Ethanol Process - Flow Meters

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Ethanol Plant - Aerial View

Applications:

• Water / Alcohol Mixture

• Ethanol

• Fusel Oil

• Seal Water

• Distillation

Ethanol-

Metering and Flow Control

 

RCM Industries, Inc. provides flow measuring products for the manufacturing process of ethanol. Selecting the right elastomer and materials of construction are important factors when monitoring ethanol production processes, Bronze or 316 Stainless Steel with Viton™ seals (Option A) and a gasket case (Option D) are  choice.

 

The RCM flow meter is self contained and complete and has accuracy for most industrial processes and is particularly suited for applications where compactness, low cost, minimal maintenance and resistance to accidental damage are important factors. Our flow meters are backed by a 30 day money back guarantee.

 

The RCM flow meter monitors the flow of water into the cooker as well as the denaturing process where the remaining water is removed from the alcohol. Seal water is also metered using the RCM flow meter to ensure proper pump operation by protecting face seals and shaft seal on critical process equipment.

Features:

• Sturdy In-line metal construction Bronze, Monel & 316 Stainless Steel

• 1/4" - 3" NPT and 1/2" - 8" Flanged Line Sizes

• Expanded analog 270º dial for reading at a glance

• Large 3.5" (90mm) dial

• Measures 6:1 range with ± 3% F. S. accuracy

• Dial and case factory configured for quick installation

• 4-20mA Transmitter and Reed Switch Options Available

• Measures Liquids, Gases and Low Viscosity Liquids 5 - 500 cps

New!

1S2 and 2S2 Option w/LEDs

Coming Soon......

Learn more......

Call Us Toll Free: 800-356-4243      Email: sales@flo-gage.com

ISO 9001

Atex Certified

Ethanol Process Flow Chart

1/2" - 73 - VUL - 60 - ADI

CO2 - 70°F, 125psig

Ethanol- How its Made....

 

There are three main uses for ethanol (industrial, beverage and fuel) and production varies for each industry. Ethanol production in the US is primarily used for fuel consumption using a dry mill process.

 

It takes 1 bushel (56 lbs.) of corn to produce an estimated 2.5 to 3.0 gallon of ethanol. Now more then ever US consumption of ethanol will increase dramatically over the next few years from 2 billion to over 7 billion gallons per year. Our goal is to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. The following steps go into the production of ethanol. 

• Milling: The corn will first pass through hammer mills, which grin it into fine powder called meal.

• Liquefaction: The meal will then be mixed with water and alpha-amylase, and will pass through cookers where the starch is liquefied. Heat will be applied at this stage to enable liquefaction. Cookers with a high temperature stage (120-150 degrees Celsius) and a lower temperature holding period (95 degrees Celsius) will be used. These high temperature reduce bacteria levels in the mash.

• Saccharification: The mash from the cookers will then be cooled and the secondary enzymes (gluco-amylase) will be added to convert the liquefied starch to fermentable sugar (dextrose), a process called saccharification.

•  Fermentation: Yeast will then be added to the mash to ferment the sugar to ethanol and carbon dioxide. Using a continuous process, the fermenting mash will be allowed to flow, or cascade, through several fermenters until the mash is fully fermented and then leaves the final tank.

• Distillation: The fermented mash, now called "beer", will contain about 10% alcohol, as well as all the non-fermentable solids from corn and the yeast cells. The mash will then be pumped to the continuous flow, multi-column distillation system where the alcohol will be removed from the solids and the water. The alcohol will leave the top of the final column at about 96% strength, and the residue mash, called stillage, will be transferred from the base of the column to the co-product processing area.

• Dehydration: The alcohol from the top column will then be pass through a dehydration system where the remaining water will be removed. Most ethanol plants use a molecular sieve to capture the last bit of water in the ethanol. The alcohol product at this stage is called anhydrous (pure, without water) ethanol and is approximately 200 proof.

• Denaturing: Ethanol that will be used for fuel is then denatured with a small amount (2-5%) of some product, like gasoline, to make it unfit for human consumption.

• Co-Products: There are two main co-products created in the production of ethanol: carbon dioxide and distillers grain. Carbon dioxide is given off in great quantities during the fermentation and many ethanol plants collect that carbon dioxide, clean it of any residual alcohol, compress it and sell it for use to carbonated beverages or in the flash freezing of meats. Distiller grains, wet and dried, are high in protein and other nutrients and are a highly valued livestock feed ingredient. Syrup is another byproduct containing some of the solids that can be sold. Ethanol production is a no-waste process that adds value to the corn by converting it into more valuable products.

Taken from the American Coalition for Ethanol ACE

 

RCM Industries, Inc.

110 Mason Circle, Suite D Concord, CA 94520      

Phone: 800-356-4243  or  925-687-8363        Fax: 925-671-9636    Email: sales@flo-gage.com    Website: www.flo-gage.com

Categories - Industry

• Bio-Fuels - Ethanol

• Beverage

• Semiconductor

• Utilities - Power Plants

• Telecommunications Satellite Systems

• Military

• Chemical Processing

• Industrial Equipment

• Automotive

• Printing

• Petroleum

• Chillers

Click on the above category for flow meter application details

Options:

A     Viton Seals

B     EPR Seals

B2   Teflon Seals

C     Calibrated for Specific Gravity

D     Gasketed Case (NEMA 4X, IP66)

D2   Gasketed Case w / Condulet (NEMA 4X IP66)

E     Non-Standard Flow Rate

ES   Low Rate (Below 2 GPM)

F     Aluminum Housing w / Plastic Dial Crystal

F2    Aluminum Housing w / Glass Dial Crystal

G     Custom Scales and Dials

H      High Pressure Service

I       Compressed Gas Service

J      Peak Flow Indicator

K     Saturated Steam Service

N     Ammonia Service

P     Panel Mount

R2   Remote Readout, Bronze

R3   Remote Readout, 316 SST

T     Expanded Temperature Service

V     High Viscosity Servi