System and method for yeast separation in alcoholic beverage production using acoustic transducers
AssigneeApplied Physics, Inc.
InventorsGianni Martire, Ed Rietman, Matthew C. Ellis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for separating yeast cells from alcoholic beverages post-fermentation, through acoustophoresis facilitated by piezoelectric transducers. The system creates controlled acoustic pressures, disrupting the yeast cells effectively and thus enhancing the clarity and quality of the beverage without compromising its flavor profile. This improvement is particularly significant in maintaining the original taste of the beverage while ensuring high operational efficiency.
Claims11
A system for separating yeast, during production, from alcoholic beverages, the system comprising:
- a fermentation tank configured to:
- receive one or more fermentable ingredients;
- and
- produce, through fermentation of the one or more fermentable ingredients, an alcoholic beverage;
- and
- an acoustophoresis tank, wherein the acoustophoresis tank is separate from the fermentation tanks, and wherein the acoustophoresis tank comprises:
- one or more piezoelectric transducers integrated with the acoustophoresis tank, the one or more transducers being capable of generating acoustic pressures to disrupt yeast cells within the alcoholic beverage;
- a control unit coupled to the one or more piezoelectric transducers, wherein the control unit is configured to control operation of the one or more piezoelectric transducers;
- and
- a yeast settling tank coupled to the acoustophoresis tank;
- and
- wherein the acoustophoresis tank is configured to:
- receive a portion of the alcoholic beverage from the fermentation tank;
- apply, by the one or more transducers, acoustic pressure to the received portion of the alcoholic beverage;
- clarify the received portion of the alcoholic beverage, wherein the clarification process comprises:
- collecting, in the yeast settling tank, yeast cells disrupted by the acoustic pressure generated by the one or more transducers within the acoustophoresis tank, and wherein the clarification produces a clarified portion of the alcoholic beverage;
- recirculating the clarified portion of the alcoholic beverage from the acoustophoresis tank to fermentation tank;
- and
- producing, by combining the clarified portion of the alcoholic beverage with the alcoholic beverage remaining in the fermentation tank, a filtered alcoholic beverage;
- determining, by the control unit, a level of clarity of the filtered alcoholic beverage;
- performing, based on the determined level of clarity of the filtered alcoholic beverage, an additional clarification process;
- and
- halting the clarification process when the determined level of clarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
A method for separating yeast from alcoholic beverages during production, wherein the method is configured to:
- transfer, from a fermentation tank to an acoustophoresis tank, a portion of the alcoholic beverage;
- generate, by one or more piezoelectric transducers integrated with the acoustophoresis tank, acoustic pressures to disrupt yeast cells within the alcoholic beverage;
- clarify the transferred portion of the alcoholic beverage, wherein the clarification process comprises:
- applying the generated acoustic pressure to the transferred portion of the alcoholic beverage;
- collecting, in a yeast settling tank, yeast cells disrupted by the generated acoustic pressure;
- and
- recirculating a clarified portion of the alcoholic beverage from the acoustophoresis tank to the fermentation tank, wherein the clarified portion of the alcoholic beverage comprises the transferred portion of the alcoholic beverage without the collected yeast cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.