Patent Application
20200187546
This application relates to a system for washing beets; and more particularly to a system for washing beets having foam control.
Defoamer application on beet washing water is done traditionally by usage of dosing pumps, set manually by the operators, who visually inspect the presence of foam into the system and subjectively determine the product dosage to avoid foam build up which may cause severe process upsets. Preventive foam control is obtained by an application of safe dosages to prevent worst case scenarios. Unexpected foam build up is controlled by slug dosage of antifoam or a robust increase of dosage of antifoam for a period needed to make the foam disappear, which can be hours.
By way of example, the following patent documents disclose techniques for ethanol production and foam control, which are all incorporated by reference in their entirety, as follows:
WO 2017/015361 discloses a technique for applying measurement, control, and automation to a dry corn milling ethanol production process to maximize the recovery of ethanol and co-products.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,842A discloses a foam control system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,795A discloses a technique for detecting and controlling foamability of a liquid system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,655A discloses a foam monitoring control system. WO2017200841A1 discloses a side-stream foam monitor and control system.
CN104707367A discloses an automatic defoaming control system of sugar mill and operating method of automatic defoaming control system.
CN107632625A discloses a computer metering device capable of automatically adding defoaming agent.
In summary, the present invention provides a new technique for implementing an antifoam dosage on beet washing water that can be finely regulated based upon a set point of air measured by SONAR-based technology to ensure excellent control of foam, thus avoiding unnecessary product waste given by dosage set according to the worst-case scenario. The SONAR-based technology (also known as EchoWise™ (EW)) measures the volumetric percent of entrained gas (air), also named Gas Volume Fraction percentage (GVF %), in process waters used for beet washing. The GVF % value is proportional to the foam generated into the systems. A defoamer feed pump is configured so the product dosage is controlled in a cascading loop based on GVF % measured in the process fluid. This results in a reduction of defoamer usage in the range of 35%-40% and excellent control of entrained air thus foam in the whole process water system. The effect of upsets experienced during a process change has been dramatically reduced as the defoamer feed is automatically regulated resulting in excellent control of foam through a wide variety of conditions.
According to some embodiments, and consistent with that shown by way of example herein, the present invention may include, or take the form of, a beet washing system featuring a defoamer dosage controller having a signal processor configured to receive signaling containing information about a volumetric percent of entrained air in a process water used for washing beets; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control a dosage of defoamer provided to the process water to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
The beet washing system may include one or more of the following features:
The beet washing system may include a SONAR-based sensing device configured to sense the entrained air in the process water used for washing the beets, determine a Gas Volume Fraction percentage (GVF %) and provide the signaling received by the signal processor of the defoamer dosage controller.
The GVF % may be proportional to the foam generated in the process water used for washing the beets.
The signal processor may be configured to keep a set point of GVF % determined to represent an absence of foam.
The dosage of the defoamer provided to the process water may be proportional to the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
The signal processor may be configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling, e.g., to control one or more defoamer dosage pumps configured at one or more antifoam dosing points in the beet washing system.
The beet washing system may include one or more defoamer dosage pumps configured to receive the control signaling and provide the dosage of the defoamer to the process water to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
The beet washing system may include one or more antifoam dosing points, e.g., consistent with that disclosed herein. By way of example, the one or more antifoam dosing points may be configured in relation to the input or output of the clarifier, or in relation to the canal/channel either between accelerators and the beet silo, or between the accelerators and the washing station, etc.
The beet washing system may include a canal/channel configured to receive the process water and beets, e.g., provided from a beet silo; and a canal/channel antifoam dosing arrangement having a canal/channel SONAR-based sensing device configured to sense the entrained air in the process water flowing in the canal/channel, determine a Gas Volume Fraction percentage (GVF %) and provide the signaling received by the signal processor of the defoamer dosage controller.
The canal/channel antifoam dosing arrangement may also include a canal/channel defoamer dosage pump configured to receive the control signaling and provide the dosage of the defoamer to the process water flowing in the canal/channel to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
The canal/channel SONAR-based sensing device and the canal/channel defoamer dosage pump may be configured on the canal/channel.
The beet washing system may include a clarifier having an inlet configured to receive the process water and mud, and having an outlet configured to provide clarified process water; and a clarifier inlet antifoam dosing arrangement having a clarifier inlet SONAR-based sensing device configured to sense the entrained air in the process water flowing into the inlet of the clarifier, determine a Gas Volume Fraction percentage (GVF %) and provide the signaling received by the signal processor of the defoamer dosage controller.
The clarifier inlet antifoam dosing arrangement may also include a clarifier inlet defoamer dosage pump configured to receive the control signaling and provide the dosage of the defoamer to the process water flowing into the inlet of the clarifier to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
The clarifier inlet SONAR-based sensing device and the clarifier inlet defoamer dosage pump may be configured on the inlet of the clarifier.
The beet washing system may include a clarifier outlet antifoam dosing arrangement having a clarifier outlet SONAR-based sensing device configured to sense the entrained air in the clarified process water flowing from the outlet of the clarifier, determine a corresponding Gas Volume Fraction percentage (GVF %) and provide the signaling received by the signal processor of the defoamer dosage controller.
The clarifier outlet antifoam dosing arrangement may also include a clarifier outlet defoamer dosage pump configured to receive the control signaling and provide the dosage of the defoamer to the clarified process water flowing from the outlet of the clarifier to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
The clarifier outlet SONAR-based sensing device and the clarifier outlet defoamer dosage pump may be configured on the outlet of the clarifier.
By way of example, the defoamer dosage controller may include, or take the form of, a centralized defoamer dosage controller having one or more signal processors for implementing the signal processing control functionality for one or more of the antifoam dosing arrangement disclosed herein. In this embodiment, the signaling is received by the signal processor in the centralized defoamer dosage controller from each of the one or more SONAR-based sensing devices.
Alternatively, and by way of further example, the defoamer dosage controller may include, or take the form of, one or more separate defoamer dosage controllers, each having a separate signal processor for each antifoam dosing arrangement disclosed herein. In this embodiment, the signaling is received by each separate signal processor in each separate defoamer dosage controller from each separate SONAR-based sensing device.
The beet washing system may include cannons configured to provide water for wetting the beets in the process water; and the beet silo configured to contain the beets for washing, receive the water for wetting the beets, and provide the process water and beets to the canal/channel for washing the beets.
The beet washing system may include a washing station configured to receive the process water and beets flowing in the canal/channel, provide washed beet for further processing, and provide the process water for further processing.
According to the present invention, a defoamer application on beet washing water can now be done automatically by fine-tuning the defoamer dosing pump output upon a setpoint of air measured by SONAR technology, which is proportional to the foam present into the system. The antifoam pumps react quickly to keep a set point of air (GVF %) previously determined to represent absence of foam. The dosage of antifoam would be now really proportional to the amount of foam present, avoiding unnecessary waste given by dosages covering the worst-case scenarios. Defoamer dosing systems driven by the amount of gas measured by the SONAR technology reduce the defoamer usage during routine operation, as well as during emergencies, and also reduce chemical residuals in process water, juices and syrups.
The drawing includes
According to some embodiments, and consistent with that shown in
The beet washing system 10 may include one or more SONAR-based sensing devices 14 configured to sense the entrained air in the process water used for washing the beets, determine a Gas Volume Fraction percentage (GVF %) and provide the signaling received by the signal processor 12a of the defoamer dosage controller 12.
The GVF % may be proportional to the foam generated in the process water used for washing the beets.
The signal processor 12a may be configured to keep a set point of GVF % determined to represent an absence of foam.
The dosage of the defoamer provided to the process water may be proportional to the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
The signal processor 12a may be configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling, e.g., such as defoamer dosage control signaling to one or more defoamer dosage pumps 16.
The beet washing system 10 may include the one or more defoamer dosage pumps 16 configured to receive the control signaling and provide the dosage of the defoamer to the process water to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
The beet washing system 10 may include one or more antifoam dosing points, e.g., consistent with that shown in
The beet washing system 10 shown in
By way of example, the canal/channel SONAR-based sensing device 22 may be configured to sense the entrained air in the process water flowing in the canal/channel, determine a canal/channel Gas Volume Fraction percentage (GVF %) and provide the signaling received by the signal processor 12a of the defoamer dosage controller 12.
By way of example, the canal/channel defoamer dosage pump 24 may be configured to receive the defoamer dosage control signaling (e.g., in the form of canal/channel defoamer dosage control signaling) and provide the dosage of the defoamer to the process water flowing in the canal/channel 20 to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
By way of example, the canal/channel SONAR-based sensing device 22 and the canal/channel defoamer dosage pump 24 may be configured on the canal/channel 20, e.g., using techniques known in the art. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to how the canal/channel SONAR-based sensing device 66 and the canal/channel defoamer dosage pump 67 are configured on the canal/channel 20.
By way of example, the clarifier inlet SONAR-based sensing device 66 may be configured to sense the entrained air in the process water flowing into the inlet 62 of the clarifier 60, determine a clarifier inlet Gas Volume Fraction percentage (GVF %) and provide the signaling received by the signal processor 12a of the defoamer dosage controller 12.
By way of example, the clarifier inlet defoamer dosage pump 67 may be configured to receive the defoamer dosage control signaling (e.g., in the form of clarifier inlet defoamer dosage control signaling) and provide the dosage of the defoamer to the process water flowing into the inlet 62 of the clarifier 60 to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
By way of example, the clarifier inlet SONAR-based sensing device 66 and the clarifier inlet defoamer dosage pump 67 may be configured on the inlet 62 of the clarifier 60, e.g., using techniques known in the art. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to how the clarifier inlet SONAR-based sensing device 66 and the clarifier inlet defoamer dosage pump 67 are configured on the inlet 62 of the clarifier 60.
By way of example, the clarifier outlet SONAR-based sensing device 68 may be configured to sense the entrained air in the clarified process water flowing from the outlet 64 of the clarifier 60, determine a clarifier outlet Gas Volume Fraction percentage (GVF %) and provide the signaling received by the signal processor 12a of the defoamer dosage controller 12.
By way of example, the clarifier outlet defoamer dosage pump 69 may be configured to receive the defoamer dosage control signaling (e.g., in the form of clarifier outlet defoamer dosage control signaling) and provide the dosage of the defoamer to the clarified process water flowing from the outlet 64 of the clarifier 60 to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.
By way of example, the clarifier outlet SONAR-based sensing device 68 and the clarifier outlet defoamer dosage pump 69 may be configured on the outlet 64 of the clarifier 60, e.g., using techniques known in the art. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to how the clarifier outlet SONAR-based sensing device 68 and the clarifier outlet defoamer dosage pump 69 are configured on the outlet 64 of the clarifier 60.
By way of example, the defoamer dosage controller 12 may include, or take the form of, a centralized controller having the signal processor 12a for implementing the signal processing control functionality for one or more of the antifoam dosing arrangement described herein. In this embodiment, the signaling is received by the signal processor 12a in the centralized controller from each of the one or more SONAR-based sensing devices like element 14.
Alternatively, and by way of further example, the defoamer dosage controller 12 may include, or take the form of, one or more a separate controller having a separate signal processor for each antifoam dosing arrangement described above. In this embodiment, the signaling is received by each separate signal processor in each separate controller from each separate SONAR-based sensing device like element 14.
By way of example, and consistent with that described herein, the functionality of the defoamer dosage controller 12 and the signal processor 12a may be implemented to receive the signaling containing information about a volumetric percent of entrained air in a process water used for washing beets; and determine the corresponding signaling containing information to control a dosage of defoamer provided to the process water to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets, using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, although the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular embodiment thereof. In a typical software implementation, the signal processor or processing module 12a may include, or take the form of, one or more microprocessor-based architectures having a microprocessor, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), input/output devices and control, data and address busing architecture connecting the same. A person skilled in the art would be able to program such a microprocessor-based implementation to perform the functionality set forth herein, as well as other functionality described herein without undue experimentation. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular implementation using technology either now known or later developed in the future. Moreover, the scope of the invention is intended to include a signal processor, device or module 12a as either part of the aforementioned controller 12, as a stand alone module, or in the combination with other circuitry for implementing another module.
Techniques for receiving signaling in such a signal processor 12a are known in the art, and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future. Based on this understanding, a person skilled in the art would appreciate, understand and be able to implement and/or adapt the signal processor 12a without undue experimentation so as to receive signaling, and determining the corresponding signaling, consistent with that set forth herein.
It is also understood that the controller 12 may include, or operate in conjunction with, one or more other modules, components, processing circuits, or circuitry 18 for implementing other functionality associated with the underlying apparatus that does not form part of the underlying invention, and thus is not described in detail herein. By way of example, the one or more other modules, components, processing circuits, or circuitry may include random access memory, read only memory, input/output circuitry and data and address buses for use in relation to implementing the signal processing functionality of the signal processor, or devices or components, etc.
In
For example, the beet washing system 10 may include one or more accelerators 52 configured to accelerate the process water and beets flowing in the canal/channel 20 from the beet silo 40 to the washing station 50.
The washing station 50 provides the washed beets, e.g., to a beet, and provide the process water and mud washed from the beets to the clarifier 60.
The clarifier 60 provides the clarifier water to various pumps that pump the clarified water, e.g., to a ring 70 or pumps in the washing station 50, etc. The ring 70 pressurizes the clarified water and provides pressurized clarified water to the cannons 30, or the accelerators 52. By way of example, the ring 70 can pressurizes the clarified water from 3-3.5 bar, and provides the pressurized clarified water to high pressure pumps that further pressurize the clarified water, e.g., to 6.0 bar, for pumping to the cannons 30, or the accelerators 52, consistent with that shown in
The testing during the period from Sep. 20-25, 2018 shows the best recording data.
Consistent with that shown in
It is noted that:
Moreover, it is also noted that the EW test of foam vs. air included testing for foam presence into the beet washing system with a range of three levels of foam presence, as follows:
Level 1: Absent—GVF below 10%
Level 2: Acceptable—GVF 10%-14%
Level 3: Excess—GVF >15%
In addition to the washing stage, the present invention can be used in other sections of the beet sugar process, as follows:
Embodiments are also envisioned in cane crushing and extraction stage for typical cane sugar processing (starting from purification all stages listed are basically identical to beet processing).
Other targeted industries where they may find foaming troubles, and EchoWise may be used in relation to the process controller on washing stages or other stages:
Protein separation in general, and fermentation, both aerobic and anaerobic.
The SONAR-based sensing technology may include, or take the form of, one or more of the SONAR-based devices disclosed in one or more of the following patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,354,147; 6,609,069; 6,889,562; 7,032,432; 7,086,278; 7,134,320; 7,152,460; 7,165,464; 7,261,002; 7,343,820; 7,363,800; 7,367,240 7,587,948; and 7,359,803, which are all incorporated by reference in their entirety.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.
This application claims benefit to provisional application No. 62/770,283, filed 21 Nov. 2018, as well as provisional application No. 62/833,242, filed 12 Apr. 2019, which are both incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62770283 | Nov 2018 | US | |
| 62833242 | Apr 2019 | US |
