Patent ID: 7795479
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: B01D,C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for dehydration of a process stream for the production of motor fuel grade ethanol, the process comprising: sending a fermentation beer stream to a solids separation unit; separating the fermentation beer stream in said solids separation unit to provide a bottoms stream including solids, and a process stream including ethanol and water; providing the process stream to a first temperature controlled adsorber that is undergoing adsorption, where the first temperature controlled adsorber has one or more adsorption flow passages containing an adsorptive material coating and one or more heat transfer flow passages; passing the process stream through the one or more adsorption flow passages, where water is adsorbed by the adsorptive material coating to produce a motor fuel grade ethanol product stream; providing a second temperature controlled adsorber that is isolated from the process stream and is undergoing regeneration, where the second temperature controlled adsorber has one or more adsorption flow passages containing an adsorptive material coating and one or more heat transfer flow passages; providing a heating fluid to the one or more heat transfer flow passages of the second temperature controlled adsorber; regenerating the adsorptive material coating by sending a heating stream through said heat transfer flow passages to remove water to produce a raffinate stream comprising water and ethanol; and then in turn sending the raffinate stream to a first heat sink at a higher temperature than a second heat sink and then to said second heat sink until said adsorption flow passages within said second temperature controlled adsorber are regenerated and said second temperature adsorber then undergoes adsorption.