Meat Injection Return Liquid Recycling Without Needle Plugging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for recycling liquids used in food treatment, particularly in meat injection systems, are inefficient due to particulate material that causes needle plugging and resource expenditure on filters and cleaning, leading to yield loss and additional costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that reduces the particle size of particulate material in the return solution using mechanical milling devices, often in conjunction with temperature reduction, to prevent needle plugging and enable efficient recycling without the need for extensive filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screening filters and separators are used to remove particles from return solution, then needle plugging is prevented, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes only the problematic solid particulate material from the return solution using centrifugal separation, while leaving the liquid phase and soluble components intact for recycling. This selective extraction prevents needle plugging without requiring complex multi-stage filtration systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the conventional mechanical filtration system (screens and filters) with a centrifugal separation system that uses rotational force to separate particles based on density and size. This substitution eliminates the need for filter media and reduces maintenance requirements.
2Reliability
If conventional filtration systems are implemented, then particle removal is achieved, but productivity decreases due to maintenance time and yield loss
Solution Approach 1:
The centrifugal separation system operates continuously alongside the injection process, allowing return solution to be processed and recycled without interrupting production. There are no downtime periods for filter changes or maintenance, maintaining continuous productive action.
Solution Approach 2:
The system efficiently discards only the solid particulate material that causes plugging problems while recovering and recycling the liquid portion of the return solution. This selective discarding and recovering maximizes material utilization and minimizes waste.
3Manufacturing precision
If finer filters are added on the feed side of injection device, then fine particle removal is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical filtration systems with centrifugal separation that achieves fine particle removal through rotational force. The centrifugal field generates sufficient separating power to remove fine particles without requiring complex filter assemblies or multiple filtration stages.
4Productivity
If return solution is recycled without particle removal, then recycling efficiency increases, but needle plugging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The centrifugal separation system extracts solid particles from the return solution before recycling, enabling high-efficiency recycling while preventing needle plugging. The extracted particles are removed from the circulation loop, allowing continuous reliable operation.
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 effectively reduces particle size to prevent needle clogging, enhances recycling efficiency, and increases yield by eliminating the need for filters and associated maintenance, while maintaining product safety and quality.
Implementation Method 1
A method and system that reduces the particle size of particulate material in the return solution using mechanical milling devices
Implementation Method 2
often in conjunction with temperature reduction, to prevent needle plugging and enable efficient recycling without the need for extensive filtration
Data Source
AI summary
A return liquid containing particles resulting from treating food is treated to reduce the size of the particles and recycled for further food treatment. Embodiments include injecting a solution into a body of meat, recovering a return solution containing particulate material resulting from injecting the body of meat, optionally reducing the temperature of the return solution, mechanically reducing the particle size of the particulate material in the return solution to form a reduced return solution, conveying the reduced return solution to a holding tank and recycling the reduced return solution for injection into a body of meat. Embodiments also include a system for recycling a food treating liquid including a mechanical milling device, an optional chilling device, and a holding tank including first, second and third sections, a first weir separating the first and second sections, and a second weir separating the second and third sections, wherein the second weir extends higher than the first weir.