Patents by Inventor Michael Franko

Michael Franko has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180016602
    Abstract: A system and process is disclosed for adding pre-fermentation separated non-fermentables, e.g., fiber, germ/oil, and/or protein, to a post-fermentation stream in a corn (or similar carbohydrate-containing grain) dry milling process for making alcohol and/or other biofuels/biochemical. The process includes mixing grain particles with a liquid to produce a slurry having starch and non-fermentables. The slurry is subjected to liquefaction to convert the starch in the slurry to complex sugars and produce a liquefied stream including the complex sugars and non-fermentables. After liquefaction but prior to fermentation of simple sugars resulting from conversion of the complex sugars, the non-fermentables are separated out to define a non-fermentables portion and an aqueous solution including the complex and/or simple sugars. The simple sugars are fermented to provide a fermented stream. Then, the separated non-fermentables portion is reincorporated back into the process into a post-fermentation stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Franko, John Kwik, Neal Jakel
  • Patent number: 9777303
    Abstract: An improved dry grind system and method for producing a sugar stream from grains or similar carbohydrate sources and/or residues, such as for biofuel production. In particular, a sugar/carbohydrate stream, which includes a desired Dextrose Equivalent (DE) where DE describes the degree of conversion of starch to dextrose (aka glucose) and/or has had removed therefrom an undesirable amount of unfermentable components, can be produced after saccharification and prior to fermentation (or other sugar conversion process), with such sugar stream being available for biofuel production, e.g., alcohol production, or other processes. In addition, the systems and methods also can involve the removal of certain grain components, e.g., corn kernel components, including protein, oil and/or fiber, prior to fermentation or other conversion systems. In other words, sugar stream production and/or grain component separation occurs on the front end of the system and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Fluid Quip Process Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Jakel, John Kwik, Michael Franko, Andrew Whalen
  • Publication number: 20170226165
    Abstract: A method for protein isolation as a co-product of alcohol production is disclosed. The method includes receiving grain product at a holding receptacle, the grain product being at least one of whole stillage, dried distillers grain, and wet distillers grain. The method further includes directing the grain product from the holding receptacle over a plurality of screens, thereby allowing a fiber-containing portion to be collected on the screens and further allowing a protein-containing portion and an oil-containing portion to pass through the screens. The method further includes directing the protein-containing portion and the oil-containing portion optionally over a finishing screen, thereby allowing remaining fiber fractions to be collected on the finishing screen and further allowing the protein-containing and oil-containing portion to pass through the finishing screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Franko, Neal Jakel
  • Publication number: 20170114293
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved systems and processes for clarifying a thin stillage stream in a biofuel production process, such as a dry grind alcohol production process, that removes desirable amounts of insoluble solids from at least a portion of the thin stillage stream, thereby realizing any number of process enhancements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Neal Jakel, John Kwik, Michael Franko
  • Publication number: 20170022466
    Abstract: An improved dry grind system and method for producing a sugar stream from grains or similar carbohydrate sources and/or residues, such as for biofuel production. In particular, a sugar/carbohydrate stream, which includes a desired Dextrose Equivalent (DE) where DE describes the degree of conversion of starch to dextrose (aka glucose) and/or has had removed therefrom an undesirable amount of unfermentable components, can be produced after saccharification and prior to fermentation (or other sugar conversion process), with such sugar stream being available for biofuel production, e.g., alcohol production, or other processes. In addition, the systems and methods also can involve the removal of certain grain components, e.g., corn kernel components, including protein, oil and/or fiber, prior to fermentation or other conversion systems. In other words, sugar stream production and/or grain component separation occurs on the front end of the system and method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Neal Jakel, John Kwik, Michael Franko, Andrew Whalen
  • Publication number: 20170022529
    Abstract: An improved dry grind system and method for producing a sugar stream from grains or similar carbohydrate sources and/or residues, such as for biofuel production. In particular, a sugar/carbohydrate stream, which includes a desired Dextrose Equivalent (DE) where DE describes the degree of conversion of starch to dextrose (aka glucose) and/or has had removed therefrom an undesirable amount of unfermentable components, can be produced after saccharification and prior to fermentation (or other sugar conversion process), with such sugar stream being available for biofuel production, e.g., alcohol production, or other processes. In addition, the systems and methods also can involve the removal of certain grain components, e.g., corn kernel components, including protein, oil and/or fiber, prior to fermentation or other conversion systems. In other words, sugar stream production and/or grain component separation occurs on the front end of the system and method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Neal Jakel, John Kwik, Michael Franko, Andrew Whalen