Heat exchanger for fermentation tank

Abstract

A device which is used to cool fermentation tanks and which can be used essentially in beer production, cooling and maturation, includes a vertical heat exchanger, which comprises single- or double-wall concentric cylinders and is positioned internally at the center of a tank. The length and capacity of the cylinders differ depending on the size and shape of the tank. A coolant flows through the cylinders in order to cool and to maintain a suitable temperature range. In addition, the double-wall cylinders which form the heat exchanger are interconnected by means of coolant flow and support tubes. Meanwhile, the exchanger is supported by the cone and the walls of the tank by means of tubes which are used for the passage of the coolant and the passage of signals. Moreover, the outer wall and the cone can be provided with a cooling jacket.

1 . Heat exchanger for a fermentation vessel, which is installed in a fermentation tank, said fermentation tank having an upper dome cap, a cylindrical body and a conic-shaped section and having a valve at an end of said fermentation tank, said fermentation tank having a fitted cooling jacket on an outer tank wall being isolated as well as the a remaining part of tank; said heat exchanger comprising: 
 a plurality of double-wall, concentric straight cylinders, positioned inside the tank, located at the center, vertically positioned, attached and supported to the tank by piping, said piping forming a coolant passage, by interconnection piping and venting piping, cleaning turbines and pressure control and relief valves, the cylinders forming an external cylinder attached at ends thereof to doughnut-shaped jackets, as some external collectors, located at each cylinder end, the cylinders also forming an internal cylinder, with two collectors, upper and lower, said internal cylinder being supported on said external cylinder through some piping;    wherein external and internal collectors, located in concentric pipes closed at its ends, are comprised of multiple holes located in the periphery of said ends and confined through hemispherical, doughnut-shaped covers which operate as coolant distribution or extraction chambers, according to its location;    wherein lower and upper support piping, located laterally and attached at the ends to tank wall, and to upper and lower external collectors, maintain central positioning and as coolant and temperature sensor signals conveyor;    wherein support piping connects the concentric cylinders, also located equidistantly, supporting said internal cylinder against said external cylinder as coolant passage;    wherein interconnection piping attached the double-wall external cylinder to the double-wall internal cylinder, distributed equidistantly, being supported in turn on at least three piping also located equidistantly to better distribute weight, and being fixed on a tank cone;    wherein outlet piping extends to conic area walls starting from external collector lower side;    wherein purging lines exhaust air with glycol as coolant; and    wherein a cleaning system comprised of high pressure and high flow turbines, is properly located at an inside of a bulged cap, cleaning fermentation tank inner walls and surfaces, selected for self-cleaning between each other so as to ensure a wide spectrum cleaning.    
   
   
       2 . Heat exchanger for fermentation vessel, according to  claim 1 , further comprising an upper tank cap is being bulged and having sufficient space as to store gases formed during a fermentation process.  
   
   
       3 . Heat exchanger for fermentation vessel, according to  claim 1 , further comprising a body and fermentation tank cone with a cooling jacket located at outside of the tank.  
   
   
       4 . Heat exchanger for fermentation vessel, according to  claim 1 , further comprising collectors located at ends of double-wall concentric straight cylinders forming a jacket, through which coolant will pass to maintain beer wort and beer within desired temperature ranges and whose function is to serve as coolant distribution or exhaustion chamber.  
   
   
       5 . Heat exchanger for fermentation vessel, according to  claim 1 , further comprising safety and control valves calibrated and located outside the tank, calibrated valves installed outside the tank, and lines purging in case of using glycol as coolant and being installed between upper collectors and the tank.  
   
   
       6 . Heat exchanger for fermentation vessel, according to  claim 1 , further comprising higher jackets multiple or forming a jacket cluster, the jackets being attachable between each other.  
   
   
       7 . Heat exchanger for fermentation vessel, according to  claim 1 , further comprising radial fins with deflector plates to ensure a larger contact for heat exchange, or intermediate radial jackets located between the cylinders of the exchanger.  
   
   
       8 . Heat exchanger for fermentation vessel, according to  claim 1 , the cylinders having different length dimensions for internal and external double-wall cylinders.