Process for producing ethanol
AssigneeFried. Krupp Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
InventorsHeinz Houben, Hans U. Petzoldt, Joachim Stegemann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus are provided for simultaneously producing various forms of alcohol, including ethanol, which can likewise be withdrawn from the apparatus simultaneously. To this end, successive columns in the individual processing stages, each of which includes distillation, rectification, purification and dehydration, are connected in parallel for product flow but in series for energy flow and conservation.
Claims17
A process for the production of ethanol, said process requiring the input of a predetermined quantity of process heat and comprising the steps of:
- (a) admitting a first stream of fermented mash containing about 1.5 to about 15.0 percent by volume of alcohol into a first fluid path having spaced first and second zones;
- (b) distilling, without reflux, said first mash stream in said first zone to recover a first alcohol-enriched stream;
- (c) rectifying, with reflux, at least part of said first alcohol-enriched stream in said second zone to recover a first alcohol-rich product;
- (d) admitting a second stream of fermented mash containing about 1.5 to about 15.0 percent by volume of alcohol into a second fluid path having spaced first and second zones distinct from said first and second zones of said first fluid path;
- (e) distilling, without reflux, said second mash stream in said first zone of said second fluid path to recover a second alcohol-enriched stream;
- (f) rectifying, with reflux, at least part of said second alcohol-enriched stream in said second zone of said second fluid path to recover a second alcohol-rich product;
- (g) admitting said predetermined quantity of process heat into one of said fluid paths at a single location thereof;
- and
- (h) conveying at least one stream of said heat along a third path, the heat conveying step including transferring heat between said first and second fluid paths in such a manner that said third path includes all of said zones and said one heat stream successively passes through said first zones, and thereafter successively passes through said second zones.
A process for the production of ethanol, said process requiring the input of a pedetermined quantity of process heat and comprising the steps of:
- (a) admitting a first stream of fermented mash into a first fluid path having spaced first and second zones;
- (b) distilling, without reflux, said first mash stream in said first zone to recover a first alcohol-enriched stream;
- (c) rectifying, with reflux, at least part of said first alcohol-enriched stream in said second zone to recover a first alcohol-rich product;
- (d) admitting a second stream of fermented mash into a second fluid path having spaced first and second zones distinct from said first and second zones of said first fluid path;
- (e) distilling, without reflux, said second mash stream in said first zone of said second fluid path to recover a second alcohol-enriched stream;
- (f) rectifying, with reflux, at least part of said second alcohol-enriched stream in said second zone of said second fluid path to recover a second alcohol-rich product;
- (g) admitting said predetermined quantity of process heat into one of said fluid paths at a single location thereof;
- and
- (h) conveying at least one stream of said heat along a third path, the heat conveying step including transferring heat between said first and second fluid paths in such a manner that said third path includes all of said zones and said one heat stream successively passes through said first zones, and thereafter successively passes through said second zones.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.