IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0758291
(2010-04-12)
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등록번호 |
US-9546351
(2017-01-17)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Paz Briz, Fernando Roberto
- Paz Alcazar, Fernando Roberto
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출원인 / 주소 |
- INDUSTRIAS CENTLI, S.A. DE C.V.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Stinson Leonard Street LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
37 |
초록
▼
A method and system for processing biomass. The method uses an apparatus with a housing, a rotor inside of the housing, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the rotor. The method includes placing the biomass in a fluid medium, inducing cavitation within the fluid to partially separate the b
A method and system for processing biomass. The method uses an apparatus with a housing, a rotor inside of the housing, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the rotor. The method includes placing the biomass in a fluid medium, inducing cavitation within the fluid to partially separate the biomass, sending the biomass and fluid into the housing, rotating the rotor to further separate the biomass, heating the biomass and fluid, and maintaining the acidity of the fluid and biomass at a pH of between approximately 2 to 6. The system includes apparatus each having a housing and a rotor within the housing. One apparatus has abutting, alternating height protrusions extending from the rotor. Another apparatus has grooves formed in the rotor and an end wall of the housing. Another apparatus has two rows of protrusions extending from the rotor that are spaced apart no less than approximately 6 millimeters.
대표청구항
▼
1. A grain processing method, comprising: mixing the grain with fluid;inducing cavitation within the fluid to at least partially separate the grain;fractionating the grain with at least one fractionation reactor that is operable to separate the grain into pericarp, germ, and endosperm by simultaneou
1. A grain processing method, comprising: mixing the grain with fluid;inducing cavitation within the fluid to at least partially separate the grain;fractionating the grain with at least one fractionation reactor that is operable to separate the grain into pericarp, germ, and endosperm by simultaneously inducing cavitation within the fluid, inducing abrasion between the grain and the fluid, inducing abrasion between the grain, impacting the grain with protrusions, and subjecting the grain to a centrifugal force;dividing the separated biomass pericarp, germ, endosperm, and fluid into a first stream of pericarp and germ and a second stream of endosperm with fluid so that the first stream and second stream are separate from each other; andafter the step of dividing the separated pericarp, germ, endosperm, and fluid, separating starch and protein within the endosperm in the second stream on a molecular level by: increasing the acidity of the fluid and endosperm; heating the fluid and endosperm; and passing the fluid and endosperm through at least one digestion reactor. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising washing the grain before mixing it with fluid. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is water. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inducing cavitation within the fluid is performed by at least one prefractionation reactor. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sanitizing the grain by cleaning the grain with pressurized water and ozonized water before the step of fractionating the grain. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of fractionating the grain is carried out by a plurality of fractionation reactors that in combination are operable to separate the grain. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said plurality of fractionation reactors are operable to separate the grain by inducing cavitation within the fluid and inducing abrasion between the grain and the fluid. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a fractionation vat that contains fluid and a fluid level sensor that monitors the fluid level within the fractionation vat, wherein the fractionation reactor comprises an inlet that receives fluid from within the fractionation vat and the grain. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a hydrocyclone divides the separated pericarp, germ, endosperm, and fluid. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: passing the endosperm and fluid through at least one reactor to promote separation of the endosperm on a molecular level after dividing the separated pericarp, germ, endosperm, and fluid; andtransferring the endosperm and fluid to a predigestion tank. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the temperature of the endosperm and fluid within the predigestion tank is between approximately 30 to 52 degrees Celsius. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the predigestion tank that maintains the temperature of the endosperm and fluid at approximately 51 degrees Celsius. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid and endosperm are heated to a temperature of between approximately 30 to 52 degrees Celsius. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fluid and endosperm are heated to a temperature of approximately 51 degrees Celsius. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the acidity of the fluid and endosperm is increased to a pH of between approximately 2 to 6. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the acidity of the fluid and endosperm is increased to a pH of approximately 3.8. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein sulfur dioxide gas increases the acidity of the fluid and endosperm. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the acidity of the endosperm and fluid is increased in a first sulfur tower. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of separating the endosperm on a molecular level comprises passing the fluid and endosperm through a first plurality of digestion reactors. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising transferring the fluid and endosperm to a first digestion tank after they are passed through said first plurality of digestion reactors. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: transferring the fluid and endosperm to a second sulfur tower that increases the acidity of the fluid and endosperm;transferring the fluid and endosperm to a second plurality of digestion reactors; andtransferring the fluid and endosperm to a second digestion tank. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: transferring the fluid and endosperm from said second digestion tank to at least one reactor and at least one heat exchanger; andtransferring the fluid and endosperm into a holding tank. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the temperature of the endosperm and fluid within the first and second digestion tanks is between approximately 30 to 52 degrees Celsius. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising a heat exchanger in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second digestion tanks that maintains the temperature of the endosperm and fluid at approximately 51 degrees Celsius. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein each of the first and second digestion tanks includes a hot water jacket for maintaining the temperature of the endosperm and fluid. 26. The method of claim 22, wherein the temperature of the endosperm and fluid within the holding tank is between approximately 30 to 52 degrees Celsius. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the holding tank includes a hot water jacket to maintain the temperature of the endosperm and fluid at approximately 51 degrees Celsius. 28. The method of claim 1, further comprising drying the pericarp and germ after the step of dividing the separated pericarp, germ, endosperm, and fluid. 29. The method of claim 1, wherein said fractionation reactor comprises: a housing presenting a chamber having an inlet, an outlet, and a shaft opening;a shaft projecting through said opening;a rotor coupled with said shaft inside said chamber; anda plurality of protrusions extending from said rotor, and wherein said step of fractionating the grain comprises: sending the grain and fluid through said inlet; androtating said rotor to separate the grain. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein said protrusions are spaced approximately equidistant from a center of said rotor, wherein adjacent protrusions abut each other, said protrusions comprising first and second sets of alternating protrusions having first and second heights, respectively, the first height being greater than the second height. 31. The method of claim 29, wherein said protrusions comprise a first row spaced approximately equidistant from a center of said rotor, a second row spaced approximately equidistant from said first row, and a third row spaced approximately equidistant from said second row, wherein said protrusions in each of said rows are spaced apart no less than approximately 6 millimeters. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein said housing presents first and second end walls and a side wall defining said chamber, wherein said inlet is in said first end wall, said shaft opening is in said second end wall, and said outlet is in said side wall, wherein said rotor presents a front surface facing said inlet and said plurality of protrusions extend from said front surface of said rotor toward said inlet, and wherein a plurality of protrusions extend from said first end wall of said housing toward said rotor between said first and second rows on said rotor. 33. The method of claim 4, wherein said prefractionation reactor comprises a housing presenting a chamber having an inlet, an outlet, and a shaft opening; a shaft projecting through said opening; a rotor coupled with said shaft inside said chamber; and a plurality of protrusions extending from said rotor, wherein the protrusions comprise a first row spaced approximately equidistant from a center of said rotor, a second row spaced approximately equidistant from said first row, and a third row spaced approximately equidistant from said second row, said protrusions having a generally C-shaped top profile. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said housing presents first and second end walls and a side wall defining said chamber, wherein said inlet is in said first end wall, said shaft opening is in said second end wall, and said outlet is in said side wall, wherein said rotor presents a front surface facing said inlet and said plurality of protrusions extend from said front surface of said rotor toward said inlet, and wherein a plurality of grooves are formed in said first end wall of said housing facing said rotor. 35. A grain processing method, comprising: mixing the grain with fluid;inducing cavitation within the fluid to at least partially separate the grain;fractionating the grain with at least one fractionation reactor that is operable to separate the grain into testa and cotyledon by simultaneously inducing cavitation within the fluid, inducing abrasion between the grain and the fluid, inducing abrasion between the grain, impacting the grain with protrusions, and subjecting the grain to a centrifugal force;dividing the separated testa, cotyledon, and fluid into a first stream of testa and a second stream of cotyledon with fluid so that the first stream and second stream are separate from each other; andafter the step of dividing the separated testa, cotyledon, and fluid, separating starch and protein within the cotyledon in the second stream on a molecular level by: increasing the acidity of the fluid and cotyledon; heating the fluid and cotyledon; and passing the fluid and cotyledon through at least one digestion reactor. 36. A grain processing method, comprising: mixing the grain with fluid;inducing cavitation within the fluid to at least partially separate the grain;fractionating the grain with at least one fractionation reactor that is operable to separate the grain into fiber and starch with protein by simultaneously inducing cavitation within the fluid, inducing abrasion between the grain and the fluid, inducing abrasion between the grain, impacting the grain with protrusions, and subjecting the grain to a centrifugal force;dividing the separated fiber, starch with protein, and fluid into a first stream of fiber and a second stream of starch with protein and fluid so that the first stream and second stream are separate from each other; andafter the step of dividing the separated fiber, starch with protein, and fluid, separating the starch with protein in the second stream on a molecular level by: increasing the acidity of the fluid and starch with protein; heating the fluid and starch with protein; and passing the fluid and starch with protein through at least one digestion reactor.
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