Highly effective rectification plants applicable in ethanol production

Kurzfassung

A department of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has developed advanced technology applications related to ethanol production applicable in power generation installations and biofuel production plants. Such applications include installation of series of multicolumn rectification plants designed in modular principle. The Institute seeks Joint-Venture agreements and Manufacturing agreements with companies interested in the practical implementation of the technology.

Details

The installations are designed as systems with three-, four- or five columns, built in detached metal bearing structure, equipped with internal stages and stairs. The construction includes all equipment (mainly heat exchange equipment) and forms module with in- and outlet pipe lines near to datum elevation.

The columns are built from modules too, that allows an easy rearrangement and maintenance. The cross section of the construction is rectangular with dimensions 3x4 m for the smaller installations and 3.60 x 4.90 m for 10000 l/24h productivity; the height is less than 15 m. The columns contain the highly effective structured packing and special internal devices and operate with vapor velocity up to 1.9 m/s at pressure drop under 40 mbar. The volume of the columns is about 2.5 times smaller than the traditional tray columns. The apparatuses and the internal devices are made wholly from stainless steel.

The quality of the ethanol produced excides for some indices the standard’s requirements thereof. The plants are equipped with digital meters and automatic control of the most important parameters and can be operated by one person.

Innovative Aspects:
The results of these technological solutions are unique in the given field due to their extraordinary high constructive efficiency and energy parameters of the technology offered. The feed stock with ethanol concentration 7-11 % vol. can be produced by fermentation after enzyme hydrolysis of grain, meal or other starch content materials, as well from molasses or other sugar-content derivatives.

An important advantage of the plants which have been reorganized as per the technology proposed is the low engorgement sensibility. For that reason the feed stock may contain relatively coarse solid particles and can be supplied without preliminary filtration. A considerable operational advantage of the new installations is the short time for achieving the steady-state technological regime – only 30-40 min after starting up, in comparison to about 6-8 hours for the traditional tray column constructions. It is also possible to reconstruct existing old installations to increase their productivity up to 2.5 times.