Method and system for producing ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverages

Abstract

Methods and systems are described that produce an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage from a high gravity alcoholic beverage stream using an efficient, low waste, combination reverse osmosis and forward osmosis system. Utilizing a reverse osmosis system prior to using a forward osmosis system in removing water content from a high gravity alcoholic beverage stream significantly reduces a draw solution load when compared to a process that utilizes a forward osmosis system alone or prior to using any other dewatering system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a reverse osmosis subcomponent to receive high gravity alcoholic beverage and output a very-high gravity alcoholic beverage having a greater alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage than the high gravity alcoholic beverage;   a forward osmosis subcomponent to receive as an input, the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage and a draw solution and, via forward osmosis, output an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage having a greater ABV percentage than the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage and spent draw solution; and   a reverse osmosis system that processes the spent draw solution, via reverse osmosis, producing a fresh draw solution.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fresh draw solution corresponds to dewatered spent draw solution. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 5% to 14% ABV. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 16% to 22% ABV. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 24% to 46% ABV. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fresh draw solution is fed into the forward osmosis subcomponent as recycled draw solution. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reverse osmosis subcomponent removes an amount of water from the received high gravity alcoholic beverage, and wherein the amount of water is stored in a water purge tank. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the forward osmosis subcomponent comprises at least one forward osmosis filter membrane that contacts the high gravity alcoholic beverage, and wherein the at least one forward osmosis filter membrane separates an amount of water from the high gravity alcoholic beverage. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 processing a high gravity alcoholic beverage to produce a very-high gravity alcoholic beverage, wherein the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage comprises a greater alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage than the high gravity alcoholic beverage;   processing the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage to produce an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage, wherein the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage comprises a greater ABV percentage than the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage; and   wherein processing the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage into the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage utilizes a draw solution and produces therefrom a spent draw solution, and wherein the spent draw solution is processed into the draw solution by at least one of reverse osmosis or distilling.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein prior to processing the high gravity alcoholic beverage, the method comprises:
 receiving the high gravity alcoholic beverage as part of a continuous infeed stream.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein processing the high gravity alcoholic beverage to produce the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage comprises:
 conveying the high gravity alcoholic beverage to an initial dewatering station, wherein the initial dewatering station comprises at least one semipermeable membrane that separates the high gravity alcoholic beverage into very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream and a removed water stream.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein processing the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage to produce the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage comprises:
 conveying the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream to a secondary dewatering station, wherein the secondary dewatering station comprises at least one forward osmosis filter membrane that contacts the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage, and wherein the at least one forward osmosis filter membrane separates an amount of water from the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the high gravity alcoholic beverage is received at an ABV of 5% to 14%. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream is substantially 16% to 22% ABV. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 24% to 46% ABV. 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a high gravity alcoholic beverage conveyed along a fluid line;   a reverse osmosis filter comprising a semipermeable membrane that separates the high gravity alcoholic beverage conveyed into separate streams comprising a very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream and a removed water stream, wherein the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream has a greater alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage than the high gravity alcoholic beverage received; and   a forward osmosis filter comprising a forward osmosis membrane that contacts the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream exiting the reverse osmosis filter, and wherein the forward osmosis membrane separates an amount of water from the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream, via forward osmosis, producing an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage having a greater ABV percentage than the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a reverse osmosis system that processes the amount of water separated from the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream including spent draw solution, via reverse osmosis, into a fresh draw solution, and wherein the fresh draw solution is recycled and conveyed to the forward osmosis filter for use in separating additional water from the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 5% to 14% ABV, wherein the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream is substantially 16% to 22% ABV, and wherein the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage is substantially 24% to 46% ABV. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processed amount of water separated from the very-high gravity alcoholic beverage stream comprises potable water that is conveyed in a separate fluid line apart from the fresh draw solution. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the high gravity alcoholic beverage is a beer, cider, or an alcoholic malt base.