Cereal Grain Wetting Device Using Gravity Flow and Spray Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wetting devices in grain mills require significant effort to clean due to mechanical mixing elements and sticky residues, which often leads to inadequate cleaning of the interior surfaces where micro-organisms can thrive.
Innovation Solution
A wetting method and device that utilize a falling flow of cereal grain sprayed with liquid or steam, eliminating the need for mechanical mixing and allowing for easy cleaning by design, with nozzles arranged to ensure comprehensive wetting and a flow guidance system that prevents grain kernels from sticking to surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical mixing elements are used to mix cereal grain with water, then wetting effectiveness is improved, but cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes mechanical mixing elements (conveying screws, mixers) from the wetting device, extracting the problematic components that cause cleaning difficulties while retaining the essential wetting function through spray nozzles and falling flow design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical mixing systems with a fluid-based wetting system where spray nozzles deliver water/steam directly to falling grain, eliminating the need for mechanical conveyors and mixers that trap residue and require intensive cleaning
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical processing is used to achieve uniform wetting, then wetting uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wetting process into discrete spray zones with multiple nozzles positioned at different locations, allowing uniform wetting through distributed fluid application rather than complex mechanical mixing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic spray systems and pneumatic steam injection to achieve uniform wetting distribution, replacing mechanical mixing apparatus with fluid dynamics-based delivery systems that are simpler and easier to clean
3Productivity
If conveying screws are used to convey and mix grain, then grain conveyance is improved, but cleaning effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes conveying screws and mechanical conveyance elements from the wetting device, retaining only the essential wetting function while eliminating the components that require intensive cleaning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the wetting device so that the falling grain flow and spray system naturally move wet grain to the outlet without requiring mechanical conveyors, allowing the system to convey itself through gravity and fluid assistance rather than complex mechanical components
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 simplifies the construction and maintenance of wetting devices, reduces cleaning effort, and prevents germ contamination by ensuring all grain kernels are evenly wetted without mechanical mixing, enhancing the hygiene and efficiency of the wetting process.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid in the form of fine droplets or the steam hits the cereal grain whilst it is falling
Implementation Method 2
the cereal grain on falling is sprayed with a liquid and/or with steam
Data Source
AI summary
A wetting device for cereal grain includes a container with a container inlet and a container outlet that are arranged such that cereal grain which flows into the container inlet gets to the container outlet due to the action of gravity. A plurality of nozzles serve for wetting the cereal grain in the inside of the container. The wetting device further includes a flow guidance device, for example formed by impact elements, in the inside of the container, by way of which flow guidance device a flow of cereal grain which flows into the container inlet and falls downwards is shaped. The nozzles are arranged such that liquid and/or steam which exits through them hits the cereal grain below the flow guidance device whilst the cereal grain is in freefall.