Method and apparatus for efficiently dewatering corn stillage and other materials
Filing Information
- Patent Number: US5662810
- Application Number: US8520409
- Filing date: 08/29/1995
- Issue date: 09/02/1997
- Predicted expiration date: 08/29/2015
- U.S. Classifications: 210/781 · 210/787 ·
- International Classifications: B01D 2126 ·
- International Classifications: 210781;787;806 ·
- View document at: (opens new window):
USPTO · PAIR · esp@cenet · Patent Family* Related patent documents may or may not exist on these sites
Abstract
A new process and apparatus efficiently dewater aqueous solids residual after fermentation and distillation, such as corn stillage. The feed stream of aqueous solids slurry is fractionated into two or more sub-streams in such a way that one of the sub-streams contains predominately heavy particulate solids and has substantially improved free-draining characteristics. A second sub-stream contains lighter particles, entrained fines of the heavy particles, and a major portion of the liquid from the feed stream. The free-draining sub-stream is dewatered using a device such as a screen centrifuge or a screw press, both of which produce a cake of relatively high solids content. The remaining liquid from the feed stream is concentrated in an evaporator, before being mixed with the dewatered solids which may be dried to produce an animal feed.References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
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Other Publications
| Low, "The Efficient Production of High Quality Distiller's Dark Grains Using Stord Dehydration Process Technology", 1988 Fuel Ethanol Workshop, St. Louis, MO, Jun. 15-17. |
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Referenced By
| Document Number | Assignee | Inventors | Issue/Pub Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP1471798 | IBETECH S.R.L. | Andrea ANGELINI et al. | Jun 2006 |
| US7608729 | GS Cleantech Corporation | David J. Winsness et al. | Oct 2009 |
| US7497955 | Nalco Company | David W. Scheimann et al. | Mar 2009 |
| US7566469 | Nalco Company | David W. Scheimann | Jul 2009 |
| US6797050 | A.E. Staley Manufacturing Co. | Andrew J. Hoffman et al. | Sep 2004 |
| US7601858 | GS Cleantech Corporation | David Fred Cantrell et al. | Oct 2009 |
Patent Family
| Document Number | Assignee | Inventors | Issue/Pub Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US5662810 | Ralph H. Willgohs | Sep 1997 | |
| US5958233 | Ralph H. Willgohs | Sep 1999 |
View Drawings
Independent Claims | See all claims (14)
- 1. A process for dewatering a feed stream of aqueous solids residual from fermentation and distillation, said process comprising the steps of:(a) classifying by size the feed stream of aqueous solids slurry into at least a first sub-stream and a second sub-stream, whereby solids in said first sub-stream are predominately particles larger than a predetermined size and solids in said second sub-stream are predominately particles smaller than said predetermined size, wherein said predetermined size is between about 15 microns and about 500 microns;(b) thereafter dewatering said first sub-stream in a primary dewatering device; and(c) recovering solids from said second sub-stream with a secondary recovery device.
- 9. A process for dewatering a feed stream of aqueous solids residual from fermentation and distillation, said process comprising the steps of:(a) declassifying the feed stream of aqueous solids slurry into at least a first sub-stream and a second sub-stream using a screen bend having a screen opening size in the range of about 30 to about 300 microns;(b) thereafter dewatering said first sub-stream in a primary dewatering device selected from the group consisting of a screen centrifuge and a screw press, to yield a cake having a dry solids content of at least 32%; and(c) recovering solids from said second sub-stream with a secondary recovery device.





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