Larvae Storage Tank With Agitated Cooling Medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for storing live insect larvae on an industrial scale face challenges such as clustering, inhomogeneous cooling, and microbial pathogen growth, leading to quality degradation and space inefficiency, as well as the risk of crushing and cannibalism due to metabolic activity.
Innovation Solution
A storage tank system that maintains insect larvae in a controlled water environment with agitation and cooling to below 15°C, preferably 7°C, to prevent clustering, metabolic activity, and pathogen growth, using a water-to-larvae ratio of 30:70 to 80:20 and continuous water flow to ensure uniform cooling and prevent crushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple smaller sized containers are used for storing live larvae, then the larvae can be stored, but the larvae tend to cluster and form hot spots causing degradation and the system becomes space-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple smaller containers into a single large storage tank. This allows for high-density storage of larvae while eliminating the clustering problem that occurs in smaller containers. The large volume enables uniform cooling and prevents hot spots, resolving the contradiction between storing large quantities and maintaining space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the storage system by introducing a cooling medium (water or other fluids) and controlling temperature to below 15°C. This parameter change prevents larval clustering and metabolic activity, enabling high-density storage without space inefficiency or quality degradation.
2Productivity
If high density of larvae is achieved in containers, then storage efficiency improves, but crushing of larvae occurs due to their own weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cooling medium (water) as an intermediary substance that fills the storage tank and surrounds the larvae. This intermediary provides buoyancy support, preventing larvae from crushing each other under their own weight, while simultaneously enabling high-density storage and uniform cooling throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and distribution parameters by submerging larvae in a cooling fluid medium. This parameter change provides hydrostatic support that prevents crushing, enables high-density storage, and ensures uniform cooling, thereby resolving the contradiction between storage efficiency and larval safety.
3Quantity of substance
If larvae are stored at high density, then storage capacity increases, but inhomogeneous distribution causes hot spots and quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of storage and cooling into a single integrated system. The cooling medium circulates throughout the entire tank volume, ensuring uniform temperature distribution even at high larval densities. This eliminates hot spots and maintains quality consistency while maximizing storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter by maintaining the storage environment at below 15°C, preferably 7°C. This temperature control prevents larval clustering, inhibits microbial growth, and ensures homogeneous distribution, thereby maintaining quality consistency while achieving high storage capacity.
4Duration of action of moving object
If larvae are stored alive for extended periods, then buffering and continuous processing are enabled, but metabolic activity causes quality degeneration and pathogen growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter to below 15°C, preferably 7°C, which dramatically slows down metabolic activity in larvae. This parameter change enables extended storage durations (several days) while preventing quality degradation and pathogen growth, as the low temperature inhibits biological processes that would otherwise occur during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous cooling and circulation of the cooling medium throughout the storage period. This continuous action maintains stable temperature conditions, preventing quality degradation and pathogen growth over extended periods, while enabling buffering and continuous processing operations.
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 method effectively prolongs the storage period of insect larvae by preventing clustering, metabolic activity, and pathogen growth, ensuring consistent quality and reducing space requirements while allowing for continuous extraction and processing.
Implementation Method 1
cooling of the content to a temperature below 15° C.
Implementation Method 2
continuous water flow to ensure uniform cooling
Implementation Method 3
agitation and cooling to below 15°C, preferably 7°C
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for storing insect larvae by means of a storage means. The insect larvae are stored in a cooling medium, e.g. water, in the storage means. The amount of water in the larvae-water mixture in the storage means is controlled to be between 30% and 80%. The content of the storage means is maintained at a temperature below 15° C. The content of the storage means is agitated using agitating means included in the storage means.