Internal CO2 Delivery Device for Pressure Disinfestation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing pressure disinfestation methods using CO2 are time-consuming for large packaging units and can result in incomplete treatment due to the slow diffusion of CO2 and the risk of compressed air pockets forming, which may protect pests from being effectively killed.

Innovation Solution

A supply device with an inert gas delivery area that can be placed inside the packaging unit, allowing direct introduction of pressurized CO2 through delivery openings, accelerating the CO2 concentration and ensuring uniform treatment by providing a direct path for the inert gas to reach the product, thereby shortening treatment cycles and ensuring effective pest elimination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If CO2 is supplied only from the outside into the packaging unit, then the treatment can be carried out with simple equipment, but the treatment time becomes excessively long and compressed air pockets may form

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidtreatment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The gas supply system is segmented into two parts: external CO2 supply into the pressure chamber, and internal CO2 supply through the delivery device placed inside the packaging unit. This segmentation allows CO2 to reach the product from both outside and inside simultaneously, dramatically reducing treatment time while maintaining equipment simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A delivery device acts as an intermediary between the external CO2 supply and the product inside the packaging unit. The delivery device includes a delivery area with delivery openings that direct CO2 flow directly onto the product, ensuring uniform saturation without forming compressed air pockets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If CO2 is supplied only from the outside into the packaging unit, then the equipment remains simple, but the uniformity of CO2 distribution within the product deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidCO2 concentration uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The gas supply approach is segmented into external supply (pressure chamber) and internal supply (delivery device inside packaging). This dual-path segmentation ensures CO2 reaches all regions of the product uniformly, eliminating concentration gradients and air pockets while keeping equipment simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery device provides localized CO2 supply directly at the product location inside the packaging unit. The delivery area with multiple delivery openings creates locally high CO2 concentration zones that ensure uniform saturation throughout the product, improving manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If the packaging unit is large and densely packed, then the storage efficiency is improved, but the CO2 penetration speed into the product decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct storage capacityVSAvoidCO2 penetration speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The CO2 supply path is segmented into short external path (pressure chamber to packaging) and internal path (delivery device to product). This segmentation enables rapid CO2 penetration into densely packed products by delivering gas directly inside the packaging unit, maintaining high storage efficiency while improving penetration speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery device serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between external CO2 supply and the densely packed product interior. It channels CO2 directly into the product mass, overcoming the slow diffusion limitation of dense packaging while maintaining storage capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 significantly reduces treatment time and ensures complete CO2 saturation within the packaging, effectively killing pests by combining acidification, outgassing, and deoxygenation effects, while minimizing the risk of air pockets.

Implementation Method 1

an inert gas supply ( 18), which supplies pressurized inert gas into the pressure chamber ( 11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The gas introduced into the bag diffuses from the outside into the filling material in the bag

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

acidification of the body fluids through the formation of carbonic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCarbonic acid formation:

Implementation Method 4

Depressurization and (3) deoxygenation by replacing the air atmosphere with a CO2 atmosphere

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDepressurization: Depressurisation

Implementation Method 5

deoxygenation by replacing the air atmosphere with a CO2 atmosphere

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeoxygenation:

Data Source

PatentEP3235381B1Supply device, pressure disinfestation assembly, method for pressure disinfestation
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 CARBO KOHLENSAUREWERKE
  • EP3235381B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3235381B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3235381B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a supply device (1) for increasing the inert gas concentration in a product (16) located in a packaging unit (15) during pressure disinfection in a pressure chamber (11), wherein the supply device (1) comprises an inert gas supply (2) connected to an inert gas delivery area (7) which can be positioned within the packaging unit (15) and the product (16) contained therein during operation and thus allows inert gas supplied via the inert gas supply (2) to be directly supplied to the product (16) through at least one delivery opening (4), thereby increasing the inert gas concentration within the packaging unit (15) and/or accelerating the increase in the inert gas concentration. The invention further relates to a pressure disinfection arrangement (10) and a method for pressure disinfection.