# US 11,299,697 B2 · Optimized dewatering process for an agricultural production facility

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- Number: US 11,299,697 B2
- Document ID: US11299697B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/286,555
- Filed: 2019-02-26
- Published: 2019-08-29
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-02
- Assignees: ICM, Inc.
- Applicants: ICM, Inc.
- Inventors: Charles C. Gallop; Kurt A. Dieker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299697B2

## CPC

- C12F 3/10: from distillery slops
- B01D 33/11: arranged for outward flow filtration
- C12P 7/06: Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
- A23K 10/38: from distillers' or brewers' waste
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- C12F: RECOVERY OF BY-PRODUCTS OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS (removal of yeast from wine or sparkling wine C12G1/08); DENATURED ALCOHOL; PREPARATION THEREOF
- 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)
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}
- A23K: FODDER
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

This disclosure describes techniques to optimize dewatering process in a production facility. A process separates components in a mixture by using a separation device and a dewatering device. The process receives the mixture of liquids and solids, and separates out suspended solids from the mixture of liquids and solids by using the separation device, wherein a liquid with insoluble solids stream is created. The process dewaters the liquid with insoluble solids stream by using the dewatering device to produce a liquid with small particles stream and insoluble solids having particle sizes that are greater than about 20 microns to about 1000 microns.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of processing corn, the method comprising:
receiving a mixture including corn and liquids;
milling the mixture a first time to coarsely grind the corn;
dewatering germ-rich materials of the mixture with an insoluble solids stream with a rotary press to produce 1) a first liquid with particles stream and 2) first insoluble solids, which have solids content of greater than about 25% solids to about 70% solids;
milling the mixture a second time to release germs; and
dewatering germ-lean materials of the mixture with the insoluble solids stream to produce 3) a second liquid with particles stream and 4) second insoluble solids, which have solids content of about 10% to about 70% solids;
wherein the first liquid with the particles stream contain about 1% to 20% solids.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second insoluble solids have particle sizes that range from about 20 microns to about 1000 microns.