Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC

Fluid Quip Process Technologies, LLC

John Kwik

Neal Jakel

Michael Franko

Andrew Whalen

Michael John Hora

An improved dry grind system and method for producing a sugar stream from grains or similar carbohydrate sources and/or residues, such as for biofuel production. In particular, a sugar/carbohydrate stream, which includes a desired Dextrose Equivalent (DE) where DE describes the degree of conversion of starch to dextrose (aka glucose) and/or has had removed therefrom an undesirable amount of unfermentable components, can be produced after saccharification and prior to fermentation (or other sugar conversion process), with such sugar stream being available for biofuel production, e.g., alcohol production, or other processes. In addition, the systems and methods also can involve the removal of certain grain components, e.g., corn kernel components, including protein, oil and/or fiber, prior to fermentation or other conversion systems. In other words, sugar stream production and/or grain component separation occurs on the front end of the system and method.

Systems and methods for producing a sugar stream

A system and process is disclosed for adding pre-fermentation separated non-fermentables, e.g., fiber, germ/oil, and/or protein, to a post-fermentation stream in a corn (or similar carbohydrate-containing grain) dry milling process for making alcohol and/or other biofuels/biochemical. The process includes mixing grain particles with a liquid to produce a slurry having starch and non-fermentables. The slurry is subjected to liquefaction to convert the starch in the slurry to complex sugars and produce a liquefied stream including the complex sugars and non-fermentables. After liquefaction but prior to fermentation of simple sugars resulting from conversion of the complex sugars, the non-fermentables are separated out to define a non-fermentables portion and an aqueous solution including the complex and/or simple sugars. The simple sugars are fermented to provide a fermented stream. Then, the separated non-fermentables portion is reincorporated back into the process into a post-fermentation stream. In one example, the non-fermentables may be mainly fiber.

System and process for adding pre-fermentation separated non-fermentables to a post-fermentation stream

A method and system are disclosed for producing a protein and fiber feed product from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry milling process for making alcohol, such as ethanol, and/or other biofuels/biochemicals. In one embodiment, the method includes separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a centrate (solubles) portion. Thereafter, a fine fiber and protein portion may be separated from the centrate (solubles) portion. The fine fiber and protein portion may be dewatered to provide a protein and fiber feed product. In one example, the protein and fiber feed product can include insoluble solids, such as wet or dry distiller's grains with or without solubles. The resulting protein and fiber feed product may be sold and/or used as rumen feed, swine feed, chicken feed, aqua feed, food uses, or have other uses, including pharmaceutical and/or chemical usage, for example.

Method and system for producing a protein and fiber feed product from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry milling process

A method and system for reducing the unfermentable solids content in a protein portion, via a counter current wash, at the back end of a corn dry milling process for making alcohol is disclosed. The method can include separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a stillage (centrate) portion, which includes protein. Thereafter, the stillage portion can be separated into a water soluble solids portion and a protein portion. The protein portion may be mixed with clean water to wash and dilute the protein portion. The diluted protein portion may be dewatered to form a dewatered protein portion and a centrate. A portion of the centrate may be used as a protein counter current wash when the protein portion is being separated from the stillage portion. The protein counter current wash reduces the amount of unfermentable solids in the protein portion and the centrate.

Method and system for reducing the unfermentable solids content in a protein portion at the back end of a corn dry milling process

The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to a method and system for removing insoluble solids mid-evaporation in a corn (or similar carbohydrate-containing grain) dry milling process for making alcohol, such as ethanol, and/or other biofuels/biochemicals. In one example, the method for removing residual insoluble solids in a grain dry milling process includes separating a whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a solubles portion, which includes residual insoluble solids. Then, the solubles portion is subjected to a first evaporation, via one or more evaporators, to remove liquid from the solubles portion to define a concentrated solubles portion. After the first evaporation, the residual insoluble solids are separated from the concentrated solubles portion. And thereafter, the concentrated solubles portion is subjected to a second evaporation, via one or more evaporators, to remove additional liquid from the concentrated solubles portion.

Method and system for removing insoluble solids mid-evaporation from a corn dry milling process

Method for producing a fertilizer or herbicide from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making alcohol and system therefore is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. Thereafter, the thin stillage portion can be dewatered to provide a water soluble solids portion and a dewatered protein portion, which may be optionally dried. The protein in the resulting protein portion can serve as a nitrogen source and sulfur containing amino acids can serve as a sulfur source, which can be desirable components in fertilizers and herbicides. To that end, the resulting protein portion directly may be sold and/or used as a fertilizer or herbicide or can be combined with other components to provide the fertilizer or herbicide.

Method and system for producing a fertilizer or herbicide from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry milling process

The present invention is directed to improved systems and processes for clarifying a thin stillage stream in a biofuel production process, such as a dry grind alcohol production process, that removes desirable amounts of insoluble solids from at least a portion of the thin stillage stream, thereby realizing any number of process enhancements.

System and process for clarifying thin stillage

A method and system for distilling alcohol in an alcohol production process is disclosed. The method can include fermenting a mixture of water and milled grain to produce alcohol-laden beer, which can be distilled in a beer column maintained at a subatmospheric pressure to produce a vapor, primarily including alcohol, and whole stillage. Stillage is separated from the whole stillage. Water is evaporated from the separated stillage to produce first-concentrated stillage and first effect steam. Water from the first-concentrated stillage is evaporated with heat from the first effect steam to produce second effect steam. In one embodiment, second effect steam can be used to supply sufficient heat to a side stripper for distilling the alcohol-laden beer. In another embodiment, the method can include generating steam from one or more steam generator to supply sufficient heat to the beer column for distilling the alcohol-laden beer.

Method and system for distilling alcohol in an alcohol production process

A method and system for distilling alcohol in an alcohol production process is disclosed. The method can include fermenting a mixture of water and milled grain to produce alcohol-laden beer, which can be distilled in a beer column maintained at a subatmospheric pressure to produce a vapor, primarily including alcohol, and whole stillage. Thin stillage is separated from the whole stillage. Water is evaporated from the separated thin stillage to produce first-concentrated thin stillage and at least a portion of first effect steam. Water from the first-concentrated thin stillage is evaporated with heat from the first effect steam to produce second-concentrated thin stillage and second effect steam. Water is evaporated from the second-concentrated thin stillage with heat from the second effect steam to third effect steam. At least a portion of the third effect steam is used to supply sufficient heat to the beer column for distilling the alcohol-laden beer.

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Bellbrook, OH, United States of America

John Kwik