They are more commonly used for feces separation in the raising of ducks and pigs over there. Same difference though, wet slop in, drier slop and liquid out. If you want to find more of them, use this alternative search.
These are still pretty big units.
This is a nice unit as well, this is closer to a Russell Finex (decanter centrifuge versus a screw press).
I tried a few times to get quotes from those guys, can't ever seem to get anything. Always goes down the same path - I try to spec a different motor (240v 3 phase) and I never hear back after that.
In either case, the smallest units are large enough for any craft distiller.
See if we can get prices and decide? I have a feeling the centrifuge is going to be a lot more expensive, and have big electrical requirements - it's got a 7.5hp and a 3hp motor - that's some serious power.
Nobody doing malt is crushing to flour, and corn, well, corn is cheap enough to trade lower yield for slightly increased grain usage and easier separation.
the small one does 4 gallons a minute the next up does 13 gallons a minute... the third unit on the list handles up to 35 gallons a minute separation ...
wish there was a video of those in operation on grain.. pretty cool looking continuous operation units
I think the Vincent unit is something like $10-15k. Russell Finex LSS is something like $25k+ now.
The Chinese screw press company finally got back to me, $6,500 FOB some port over there. Not a terrible price, but the first guy buying this thing is still taking the gamble. Vincent is right down the road from Cotherman I think.
So what do the big guys use?
Is that a big plus for either stripping on the grain or lautering?
I used to work for the parent company of Seital.
They'd probably only be good separating a four mash but I remember watching some cool videos of it clarifying red wine at some ridiculous rate. The sludge port was spewing out creamy purple tooth paste.
You'd need some serious throughput to justify it though.
A local beer place put in one of those centrifuges and got 2 barrels extra out of a 30bbl batch of beer, fully justified the $500k+ expense(heard it was closer to $750k by the time they were done...) But the pumps alone that are required for a Seital type centrifuge cost more than people at our level can afford... unless some wizard turns a automotive turbocharger into a mini centrifuge, that tech is not for us...
this one is 3 gallons a minute and show to be fairly inexpensive but covers look to be carbon steel not stainless ... but you could put a food grade epoxy coating on the areas in contact with the liquid ?... is an idea
This one is a tub type ... with a bag liner load spin lift the bag dump the solids... may work well..
Note: Distilleries where spirits like whisky are produced rarely use screw presses. At distilleries the grain is first milled into a flour-like consistency. These fine particles, the spent grain, are very difficult to dewater in a screw press.
I talked with the guys from Vincent a few months back. They made it very clear, screw press is not the right approach for flour ground grain, but they were more than willing to test samples, or loan a press out (for a cost). The key is the fact that the machine needs a solid plug to develop to work properly, if the slurry is so loose and fine that you can't form the plug, it's just going to pour out. Hence, the centrifuge.
Maybe we can get @CothermanDistilling to haul over a load and give it a shot? I may be in Tampa in Feb, so maybe I'll stop in anyway.
Comments
Youwha?
This thread is the best thing I read today!!!
What about a tomato pulper?
They're continuous.
industrial juicer, demo is lemon grass and other stuff .. maybe small enough scale for a craft distillery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUEWIvk2Zqc
20 Brewer's spent grain dryer for drying the brewer's spent grain @ Alibaba
I keep telling Smaug to bring those over
me too...
this is the first stainless one I have found... searched 'spent grain'...
They are more commonly used for feces separation in the raising of ducks and pigs over there. Same difference though, wet slop in, drier slop and liquid out. If you want to find more of them, use this alternative search.
These are still pretty big units.
This is a nice unit as well, this is closer to a Russell Finex (decanter centrifuge versus a screw press).
Decanter centrifuge LW200*800 @ Alibaba
If you are grinding to flour, you need a decanter centrifuge, if you are keeping very coarse, you can use a screw press.
Well I ordered a small manual screw press to experiment with, I am going either put a small motor or a drill on it, will see what happens
Which model do you (all) like best?
Is the hopper big enough for you? I don't see a hopper on the second one?
Would you pump everything from the tun in to the centrifuge?
StillDragon North America - Your StillDragon® Distributor for North America
I tried a few times to get quotes from those guys, can't ever seem to get anything. Always goes down the same path - I try to spec a different motor (240v 3 phase) and I never hear back after that.
In either case, the smallest units are large enough for any craft distiller.
We have boots on the ground though. And have most of our back burner sourcing solved.
So a screw press or high speed centrifuge?
StillDragon North America - Your StillDragon® Distributor for North America
See if we can get prices and decide? I have a feeling the centrifuge is going to be a lot more expensive, and have big electrical requirements - it's got a 7.5hp and a 3hp motor - that's some serious power.
I was also thinking the press would have a less likely chance of catastrophic failure?
StillDragon North America - Your StillDragon® Distributor for North America
Nobody doing malt is crushing to flour, and corn, well, corn is cheap enough to trade lower yield for slightly increased grain usage and easier separation.
the link grim posted on the decanting units...
Decanter centrifuge LW200*800 @ Alibaba
the small one does 4 gallons a minute the next up does 13 gallons a minute... the third unit on the list handles up to 35 gallons a minute separation ...
wish there was a video of those in operation on grain.. pretty cool looking continuous operation units
4gpm is plenty reasonable up to 500g batch sizes, probably larger still, assuming you can spare another hour.
Here is a video of the Vincent press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR0yibYTH8o
So how many of my penny's do I need to save for this. Would 200,000 penny's cover it
I think the Vincent unit is something like $10-15k. Russell Finex LSS is something like $25k+ now.
The Chinese screw press company finally got back to me, $6,500 FOB some port over there. Not a terrible price, but the first guy buying this thing is still taking the gamble. Vincent is right down the road from Cotherman I think.
Didn't hear from the centrifuge joint.
wonder what @Smaug's people will find out guess we shall see
i'm definitely interested but for me, I think I need to get the rest of my equipment up and running first before I can spend more...
So what do the big guys use?
Is that a big plus for either stripping on the grain or lautering?
I used to work for the parent company of Seital.
They'd probably only be good separating a four mash but I remember watching some cool videos of it clarifying red wine at some ridiculous rate. The sludge port was spewing out creamy purple tooth paste.
You'd need some serious throughput to justify it though.
A local beer place put in one of those centrifuges and got 2 barrels extra out of a 30bbl batch of beer, fully justified the $500k+ expense(heard it was closer to $750k by the time they were done...) But the pumps alone that are required for a Seital type centrifuge cost more than people at our level can afford... unless some wizard turns a automotive turbocharger into a mini centrifuge, that tech is not for us...
TD4Fsmall decanter centrifuges @ Alibaba
very small one but says continuous operation 4 liter size?
middle speed decanter centrifuge hot sale @ Alibaba
this one is 3 gallons a minute and show to be fairly inexpensive but covers look to be carbon steel not stainless ... but you could put a food grade epoxy coating on the areas in contact with the liquid ?... is an idea
This one is a tub type ... with a bag liner load spin lift the bag dump the solids... may work well..
2015 Top quality centrifuge decanter/portable centrifuge @ Alibaba
Decanting centrifuge for solid liquid separation equipment china manufacturer @ Alibaba
this one is fairly cheap per their ad and available in multi voltages and some look to be all SS liquid contact..
From Vincent's Website:
3 Good articles on Processing of Wet Distillers Grains: Storability of modified wet distillers grains with solubles (PDF)
Distillers Grain Industry: Production, Use, Structure and Trends (PDF)
Using Distillers Grains in Alternative Cow-Calf Production Systems (PDF)
The auger option looks like a good solution for those not doing a slurry with flour. I assume pumping would be best if using a flour?
StillDragon North America - Your StillDragon® Distributor for North America
I talked with the guys from Vincent a few months back. They made it very clear, screw press is not the right approach for flour ground grain, but they were more than willing to test samples, or loan a press out (for a cost). The key is the fact that the machine needs a solid plug to develop to work properly, if the slurry is so loose and fine that you can't form the plug, it's just going to pour out. Hence, the centrifuge.
Maybe we can get @CothermanDistilling to haul over a load and give it a shot? I may be in Tampa in Feb, so maybe I'll stop in anyway.