Microwave Drying of Solid Manure for Pathogen Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for reducing moisture and pathogens in manure are inefficient, requiring days to months and incurring high costs due to the substantial weight and moisture content of wet manure, with no robust technology available for farm environments.
Innovation Solution
Exposing solid manure to microwave radiation on a conveyor system to rapidly reduce moisture and pathogen content, using a combination of microwave and infrared radiation to achieve dry and pathogen-reduced manure production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional methods (open solar drying, composting, forced evaporation) are used to reduce moisture in manure, then pathogen control is achieved, but the process requires days to months and incurs high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/thermal drying systems (open solar drying, composting, forced evaporation) with an electromagnetic radiation system using microwaves and infrared rays. This substitution enables rapid moisture removal and pathogen destruction within minutes rather than days or months, resolving the contradiction between pathogen control and time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the drying process by using electromagnetic radiation (microwaves at 2.45 GHz and infrared rays) to directly heat water molecules and organic matter in manure. This parameter change from conventional thermal conduction to electromagnetic heating enables rapid moisture evaporation and pathogen destruction, reducing processing time from months to minutes while maintaining effective pathogen control.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional drying methods are used, then moisture is reduced, but excessive cost is required for handling, transporting, and treating the substantial weight of wet manure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by rapidly reducing moisture content and destroying pathogens in manure before handling and transportation operations. By using microwave and infrared radiation to remove 80-90% of moisture content within minutes, the system significantly reduces the weight of manure that requires handling and transportation, thereby reducing energy consumption and costs associated with these operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional thermal drying systems with electromagnetic radiation-based drying using microwaves and infrared rays. This substitution achieves rapid moisture removal (reducing moisture content by 80-90%) in minutes rather than days, significantly reducing the weight of manure requiring handling and transportation, and thereby reducing energy loss and costs.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If open solar drying is used, then pathogen control is achieved, but the process requires months of drying time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces open solar drying with an electromagnetic radiation system using microwaves and infrared rays. This substitution increases the drying rate from months to minutes by directly heating water molecules and organic matter through electromagnetic radiation, enabling rapid moisture evaporation and pathogen destruction simultaneously, thereby resolving the contradiction between pathogen control and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the heating mechanism parameter from solar thermal conduction to electromagnetic radiation heating. By using microwaves (2.45 GHz) and infrared rays to directly excite water molecules and organic matter, the system achieves rapid heating and moisture evaporation, increasing the drying rate from months to minutes while maintaining effective pathogen control.
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 achieves an over 80% reduction in moisture weight and total manure weight, and significantly decreases pathogen content, making the process faster and more cost-effective than existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the solid manure to microwave radiation emitted from the microwave radiation source
Implementation Method 2
exposing the solid manure to microwave radiation emitted from the microwave radiation source to produce solid dry manure
Implementation Method 3
exposing the solid manure to infrared radiation emitted from the infrared radiation source
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure include methods of producing solid dry manure. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise disposing solid manure on a first conveyor operably coupled to a microwave radiation source. Such methods further comprise, using the first conveyor, conveying the solid manure past the microwave radiation source, and during the conveying, exposing the solid manure to microwave radiation emitted from the microwave radiation source to produce solid dry manure. Also provided are apparatuses that find use, e.g., in practicing the methods of the present disclosure.