GB1516852A - Method and apparatus for preparing pale malt - Google Patents

Abstract

1516852 Malting H WEYERMANN 20 May 1975 [20 May 1974 13 Feb 1975] 21560/75 Heading C6E [Also in Division F4] In a process for kiln-drying "green" malt to produce pale malt including the steps of withering "green" malt by passing a first inlet air-stream therethrough at a temperature of up to 60‹C for a time sufficient to wither the malt, whereby a first exhaust stream of moist air issues from the malt during the withering, and passing a second inlet airstream through the malt after the withering at a temperature of up to 85‹C for a time sufficient to dry the malt, the air for the first inlet air-stream is humidified, preferably to the highest attainable water content, by recycling at least a portion of the first exhaust air-stream as a recycle to the first inlet air-stream. The recycle stream may be heatexchanged with part, at least, of additional air for the first inlet air-stream prior to being brought together. Referring to Fig. 3, a flow of humid air sucked in by blower 1 passes upwardly through a bed 4 of "green" malt undergoing withering. Depending upon the positioning of the valves 6 and 13, which are regulated by an adjustment motor 10 in response to temperature signals given by a device 9, part or all of the exhaust stream of moist air may run out through opening 8, or return to the blower through recycle conduit 11 either directly or through a glass plate heat-exchanger 12 whereby to heat incoming air A. The heated incoming air enters the recycle conduit through opening 15 and joins the recycle stream and any unheated air entering through opening 17.