A starch cooker is a common cooking system for processing industrial starch slurries.   They use it in several industries, which is why there was specifically a need for technological improvements. Starch cookers have become a critical component for plants.

What is a Starch Cooker?

A starch cooker is an industrial device used for the chemical processes of starch wet milling, grain ethanol production, and other starch processing applications in the manufacturing industry.

Why Was A New Design Necessary?

The design is to improve performance over traditional heat exchangers, steam spargers, and steam eductors.  When steaming mixing valves and steam sparging is done incorrectly, it leads to poor starch cook-out and poor temperature control.

How A Starch Cooker Works and the Types

A starch cooker’s designation is for the wet mill processing of starch, ethanol production, and fructose and alcohol production.   The starch cooker specifically works in the method of direct steam injection utilizing internal steam modulation by way of a variable position steam plug, which accurately meters the mass flow of the stream.  We know this type of starch cooker as a  jet cooker.

The other type is the continuous starch cooker, which serves an alternative to the jet cooker.  However, the extra water that is introduced in steam injection instantly evaporates while it brings the cooked starch slurry to atmospheric pressure.

When a starch slurry cooks 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 it requires starch in several facilities.  From making bread to adhesives, starch is also an important part of various industries.

Market Applications

There are a number of market applications explicitly for the starch cooker.

• Biofuel
• Desalination
• Food
• Energy Conservation
• Oil Sands/ Mining
• Municipal & Waste
• Petrochemical
• Plastic Processing
• Power Generation
• Pulp Manufacturing

A Leader in Starch Technology

We strive to specifically eliminate traditional issues.  As a result, starch cook-out is optimized, enzyme usage reduced, steam and energy consumption reduced, filtration improved, and a decrease in rework.

The smaller diameter versions have proven to improve starch cooking over earlier designs.

Komax has eliminated noise and vibration, common in earlier direct steam heaters designed for slurry heating and starch cooking.  This invention is a major breakthrough in how liquid, slurry, or starch heating is during the manufacturing process.  Another key point is the flow-through design provides for clean in place (CIP) or rapid disassembly for cleaning.

Features and Benefits of the Komax Design

• Compact Design
• Low-Pressure Drop
• Temperature Control
• Low Mechanical Shear

Komax understands the needs of the industry, and they have applied their technology to over 100,000 installations worldwide.  Whatever your need is, they can help you find a solution that will get you the most efficient and cost-effective results.