Processing lupines

Abstract

An example implementation of the subject matter described within this disclosure is a lupine processing apparatus with the following features. A tank is configure to receive a portion of lupines for processing. The tank has an outer surface that defines a receiving cavity within the tank. The tank includes a fluid inlet at a bottom end of the tank. The inlet is configured to receive fluid into the tank. A fluid outlet is at a top end of the tank. The fluid outlet is configured to receive fluid from the tank. A motor is attached to the tank. An agitator is rotatably coupled to the motor. The agitator is configured to be rotated by the motor. A heater is fluidically connected to the fluid inlet. The heater is configured to increase a temperature of the fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lupine processing apparatus comprising:
 a tank configure to receive a portion of lupines for processing, the tank having an outer surface defining a receiving cavity within, the tank comprising;
 a fluid inlet at a bottom end of the tank, the inlet configured to receive fluid into the tank; and 
 a fluid outlet at a top end of the tank, the fluid outlet configured to receive fluid from the tank; 
   a motor attached to a the tank;   an agitator rotatably coupled to the motor, the agitator configured to be rotated by the motor; and   a heater fluidically connected to the fluid inlet, the heater configured to increase a temperature of the fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lupines comprise  Lupinus mutabilis  beans. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a recirculation line configured to direct fluid from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a treatment system configured to remove alkaloids from a recirculated fluid stream. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the alkaloids comprise quinolizidine compounds. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the treatment system comprises an alkaloid absorbing material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the treatment system comprises a reverse osmosis system. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors and storing programming instructions for execution by the one or more processors, the programming instructions instruct the one or more processors to:
 flow water into the tank; 
 hydrate the lupines with the water for a specified amount of time; 
 agitate the lupines by a mechanical agitator for a specified amount of time; 
 thermally shock the lupines for a specified amount of time; 
 circulate water through the tank; and 
 remove selected constituents of the lupines by the circulating water. 
   
     
     
         9 . The lupine processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the agitator comprises:
 a central shaft with a first end rotatably coupled to the motor; and   a paddle connected to a second end of the shaft, the paddle having a rake angle of 40° to 80° from the central shaft.   
     
     
         10 . The lupine processing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the rake angle is configured to cause the lupines to slide along an inner surface of the tank towards the top end of the tank, and then slide towards the bottom end of the tank along the inner surface and back into the fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The lupine processing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the agitator is configured to rotate such that a radial edge of the paddle has a speed substantially between 100 meters/minute and 140 meters per minute. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tank further comprises a valve at the bottom end of the tank, the valve defining an opening in the bottom end of the tank when the valve is in an open position, the valve configured to release processed lupines from the tank. 
     
     
         13 . A lupine processing system comprising:
 a tank configure to receive a portion of lupines for processing, The tank having an outer surface defining a receiving cavity within, the tank comprising;   a fluid inlet at a bottom end of the tank, the inlet configured to receive fluid into the tank; and   a fluid outlet at a top end of the tank, the fluid outlet configured to receive fluid from the tank;   a motor attached to the tank;   an agitator rotatably coupled to the motor, the agitator configured to be rotated by the motor;   a heater fluidically connected to the fluid inlet, the heater configured to increase a temperature of the fluid;   a controller comprising:   one or more processors; and   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors and storing programming instructions for execution by the one or more processors, the programming instructions instruct the one or more processors to:
 flow water into the tank; 
 hydrate the lupines with the water for a specified amount of time; 
 agitate the lupines by a mechanical agitator for a specified amount of time; 
 boil the water for a specified amount of time; 
 circulate water through the tank; and 
 remove selected constituents from the lupines by the circulating water.