Apparatus and method for increasing alcohol yield from grain

• US 8,143,460 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arisdyne Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arisdyne Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: KOZYUK, Oleg
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Elvis O
• Application Number:
  US12/686,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20100112125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 568/903, 568/874, 568/902, 568/913, 568/918
• US Class Current: 568/902
• 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:

applying controlled flow cavitation to a liquid medium comprising a grain, wherein said controlled flow cavitation reduces the particle size of said grain.

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

3. The method of claim 1, said controlled flow cavitation is applied to said liquid medium prior to distillation such that the average grain size in said liquid medium is reduced at least 5 percent.

4. The method of claim 1, said liquid medium being transferred through a pump to control the flow of said liquid medium.

5. The method of claim 4, said pump being selected from the group consisting of a centrifugal pump, a positive-displacement pump or a diaphragm pump.

6. The method of claim 4, said pump transferring said liquid medium at a processing pressure.

7. The method of claim 1, said applying controlled flow cavitation induces depolymerization of starch contained in said grain.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said depolymerization of said starch increases the rate of liquefaction in said starch.

9. A method for increasing ethanol yield in a starch-to-ethanol production process comprising:

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

adjusting the processing pressure of said grain-based medium by passing said grain-based liquid medium through a pump;

applying controlled flow cavitation to said pressurized grain-based medium.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the average diameter of said grain in said grain-based liquid medium is reduced by at least 5 percent.