Parallel Centrifugal Separators for Cleaner Agricultural Processing Water

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural processing establishments face challenges in achieving USDA microbial performance standards due to the presence of insoluble materials like feathers, fecal matter, and insoluble fats, which interact with antimicrobials and increase microbial loads, rendering them less effective.

Innovation Solution

A centripetal force-based solid/liquid separator system using centrifugal pumps and separators to remove insoluble materials from aqueous streams, maintaining cleaner water quality and reducing microbial counts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antimicrobial interventions are used to reduce microbial load, then microbial reduction is achieved, but the presence of solid and liquid contaminants interacts with the antimicrobials and renders them less effective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobial reduction effectivenessVSAvoidcontaminant interaction with antimicrobials

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The separator system removes solid and liquid contaminants from aqueous streams before antimicrobial interventions are applied. This preliminary separation action prevents contaminants from interacting with and degrading the antimicrobials, thereby maintaining their effectiveness throughout the processing operation rather than just at the moment of application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and removes harmful solid contaminants (feathers, fecal matter, ingesta) and liquid contaminants (insoluble fats) from the aqueous stream using centrifugal separation. This extraction eliminates the substances that would otherwise interact with and reduce antimicrobial effectiveness, allowing the antimicrobials to function at full potency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If solids and insoluble liquids are present in aqueous streams, then they serve as food sources for microbes and increase microbial load, but removing them requires additional processing steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobial load controlVSAvoidprocessing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex multi-step mechanical processing with a single centrifugal separation unit that uses rotational force to separate solids and insoluble liquids from aqueous streams. This mechanical substitution achieves contaminant removal without requiring multiple sequential processing steps, thereby controlling microbial load while minimizing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The separator system changes the physical parameters of the aqueous stream by applying centrifugal force through rotation, which separates components based on density differences. This parameter change approach efficiently removes organic contaminants that serve as microbial food sources without requiring complex chemical or biological treatment steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If water streams are used extensively in poultry processing, then processing operations can be performed, but the water streams become contaminated with solids and insoluble liquids

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing throughputVSAvoidwater quality maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously discards separated solids and insoluble liquids from the aqueous stream while recovering and recycling the cleaned water back into processing operations. This maintains high water quality throughout extended processing periods, enabling sustained productivity without progressive contamination of the water streams used in poultry processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The centrifugal separator operates continuously alongside processing operations, constantly removing contaminants as they enter the aqueous stream. This continuous action maintains water quality throughout the entire processing duration, allowing productivity to be maintained without interruption for water quality restoration or replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 effectively reduces turbidity, microbial loads, and insoluble solids, enhancing compliance with USDA standards and maintaining cleaner liquid conditions for poultry processing.

Implementation Method 1

A centripetal force-based solid/liquid separator system using centrifugal pumps and separators to remove insoluble materials from aqueous streams

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

Agricultural processing establishments face challenges in achieving USDA microbial performance standards

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS12351489B2Separator system for use in agricultural processing

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 SAFE FOODS CORP

AI summary

An agricultural processing system includes a process that uses water and produces wastewater having insoluble solids, a pump configured to receive and pressurize the wastewater from the process, and a plurality of centrifugal separators connected in parallel and configured to receive the wastewater from the pump. The separators are each configured to separate out the insoluble solids from the wastewater to produce a cleaned wastewater.