Patent Application
20190185806
The present disclosure is related to a level and density sensor device for vessels suitable for storing liquids, in particular barrels or vats, more in particular barrels or vats for storing or producing wine.
The wine-making process is a set of technical operations allowing the transformation of grapes into wine and comprising several steps among which wine fermentation, ageing and storage steps in barrels/tuns/casks/vats or other vessels suitable for the purpose.
Offline control by sampling means is the most common form of controlling the wine-making process, namely for controlling the density.
The control of the wine level, when stored in barrels, normally implies opening the barrel, removing the stopper, for verifying the existing space between the top of the barrel and the liquid level.
Controlling the level is essential for ullage, which consists of resetting the level for compensating the losses occurred through gaseous exchange, which usually occurs every 2/3 months. It is estimated that each barrel loses 7 to 11 litres of wine, depending on the environmental conditions.
Gaseous exchanges are directly related to the wine oxygen dissolution, with various redox reactions occurring, which will form unstable compounds, leading to changes in colour and wine astringency and contributing to the ethanol oxidation to acetaldehyde, being that the acetaldehyde contributes afterwards to the copolymerisation of the flavonoids and anthocyanins.
The existence of an excessive air pocket promotes wine oxidation. Therefore, the wine level control is related to the quantity of available oxygen.
In the alcoholic fermentation step (transformation of sugars into alcohol) measuring the liquid density (must) is one of the ways of controlling the activity of yeasts, allowing for accompanying the fermentation progress.
These facts are described so as to illustrate the technical problem solved by the embodiments of this document.
The present disclosure is related to a level and/or density sensor device for vessels suitable for storing liquids, in particular barrels or vats, more in particular barrels or vats for fermenting, storing and producing wine.
Offline control by sampling means is the most common way of controlling the wine-making process. However, this way of control, by sampling, translates into a process that:
The importance of knowing at every moment what is the level and density of the liquid contained in a cask/tun/barrel/vat, relates to the following aspects:
Controlling the level and density of the liquid contained in a cask/tun/barrel/vat is a complex and lengthy process for being carried out manually, considering, for example, that each barrel vat may contain a different liquid, or be in a fermentation/ageing stage different than the remaining barrels/vats, that is, there may exist a plurality of different needs for the various barrels/vats. Therefore, this problem is solved with the present disclosure through the implementation of the sensor device disclosed herein in each barrel vat.
Solutions currently existing in the market present the following limitations: don't allow for an automated/in real time monitoring (buoy solution); present a high cost reducing economic viability; are affected by the deposition of sediments/particles (crystallisation effects), needing a regular maintenance (capacitive/pressure sensors with membranes in direct contact with the liquid); operation ranges outside the necessary requirements (ultrasounds distances>300mm) and insufficient resolutions (>1 mm ultrasounds).
The advantages of the present disclosure comprise:
In an embodiment, it is possible to control the following parameters in real time: level, density, temperature, pH, turbidity, colour, sugar and alcohol quantity contained in the vessel/barrel/tun/cask/vat, namely through the use of additional sensors.
Embodiments of the present disclosure comprise the possibility of controlling the various parameters aforementioned more than once; sending notifications when the monitored parameters are outside the limits defined by the user; real time monitoring; wireless communication; detecting anomalies, detecting typical profiles, comparing history data, data mining, big data algorithms, anticipating/forecasting maintenance tasks, production management, increasing energy efficiency.
The present disclosure allows measuring the hydrostatic pressure of a liquid contained, for example, in a barrel without having to open it, since the variation of the hydrostatic pressure between two points, one situated on the free surface of the liquid and another situated in the point from which the measurement is intended to be carried out (level measurement). Therefore, avoiding opening the barrel also translates into the following advantages: avoiding excessive gaseous exchanges leading to the excessive dissolution of oxygen leading to the formation of compounds, resulting from redox reactions, increasing the risk of loss of the quality potential or even the total loss of the product.
The present disclosure is related to the hydrostatic pressure, that is, it is related to the forces exerted by and on fluids at rest and relates to a level or density sensor device for barrels/sensorised stopper for barrels or vats, in particular a differential pressure sensor allowing for determining the level of a liquid contained in a vessel suitable for storing liquids, in particular, wine and also allowing for determining the density of said liquid contained in the vessel/barrel.
The hydrostatic pressure is determined by Stevin's theorem. The operating principle of the level measurement by the sensorised stopper is based on Stevin's theorem: P=ρyh wherein P corresponds to the hydrostatic pressure created by a column of liquid, ρ corresponds to the density of the liquid in kg/m3, g corresponds to the gravity acceleration in m/s2, h corresponds to the liquid height/level above the measure point in metres. By measuring the value of P and considering that the value of ρ and g are constant after the calibration has been made, it is possible to obtain the value of k which in this case represents the level of the liquid inside the barrel.
In order to obtain the value of the differential hydrostatic pressure in the liquid (ΔP) a differential pressure sensor is used, which measures the air or liquid pressure (
Considering a point in the top of the barrel (in the air pocket) and another in the end of a tube dived into the liquid, the hydrostatic pressure is transmitted to the sensor through air that stays “captured” inside the tight tubes connected to the differential pressure sensor. Therefore, the differential pressure sensor compares the pressure between the air pressure inside the barrel and the air pressure in the tube end, with possibility of the differential pressure sensor being situated at the top of the barrel, namely integrated in a stopper, which simplifies the device construction and operation, namely sparing two sensors.
The equation necessary for measuring the density, in the particular case of using two tubes with a Δh, is said Stevin's theorem. If the values of g and Δh are deemed constant and the value of ΔP is measured, it is possible to obtain the value of ρ, which in this case is the value of the liquid density.
The compensation of temperature causing the pressure of the air pocket to vary applies to both sides of the difference.
In an embodiment, if there is temperature variation inside the barrel, the air “captured” inside the measurement tubes expands, as a result of the temperature increase, or in opposition it contracts in case the temperature decreases. This leads to a variation of the hydrostatic pressure without a variation of the level, giving rise to a reading error.
This fact makes it necessary to acquire the temperature and compensate it for making the level measurement immune to that variation of the pressure inside the measurement tube.
In an embodiment, the “meniscus” effect is described and avoided, namely the weight thereof in the exact determination of the density, as well as other effects (dissolved gas). If the liquid inside the vessel releases gas (phenomenon occurring during the fermentation, resulting from the activity of yeasts), it may accumulate in the ends of the tube or tubes in case 2 tubes are dived in. The “meniscus” effect leads to the appearance of a “bubble” in the lower end of the measurement tube which releases itself whenever it has sufficient size for that to happen. This situation translates into a variation of the hydrostatic pressure without a variation of the level of the liquid or density thereof, thereby introducing a reading error. The bigger the “bubble” that can be accumulated by the “meniscus” effect, the bigger the introduced error. For minimising this error, the end of the tubes must have such a shape that it minimises the “meniscus” effect.
The present disclosure relates to a sensor device that may have the simultaneous function of vessel stopper or other format convenient to the installation, for measuring through a hydrostatic pressure difference, the volume or the density of a liquid contained in the vessel, wherein said sensor device comprises:
The present disclosure also relates to a sensor device of hydrostatic pressure difference for measuring volume or density of a liquid contained in a vessel, wherein said sensor device comprises:
In an embodiment, it is foreseen the introduction of air into the measurement tubes (tube(s) for diving into the liquid), being that such air may be introduced through one or more air injectors, such as for example: air pumps, bottles with compressed air or any other pressurisation form.
The air injector allows for the air column and meniscus thereof to be reconstructed in a given measurement tube, before carrying out measure, for expelling the liquid that has introduced in the interior of the tube throughout time (for example, due to air leakages in the tube or in the pressure sensor); it also allows for expelling air from the tubes whenever necessary for removing any dirt, that has introduced in the tubes, through air injection.
In an embodiment, the sensor device may measure, through a hydrostatic pressure difference, the density of the liquid contained in the vessel wherein said sensor device may comprise:
In an embodiment, the sensor device may measure the volume and density of the liquid contained in the vessel, being that the sensor device may comprise:
In an embodiment, the first or the second differential hydrostatic pressure differential sensor may comprise two non-differential pressure sensors and a differentiator for providing the difference between the pressures measured by the two non-differential sensors.
In an embodiment, the sensor device disclosed herein may comprise an additional tube for protecting the second inlet of the first hydrostatic pressure differential sensor.
In an embodiment, one or more of each tube, in particular of all the tubes, has an air injector for injecting air into the corresponding tube.
In an embodiment, the sensor device herein disclosed may comprise an electronic data processor connected to the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor and to the air injector, wherein said processor is configured for injecting air into said tube before obtaining a measure by the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor, in particular said processor is configured for injecting air into said tube immediately before obtaining a measure by the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor.
In an embodiment, the tube or tubes may have an inferior end angle-cut for avoiding or minimising meniscus effect of the liquid in the inferior end of the tube or tubes, in particular the inferior end may be angle-cut of 30-60°, preferably 45°.
In an embodiment, the tube or tubes may have an inferior end angle-cut for avoiding or minimising meniscus effect of the liquid in the inferior end of the tube or tubes.
In an embodiment, one or more tubes may have a superior end angle-coupled to the main body for avoiding or minimising the meniscus effect of the liquid in the inferior end of the tube or tubes.
In an embodiment, the tube or tubes may be stainless, teflon or plastic tube or tubes.
In an embodiment, the sensor device may comprise a temperature sensor coupled to the main body or to a said tube.
In an embodiment, the sensor device may comprise a sensor for measuring pH, turbidity, colour, sugar amounts or alcohol concentration of the liquid, or combinations thereof, coupled to the main body or to a said tube.
In an embodiment, the sensor device may be cylindrical, quadrangular section prismatic, rectangular section prismatic, or frusta-conical.
In an embodiment, the sensor device may comprise a wireless transmitter for transmitting data collected by the sensor or sensors of p1-I, turbidity, colour, sugar amounts or alcohol concentration of the liquid, or combinations thereof, coupled to the main body or to a said tube, being that the collected data may be transmitted periodically.
In an embodiment, the liquid may be wine, sparkling wine, juice, or a spirit drink.
In an embodiment, the vessel may be a barrel, tun, cask or vat.
In an embodiment, the sensor device herein disclosed may be a stopper of a said vessel, for example wherein the vessel may be a barrel, tun, cask or vat.
The present disclosure also relates to a barrel, a tun, a cask or vat that may comprise the sensor device disclosed herein.
The present disclosure further relates to a system for measuring volume and density of a liquid contained in vessels comprising a plurality of sensor devices herein disclosed.
In an embodiment, said system may comprise a data electronic processor that may be configured for receiving, processing and storing the data collected by the sensor device.
In an embodiment, said processor may generate and send an alert for at least a user via email or SMS.
Throughout the description and claims the word “comprises” and variations of the word “comprises”, are not intended to exclude other technical features, as other components or steps. Additional objects, advantages and features of the disclosure will become clear to those skilled in the art upon examination of the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The following examples and figures are for illustrating the description and should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, the present disclosure covers all possible combinations of specific or preferential embodiments herein described.
For an easier understanding of the present disclosure figures are attached, which, represent preferred embodiments for illustrating the description and should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure.
The tube for measuring the pressure in the air pocket in the described embodiments is optional, since the sensor will function equally well without it. The tube has here a physical protection function of the sensor.
The temperature sensor is optional, in case the temperature measure is not used or is provided by another sensor, inside or outside the barrel.
In an embodiment, the initial calibration may be carried out by the following steps:
In an embodiment, the initial calibration may also be carried out by the following steps:
In an embodiment, the initial calibration carried out in 4 steps is a more precise calibration than the calibration carried out in 3 steps because more points are obtained giving rise to a better adjustment equation, decreasing the error associated to the calibration.
Although merely particular embodiments of the present disclosure have been represented and described herein, those skilled in the art will know how to introduce modifications and replace some technical features with equivalent ones, depending on the requisites of each situation, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims. The term “comprises” or “comprising” when used in this document is intended to indicate the presence of the mentioned features, elements, integers, steps and components, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps and components or combinations thereof. The following claims additionally set out embodiments of the disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 109451 | Jun 2016 | PT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2017/053549 | 6/14/2017 | WO | 00 |
