Fat Powder Pulverization Preventing Clumping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for pulverizing fat substances often result in clogged rotary valves and clumping of the obtained fat powder, which complicates the process and reduces reliability.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a chamber, nozzle, and stirrer with pulverizing means using liquid nitrogen, where the fat is sprayed into the chamber, cooled to form a powder, and then stirred within a separate stirrer to prevent clumping and ensure reliable pulverization, with features like annular pulverizing nozzles, a cooling installation, and an exhaust system to manage coolant residue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a rotary valve is used to extract fat powder from the chamber, then the fat powder can be extracted, but the rotary valve becomes clogged and the fat powder clumps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefat powder extractionVSAvoidrotary valve clogging
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful effect of rotary valve clogging is eliminated by removing the rotary valve from the system. The patent extracts the fat powder from the chamber through a valveless design where the stirred powder flows directly from the spray chamber into the collection container, preventing clogging at the extraction point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stirrer acts as an intermediary device that prevents fat powder clumping by continuously agitating the powder in the chamber. This intermediary action maintains powder flowability and prevents aggregation that would otherwise cause clogging during extraction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If liquid nitrogen is used to pulverize the substance, then the substance is frozen and pulverized, but the obtained powder clumps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepulverization qualityVSAvoidpowder clumping
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The stirrer provides continuous mechanical action on the pulverized powder, preventing clumping by maintaining constant movement and preventing particle aggregation. This continuous stirring action persists throughout the extraction process, ensuring powder stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static pulverization process to a dynamic one by introducing continuous stirring. The powder is not merely frozen and extracted, but actively agitated during the entire process, changing its physical state from static to dynamically maintained flowability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 prevents clumping and ensures reliable pulverization of fat substances by isolating the powder from the atmosphere during transfer and using cooling and stirring to stabilize the powder, enhancing the process's reliability and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

spraying the substance into the chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 2

the liquid fat is subjected to a stream of liquid nitrogen such that the liquid fat is frozen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Implementation Method 3

subjecting the substance to liquid nitrogen within a spraying tower

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCryogenics: Cryogenics

Implementation Method 4

a stirrer that adjoins the chamber such that the powder obtained within the chamber can be stirred within the stirrer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStirring: Stirring

Data Source

PatentEP3837987B1Pulverizing a substance comprising a fat
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 AIR LIQUIDE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3837987B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3837987B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Device (1) for pulverizing a substance (2) comprising a fat, wherein the device (1) comprises: - a chamber (4), - a nozzle (5) for spraying the substance (2) into the chamber (4), - a pulverizing means (6) for pulverizing the substance (2) sprayed into the chamber (4) so as to obtain a powder (3), and - a stirrer (7) that adjoins the chamber (4) such that the powder (3) obtained within the chamber (4) can be stirred within the stirrer (7). With the presented device (1) and method a substance (2) comprising a fat can be pulverized in a particularly reliable manner. This is achieved by stirring the obtained powder (3) before extraction from the device (1).