Two-Step Fish Meal Drying With Spin Flash Finishing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fish meal production processes expose fish oils to high heat and oxygen, leading to oxidation, particularly affecting sensitive omega-3 fatty acids, and face challenges with capacity, energy consumption, and environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

A two-step drying process involving pre-drying followed by spin flash drying, where the first drying step reduces moisture content to 15-50% and the second step uses a spin flash dryer to produce a dried fish meal product.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional drying process is used, then fish meal is produced, but oxidation of fish oils occurs due to high heat and oxygen exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxidation of fish oilsVSAvoiddrying capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The drying process is divided into two distinct stages: a first drying stage using conventional drying methods to remove free water, and a second drying stage using a spin flash dryer to remove bound water. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall oxidation while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first drying stage is performed as a preliminary action before the spin flash drying stage. By removing free water first, the material is prepared for the second stage, reducing the total drying time and heat exposure in the final drying phase, thereby minimizing oxidation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If traditional drying process is used, then fish meal is produced, but energy consumption is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddrying capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The drying process is divided into two distinct stages: a first drying stage using conventional drying methods to remove free water, and a second drying stage using a spin flash dryer to remove bound water. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall oxidation while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spin flash dryer utilizes rapid phase transition of water from liquid to vapor under reduced pressure conditions. This phase transition occurs at lower temperatures compared to conventional drying, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining high drying capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

3Duration of action of moving object

If traditional drying process is used, then fish meal is produced, but exposure time to heat and oxygen is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexposure time to heat and oxygenVSAvoidprocess simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The drying process is divided into two distinct stages: a first drying stage using conventional drying methods to remove free water, and a second drying stage using a spin flash dryer to remove bound water. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall oxidation while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spin flash dryer utilizes rapid phase transition of water from liquid to vapor under reduced pressure conditions. This phase transition occurs at lower temperatures compared to conventional drying, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining high drying capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

4Productivity

If spin flash drying alone is used, then drying time is reduced, but capacity is insufficient for large scale production

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying speedVSAvoidproduction capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The drying process is divided into two distinct stages: a first drying stage using conventional drying methods to remove free water, and a second drying stage using a spin flash dryer to remove bound water. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall oxidation while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first drying stage is performed as a preliminary action before the spin flash drying stage. By removing free water first, the material is prepared for the second stage, reducing the total drying time and heat exposure in the final drying phase, thereby minimizing oxidation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 reduces oxidation of fish oils, enhances productivity, lowers energy consumption, and improves the quality and nutritional value of the dried fish meal product while being more environmentally friendly.

Implementation Method 1

subjecting the pre-dried fish material to a second drying step resulting in a dried fish product; wherein the second drying step performed in step (iii) is a spin flash drying process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

spin flash drying process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

subjecting the fish material to a pre-treatment where the water content of the fish material is reduced, wherein the pre-treatment comprises a first drying step

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDrying: Desiccation

Data Source

PatentUS20260083156A1Process for producing dried fish meal

Publication Date: 2026.03.26 HAARSLEV IND AS

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for providing a dried fish meal product from a fish material, the method comprising (i) providing a fish material; (ii) subjecting the fish material to a pre-treatment where the water content of the fish material is reduced, wherein the pre-treatment comprises a first drying step, resulting in a pre-dried fish material, wherein the pre-dried fish material has a moisture content in the range of 15-50% (w/w) water; and (iii) subjecting the pre-dried fish material to a second drying step resulting in a dried fish product; wherein the second drying step performed in step (iii) is a spin flash drying process.