The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.

A vertical cuttings dryer (VCD) can be used to separate solid particulate from entrained liquid. In some examples, the VCD includes a screen mounted coaxially with an internal wiper housing that carriers a wiper sweeping out an annular space between the screen and wiper housing. The VCD may have a first motor connected through drive shaft to the screen and a second motor connect through a separate drive shaft to the wiper housing. A controller can independently control the speed of the first motor and the second motor to independently a magnitude of centrifugal force applied to material being processed as well as a residence time of the material being processed in the annular space.

A vertical cuttings dryer (VCD) can be used to separate solid particulate from entrained liquid. In some examples, the VCD includes a screen mounted coaxially with an internal wiper housing that carriers a wiper sweeping out an annular space between the screen and wiper housing. The VCD may have a first motor connected through drive shaft to the screen and a second motor connect through a separate drive shaft to the wiper housing. A controller can independently control the speed of the first motor and the second motor to independently a magnitude of centrifugal force applied to material being processed as well as a residence time of the material being processed in the annular space.

The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.

The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.

A solid-bowl centrifuge screw with a screw hub with a first welding layer applied to a base, and at least a second welding layer applied to the first welding layers. Thus, the screw hub is produced by a shaping build-up welding method.

A centrifugal separator for separating solids from a liquid stream has a rotating drum with a perforated outer wall, an auger in the rotating drum, and a driver that rotates the drum and the auger. The drum has an inlet at a first end for receiving the liquid stream, and a solids outlet at a second end. The auger has a helical flight with an outer edge that is immediately adjacent to an inner surface of the outer wall. The driver rotates the rotating drum to apply a centrifugal force to fluids within the rotating drum such that liquid exits via the perforated outer wall, and the auger is rotated at a different speed such that the auger removes solids from an inner surface of the rotating drum and conveys the solids toward the solids outlet.

A centrifugal separator for separating solids from a liquid stream has a rotating drum with a perforated outer wall, an auger in the rotating drum, and a driver that rotates the drum and the auger. The drum has an inlet at a first end for receiving the liquid stream, and a solids outlet at a second end. The auger has a helical flight with an outer edge that is immediately adjacent to an inner surface of the outer wall. The driver rotates the rotating drum to apply a centrifugal force to fluids within the rotating drum such that liquid exits via the perforated outer wall, and the auger is rotated at a different speed such that the auger removes solids from an inner surface of the rotating drum and conveys the solids toward the solids outlet.

A feed box for a decanter centrifuge has a housing with a hollow interior, the housing having a top with an inlet therethrough, a bottom, sides, and opposing open ends, wherein the inlet and the open ends are in fluid communication with the hollow interior. A liner shaped complementary to the hollow interior of the housing, has a top, a bottom, sides, opposing ends, an opening through the top of the liner below the inlet, and a channel through the liner between the opposing ends in fluid communication with the inlet.

A feed box for a decanter centrifuge has a housing with a hollow interior, the housing having a top with an inlet therethrough, a bottom, sides, and opposing open ends, wherein the inlet and the open ends are in fluid communication with the hollow interior. A liner shaped complementary to the hollow interior of the housing, has a top, a bottom, sides, opposing ends, an opening through the top of the liner below the inlet, and a channel through the liner between the opposing ends in fluid communication with the inlet.