Maple Sap Concentrator Using High-Pressure Osmotic Membrane

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for concentrating maple sap, such as evaporation and reverse osmosis, require significant energy and complex equipment, making them inefficient and costly, as well as environmentally undesirable.

Innovation Solution

A concentrator system that uses a fluid circuit and at least one osmotic membrane to process maple sap at a differential pressure of at least 600 PSI, allowing for the concentration of maple sap to 25° Brix or higher in a single step, without the need for cascading configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If evaporation is used to concentrate maple sap, then sugar concentration is achieved, but energy consumption is very high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesugar concentrationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of concentration from thermal evaporation to pressure-driven reverse osmosis. By applying differential pressure (at least 600 PSI) across semipermeable membranes, the system concentrates maple sap to 25° Brix or higher without the high energy consumption of evaporation, achieving over 92% sugar concentration in a single step

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal field (evaporation) with a mechanical field (pressure-driven reverse osmosis). The concentrator system uses a pump to generate differential pressure across osmotic membranes, substituting thermal energy with mechanical energy for the concentration process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Use of energy by moving object

If reverse osmosis machines are used to concentrate maple sap, then energy consumption is reduced, but equipment complexity increases due to cascading configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple concentration steps into a single integrated reverse osmosis unit. The concentrator system uses a single pump and single-pass configuration with semipermeable membranes to achieve 25° Brix or higher concentration in one step, eliminating the need for cascading multiple machines

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating pressure parameter to at least 600 PSI differential pressure, enabling single-step concentration that achieves over 92% sugar concentration. This high-pressure single-pass design replaces complex cascading configurations while maintaining energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If cascading reverse osmosis configurations are used, then concentration is achieved, but the number of steps and equipment components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesugar concentrationVSAvoidnumber of steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple concentration functions into a single reverse osmosis unit operating at high differential pressure. The system achieves 25° Brix or higher concentration in one continuous pass through the semipermeable membrane, eliminating the need for multiple incremental steps and associated equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 a high percentage of sugar concentration (approximately 92%) in a single step, reducing energy consumption, equipment complexity, and environmental impact, while being suitable for smaller sugar shacks and producers.

Implementation Method 1

at least one osmotic membrane operatively disposed about the fluid circuit and in fluid connection with the maple sap to be processed, for passing said maple sap to be processed through the at least one osmotic membrane, at differential pressure of at least 600 PSI, in order to withdraw water content from the maple sap being processed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReverse osmosis: Reverse Osmosis

Data Source

PatentUS20250032986A1Concentrator system, kit for assembling the same, and corresponding methods of assembling, operating and use associated thereto

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 LES EQUIP LAPIERRE INC

AI summary

A concentrator system is for processing maple sap for production of maple syrup. The concentrator system includes a fluid circuit for receiving maple sap to be processed from a given source of maple sap. At least one osmotic membrane is operatively disposed about the fluid circuit and in fluid connection with the maple sap to be processed, for passing the maple sap to be processed through the at least one osmotic membrane, at differential pressure of at least 600 PSI, in order to withdraw water content from the maple sap being processed and thus obtain a resulting concentrated maple sap in one single step.