Horizontal Drum Distillation for Continuous Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave-based distillation apparatuses for extracting volatile components from biological materials, such as those from the Cannabaceae family, require frequent sealing adjustments during rotation, increasing preparation time and material consumption.
Innovation Solution
A distillation apparatus with a horizontally oriented drum that allows for simplified handling and operation, eliminating the need for sealing adjustments, using a rotatable drum with a flexible receptacle and multiple microwave generators for efficient extraction, and incorporating a control unit for process monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the glass container is rotatable relative to the cylindrical connecting duct, then the extraction process can be continuous, but the sealing interposition has to be renewed for each cycle, increasing preparation time and material consumption
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the glass container relative to the connecting duct as in prior art, the invention inverts the approach by making the connecting duct rotatable relative to the glass container. This inversion allows the sealing interface to remain stationary while the duct rotates, eliminating the need to renew the sealing interposition for each extraction cycle and thereby reducing preparation time while maintaining continuous operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic rotation of the connecting duct relative to the glass container, allowing the system to adapt during operation. The duct can be rotated to different positions to facilitate continuous extraction while the sealing arrangement remains stationary, solving the contradiction between continuous operation and sealing maintenance
2Productivity
If the glass container is rotatable relative to the cylindrical connecting duct, then material can be continuously processed, but sealing material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the rotational arrangement by making the connecting duct rotatable rather than the glass container. This ensures the sealing interposition remains stationary at the interface between the duct and container, eliminating repeated sealing material consumption while enabling continuous material processing through duct rotation
3Ease of operation
If a vertical rotation axis is used in the drum, then the drum can be easily accessed, but the sealing arrangement becomes complex and requires frequent renewal
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the rotational axis orientation from vertical to horizontal, as stated in the claim. This horizontal rotation axis simplifies the sealing arrangement by allowing the drum to rotate within a fixed sealing plane, reducing the complexity of the sealing arrangement while maintaining ease of access to the drum for loading and unloading materials
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 apparatus simplifies handling and enhances extraction efficiency by allowing continuous operation without sealing adjustments, efficient microwave distribution, and precise process control, reducing unproductive time and material waste.
Implementation Method 1
The apparatus further comprises at least one microwave generator for irradiating the biological material with microwave radiation when received in the drum
Implementation Method 2
heating by microwave radiation, such that water in the biological material evaporates and breaks the cell structure
Implementation Method 3
water in the biological material evaporates and breaks the cell structure, so that both, water vapor and volatile components are released
Implementation Method 4
The volatile materials can be collected after condensing it in the condenser
Data Source
AI summary
The invention refers to a distillation apparatus (100) for extraction of volatile components from biological material (50), especially from plants, comprising a housing (10) defining a sample chamber (S), a drum (30) arranged in the sample chamber (S), the drum (30) defining a receiving chamber (R) for receiving the biological material (50), and at least one microwave generator (70) for irradiating the biological material (50) with microwave radiation when received in the drum (30); wherein the drum (30) is rotatably arranged in the sample chamber (S) about a rotation axis (H) which is oriented substantially horizontally.