US 2019/0257581 A1 · SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING CEREAL GRASSES

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for drying a cereal grass, such as alfalfa, barley, clover, rye grass, Timothy grass, and the stalks, stems, grains and leaves of a cereal grass, such as oats, wheat, buckwheat, maize, millet, rice and sorghum. The systems include a first pressing roll and a second pressing roll that form a nip through which the cereal grass or forage crop can be pressed, pressing the liquid out of the cereal grass or forage crop to form a first product stream comprising a dewatered cereal grass or forage crop and a second product stream comprising liquid pressed out of the cereal grass or forage crop; at least one suction device for collecting the second product stream; an atomizer for converting the second product stream into droplets that can be applied to the surface of the first product stream; a drying chamber; and a circulation system for moving a drying medium through the drying chamber.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A system for drying a cereal grass or forage crop, comprising:

a conditioner comprising:
a) a set of grooved or ribbed rollers that interact to crimp or to crush or to crimp and crush the cereal grass or forage crop;
or
b) a first roll and a second roll having ribs and grooves of a similar configuration reversed end for end, the ribs of the first roll intermeshing with the grooves of the second roll to crimp or to crush or to crimp and crush the cereal grass or forage crop;
a first pressing roll and a second pressing roll that form a nip therebetween through which the cereal grass or forage crop can be pressed, pressing the liquid out of the cereal grass or forage crop to form a first product stream comprising a dewatered cereal grass or forage crop and a second product stream comprising liquid pressed out of the cereal grass or forage crop;
at least one suction device comprising a vacuum system for collecting the second product stream;
a drying chamber comprising:
a drying medium intake aperture;
a drying medium exhaust aperture;
an inlet for receiving the first product stream;
and
an outlet for discharging a dewatered cereal grass or forage crop;
a temperature sensor;
and
a humidity sensor;
a first perforated conveyor comprising a variable speed electric motor and drive for moving the perforated conveyor that moves the cereal grass or forage crop through the drying chamber;
a circulation system comprising a fan or blower or both for moving the drying medium through the drying chamber;
a cabinet enclosing the drying chamber;
and
an atomizer for atomizing the second product stream into droplets that pass through the drying medium and are deposited on the first product stream on a second perforated conveyor comprising a variable speed electric motor and drive unit for moving the first product stream beneath the atomizer within the drying chamber.

17 more elements

A method of drying a cut cereal grass or forage crop, comprising:

passing the cereal grass or forage crop through a pressing nip formed between a first pressing roll and a second pressing roll such that a liquid in the cereal grass or other forage crop is pressed out of the cereal grass or other forage crop when the cereal grass or other forage crop passes through the first nip to form a first product stream comprising a dewatered cereal grass or a dewatered forage crop and a second product stream comprising the liquid pressed out of the cereal grass or forage crop;
subjecting the first product stream to a drying medium to reduce the moisture content of the first product stream to produce a dried first product stream;
atomizing the second product stream into droplets using an atomizer and passing the droplets through a drying medium over the first product stream to form condensed droplets that are deposited on the first product stream to yield a coated first product stream;
and
subjecting the coated first product stream to a drying medium to reduce the moisture content of the coated first product stream to a targeted moisture content to yield a dried product.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for processing cereal grasses

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for processing cereal grasses

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32