What are the new crush refrigeration technologies? In the complex winemaking process, the quality of the final product is closely related to several factors. Among them, grape refrigeration is a key step in modern winemaking processes implemented by state-of-the-art wineries. Enabling better management of winery processes and better utilization of the quality potential of grapes.
SIAD’s Kryos technology, based on the use of liquid CO₂, represents one of the most advanced solutions in this area, ensuring optimal temperature control and higher wine quality. In this focus, we will explore in detail the features of this innovative technology and its benefits to the wine industry.
Refrigeration is a process that is used to lower the temperature of grapes or crushed grapes in order to allow, as needed, prefermentative cryomacerations and/or facilitate thermal control in the fermentation phase.
Refrigeration of grapes is particularly important in the production of white and rosé wines, where temperature plays a crucial role in maintaining freshness and aromatic complexity. However, even in the winemaking of red wines, temperature control, in addition to facilitating thermal control during fermentation, can greatly influence the quality of the final product.
Traditionally, the cooling of the crush was, and is tuut now, done by the use of heat exchangers, mainly tube-to-tube exchangers, with some issues related to scum formation and cooling power.
Kryos is the solution developed by SIAD for refrigerating de-stemmed grapes in a protective, oxygen-free atmosphere by heat exchange through direct contact between crushed grapes and liquid CO₂.
This system revolutionized the refrigeration of crushed grapes in the winery, allowing the temperature to be lowered quickly, virtually instantaneously, to the desired value while minimizing mechanical stress on the skins and thus the formation of lees.
The process takes place inside an exchanger consisting of a tank with characteristics that allow it to operate smoothly, efficiently and reliably.
The crush passes through the exchanger, here it comes in contact with and mixes with carbonic snow and CO₂ gas, which remove its dissolved air, saturate it with CO2, and lower its temperature to the desired value.
The exchanger is located downstream of the de-stemmer from whose pump it receives the crushed grapes and, after treatment, transfers them free of any oxygen previously absorbed. Liquid CO₂ required for the formation of carbonic snow and gaseous CO₂ is taken from a dedicated cryogenic storage.
Kryos operates in continuous mode and in full automation.
Dedicated software provides both for adjusting the amount of liquid CO₂ to be introduced to lower the temperature to the required value, and for transferring the chilled crushed grapes. The operator should simply set the established values and press the start button. Throughout the process, control is continuous: a touch screen allows constant viewing of operation and intervention if necessary.
Learn more about how Kryos works in the dedicated SIAD catalog sheet.
The use of liquid CO₂ with Kryos technology, compared with other traditional cooling methodologies, proves to be particularly advantageous and generates several benefits:
Its operational logic is connected with that of the destemmer and downstream machines such as presses and tanks. It has no interference and does not change their timing in the way they operate. The construction, geometric and dimensional features of Kryos allow it to be easily cleaned and sanitized.
In addition to its usefulness for the winemaking process, Kyros is the ideal plant for quickly and effectively cooling various food products such as sauces, gravies, creams, purees and in
general all those liquid or semi-liquid products, including those containing semi-solid and chunky plant parts, which can be pumped for handling.
In a world where attention to quality, environment and efficiency of production processes has an increasing impact on consumer choices, the spread of this innovative crush refrigerant technology will help improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the wine sector, while ensuring better preservation of the organoleptic properties of grape varieties and greater consumer satisfaction.
Kryos technology represents an opportunity for growth and development for outstanding wine producers from Italy and around the world.
About us
SIAD Group, a century of history in gas production
Among Italy’s leading chemical groups, SIAD is a leader in the production and commercialization of the full range of industrial, specialty, and medicinal gases and related services. The business extends to sectors in synergy with that of gases, including Wine, Food and Beverage.
