Bioethanol Plant in Hastings

The Chief Ethanol Fuels facility is utilizing Vogelbusch-licensed technology. In 2007, a third molecular sieve drying system was designed and installed, raising operating capacity to 832,000 liters per day.
The cooperation first started in 1983 when Chief Ethanol Fuels set up af 120,000 liters per day plant. Vogelbusch process design included MultiCont© continuous fermentation, MultiPressure distillation, and azeotropic dehydration using cyclohexane as an entrainer. The dry milling process was designed to use corn (maize) and/or milo (grain sorghum) as feedstock. By-products include DDGS (distillers’ dried grains with solubles) and DWGS (distillers’ wet grains with solubles).
In 1993, Vogelbusch technology was again featured in the expansion of the facility to a capacity of 325,000 liters per day. Azeotropic dehydration was replaced with a PSA (pressure-swing adsorption), molecular sieve alcohol dryer that was fed directly with vapor from the rectifying column. In addition, 190 proof vapor off the top of the rectifying column was routed to the first effect of a two-stage stillage evaporator where it was condensed and returned to the rectifying column as reflux. This heat-saving design resulted in reducing thermal energy consumption by 25 %.
Five years later, plant capacity was more than doubled to 670,000 liters per day. In addition to providing technology, Vogelbusch also designed and supplied components for a second molecular sieve alcohol drying system.