Air-Knife Floor Cleaning Unit for Stable Ammonia Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current livestock stable designs with open slatted floors result in the mixing of manure and urine, leading to continuous ammonia formation and other harmful emissions, which contaminate the stable environment and contribute to environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning unit with an air knife and suction system is used to dislodge and remove manure film from a closed stable floor, utilizing laminar airflow to scrape and collect the manure without mechanical contact, thereby preventing ammonia formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If open slatted floors are used to allow manure and urine to drain away, then ease of cleaning is improved, but ammonia formation and harmful emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning unit performs preliminary cleaning actions by removing manure film before it can mix with urine and undergo enzymatic decomposition. The air knife dislodges manure film and the suction device removes it, preventing the chemical reaction that produces ammonia, thus acting in advance to eliminate the harmful effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical scraping systems with an air-based system. The air knife generates a high-velocity laminar air stream that dislodges manure film without mechanical contact, and the suction device uses pneumatic force to remove the dislodged material, substituting mechanical scraping with pneumatic action to reduce ammonia formation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If frequent cleaning is performed to prevent ammonia formation, then emission control is improved, but energy consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning unit is designed to be self-propelled and autonomously navigate the stable floor, making decisions about where and when to clean without continuous human intervention. The unit independently activates its air knife and suction device based on detected manure film presence, reducing the energy and operational overhead required for frequent cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic power for both dislodging and removing manure film in a single integrated action. The air knife and suction device work together using compressed air, eliminating the need for separate mechanical scraping and collection systems, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective emission control.
3Productivity
If mechanical scraping is used to remove manure film, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but mechanical contact causes additional manure disruption and ammonia release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical scraping with a pneumatic dislodging system. The air knife uses a high-velocity laminar air stream to lift and dislodge manure film from the floor surface without mechanical contact. The suction device then pneumatically removes the dislodged material, achieving effective cleaning while avoiding the mechanical disruption that triggers enzymatic activity and ammonia release.
Solution Approach 2:
The air stream acts as an intermediary between the cleaning system and the manure film. Instead of direct mechanical contact between scraper and manure, the air stream mediates the separation process, dislodging the manure film gently and transporting it to the suction device, thereby preventing the mechanical stress that would accelerate ammonia formation.
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
The cleaning unit effectively removes manure film, reducing ammonia formation and other emissions, improving stable air quality and animal welfare while maintaining a clean and dry walking surface.
Implementation Method 1
arranged to operatively generate in the receiving opening of the suction mouth a laminar air flow which transversely engages the manure film during operation of the cleaning unit for dislodging the manure film
Implementation Method 2
the suction device is arranged to suck up the dislodged manure film into the suction mouth and to transfer same via the suction device to the collection container
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
Cleaning unit (20; 55; 70) arranged to move independently over a load-bearing surface of an at least continuous floor (1) of a manure passage (9) of an arrangement for keeping stable animals (11). The cleaning unit (20) comprises an airflow-suction arrangement (20 - 28) for removing a manure film (12) present on the load-bearing surface of the floor (1). The airflow-suction arrangement comprises at least one air knife (21) located in the suction mouth (28) and connected to air compression means (23) of the cleaning unit to generate a laminar airflow (27) in the suction mouth (28) transversely engaging the manure film (12), for dislodging (47) and collecting the manure film (12) present on the floor during operation. Furthermore, a method is provided for removing such manure film (12).