Solar process

Patent · Tue Aug 24 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6537645

Mccarthy, W W

Solar apparatus for producing alcohol includes a fermentation section and a distillation section; the fermentation section includes a shallow pan with a large top opening inclined at an angle to the horizontal, a transparent sealing member disposed over the top opening of the fermentation pan, a cover for the fermentation pan; mechanism for introducing fermentable material into the fermentation pan, mechanism for removing liquid from the fermentation pan, solar heating mechanism for the liquid, mechanism for transferring the heated liquid to the distillation pan; the distillation section includes a shallow pan with a large top opening inclined at an angle to the horizontal, the distillation pan including a bottom section with a plurality of spaced rib members, the rib members being disposed in a substantially horizontal, parallel orientation, a transparent sealing member disposed over the top opening of the distillation pan, mechanism for selectively reducing the solar exposure of the distillation pan, liquid collecting structure disposed adjacent the lower edge of the distillation pan; and mechanism for controlling the temperatures of the fermentable material disposed within the fermentation pan and the distillation pan. A solar process for producing alcohol including the steps of preparing an aqueous mixture including fermentable material, exposing the aqueous fermentable mixture to solar radiation to heat the mixture to an elevated temperature between about 80* and 100* F., maintaining the aqueous fermentable mixture at elevated temperature for a time sufficient to ferment substantially all of the fermentable material, separating the liquid from the fermented mixture, exposing the fermented liquid to solar radiation to heat the liquid to a temperature approaching the boiling point of the alcohol, passing the heated liquid continuously in small quantities over an inclined ribbed surface in an enclosed chamber while subjecting the liquid to solar radiation.

• Assignee: EDB-83-057096
• Patent Number(s): US 4345974
• OSTI ID: 6537645
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090200 -- Alcohol Fuels-- (-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140909* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Miscellaneous Solar Applications-- (1980-)
ALCOHOL FUELS
ALCOHOLS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
BIOCONVERSION
DESIGN
DISPERSIONS
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
EVAPORATION
EVAPORATORS
FERMENTATION
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PRODUCTION
SEALS
SOLAR DISTILLATION
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR STILLS
SOLUTIONS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
VAPOR CONDENSATION