After the wort boiling process is completed, it is crucial to efficiently separate the hot break in the wort to achieve a clear liquid called wort. These coagulates, known as hot breaks, are insoluble condensates formed by the polymerization of nitrogen compounds during wort boiling. They are mainly composed of protein and polyphenol complexes, ranging in size from 30 to 80 micrometers. As the wort boils, the protein denaturation and polyphenolic substances are continuously oxidized and polymerized, leading to the gradual precipitation of hot breaks. Additionally, some hop resin and organic matter get adsorbed during this process.
Now, let's explore the internal structure and design principles of Tiantai Whirlpool tanks!
Tiantai Whirlpool Tank is a closed cylindrical vessel with a flat sloped bottom. To ensure the safety of operators, the Tiantai whirlpool tanks are equipped with an insulation layer to prevent burns from the tank walls. The inner surface of the tank is smooth and clean, with no edges or corners. It is polished to a fine smoothness of 0.2μm and passivated by pickling to minimize the impact of tank wall friction on the whirlpool effect.
The bottom of the Tiantai whirlpool has a 2° beveled flat bottom. After boiling, the wort, at around 98°C, is introduced tangentially to the wall of the tank, which caused a rotational movement known as a gyration effect. The tangent inlet is positioned at a height of 1/3 from the bottom of the tank. The heavier granular solids sink, and the liquid at the bottom of the tank generates a centripetal force, constantly rushing toward the center. This leads to the accumulation of solids at the center of the bottom of the tank, forming a mound-like substance and achieving solid-liquid separation.
After the wort is allowed to sit for 15 minutes, the rotary whirlpool process comes to an end, and the wort is rapidly cooled through a plate heat exchanger before being transferred into fermenters. There are three wort outlets: two main outlets located at 1/2 of the tank's height and 1/10 of the bottom, and a residual wort outlet at the bottom of the tank, with an opening diameter designed according to the tank's height-to-diameter ratio. When opening the valves, it's essential to follow a top-down sequence to prevent the wort from flowing too quickly, which could disturb the settled solids and result in turbid wort.
TIPPS: It's worth noting that when introducing wort into the whirlpool tank, the "Coriolis" inertial force generated by the Earth's rotation can be utilized to add centripetal acceleration to the vortex once it forms, maintaining a continuous vortex flow. For cyclotron sedimentation of wort, in the northern hemisphere, the direction of entering the tank is counterclockwise, while in the southern hemisphere, it is clockwise, taking advantage of the Earth's rotation to assist in the separation process.
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