# US 10,865,370 B1 · Cook water preheat using evaporator vapor heat recovery

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- Number: US 10,865,370 B1
- Document ID: US10865370B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/498,701
- Filed: 2019-03-14
- Published: 2021-01-07
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-28
- Assignees: Bioleap, Inc.
- Applicants: Bioleap, Inc.
- Inventors: James Knight, Jr.; Olan Wayne Mitchell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865370B1

## CPC

- C12H 6/02: by distillation
- B01D 3/002: {by continuous methods}
- B01D 5/0027: {by direct contact between vapours or gases and the cooling medium}
- C12G 3/02: by fermentation
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- Y02P 20/10: Process efficiency
- Y02P 20/59: Biological synthesis; Biological purification
- Y02P 70/10: Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working
- C12H: PASTEURISATION, STERILISATION, PRESERVATION, PURIFICATION, CLARIFICATION OR AGEING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; METHODS FOR ALTERING THE ALCOHOL CONTENT OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (simulation ageing by flavouring C12G3/06)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C12G: WINE; PREPARATION THEREOF; ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (beer C12C); PREPARATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES C12C OR C12H
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Energy efficiency is improved in a grain alcohol production plant (60) by capturing heat energy that otherwise would be lost to the environment when stillage evaporator last effect vapors (22) are condensed to recycle their water content. The low temperature/pressure heat energy of these vapors is efficiently recovered and reused by placing the vapors in direct physical contact (301, 402) with a working fluid (38) to form heated working fluid (54, 66), then using the heated working fluid directly in a process of the plant. In an embodiment, cook water used for the plant fermentation process is preheated by direct contact with stillage evaporator overhead vapor via one or more direct contact heat exchangers (301, 401) and/or a thermocompressor (402).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for a grain alcohol plant including an evaporator operable to remove moisture from a thin stillage and to produce an overhead vapor, a non-contact condenser configured to receive the overhead vapor and to produce a condensate, and a cook water system receiving the condensate, the system comprising:
a direct contact device configured to place at least a first portion of the overhead vapor received from upstream of the non-contact condenser into direct heat exchange contact with cook water of the cook water system; and
a fluid loop circulating the cook water from the cook water system, through the direct contact device, then back to the cook water system as a warm cook water mixture.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the direct contact device comprises a direct contact condenser.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the direct contact device comprises a first direct contact condenser, the system further comprising:
a thermocompressor comprising a suction side for receiving at least a second portion of the overhead vapor from upstream of the non-contact condenser and a motive side for receiving a plant process vapor, the thermocompressor operable to produce a vapor mixture; and
a second direct contact condenser comprising a vapor inlet interconnected with the thermocompressor to receive the vapor mixture, a working fluid inlet connected to receive the warm cook water mixture, and a working fluid outlet for directing a warmer cook water mixture back to the cook water system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the plant process vapor comprises boiler steam.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A corn ethanol plant comprising the system of claim 1.

### Claim 6

A system for a grain alcohol plant, the system comprising:
a non-contact condenser for transferring heat to the environment from a last effect vapor produced by an evaporator;
a means for placing the last effect vapor into direct physical contact with a working fluid upstream of the non-contact condenser to at least partially condense the last effect vapor and to produce a heated working fluid; and
a means for using the heated working fluid in a process of the grain alcohol plant,
wherein the means for placing the last effect vapor into direct physical contact with a working fluid comprises one of a group consisting of a direct contact condenser and a thermocompressor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the means for using the heated working fluid comprises a cook water fluid loop interconnecting the direct contact condenser with a cook water system of the grain alcohol plant.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A corn ethanol plant comprising the system of claim 6.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the means for placing the last effect vapor into direct physical contact with a working fluid comprises the direct contact condenser.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the means for placing the last effect vapor into direct physical contact with a working fluid comprises the thermocompressor.

### Claim 11

A method of energy management in a grain alcohol plant, the plant including an evaporator operative to remove moisture from thin stillage and a cook water system operative to provide cook water, the method comprising:
transferring heat from an overhead vapor produced by the evaporator to the cook water by:
directing at least a first portion of the overhead vapor to a vapor inlet of a direct contact heat exchanger; and
directing the cook water to a cook water inlet of the direct contact heat exchanger to produce warmed cook water,
wherein the direct contact heat exchanger comprises a first direct contact heat exchanger, and further comprising:
directing a second portion of the overhead vapor to a suction side of a thermocompressor and directing a plant process vapor to a motive side of the thermocompressor to produce a vapor mixture; and
directing the vapor mixture to a vapor inlet of a second direct contact heat exchanger and directing the warmed cook water to a cook water inlet of the second direct contact heat exchanger to produce a warmer cook water.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the plant process vapor comprises boiler steam.