Apparatuses and Systems of Fermentation

Abstract

A fermentation method and system which includes providing juice to be fermented into a container. The juice having a cap that is a collection of solid components of grapes. The cap has a permeable consistency and floats in the juice. The method includes moving a portion of the juice from below the cap upward into contact with the cap.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A fermentation system comprising:
 a container defining a volume to receive material to be fermented; and   a pump in fluid communication with a fluid region inside the container above the material and configured to establish a vacuum above the material which produces a fluid pressure differential throughout the container.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a permeable membrane configured to remain over an upper surface of the material. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the pump. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a sensor extending into the volume of the container and configured to detect at least one of temperature, flow rate, gas concentration and chemistry composition. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a permeable membrane configured to remain over an upper surface of the material; and 
 a sensor extending through the permeable membrane and electrically coupled to the pump to provide information. 
 
     
     
         21 . A fermentation apparatus comprising:
 a tank defining a volume to receive material to be fermented; and   an housing assembly in the volume of the tank and configured to be positioned over the material to be fermented.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the housing assembly is configured to move along a vertical axis within the volume of the tank. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the housing assembly comprises:
 a first opening configured to allow fluid in the tank to move through the housing assembly; and 
 a second opening configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid from the first opening. 
 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the at least a portion of the fluid is a gasless liquid. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the first and second openings. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the fluid is separated in to a gas and a liquid in the reservoir. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising:
 a reservoir having an inner volume and positioned over the housing assembly; and 
 a tubular structure providing fluid communication between the inner volume of the reservoir and the volume of the tank. 
 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the tubular structure comprises an adjustable length dimension. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising at least one permeable membrane in the housing assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the at least one permeable membrane comprises a first permeable membrane adjacent a second permeable membrane. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the first permeable membrane comprises the same structure as the second permeable membrane. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the first permeable membrane comprises a different structure relative the structure of the second permeable membrane. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising at least one probe located inside the tank, the at least one probe comprising the capability to be incrementally adjusted in a plurality of different locations in the tank. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the housing assembly comprises an outer periphery, and further comprising a flexible seal secured to and surrounding the outer periphery of the housing assembly.