To put it simply, a starch cooker is a device used in industrial settings for the chemical processes of starch wet milling, grain ethanol production, and other starch processing applications.

A long way back

Komax Systems Inc has been producing starch cookers for the last several decades. Komax starch cookers have been designed to provide better performance compared to traditional heat exchangers, steam eductors, and steam spargers.

When steam mixing valves and steam sparging is done incorrectly, it leads to poor starch cook-out and poor temperature control.

Komax starch cookers are highly efficient at eliminating the issues with regular starch cookers. As a result, starch cook-out is optimized, enzyme usage reduced, steam and energy consumption reduced, filtration improved, and upsets and rework decreased.

Mechanism of a starch cooker

A starch cooker is usually designed for starch cooking, wet mill processing of starch, ethanol production, and fructose and alcohol production.

The machine works in the method of direct steam injection utilizing internal steam modulation with the means of a variable position steam plug, which accurately meters the mass flow of steam. This type of starch cooker is called the jet cooker.

The other type of cooker is the continuous starch cooker, which often serves as an alternative to the jet cooker.

However, do bear in mind that much of the extra water that is introduced in steam injection instantly evaporates instantly while the cooked starch slurry is brought to atmospheric pressure.

When a starch slurry is cooked without steam injection, it is necessary to add more water so that the product resembles the end result cooked in a jet steam cooker.

Steam cooking is such an integral part of the industrial process because starch is required in several facilities.

From making bread to making adhesives, starch is an important part of various industries. Komax starch cookers are sought after because of their high quality and efficiency.

Komax starch cookers are much preferred by various industries because the design has minimal pressure drop on the slurry, allowing thorough cooking at a controlled temperature. Because the design of the cooker is of low velocity, it reduces the mechanical shear of the starch granule, which is a crucial factor in making most cationic starches.

Benefits of starch cooker

• Low Mechanical Shear
• Compact design
• Temperature Control
• Low Pressure Drop

Beyond experience – Komax has it all

Besides starch cookers, Komax also specializes in static mixers, inline mixers, steam heaters, and desuperheaters. Komax has been in business for over 40 years, and their products are supplied to a variety of industries.