APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INCREASING ALCOHOL YIELD FROM GRAIN

• US 20080281131A1
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arisdyne Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arisdyne Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: KOZYUK, Oleg V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,667,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 568/840
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/008 Processes for carrying out reactions under cavitation conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/12 for producing fuels or solvents C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/02 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices for liquid fuel extraction; Biorefineries
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/02 by mechanical forces; Stirring; Trituration; Comminuting crushing, pulverizing, disintegrating in general B02C
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/20 Heating; Cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A method comprising applying a controlled flow cavitation apparatus to an alcohol production process in order to increase alcohol yield. A grain-based liquid medium comprising grain and a liquid carrier can be passed through a controlled flow cavitation apparatus at a velocity capable of generating a hydrodynamic cavitation zone where the grain size can be reduced. One or more controlled flow cavitation apparatuses can be applied at various points of an alcohol production process, such as a starch-to-ethanol production process.

Claims

1. A method for producing alcohol from grain comprising:

providing a grain-based liquid medium comprising grain and a liquid carrier;

forcing said grain-based liquid medium through a controlled flow cavitation apparatus at processing pressure capable of generating a hydrodynamic cavitation zone;

maintaining said grain-based liquid medium in said hydrodynamic cavitation zone for less than 1 second.

2. The method of claim 1, said grain being selected from the group consisting of corn, rye, sorghum, wheat, beans, barley, oats, rice, or combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the average diameter of said grain in said grain-based liquid medium is reduced at least 5 percent.

4. The method of claim 1, said grain-based liquid medium being circulated through said controlled flow cavitation apparatus at least two times.

5. The method of claim 1, said grain-based liquid medium being a slurry comprising corn grains and water.

6. The method of claim 1, said grain-based liquid medium is a processing stream in an alcohol production process, wherein said alcohol production process comprises a milling phase, a cooking phase and a liquefaction phase, wherein said cooking phase is after said milling phase and before said liquefaction phase.

7. The method of claim 1, said grain-based liquid medium being forced through said controlled flow cavitation apparatus before said cooking phase.

8. The method of claim 1, said grain-based liquid medium being forced through said controlled flow cavitation apparatus before said liquefaction phase and after said cooking phase.

9. The method of claim 1, said controlled flow cavitation apparatus being integrated with a slurry tank in a fluid circulation loop such that the contents of the slurry tank can be passed through said controlled flow cavitation apparatus at least one time.

10. The method of claim 9, said contents of said slurry tank comprising corn grains and water.

11. The method of claim 1, said controlled flow cavitation apparatus being integrated with a liquefaction tank in a fluid circulation loop such that the contents of the liquefaction tank can be passed through said controlled flow cavitation apparatus at least one time.

12. The method of claim 1, said controlled flow cavitation apparatus comprising a flow through channel, a localized flow constriction and an orifice.

13. The method of claim 12, said orifice having a diameter less than 10 mm.

14. The method of claim 12, said controlled flow cavitation apparatus comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein said localized flow constriction divides said first chamber and said second chamber.

15. A method of increasing ethanol yield in a starch-to-ethanol production process comprising passing a grain-based liquid medium through a controlled flow cavitation apparatus prior to distillation such that average grain size in said grain-based liquid medium is reduced at least 5 percent.

16. The method of claim 15, said controlled flow cavitation apparatus comprising a flow through channel, a localized flow constriction and an orifice, wherein said grain-based liquid medium passes through said orifice sufficient to create a pressure differential across said orifice of at least 30 psi.

17. The method of claim 15, said grain-based liquid medium being passed through said controlled flow cavitation apparatus at a processing pressure of at least 50 psi.

18. A method of increasing ethanol yield in a starch-to-ethanol production process comprising passing a grain-based liquid medium processing stream at one or more points of an ethanol production process through a controlled flow cavitation apparatus, wherein said controlled flow cavitation apparatus reduces the amount of residual starch remaining in said ethanol production process prior to distillation.

19. The method of claim 18, said grain-based liquid medium processing stream comprising corn grains and water, said corn grains having an average diameter, and wherein said average diameter of said corn grains being reduced at least 5 percent after being passed through said controlled flow cavitation apparatus.

20. The method of claim 19, said grain-based liquid medium processing stream being passed through said controlled flow cavitation apparatus at least two times, wherein said average diameter of said corn grains is reduced at least 10 percent.