Truncated Conical Cyclone for Vapor Particulate Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cleaning vapors from a desolventizer/toaster of particulate matter, such as cyclones, solvent sprays, and water washes, are inefficient and lead to energy waste or pressure drops, failing to effectively remove dust before it reaches the evaporator in agricultural processing systems.
Innovation Solution
A mist injection station and truncated conical section within the conduit array between the desolventizer/toaster and evaporator, allowing for efficient particulate matter removal and potential chemical neutralization, functioning as a cyclone to enhance system efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a cyclone is employed on top of the DT to clean vapors, then particulate matter removal is improved, but pressure drop increases and system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cyclone separation function from the main vapor conduit and places it in a separate bypass loop. The vapor stream is split, with one portion going through the cyclone for particulate removal while the other continues directly to the evaporator. This extraction eliminates the pressure drop penalty from the main flow path while still achieving dust removal in the recycled portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the cyclone separator within a bypass arrangement that is itself nested within the vapor transport system. The cyclone is positioned in a side branch that loops back to join the main vapor stream before the evaporator, creating a nested configuration where the cleaning function is embedded without blocking the primary vapor flow path.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If solvent spray is introduced in the DT to clean vapors, then particulate matter removal is improved, but energy waste increases due to moisture in meal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mist injection station as an intermediary device in the vapor conduit downstream from the DT. This mist (typically water or solvent) acts as a mediator that captures particulate matter from the vapor stream through impingement and condensation, allowing dust removal without requiring direct solvent spraying into the DT that would moisture the meal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical solvent spraying system (which required energy-intensive pumping and direct injection into the DT) with a mist injection system that introduces fine aerosol droplets downstream. This substitution reduces energy consumption while achieving effective particulate capture through the mist-vapor interaction in the conduit.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If water wash is provided in the duct exiting the DT to clean vapors, then particulate matter removal is improved, but energy waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mist injection as an intermediary approach between direct water washing and no cleaning. The fine mist droplets serve as a lightweight, low-energy alternative to full water washing, capturing particulate matter through surface impingement and coalescence without requiring the energy-intensive water flow rates needed for traditional wash systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cleaning medium by transforming water from a bulk liquid flow (in water washing) to a fine aerosol mist. This parameter change in droplet size, distribution, and injection timing enables effective particulate capture at significantly lower energy consumption, as the mist has higher surface area to volume ratio and better penetration characteristics.
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 removes particulate matter from vapors, preventing energy waste and pressure drops, while allowing for chemical neutralization, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the agricultural product treatment system.
Implementation Method 1
A truncated conical section has a small diameter end in fluid communication with an egress end of the generally vertically extending segment, and an open, large diameter end is axially coextensive and coaxial with an expanded diameter conduit portion. In view of the structure employed, an annular plenum is defined within the expanded diameter conduit portion.
Implementation Method 2
A mist injection station in a segment of the conduit array extending downwardly at an acute angle from an egress port rising from an upper end of the DT
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An agricultural product treatment system. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a truncated conical section which has a small diameter at one end in fluid communication with a conduit array conveying particulate matter from the DT. An open large diameter end of the structure is axially coextensive and coaxial with an expanded diameter conduit portion.