Thermal Kinetics

Introduction to Thermal Kinetics

and
Technical Discussion
Thermal Kinetics
 Thermal Kinetics

What We Do
Thermal Kinetics is a full service engineering, development, and system
design firm providing unique cost effective equipment and process
solutions to our customers.
We enable our clients competitive advantage. Minimizing energy input.
Maximizing product output. Optimizing project value. Guaranteed
performance.
Since 1999 our advanced energy-saving techniques, patented
integration of technologies, and sophisticated process plant
development methods have provided our customers with the best
available technology and optimum ROI for their project.

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
 Thermal Kinetics

What We Do
Diverse industrial experience in process equipment design and
fabrication including evaporation, distillation, adsorption, absorption and
various other process technologies is the base for our innovative
chemical recovery and purification solutions.

Our experience in the chemical, food processing, distillery, and

renewable fuels industries provides a unique perspective to solve a
variety of process challenges.

The variable physical properties encountered in food processing and

other processes has provided unique insights for dealing with new
biomass conversion processes we support.
Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

MARKETS SERVED

Chemical Industries

Renewable Fuels and Chemicals

Food Processors

Industrial Manufacturers

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

Services & Equipment Provided

Fully Integrated Process Systems Development and Design

Detailed Equipment Design and Supply
Commissioning and Start-Up Services

Design-Construct On Site
or
Fully Modularized Skid Mounted Systems

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

Services & Equipment Provided Process Modeling

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
 Thermal Kinetics

Services & Equipment Provided

Thermal Kinetics provides a number of core technologies, designs, and
process operations including:

Process Evaporation.
Distillation Systems.
Adsorption Drying Systems Molecular Sieves.
Scrubbers/Absorbers Emission Control.
Specialized Chemical Recovery and Reaction Systems.

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
 Thermal Kinetics

Materials of Construction

Experience in a wide variety of construction materials:

Carbon steel and Austenitic Stainless Steels

Duplex and specialty stainless steels.
Titanium Gr 2, Gr 7 and Gr 11.
Inconel, Nickel 200 and 201, Monel, Hastelloy(s) and other specialty alloys.
Impervious Graphite Equipment
Lined piping (PTFE, ETF, PVDF)
Fiberglass composite systems.

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE

Agricultural Chemicals and Fertilizers

Animal Byproducts and Rendering
Fats, Oils, and Soap
Food Products and Processing
Breweries and Distilleries
Inorganic Chemicals
Organic Chemicals
Pharmaceutical
Sugar and Corn Products
Steel Processing and Metals Industries

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
 Thermal Kinetics

EXAMPLES
ACIDS
Hydrochloric acid absorption/well brine production by reaction of HCl & CaCO3.
Hydrochloric acid recovery from waste phosgene gas stream.
Hydrochloric acid distillation and recovery with calcium chloride dehydrator.
Recovery of HCl from a mixture of HCl and H2SO4.
Pickle liquor temperature control and HCl recovery.
Phosphoric acid evaporation (30% to 54% P2O5)
Sulfuric acid: high purity electronics grade production facility
Sulfuric acid concentration systems
SALTS AND INORGANICS
Sodium Sulfide (Na2S): evaporator and flake plant
Ammonium thiosulfate production facility and reactor design.
Calcium chloride (CaCl2): production of flake road salt.
Ammonium sulfate reaction of ammonia and sulfuric acid with crystallization
Calcium Hypochlorite production
Sodium Sulfate Production and Crystallization Plant from Ore
ORGANIC CHEMICALS AND SPECIALTY

Citric acid fermentation, filtration, purification, evaporation, crystallization, and drying. ABS latex solvent recovery system and vacuum condensing operation.

Gluconic acid evaporator Glycerin concentration and distillation systems

Terpene resin solvent evaporation and stripping system.
CAUSTIC AND ALKALIES Ethylene Glycol Distillation and Purification
Caustic Soda (NaOH): evaporation to 50% & anhydrous flake w/ material handling. Rolling Oil Emissions Control and Distillation Recovery (2 mm Hg abs/360 F)
Caustic Soda (NaOH): recovery from mercerizing process (textile facility).
Caustic Potash (KOH) concentration and flaking SUGAR, CORN PRODUCTS, GRAIN BASED ETHANOL
Corn/Sorgum to Ethanol Distillation, Evaporation, and Dehydration
FATS AND OILS, RENDERING, SPECIALTY Corn steep liquor evaporator
Sorbitol processing evaporation & drying Dextrose evaporator and crystallizer
Odor stripping of oils and fats Invert sugar evaporator
Solvent stripping of fatty acid miscella Brewery Effluent Alcohol Recovery

Thermal Kinetics
Turkey Processor Wastes to Renewable Oils Conversion

Innovation Driven Solutions Focused

Thermal Kinetics

EVAPORATION SYSTEMS

Multiple Effect Systems

TVR: Thermo-Vapor
Recompression

MVR: Mechanical Vapor

Recompression

Anhydrous Caustic Flake

Systems

Salt Flake Systems

Corrosives (H2SO4)

Crystallization Systems

Foaming and Heat Sensitive

Materials
Thermal Kinetics

STANDARD EVAPORATOR STYLES

Thermal Kinetics

STANDARD CRYSTALLIZER STYLES

Thermal Kinetics

DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
Thermal Kinetics

MOLECULAR SIEVE ETHANOL DEHYDRATION MODULE

Thermal Kinetics

MOLECULAR SIEVE DEHYDRATION SIMULATION

Thermal Kinetics

Services & Equipment Provided Detailed Process Development

Thermal Kinetics

Services & Equipment Provided Process Facility Modeling

Na2SO4 Crystallizer System

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

TKE Plant with Distillation, Dehydration

and
Evaporation
 Thermal Kinetics

Renewable Fuels Initiative: Technology for Energy Independence

Patented energy reduction solutions for the renewable fuels industry including:
Distillation/Dehydration/Evaporation (DD&E) [saves 15% of steam compared to prevalent systems]
Patented ethanol, methanol & solvent purification, dehydration and advanced adsorption separations
technologies
Patented improved methods for pressure swing adsorption operation for ethanol dehydration
Patented ethanol drying with co-production of methanol, hydrogen, heat, and chemicals from syngas

Renewable fuels innovation Science-centered technology development and

innovative engineering serving our clients and furthering advanced solutions
for energy independence. Scientific publications reporting advances in molecular
sieve ethanol dehydration. Patent pending inventions building a solid intellectual
property portfolio for renewable fuels production.

Successful operating facilities Engineered, supplied, and commissioned both traditional DD&E plants
and our patent pending process with demonstrated advantages for grain-based fuel ethanol production.
Experienced technical and engineering resources to support construction, start-up, and optimization.

Effective project development partner Merging Thermal Kinetics experience and capabilities with that
of our clients to build successful projects in traditional dry mill ethanol plants and emerging cellulosic and
thermo-chemical technologies.
Thermal Kinetics

TKE DD&E Patent

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

TKE DD&E Patent

PLANT BY OTHERS
TKE PATENTED PROCESS
Industry Traditional
TOTAL STEAM REQD 56,210 LB/HR 71,525 LB/HR
EQUIVALENT HEAT 49.8 MM BTU/HR 63.37 MM BTU/HR
WHOLE STILLAGE FLOW 247,063 LB/HR 296,564 LB/HR
WHOLE STILLAGE CONC 16.22 WT% 13.51 WT%
CENTRIFUGE LOAD 430 GPM 529 GPM
EVAP FEED 243 GPM @ 8.65% 232 GPM @ 7.03%

RECYCLE TO FERMENTATION (BACKSET) 87.7 GPM 205.4 GPM

FUSEL OIL DECANTER YES NO

PROCESS CONDENSATE FOR RECYCLE 123,969 LB/HR 79,187 LB/HR

RECOVERED 247.9 GPM 158.4 GPM
st
1 EFFECT EVAP TEMP (F) 152 199
2nd EFFECT EVAP TEMP (F) 127 185
BEER COLUMN BOTTOM (F) 203 185

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
 Thermal Kinetics

The Bottom Line: TKE DD&E Patent

Financial Benefit at 13.1 Wt% Ethanol

TKE
PATENTED STANDARD 50 MM GPY 100 MM GPY
PROCESS PLANT DELTA Plant ($) Plant ($)
Total Steam Req'd (lb/hr) * 56,210 71,525 -21% $ 836,199 $ 1,672,398
TOTAL FINANCIAL BENEFIT $ 836,199 $ 1,672,398
* Assumption: $6.50 / 1000 LBs Stream

Basis:
Beer feed of 13.1 wt % ethanol, 12.72 % total solids,
flow of 315,000 LB/Hr (~630 GPM)

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
 Thermal Kinetics

The Optimum Bottom Line: TKE DD&E Patent

Financial Benefit at 15.5 Wt% Ethanol

TKE
PATENTED STANDARD 50 MM GPY 100 MM GPY
PROCESS PLANT DELTA Plant ($) Plant ($)
Total Steam Req'd (lb/hr) * 49,337 71,525 -31% $ 1,211,465 $ 2,422,930
Added Ethanol Production (MMGPY) ** 57.4 50 15% $ 3,700,000 $ 7,400,000
TOTAL FINANCIAL BENEFIT $ 4,911,465 $ 9,822,930
* Assumption: $6.50 / 1000 LBs Stream
** Assumes $0.50 revenue enhancement after subtracting operational costs of corn,
energy, incremental overhead adsorption, etc.

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

Services & Equipment Provided for Companies

Involved in Biomass Conversion
We excel in development of innovative processes for the
conversion of biomass to chemicals and fuel.

It is our ability to understand, adapt to and design for the

various challenging physical properties associated with
biomass derived mixtures that sets us apart.

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
 Thermal Kinetics

Renewable Fuels, Chemicals & Polymers

1. Alcohols (i.e. Ethanol, Methanol, Glycerol)

2. Grain Based Fuel Ethanol Production
3. Cellulosic Based Fuel Ethanol Production
4. Biomass Gasification Processes
5. Biopolymers (i.e. PLA, PHA, etc)
6. Chemicals Recovery from Algae Processes
7. Platform Chemicals (i.e. C2-C6, Succinic Acid, etc)
Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

Example Projects Grain Based Fuel Ethanol

Calgren Renewable Fuels Pixley, CA 50 MMGPY (US Patent 7,867,365 B2)
Most efficient ethanol plant in US

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

Example Projects Grain Based Fuel Ethanol

Sunoco Renewable Energy Fulton, NY 100 MMGPY
(US Patent 7,867,365 B2)
Thermal Kinetics

Example Projects - Cellulosic Based Fuel Ethanol

Pilot Plant Scale - Molecular Sieve Dehydration System
Unique low pressure adsorption to 8 psig with low moisture < 0.5% achieved
Thermal Kinetics

Example Projects - Cellulosic Based Fuel Ethanol

Demonstration Scale Molecular Sieve Dehydration Module

 Thermal Kinetics

Chemicals Recovery from Waste Streams

Steel Processors Chemicals Recoveries and associated

chemical services
Aluminum Rolling Mills Emissions control systems
Recovery of chemicals and waste streams from
manufacturing processes

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

Example Projects Chemicals Recovery

High Vacuum (2 mm Hg abs/360 F) Oil Separation Modular Construction
Thermal Kinetics

Example Projects Chemicals Recovery

Ethylene Glycol Purification System Modular Construction
 Thermal Kinetics

Food Processing Industry

Fruit Juice Processors

Animal Byproducts and Rendering
Fats and Oil processors

Thermal Kinetics
Innovation Driven Solutions Focused
Thermal Kinetics

Example Projects Food Processing

Sorbitol Concentration System Modular Construction
Thermal Kinetics

Example Projects
Gelatin Concentration System Site Constructed
Thermal Kinetics

Services & Equipment Provided Distillation Column Design

Thermal Kinetics

Services & Equipment Provided Column Internals Specification

Thermal Kinetics

Services & Equipment Provided Evaporator and HX Designs

Thermal Kinetics

Contact us:
Thermal Kinetics
85 Northpointe Parkway
Amherst, NY 14228
716-691-3291
www.thermalkinetics.net