Systems and methods for producing a sugar stream
First Claim
1. A system for producing a sugar stream, the system comprising:
- a first grind device that is configured to receive and grind grain and/or grain components;
a slurry tank that is situated after the first grind device and that is configured to receive a liquid and the ground grain and/or grain components, the liquid and ground grain and/or grain components defining a slurry including starch and unfermentable components;
a liquefaction system that is situated after the slurry tank and that is configured to receive the slurry of the ground grain and/or grain components, which includes the starch and unfermentable components, and convert the starch in the slurry to oligosaccharides;
a saccharification system that is situated after the liquefaction system and that is configured to receive the slurry including the oligosaccharides, and convert the oligosaccharides to simple sugars thereby producing a stream including the simple sugars and unfermentable components;
a first separation device selected from a paddle screen, a vibration screen, a screen decanter centrifuge, a conic screen centrifuge, a pressure screen, a preconcentrator, or a filter press that is situated after the saccharification system and that is configured to receive and separate the stream into a solids portion including the unfermentable components and a liquid portion including the simple sugars;
a sugar separation device selected from a clarifier or a filtration centrifuge that is situated after the first separation device and that is configured to receive the liquid portion and separate out heavier residual protein from the liquid portion, wherein the sugar separation device is capable of producing a liquid portion, after the heavier residual protein is separated out, having a dextrose equivalent of at least 70 D.E. and a total unfermentable solids fraction that is less than or equal to 30% of the total solids content; and
a microfiltration device that is situated after the sugar separation device and that is configured to receive the liquid portion therefrom and filter out additional insoluble components from the liquid portion, wherein the microfiltration device is capable of producing a liquid portion, after microfiltration, which defines a sugar stream having a total unfermentable solids fraction that is less than or equal to 10% of the total solids content.
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Accused Products
Abstract
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.
52 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for producing a sugar stream, the system comprising:
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a first grind device that is configured to receive and grind grain and/or grain components; a slurry tank that is situated after the first grind device and that is configured to receive a liquid and the ground grain and/or grain components, the liquid and ground grain and/or grain components defining a slurry including starch and unfermentable components; a liquefaction system that is situated after the slurry tank and that is configured to receive the slurry of the ground grain and/or grain components, which includes the starch and unfermentable components, and convert the starch in the slurry to oligosaccharides; a saccharification system that is situated after the liquefaction system and that is configured to receive the slurry including the oligosaccharides, and convert the oligosaccharides to simple sugars thereby producing a stream including the simple sugars and unfermentable components; a first separation device selected from a paddle screen, a vibration screen, a screen decanter centrifuge, a conic screen centrifuge, a pressure screen, a preconcentrator, or a filter press that is situated after the saccharification system and that is configured to receive and separate the stream into a solids portion including the unfermentable components and a liquid portion including the simple sugars; a sugar separation device selected from a clarifier or a filtration centrifuge that is situated after the first separation device and that is configured to receive the liquid portion and separate out heavier residual protein from the liquid portion, wherein the sugar separation device is capable of producing a liquid portion, after the heavier residual protein is separated out, having a dextrose equivalent of at least 70 D.E. and a total unfermentable solids fraction that is less than or equal to 30% of the total solids content; and a microfiltration device that is situated after the sugar separation device and that is configured to receive the liquid portion therefrom and filter out additional insoluble components from the liquid portion, wherein the microfiltration device is capable of producing a liquid portion, after microfiltration, which defines a sugar stream having a total unfermentable solids fraction that is less than or equal to 10% of the total solids content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for producing a sugar stream, the system comprising:
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a first grind device that is configured to receive and grind grain and/or grain components; a slurry tank that is situated after the first grind device and that is configured to receive a liquid and the ground grain and/or grain components, the liquid and ground grain and/or grain components defining a slurry including starch and unfermentable components; a liquefaction system that is situated after the slurry tank and that is configured to receive the slurry of the ground grain and/or grain components, which includes the starch and unfermentable components, and convert the starch in the slurry to oligosaccharides; a saccharification system that is situated after the liquefaction system and that is configured to receive the slurry including the oligosaccharides, and convert the oligosaccharides to simple sugars thereby producing a stream including the simple sugars and unfermentable components; a first separation device selected from a paddle screen, a vibration screen, a screen decanter centrifuge, a conic screen centrifuge, a pressure screen, a preconcentrator, or a filter press that is situated after the saccharification system and that is configured to receive and separate the stream into a solids portion including the unfermentable components and a liquid portion including the simple sugars; a sugar separation device selected from a clarifier or a filtration centrifuge that is situated after the first separation device and that is configured to receive the liquid portion and separate out heavier residual protein from the liquid portion, wherein the sugar separation device is capable of producing a liquid portion, after the heavier residual protein is separated out, having a dextrose equivalent of at least 70 D.E. and a total unfermentable solids fraction that is less than or equal to 30% of the total solids content; a microfiltration device that is situated after the sugar separation device and that is configured to receive the liquid portion therefrom and filter out additional insoluble components from the liquid portion, wherein the microfiltration device is capable of producing a liquid portion, after microfiltration, which defines a sugar stream having a total unfermentable solids fraction that is less than or equal to 10% of the total solids content; and a reactor that is situated after the microfiltration device and that is configured to receive the sugar stream and produce biofuel from the simple sugars. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification