Purification of carbon dioxide for use in brewing
AssigneeKims Developments Limited
InventorsEdward J. Perry, Anthony R. Coleman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for producing substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide, and subsequently re-evaporating the substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide to produce substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide from impure carbon dioxide gas which is produced during the fermentation step of a brewing process or has been used as an overgas in a brewing plant, the substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide being for use in carbonating the brewed product or as an overgas in the brewing plant. The process comprises the steps of: (a) removing impure carbon dioxide gas from the brewing plant; (b) pressurizing the impure carbon dioxide gas. The present invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the process.
Claims14
A process for producing substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide, and subsequently re-evaporating the substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide to produce substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide, from impure carbon dioxide gas which is produced during the fermentation step of a brewing processor or which has been used as an overgas in a brewing plant, the substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide being for use in carbonating the brewed product or as an overgas in the brewing plant, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) removing impure carbon dioxide gas from the brewing plant;
- (b) pressurizing the impure carbon dioxide gas;
- (c) cooling the pressurized impure carbon dioxide gas so as to produce substantially pure pressurized liquid carbon dioxide and gaseous impurities;
- (d) removing the gaseous impurities from the substantially pure pressurized liquid carbon dioxide;
- (e) expanding the substantially pure pressurized liquid carbon dioxide thereby lowering its pressure and temperature and producing residual substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide and substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide;
- (f) evaporating the residual substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide to produce additional substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide, the evaporation step (f) and the cooling step (c) each at least partially being carried out in the respective one of two opposing sides of a heat exchanger such that evaporation of the residual substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide cools the pressurized impure carbon dioxide gas;
- and
- (g) feeding the substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide produced in step (e) and/or in step (f) to the brewing plant.
An apparatus for producing substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide, and subsequently re-evaporating the substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide to produce substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide, from impure carbon dioxide gas which is produced during the fermentation step of a brewing process or which has been used as an overgas in a brewing plant, the substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide being for use in carbonating the brewed product or as an overgas in the brewing plant, the apparatus comprising:
- means for removing impure carbon dioxide gas from the brewing plant;
- means for pressurizing the impure carbon dioxide gas;
- a heat exchanger having a first side in which the pressurized impure carbon dioxide gas is cooled so as to produce substantially pure pressurized liquid carbon dioxide and gaseous impurities;
- means for removing the gaseous impurities from the substantially pure pressurized liquid carbon dioxode;
- means for expanding the substantially pure pressurized liquid carbon dioxide thereby lowering its pressure and temperature and producing residual substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide and substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide;
- means for introducing the residual substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide into a second side of the heat exchanger opposite the first side and in which the residual substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide is evaporated to produce additional substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide, the arrangement being such that the evaporation of the residual substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide in the second side cools the pressurized impure carbon dioxide gas in the first side;
- and
- means for feeding the substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide produced in the means for expanding and/or in the second side of the heat exchanger to the brewing plant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.