Anaerobic pasteurizing conditioning system

An anaerobic, pasteurizing conditioning system of the type wherein a vessel is adapted for the flow of matter to be conditioned therethrough and means are provided for injection of a treatment fluid therein, said system comprising:

• a direct fired steam generator adapted for producing said treatment fluid comprising steam and non-condensible gases, said gases containing insufficient oxygen for sustaining aerobic bacterial growth;
• means for introducing said steam and oxygen deficient non-condensible gases from said vapor generator into said vessel for counter-current flow relative to matter passing therethrough;
• a first air lock disposed in said vessel for permitting the egress of matter having passed therethrough while preventing the exhaust of steam therefrom;
• a second air lock disoosed in said vessel for permitting the ingressing of matter therein while preventing the exhaust of steam therefrom;
• means for permitting the controlled exhaust of non-condensible gases from said vessel, said means including a venting orifice disposed in the region of the second air lock whereby said non-condensible gases are exhausted from said vessel after passing through said matter therein;
• and
• means for controlling the operation of said direct fired steam generator for producing a sufficiently large volume of oxygen deficient gases and steam for purging said matter of other gases flowing therewith and maintaining the deficient oxygen level in said non-condensible gases for creating an anaerobic condition in said vessel.

An improved method of conditioning grain wherein said grain is exposed to steam within a conditioning vessel, the improvement comprising the steps of:

• producing steam and oxygen deficient non-condensible gases with a direct fired vapor generator;
• producing an anaerobic, oxygen deficient environment within said vessel by the introduction of said steam and non-condensible gases therein;
• providing means for imparting a homogeneous interaction between said grain and said steam and non-condensible gases within said vessel;
• providing said steam and non-condensible gases in sufficient volume and with sufficient enthalpy for substantially purging the system of all other oxygen laden gases;
• maintaining a temperature therein for anaerobic pasteurization of grain passing therethrough;
• issuing said grain from said vessel;
• and
• compressing said grain to fractionate gelatinized starch present in the grain resulting from the conditioning of the grain prior to storage and subsequent animal consumption.

An improved method of conditioning matter wherein said matter is exposed to steam within a conditioning vessel, the improvement comprising the steps of:

• producing steam and oxygen deficient non-condensible gases with a direct fired vapor generator;
• determining the oxygen level of non-condensible gases produced by said direct fired steam generator;
• adjusting the combustion of said direct fired steam generator to produce said oxygen deficient non-condensible gases;
• introducing said steam and non-condensible gases into said vessel to produce an anaerobic, oxygen deficient environment within said vessel;
• providing means for imparting a homogeneous interaction between said matter and said steam and non-condensible gases within said vessel;
• providing said steam and non-condensible gases in sufficient volume and with sufficient enthalpy for substantially purging the system of all oxygen laden gases;
• and
• maintaining a temperature therein for anaerobic pasteurization of matter passing therethrough.