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(11) | EP 3 603 909 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | CORK CLEANING SYSTEM FOR ELIMINATING HALOANISOLES AND HALOPHENOLS |
| (57) The present invention relates to a cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles
and halophenols that enables vacuum pressures to the order of 10-6 mbar to be achieved, wherein the system comprises a set of metal tubes inside which
the cork is arranged, wherein the metal tubes are perforated and surrounded by conduction
heating means, such that the heat is transferred to the perforated metal tubes. In
addition, the system comprises high vacuum pumps distributed uniformly throughout
the perforated metal tubes, which facilitates the transmission of a high vacuum pressure
to all the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes. |
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols that enables the cork to be heated and vacuum pressures in the order of 10-6 mbar to be achieved.
[0002] The object of the present invention is a cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols comprising a set of metal tubes inside which the cork is arranged, wherein the metal tubes are perforated and surrounded by conduction heating means, such that the heat is transferred to the perforated metal tubes and in turn the cork. In addition, the system comprises high vacuum pumps distributed uniformly throughout the perforated metal tubes, which facilitates the transmission of a high vacuum pressure to all the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Cork cleaning systems to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols comprising a tank in which the cork to be treated is placed and a vacuum application device that is connected to the tank in order to apply vacuum pressure, are known in the state of the art.
[0004] Among the prior art is the Spanish patent ES2423255B1 which relates to an installation for carrying out a procedure for removing haloanisoles and halophenols present in the cork comprising a thermal desorption in gaseous state of the haloanisoles and halophenols present in the cork by applying a vacuum pressure, wherein the installation comprises a tank where the cork to be treated is placed and a vacuum application device that is connected to the tank for the application of the vacuum pressure.
[0005] The tank of the installation is thermally insulated and in turn comprises a cork heating device, which is preferably a heat exchanger.
[0006] A French patent FR2884750A1 is also known that relates to a device for decontaminating cork stoppers by eliminating halogenated compounds derived from anisole, preferably 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA).
[0007] These haloanisoles are highly contaminating, capable of ruining the organoleptic properties of any liquid, producing unpleasant aromas and tastes, which could be called fungal or a mould. This is very possibly due to their high volatility. Their olfactory and taste perception threshold is very low, such that a very small quantity is perceived either through taste or smell. For the case of TCA, 1.5-3 ng/l of said compound in an alcoholic solution such as wine, is sufficient to be detected.
[0008] In the device of the prior patent, the cork stoppers placed in a large vat are heated using methods such as infrared radiation, microwaves, etc. that do propagate energy through the vacuum, but these are very energetic methods, which means that they do not enable the cork stopper to be heated uniformly and cause them to deform.
[0009] In order to prevent these drawbacks, said patent shakes the stoppers using different methods such as a fixed vat with an inner rotational shaker, or a rotational vat. These devices have problems of vacuum loss, which are more relevant when working with high vacuum pressures.
[0010] The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols of the present invention enables all the aforementioned drawbacks to be resolved.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention relates to a cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols comprising:
- a set of metal tubes inside which the cork is arranged, wherein the metal tubes are perforated;
- conduction heating means that surround the perforated metal tubes to transfer heat to the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes;
- vacuum means distributed uniformly throughout the perforated metal tubes to transmit a high vacuum pressure to the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes.
[0012] The system further comprises a casing inside which the set of perforated metal tubes and the conduction heating means are arranged.
[0013] Optionally, the casing further comprises at least one gate for the insertion and/or removal of the cork inside the perforated metal tubes.
[0014] In this way, the cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols of the present invention uniformly heats and applies a high vacuum to the cork and does not have mobile parts, which prevents loss of vacuum pressure caused by, for example, rotational seals in installations with mobile parts.
[0015] The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols of the present invention is suitable for carrying out the method for eliminating haloanisoles and halophenols present in the cork of the Spanish patent ES2423255B1 that is included herein for reference.
[0016] The laboratory tests have shown that the effectiveness of the method of the Spanish patent ES2423255B1 improves when the temperature is high and the vacuum associated to a vacuum pressure is large.
[0017] The use of high temperatures is limited by the stability of the structure of the cork, such that temperatures higher than 160°C are not recommended.
[0018] The vacuum does not affect the stability of the structure of the cork, which means that large vacuums are very useful. The limitations are imposed by the size and design of the cork cleaning installation or system and by the type and characteristics of the vacuum pumps used. Vacuums in the order of 10-6 mbar are very effective.
[0019] Seemingly, the technological application of this method as a cleaning system may be simple. However, in practice there are serious challenges derived from two important facts:
- a) Cork is one of the best insulators available, which means that it conducts heat very badly and does so very slowly. This means that it is very difficult to transfer heat to the cork and maintain it uniformly hot. The uniformity of the temperature is fundamental in order for the elimination of the contaminants to be uniform throughout the cork.
- b) The vacuum, especially the high vacuum, is another perfect insulation, such that it is a medium that does not enable heat to be transferred by conduction or convection.
[0020] Moreover, when the aim is to achieve high vacuum conditions, the design of the system is very important, especially in order to achieve the same vacuum in each and every one of the points of the system, such that all the cork elements are subjected to the same vacuum.
[0021] The different position of the cork element in the system in relation to the vacuum means, the proximity of other cork elements, etc. are sufficient for there to be very significant differences in the vacuum. It must be taken into account that the propagation of the high vacuum from the vacuum means that create it to the points at which the vacuum pressure must be transmitted that are furthest from said vacuum means, or more inaccessible, will create a gradient in the very high vacuum.
[0022] All these considerations lead to the need to resolve two important problems:
- a) How to heat and maintain the temperature uniform in all the cork elements in high vacuum conditions.
- b) How to design the system so that there are no gradients in the vacuum and all the cork elements are subjected to the same vacuum.
[0023] The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols of the present invention described in this section resolves all the aforementioned problems.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] As a complement to the description provided herein and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with a preferred practical embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represent the following:
Figure 1 shows a schematic elevation view of the cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to a first exemplary embodiment.
Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols shown in Figure 2 wherein the set of perforated metal tubes and the conduction heating means have been removed from the casing.
Figure 4 shows an elevation view of Figure 2 wherein the gate for the insertion and/or removal of the cork has been removed.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The invention is preferably described for cleaning cork stoppers, although it can easily be adapted to other cork formats.
[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols comprises:
- a first set of metal tubes (1) inside which the cork, preferably in the form of stoppers, is arranged, wherein the metal tubes (1) are perforated, wherein the first set of metal tubes (1) is preferably made of aluminium, copper, brass or stainless steel;
- conduction heating means (2) that longitudinally surround the perforated metal tubes (1) to transfer heat to the cork, preferably in the form of stoppers, arranged inside the perforated metal tubes (1);
- vacuum means (3) distributed uniformly throughout the perforated metal tubes (1) to transmit a high vacuum pressure of up to 10-6 mbar to the cork, preferably in the form of stoppers, arranged inside the perforated metal tubes (1); and
- a casing (4) inside which the first set of perforated metal tubes (1) and the conduction heating means (2), preferably made of stainless steel, are arranged.
[0027] In this way, a high vacuum pressure of up to 10-6 mbar is uniformly transmitted to all the parts of the system and all the cork, preferably all the stoppers, are subjected to the same vacuum. This is achieved with the presence of the vacuum means (3) distributed uniformly throughout the perforated metal tubes (1) and with the perforation of the metal tube (1), thus facilitating the transmission of the high vacuum to all the cork stoppers.
[0028] The vacuum means (3) distributed uniformly throughout the perforated metal tubes (1) to transmit a high vacuum pressure to the cork stoppers arranged inside the perforated metal tubes (1) are connected to the casing (4) by means of connection means (5). These vacuum means (3) to transmit a high vacuum pressure to the cork are preferably turbomolecular pumps or oil diffusion pumps or cryopumps.
[0029] The system further comprises vacuum means (6) to transmit a vacuum pressure of up to 10-3 mbar to the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tube (1), which are preferably primary pumps.
[0030] Preferably, the perforated metal tubes (1) of the first set of tubes are regularly arranged, such that the distance between the centres of adjacent metal tubes (1) is constant.
[0031] Preferably, the inner diameter of the perforated metal tubes (1) of the first set of tubes is in the range of 15 to 60 mm.
[0032] Preferably, the conduction heating means (2) that longitudinally and regularly surround the perforated metal tubes (1) in the same way as the regular manner for the perforated metal tubes (1) of the first set of tubes, to transfer heat to the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes (1). The conduction heating means (2) preferably comprise a second set of metal tubes. Optionally, a set of electrical resistors, flexible heating cables or a thermal fluid is arranged through the inside of the tubes of the second set of metal tubes. Also preferably, the metal tubes of the second set of metal tubes are in direct contact with the adjacent perforated metal tubes (1) to thus facilitate the transmission of heat. Preferably, the metal tubes of the second set of metal tubes are made of aluminium, copper, brass or stainless steel and the inner diameter thereof is in the range of 2 to 12 mm.
[0033] The casing comprises two gates (6) for the insertion and/or removal of the cork, preferably in the form of cork stoppers inside the perforated metal tubes (1).
[0034] Optionally, the system comprises a third set of metal tubes (not shown), wherein the metal tubes are not perforated and have the same diameter as the metal tubes of the first set of perforated metal tubes (1), wherein the system comprises prior heating means to heat the third set of metal tubes, wherein the cork, preferably in the form of stoppers, is arranged in said third set of metal tubes prior to the arrangement thereof in the first set of perforated metal tubes (1), and wherein the first set of perforated metal tubes (1) and the third set of metal tubes are intended to be connected. The system further comprises transfer means, preferably pneumatic or mechanical, to transfer the cork, preferably in the form of stoppers, from the third set of metal tubes to the first set of perforated metal tubes (1).
[0035] Optionally, both the vacuum means (not shown) to transmit a vacuum pressure of up to 10-3 mbar, and the vacuum means (3) to transmit a high vacuum pressure of up to 10-6 mbar, are joined to the casing (4) by means of automatic valves (not shown) that enable the vacuum or high vacuum pressure to be isolated from or connected to the casing (4). As a result of these valves, it is possible to open the gates (6) to insert and/or remove the cork without the need to stop the vacuum means, thus minimising the haloanisoles and halophenols elimination times.
1. A cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols characterised in that it comprises:
- a first set of metal tubes (1) inside which the cork is arranged, wherein the metal tubes (1) are perforated;
- conduction heating means (2) that surround the perforated metal tubes (1) to transfer heat to the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes (1);
- vacuum means (3) distributed uniformly throughout the perforated metal tubes (1) to transmit a high vacuum pressure to the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes (1); and
- a casing (4) inside which the first set of perforated metal tubes (1) and the conduction heating means (2) are arranged.
2. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to claim
1, characterised in that the vacuum means (3) distributed uniformly throughout the perforated metal tubes
(1) transmit a pressure of up to 10-6 mbar to the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes (1).
3. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to any
of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vacuum means (3) distributed uniformly throughout the perforated metal tubes
(1) to transmit the high vacuum pressure to the cork stopper arranged inside the perforated
metal tubes (1) are connected to the casing (4) by means of connection means (5).
4. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to any
of the preceding claims, characterised in that vacuum means (3) to transmit a high vacuum pressure to the cork are turbomolecular
pumps, oil diffusion pumps or cryopumps.
5. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to any
of the preceding claims, characterised in that it further comprises vacuum means (6) to transmit a vacuum pressure of up to 10-3 mbar to the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes (1).
6. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to claim
5, characterised in that the vacuum means (6) to transmit a vacuum pressure of up to 10-3 mbar to the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes (1) are primary pumps.
7. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to any
of the preceding claims, characterised in that the perforated metal tubes (1) of the first set of tubes are regularly arranged,
such that the distance between the centres of adjacent metal tubes (1) is constant.
8. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to any
of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inner diameter of the perforated metal tubes (1) of the first set of tubes is
in the range of 15 to 60 mm.
9. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to any
of the preceding claims, characterised in that the conduction heating means (2) longitudinally surround the perforated metal tubes
(1) to transfer heat to the cork arranged inside the perforated metal tubes (1).
10. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to claim
9, characterised in that the conduction heating means (2) comprise a second set of metal tubes that longitudinally
and regularly surround, such that the distance between the centres of the metal tubes
of the second set of adjacent metal tubes is constant.
11. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to claim
10, characterised in that a set of electrical resistors, flexible heating cables or a thermal fluid are arranged
through the inside of the tubes of the second set of metal tubes.
12. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to any
of claims 10 or 11, characterised in that the metal tubes of the second set of metal tubes are in direct contact with the perforated
metal tubes (1) of the first set of tubes.
13. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to any
of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the diameter of the metal tubes of the second set of metal tubes is in the range
of 2 to 12 mm.
14. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to any
of the preceding claims, characterised in that the casing (4) comprises at least one gate (6) for the insertion and/or removal of
the cork.
15. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to any
of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a third set of non-perforated metal tubes, wherein the metal tubes have
the same diameter as the metal tubes of the first set of perforated metal tubes (1),
wherein the system further comprises prior heating means to heat the third set of
metal tubes, wherein the cork is arranged in said third set of metal tubes prior to
the arrangement thereof in the first set of perforated metal tubes (1), and wherein
the first set of perforated metal tubes (1) and the third set of metal tubes are intended
to be connected.
16. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to claim
15, characterised in that it further comprises transfer means to transfer the cork from the third set of metal
tubes to the first set of perforated metal tubes (1).
17. The cork cleaning system to eliminate haloanisoles and halophenols according to claim
10, characterised in that the perforated metal tubes (1) of the first set of metal tubes and/or the metal tubes
of the second set of metal tubes are made of aluminium, copper, brass or stainless
steel.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description