A steeping unit for steeping of grain and method of expanding a steeping unit for a malting plant. The steeping unit has a base section and a lid. The capacity of the steeping unit can be adjusted in a stepwise manner by inserting or removing at least one intermediate ring in an intermediate section between the base section and the lid.

A steeping unit for steeping of grain and method of expanding a steeping unit for a malting plant. The steeping unit has a base section and a lid. The capacity of the steeping unit can be adjusted in a stepwise manner by inserting or removing at least one intermediate ring in an intermediate section between the base section and the lid.

A malting plant for germinating and kiln-drying grain, having a heating unit with a heating device and at least one expandable germinating/kiln-drying unit. The plant includes a starting module having an air channel; at least one intermediate module; and an end module. The starting module is connected a connector channel and a return channel to the heating unit. The malting plant is configured to selectively conduct air from outside of the starting module into the process chamber(formed by the starting module, intermediate module and end module) and/or circulate air from the process chamber via the air channel into the process chamber using the germinating fan during the germinating process of the grain, and conduct air that has been temperature-controlled by the heating device in the heating unit via the connector channel into the process chamber via the starting module during the kiln-drying process of the grain.

The present invention relates to a novel grain germination and malting apparatus and uses thereof. The apparatus comprises a 4-tank malting and seed germination system in which each tank performs steeping, germination and kilning, as it is moved along a 2-track rail. At the first station grain is hydrated, a process typically requiring four cycles of steeping with aeration followed by air rest. Germination is continued in the second and third stations, with aeration by water-saturated air. Germination typically takes a minimum three days, but depending on genotype and species, may take as much as eight days. Kilning is performed at station four, using fan-driven, electrically-heated air to dry and cure the malt.

The present invention relates to a novel grain germination and malting apparatus and uses thereof. The apparatus comprises a 4-tank malting and seed germination system in which each tank performs steeping, germination and kilning, as it is moved along a 2-track rail. At the first station grain is hydrated, a process typically requiring four cycles of steeping with aeration followed by air rest. Germination is continued in the second and third stations, with aeration by water-saturated air. Germination typically takes a minimum three days, but depending on genotype and species, may take as much as eight days. Kilning is performed at station four, using fan-driven, electrically-heated air to dry and cure the malt.

A heating building for a malting plant includes a heating device, at least one heat exchanger and a central kiln-drying fan. The heating building can be detachably connected to a start module, the heating building being configured to be connected to one or more germinating/kiln-drying units via one or more fresh air channels and return air channels.

A continuous method of producing dried malted grains is disclosed. The method comprises: (a) providing a continuous stream of steeped grains having a water content of at least 30 wt. %; (b) transporting the stream through a germination stage to produce a continuous stream of malted grains, the germination stage comprising (i) maintaining the grains at 10-30 C. and (ii) maintaining the water content of the grains within the range of 20-38 wt. %, the residence time of the grains in the germination stage being in the range of 12 to 36 hours; (c) transporting a layer of the malted grains with a second moving conveyor through a drying stage to produce a continuous stream of dried malted grains, the residence time of the grains in the drying stage being in the range of 2 to 24 hours. Also disclosed is a dried malted barley that is obtained by the aforementioned method.

A continuous method of producing dried malted grains is disclosed. The method comprises: (a) providing a continuous stream of steeped grains having a water content of at least 30 wt. %; (b) transporting the stream through a germination stage to produce a continuous stream of malted grains, the germination stage comprising (i) maintaining the grains at 10-30 C. and (ii) maintaining the water content of the grains within the range of 20-38 wt. %, the residence time of the grains in the germination stage being in the range of 12 to 36 hours; (c) transporting a layer of the malted grains with a second moving conveyor through a drying stage to produce a continuous stream of dried malted grains, the residence time of the grains in the drying stage being in the range of 2 to 24 hours. Also disclosed is a dried malted barley that is obtained by the aforementioned method.