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

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. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.