Overview

The NCERC pilot plant is the only pilot facility with the full capability to process any grain feedstock to fuel ethanol and co-products. The NCERC contains all of the unit operations of a full scale dry-grind or well mill feedstock to fuel ethanol facility.

These include receiving and storage, milling, germ fiber separation, starch and gluten separation, co-product drying, steep water solubles evaporation, starch cooking, saccarification, fermentation, distillation, dehydration, and ethanol storage and load out. Individual unit operations are also available for unique bioprocessing needs including grinding, fermentation or incubation, separation, pasteurization, distillation and drying.

The unit operations are integrated by an ABB process control system and data historian. Additionally, the facility has Emerson Delta V® hardware, software and data storage capabilities for developing static, live and predictive models. On-line sensors are in place for pH and temperature measurement, total ethanol, and density. The plant is supported by fully equipped and staffed analytical and microbiological laboratories.

Facility Access and Layout

The entire plant or portions thereof can be utilized by Clients. The plant has a large open bay to accommodate temporary testing, validation or the ability to showcase equipment to interested parties. The plant staff is available to work with clients on customizing the plant to meet their specific research objectives. Clients are encouraged to work along side the plant staff in the planning and conduct of the project. The facility has restricted key card access and is staffed twenty-four hours a day seven days per week when operating.

Pilot Plant Layout (first floor) [MS Word 120kb]

Pilot Plant Layout (second floor) [MS Word 55kb]

Unit Operations

Pilot Plant Equipment [MS Excel 18kb]

Pilot Plant Tanks [MS Excel 22kb]

Pilot Plant Control Devices [MS Excel 18kb]

Pilot Plant Heat Exchangers [MS Excel 18kb]