Continuous Pressure Extraction for Cold Coffee and Tea Yield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional extraction techniques for coffee and tea are inefficient, unsafe, and not scalable, as they often require high temperatures, which can destroy delicate compounds and result in low yields and inconsistent flavor profiles.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a pump to supply water at greater than atmospheric pressure, combined with a residence vessel that maintains organic matter like ground coffee at specific pressure and temperature conditions to extract chemical compounds efficiently, allowing for a continuous flow and scalable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional extraction techniques use high temperatures to extract chemical compounds, then extraction speed increases, but delicate compounds are destroyed and flavor consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the extraction parameters from high temperature to high pressure conditions. Specifically, it uses pressures between 750-1500 psi while maintaining temperatures between 32-100°F, which is the opposite of conventional high-temperature extraction. This parameter transformation allows rapid extraction without thermal degradation of delicate compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs hydraulic pressure through a pump system to force water through the coffee grounds at controlled pressures (750-1500 psi). This pneumatic-hydraulic approach replaces thermal energy with mechanical pressure energy as the primary extraction mechanism, enabling fast extraction without heat-related compound destruction.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional extraction methods are used, then simplicity is maintained, but scalability and efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The residence vessel is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously handles pressure containment, fluid flow control, and extraction processes. The system can operate with different organic matters (coffee, tea) and adjust parameters for various extraction requirements, making it universally applicable while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous flow extraction where water constantly moves through the residence vessel, maintaining continuous contact with organic matter for the specified residence time. This continuous action eliminates idle periods between extractions, significantly improving productivity while keeping the operational procedure straightforward.
3Productivity
If high pressure is applied to increase extraction yield, then extraction efficiency improves, but system complexity and safety requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The high-pressure system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a pump for pressure generation, a residence vessel for extraction, and filtration components. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies maintenance while achieving high extraction yields through controlled pressure (750-1500 psi).
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses disposable or easily replaceable filters and organic matter containers within the residence vessel. This approach reduces the complexity of cleaning and maintenance procedures, allowing high-pressure operation without proportionally increasing system complexity, as consumable components can be quickly replaced rather than meticulously maintained.
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 method enables the extraction of chemical compounds from coffee and tea with higher yields, safer operation, and consistent flavor profiles, while being more efficient and scalable than traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a pump configured to supply a substantially continuous flow of water at greater than atmospheric pressure
Implementation Method 2
to extract chemical compounds from the organic matter during the residence time
Implementation Method 3
water to reside in the chamber with the organic matter at a residence time of between approximately 2 minutes and approximately 30 minutes, at a pressure of between approximately 750 psi and approximately 1500 psi, and at a temperature of between approximately 32° F. and approximately 100° F. to extract chemical compounds
Data Source
AI summary
High pressure, low temperature, continuous flow extraction systems and methods are designed to produce fluid consumables, including water-based consumables such as coffee or tea. The extraction systems and methods are designed to be safer, more efficient, and more scalable than other known and conventional extraction techniques, and to have significantly quicker extraction times and higher yields.