Poultry Egg Storage Heating for Hatch Timing and Hatchability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing incubation methods on hatcheries result in inefficient use of time and resources, leading to delayed hatch times and reduced hatchability and chick quality due to prolonged storage, which causes embryonic death and condensation issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving controlled temperature management during egg storage, with a gradual temperature increase from an initial storage temperature to a set temperature, allowing for embryo activation and minimizing stress, followed by a smooth transition to incubation, using compartmentalized storage with individual temperature control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If eggs are stored for extended periods to buffer complete filling of incubation batches, then resource utilization improves, but hatchability and chick quality decline due to embryonic death
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by gradually heating eggs during the storage period before incubation begins. The storage section progressively increases temperature from refrigeration levels to near-incubation temperatures over several days, activating embryos in advance and preparing them for incubation. This preliminary thermal treatment reduces embryonic mortality and improves hatchability while maintaining the buffering function for batch filling.
2Loss of time
If eggs are quickly heated from storage temperature to incubation temperature, then time is reduced, but chick quality deteriorates due to temperature stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by using a progressive, multi-stage heating approach rather than a fixed temperature jump. The storage section dynamically adjusts temperature over time, first gradually warming eggs to reduce thermal shock, then transitioning to the incubator for final incubation. This dynamic temperature management minimizes stress on embryos while efficiently reducing the total time from storage to incubation.
3Ease of operation
If eggs are stored at uniform temperature, then storage management is simplified, but condensation occurs due to non-uniform heating in corridor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different thermal zones within the storage section. Instead of uniform temperature throughout, the system establishes a temperature gradient where eggs are progressively heated in controlled zones before entering the incubator. This localized differential heating prevents condensation by ensuring eggs are uniformly warmed to the transition temperature before incubation begins, while still maintaining relatively simple overall storage management.
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
Enhances hatchability and chick quality by optimizing embryo development time, reducing temperature stress, and improving resource utilization on hatcheries.
Implementation Method 1
heating the number of eggs in the storage section from the initial temperature to the set temperature according to the temperature course over time
Implementation Method 2
incubating the number of eggs in the incubating device during the incubation period until hatching occurs
Data Source
AI summary
An egg storage system includes an egg storing section configured for storing eggs during a heating period in storage prior to incubation. The egg storage section is configured to heat eggs from an initial temperature to a set temperature. The egg storage section comprises a temperature control system to control a temperature in the egg storage section according to a temperature course over time to which the number of eggs should be exposed. The temperature course over time to which the number of eggs should be exposed is based on a determined time of arrival and a desired moment of hatching, and the temperature course over time at least comprises a gradual temperature increase during the heating period in storage in the storage section from a measured initial temperature at the time of arrival to a set predetermined temperature between a physiological zero and the incubation temperature.