Grain Dehusking Peeling Machine Husk Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for dehusking grain in the brewing industry are inefficient in removing husks, seed coats, and germs, leading to adverse effects on beer taste, physical/chemical durability, and increased energy expenditure during grinding, as well as pollutant transfer into the mash.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the complete removal of husks and germs from cleaned, moistened, and malted brewing grain, followed by hulling and optional grinding and polishing, utilizing a peeling machine with a stator and rotor design to separate and process the grain, allowing for the recycling of high-quality husks and reducing pollutant content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional dry cleaning and aspiration methods are used to separate grain from husks, then the grain can be cleaned, but the husks are not completely removed leading to pollutant transfer into the mash and adverse effects on beer taste and durability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant transfer into mashVSAvoidcompleteness of husk removal
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful husk fraction completely from the grain using a classification system that separates intact grains from hulled grains. The hulled grains are then processed through a peeling device that removes the remaining husk material, ensuring complete separation of the harmful component (husks) from the useful component (grain kernels).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the grain by moistening it before processing. This parameter change makes the husk more susceptible to removal while preserving the grain kernel. The moisture content adjustment enables more effective husk separation without damaging the grain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If husks are not completely removed from grain, then the brewing process can proceed, but the taste and physical/chemical durability of the beer deteriorate due to transfer of husk substances into the mash

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehusk content in grainVSAvoidbeer taste and durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical grinding with a peeling device that uses friction and pressure between rotating elements to remove husks. This mechanical substitution allows for selective removal of husk material without damaging the grain kernel, effectively reducing husk content while preserving grain integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If conventional grinding methods are used on grain with husks, then the grain can be processed, but energy expenditure increases due to the elasticity of husks requiring more mechanical comminution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrain processing efficiencyVSAvoidenergy expenditure during grinding
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary husk removal through the peeling device before the grain undergoes grinding. By removing the elastic husk layer in advance, the subsequent grinding process requires significantly less energy as only the brittle grain kernel needs to be comminuted, eliminating the energy-wasting mechanical comminution of elastic husk material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If husks are removed completely from grain, then beer quality improves, but the process complexity increases requiring additional equipment and steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeer qualityVSAvoidprocessing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into integrated processing units. The classification device merges sorting and preliminary separation functions, while the peeling device combines husk removal with grain conditioning. This functional integration reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate dedicated equipment for each step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The peeling device is designed to handle multiple grain types and processing requirements through adjustable parameters. The same equipment can process different grains with varying husk characteristics by modifying operational parameters, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices and reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Improves the taste and quality of brewing products by minimizing the transfer of detrimental substances, reduces energy consumption, and enables targeted recycling and reintegration of husks, enhancing the mashing process and grain quality.

Implementation Method 1

a rotor (3) which can be set into rotation about its axis and which has a surface with a peeling action, and a stator (1), in particular a screen basket, which surrounds the rotor (3) and with which the rotor (3) comes into frictional contact

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the rotor (3) comes into frictional contact with the stator (1) in a processing zone (6) and the grain material to be processed can be fed into the processing zone (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 3

Air can be blown through the processing zone (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic separation: Air Entrainment

Data Source

PatentEP2010639B1Method and system for dehusking grains
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 BUHLER AG
  • EP2010639B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2010639B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a system for dehusking grains, in particular for removing the spelts and/or the seed coat and the germ bud of grains and/or of malted grains and its processing in the brewing industry. The outer layers/shells are removed from cleaned and malted distiller's grains in a husking machine (20).