Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for separating gas and liquid. The apparatus for separating gas and liquid includes a housing, a rotating shaft provided inside the housing, a drive unit configured to rotate the rotating shaft, a rotating cone mounted at the rotating shaft to rotate about the rotating shaft and having a diameter decreasing from an upper end to a lower end thereof, a fixed cone fixed in the housing to be spaced apart from the rotating cone and having a diameter decreasing from an upper end to a lower end thereof, and a scraper configured to remove scale generated in at least one of the fixed cone and the rotating cone, based on the rotation of the rotating shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for substantially reducing the momentum, velocity, or both of a first liquid that is flowing into a second liquid. The device allows one to substantially reduce or even eliminate large-scale turbulent eddies that could otherwise be produced by liquid flowing into or within a vessel, for example in a clarifier. Suitably-sized and positioned plates and baffles induce changes of flow direction in a limited volume. By the time the fluid leaves this volume, the fluid velocity is low, and turbulence is nearly or entirely eliminated. Several of the devices may be placed at different inputs within a single clarifier, and thus increase efficiency further.

Abstract: The reactor pump for hydrolytic splitting of cellulose is configured to pump cellulose, under high pressure, with low availability of sugar into a reactor. The reactor has an upstream transition segment connected to a downstream reaction chamber. The transition segment has an inlet that is smaller than the outlet. The inner walls taper outward. The chamber has an inlet that is larger than the discharge outlet. The inner walls taper inward. The transition segment outlet has an area that is substantially the same as the area of the chamber inlet. Back pressure in the chamber forms a cellulose plug within the inlet of the transition segment. The plug stops cellulose from escaping out the inlet. High pressure pumping forms a cellulose plug within the discharge outlet of the chamber. The plug slows downstream movement of the cooking cellulose giving the cellulose time to cook. Cooking cellulose begins to breakdown under heat and the injection of acid, if required.

Abstract: A reactor for hydrolytic splitting of cellulose under high pressure and heat has an inlet and outlet each with a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the reactor. The pressure and heat in the reactor forms a cellulose plug within the inlet and the outlet. The inlet plug stops cellulose from escaping out the inlet. Cellulose begins to breakdown under heat, pressure, and if required an acid or a lubricant. The outlet plug slows downstream movement of cooking cellulose. Cellulose may be pre-treated by the addition of water, a weak acid, a lubricant, or a combination of the foregoing. The outer surface of the plug cooks faster than the inner core of the plug, becomes a liquefied slurry, and slides faster towards the outlet than the inner core.

Abstract: Plant materials such as corn kernels which contain starch and fiber comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin are refined. The starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin are converted to sugars which are then fermented to ethanol. Additional sources of starch and fiber are optionally added to the refining process to further increase the yield of ethanol.

Abstract: A grain containing starch, such as corn, is refined. The grain is steeped in water at a temperature of about 125 to 160° F., which water is essentially free of sulfurous acid and contains recycled enzymes from downstream processes, in a counter-current steeping reactor for about 10 to 20 hours to produce an aqueous slurry of steeped grain having a moisture content of about 40 to 50 percent. The various components of the grain are then separated and the starch is converted to ethanol.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous process of raw mixed sugar juice clarification by means of the settlement of insoluble particles and juice precipitate in a cylindrical clarifier tank that permits non-turbulent vertical subsidation and short retention time of the sugar juice in a relatively large, non-turbulent settling sector of the contents of the cylindrical clarifier tank which is maintained by the continuous rotary advancement of the raw mixed sugar juice entry and clear sugar juice and precipitate extraction station arm that rotates within and around the center of the annular shaped cylindrical clarifier tank. The rotating arm has three internal radial compartments which provide for the introduction of raw mixed sugar juice and the extraction of clear sugar juice and precipitate, in and out of the annular clarifier tank in the immediate vicinity of the respective leading and trailing faces of the rotating arm, through adjustable slots on the leading and trailing faces of the arm.

Abstract: A continuous process of treated raw mixed sugar juice clarification by means of the settlement of insoluble particles and juice precipitate in a vessel that permits non-turbulent vertical subsidation and short retention time of the sugar juice. The relatively large, non-turbulent settling zone of the clarifier is maintained by the continuous advancement of the mixed juice entry and clear juice and mud extraction station which rotates within and around the annular shaped cylindrical clarifier thus permitting efficient, vertical, turbulent-free subsidation of the mud and precipitate.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for producing ethanol from grain.

Abstract: In order to obtain starch and proteins from the flour of legumes, in particular peas, the legume flour which has been treated with an aqueous decomposing agent, is fed into a first section (I) of a process line with several solids-liquids separation stages (6, 9, 10) for the purpose of extracting the proteins. The solid phase suspended in water from the final solids-liquids separation stage (10) of the first section (I) is then fed continually into a second section (II) of the process line with at least one separation stage (11) for separating the fibers from the starch and at least one solids-liquids separation stage for separating the starch from the liquid phase. The aqueous decomposing agent is formed from an alkaline concentrate (B) and the liquid phase separated by the starch in the second section of the process line.

Abstract: In apparatus comprising a plurality of hydrocyclone stages connected in cascade as a totally enclosed system, for use in the upgrading of starch or other particulate feedstock, there is provision for recycling part of the underflow stream from the final hydrocyclone stage to the preceding stage.

Abstract: A starch wet milling process, in which a series of independent classifications and separations is carried out in the production of starch, employs a Starch Gluten Separation Station having a three-stage centrifugation treatment including passing the entire mill stream through a mill stream centrifuge thickener, followed by primary starch centrifuge separation and gluten centrifuge thickening.