher amount of the ethanol from the beverage is desorbed in the case of low-pressure desorption. In other words, to deplete an identical amount of ethanol in low pressure desorption, significantly less gas must be used, which also makes the use of quality neutral inert gases for desorption economical again.

The enormous increase in efficiency resulting from the process described here for the dealcoholization of beverages and the potential savings resulting therefrom will be clarified briefly below. As can be seen from equation (1), the equilibrium concentration of the ethanol in the gas phase can be easily calculated by dissolution thereafter. With a Henry constant of ethanol in water of 0.476 bar at a desorption temperature of 30 ⁰ C is obtained for the dealcoholization of ethanol equation (2):

_ 0,476 - x,

(2) y ' ^~ P [bar]

The mole fraction of a component in the gas phase is therefore only 47.6% of the mole fraction in the liquid phase at atmospheric desorption. However, if a Niederdruckdesorption carried out at 500 mbar ambient pressure, the concentration of ethanol in the gas phase already doubles. In this respect, a low-pressure desorption at 500 mbar requires only half of the gas volume required under atmospheric conditions. If the low-pressure desorption is carried out absolutely at 100 mbar, for example, the equilibrium concentration of the ethanol in the gas already increases tenfold and consequently the required gas quantity drops to about one-tenth.

Considering Equation (2), however, another advantage becomes apparent. When the ethanol-loaded gas is returned to atmospheric or higher pressure following the desorption process, the equilibrium concentration of the ethanol at the higher pressures is significantly lower, so that the alcohol is reabsorbed from the gas, which may occur, for example, in water. In this case, with a simple adjustment of the phase equilibrium between the loaded gas and water, the amount of alcohol which was previously contained in the gas stream due to the lower pressure is also "free." This clearly shows that when the process is carried out, the alcohol desorbed from the beverage It is not necessary to recapture processes that are otherwise used, such as cold-drying, but can also easily reclaim desorbed aroma substances, as well as the alcohol-laden gas Loading with alcohol - be transferred under pressure increase in another drink, whereby this alcohol content is increased. Thus, by the specified method also alcoholic variants of drinks, such as bock beers, immediately before consumption - ie just-in-time at the consumer and not the producer - are made from the standard drinks. In contrast to a simple addition of alcohol, however, other flavorings are always dissolved in the resulting beverage, which may result in flavor benefits.

For the implementation of the dealcoholization the use of various gases is conceivable and due to the increased efficiency in contrast to the known desorption also possible or economical. In the following, we will briefly discuss the most important gases and their respective advantages. In principle, however, the use of any gas is conceivable, including those of air - optionally with the addition of other substances. For the complete avoidance of chemical reactions in the beverage and thus to avoid the need to add taste-improving substances, the process is advantageously carried out with a gas which behaves inertly. Due to the increase in efficiency, this is now also possible without any problems, in contrast to the known desorption methods.

In an advantageous embodiment, the beverage is dealcoholated by the use of nitrogen. Oxidation processes can be avoided. In addition, high purity nitrogen can be generated very easily from air. For this purpose, so-called nitrogen generators can be used, which can increase the nitrogen content of the air - depending on the version - to over 99.9%. Thus, a safe and inexpensive source of nitrogen can be ensured. In addition, nitrogen is not a greenhouse gas, so the process can also be operated in an environmentally friendly way.

Another particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is the use of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) as a gas for dealcoholization. Since carbon dioxide is available in any case when using dispensers, and since this can also continue to be used for tapping as described later, it is precisely here that the use of this gas is appropriate. Another advantage of dealcoholization of carbonated beverages is that, when using carbonated beverages, lenstoffdioxid comes as a gas to no decarbonation of the beverage, which can be dispensed with a subsequent Aufcarbonisierung. For non-carbonated beverages, however, other gases, such as nitrogen, should be used, since carbonation can be avoided.

In addition, if present, the gas present in a beverage, especially carbon dioxide, can itself be used at least for partial dealcoholation. This is possible because at low pressures less gas can be dissolved in the beverage. For this purpose, the drink can also be previously added extra gas at higher pressures.

In a further advantageous embodiment variant, the gas used is previously passed through water before it is passed into or over the beverage to be de-alcoholated or dealcoholated. This ensures that the gas can saturate with water. Thus, since the fugacity of the water in the gas fed to the beverage is equal to the fugacity of the water in the beverage, it is ideally achieved that the alcohol depletes from the liquid, but not the water. As a result, volume losses of the starting beverage can be reduced to a minimum necessary for dealcoholization. Since the equilibrium concentration of the water in the gas increases at low pressures, the gas used is advantageously passed through the water at low, here in particular at the subsequent desorption identical pressures.

In addition, it is possible to enrich the water, by which the gas is first passed, with flavorings. As a result, their proportion in the gas is increased, which is achieved that less desirable flavorings deplete from the dealcoholizing to dealcoholizing. Again, the pressure, as described, should be as low as possible.

With the use of gases, with the exception of CO _{2, there is} also a removal of carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide from CO ₂ -containing beverages. For this reason, a beverage in which CO _{2 is} desired, must be followed by the dealcoholization is re-added to CO ₂ to restore it to its original properties.

Moreover, in the desorption process, except when using water-saturated gas or steam, there is a significant depletion of the water content of the dealcoholated beverage. Furthermore, the dealcoholization inevitably results in a reduction in quantity. For these reasons, water is added to the beverage in an advantageous embodiment of the invention after dealcoholization again. The amount added depends on the properties of the beverage and may, in particular, be less than the amount of liquid extracted from the beverage. When determining the resulting ethanol content of the beverage or when adjusting the parameters of the low-pressure absorption, the reduction of the alcohol concentration by the subsequent addition of water must always be taken into account. In order to achieve a good quality of the resulting beverage, and to avoid oxidation, oxygen-free, degassed water is preferably used here.

Furthermore, it may also be advantageous to re-mix a small proportion of an identical, partially or partially alcoholized beverage.

In order to provide the necessary energy for the desorption sufficient, the gas used is increased in an advantageous embodiment of the invention to higher temperatures than that of the beverage, in particular to 50 to 18O ⁰ C. This can for example be done easily by Heizspiralen or the like. Due to the enthalpy necessary for the evaporation, higher temperatures of the gas do not cause any negative changes in the taste of the beverage, since it heats up only slightly. Thus, high temperatures of the gas can be used especially at low beverage or desorption temperatures.

The process can be carried out both continuously and in a batch process, ie batchwise. In addition, it is possible to carry out the desorption both fractionated and easy. Below is continuous here understood that each liquid element is passed only once through a device, wherein the residence time in the container is determined by the predetermined volume flow and the volume of the container. Batch procedure, however, means that in each case a container is filled in individual batches, in which the dealkoholisierende beverage is treated over a defined period of time before the container is emptied again at the end of the process.

In a batch procedure, the height of the liquid layer is advantageously kept as low as possible to avoid any foaming. In addition, the dealcoholizing beverage can be withdrawn from the device in the circuit and pumped onto the foam to smash it. Foaming is thus largely avoided. In general, foaming is negligible. This is especially true at low flow rate of the supplied gas. In addition, other methods of foam destruction, such as mechanical foam breakers or the like, may be used.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the beverage to be de-alcoholized or dealcoholated is continuously and in particular passed countercurrently with gas. For this purpose, the beverage is advantageously passed into a column which has one or more internals to enable an intensive mass transfer (separation stages). In this case, the column can be designed as a packing or tray column. In principle, every design is conceivable. However, especially in the case of dealcoholization of beverages which are prone to foaming, it is advantageous, on account of their properties, to use columns with an ordered packing.

In addition, here also advantageously columns of rotation are used. Their structure, principle and advantages are identical to those described in the rectification and can be taken from there and transferred analogously to a dealcoholization by desorption, so here is dispensed further description. The dealcoholization in a column - whether desorptive or by means of a rectification - but can also be done by means of a circulation of the beverage through one or more columns. In this case, a buffer container is advantageously interposed to maintain the concentration gradient between the alcohol present in the beverage and in the gas.

As a result of the greater depletion of the ethanol that can be achieved in a stripping column, the use of the required gas can be reduced even further than is already possible by the stated method anyway. In addition, when performing the Niederdruckdesorption - compared to Dealkoholisierungsverfahren by desorption at higher pressures - due to the efficiency increase achieved, the number of required separation stages in the column at the same gas quantities can be significantly reduced. This also makes the system can be constructed much smaller, resulting in further advantages in terms of implementation in a dispensing or dispensing system.

In order to keep the required height of the column at a high number of separation stages - and thus a further reduction in the amount of gas required - low, the drink can also be consecutively passed through several columns, in each of which fresh gas is supplied. The columns are advantageously arranged side by side here.

To carry out the process, a container for dealcoholization is connected to a dispensing or dispensing facility. If the alcohol is at least partially withdrawn from a beverage, the beverage is diverted into the container, in which the pressure is reduced, as described above. A gas is then passed through the container and the alcohol is desorbed from the beverage. Following this, the drink is again fed to a dispensing line and served. If necessary, carbon dioxide and / or water is added again beforehand. A continuous mode of operation is particularly suitable when the flow rate of the beverage to be dealcoholized is increased, that is to say, a lot is served. In particular, the column may always be partially filled with dealcoholised beverage and the The process always starts when another part of the beverage is to be dealcoholated and poured, and ends again until another is poured.

In particular, the method is suitable for dealcoholization of beer or other beverages in a dispensing system, since gas is available anyway due to the process control. Thus, the dealcoholization apparatus can be easily integrated in a bypass here.

The negative pressure in the desorption can be generated in a Dealkoholisierung shortly before consumption without expensive equipment. Since running water is already available in the dispensing area, the underpressure can easily be generated by water jet pumps or the like.

In principle, continuous driving is also possible for dealcoholization of beverages from bottles. Here, however, a batch procedure or a pumping through a small column in the circuit offers. The drink is hereby placed in a container in which a negative pressure is generated. Gas is then passed through the drink. This is done either directly in the container in which the beverage has been presented, or in the column through which the beverage is pumped. The process is similar to that described above, except that because of the smaller amount of beverage, a smaller container and less gas are needed.

With the method and the associated device, in principle, all alcoholic beverages or liquids can be completely or partially dealcoholated. In particular, the drink may be beer, wine, sparkling wine of regionally different designations, cider, berry wine or mead. Beverages containing CO ₂ are advantageously degassed before the dealcoholization.

In particular, this process can also be used for the production of beverages with only partially reduced alcohol content, such as light beers. because there are positive changes in taste compared to other methods.

The object directed to a device according to the invention is achieved by a removal device for drinks, wherein fluidically arranged between a reservoir for the beverage and a trained for drinking vessels removal device is arranged for Dealkoholisierung.

The advantages mentioned for the process for dealcoholization can in this case be transferred analogously to the device. Further advantageous embodiments of the device can be found in the subclaims formulated for this purpose.

In principle, the apparatuses used for dealcoholization are known. For a dealcoholization during the removal of the drink for immediate consumption, however, these can be made significantly smaller.

The apparatus can in principle be designed so that only dealcoholisierte drinks can be served with her.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device for dealcoholization is via a bypass line or via a branch line and corresponding valves with a main sampling line of the sampling device, such. a dispensing system, connected. This makes it possible to express a drink either normal or dealcoholated. For this purpose, advantageously, a suitable control and / or control unit is provided.

In a dealcoholization by desorption advantageously the gas is used for dealcoholization, which is also used for serving. For this purpose, the device is connected to suitable lines and connections. The gas can be recovered here and - for example, after dilution with fresh gas - continue to be used for serving alcoholic drinks. In addition, heating elements are mounted in an advantageous embodiment. In particular, the Direction may also be connected to a nitrogen generator through which nitrogen can be produced with high purity from ambient air.

Such a device advantageously has apparatus for adjusting, regulating and / or measuring the desired degree of dealcoholization. As a result, for example, the volume flow of the beverage and / or the gas can be adjusted so that the desired degree of dealcoholization results.

If the dealcoholization is to take place by thermal processes such as distillation or rectification, the device is connected to heating apparatuses which are, for example, steam-operated or electrical. In the case of dealcoholization by means of desorption of the alcohol or of the ethanol into a gas passed through, a hot apparatus for heating the gas used for desorption is preferably included.

If the dealcoholization by membrane separation take place, the device is provided with suitable membranes.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device is connected to a storage or buffer container, by which it is possible to produce a desired amount dealkoholisierten beverage in stock and store before serving. This reservoir can in particular also be used for carbonating and / or re-thinning the beverage, for which purpose it is connected to suitable further equipment, such as a CO _{2 line} or a water-carrying line.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Showing:

Fig. 1 An embodiment of a device for the dealcoholation

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device 1 for dealcoholization of beverages. The device 1 is used for dealcoholization of beverages, preferably beer, in a dispensing system directly before consumption. The device 1 um- this includes a conventional dispensing system, which is equipped with a tap 44. As a storage container for the drink, a beverage keg 47, primarily a beer keg, and a gas cylinder 48, here in particular a CO ₂ bottle, can be connected to this tap system. The gas cylinder 48 is connected via a line 65 to the beverage keg 47, which can be conveyed by the pressure generated in the beverage keg 47, the beverage via the line 60, so the main extraction line to the tap 44. The gas cylinder 48 is in this case connected to a pressure reducer 68 for adjusting the pressure in the beverage barrel 47 and the connected line 60 to the tap 44. In contrast to a conventional dispensing system, the device 1 in the line 60, a valve 56 through which the beverage can be passed via an alternative line 61, here a branch line, in the head of a Desorpti- onsbehälters 2, constructed here as a sieve tray column is. This is connected at the sump with a beverage discharge line 62, in which a pump 71 is integrated. The line 62 opens into a buffer tank 49, which in turn is connected via a line 63, in which a valve 58 is integrated, with another tap 45. The buffer tank 49 is also connected to the gas cylinder 48 with a conduit 64 in which a pressure reducer 70 is integrated. In line 64 is a valve 59. The line 65 is connected via a valve 57 to the line 66, which leads into the bottom of the column and is connected at the end to a distributor 14. To adjust the pressure and the volume flow of the gas, a pressure reducer 69 is integrated into the conduit 66. In addition, a heating apparatus 27 for controlling the temperature of the gas is integrated in line 66. The column is connected at the top via a gas outlet with a vacuum pump 51, which is constructed here as a water jet pump. To generate a negative pressure, the vacuum pump 51 is connected to a water-carrying line 54, here a faucet. The water-carrying line 54 is also connected via a line 67, which can be controlled by the valve 55, connected to the buffer tank 49.

With closed valves 56, 57 and 59, the dispensing system can be operated in a conventional manner. For this purpose, the beverage keg 47 is acted upon with pressure from the gas cylinder 48, which can be adjusted via the pressure reducer 68. Due to the pressure, the beverage is passed via the line 60 to the tap 44. at Opening the tap 44, the drink can thus be served with its original alcohol content in a corresponding drinking vessel. However, if it is desired to reduce the alcohol content of the beverage or to serve a soft drink, the valve 56 is opened, as a result of which the beverage is no longer directed to the tap 44 but instead reaches the top of the desorption container 2 via the branch line 61. By opening the water-carrying line 54, a negative pressure of about 500 mbar is set in the desorption container 2 by the vacuum pump 51. At the same time, the valve 57, which is designed so that gas can flow both into the line 65 and into the line 66, is opened, as a result of which carbon dioxide, that is CO ₂ , via the line 66 into the bottom of the column or the desorption container 2 is passed through a distributor 14. Before it is brought by the heating apparatus 73 still to a temperature of 120 ° C. The volume flow of the gas can be adjusted via the pressure reducer 69. The gas thus flows in countercurrent to the downflowing beverage in the column, whereby this is dealcoholized. Depending on the ratio of the molar amount of gas to the mass flow of beverage, a more or less strong depletion of the ethanol in the beverage is achieved. Thus, the alcohol concentration of the resulting beverage can be adjusted. At the bottom of the column, the beverage is fed by means of a pump 71 through line 62 into the buffer tank 49. This in turn is connected to a line 63 which has a valve 58 and opens into a further tap 45. Since the gas cylinder 48 is connected to another line 64, which can be acted upon by opening the valve 59 with gas, and, since the line 64 opens into the buffer tank 49, the beverage from the buffer tank 49 after opening the valve 58 - optionally after a certain carburizing time - be passed over the line 63 to the tap 45. The alcohol-containing gas is discharged in this embodiment by the vacuum pump 29, with the water jet pump leaving water and fed to the gully. Alternatively, the gas, which is almost completely freed from it by virtue of the very efficient absorption of the alcohol by the pressure difference, can also be reused, for example for tapping. The device 1 is also connected to a non-illustrated control unit through which the valves, the temperature, the flow rates of beverage and gas, the pressure in the column and / or optionally the CO ₂ recovery controlled can be. In particular, the control is designed such that all measures are taken by actuation of the tap 45 that the drink can be dispensed dealkoholisiert. In addition, the device is connected to an apparatus, not shown, for measuring the alcohol content of the resulting beverage.

By the method for dealcoholization of a beverage directly at the consumer, ie just before consumption, results in addition to equipment and logistical advantages also the possibility of greatly increasing the number of different dealcoholized drinks offered. The method according to the invention makes it possible, in particular, for small and / or medium-sized companies to dealcoholise their drinks.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

contraption

desorption tank

distributor

tap

beverage barrel

gas bottle

buffer tank

Vacuum pump

Water-bearing pipe

Valve

management

pressure reducer

pump

heating apparatus

Claims

claims

1. A method for dealcoholization of a beverage, characterized in that the beverage is dealcoholated immediately before consumption.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the beverage is dealcoholized during a dispensing or tapping process.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the dealcoholization in the form of an extraction, in particular with compressed or supercritical gases, in the form of a distillation or rectification, in particular with a relation to the atmospheric pressure reduced operating pressure, or in the form of a permeation, in particular reverse osmosis or dialysis.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the dealcoholization is carried out by a desorption, wherein the gas is passed through a gas or over.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the desorption takes place at a reduced atmospheric pressure relative to the atmospheric pressure.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that as a gas for desorption air, oxygen, carbon dioxide and / or nitrogen is passed through or over the beverage.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the carbon dioxide used for tapping or serving carbon dioxide is used.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the beverage prior to the negative pressure desorption gas, in particular carbon dioxide, is added.

9. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that alcohol is recovered from the gas leaving the beverage, in particular by a subsequent increase in the pressure at a previous negative pressure desorption.

10. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the gas is passed before passing through or passing through water.

11. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the gas before passing through or passing to a temperature higher than the beverage temperature, in particular to 50 to 180 ⁰ C, is heated.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beverage for dealcoholation is passed through a column.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the beverage to increase the mass transfer is performed by a column with rotational installations or by a packed column.

14. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that the beverage in countercurrent to the gas, in particular by a column, is performed.

15. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 14, characterized in that the negative pressure is generated by means of a water jet pump.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 15, characterized in that the drink is performed at the tap or when tapping a branch line, is dealcoholized in the branch line or in a connected Dealkoholisierungsvorrichtung, and is taken as a dealcoholated beverage.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the beverage is led to Dealkoholisierung when serving or when tapping a bypass line.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the beverage for dealcoholization during dispensing or during the tap via the branch or bypass line in a desorption vessel, where it is optionally heated by heated carbon dioxide, in particular in Gegenstromrich- flows through, and then , optionally via a buffer tank, is removed.

19. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that carbon dioxide is added to the beverage after the dealcoholization for carbonization.

20. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drink after the dealcoholation for dilution, in particular for reconstitution, water is added.

21. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that is dealcoholized as a drink beer or wine.

22, removal device (1) for drinks, in particular for carrying out a method for Dealkoholiserung according to any one of claims 1-21, characterized by a fluidically between a reservoir (47) of the beverage and a trained for drinking vessels removal point (44, 45) arranged apparatus for Dealcoholization (2).

23, removal device (1) according to claim 22, characterized in that the device for dealcoholation (2) is arranged in a bypass line to a main extraction line.

24, removal device (1) according to claim 22 or 23, which is designed as a dispensing or dispensing system, in particular for beer and / or wine.

25. A sampling device (1) according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the dealcoholization (2) as an extraction plant, in particular working by means of compressed or supercritical gases, as a distillation or rectification plant, in particular working with a respect to the atmospheric pressure reduced operating pressure, or as a permeation system, in particular working by reverse osmosis or dialysis, is formed.

26, removal device (1) according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the apparatus for dealcoholation as a desorption plant (2), in particular working at a relative to the atmospheric pressure reduced operating pressure is formed.

27, removal device (1) according to claim 26, characterized in that the desorption (2) comprises a with the reservoir (47) via a beverage supply line (61) fluidly connectable desorption container (2) having a bottom and a lid, wherein at the bottom of a Device for introducing a gas (14) and a beverage discharge line (62) are arranged, wherein the gas discharge line is provided on the lid, wherein the beverage discharge (62) fluidly, optionally with the interposition of a buffer tank (49), with the removal point (45) is connected , and optionally wherein a pump (71) for passing the beverage through the desorption plant (2) is provided.

28, removal device (1) according to claim 27, characterized in that the gas discharge is connected to a pump (51) for lowering the operating pressure.

29. Sampling device (1) according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that the device for introducing the gas (14) with a gas container used for the removal of the beverage (48), in particular for carbon dioxide, is connected.

30. A removal device (1) according to any one of claims 22 to 29, characterized in that to achieve a reduced relative to the atmospheric pressure operating pressure, a pump (51), in particular a water jet pump, is used.

31. A sampling device (1) according to any one of claims 22 to 30, characterized in that fluidly downstream of the device for dealcoholization an apparatus for Aufcarboniserung, an apparatus for dilution and / or an apparatus for measuring the alcohol content of each dealcoholiertem drink are provided.

32. A sampling device (1) according to any one of claims 22 to 31, characterized in that a control and / or regulating unit for adjusting the variable for the Dealkoholisierung parameters, the dilution, the Aufcarbonisierung, the valves, pumps and / or for the regular Barrel or tap technique is provided.

33. Withdrawal device (1) according to claim 32, characterized in that the control and / or regulating unit is designed to adjust the alcohol content of the dealcoholated beverage.

34. Removal device (1) according to any one of claims 22 to 33, characterized in that a heating apparatus (73) is included for supplied gases.

35. removal device (1) according to any one of claims 22-35, characterized in that a nitrogen generator is provided.