Protein Batching System with Temperature-Controlled Holding Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual batching process for low-acid beverages, particularly those containing protein ingredients, is limited by time constraints, making it difficult to create larger batches while maintaining temperature-sensitive protein ingredients within safe storage conditions.
Innovation Solution
A protein system that includes a hydrating subsystem to combine powdered protein mixes with water and a holding subsystem with pasteurization capabilities to maintain the liquid protein blend at a temperature below 40°F, allowing for increased storage time and efficient decoupling of protein and non-protein ingredient preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual mixing of protein powder with water is used, then the batching process is simple, but the batch size is limited and storage time is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the batching process into separate subsystems: a protein subsystem that prepares and holds liquid protein blend independently, and a non-protein subsystem that prepares other ingredients. This segmentation allows each subsystem to operate at its own pace and capacity, enabling larger batch sizes without compromising storage time constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid protein blend is prepared and held in a holding tank before being combined with non-protein ingredients. This preliminary action allows the protein component to be ready in advance, decoupled from the timing constraints of mixing all ingredients together, thus enabling larger batches to be prepared without extending the critical storage time of the protein mixture.
2Productivity
If manual protein mixing is used, then equipment complexity is low, but production efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular subsystems (protein subsystem, non-protein subsystem, blending system) that can be independently operated and maintained. This segmentation enables higher production efficiency through specialized equipment in each subsystem while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid protein holding tank acts as an intermediary between the protein mixing process and the final blending stage. It buffers the protein preparation from the time-sensitive mixing operation, allowing more efficient protein processing without directly increasing the complexity of the time-critical blending pathway.
3Productivity
If protein and non-protein ingredients are mixed together manually, then the process is straightforward, but cleaning downtime is increased
Solution Approach 1:
By segregating protein and non-protein ingredient preparation into separate subsystems with separate holding tanks, the system enables independent cleaning of each subsystem. This segmentation allows faster turnaround between batches since only the tanks and equipment actually used need cleaning, rather than a single large mixing vessel that must be completely cleaned for every batch.
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
Enables the creation of larger batches in less time while maintaining temperature-sensitive protein ingredients within safe storage conditions, increasing storage time and reducing downtime for cleaning, thus enhancing efficiency and scalability.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid protein holding tank is configured to maintain a temperature of the liquid protein blend contained therein less than or equal to 40 degrees Fahrenheit
Implementation Method 2
the holding subsystem having a pasteurizer and a liquid protein holding tank
Data Source
AI summary
A protein system may include a mixer configured to combine a powdered protein mix with water to produce a liquid protein blend. A protein system may include a liquid protein batch tank fluidly coupled to the mixer and configured to receive the liquid protein blend from the mixer. A protein system may include a holding subsystem including a liquid protein holding tank fluidly coupled to the liquid protein batch tank and configured to store the liquid protein blend received from the liquid protein batch tank, wherein the liquid protein holding tank is configured to maintain a temperature of the liquid protein blend contained therein less than or equal to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.