Flue-Curing Apparatus for Tobacco Leaf Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flue-curing methods for tobacco leaves are inefficient for curing small research quantities, as they require sharing space with larger production batches, leading to contamination risks and imprecise control over curing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A flue-curing apparatus with an air circulation system, humidity control, and a chamber configured to uniformly distribute heated and humidity-controlled air to tobacco leaves, allowing precise control and independent curing of up to 25 pounds of tobacco leaves, featuring a perforated member, hanging racks, and a transparent viewing window for inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If tobacco leaves are cured in large production batches, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision and control over curing conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The curing system is segmented into multiple independent zones within the curing chamber, each capable of independent temperature and humidity control. This allows small batches to be cured with precise control while maintaining overall system productivity through parallel processing in multiple zones.
2Device complexity
If tobacco leaves are cured in shared space with production batches, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability and quality control deteriorate due to contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The research curing apparatus is extracted as a separate, independent system from the large-scale production curing facilities. This dedicated small-scale curing chamber eliminates contamination risks from shared space while maintaining reasonable complexity through modular design and standardized components.
3Manufacturing precision
If air is circulated through the chamber, then heat and humidity distribution is improved, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature and humidity sensors are positioned throughout the curing chamber to provide real-time feedback to the control system. This enables precise regulation of air circulation patterns and heating/humidifying rates, ensuring uniform distribution while minimizing energy consumption by adjusting system output to actual conditions rather than operating at fixed high levels.
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
Enables precise and contamination-free curing of small tobacco leaf batches, ensuring uniform heat and humidity distribution, and allowing researchers to control curing conditions independently, improving the quality and consistency of the tobacco product.
Implementation Method 1
an air circulation system, a chamber operably engaged with the air circulation system. The chamber may be configured to receive a plurality of tobacco leaves therein
Implementation Method 2
a heater device operably engaged with the air circulation system so as to heat air being circulated thereby
Implementation Method 3
a humidity control system operably engaged with the air circulation system so as to control humidity in air being circulated thereby
Implementation Method 4
The chamber may be configured to receive the heated and humidity-controlled air from the air circulation system at a lower portion thereof and to direct the air substantially uniformly through the tobacco leaves
Data Source
AI summary
A flue-curing apparatus and a related method are provided. The flue-curing apparatus includes a circulation chamber and a curing chamber that are separated by a divider wall. An air circulation system includes a blower positioned in the circulation chamber that directs air to a heater device and a lower passage into the curing chamber. The air may be received from one or both of an inlet and an upper passage extending from the curing chamber to the circulation chamber. A humidity control system humidifies the air directed into the curing chamber. A controller may receive signals from wet and dry bulb thermometers to determine the conditions in the curing chamber and the condition of tobacco leaves being cured therein. The controller may adjust various operational parameters to cause the tobacco leaves in the curing chamber to cure at a desired rate.