Patent Application
20200316491
The present invention provides systems and methods for regenerative vapor energy recovery in or in conjunction with an ethanol plant.
In efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, alternative fuels, such as ethanol, have been widely promoted. Ethanol is an attractive alternative because its combustion tends to produce more energy with less greenhouse gas emission than fossil fuels. Also, producing ethanol has a positive net energy balance. Reducing or eliminating dependence on fossil fuel imports tends to produce important geopolitical, environmental and global economic benefits at a national level.
Ethanol can be produced by fermenting and distilling starches, e.g., from grains, cellulosic material and other organic matter. The resulting ethanol (alcohol) can be suitable for combustion as a fuel source or a fuel supplement. Grain processing generally produces distiller's grain (DG), including remaining fats, proteins, fiber, oils and minerals. DG can be useful for feeding livestock and other applications.
Energy efficiency is an objective of ethanol production for purposes of reducing distillers' operating costs and the environmental footprints from their operations. Producing marketable, high-value DG byproducts is another important objective. For minimizing transportation costs, ethanol plants tend to be located near the grain supply sources and the livestock facilities where the DG byproducts are consumed. For example, such plants are relatively common throughout the corn-producing regions of the United States.
The present invention addresses such ethanol distillation plant efficiency objectives by providing a method and system for regenerating vapor energy recovery.
Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for regenerative vapor energy recovery in connection with an ethanol plant, with the advantages and features of the present invention.
In practicing an aspect of the present invention, a dryer exhaust heat subsystem captures heat from a dryer and further heats a warm water stream in a scrubber, which outputs hot water to the ethanol plant. In the practice of the method of the present invention, captured dryer exhaust heat increases overall ethanol plant efficiencies by reducing the net energy input required for driving plant operations.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof.
As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.
A regenerative (or regen) vapor energy recovery system embodying an aspect of the present invention is shown in
The heated water stream 130 will be produced at a variable rate and fed to a hot Water Surge Tank 200, to be collected for use. The temperature of this stream may vary between 190° F. and 200° F. On a continuous basis the heated water will be pumped using the heated water pump 220 sending the supply heated water 230 to the heated water flash tank 300 where the heated water stream 230 will be cooled to 185° F. creating a heated water flash vapor 330 that will be diverted to the existing plant 50 to be used as an energy source.
The heated water recirculation pump 320 recirculates warm water 120 back to the regen precondenser 110 as needed to send a recirculated water stream 550 back to the existing plant for reuse and to send excess water 560 from the system 10 back to the ethanol plant 50 for use as dilution water. Rectifier bottoms 420 from the existing plant 50 are fed to the heated water flash tank 300 to maintain adequate level in the tank 300. Water from the tank 300 is fed back to the existing plant 50 for use as dilution water 510.
A recirculating water stream 550 from the bottom of the heated water flash tank 300 is pumped to other areas of the existing plant 50 to capture energy in the form of 190° F. to 200° F. heated water 510 that will be fed back to the heated water flash tank 300, releasing energy in the form of heated water flash vapor 330 to the plant 50 for reuse.
It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms and is not to be limited to the examples specifically discussed above. The range of components and configurations which can be utilized in the practice of the present invention is virtually unlimited.
This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/830,068, filed Apr. 5, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62830068 | Apr 2019 | US |
