Biomass Micrometric Separator Using Fluid Bed Turbulence

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biomass separators either degrade active ingredients like proteins during the crushing process due to contact with mechanical surfaces or are inefficient and complex, making it difficult to obtain high-yield, pure organic matrixes.

Innovation Solution

A micrometric separator with multiple stages, utilizing a fluid bed and revolving discs with turbulence-generating features to facilitate reciprocal collisions of biomass particles, minimizing contact with device walls and incorporating cooling to preserve active ingredients and enhance yield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If mechanical crushing devices with rollers and cylinders are used to crush biomasses, then crushing effectiveness is improved, but active ingredients like proteins are degraded due to contact with mechanical surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrushing effectivenessVSAvoiddegradation of active ingredients
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical crushing surfaces (rollers, cylinders) with a fluid bed system where particles are crushed through reciprocal collisions in a fluid environment. This substitution eliminates direct contact between biomasses and mechanical crushing surfaces, thereby preventing degradation of active ingredients like proteins while maintaining crushing effectiveness through particle-to-particle collisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a conveying fluid as an intermediary medium between the crushing mechanism and the biomasses. The fluid bed acts as a mediator that facilitates particle suspension and reciprocal collisions without requiring direct mechanical contact, thus protecting active ingredients from degradation while enabling effective crushing through fluid-mediated particle interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If fluid bed systems with high pressure increases are used to crush biomasses, then crushing efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrushing efficiencyVSAvoidtechnical complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the crushing process into multiple stages with progressively finer crushing actions. The fluid bed system is segmented into different zones or stages that handle different aspects of crushing, allowing efficient particle size reduction without requiring excessively high pressures in a single stage, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a self-service mechanism where the conveying fluid itself facilitates the crushing process through natural particle suspension and reciprocal collisions. The system uses the fluid's own flow characteristics and particle interactions to achieve crushing, eliminating the need for complex external pressure generation equipment and reducing device complexity while maintaining high crushing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If vortex motions with high pressures are generated in cylindrical chambers, then material crushing is improved, but particles collide against walls causing modification of active ingredients

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial crushing performanceVSAvoidmodification of active ingredients
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional cylindrical chamber with wall collisions with a fluid bed system where particles are crushed through reciprocal collisions in a fluid environment. This substitution eliminates direct contact between particles and chamber walls, thereby preventing modification of active ingredients while maintaining effective crushing through fluid-mediated particle interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a conveying fluid as an intermediary that enables particle suspension and reciprocal collisions without requiring particles to contact chamber walls. The fluid acts as a mediator that facilitates crushing through particle-to-particle interactions while protecting active ingredients from wall-induced modification, thus resolving the contradiction between crushing performance and ingredient preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Manufacturing precision

If multiple crushing stages are implemented to improve separation quality, then organic matrix purity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorganic matrix purityVSAvoidnumber of stages
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the crushing and separation functions into a single integrated fluid bed system. By combining these functions, the patent achieves high organic matrix purity through effective particle separation while avoiding the increased device complexity that would result from implementing separate crushing and separation stages. The fluid bed system simultaneously performs both crushing through reciprocal collisions and separation based on particle characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution effectively crushes and separates biomasses into pure organic matrixes with high protein content and high yield, preventing degradation of active ingredients and simplifying the process with a compact, technically straightforward design.

Implementation Method 1

first means for conveying particles through the aforesaid fluid bed, for example composed of a first crushing chamber for reciprocal collisions of particles having a first revolving disc provided with first members for generating at least one turbulent flow in the fluid bed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulent flow: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

particles of biomasses are introduced dispersed in a conveying fluid bed (conveying fluid current), and first means for conveying particles through the aforesaid fluid bed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid bed: Fluidisation

Data Source

PatentEP2501477B1Biomass crushing and separating device
Publication Date: 2016.05.11 BIOHYST OVERSEAS SAGL
  • EP2501477B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2501477B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2501477B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Micrometric separator (1) for biomasses (100) in particles, of the type comprising at least one first crushing stage (2) wherein said particles are introduced dispersed in a conveying fluid bed, and first means (110) for conveying said particles in said fluid bed. The afore said first crushing stage (2) comprises a first crushing chamber (5) for reciprocal collisions of particles, that has at least one first revolving disc (7) provided with first members (9) for generating at least one turbulent flow in the fluid bed, and at least one first contrast body (8), in front of the first revolving disc (7), as well as one or more outlets (22) of the fluid bed, the first contrast body (8) being provided with at least one inlet (6) having an inflow section with the axis substantially incident to the first revolving disc (7).