Design of a continuous distillation plant for the production of spirits originating from fermented grape

Abstract

An industrial de-alcoholizing plant and a distillation column were designed, for processing 0.56 kg/s (2000 kg/h) of fermented grape with an ethanol concentration of 9.0% weight/weight, (w/w) and a content of solids in suspension, expressed as dry matter, of 5–6% (w/w), to obtain a grape-spirit at 80% ethanol (w/w). Mass flow rates, heat flux rates and temperatures were first measured in a small-scale de-alcoholizing pilot plant. Then, the industrial plant was designed on the basis of results from experimental tests on the pilot plant. The industrial de-alcoholizing apparatus consisted of 28 plates, each fed by steam at 250 kPa, to obtain an alcoholic waste composition of 1% ethanol. By applying the McCabe–Thiele method, the number of actual trays in the distillation column has been estimated to be 10, in order to increase the alcohol content in the product from 13.1% to 80% ethanol (w/w). Technical changes to the de-alcoholizing plant to improve its performance are also suggested.