Olive Oil Extraction System with Nitrogen Inert Atmosphere
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current olive oil extraction methods suffer from oxidation and enzymatic reactions due to atmospheric air introduction, leading to reduced polyphenol concentration and quality issues, particularly during the malaxing process, which is labor-intensive and difficult to control uniformly.
Innovation Solution
A continuous system involving anaerobic compaction and controlled oxygen environments throughout the extraction process, using a first apparatus to form a homogenous paste and a second apparatus for malaxing under pressurized conditions, followed by separation in a third apparatus, ensuring minimal oxygen exposure and optimized phenolic preservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional mechanical pressing and malaxing methods are used, then oil extraction is achieved, but atmospheric air is introduced causing oxidation and reduced polyphenol concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by replacing atmospheric air with nitrogen gas throughout the extraction process. Nitrogen is introduced into the extraction chamber and maintains a positive pressure environment, preventing oxygen from contacting the olive paste and extracted oil. This eliminates oxidation reactions and preserves polyphenol concentration while enabling efficient oil extraction.
2Productivity
If traditional batch malaxing process is used, then oil extraction occurs, but the process is labor-intensive and difficult to control uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous extraction by continuously feeding olive paste into the extraction chamber and continuously removing extracted oil, replacing traditional batch processing. This continuous operation eliminates manual intervention steps, ensures uniform processing conditions throughout, and significantly improves both productivity and operational consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors that continuously monitor parameters such as oil concentration, flow rate, and nitrogen pressure. This feedback system automatically adjusts extraction conditions to maintain optimal uniformity, eliminating the difficulty of manual control and ensuring consistent quality throughout the continuous extraction process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If enzymatic reactions are allowed to proceed with atmospheric air, then cell wall lysis occurs, but polyphenol degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses nitrogen atmosphere to suppress enzymatic oxidation reactions. By maintaining positive nitrogen pressure throughout the extraction chamber and paste handling system, oxygen is excluded from contact with the olive paste, preventing polyphenol degradation while still allowing necessary enzymatic lysis to occur in the absence of oxygen.
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 enhances polyphenol concentration and oil yield while reducing oxidation, allowing for a more efficient and automated process with improved quality and reduced operational costs by maintaining controlled environmental conditions throughout the extraction.
Implementation Method 1
The first apparatus may be configured to anaerobically compact the paste
Implementation Method 2
a second apparatus for malaxing under pressurized conditions
Implementation Method 3
followed by separation in a third apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A system 400 for obtaining a substance from a commodity has a first apparatus 420 with first 422 and second 424 openings, a device 426 for moving the commodity through the first apparatus, and at least one blade 428 for shearing the commodity. The at least one blade 428 is positioned between the first opening 422 and the second opening 424. A second apparatus 440 has a first opening 442 and a second opening 444, with the first opening 442 being fluidly connected to the second opening 424 of the first apparatus 420. The second apparatus 440 includes a device 446 for moving the sheared commodity from the second apparatus first opening 442 to the second opening 444. A third apparatus 460 obtains the substance from the sheared commodity, including a separator 460 having a first opening 462 fluidly connected to the second opening 444 of the second apparatus 440.