System and method for improving the corn wet mill and dry mill process
This novel corn milling process includes a continuous steeping step, early separation of easy-to-access starch (e.g., starch in the floury endosperm part of a corn kernel), fine milling to secure germ protein without the use of solvents or heat, and performing a phase separation to collect the product of fermentation. The continuous steeping process uses a continuous steeping tank. The steeping liquid, which includes probiotics, flows in from the bottom of the tank in a countercurrent flow. Other features include efficiently producing high purity starch or sugar using the starch in the floury endosperm of the corn kernel, producing alcohols such as ethanol and butanol that can be used as sustainable aviation fuel or feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel, and producing a high protein animal feed product that includes yeast and germ protein without using toxic solvents.
1 . A continuous steeping tank comprising:
a) a tank body;
b) multiple internal chambers inside the tank body; and
c) one or more paddles in each of the multiple internal chambers configured to move grains progressively through and between chambers; and
d) a steeping liquid inlet coupling with the tank body.
2 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 1 , wherein the one or more paddles move the grains outwards.
3 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 1 , wherein the one or more paddles move the grains in different directions in alternating pattern in each of the multiple internal chambers.
4 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 1 , wherein the one or more paddles comprises 4-8 paddles.
5 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 4 , wherein the 4-8 paddles are controlled by a variable speed motor connected to a central shaft.
6 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 1 , wherein the multiple internal chambers comprise 6-12 internal chambers.
7 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 1 , wherein the steeping liquid inlet is at a bottom of the tank body configured to have a steeping liquid flowing in from the bottom of the tank in a countercurrent flow containing multiple probiotic microorganisms in a predetermined concentration to reduce steeping time.
8 . A continuous steeping tank comprising:
a) a tank body;
b) multiple internal chambers inside the tank body; and
c) a plurality of paddles, wherein at least one of the plurality of paddles is positioned in each of the multiple internal chambers configured to move grains progressively through and between chambers; and
d) a steeping liquid inlet coupling with the tank body.
9 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of paddles move the grains outwards.
10 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of paddles move the grains in different directions in alternating pattern in each of the multiple internal chambers.
11 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of paddles comprises 4-8 paddles.
12 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 11 , wherein the 4-8 paddles are controlled by a variable speed motor connected to a central shaft.
13 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 8 , wherein the multiple internal chambers comprise 6-12 internal chambers.
14 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 8 , wherein the steeping liquid inlet is at a bottom of the tank body configured to have a steeping liquid flowing in from the bottom of the tank in a countercurrent flow containing multiple probiotic microorganisms in a predetermined concentration to reduce steeping time.
15 . A continuous steeping tank comprising:
e) a tank body;
f) multiple internal chambers inside the tank body; and
g) a plurality of paddles, wherein at least one of the plurality of paddles is positioned in each of the multiple internal chambers configured to move grains progressively through and between chambers; and
h) a steeping liquid inlet coupling with the tank body, wherein the steeping liquid inlet is at a bottom of the tank body configured to have a steeping liquid flowing in from the bottom of the tank in a countercurrent flow containing multiple probiotic microorganisms in a predetermined concentration to reduce steeping time.
16 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of paddles move the grains outwards.
17 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of paddles move the grains in different directions in alternating pattern in each of the multiple internal chambers.
18 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of paddles comprises 4-8 paddles.
19 . The continuous steeping tank of claim 18 , wherein the 4-8 paddles are controlled by a variable speed motor connected to a central shaft.