Abstract: A desolventizer for processing solvent-wet solid material may include a thermal recirculation loop to increase thermal performance. In some examples, the desolventizer includes a housing, an ejector, and a vent. The housing contains a first tray and a second tray vertically elevated above the first tray to define a processing space. The ejector has an inlet located between the first tray and the second tray and an outlet also located between the first tray and the second tray. The vent has an inlet located between the first tray and the second tray. In operation, the ejector can draw gas from the processing space via the inlet and discharge the gas through the outlet back into the processing space, creating a recirculation loop.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques can be provided for processing an oil-containing material with an alcohol-based solvent to extract oil from the material. In some examples, a system includes an extractor configured to process an oil-containing feedstock. The extractor receives the oil-containing feedstock and conveys the material from an inlet to an outlet through the extractor. The extractor also receives an alcohol-based solvent at a solvent inlet and conveys the solvent through the extractor to a solvent outlet. The alcohol-based solvent may be ethanol. A concentration of oil in the feedstock may decrease as the feedstock moves through the extractor from the inlet to the outlet while the concentration of the oil in the solvent increases.

Abstract: Systems and techniques can be used to extract solid material with an alcohol-based solvent. To subsequently recover the solvent after extraction, the solvent-wet solid material having undergone extraction can be desolventized. The solvent-wet solid material may be desolventized in multiple stages, either in a single vessel or in multiple different vessels, to generate multiple corresponding condensate streams containing alcohol and water vaporized from the solvent-wet solid material. By splitting desolventization into multiple stages, the composition of the condensate streams generated during desolventization can be individually controlled to benefit downstream processing. For example, the first condensate stream produced during desolventization may have a comparatively low amount of water whereas a second condensate stream produced during desolventization may have a comparatively high amount of water.

Abstract: An oil extraction process may be performed on an oleaginous feedstock using an alcohol-based solvent, such as ethanol. In some examples, an extraction process involves conveying a material in countercurrent direction with an alcohol-based solvent to generate an extracted material and a miscella. The miscella stream is cooled (14) to form a first solvent-rich layer phase separated from a first oil-rich layer, which is then separated (18) to form a first separated oil-rich stream (100) and a first separated solvent-rich stream (102). In some examples, the first separated solvent-rich stream is recycled back to the extractor and introduced into the extractor at a location (38) different than a location (30) where fresh solvent is introduced into the extractor.

Abstract: A liquid extractor may include an extraction chamber containing a bed deck configured to support a solid material as the solid material is conveyed through the extraction chamber. To introduce solvent into the solid material being processed, the extractor may include a solvent injection orifice extending through the bed deck and a solvent injector. The solvent injector can receive solvent from a source and cause the solvent to rotate within the solvent injector before discharging the solvent through an outlet in fluid communication with the solvent injection orifice. The rotational flow motion imparted by the injector can create a vortex that functions to scout out any particles that may be present in the injector.

Abstract: A fractionation column can be used to separate a liquid containing multiple components into its constituent components based on vapor pressure. While the fractionation column may be designed for certain operational performance, the operational characteristics may change, for example, due to changed flow rates through the column and/or fouling in the column. In some examples, a fractionation column is described that includes a fractionation tray formed of multiple tray decks that move relative to each other. The tray decks can have apertures that move relative to each other between a position in which there is a comparatively large amount of open area through the fractionation tray to a position in which there is a comparatively small amount of open area through the fractionation tray. Movement of the trays can control turndown and/or clear fouling buildup on the tray surface.

Abstract: A desolventizer for processing solvent-wet solid material may include a thermal recirculation loop to increase thermal performance. In some examples, the desolventizer includes a housing, an ejector, and a vent. The housing contains a first tray and a second tray vertically elevated above the first tray to define a processing space. The ejector has an inlet located between the first tray and the second tray and an outlet also located between the first tray and the second tray. The vent has an inlet located between the first tray and the second tray. In operation, the ejector can draw gas from the processing space via the inlet and discharge the gas through the outlet back into the processing space, creating a recirculation loop.

Abstract: A vertical seed conditioner may be formed of a plurality of sections that can be individually removed for repair and/or replacement without requiring the entire seed conditioner be permanently decommissioned. For example, the seed conditioner may be formed of a plurality of heat transfer sections stacked vertically with respect to each other to form the conditioning vessel. Each heat transfer section may include an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold, and multiple heat transfer tubes extending from the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold. The multiple heat transfer tubes may be spaced from each other to provide a gap between adjacent tubes through which the granular solid can travel.

Abstract: An extractor can be used to extract solvent-soluble molecules, such as aqueous or organic-soluble molecules, from solid material feedstock for downstream processing and recovery. In one configuration, the extractor is a percolation extractor having one or more extraction chambers each containing a screen supporting the solid materials as it is conveyed through the chamber, a fluid supply system delivering extraction fluid disposed above the solid material, and a fluid recovery system disposed below the solid materials for receiving the extraction fluid and solvent-soluble molecules contained therein. The extractor further includes a screen washing system disposed under the screen and supported against movement. The screen washing system includes a washing fluid intake and a plurality of outlet nozzles directed upward towards the screen. The screen washing system can keep the screen from plugging during operation, improving the extraction efficiency of the extractor.

Abstract: A screen for an extractor system can have a top surface that a solid material contacts during operation of the extractor, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a plurality of apertures extending from the top surface through the bottom surface. In one example, the bottom surface of the screen is coated with a non-stick coating while the top surface of the screen is devoid of the non-stick coating.

Abstract: An immersion extractor may have a housing that maintains a solvent pool in which solids material being processed is immersed during operation. One or more bed decks can be positioned inside of the housing to provide multiple extraction stages. In some examples, the bed decks are arranged to provide one bed deck positioned at a vertically elevated position relative to another bed deck, thereby providing a drop zone where the solids material passing through the machine drops from the vertically elevated bed deck to a lower bed deck. To increase contact between the solids material and surrounding solvent to improve extraction efficiency, the extractor may include mixing hardware that is configured to intermix the solids material with the solvent as solids material drops from the vertically elevated bed deck to the lower bed deck.

Abstract: To extract oil from oil seeds in a mechanical pressing operation, the oil seeds may be conditioned and then cooked before being subsequently pressed to release the oil contained in the seeds. In one application, a conditioning vessel is used that includes a shell through which the oil seeds move during operation and multiple heat transfer stages. Downstream of the conditioning vessel, a cooking vessel receives the oil seeds pre-conditioned in the conditioning vessel and cooks the oil seeds, generating a gas-containing stream that includes water vapor. The gas-containing stream is recycled back to one or more of the heat transfer stages of the conditioning vessel, providing direct heat transfer from the cooking vessel to the conditioning vessel. This arrangement can increase the energy efficiency of the operation and improve the performance of the system.

Abstract: A bearing assembly can be used in liquid service applications where the bearing assembly is intermittently or continuously exposed to liquid, such as below the liquid level of a solid-liquid extractor. In some examples, the bearing assembly includes an annular sleeve and an annular bearing. The annular sleeve is designed to be installed over the end of a rotatable shaft and positioned inside of a housing through which the rotatable shaft at least partially protrudes. The annular sleeve has an outer surface and length parallel to the rotational axis of the rotatable shaft. The outer surface of the annular sleeve may taper radially inwardly along at least a portion of the length of the sleeve. As a result, the bearing assembly and rotatable shaft positioned therein may pivot within housing about the taper of the annular sleeve.

Abstract: A screen for an extractor system can have a top surface that a solid material contacts during operation of the extractor, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a plurality of apertures extending from the top surface through the bottom surface. In one example, the bottom surface of the screen is coated with a non-stick coating while the top surface of the screen is devoid of the non-stick coating.

Abstract: A bearing assembly can be used in liquid service applications where the bearing assembly is intermittently or continuously exposed to liquid, such as below the liquid level of a solid-liquid extractor. In some examples, the bearing assembly includes an annular sleeve and an annular bearing. The annular sleeve is designed to be installed over the end of a rotatable shaft and positioned inside of a housing through which the rotatable shaft at least partially protrudes. The annular sleeve has an outer surface and length parallel to the rotational axis of the rotatable shaft. The outer surface of the annular sleeve may taper radially inwardly along at least a portion of the length of the sleeve. As a result, the bearing assembly and rotatable shaft positioned therein may pivot within housing about the taper of the annular sleeve.

Abstract: An extractor can be used to extract solvent-soluble molecules, such as aqueous or organic-soluble molecules, from solid material feedstock for downstream processing and recovery. In one configuration, the extractor is a percolation extractor having one or more extraction chambers each containing a screen supporting the solid materials as it is conveyed through the chamber, a fluid supply system delivering extraction fluid disposed above the solid material, and a fluid recovery system disposed below the solid materials for receiving the extraction fluid and solvent-soluble molecules contained therein. The extractor further includes a screen washing system disposed under the screen and supported against movement. The screen washing system includes a washing fluid intake and a plurality of outlet nozzles directed upward towards the screen. The screen washing system can keep the screen from plugging during operation, improving the extraction efficiency of the extractor.

Abstract: Injectors and injection rings for injecting fluid into a screw press are disclosed. More particularly, systems and methods of reliably injecting fluid into an extraction press on a controllable basis are contemplated along with supporting technology.