Liquid Feed Dispensing System Pulsating Electric Field Reactor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid feeding systems for farm animals, particularly pigs, face challenges in efficiently processing vegetable raw materials due to high energy consumption and mechanical processing requirements, which are costly and inefficient, especially when using materials like corn silage that are difficult for monogastric animals to digest.
Innovation Solution
A liquid feeding system that utilizes a reactor with a processing area applying a pulsating electric field to disrupt cell structures in vegetable raw materials, reducing energy input and enabling non-thermal digestion without enzymes or mechanical energy, thereby improving feed utilization and digestibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical processes (pressing, expanding, extrusion) are used to achieve cell and nutrient disruption in plant raw materials, then cell disruption and nutrient release are improved, but energy consumption and equipment costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical disruption processes (pressing, expanding, extrusion) with a chemical treatment process using organic acids. The acid treatment dissolves cell walls and releases nutrients through chemical reactions rather than mechanical force, thereby achieving cell disruption without the high energy consumption associated with mechanical systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If thermal digestion is used to process plant raw materials, then cell structure breakdown is achieved, but energy consumption increases and products tend to burn
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes thermal digestion with chemical acid treatment. Organic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, or lactic acid are used to dissolve cell walls through chemical reactions at lower temperatures, avoiding the burning and excessive energy consumption problems associated with thermal processing methods.
3Manufacturing precision
If ensiling is used to process corn for liquid feed, then fermentation and nutrient breakdown occur, but the process becomes very time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary chemical treatment with organic acids to pre-digest and dissolve cell walls before feeding. This preliminary acid treatment accelerates nutrient breakdown and makes materials more digestible without requiring the extended fermentation time of traditional ensiling processes, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining or improving nutritional value.
4Productivity
If high crude fiber content materials are used in feed for monogastric animals, then feed durability and mechanizability improve, but digestibility decreases due to lack of enzymes for breaking down non-starch polysaccharides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces organic acids as an intermediary substance that facilitates the breakdown of non-starch polysaccharides in high fiber materials. The acids act as a mediator between the indigestible fiber and the animal's digestive system, chemically pre-processing the fiber to make it more accessible and digestible for monogastric animals that lack necessary enzymes, thereby improving digestibility without sacrificing feed durability.
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 achieves efficient processing of vegetable raw materials with lower energy and time requirements, making previously inaccessible feed components available and enhancing animal health by improving digestibility of high crude fiber content.
Implementation Method 1
a reactor (20) with a processing area and processing means, wherein the processing area is designed to receive a vegetable raw material, and wherein the processing means are designed to process the vegetable raw material by applying a pulsating electric field to a cell structure of the vegetable raw material in the processing area
Implementation Method 2
WO 03/022080 relates to an electroporation reactor for large-scale continuous processing of lumpy products
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
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AI summary
The invention relates to a liquid feed dispensing system for farm animals and to a method for mixing liquid feed and dispensing the mixed liquid feed to at least one farm animal. The liquid feed dispensing system comprises: a mixing tank for mixing liquid feed and for dispensing the mixed liquid feed to a feed line having at least one feed valve for dispensing the mixed liquid feed to at least one farm animal, and a reactor having a processing area and processing means, wherein the processing area is designed to accommodate a raw plant material, and wherein the processing means are designed to process the raw plant material by applying a pulsing electric field to a cellular structure of the raw plant material in the processing area, wherein the mixing tank and the reactor are connected to each other in order to conduct the processed raw plant material from the reactor to the mixing tank for mixing the liquid feed from the processed raw plant material.