Microwave distillation

An apparatus for continuously producing concentrated alcohol from beer, comprising:

• a plurality of similar concentrator cells and a plurality of similar salvage cells arranged in side-by-side inline relation and each cell being adapted to contain a predetermined amount of liquid beer, one of said concentrator cells being disposed adjacent one of said salvage cells,
• a supply conduit connected to the first upstream concentrator cell for supplying liquid beer thereto,
• means defining a passage between adjacent concentrator cells, between adjacent salvage cells and between said one concentrator and salvage cells to permit liquid beer to flow from each cell to the next adjacent downstream cell in response to the volume of beer reaching a predetermined level in each cell,
• a plurality of microwave units each being positioned in one of said concentrator and salvage cells, each unit producing microwave emissions to heat the beer and cause the alcohol to boil and vaporize,
• means defining a fluid conduit between each adjacent concentrator cell, said fluid conduit having one end thereof located above the level of beer in one concentrator cell and having the other end thereof located below the level of beer in the adjacent upstream concentrator cell whereby gaseous alcohol be bubbled continuously in an upstream direction through the fluid conduits and through the liquid beer for collection into the first concentrator cell,
• a plurality of collector pipes each communicating with one of said salvage cells and with each other for collecting gaseous alcohol and water vapor from said salvage cells, a conduit for returning said gaseous alcohol and water vapor for recycling through the concentrator cells,
• a concentrator column communicating with the upper end of said first upstream concentrator cells to concentrate the gaseous alcohol emanating from said first concentrator cell,
• and a condenser for condensing the gaseous alcohol to a liquid solution containing approximately 95% alcohol and approximately 5% water.