Method of processing ethanol byproducts and related subsystems
AssigneeGs Cleantech Corporation
InventorsDavid Cantrell, David Winsness
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one aspect of the invention, a method recovers oil from a concentrated byproduct, such as evaporated thin stillage formed during a dry milling process used for producing ethanol. The method includes forming a concentrate from the byproduct and recovering oil from the concentrate. The step of forming the concentrate may comprise evaporating the byproduct. Further, the step of separating the oil from the concentrate may comprise using a centrifuge and, in particular, a disk stack centrifuge. Other aspects of the invention include related methods and subsystems for recovering oil from thin stillage.
Claims30
A method of processing a concentrated byproduct of a dry milling process for producing ethanol, comprising recovering oil from the concentrated byproduct.
A method of processing concentrated thin stillage created by a dry milling process for producing ethanol, comprising recovering oil from the concentrated thin stillage having a moisture content of greater than 15% by weight.
A method of recovering oil from thin stillage, comprising:
- evaporating the thin stillage to create a concentrate having a moisture content of greater than 15% by weight and less than about 90% by weight;
- and
- centrifuging the concentrate to recover oil.
A method of processing whole stillage, comprising:
- recovering thin stillage from the whole stillage, the thin stillage including oil and solids;
- concentrating the thin stillage including the solids;
- and
- recovering oil from the concentrate.
In a system for producing ethanol by dry milling and creating thin stillage as a byproduct, a subsystem comprising:
- an evaporator for evaporating the thin stillage to form a concentrate;
- and
- a centrifuge for receiving the concentrate and recovering oil therefrom.
In a system for producing ethanol by dry milling and creating thin stillage as a byproduct, a subsystem comprising:
- an evaporator for evaporating the thin stillage to form a concentrate;
- and
- means for recovering oil from the concentrate.
In combination, a concentrate formed from thin stillage including oil and a centrifuge for removing at least a portion of the oil from the concentrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.