Patent ID: 8293018
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: A23L,A23V,C01B

Abstract:
1. A method for continuously treating a starch-bearing material at a non-atmospheric pressure, the method comprising: delivering a starch-bearing material to a hydration control apparatus; at least one of increasing or decreasing an amount of moisture in the starch-bearing material within the hydration control apparatus; delivering the starch-bearing material from the hydration control apparatus to a material delivery apparatus, the material delivery apparatus including a chamber that defines a feed end and a discharge end, a first valve proximate the feed end of the chamber, and a second valve proximate the discharge end of the chamber, wherein delivering the starch-bearing material to the material delivery apparatus comprises delivering the starch-bearing material to the chamber of the material delivery apparatus with the first valve open and the second valve closed; closing the first valve of the material delivery apparatus so as to pressure isolate the starch-bearing material within the chamber of the material delivery apparatus; adjusting a pressure within the chamber of the material delivery apparatus to a non-atmospheric pressure that is substantially equal to a non-atmospheric pressure in a process vessel downstream of the material delivery apparatus; opening the second valve of the material delivery apparatus and delivering the starch-bearing material from the chamber of the material delivery apparatus to the process vessel; and heating the starch-bearing material within the process vessel.