Continuous Flow Ozone Sterilization for Livestock Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sterilizing livestock feed are inadequate, as they often rely on hazardous chemicals, heat processing, or UV light, which are costly, inefficient, or difficult to apply continuously due to the flowing nature of feed, and there is a lack of viable ozone-based systems for effective disinfection.
Innovation Solution
A continuous flow ozone sterilization system that includes a treatment chamber with an ozone generator, a material movement mechanism, sensors for monitoring ozone and temperature, and a filter to manage ozone emissions, allowing for adjustable ozone concentrations and flow rates to effectively disinfect bulk materials like livestock feed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical bactericides and fungicides are used to sanitize livestock feed, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but safety and environmental harm worsen due to hazardous and carcinogenic properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ozone (O3), a strong oxidant, as the disinfecting agent to sanitize livestock feed. Ozone generates reactive oxygen species that effectively kill bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens through oxidation, providing superior disinfection effectiveness while being non-toxic and environmentally benign compared to chemical bactericides and fungicides.
2Reliability
If heat processing is used to sanitize livestock feed, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but cost and energy consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal/heat-based disinfection system with an ozone-based chemical disinfection system. Instead of using high-temperature heat processing that consumes significant energy, the system uses ozone gas generation and delivery mechanisms that operate at ambient temperatures, dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective disinfection.
3Reliability
If UV light exposure is used to sanitize livestock feed, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but ease of application worsens due to difficulty in continuous processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a continuous flow system where livestock feed moves through a treatment chamber while ozone is continuously generated and delivered. The system includes a feed conveyor, ozone generator, and treatment chamber configured to allow continuous passage of feed through the ozone field, enabling uninterrupted disinfection processing that is far easier to implement at scale compared to batch UV processing.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If ozone systems are deployed for livestock feed sterilization, then safety and environmental friendliness are improved, but disinfection effectiveness worsens due to inadequate system design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates variable parameters including adjustable ozone concentration levels, controllable feed flow rates, and modifiable exposure times. The system can dynamically adjust ozone generation rates and feed passage speed to optimize disinfection effectiveness for different feed types and contamination levels, ensuring adequate sterilization while maintaining safety and environmental benefits.
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 provides a safe and efficient method for disinfecting bulk materials by ensuring effective ozone exposure, reducing contamination risks, and minimizing environmental impact through controlled ozone release and absorption, thus addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
an ozone generator to generate ozone
Implementation Method 2
a fan in communication with the output port, the fan configured to create a negative pressure within the treatment chamber to cause the flow of ozone introduced at the first end via the input port to exit at the second end via the output port
Implementation Method 3
a filter, the filter configured to perform one of: convert the ozone into oxygen for release into the local atmosphere, or remove toxicity from the flow of gas before it is emitted into the atmosphere
Data Source
AI summary
A continuous flow sterilization system includes an inclined treatment chamber having a first end and a second end. An ozone generator generates a flow gas containing ozone; an input opening to receive a bulk material into the treatment chamber. An input port is provided for introducing the flow gas containing of ozone into the treatment chamber. A first sensor measures a level of ozone in the gas output of the treatment chamber. The other sensors measure ozone concentration and temperature within the treatment chamber. An output opening provides an exit for the bulk material. An output port provides an exit for the flow gas. An auger is disposed within the treatment chamber to move the bulk material through the treatment chamber.