Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
28 words
A method of filtering beer (as hereinbefore defined) by a cross-flow filtration process, characterised in that the filtering medium is formed by one or more ceramic membranes (6,13,25).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
28 words
A method of filtering beer (as hereinbefore defined) by a cross-flow filtration process, characterised in that the filtering medium is formed by one or more ceramic membranes (6,13,25).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that beer is fed to a primary filtration stage (3,4,5) in which it is circulated past ceramic membranes (6) so that the permeate constitutes the bulk of the usable beer, and the retentate is passed on to a secondary filtration stage (9,11,12), also using ceramic membranes (13), to recover more beer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 2, characterised in that the feed to the secondary filtration stage (9,11,12) has a high suspended solids content, for example 4%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the beer is cooled during recirculation past the membranes (6,13) in either or both filtration stages.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the ceramic membrane (6,13,25) has pores of micro-filter size.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus for filtering beer (as hereinbefore defined) by a cross-flow filtration process, characterised in that the filtering medium is formed by one or more ceramic membranes (6,13,25).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus for filtering beer (as hereinbefore defined) by a cross-flow filtration process, characterised in that the filtering medium is formed by one or more ceramic membranes (6,13,25).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
Plant for the manufacture of beer, including apparatus for filtering beer (as hereinbefore defined) by a cross-flow filtration process, characterised in that the filtering medium is formed by one or more ceramic membranes (6,13,25).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
Plant for the manufacture of beer, including apparatus for filtering beer (as hereinbefore defined) by a cross-flow filtration process, characterised in that the filtering medium is formed by one or more ceramic membranes (6,13,25).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
8 . Apparatus or plant according to claim 6 or 7, characterised by comprising a primary filtration stage (3,4,5) in which the beer is circulated past ceramic membranes (6) so that the permeate constitutes the bulk of the usable beer, and a secondary filtration stage (9,11,12), also using ceramic membranes (13), to recover more beer from the retentate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus or plant according to claim 8, comprising a cooling means (5,12) to cool the beer during recirculation past the membrane (6,13) in either or both filtration stages.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus or plant according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the ceramic membrane (25) includes a support body (21) in the form of an elongate element having a plurality of parallel longitudinal channels (22) each lined with a membrane layer (23) of fine-pore ceramic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus or plant according to any of claims 6 to 10, characterised in that the ceramic membranes (6,13,25) have a pore size to constitute a micro-filter.