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US 10,760,039 B2Granted
Controlled germination apparatus
AssigneeSalish Coast Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsWilliam D. Redding, Wayne E. Carpenter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments herein disclosed relate to a computer-controlled germination system built around a rotating vessel within which a germinating process takes place. The system includes automatable controls over air flow, water flow, temperature, and vessel rotation; and air and water recirculation mechanisms provide energy efficient control over air and water temperature, humidity, and/or CO2 content.
Claims20
An apparatus for germinating grain, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable drum configured for holding grain;
- an air conduit in the rotatable drum for directing an intake flow of air into the rotatable drum, the air conduit fixed to rotate with the rotatable drum;
- an array of tubes distributed circumferentially in the rotatable drum for receiving an exhaust flow of air from the rotatable drum, the array of tubes fixed to rotate with the rotatable drum;
- a drum air inlet that is outside of the rotating drum;
- a drum air outlet that is outside of the rotating drum;
- an air rotary union comprising an air manifold fluidly connecting the air conduit with the drum air inlet and fluidly connecting the array of tubes with the drum air outlet, the fluid connection maintained during rotation of the rotating drum;
- a blower arranged to draw the exhaust flow of air from the air rotary union via the drum air outlet;
- an inlet pipe in the rotatable drum for inserting an inlet flow of water into the rotatable drum;
- and
- a heat exchanger assembly fluidly connected with the air conduit, the heat exchanger assembly comprising:
- an air intake fluidly connected with the drum air inlet;
- an air exhaust fluidly connected with the drum air outlet;
- and
- a recuperator associated with the air intake and air exhaust and configured to conduct heat between an exhaust flow of air in the air exhaust and an intake flow of air in the air intake.
11 more elements
A method for malting grain, comprising:
- in an apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable drum configured for holding grain;
- an air conduit in the rotatable drum for directing an intake flow of air into the rotatable drum, the air conduit fixed to rotate with the rotatable drum;
- an array of tubes distributed circumferentially in the rotatable drum for receiving an exhaust flow of air from the rotatable drum, the array of tubes fixed to rotate with the rotatable drum;
- a drum air inlet that is outside of the rotating drum;
- a drum air outlet that is outside of the rotating drum;
- an air rotary union comprising an air manifold, fluidly connecting the air conduit with the drum air inlet and fluidly connecting the array of tubes with the drum air outlet, the fluid connection maintained during rotation of the rotating drum;
- a blower arranged to draw the exhaust flow of air from the air rotary union via the drum air outlet;
- an inlet pipe in the rotatable drum for inserting an inlet flow of water into the rotatable drum;
- and
- a heat exchanger assembly fluidly connected with the air conduit, the heat exchanger assembly comprising an air intake fluidly connected with the drum air inlet, an air exhaust connected fluidly connected with the drum air outlet, and a recuperator associated with the air intake and air exhaust and configured to conduct heat between an exhaust flow of air in the air exhaust and an intake flow of air in the air intake;
- inserting a batch of grain into the rotatable drum;
- and
- activating a series of executable instructions at a controller, the instructions configured to apply at least one of heat, moisture, mechanical actuation, or air flow to the rotatable drum, and the instructions designed to malt grain within the rotatable drum.
11 more elements
A system for malting grain, the system comprising:
- a rotatable drum configured for holding grain;
- an air conduit in the rotatable drum for directing an intake flow of air into the rotatable drum, the air conduit fixed to rotate with the rotatable drum;
- an array of tubes distributed circumferentially in the rotatable drum for receiving an exhaust flow of air from the rotatable drum, the array of tubes fixed to rotate with the rotatable drum;
- a drum air inlet that is outside of the rotating drum;
- a drum air outlet that is outside of the rotating drum;
- an air rotary union comprising an air manifold, fluidly connecting the air conduit with the drum air inlet and fluidly connecting the array of tubes with the drum air outlet, the fluid connection maintained during rotation of the rotating drum;
- an air cycle module configured to control an air temperature of a flow of air through the rotatable drum;
- a water cycle module configured to control a water flow rate and a water temperature of a flow of water through the rotatable drum;
- a heat exchanger assembly fluidly connected with the air conduit, the heat exchanger assembly comprising an air intake fluidly connected with the drum air inlet, an air exhaust fluidly connected with the drum air outlet, and a recuperator associated with the air intake and air exhaust and configured to conduct heat between an exhaust flow of air in the air exhaust and an intake flow of air in the air intake;
- and
- a controller having a processor and memory configured with executable instructions to execute a sequence of pre-defined operations on one or more of the air cycle module, the water cycle module, and the rotatable drum, the sequence being defined to malt grain within the rotatable drum.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.