Expanded distillation for ethanol production

In combination with an ethanol production facility including:

• a source of fermented mash (beer);
• a first beer column configured for receiving beer input from said source and for producing overhead comprising alcohol vapor and water vapor, said first beer column also configured for producing bottoms comprising water and solids;
• and a first rectifier receiving an alcohol and water mixture from said first beer column, the improvements comprising:
• a second beer column configured for receiving beer input from said source and for producing:
• overhead comprising alcohol vapor and water vapor;
• and bottoms comprising water and solids;
• a first condenser configured for receiving overhead from said first rectifier and providing alcohol output;
• a second condenser configured for receiving said overhead from said second beer column;
• providing a second rectifier receiving:
• condensed overhead from said second condenser;
• and bottoms from said first rectifier;
• and
• a processing component configured for receiving bottoms from said first and second beer columns and steam condensate.

An ethanol production facility, which includes:

• a source of fermented mash (beer);
• a first beer column configured for receiving beer input from said source and for producing overhead comprising alcohol vapor and water vapor;
• said first beer column also configured for producing bottoms comprising water and solids;
• a first rectifier configured for receiving an alcohol and water mixture from said first beer column;
• a second beer column configured for receiving beer input from said source and for producing:
• overhead comprising alcohol vapor and water vapor;
• and bottoms comprising water and solids;
• a first condenser configured for receiving overhead from said first rectifier and providing alcohol output;
• a second condenser configured for receiving said overhead from said second beer column;
• a second rectifier configured for receiving condensed overhead from said second condenser and bottoms from said first rectifier;
• and
• a processing component configured for receiving bottoms from said first and second beer columns and steam condensate.