Ruminant Feed Protein Concentration via Compression Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for improving protein resistance in ruminant feed are energy-intensive and inefficient, particularly when dealing with biomass sources with high moisture content, and struggle to effectively influence Maillard reactions.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the compression of biomass pulp to separate a juice fraction and a cake fraction, with increased temperature and pressure, followed by maintaining the cake fraction at a controlled temperature to enhance protein resistance without additional energy input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional methods (heating, aldehydes, Maillard reactions) are used to make protein more resistant, then protein resistance increases, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The compression device itself generates the required temperature (70-90°C) and pressure (5-20 bar) through the mechanical compression process, eliminating the need for external heating systems. The system uses its own operational energy to create the conditions needed for protein resistance, rather than requiring separate energy input systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The method changes the physical parameters of the biomass pulp through compression, achieving temperature increase from ambient to 70-90°C and pressure increase to 5-20 bar. These parameter changes occur naturally during compression, enabling protein resistance without additional energy input for heating.
2Quantity of substance
If biomass pulp is compressed to separate juice fraction and cake fraction, then protein concentration in cake fraction increases by 50%, but compression energy requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it separates the juice fraction from the cake fraction, concentrates the protein in the cake fraction by 50%, and generates the required temperature (70-90°C) and pressure (5-20 bar) for protein resistance. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate processing steps and their associated energy costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The method combines the separation function and the heating/pressurizing function into a single compression step. The separation of juice and cake fractions occurs simultaneously with the generation of temperature and pressure conditions needed for protein resistance, merging multiple process steps into one operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional heating is applied to maintain temperature for protein resistance, then protein resistance improves, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression device generates its own thermal energy through the compression process, maintaining the biomass pulp temperature at 70-90°C without requiring external heating systems. This self-generated heat eliminates the operational costs associated with separate heating equipment and energy consumption.
4Stability of the object's composition
If water is added during processing to facilitate Maillard reactions, then protein resistance increases, but processing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The method extracts and utilizes the water already present in the biomass pulp (maintaining above 50% water content) for the protein resistance process, rather than adding external water. This eliminates the need for separate water addition systems and simplifies the processing workflow.
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 method achieves a 50% increase in protein content in the cake fraction, reduces energy costs by eliminating the need for additional energy input, and allows for the production of a protein concentrate from the juice fraction, replacing less environmentally friendly feed components like soy.
Implementation Method 1
compressing the biomass pulp to separate the biomass pulp in a juice fraction and a cake fraction having a water content that is above 50% by weight of the cake fraction, wherein the compressing is performed such that the temperature and pressure during compressing are increased to respectively a temperature of at least 70 °C and a pressure of at least 5 bar
Implementation Method 2
These methods include heating and/or the use of aldehydes, such as formaldehyde, alcohol or bentonites and also include the Maillard reactions taking place while making protein more resistant
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and system for obtaining a protein containing composition for ruminant feed. The method according to the invention comprises: - providing a protein containing biomass material, preferably grass and/or alfalfa; - reducing the biomass material to biomass pulp; - compressing the biomass pulp to separate the biomass pulp in a juice fraction and a cake fraction having a water content that is above 50% by weight of the cake fraction, wherein the compressing is performed such that the temperature and pressure during compressing are increased to respectively a temperature of at least 70 °C, preferably at least 120 °C, and a pressure of at least 5 bar; - maintaining the cake fraction at a temperature in the range 50 °C to 90 °C, preferably around 70 °C for a period of at least ten minutes; and - removing the cake fraction.