Self-Sealing Probe for Oxygen-Free Coconut Water Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods of extracting coconut water from coconuts in the presence of oxygen lead to rapid oxidation, degrading the flavor, color, nutritional value, and other attributes, resulting in reduced consumer benefits and increased costs due to the need for costly transportation and handling to maintain quality.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a self-sealing probe that penetrates the coconut shell, forming a seal to prevent oxygen ingress and using an inert gas to extract coconut water into an oxygen-free collection vessel, ensuring minimal exposure to oxygen during extraction and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If coconut water is extracted in the presence of oxygen, then extraction process is simple and fast, but oxidation rapidly degrades flavor, color, nutritional value and other attributes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by introducing nitrogen gas into the extraction chamber to displace oxygen. The nitrogen atmosphere prevents oxidation of coconut water during extraction while maintaining efficient extraction speed. The system includes a nitrogen source, flow control valve, and sealed extraction chamber to maintain the inert environment throughout the extraction process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If growers transport coconuts to remote locations for processing to maintain quality, then consumer benefits are preserved, but transportation costs increase due to moving heavy coconuts twice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary inert atmosphere (nitrogen) between the coconut water and oxygen environment during extraction and storage. This allows local extraction at the grove without quality degradation, eliminating the need for remote processing facilities and reducing transportation costs. The nitrogen acts as a protective mediator that enables quality preservation at the extraction site itself.
3Loss of energy
If coconut water is extracted locally and transported to foreign countries, then transportation costs are reduced, but oxygen exposure during transit degrades the product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains coconut water in an inert nitrogen atmosphere from extraction through storage and transport. The sealed extraction chamber and storage containers are flushed with nitrogen to create an oxygen-free environment that prevents oxidation during transit to foreign countries, enabling local extraction without quality loss despite extended transport times.
4Device complexity
If standard extraction equipment is used, then device complexity is low, but subsequent handling and processing expose coconut water to oxygen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the extraction, transfer, and initial storage functions into a single integrated system that maintains inert atmosphere throughout. The extraction chamber connects directly to storage containers through nitrogen-purged pathways, eliminating exposure to ambient air during transfer operations. This combined approach prevents oxygen exposure without requiring complex separate systems for each operation.
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 effectively preserves the flavor, color, nutritional value, and other attributes of coconut water, delivering a fresher product with superior consumer benefits by preventing oxidation, thus reducing costs and maintaining quality throughout the supply chain.
Implementation Method 1
the self sealing probe forming a seal between shell of the coconut and the outer surface of the self sealing probe preventing non-inert gases from ingress into the coconut
Implementation Method 2
modifying an atmospheric condition within the coconut by providing an inert gas by way of an inert gas source at desired atmospheric pressure through a gas inlet into the coconut. The atmospheric condition being selected to engender flow of the coconut water through the egress port
Implementation Method 3
The coconut water is then transferred from the coconut by way of the egress port traversing the interior of the self sealing probe into an oxygen free collection vessel
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of preventing oxygen from contacting coconut water during extraction from a coconut. The method comprises the step of penetrating the shell of a coconut with at least one of a self sealing probe. The self sealing probe forms a seal between the shell of the coconut and the outer surface of the self sealing probe, preventing non-inert gases from ingress into the coconut contacting the coconut water therein. The method then prevents the coconut water from egress along the outer surface of the self sealing probe and modifies an atmospheric condition within the coconut by providing an inert gas. The atmospheric condition is selected to engender flow of the coconut water through the inside of the egress port. The coconut water is transferred into an oxygen free collection vessel.