초록 ▼

A solar fermentation process and distillation system for the manufacture of ethanol product suitable for blending with motor gasoline or as a substitute fuel for gasoline. Fermentation of starches or sugars is carried out in situ in solar collector tubes. The raw beer product emanating from the sola

A solar fermentation process and distillation system for the manufacture of ethanol product suitable for blending with motor gasoline or as a substitute fuel for gasoline. Fermentation of starches or sugars is carried out in situ in solar collector tubes. The raw beer product emanating from the solar tubes is purified into a high quality ethanol fuel product by passing the beer product through a series of distillation columns whose internal reboil vapor is generated in whole or in substantial part through direct application of solar heat energy. The use of solar energy as heating source in the fermentation and distillation steps markedly reduces the need for external utilities such as steam and fuel to run the plant thereby greatly reducing the operating costs of the plant.

대표청구항 ▼

A fermentation and distillation process for producing an ethanol product from an organic feed and yeast solution, the improvement comprising the steps of: a. entraining said solution into a continuously moving stream through a closed, elongated channel; b. directly applying solar energy to selected

A fermentation and distillation process for producing an ethanol product from an organic feed and yeast solution, the improvement comprising the steps of: a. entraining said solution into a continuously moving stream through a closed, elongated channel; b. directly applying solar energy to selected portions of said channel, whereby said solution is heated to fermentation temperature and the percentage of ethanol in said solution becomes greater as the mixture passes through said channel; c. passing said solution from said channel to a distillation section comprising at least one distillation column; and d. directly applying solar energy to said distillation column to supply from 50% to 100% of the reboil heat, said distillation column comprising a solar heat exchanger for vaporizing said solution as the feed liquid using solar energy as the heating source, said solar heat exchanger comprising: a closed metal boiler tube wherein vaporization of the feed liquid entering the exchanger occurs, said metal tube coated with heat absorbent coating and having an inlet opening for admitting the feed liquid into the metal boiler tube and an outlet opening for passing the vaporized product from the metal boiler tube, a transparent glass tube enclosing the metal tube and forming an annular space between the glass tube and the metal boiler tube, said annular space evacuated to vacuum pressure, and a spray tube of small diameter relative to the diameter of the metal boiler tube, said spray tube located within the metal boiler tube and having a plurality of spray orifices in close proximity to each other placed along the length of the spray tube, one end of said spray tube being in communication with said inlet opening of said metal boiler tube, said feed liquid entering said exchanger at a pressure sufficient to produce a continuous spray of said feed liquid through the spray orifices of said spray tube, said spray continuously impacting against the inside surface of said metal boiler tube to improve the rate of heat transfer to the feed liquid so that virtually all the liquid entering the metal boiler tube is converted to vapor within said metal boiler tube.