Closed Loop Extraction System for Plant Oils
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extraction systems for plant oils are often energy-inefficient, cost-inefficient, and time-inefficient, failing to meet the demand for rapid and scalable extraction of desired components from raw plant matter.
Innovation Solution
A closed loop extraction system comprising a chill tank, wash tank, rinse tank, centrifuge, and pump systems, with a filtration mechanism and electronic control system, optimized for efficient solvent use and component extraction, allowing for multiple extraction cycles and solvent recirculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional extraction systems are used to extract plant oils, then extraction can be performed, but the systems are energy-inefficient, cost-inefficient, and time-inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous circulation of solvent through multiple tanks (chill tank, wash tank, rinse tank, feed tank) and repeated extraction cycles, eliminating idle time and maintaining constant productive action. The pump system continuously recirculates solvent, and the electronic control system ensures seamless transitions between extraction phases, achieving continuous useful action that improves both productivity and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts temperature parameters through the chill tank to optimize solvent properties and extraction efficiency at different stages. The electronic control system monitors and adjusts operational parameters such as temperature, flow rates, and cycle timing to maximize extraction speed while minimizing energy consumption, resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy efficiency.
2Productivity
If traditional extraction systems are used, then extraction can be performed, but they are not scalable
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction system is divided into distinct functional modules: chill tank, wash tank, rinse tank, feed tank, centrifuge, and pump systems. Each tank performs a specific function in the extraction process, allowing the system to be scaled by adding or removing modules. The electronic control system manages each segment independently, making the complex multi-tank system scalable while maintaining organized complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system serves multiple functions: circulating solvent between tanks, filling tanks to high-level setpoints, and supporting repeated extraction cycles. The electronic control system provides universal control across all tanks and operations, enabling the system to handle different plant materials and extraction requirements, thus improving scalability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If solvent is used in traditional systems, then extraction occurs, but solvent efficiency is low and costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers and recirculates solvent through the pump system that continuously moves solvent between tanks. Instead of discarding solvent after single-use extraction, the system maintains solvent in circulation through the chill, wash, rinse, and feed tanks across multiple extraction cycles. The electronic control system monitors solvent levels and ensures continuous recirculation, significantly reducing solvent loss and improving solvent yield efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The solvent remains in continuous circulation through the multi-tank system, performing useful extraction work repeatedly across multiple cycles. The pump system ensures uninterrupted solvent flow, and the electronic control system maintains continuous operation, maximizing the utilization of each unit of solvent and minimizing loss, thereby improving the quantity of substance extracted per unit of solvent.
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 system enables efficient and cost-effective extraction of plant oils by optimizing solvent use and yield, with the ability to recycle solvents and maintain temperature control, enhancing the scalability and efficiency of the extraction process.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifuge having a rotating mechanism, a basket, a fourth inlet, and a fourth outlet... The rotating mechanism is configured to rotate the basket when placed within the centrifuge
Implementation Method 2
a chill tank having a first inlet, a first outlet, a first interior volume, and a first high-level setpoint
Implementation Method 3
a first pump system, having a first pump, a first valve, a second valve... a second pump system, having a second pump, a third valve, a fourth valve... a third pump system, having a third pump, a fifth valve, a sixth valve
Data Source
AI summary
A closed loop extraction system for extracting desired components from raw plant matter and method of use is disclosed. The closed loop extraction system features a solvent source, a chill tank, a wash tank, a rinse tank, a centrifuge, and a feed tank all in fluid communication via a series of interconnected pump systems. The method of extracting the desired products from raw plant matter uses this system to perform the extraction with a reduced amount of solvent in an energy-efficient manner.