LIQUOR DISTILLATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

A liquor distillation system, comprising one or more channeled loops fluidly couplable to a boiler and a condenser, the condenser adapted to condense alcoholic vapors from a heated liquor wherein the one more channeled loops include an entrance point, an exit point, a split point, and a recombination point such that the heated liquor enters the one or more channeled loops from the entrance point, to the split point where the heated liquor is split into two separate opposite subchannels and recombined at the recombination point; one or more connection pipes adapted to connect the one or more channeled loops to another channeled ring; one or more drain valves; and a liquor outlet.

Claims

1. A liquor distillation system, comprising: one or more channeled loops fluidly couplable to a heating subsystem wherein the one more channeled loops include an entrance point, an exit point, a split point, and a recombination point such that a heated liquor enters the one or more channeled loops from the entrance point, to the split point where the heated liquor is split into two separate opposite subchannels and recombined at the recombination point; one or more connection pipes adapted to connect the one or more channeled loops to another channeled loop; and a liquor outlet.

2. The liquor distillation system of claim 1 further comprising a condenser, the condenser adapted to condense alcoholic vapors from a heated liquor.

3. The liquor distillation system of claim 1 adapted to connect to a pot and a boiler.

4. The liquor distillation system of claim 1 further comprising a reflux subsystem.

5. The liquor distillation system of claim 1 further comprising quick release attachment for ease of cleaning.

6. The liquor distillation system of claim 1 wherein the one or more channeled loops further comprise a copper inside the one or more channeled loops, and wherein the copper is at least one of a copper lining, a bubble plate and a copper mesh adapted to reduce sulfur.

7. The liquor distillation system of claim 1 wherein two separate opposite subchannels of the one or more channeled loops are equidistant.

8. The liquor distillation system of claim 1 further comprising at least three channeled loops connected to one another via connection pipes.

9. The liquor distillation system of claim 8 wherein the channeled loops are vertically nested and vertically offset from one another via one or more horizontal connection pipes.

10. The liquor distillation system of claim 1 further comprising one or more drain valves.

11. A liquor distillation system, comprising: one or more channeled loops fluidly couplable to a heating mechanism wherein the one or more channeled loops include an inlet, an outlet, a split point terminating into two or more subchannels, and a recombination point such that a heated liquor fluid travels through the two or more subchannels thereby increasing a fluid travel distance and slowing a liquor fluid flow rate and thereby removing impurities; a condenser adapted to condense alcoholic vapors from a heated liquor; and a liquor outlet.

12. The liquor distillation system of claim 11 wherein the one or more channeled loops further comprise a copper element inside the one or more channeled loops, and wherein the copper is at least one of a copper lining, a bubble plate and a copper mesh adapted to reduce sulfur.

13. The liquor distillation system of claim 11 wherein the two or more subchannels are opposite and equidistant.

14. The liquor distillation system of claim 11 further comprising at least three channeled loops connected to one another via connection pipes.

15. The liquor distillation system of claim 11 wherein the channeled loops are vertically connected and vertically offset from one another via one or more connection pipes.

16. The liquor distillation system of claim 11 wherein the channeled loops are substantially rectangular.

17. The liquor distillation system of claim 11 further comprising a reflux subsystem.

18. A method for distilling a liquor using a liquor distillation system and comprising the steps of: a) filling a pot with the liquor; b) attaching the pot to a heating mechanism; c) heating the liquor to achieve liquor vapor wherein when the liquor vapors travel through one or more channeled loops and wherein the liquor vapor is split into two or more subchannels and reconnected at a recombination point for enhanced flavor prior to travelling to a sequential channeled loop; and d) exiting via a liquor outlet.

19. The method for distilling a liquor of claim 18 further including the steps of: a) providing a reflux subsystem; and b) heating the liquor and allowing the liquor to travel through the reflux subsystem for additional purification.

20. The method for distilling a liquor of claim 18 further including the steps of: a) providing a condenser; and b) heating the liquor and allowing the liquor to travel through the condenser prior to exiting the system via the liquor outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] It should be noted that the drawing figures may be in simplified form and might not be to precise scale.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the liquor distillation system according to the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the liquor distillation system of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the liquor distillation system of the present disclosure including system outlet and drain.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the liquor distillation system of the present disclosure showing details of the channeled loops and connection pipes.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the liquor distillation system of the present disclosure showing details of the channeled loops and connection pipes.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the liquor distillation system showing details of the copper element and copper mesh inside the stages and channeled loops.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a close-up front view of the copper element within the stages and channeled loops.

[0031] FIG. 8 is detailed view of semi-disconnected stages and channeled loop.

[0032] FIG. 9 shows a disconnected liquor distillation system.

[0033] FIG. 10 shows another disconnected liquor distillation system with a pot and portion of the system outlet.

[0034] FIG. 11 shows another view of the disconnected liquor distillation system with a pot and portion of the system outlet.

[0035] The same elements or parts throughout the figures of the drawings are designated by the same reference characters, while equivalent elements bear a prime designation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] The embodiment and various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the embodiments, which are presented as illustrated examples of the embodiment defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the embodiment as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below. Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments.

[0037] Referring now to the drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon, FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the liquor distillation system. The Figure shows the liquor distillation system 100 comprising a plurality of channeled loops 110 or stages 110 fluidly couplable to a boiler 170 and a condenser 140. The condenser is adapted to condense alcoholic vapors from a heated liquor.

[0038] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the channeled loops 110 including an entrance point 111, an exit point 113, a split point leading to the opposite subchannels 112, and a recombination point 113. The heated liquor enters the one or more channeled loops from the entrance point and travels to the split point where the heated liquor is split into two separate and opposite subchannels and recombined at the recombination point. One or more connection pipes 120 are adapted to connect the channeled loops to one another.

[0039] The system can also include at least one drain valve, and a liquor outlet through which the distilled liquor is dispensed. In some embodiments, the system can also include a reflux subsystem. The reflux subsystem is adapted to recombine the vapor flow before exiting the liquor distillation system and entering into the condensing system. In one embodiment, the reflux subsystem 210 and the condenser 140 are combined into one component 145 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0040] In one embodiment, the liquor distillation system is a tower system adapted to connect to an external pot 200 as shown in FIG. 1 or comes with a pot as part of the system. The pot is connectable to a heat source such that the temperature of the liquor can be raised.

[0041] In some embodiments, the liquor distillation system includes quick release attachments 130 such as quick release clamps or latches 130 for ease of cleaning. These can be throughout the connection pipes and a part of the channeled loops such that the system can be easily disconnected, cleaned and reconnected. When disconnected, the channeled loops have channeled loop subparts 110a as shown in FIGS. 8 through 11.

[0042] In an alternative embodiment, the liquor distillation system 100 includes a copper element 180 in the channeled loops 110. This can be a copper lining, a bubble plate and/or a copper mesh 180 adapted to reduce sulfur and enhance the flavors of the distilled liquor. In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 15, the copper element is tightly wound copper mesh 180 at the corner of each stage or each channeled loop. Here the liquor vapors and liquor fluids go through the copper for purification and filtration and to ensure that any unwanted oils, esters and contaminates are removed without stripping the liquor of its natural flavors and aromas.

[0043] In most embodiments, the liquor distillation system 100 has channeled loops 110 that split into two separate and opposite subchannels 112, these may be equidistant. In other embodiments, the stages 110 or channeled loops 110 can have more than two subchannels forcing the liquor fluids and vapors into multiple different directions, thereby slowing the travel rate of the fluid and resulting in a highly filtered liquor with very minimal contaminates, esters and oils. The system terminates in a liquor outlet 160 through which the distilled liquor is dispensed and collected with an external recipient 250.

[0044] In other embodiments, a plurality of channeled loops are connected via connection pipes 120. Here, the pipes 120 connect a plurality of channeled loops to one another, but also connect the stages/channeled loops to a condenser, to a pot, a system inlet, a system outlet, a gauge 190 for measuring pressure and/or temperature of the liquor inside the system as well as connecting the various components to a drain valve 150 or drain outlet. In one embodiment, the channeled loops are substantially rectangular.

[0045] In some embodiments, the channeled loops are vertically connected and vertically offset from one another via horizontal connection pipes, while in other embodiments the channeled loops are both vertically and horizontally offset to create a long system for the liquor to be forced through, thereby continuing to remove any unwanted contaminates, esters and oils.

[0046] The present disclosure aims to confine the liquor vapors into a smaller area to combine the aromas better, then reduce the pressure and slow the flow through the copper which is used as a filtration. This allows for the unwanted oils which are getting transported by the vapors to get removed, before the vapors are compressed to flow through the narrower opening again. By using the flow splitting system, it allows for the reduction of pressure for slowed filtration with minimal potential for aroma reduction. By dividing the flow then filtering it twice per side before recombining the flow and repeating this for a total of 3 times, allows for a clean yet full aroma and flavored spirit.

[0047] In accordance with one form of this disclosure, there is provided a method for distilling liquor using a liquor distillation system and comprising the steps of a) filling a pot with a liquor; b) placing a top attached to the liquor distillation system over the pot; c) connecting the pot to a heat source wherein when the liquor is being heated, the liquor vapors travel through one or more channeled loops wherein the liquor vapors are split into two opposite direction and reconnected at a recombination point for enhanced flavor prior to travelling to a sequential channeled loop; and wherein the distilled liquor vapors further travel through a condenser prior to exiting the system via a liquor outlet.

[0048] The present disclosure is different from the solution available in markets today. The pot still system is common in liquor distilling and includes a kettle or pot with a large bell of secondary cavity above the narrowed discharge area from the kettle. This is initially for the aromas to mingle and enhance, yet not get removed by excessive variations of filtration. This area or secondary chamber is usually packed with copper of some sort, and is the way that unwanted esters are removed or at best reduced. With a pot still, there is a slow flow of vapors.

[0049] The Reflux still is also a common liquor distillation system and has a smaller diameter than a bell of the equivalent volume pot still. It utilizes flutes or bubble plates to force the vapors into contact with the copper. A reflux still works at much higher pressures than a pot still, and requires the vapors to pass through the liquid which builds on the top side of each flute or bubble plate. This forces the vapors to come into contact with the unwanted and previously removed contaminates. The vapors are forced through small opening on the bottom side of each plate, and restricts the flow.

[0050] Here the liquor distillation system uses one or more channeled loops to force the liquor fluids and vapors into a flow splitting design, elongating the fluid's travel time, reducing the flow rate and ensuring a higher degree of filtration and purification. The liquor distillation system of the present disclosure can also include a reflux ensuring that the liquor fluids are sent back for additional filtration and purification and removal of any unwanted contaminates. Here, in addition to the plurality of channeled loops, the system also includes a reflux subsystem 210 to take some of the water out of the liquor, pushing it down while the liquor continues to travel through the system for distillation, filtration and purification while the water is taken out. Because of the difference in weight, the liquor continues going up through the system while the water, oil and contaminates are pulled down in the system. In other embodiments, the system also includes a condenser to convert the vapors back into liquid before exiting the system through a system outlet.

[0051] The current disclosure resolves the limitations posed by the solutions available in markets today including the pot still system and the reflux still system. The liquor distillation system of the present disclosure confines the vapors into a smaller area to combine the aromas better, then reduce the pressure and slow the flow through the copper which is used as a filtration. This allows for the unwanted oils which are getting transported by the vapors to get removed, before the vapors are compressed to flow through the narrower opening again. By using the flow splitting design, it allows for the reduction of pressure for slowed filtration with minimal potential for aroma reduction. By dividing the flow thanks to the channeled loops split point 114 terminating into two or more subchannels, then filtering it twice per side before recombining the flow and repeating this for a total of 3 times, allows for a clean yet full aroma and flavored spirit.

[0052] In some embodiments, the liquor is filtered and distilled about 6 or 7 times within the system and within the channeled loops while the pressure building up inside the system allows for aroma enhancing. The present disclosure can include as little as one channeled loop, however, preferred embodiments include at least three channeled loops for enhanced taste and flavors.

[0053] In some embodiment, all components of the liquor distillation system are removable and quickly disconnectable/reconnectable for ease of cleaning. In one particular embodiment, for 8 gallons of distilled liquor, a linch diameter pipe is used throughout the system, whereas for 130 gallons, a 4 inch pipe is used. For about 291 gallons, a 6 in diameter pipe is used and for about 518 to 520 gallons, an 8 inch pipe is used in the system. In one aspect, the present invention is embodied as a distillation tower, using and newly designed process for filtering and recombining the flow of vapors to increase aroma and retain flavor with alcohol production.

[0054] In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes multiple flow-splitting channels that allow for a distillate product to get filtered up to 6-7 times all while retaining full flavors. In other embodiments, the system allows almost all impurities to be removed to achieve an alcohol of a pH of about 9.8. The liquor distillation of the current disclosure allows distillation of fruit and elements that would normally not be distillable while achieving a smooth and palatable tase. Here, thanks to the flow splitting channeled loops, rare fruits can be distilled into flavorful and palatable liquors.

[0055] In one embodiment, the heating mechanism consists of a pot or kettle coupled to a boiler and a source of heat. Throughout the entire liquor distillation system, a corrosion resistant material that can withstand high temperatures is used.

[0056] As mentioned above, other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.