Acoustic Pressure Shock Waves for Meat Carcass Sanitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cleaning and sanitizing animal carcasses in meat processing plants are inefficient, lead to microbial contamination, and pose environmental and health risks due to the use of chemicals, which can trigger mutations and produce harmful byproducts.
Innovation Solution
The use of acoustic pressure shock waves generated by devices such as electrohydraulic, piezoelectric, and electromagnetic generators to clean animal carcasses, employing focused, unfocused, planar, or radial waves, controlling energy, frequency, and direction to effectively destroy microorganisms without causing mutations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical detergents and sanitizers are used for cleaning and sanitizing animal carcasses, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but microbial mutation and harmful byproduct formation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical cleaning and sanitizing systems with a mechanical/physical system using acoustic pressure shock waves. The shock waves are generated by electrohydraulic, piezoelectric, or electromagnetic transducers and applied directly to the carcass surface to remove contaminants and destroy microorganisms through mechanical forces and cavitation, eliminating the need for chemical detergents and sanitizers that cause mutation and harmful byproducts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the cleaning process from chemical concentration to acoustic energy parameters (pressure, frequency, duration). By controlling the acoustic pressure shock wave parameters such as peak pressure, pulse duration, and repetition frequency, the system achieves effective cleaning and sanitizing without the harmful effects of chemical saturation and resistance development
2Reliability
If halogen based sanitizers are used for bacteriostatic action, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but corrosive action on metals and health hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes chemical halogen-based sanitizing systems with a mechanical acoustic shock wave system. The shock waves physically disrupt microbial cell walls and membranes through cavitation and compressive forces, achieving bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects without the corrosive properties and health hazards associated with halogen chemicals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful high-energy acoustic shock waves into a beneficial sanitizing mechanism. The same shock waves that could damage equipment are controlled to selectively destroy microorganisms while being safe for metal surfaces and human health, turning a potentially harmful physical force into a safe and effective sanitizing tool
3Reliability
If acoustic pressure shock waves are used for decontamination, then microbial destruction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the shock wave generation function into standalone transducer modules (electrohydraulic, piezoelectric, or electromagnetic) that can be independently controlled and replaced. This modular approach allows the complex shock wave generation to be isolated from the main processing system, making the overall system more manageable and maintainable despite the inherent complexity of generating controlled acoustic shock waves
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides thorough cleaning and sanitization, reducing microbial loads, minimizing environmental impact, and eliminating the need for chemical sanitizers, thereby enhancing safety and efficiency in meat processing.
Implementation Method 1
Acoustic pressure shock waves produce strong compressive forces and cavitation in liquids that can be used to destroy such contaminating microorganisms
Implementation Method 2
Acoustic pressure shock waves generated by devices such as electrohydraulic, piezoelectric, and electromagnetic generators to clean animal carcasses
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods for treating animal carcasses prior to processing for meat consumption include applying acoustic pressure shock waves to an animal carcass to reduce contaminants on the carcass for improved safety when distributed as meat.