Gluten Pellet Conditioning with Atomized Liquid Below 100C
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for pelleting bulk material containing gluten face issues such as severe sticking, denaturation of gluten, high energy consumption, and impaired baking properties due to steam treatment, leading to insufficient water stability and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a device that conveys gluten-containing bulk material into a conditioning device where it is wetted with an atomized liquid at a temperature below 100°C, avoiding steam treatment and subsequent denaturation, thereby maintaining protein vitality and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If steam treatment is used to wet the bulk material, then the moisture content is increased, but severe sticking occurs and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high (steam at 100°C or higher) to low (liquid at below 100°C, preferably 20-80°C). This parameter change allows moisture to be added without causing the bulk material to become too sticky, resolving the contradiction between increasing moisture content and avoiding sticking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive and energy-intensive steam generation equipment with simple liquid spraying equipment. This substitution uses inexpensive liquid (water or other liquids) instead of steam, eliminating the need for complex steam generation systems and reducing both investment costs and operational energy consumption.
2Quantity of substance
If steam treatment is used to wet the bulk material, then the moisture content is increased, but gluten denaturation occurs and binding capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high (steam treatment) to low (liquid at below 100°C). This temperature reduction prevents thermal denaturation of gluten proteins while still achieving the necessary moisture content increase, thereby maintaining the binding capacity and reliability of the bulk material.
3Quantity of substance
If steam generation equipment is used, then the moisture content is increased, but investment costs and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive steam generation equipment with simple, inexpensive liquid spraying equipment. This substitution eliminates the need for complex thermal energy systems, dramatically reducing both investment costs and ongoing energy consumption while still achieving effective moisture addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal system (steam generation and delivery) with a mechanical spraying system. This substitution uses mechanical energy for liquid atomization instead of thermal energy for steam generation, resulting in significantly lower energy consumption and simpler equipment requirements.
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 approach results in more dimensionally stable pellets with improved binding capacity, reduced sticking, and lower energy consumption, enhancing pellet stability and nutritional value while reducing operational costs and cleaning efforts.
Implementation Method 1
at least one atomized liquid is supplied to the bulk material in the conditioning device to wet the bulk material with the atomized liquid
Implementation Method 2
wetted with at least one atomized liquid to increase the moisture content of the bulk material
Data Source
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AI summary
The method for pelletizing gluten-containing bulk good (1) comprises the step of transporting the bulk good (1) into a mixer (5). A further step is wetting the bulk good (1) in the mixer (5) with at least one atomized liquid for increasing the moisture content of the bulk good (1). A temperature of the atomized liquid is below 100°C. A further step is transporting the wetted bulk good (2) into a pellet press (3) for pelletizing the wetted bulk good. Subsequently to the pelletizing, the pellet (4) is removed from the pellet press (3).