On-Farm Hemp Fiber Screening for High-Throughput Component Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of processing infrastructure to convert hemp stalks into salable commodities or marketable products for industry, despite hemp being a sustainable crop with significant biomass yield and low water and pesticide requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a mill apparatus, first and second screening apparatuses, and collection apparatuses for separating and collecting bast fiber, hurd, grain, and biomass components of milled hemp material, which can be processed on a farm site, reducing processing time and shipping costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hemp stalks are processed using traditional infrastructure, then processing capacity is limited, but processing efficiency and productivity remain low
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system is divided into separate functional modules: a mill apparatus for grinding hemp stalks, a first screening apparatus for separating fiber components, a second screening apparatus for separating hurd components, and collection apparatuses for each component type. This segmentation allows each module to operate independently and efficiently, increasing overall processing capacity while reducing bottlenecks that would cause time losses.
2Ease of manufacture
If hemp material is transported to centralized processing facilities, then processing infrastructure is utilized, but shipping costs and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system is designed as a multi-functional integrated unit that can perform milling, screening, and collection of multiple hemp components (fiber, hurd, grain) in a single location. This portable processing system can be deployed at various farm sites, eliminating the need to transport hemp material to centralized facilities while maintaining comprehensive processing capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hemp stalks are processed into multiple products, then marketability increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses separate screening apparatuses with different screen configurations to separate different hemp components (fiber, hurd, grain) into distinct collection containers. Each screening stage targets specific component separation, allowing multiple marketable products to be produced from a single input stream without requiring complex integrated processing lines for each product type.
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 enables the efficient separation and packaging of hemp components, allowing for the production of various products such as animal bedding, bioplastics, textiles, and CBD biomass in a single pass, with a processing rate of at least 30 tons per hour.
Implementation Method 1
a mill apparatus configured to receive hemp material
Implementation Method 2
milled hemp material from the mill apparatus
Implementation Method 3
a first screening apparatus configured to receive milled hemp material from the mill apparatus. The first screening apparatus can be configured to separate fiber components of the milled hemp material from hurd, grain, and biomass components
Implementation Method 4
a second screening apparatus that is configured to receive, from the first screening apparatus, the hurd, grain, and biomass components of the milled hemp material. The second screening apparatus can be configured to separate the hurd, grain, and biomass components
Data Source
AI summary
A system having a mill apparatus, a first screening apparatus, and a fiber collection apparatus. The mill apparatus receives hemp material, and the first screening apparatus receives milled hemp material from the mill apparatus. The first screening apparatus separates fiber components of the milled hemp material from hurd, grain, and biomass components of the milled hemp material. The fiber collection apparatus receives, from the first screening apparatus, the fiber components of the milled hemp material. Optionally, a second screening apparatus can receive, from the first screening apparatus, the hurd, grain, and biomass components of the milled hemp material, and the second screening apparatus can separate the hurd, grain, and biomass components. Also described are methods of using the disclosed system to separate fiber, hurd, grain, and biomass components of hemp material.