Carcass Dehumidification Airflow Layout for Hygienic Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating animal carcasses in slaughterhouses are inefficient in reducing germ growth and weight loss due to inadequate cooling and hygiene issues, leading to economic and hygienic disadvantages, as well as environmental concerns from high energy consumption and water usage.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing a controlled air stream with horizontal flow around carcasses in a post-drip section, filtering and dehumidifying the air, and using it to heat process water, while maintaining body temperature to prevent cooling and weight loss, and incorporating sensors for temperature and humidity control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If carcasses are cooled by blowing with cooled air immediately after slaughter, then surface cooling is achieved, but internal temperature remains high and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by removing excess surface water from carcasses before cooling through a combination of mechanical drainage and controlled air flow. This pre-treatment reduces the water that would otherwise need to be removed during cooling, thereby reducing the energy required for the subsequent cooling process while achieving the same hygienic and temperature control objectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts excess surface water from carcasses using a dedicated drainage system with suction nozzles and air flow before the cooling process. By removing this water in advance, the system reduces the thermal mass that needs to be cooled and prevents additional energy consumption that would be required to cool and subsequently remove this water during the main cooling phase.
2Loss of substance
If carcasses are dried using a closed air circulation system with axial fans, then drying is achieved, but hygienic conditions deteriorate due to reinflating saturated moist air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts saturated moist air from the drying environment using extraction fans positioned to remove air at the source. This extracted air is then discharged outside the controlled environment, preventing the reinflation of contaminated moist air back into the system. This approach maintains hygienic conditions while achieving effective surface water removal from carcasses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces filtered fresh air as an intermediary to replace the extracted saturated air in the closed circulation system. This fresh air acts as a mediator that maintains the drying function without introducing the hygienic problems associated with recirculating saturated moist air, thereby preserving both drying efficiency and hygienic conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If manual vacuum suction is used for liquid removal, then cleaning is achieved, but throughput speed decreases and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by using the natural force of gravity and the weight of the carcass itself to facilitate liquid removal. Carcasses are positioned on inclined surfaces and conveyors that allow gravity to drain excess liquid automatically as they move through the processing line, eliminating the need for manual or mechanically assisted suction operations and maintaining high throughput speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by employing air flow generated by fans to create pressure differentials that actively remove excess surface liquid from carcasses. This pneumatic approach is more efficient and faster than manual vacuum suction, as it can process multiple carcasses simultaneously at high speeds without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining high productivity while achieving effective contaminant removal.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If hot water is used for carcass cleaning, then hygiene is improved, but surface water increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by removing excess surface water from carcasses immediately after hot water cleaning through a combination of mechanical drainage and controlled air flow. This pre-drying step reduces the surface water that would otherwise need to be removed later, thereby minimizing weight loss and energy consumption in subsequent processing stages while maintaining the hygienic benefits of hot water cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts excess surface water from carcasses using a dedicated drainage system with suction nozzles and air flow that operates immediately after hot water cleaning. This extraction process removes the water added during cleaning before the carcass enters the cooling and storage phases, thereby maintaining the hygienic effects of hot water treatment while minimizing the negative impact of increased surface water on weight and energy consumption.
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 approach significantly reduces germ counts on carcasses, minimizes weight loss, and improves hygiene and energy efficiency by maintaining carcass temperature and using recycled air for heating water, aligning with EU regulations and environmental standards.
Implementation Method 1
the bodies are flowed around with horizontally guided prepared air at speeds of 1.5 to 6 m/s
Implementation Method 2
the extracted air is filtered, dehumidified and cooled
Implementation Method 3
the extracted air is filtered, dehumidified and cooled as in a system designed for living spaces
Implementation Method 4
The extracted air is used to heat the slaughterhouse's process water - which can be used e.g. B. used to clean the animals for slaughter - using a heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for handling carcasses of slaughtered animals during suspended transport after evisceration and before weighing in an abattoir by means of an air stream, in which a horizontally directed stream of conditioned air is made to flow around the carcasses at speeds of 1.5 to 6 m/s with a suction effect. Suspension conveyors are set up in a separate room in a meandering arrangement along parallel tracks transversely to the horizontally aligned extraction openings and inlet openings for air, and the inlet openings and extraction openings are connected through an air-conditioning plant, arranged outside the room, for dehumidifying and cooling the air extracted from the room. When a room designed as a dripping zone in an abattoir is used for the purposes according to the invention, the room is prepared by installing or fitting inlet openings and extraction openings on two enclosing walls lying opposite one another and is connected to a separate air-conditioning plant for conditioning the air.