Systems and methods for stillage fractionation

摘要

Systems and methods for fractionating whole stillage from an ethanol production facility are provided. Whole stillage undergoes a separation of its liquid portion (thin stillage) from the solid portion (fiber cake). In some embodiments, the solids and liquids in whole stillage may be separated utilizing a screening centrifuge. The fiber cake may be dried to generate a high fiber animal feed. The thin stillage may be provided to a three-phase separator for separation into an oil emulsion, an aqueous clarified stillage, and a protein paste. The protein paste may be dried to generate a high protein animal feed with greater than about 45% protein content. The clarified thin stillage is condensed to yield a syrup with greater than around 60% solids. The oil emulsion is subjected to a pH adjustment to liberate the oil from the emulsion, which is then separated.

主权项

1. A process for fractionating whole stillage comprising:
a first separator separating whole stillage to a solid portion and a thin stillage liquid portion, wherein the solid portion comprises a fiber cake; a three phase separator receiving the thin stillage liquid portion and separating the thin stillage liquid portion to a clarified stillage, an oil emulsion and, a protein paste; a first dryer drying the fiber cake to generate a fiber animal feed product; a second dryer drying the protein paste to generate a protein animal feed product; an evaporator condensing the clarified stillage to a syrup; a second separator separating oil from the oil emulsion; and a pH adjuster adjusting pH of the oil emulsion prior to separation by the second separator.