Abstract:
A modular system is provided to introduce a grain containing a commercial enzyme into an ethanol production facility. The modular system comprises a plurality of portable storage units configured to receive a raw grain material. Each storage unit is adapted for transportation between ethanol production facilities. A portable processing unit is in communication with each of the storage units for receiving the grain material therefrom. The processing unit is configured to mix a grain containing a commercial enzyme with a commodity grain so that the enzyme is in effective amounts to sufficiently carry out downstream enzymatic applications. The processing unit is further configured to meter the processed grain material at appropriate admix levels to an ethanol production facility. The processing unit is adapted for transportation between ethanol production facilities. Associated apparatuses and methods are also provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to modular systems generally, and more particularly to modular systems for storing, metering, and milling a grain material for delivery as a first grain stream into an ethanol production facility for combination with a second grain stream, and associated methods. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Commercial fermentation is a biological process in which organic material (e.g., corn, soybean, cellulosic material) is enzymatically converted through the actions of enzymes (e.g. alpha-amylase, cellulases, glucoamylase, hemicellulases) into compounds, such as fermentable sugars. These simple compounds may then be utilized or fermented by microorganisms to produce molecules of commercial importance such as biofuels, polymers, feed additives, chemicals and plastics. The amount and type of sample processing required (e.g. harvesting, storage, transportation, pretreatment, milling, and enzymatic degradation) prior to fermentation is dependent on the source organic material being utilized to produce fermentable sugars. The type and amount of enzyme or enzymes used to convert the source organic material into fermentable sugars is also dependent on the source molecule being broken down into molecules for fermentation. In addition, enzymes used to breakdown source organic material must be added according to each enzyme&#39;s ideal functional range such as appropriate temperature and pH relative to the particular enzyme(s) being used. In order to create the most efficient fermentation process as is ideal in commercial fermentations, the enzyme must be added at adequate concentrations commensurate to the batch size and amount of source organic material or substrate available for the enzyme to act on. The addition of too little enzyme may result in partial conversion of the substrate and subsequent lower yields of the favorable commercial compounds. Adding too much enzyme may not be cost efficient due to the high cost of commercial enzymes. 
         [0003]    Fuel ethanol derived from corn is primarily produced in the U.S. using either a dry or wet milling process. Generally, corn grain is delivered to commercial ethanol plants via truck or train where the grain is transferred to storage bins which in some cases can supply the plant for 7-10 days. In dry milling, the corn grain may be transported by a conveyor from the storage bin to a hammer mill where the corn grain is ground into flour. The flour is then transferred to a tank where water is added to create a hot slurry followed by the addition of the enzyme alpha-amylase to promote starch degradation. Often the pH of the hot slurry will need to be adjusted to the alpha-amylase&#39;s optimal functional range (i.e. pH 5.8). The slurry may then be pumped through a pressurized jet cooker. After proceeding through a jet cooker, the mixture is cooled and more alpha-amylase may be added to promote further starch degradation. The pH and temperature is finally adjusted and second enzyme, glucoamylase is added to the mixture. This mixture referred to as “mash” is transferred into a fermentation tank where yeast is added and fermentations are allowed to ferment generally 50-60 hours. Fermentation is followed by distillation and dehydration finally producing 200 proof anhydrous ethanol. Dry milling is the favored method of commercial ethanol producers. There are other known variations of this method wherein the corn is first fractionated prior to fermentation and only the starch fractionates are converted to ethanol using the conventional large scale fermentation methods as discussed above. The wet milling process consists of separating the kernel components into germ, fiber, protein and starch by first steeping the corn in water or sometimes in a dilute mixture of sulfuric acid for 24-48 hours. Once steeped, the corn is separated into germ, fiber, protein and starch through various methods such as milling, pressing, centrifugation and extrusion (e.g., pushing material through various sized screens). Corn germ, fiber and protein can be sold and used in various commercial applications (i.e. food, animal feed, textiles, etc). Starch obtained through the wet milling process may be sold as corn starch, further processed to corn syrup or fermented to ethanol essentially as described in the dry milling fermentation process. 
         [0004]    The demand for renewable fuels has grown considerably over the past decade and is projected to continue significant growth. The 2005 U.S. Energy Bill contains a set target of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by the year 2022 with a large portion (approximately 15 billion gallons) being produced from corn starch. Sugars generated from the degradation of plant biomass could provide plentiful, economically competitive feedstocks for fermentation into chemicals, plastics, feed additives and fuels. A potential hurdle in the conversion of plant parts into chemicals, plastics, feed additives and fuels may be the limitations of current practices in regards to end product yields, cost effectiveness and lack of infrastructure in current commercial plants to support new emerging technologies (e.g., transgenic crops, novel harvesting methods, new varieties of feedstocks used for biomass). Transgenic plants expressing enzymes that degrade organic material into fermentable sugars may play a significant role in overcoming the limitations of these industries and in providing a way to increase the production of renewable fuels. Transgenic plants expressing enzymes that may be used in these processes are described in the art (see for example patent publications: US 2003/0125534, US2004/0018607 and US 2003/0135885 all herein incorporated by reference). The use of seed from a transgenic corn plant in a corn ethanol dry mill wherein the seed expresses an alpha-amylase that would degrade starch into fermentable sugars is one example of an enzyme expressing transgenic plant that may benefit the production of corn ethanol. In corn ethanol production, current practices are generally performed as described in the dry and wet milling methods described above wherein commodity corn is milled and enzymes are added at specific time points of the process with careful monitoring of pH, temperature, viscosity and concentration of the enzyme added. A possible limitation of the use of transgenic corn seed expressing a alpha-amylase as described in the above example, may be that the transgenic corn seed needs to be mixed with commodity corn at a specific admix ratio in order to ensure that enough alpha-amylase is present to act on the total corn starch. Other factors that may be affected by the starting admix ratio of enzyme expressing seed to commodity corn might be downstream viscosity, starting pH and amount of mixing needed to disperse the enzyme. This same limitation may be realized as well in other plant biomass conversion methods wherein a plant or plant part expressing an enzyme of interest must be admixed with a commodity plant or plant part. For example, a feedstock expressing a cellulose. 
         [0005]    Thus, it would be desirable to provide a system and method for quickly and efficiently introducing a transgenic plant or plant part into an biofuel production facility for combination with a second stream of stock material, such that the combination may be admixed at appropriate levels in the production of a biofuel. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide such a system and method capable of use between biofuel production facilities for rapidly and efficiently carrying out plant trials to test new methods. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The article “a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, “an element” means one or more element. Throughout the specification the word “comprising,” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising,” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. 
         [0007]    The above and other needs are met by the present invention which, according to one aspect, provides a modular metering system for providing a first stream of grain containing enzyme to be mixed at a specific admix ratio to a second stream of commodity grain wherein the mixture is to be further utilized in an ethanol production facility. Herein, the phrase “grain containing enzyme” may be any grain containing one or more enzymes of interest utilized in a commercial process. A “grain containing enzyme” may be a transgenic grain wherein the plant expresses the enzyme of interest or the grain may be treated by an enzyme containing formulation (e.g. sprayed on or coated). One example may be a transgenic corn grain that expresses or has been treated with an alpha-amylase or glucoamylase enzyme. Herein, the term “commodity grain” refers to a grain not containing a processing enzyme. Herein, the term “admix ratio” refers to the amount of grain containing enzyme mixed by total into a commodity grain. For example, a “10% admix” refers to a mixture containing 10% grain with enzyme into a total mixture of grain. For example, an admix containing 10 kg of transgenic corn expressing amylase and 90 kg of conventional corn would be considered a 10% admix. The appropriate admix ratio to be used in an ethanol production facility is dependent on the amount of enzyme per gram of grain present in the grain containing enzyme. The amount of enzyme per gram of grain may vary due to types of treatments, growing conditions, stability of enzyme, or other factors. Thus, in the current embodiment it is necessary to first know the enzyme concentration of the grain prior to setting the admix ratio in order to have adequate amounts of enzyme to perform processes in downstream applications of a ethanol production facility. For example, a grain containing a low amount of enzyme would therefore require a higher admix ratio relative to a grain containing a high amount of enzyme which would require a low admix level. An enzyme&#39;s concentration can be measured through the use of commercially available enzyme assay kits. Enzyme assays such as MEGAZYME&#39;S Ceralpha assay (Cat#K-CERA) can be used to measure amylase enzyme activity. Alpha-amylase activity may be monitored as grain is delivered to the site directly from the truck or any time prior to entering the ethanol production facility. In one aspect the sample may be taken for assay following milling before entering the ethanol production facility. In another aspect the material may be sampled for assay after entering the ethanol production facility but prior to entering the fermentation tank. Once the grain is assayed the modular metering system can then be adjusted by weight of grain to increase or decrease admix levels to their desired ratio. The system comprises a plurality of portable storage units configured to receive a grain material. Each storage unit is adapted for transportation between fields or ethanol production facilities. A portable processing unit is in communication with each of the storage units for receiving the grain material therefrom. The processing unit is configured to transport and mill a first stream of grain containing enzyme into a second stream of commodity grain into and ethanol production facility. The processing unit is further configured to mix the first stream of grain containing enzyme into a second stream of commodity grain at appropriate admix levels to ensure downstream processes are adequately supplied with sufficient amounts of enzyme in an ethanol production facility. The processing unit is adapted for transportation between ethanol production facilities. 
         [0008]    Another aspect provides a modular metering system for providing a first stream of grain containing enzyme to be mixed at a specific admix ratio to a second stream of commodity grain wherein the mixture is to be further utilized in an ethanol production facility. The system comprises a plurality of portable storage units configured to receive a raw grain material. Each storage unit is adapted for transportation between ethanol production facilities. A conveyor assembly is configured to operably engage each of the storage units so as to form a serial connection between the storage units. The conveyor assembly is configured to receive and transport the raw grain material from each storage unit. A portable processing unit is configured to be in communication with the conveyor assembly so as to receive the raw grain material from the storage units. The processing unit is configured to transport and mill the grain containing enzyme received from the storage units. The processing unit is further configured to meter admix ratios of the first stream of grain containing enzyme into a second stream of commodity grain wherein the mixture is to be further utilized in an ethanol production facility. The processing unit is adapted for transportation between ethanol production facilities. 
         [0009]    Still yet another aspect provides a modular metering system for providing a first stream of grain containing enzyme to be mixed at a specific admix ratio to a second stream of commodity grain wherein the mixture is to be further utilized in an ethanol production facility. Such a method comprises providing a plurality of portable storage units at an ethanol production facility, wherein each storage unit is configured to receive and store a raw grain material therein. The raw grain material disposed in the storage units is delivered to a conveyor assembly operably engaged with and serially connecting the storage units. The method further comprises transporting the raw grain material to a portable processing unit via the conveyor assembly, transporting and milling the raw grain material and metering admix ratios of the first stream of grain containing enzyme into a second stream of commodity grain wherein the mixture is to be further utilized in an ethanol production facility. 
         [0010]    A further aspect provides a method of producing ethanol. Such a method comprises providing a portable processing unit at an ethanol production facility, transporting and milling a grain containing enzyme, admix ratios of the first stream of grain containing enzyme into a second stream of commodity grain wherein the mixture is to be further utilized in an ethanol production facility. 
         [0011]    Another aspect provides a method of providing a mixed grain material to an ethanol production facility for use in ethanol production. Such a method comprises introducing a metered first stream of grain into an ethanol production facility from a source externally disposed with respect thereto, wherein the first stream of grain comprises a grain containing enzyme wherein the enzyme may be selected from the group consisting of but not limited to α-amylase, glucoamylase, glucose isomerase, glucanase, β-amylase, α-glucosidase, isoamylase, pullulanase, neo-pullulanase, iso-pullulanase, amylopullulanase, cellulase, exo-1,4-β-cellobiohydrolase, exo-1,3-β-D-glucanase, β-glucosidase, endoglucanase, L-arabinase, α-arabinosidase, galactanase, galactosidase, mannanase, mannosidase, xylanase, xylosidase, protease, glucanase, esterase, phytase, and lipase. Preferably, the processing enzyme is a starch-processing enzyme selected from the group consisting of α-amylase, glucoamylase, glucose isomerase, β-amylase, α-glucosidase, isoamylase, pullulanase, neo-pullulanase, iso-pullulanase, and amylopullulanase. More preferably, the enzyme is selected from α-amylase, glucoamylase, glucose isomerase, glucose isomerase, α-glucosidase, and pullulanase. The processing enzyme is further preferably hyperthermophilic unless the application is a raw starch or low temperature fermentation facility. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the enzyme may be a non-starch degrading enzyme selected from the group consisting of protease, glucanase, xylanase, esterase, phytase, and lipase. Such enzymes may further be hyperthermophilic. The method further comprises introducing a second stream of grain into the ethanol production facility, wherein the second stream of grain comprising a commodity grain material, and combining the first and second streams of grain at specific admix ratios to form a mixed grain material for use in an ethanol production process. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment it may be desired to make modifications to the system in order to process various other crop plants to be used in a commercial fermentation facility. As used herein, “crop plants” refers to any plant that is cultivated for the purpose of producing plant material sought after by man or animal for either oral consumption, or for utilization in an industrial, pharmaceutical, or commercial process. The invention may be applied to any variety of plants, including, but not limited to maize, wheat, rice, barley, soybean, cotton, sorghum, beans in general, rape/canola, alfalfa, flax, sunflower, safflower, millet, rye, sugarcane, sugar beet, cocoa, tea, tropical sugar beet,  Brassica , cotton, coffee, sweet potato, flax, peanut, clover; vegetables such as lettuce, tomato, cucurbits, cassava, potato, carrot, radish, pea, lentils, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, peppers, and pineapple; tree fruits such as citrus, apples, pears, peaches, apricots, walnuts, avocado, banana, and coconut; and flowers such as orchids, carnations and roses. Other plants useful in the practice of the invention include perennial grasses, such as switchgrass, prairie grasses, Indiangrass, Big bluestem grass, miscanthus and the like. It is recognized that mixtures of plants may be used. 
         [0013]    In one aspect a vibrating screening device is used to separate foreign matter from the grain prior to milling. In another embodiment a seed scalper may be used to separate foreign matter from the grain prior to milling. 
         [0014]    Embodiments of the present invention thus provide significant advantages as disclosed herein in further detail. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0015]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a modular metering system used to introduce a first stream of grain containing enzyme to be mixed at a specific admix ratio to a second stream of commodity grain wherein the mixture is to be further utilized in an ethanol production facility, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of a plurality of portable storage units for a modular system used to introduce a first stream of grain containing enzyme to be mixed at a specific admix ratio to a second stream of commodity grain into an ethanol production facility, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of a portable processing unit for a modular metering system used to introduce a first stream of grain containing enzyme to be mixed at a specific admix ratio to a second stream of commodity grain into a ethanol production facility, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a sideview of a transport assembly capable of transporting a storage unit used for receiving and storing a grain material, according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the storage unit is in a transport position with respect to the transport assembly; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of the transport assembly of  FIG. 4A  wherein the storage unit is provided in an erect position with respect to the transport assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0022]    Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods used to introduce a first stream of grain containing a protein to be mixed at a specific admix ratio to a second stream of commodity grain into an ethanol production facility. In one particular embodiment, corn grain enhanced with amylase may be received, transported and milled by a modular system transported to and erected at an ethanol production facility, wherein the grain containing enzyme may be metered for appropriate admix ratio to be added into the ethanol production facility for combination with stock or commodity corn, such that the combination thereof may be used in an ethanol production process. 
         [0023]    As previously described, in order to increase efficiency and reduce costs of ethanol production, only a admix of the starting material (e.g., grain and other organic materials) used to produce ethanol need include an grain containing enzyme, for example corn grain enhanced with amylase. In such instances, the grain containing enzyme material may be processed, for example, by a milling process such that the grain containing enzyme is prepared for addition to a stock or commodity portion of the starting material. As such, systems and methods of embodiments of the present disclosure may be provided for delivering, metering, or otherwise introducing in a rapid and efficient manner a grain containing enzyme (for combination with a stock or commodity starting material) into an ethanol production facility such that the combination may be used in an ethanol production process carried out at the ethanol production facility. In this manner, processing of the grain containing enzyme may be completed outside and remote from the ethanol production facility such that the ethanol production facility need not be equipped with such capabilities. As such, capital expenditures of the ethanol production facility may be reduced. It is understood that the following system may be modified to handle various feedstocks for example soy bean, whole cob and kernel, sugarcane and etc. 
         [0024]    In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure may also provide mobile, modular, or otherwise portable systems capable of being transported between ethanol production facilities or field sites. In this regard, such portable systems may be easily moved between ethanol production facilities for facilitating ethanol plant trials of various enzyme enhanced materials. For example, a producer of transgenic corn grain enhanced with amylase may deliver its product to various ethanol plant facilities for trials of the transgenic corn grain in ethanol production. In this manner, embodiments of the present invention may permit the producer to rapidly erect the portable system at a trial site for testing of a plant material, and then deconstruct the portable system after the trials are complete such that the portable system can be moved to a new trial site. As such, embodiments of the present disclosure may be configured for rapidly constructing a temporary system at a trial site, wherein the system is capable of storing, milling, and metering, for example, an enzyme enhanced material. Thus, plant trials may be completed in a timely and cost-efficient manner such that the producer of the transgenic material can move easily between ethanol production facilities. In other instances, the mobile system may be provided at the ethanol production facility in a more permanent manner so as to provide a low-cost solution as an alternative to such a system being provided as permanent fixture of the ethanol production facility itself. 
         [0025]    In one aspect the modular metering system quickly establishes a method for providing a second stream of plant material into a production facility wherein the second stream of plant material contains a protein to be admixed with a first stream of plant material. The term “plant material” refers to any part of a plant such as seed, leaves, stem, roots, reproductive structures, or any combination thereof. A production facility may be a Ethanol dry mill, wet mill, sugarcane plant, cellulosic conversion plant, paper mill, or any facility involved in the processing of plant material into commercial products such as fuels, plastics, feed additives, specialty sugars, or commercial chemicals. 
         [0026]    In another aspect the modular metering system quickly establishes a method for providing a second stream of plant grain into a production facility wherein the second stream of plant grain contains a protein to be admixed with a first stream of plant grain. In a preferred embodiment the grain is that of maize or sorghum. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a modular system  100  may be provided for storing, milling, and metering a grain material to an ethanol production facility  300 . In one particular embodiment, the modular system  100  may store, mill, and meter transgenic corn material enhanced with amylase. In this manner, the transgenic corn material enhanced with amylase may be received by an ethanol production facility for combination with a stock or commodity corn grain used for ethanol production. In any instance, the modular system  100  may be capable of rapid transportation between ethanol production facilities  300  such that plant trials may be conducted at the various facilities  300 . In this regard, the modular system  100  may be transportable by, for example, transport trailers (e.g., tractor-trailers) or other suitable transportation apparatuses. That is, in some instances, the modular system  100  and/or components thereof may be capable of being loaded onto or within a transport assembly  400  as shown in  FIG. 4A , such as, for example, on a tractor-trailer arrangement having a flat-bed trailer, for transportation to the ethanol production facility  300  wherein the modular system  100  and/or components thereof may be transported in a transport position, as shown in  FIG. 4A . For example, the transport assembly  400  may be configured to receive and transport a portable storage unit  102  to an ethanol production facility. In some instances, the transport assembly  400  may comprise a trailer portion  402  and a tractor portion  404 , wherein the trailer portion  402  may be configured to receive, for example, the storage unit  102 . In this regard, the modular system  100  may be comprised of multiple components such that the modular system  100  may be divided into individual components for transportation. In some instances, the components of the modular system  100  may be secured to or otherwise engaged with the transport assembly  400  (e.g., the trailer portion  402 ) during operation of the modular system  100 . For example, the individual components may be hydraulically or otherwise engaged to the transport assembly  400 /trailer portion  402  for cooperating therewith to provide stability or otherwise assist with positioning of the individual components to an erect position, as shown in  FIG. 4B . In some aspects, during operation of the modular system  100 , each component or otherwise a portion of the components of the modular system  100  may remain engaged with the transport assembly  400 /trailer portion  402  on which the component is transported. In other instances, the individual components may be separated from the transport assembly  400  during operation of the modular system  100 . In any instance, the modular system  100  may be configured for quick and rapid erection and deconstruction so as to efficiently facilitate movement between ethanol production facilities  300 . Not included in  FIG. 1 , a 40×70×1 concrete pad may be poured to support each storage unit  102 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the modular system  100  may comprise a plurality of portable storage units  102  for receiving and storing a raw grain material such as, for example, an enzyme enhanced grain material (e.g., transgenic corn grain enhanced with amylase). Of course, the raw grain material (e.g., enzyme containing grain) may be of any type suitable for ethanol production. While illustrating four portable storage units  102  (i.e., storage units  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110 ), one of ordinary skill will recognize that any number of storage units  102  may be provided and that such illustrations are provided as an example and, thus, are not meant to limit the present disclosure. The storage units  102  may be in communication with each other such that the raw grain material stored therein may be transported from the storage units  102  by a single assembly such as, for example, a conveyor assembly  150 . In this manner, the storage units  102  may be serially engaged by the conveyor assembly  150  for transporting the raw grain material to a portable processing unit  200  for processing (e.g., grain milling) thereof. In some instances, a first delivery arrangement  170  may be provided to transport the raw grain material from the conveyor assembly  150  to the processing unit  200 . In other instances, the conveyor assembly  150  may directly transport the raw grain material to the portable processing unit  200  or, alternatively, the first delivery arrangement  170  may be directly engaged with one or more of the storage units  102  such that the raw grain material is directly moved from the storage units  102  to the processing unit  200 . In any event, the raw grain material may be processed and passed through the processing unit  200  such that the resultant material is a processed grain material ready for combination with stock or commodity grain material to be used in ethanol production. The modular system  100  may further include a second delivery arrangement  180  for transporting, delivering, metering or otherwise introducing the processed grain material into the ethanol production facility  300 . In any instance, as mentioned previously, each of the components (e.g., storage units  102 , conveyor assembly  150 , first delivery arrangement  170 , second delivery arrangement  180 , and/or processing unit  200 ) of the modular system  100  may be configured to be readily transportable between ethanol production facilities such as by, for example, the transport assembly  400 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , each of the storage units  106 ,  108  and  110  (storage unit  104  not shown) may be configured as a silo structure  112  capable of storing the enzyme enhanced grain material therein. In some instances, the silo structure  112  may include an elevator system  114  or otherwise a vertical conveyor system (e.g., a vertical screw conveyor) for transporting the enzyme enhanced grain material to a first spout  118  such that the raw grain material can be delivered to the conveyor assembly  150 . The first spout  118  may be arranged such that any overspill (i.e., grain material spilling over the conveyor assembly  150 ) of the raw grain material is returned to the silo structure  112  for interaction with the elevator system  114 . In some instances, a receiving assembly  116  may be provided for receiving the raw grain material and delivering the raw grain material to the elevator system  114 /silo structure  112 . The receiving assembly  116  may be configured to receive the raw grain material from a grain delivery vehicle  160 . For example, the receiving assembly  116  may comprise a conveyor capable of receiving the enzyme enhanced grain material from a grain delivery vehicle  160  regulated for transportation of such materials. 
         [0030]    In some instances, each storage unit  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110  may include a shell or housing  120  for encasing the silo structure  112 . The housing  120  may be configured to improve ease of transportation. That is, the regularly shaped (e.g., as a substantially box-like structure) housing  120  may provide surfaces corresponding to the transport assembly  400 , thereby improving ease of erection, disassembly, and/or transportation as compared to the irregularly shaped silo structure  112 . As illustrated, the housing  120  may be a tower configuration having a substantially vertical orientation. However, in other instances, the housing  120  and/or storage units  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  may have a substantially horizontal orientation. That is, the storage units  102  may transport the raw grain material horizontally therethrough, rather than vertically using, for example, the elevator system  114  associated with the silo structure  112 . In such a horizontal orientation, the storage units  102  may employ horizontally extending conveyor assemblies (e.g., screw conveyors) for transporting the raw grain material disposed therein. 
         [0031]    As previously mentioned herein, the storage units  102  may be connected by the conveyor assembly  150  such that the raw grain material may be transported from the storage units  102  to the processing unit  200 . For example, the elevator system  150  (or a conveyor-type system) may transport the raw grain material stored in the silo structure  112  to the spout  118 , wherein the raw grain material may be directed onto the conveyor assembly  150 , for example, under the influence of gravity. In this manner, the raw grain material may be loaded onto the conveyor assembly  150  from storage unit  106  and passed by the storage units  108 ,  110  as the raw grain material is directed toward the processing unit  200 . As such, the raw grain material may be received by the conveyor assembly  150  from all the storage units  102  simultaneously to maximize the amount of raw grain material directed toward the processing unit  200  or, alternatively, the raw grain material may be received from any one or combination of the storage units  102  in a controlled manner. For example, the storage unit  110  may be, in one instance, the only storage unit having the raw grain material stored therein. In this regard, the conveyor assembly  150  would only be transporting the raw grain material from the storage unit  110 . Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any combination of storage units  102  may be operating at a given time to provide the raw grain material to the conveyor assembly  150 , wherein, in other instances, only one of the storage units  102  may be operating, regardless of whether the raw grain material is stored in a non-operative storage unit  102  (i.e., a storage unit not feeding the raw grain material to the conveyor assembly  150 ). In some instances, the conveyor assembly  150  may comprise a screw conveyor, as known by those of ordinary skill in the art. The conveyor assembly  150  may be comprised of multiple components, wherein each component may be transported to the ethanol facility  300  with a respective one of the storage units  102 . In other instances, the entire conveyor assembly  150  may be transported with one of the storage units  102 , with the processing unit  200 , or alone on a separate transport assembly, vehicle, or other transport mode. 
         [0032]    In some instances, the first delivery arrangement  170  may be positioned to receive the raw grain material from the conveyor assembly  150 . As such, the first delivery arrangement  170  may be configured to direct the raw grain material to the processing unit  200 . In some instances, the first delivery arrangement  170  may be configured to telescopically adjust such that the first delivery arrangement  170  can extend or retract a suitable length for communicating with the conveyor assembly  150  and the processing unit  200 . The first delivery arrangement  170  may be configured as an enclosed chute for directing the raw grain material to the processing unit  200 . In such instances, the raw grain material may be transported to the processing unit  200  through the delivery chute under the influence of gravity or under pressure provided to the delivery chute so as to prevent blockage thereof as the raw grain material moves therethrough. The first delivery arrangement  170  may be transported with the storage units  102  and/or the processing unit  200 , or alone on a separate transport trailer, vehicle, or other transport mode. 
         [0033]    The processing unit  200  may include various components for processing the raw grain material such that the raw grain material is prepared for use by the ethanol production facility  300  in an ethanol production process/procedure. In some instances, the various components of the processing unit  200  may be transported by a single transport assembly such as a trailer or vehicle (e.g., flat bed tractor-trailer) or otherwise by multiple transport trailers or vehicles. In some embodiments, the processing unit  200  may include, for example, a reservoir container  202 , a screening device  204 , a milling device  206 , and a weighing device  208 , or combinations thereof, wherein such components are provided to process and meter the raw/processed grain material. The reservoir container  202  may be in communication with the first delivery arrangement  170  for receiving the enzyme enhanced grain material therefrom, and thus serving as an initial holding container before processing of the raw grain material. The raw grain material may then be transported to the screening device  204  such that the raw grain material from the storage units  102  may be screened for a starting material suitably acceptable for milling and eventual ethanol production. After screening, the raw grain material may be directed to the milling device  206  for milling into a processed grain form suitable for combination with the stock or commodity grain material provided by or otherwise at the ethanol production facility  300 . In some instances, the milling device  206  may have a plenum device  207  in operable engagement therewith for assisting in the milling process. After milling, the processed grain material may be directed to the weighing device  208  (e.g., a weigh belt) such that metered portions thereof may be dispensed/delivered to the ethanol production facility  300 . Other components for processing the raw grain material and/or metering the processed grain material may also be provided. For example, an in-line sampling device  214  may be provided in the processing line for retrieving a sample for off-line testing thereof, such as, for example, for determining ethanol production yield of the raw grain material being provided to the ethanol production facility  300 . 
         [0034]    According to some embodiments, grain transfer members  210 , such as, for example, screw conveyors and tube screw conveyors, may be provided to connect the various components of the processing unit  200 . Further, in some instances, a plurality of vertically-disposed chute members  212  may be provided in combination with the grain transfer members to transport the raw/processed grain material between the various components of the processing unit  200 . A power source for operating the various components of the processing unit  200  may also be provided therewith or separately therefrom as a component that is remotely transportable with respect to the other components of the processing unit  200 . In some instances, one of the chute members  212  may be provided after the weighing device such that the chute member  212  can transport the metered portion of the processed grain material to the second delivery arrangement  180 , which is in communication with the ethanol production facility  300 . For example, the second delivery arrangement  180  may be telescopically adjustable to allow extension and retraction thereof for adjusting to a grain entry point of the ethanol production facility  300 . That is, the second delivery arrangement  180  may extend within the ethanol production facility such that the processed grain material can be directed, introduced, delivered, or otherwise provided into the ethanol production facility  300  for combination with the stock or commodity grain material. 
         [0035]    Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may thus serve to rapidly introduce a first grain stream into an ethanol production facility  300  for combination with a second grain stream, such that the combination of the first and second grain streams may be used for ethanol production. As previously disclosed, in one particular instance, the first grain stream may be a processed transgenic corn material enhanced with an enzyme and the second grain stream may be a stock or commodity corn material. In this manner, a metered portion of the first grain stream may be combined with the second grain stream in order to increase efficiency and reduce costs associated with ethanol production by reducing the total amount of the first grain stream needed for ethanol production. That is, while the overall material used for ethanol production could entirely comprise the transgenic corn material enhanced with an enzyme, an ethanol producer is able to reduce costs through combination of such enhanced materials with the stock or commodity grain material. As such, system embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a source, which is remote from the ethanol production facility and transportable thereto, capable of providing the first grain stream, wherein the system may be transportable between ethanol production facilities and configured to provide metered portions of processed grain material thereto. In this regard, plant trials using various transgenic corn breeds may be quickly and efficiently conducted at the ethanol production facility and other such facilities. 
         [0036]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.