Technical Yearbook 2024

FIGURE 3. Placement of the e-aphrom in the bottle.

FIGURE 2. Dimensions of the e-aphrom.

also contains a reference input, so the final pressure is presented relative to the atmospheric pressure (gauge sensor). Figure 1 illustrates the described sensing principle. The sensor has an aluminium probe with a natural rubber seal. This probe is in contact with the inside of the bottle and measures the pressure and temperature in its gaseous space. Figure 2 shows the dimensions of the device. The sensor is powered with three AA batteries of 1.5 V, and it is screwed in the bottlenecks. The standard designed dimensions are prepared for 29 mm diameter bottlenecks. However, they can be designed to adapt to other values if needed. The measurement parameter specifications are presented in Table 1. TABLE 1. Parameter specifications of the e-aphrom. Operation range Resolution Accuracy Pressure 0:10 bar 0.01 bar ±0.05 bar Temperature -10:50°C 0.1°C ±0.5°C The cleaning procedures are simple to apply. They only require the application of alcohol and water to the adaptor parts (including the orifice). Installation requirements Before installation, it is essential to guarantee that the batteries and the antenna are placed correctly, and that the winery has an internet connection. The sensor has an adaptor that will be used for installation. The device is placed on the top of the bottle, putting the rubber membrane in contact with the opening. The adaptor is then screwed firmly onto the bottle to prevent leakage. Figure 3 illustrates the process of installation. Every e-aphrom communicates wirelessly with a smartbox. This equipment is the gateway that pairs more than one sensor with the online platform. Another

important feature of the smartbox is its ability to store data in case of an internet failure. After the correct sensor installation, the user can interact with the dashboard and visualise the data. Data communication and dashboard The data acquired in real-time is sent wirelessly through the smartbox (the gateway) and then sent via an internet connection to a cloud platform, where it will be stored and processed (applying, for example, unit conversion algorithms). LoRa WAN and Wi-Fi communication protocols are used for, respectively, long-range (line of sight up to 2 km) and close-range (line of sight up to 50 m) applications. Figure 4 presents the general overview of the IoT schematics. The stored data can be accessed anywhere and at any time, allowing for the comparison of historical data. All registered sensors can be displayed simultaneously, allowing users to add labels and individual information manually. Figure 5 displays other possibilities that the dashboard presents to the user. Some more relevant examples include comparing data from different sensors, adding notes, exporting data and analysing technical information like the battery’s charge status. The device can generate alarms that email users to inform them of the status of the data collected. The winemaker can set thresholds to notify important values that mark the beginning and end of the second fermentation. The alarms may also indicate the status of the sensor device pairing with a local network. Case study Figure 6 presents an example of actual data collected by an e-aphrom from a typical secondary fermentation process using the traditional methodology. It includes pressure and temperature measurements. In this graphic, the pressure

142

TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2024