Application of ultrasound in vinification processes

An ultrasound equipment for the extraction of compounds from crushed grapes in vinification processes comprising:

• a storage adapted to hold crushed grapes;
• an ultrasound equipment comprising at least one ultrasound module, the ultrasound module comprising:
• a conduit adapted to carry out a continuous flow of crushed grapes, the conduit comprising a hexagonal pipe with narrowed ends;
• at least one sonoplate coupled to one or more external surfaces of the conduit, the at least one sonoplate adapted to transmit ultrasound energy through one or more walls of the conduit to the crushed grapes in the conduit, without contact between the crushed grapes and the at least one sonoplate, the at least one sonoplate further adapted to produce first power between 100 and 5000 W;
• a closed circuit between the storage and the ultrasound equipment, the closed circuit adapted to carry crushed grapes between the storage and the ultrasound equipment;
• a pump adapted to cause a continuous flow of crushed grapes through the conduit with or without recirculation;
• and
• a generator adapted to provide second power to the at least one sonoplate;
• wherein:
• the at least one ultrasound module develops a power density between 0.15 W/cm3 and 200 W/cm3 and a total power comprised between 2 kW 10 kW;
• the at least one sonoplate operates in a frequency ranging between 15 and 35 kHz;
• and
• the generator is a variable power generator adapted to reduce the second power provided to the at least one sonoplate in response to an increase in a temperature.