Filter-Dryer-Reaction Tank for Animal Tissue Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for recovering protein powder, omega-3 oil, and purified water from animal tissue are inefficient, with issues such as equipment downtime, low yield, and high VOC emissions, and lack effective recycling of organic solvents, which hampers their ability to meet consumer demands and environmental sustainability.
Innovation Solution
A novel system and process utilizing a single unitary filter-dryer-reaction tank to agitate, heat, and filter animal tissue with an organic solvent, followed by solvent recycling, to produce high-quality protein powder, omega-3 oil, and purified water, reducing equipment complexity, downtime, and VOC emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate pieces of equipment are used for protein recovery, oil extraction, and water purification, then each process can be optimized independently, but equipment complexity increases and downtime increases due to multiple equipment failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate equipment pieces (protein recovery system, oil extraction system, water purification system) into a single integrated automated processing system. This consolidation reduces the number of equipment failures that can occur independently, thereby improving overall system reliability while reducing equipment complexity through unified design and control.
2Productivity
If traditional manual processing methods are used, then equipment complexity is low, but productivity is reduced due to manual labor requirements and longer processing times
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs automated control mechanisms that enable self-service processing. The automated protein recovery system, oil extraction system, and water purification system operate with minimal human intervention, using programmed controls to monitor and adjust processing parameters, thereby increasing productivity while managing automation complexity through intelligent control design.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If organic solvents are not recycled, then the processing process is simple, but environmental harm increases due to VOC emissions and loss of valuable solvents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a solvent recovery and recycling system that captures and reuses organic solvents in the protein recovery and oil extraction processes. This recovery mechanism minimizes VOC emissions by preventing solvent discharge into the environment, while the recycling capability reduces the need for continuous solvent addition, thereby addressing environmental harm with a manageable recycling system.
4Quantity of substance
If yield is increased through more aggressive extraction, then product quantity improves, but product quality deteriorates due to contamination and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The automated processing system incorporates monitoring and feedback mechanisms that track product quality parameters throughout the extraction and purification processes. This feedback control allows the system to adjust processing conditions in real-time to maintain optimal product quality while maximizing yield, preventing contamination and degradation through continuous quality assurance.
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 enhances yield and shelf-life of recovered products, reduces operational and capital costs, and promotes environmental sustainability by recycling organic solvents and minimizing VOC emissions, producing high-quality protein powder and omega-3 oil with extended shelf-life.
Implementation Method 1
a single unitary filter-dryer-reaction tank to agitate, heat, and filter animal tissue with an organic solvent
Implementation Method 2
a single unitary filter-dryer-reaction tank to agitate, heat, and filter animal tissue with an organic solvent
Implementation Method 3
followed by solvent recycling, to produce high-quality protein powder, omega-3 oil, and purified water, reducing equipment complexity, downtime, and VOC emissions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention describes a method and an automatic system for recovering protein powder meal, crude and pure omega-3 oil and purified distilled water from a mixture of animal tissue processed in a filter--drier--reaction tank. Animal tissue, for example fish, and organic solvent are directly or indirectly fed into the filter-drier--reaction tank. The filter-drier-reaction tank mixes, heats, and separates solid and heavy liquid portions of the mixture, the organic solvents are automatically recycled back in to the system after distillation. The solid portion is retained in the filter-drier--reaction tank and baked. Solid protein powder product (the protein powder meal) is thus recovered.