|
From Powder and Bulk Dot Com Processing
“The ethanol production industry is evolving and developing standards,” says Dan Ferris, Application Engineering Manager, “but industry leaders are quickly seeing the value Rotex equipment brings to the process and are including them as key components in the production process.” “Like any growing business operating in a competitive environment, ethanol producers must balance efforts that maximize investment in equipment, utilize processing methods that streamline operations for greater efficiency, and emphasize techniques that result in a quality product,” says Steve Schmidt, Senior Application Engineer. As the ethanol production process evolves, Rotex® separation equipment makes a significant contribution at two critical points in the ethanol production process. “When grain is first unloaded and enters the production process, it often contains foreign material such as rocks, pieces of cob, and other debris that must be removed. Rotex Grain Cleaners separate those oversize and fine unwanted particles from whole corn based upon size particles. Utilizing Rotex® Grain Cleaners at the beginning of the process will contribute to a higher quality product and reduce the maintenance costs and equipment failure that grit and other debris causes,” says Ferris.
Not only do Rotex Screeners remove off-size particles and contaminants, they offer higher throughput and greater reliability than any other screener in the industry. The machines are rugged and durable, built with heavy-duty features such as wear-resistant liners to withstand the abrasive nature of this application. Rotex equipment offers the highest loading per square foot of screen area in the industry. “We’re proud of our leading reputation for performance, lowest maintenance costs, and highest production up time in the industry,” says Schmidt. As demand for ethanol increases, so too, will the call for higher production rates and more efficient processing. Production processes are evolving that include the fractionation of the corn kernel to separate the corn into its basic components: fiber, germ (oil), and endosperm (starch). The primary benefit is the elimination of the non-fermentable fractions of fiber and germ prior to the fermentation process. Effectively removing the bran involves a tempering process which increases the moisture level of the corn as high as 26%. The corn is then ground and screened to separate the starch from the germ and bran. The screening portion of the fractionation process is referred to as “grading.” Rotex separation equipment, with its unique gyratory/reciprocating motion, maximizes the recovery of desired fractions by making precise separations of ground corn. For all separation equipment, the grading step is particularly challenging in this fractionation process due to the high moisture level of the ground corn.
“Grading of ground grain is certainly not a new application,” says Ferris. “However, the grading of corn fractions after the wet milling process for specific use in ethanol plants presents somewhat new application challenges. Rotex has proven performance results in the ethanol fractionation process. Rotex brings over 160 years of application expertise and over 90 years of screening experience to these solutions." Rotex Global, LLC offers a comprehensive product line of screeners to meet the unique needs of any ethanol production facility. From a small, five square foot Rotex Screener to the mighty and compact 350 square foot MEGATEX XD™ and many others in between. Whether your production requirements call for a capacity range from 50 to 50,000 bushels per hour, Rotex has the right solution. “We understand the impact separation has on improving quality and efficiency in the production process,” says Ferris, “and we offer both the flexibility and the level of expertise that extends beyond simply providing a piece of equipment. Developers in planning stages and existing production facilities will benefit from our consultative ability to positively impact their process and their product.” To learn more about how Rotex Global, LLC can improve your separation process through its line of new state-of-the-art screening products as well as its complete inventory of aftermarket genuine parts and rebuild services. For more information contact: Rotex Global, LLC 1230 Knowlton St. Cincinnati, OH 45223 Telephone: 800-453-2321 Fax (513) 541-4888 Email: info@rotex.com Web site: http://www.rotex.com/ © Copyright 1998 - 2008 Powder and Bulk Dot Com |
