CE00/MA Pilot Plant for Cereal Malting

The Pilot Plant for Cereal Malting, "CE00/MA", is a pilot scale plant that includes all the industrial stages for malt production.

This plant includes a steeping tank, a germinator, a dryer-roaster and a deculmer. In addition, it includes the auxiliary equipment necessary to carry out the operation in a comfortable and safe way.

• GCS/CTS. Computer and Touch Screen Controlled Grain Cleaning and Steeping Unit. First, the cereal is fed into a truncated cone-shaped tank in which the grain is soaked. In this tank, the moisture of the grain is increased by subjecting the barley to cyclical wet and dry processes until the moisture is sufficient for germination, it is also possible to clean the grain in this same equipment by means of an overflow system. During the steeping process, the temperature is regulated to optimum conditions and air is injected from the lower part. In addition, CO2 suction and surface water spraying are possible during dry periods.
• GGER/CTS. Computer and Touch Screen Controlled Grain Germination Unit. Subsequently, the barley grains with the desired moisture content are transported to the germinator using a conveyor belt. The germination tank has a sufficient surface area to ensure an adequate bed height and a stirring system that guarantees uniform conditions throughout the contents. At this stage, temperature and humidity are precisely controlled to ensure correct germination of the barley.
• GDT/CTS. Computer and Touch Screen Controlled Grain Drying and Toasting Unit. Finally, the grain is fed to a kiln. In this kiln, the malt is dried and roasted, thus interrupting germination and giving the final product its color, aroma and flavor. In the dryer/roaster, a stream of hot air is passed upward through the lower grate, causing the moisture contained in the grain to evaporate. Finally, there is a gradual increase in temperature that produces the roasting of the malt which will define the type of final beverage. Highly roasted grains will give rise to dark beers and paler grains to light beers.
• DCLM/CTS. Computer and Touch Screen Controlled Deculmer. Additionally, there is a sprout elimination system, in which, by means of friction produced in a rotating drum, the germs are eliminated from the grain that were formed during germination.
• SCH. Horizontal Screw Conveyor and RCB. Rising Conveyor Belt. Finally, EDIBON's malting plant includes a grain conveying system consisting of a horizontal screw conveyor that allows the discharge of the germinator and the dryer, and a conveyor belt elevator that allows feeding the grain to the different units.

These units are supplied with EDIBON's own designed SCADA + PLCHMI (system composed by an interface including PLC modules such as CPU, digital I/O module, analog I/O module, communication module, etc. and a control box with HMI display) to control the whole process and all the parameters that are involved in the process.