Filtration – Destila

WIP

Filtration is a process in which solids (particles) are separated from a liquid (beverage), the presence of which negatively affects the output quality of the product. In the production of beverages, an important stage is to ensure durability and quality for the required (specified) period. Therefore, filtration has become an important factor in the production of beer, wine, fruit juices and other liquids before the product is released for consumption.

Diatomaceous earth alluvial filters

Diatomaceous earth filtration is a traditional and inseparable part of production technology in brewing and in a wide range of food industries. Alluvial filters are most often used to remove yeast and biological sludge from beer and wine, as well as various fruit juices and concentrates. The company DESTILA, which has a long tradition in the production of these filters, is constantly modernizing them to meet more demanding requirements for filtration quality and saving filter media and energy.

The principle of alluvial filtration consists in the precoating of auxiliary filter media and the formation of a basic filter layer on filter elements (candles) and further in continuously maintaining the permeability of the filtration layer of the filter cake by dosing filter media into the liquid before entering the filter. The choice of the most suitable composition of the base layer structure and mixture for continuous dosing is individual depending on the nature and sludge load of the filtered liquid.

Advantages:

construction without moving mechanical parts, which greatly reduces the risk of leaks or malfunctions;
long service life of filter elements (candles);
filters and their filter elements are easy to clean and sanitize without the need to disassemble the filter housing.

Mobile candle filters FKS 010-040 M

Small mobile filtration device, easy to operate, where the control and regulation of the flow of the main pump is controlled by a reducing valve or potentiometer in conjunction with the pump frequency converter. Newly, there is the possibility of PLC control with a touch screen. Thanks to its solid construction and mobility, it can be used anywhere in the operation.

Type	Filtration surface [m2]	Filtration performance [hl/h]	Active sludge volume [l]	Capacity of the cycle* [hl]	Dimensions [m]	Height of the room [m]
FKS 010 M	1	5-8	26	40	1,2x0,7x2,3	3,6
FKS 020 M	2	10-16	52	82	1,3x0,8x2,5	3,7
FKS 030 M	3	15-24	98	155	1,4x0,9x2,5	3,8
FKS 040 M	4	20-32	102	160	1,4x0,9x2,7	4,2

* with an average wet volume of diatomaceous earth of 3.5 l/kg and a maximum dosage of 180 g/hl

Stationary candle filters FKS 060-080

Filtration equipment on a stable frame for larger industrial operations. It stands out for its higher level of automation of the control system, which facilitates filter operation and control over the filtration cycle. The control is provided by a PLC unit with a touch screen, which allows the operator to control the operation of the pumps and select individual phases of the cycle, for which control, regulation and monitoring parameters can be set. The main pump is regulated by a frequency converter based on the desired flow values.

Type	Filtration surface [m2]	Filtration performance [hl/h]	Active sludge volume [l]	Capacity of the cycle* [hl]	Dimensions [m]	Height of the room [m]
FKS 060	6	30-48	186	290	2,2x0,9x3,0	4,0
FKS 080	8	40-64	330	520	2,3x0,9x3,3	4,5

* with an average wet volume of diatomaceous earth of 3.5 l/kg and a maximum dosage of 180 g/hl

Custom filtration lines with filters FKS 100-600

They are a stationary modular assembly. The range of equipment and the level of automation is an individual solution for each customer. The basis of the filtration line is a stand-alone FKS filter body, a dosing device for auxiliary filtration and stabilization agents and the necessary pipe connection with pumps. It also includes a tube reservoir of compressed air for cleaning processes. On request, the line can be expanded with the optional peripherals described below according to the needs and requirements of the brewery’s technological process.

The initial assembly is standardly controlled and operated by a PLC with a touch panel. The basic functions of the measurement and control system (MaR) include automated flow control by pumps (in modes for basic precoating, filtration, push-through/pull-through, sanitation) and control of pressure ratios on the filter.

Advantages:

the filtration line is custom-built to fully meet your needs in terms of concept and spatial layout;
optional degree of automation – a higher degree of automation guarantees you higher filtration reliability (lower demands on operating personnel) and facilitates the process of cleaning and sanitizing the filter, which is key to maintaining the quality of the filtrate;
we offer a unique system for optimizing the dosage of filtration media. Regulation takes place according to the available media based on the input turbidity of the beer or the increase in differential pressure.

Type	Filtration surface [m²]	Filtration performance [hl/h]	Active sludge volume [l]	Capacity of the cycle* [hl]	Floor space [m]	Height of the room [m]
FKS 100/120	10/12	50-80/60-96	403/464	638/736	3x4	4,5
FKS 200	20	100-160	730	1150	3x4,5	4,6
FKS 300	30	150-240	1086	1720	3,5x4,5	4,8
FKS 400	40	200-320	1293	2050	3,5x4,5	4,9
FKS 600	60	300-480	2025	3214	3,5x5	4,9

* with an average wet volume of diatomaceous earth of 3.5 l/kg and a maximum dosage of 180 g/hl

Optional accessories

SEPARATE DOSING DEVICE

A device for preparing and dosing a fine fraction of diatomaceous earth or a stabilizing agent. The dose of the auxiliary filtering agent can be regulated independently of the amount of the main diatomaceous earth suspension. The set includes a container with a frame mixer and a hose dosing pump with the necessary pipe connection.

INLET BUFFER TANK

The input tank in front of the filter eliminates adverse effects on the flow of beer into the filter (pressure fluctuations, flow rate and load with sludge particles). It is a stand-alone cylindrical container with domed bottoms at the top and bottom. It is equipped with nozzles for connecting the main pipeline and auxiliary media.

TANK FOR BEER-WATER MIXTURE

It is used to collect the mixture of beer and water during start-up and end of the filtration cycle. Mixture can be dosed into the beer during filtration or otherwise used in the technological process of the brewery. This reduces losses caused by mixing water with beer when pushing water through beer and beer through water out of the filter body. The tank is designed as a standing cylindrical container with domed bottoms at the top and bottom. It is equipped with connections for connecting the main pipe and auxiliary media.

OUTLET BUFFER TANK

It plays an important role in balancing back pressure surges at the filtrate outlet. Using the output pump, which is part of the delivery, it eliminates excessive pressure losses behind the filter and allows full pressure utilization of the filter. The tank is designed as a standing cylindrical container with domed bottoms at the top and bottom. It is equipped with connections for connecting the main pipe and auxiliary media.

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED CONTROL OF FILTRATE CLARITY

The control function senses the current turbidity of the filtrate and evaluates compliance with the values within the specified limits. When these values are exceeded, it signals a crisis situation or ensures that the filter switches to internal circulation mode.

Stabilization

The next stage in the treatment of the filtered liquid can be stabilization. In contrast to filtration with the above-mentioned filter media, which primarily ensure the capture of particles mechanically, the adsorption properties of stabilization media are used to reduce the proportion of other undesirable substances, i.e. precursors of colloidal turbidity. Silica gels and PVPP are used as stabilization media.

The task of colloidal stabilization filtration is to remove from beverages (especially beer or wine) substances that pose a risk of undesirable turbidity (change in product properties) after long-term storage (after reactions to heat, light, oxygen, etc.). These are mainly precursors of protein and polyphenolic substances. The effectiveness of the stabilization media is related to the natural colloidal stability, which depends on the entire process before filtration (use of raw materials and procedures).

Stabilization filters

Stabilization filtration uses regenerable stabilizing agents based on polyamide derivatives (PVPP). This concept has been successfully applied in many Czech and foreign breweries. Stabilization filters are equipped with vertical filter elements – candles of the same design as diatomaceous earth filters, which guarantee high quality and reliability of filtration. The stabilization assembly consists of the following parts:

FILTER BODY

The basic part of the filtration device, in which vertically arranged filter candles are placed. They are made of trapezoidal wire with a filter gap of 60+-30 microns.

STABILIZING AGENTS (PVPP) DOSER

It is intended for the preparation, dosing and subsequent storage of precoating stabilizing agents.

HOLDER

It is a container in which the necessary contact time of the beer with the dosed stabilizing agent is ensured.

PIPE CONNECTION

It connects the filter with the dosing device, the inlet of the filtered liquid to the filter and the outlet of the filtrate.

SAFE FILTER

It is designed to capture any drifts of diatomaceous earth during pressure surges of primary filtration or fine particles of the stabilizing agent.

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WITH CONTROL PANEL

It is used to start, power and protect the electric motors of all pumps (centrifugal and dosing pumps), as well as to power the control and monitoring elements including automation elements.

REGENERATION SOLUTION STATION

It is intended for the preparation and storage of regeneration solutions.

Microfiltration

Microfiltration meets the ever-increasing demands that are currently focused on microbiology in terms of long-term durability. The microfilter is designed as a final filtration stage after the primary diatomaceous earth filter. It is usually composed of two stages, which are equipped with various filter elements according to the input parameters of the beer and the requirement for the clarity of the resulting filtrate. In the case of using PES membranes in the second stage, this is the so-called cold stabilization, when microorganisms harmful to the beer are guaranteed to be removed.

To ensure proper sanitation and regeneration of the filter elements, we supply a separate CIP station together with the microfilter. It is designed as a two-vessel station, has its own sanitation pump, dosing pumps for concentrated solutions and an exchanger for heating solutions. The necessary cleaning, sanitation and regeneration sequences are periodically performed after each filtration cycle using an automated control system.

Cross-flow filtration

The DCF filtration device is designed for the final filtration of still wine without the use of auxiliary filtration media. In membrane cross-flow microfiltration, ceramic filter modules with selected selectivity are used to achieve the required filtrate parameters. These then determine the clarification ability, microbiological efficiency and capacity performance of the filtration cycle.

The filtered liquid (retentate) circulates through the filter modules using the main pump. The filtrate (permeate) penetrates the filter membranes due to the pressure difference. The retentate flowing through the filter modules carries away turbid substances from the membrane surface and thus helps to maintain its permeability. Stable performance during the filtration cycle is ensured by cyclic backwashing of the membranes.

Advantages:

waste-free technology, sludge after filtration is biodegradable;
no additional costs for filter media;
no oxidation of wine during filtration;
stopping unwanted refermentations;
maintaining higher primary and secondary aromatics of wines;
possibility of filtering wines containing bentonite;
reduction of filtration cycles – one filtration is sufficient to ensure microbiological stability;
possibility of use as the last stage before bottling;
integrated heating element for sanitation without the need for a CIP station;
Czech manufacturer – fast service;
individual and distinctive approach to the customer;
level of automation tuned according to the wishes and needs of users.

A variety of filter models DCF

These are mobile filters designed for small wineries. The semi-automatic control system simplifies operation during the actual filtration as well as cleaning and sanitation processes.