High Fat Pourable Feed Block Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High fat content in pourable self-hardening animal feed blocks increases viscosity, making them difficult to pour and leads to softening and separation issues, resulting in overconsumption and uneven fat distribution.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a pourable composition with a sugar-containing component, blendable fat, water, and magnesium oxide, admixed with high fat pellets having a melting point above 60°C, to create a pourable admixture with a viscosity of 1000-6500 cP, allowing easy pouring and uniform hardening while maintaining high fat content and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If high fat content (7 wt% or more) is added to pourable feed blocks to increase energy content, then the energy content per weight unit is improved, but the viscosity of the liquid mixture increases making it difficult to pour
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the fat component. By using high melting point fat (melting point above 60°C) and controlling the mixture temperature to remain below the fat's melting point during pouring, the fat remains solid and does not significantly increase viscosity. This allows high fat content (7-33 wt%) to be incorporated while maintaining pourability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the phase transition properties of high melting point fat. The fat is kept in solid phase during mixing and pouring by controlling temperature below its melting point. The solid fat particles disperse in the liquid mixture without causing excessive viscosity increase, enabling both high fat content and easy pouring.
2Use of energy by moving object
If high fat content is added to pourable feed blocks to provide higher energy content, then the energy density is improved, but the solidified blocks become softer leading to overconsumption by animals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the melting point parameter of the fat component by selecting high melting point fat (above 60°C). This high melting point fat acts as a structuring agent that maintains block hardness even at high fat content levels. The fat remains solid at ambient temperatures, providing structural support that prevents excessive softening and overconsumption by animals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where high melting point fat particles are distributed throughout the feed block matrix. This composite approach allows the fat to contribute energy while the solid fat particles and surrounding matrix work together to maintain overall block strength and hardness, preventing overconsumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If high fat content is added to pourable molasses based blends, then the energy content is improved, but the mixture tends to partially separate during solidification leading to surface layer of solidified fat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter control during the process. By maintaining the mixture temperature below the high melting point fat's melting point throughout mixing, pouring, and initial solidification, the fat remains in solid particulate form and distributes uniformly. This temperature control prevents the fat from melting and separating to the surface during solidification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls phase transitions of the high melting point fat. By keeping the system temperature below the fat's melting point, the fat remains in solid phase and disperses uniformly throughout the mixture. The controlled phase state prevents fat from transitioning to liquid phase and separating, ensuring uniform distribution and composition throughout the solidified block.
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 method produces feed blocks with high fat content (7-33 wt%) that are easy to pour, harden uniformly, and prevent fat separation, providing a balanced energy source and additional nutrients for animals without softening, ensuring controlled consumption and improved manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the pourable composition is heated, or exotherms, or both to produce a pourable composition temperature of at least about 50° C.
Implementation Method 2
the high fat pellet having total fat content of at least 40 wt % based on pellet weight and comprising at least one high melting point fat, the high melting point fat having a melt temperature of greater than 60° C.
Implementation Method 3
allowing the pourable admixture to harden into a feed block
Data Source
AI summary
Methods form animal feed compositions that exotherm and involve: providing a pourable composition comprising water and a hardening agent that exotherms to produce a pourable composition at an elevated temperature, admixing high fat pellets with the pourable composition at the elevated temperature to form an admixture, and allowing the admixture at the elevated temperature to cool and harden. The high fat pellets have at least one high melting point fat having a melt temperature equal to or greater than 60° C. (140° F.) such that the high fat pellets remain discrete in the admixture at the elevated temperature.