Mobile Infield Biomass Extraction and Distillation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for extracting organic compounds from biomass require transporting harvested plants to remote processing centers, leading to handling and transportation issues that can result in the loss of desired compounds like trichomes from cannabis plants.
Innovation Solution
A mobile extraction system that allows for infield processing of biomass, using a mechanical harvester, speedloader, extraction vessel, and distillery system to extract and distill organic compounds directly at the point of harvest, minimizing handling and transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If harvested biomass is transported to remote processing centers, then centralized processing capability is improved, but loss of organic compounds (trichomes) occurs due to handling and transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system is divided into mobile extraction units that can be independently deployed at harvest locations. Each unit contains the complete extraction and distillation system, allowing processing to occur at the point of harvest rather than requiring transport to centralized facilities. This segmentation eliminates the transportation of fragile biomass while maintaining processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction system is designed as a mobile, dynamically deployable unit that can be transported to different harvest locations and then set up for processing. The system transitions from a static centralized facility to a dynamic mobile unit that follows the harvest locations, enabling processing at the point of need without fixed infrastructure requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If harvested biomass is transported to remote processing centers, then centralized processing infrastructure is improved, but handling damage to trichomes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile extraction system is deployed to the harvest location before processing begins, establishing the complete extraction and distillation infrastructure at the point of harvest. This preliminary deployment eliminates the need for subsequent transportation of biomass, as all processing operations can be performed immediately at the harvest site, thereby protecting trichome integrity.
3Loss of substance
If mobile extraction system is deployed infield, then handling and transportation of biomass is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile extraction system employs nested containment structures where the extraction chamber is housed within a protective enclosure, which itself is contained within the mobile platform. The speedloader mechanism nests cartridges within the extraction vessel, and the distillation system nests within the extraction apparatus. This nested arrangement organizes complex components into compact, manageable units that can be transported as a single integrated system.
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 infield processing system reduces the loss of organic compounds, increases the yield of extracted materials, and decreases the environmental impact associated with transportation, while also allowing for more efficient and cost-effective processing.
Implementation Method 1
the extraction vessel is sealed and a vacuum is drawn within the extraction vessel
Implementation Method 2
the distillery system is configured to distill the liquid extract
Implementation Method 3
a process solvent is applied to the biomass to extract one or more desired organic compounds from the biomass
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for obtaining desired organic compounds from harvested biomass. Some examples include an extraction vessel and a distillery system, where the extraction vessel is configured to wash harvested biomass with a process solvent to obtain a liquid extract, and where the distillery system is configured to distill the extract to separate the process solvent from the extract and obtain a distillate from the extract. Some embodiments additionally include a speedloader configured to load harvested biomass into the extraction vessel and a discharge gantry configured to remove processed biomass from the extraction vessel. In some embodiments, the extraction vessel, distillery system, speedloader, and discharge gantry are mobile and can be deployed “in field” at a harvest location.