Solar-Powered Roasting With Phase-Change Heat Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roasting systems for particulate materials like coffee or cacao beans face challenges in achieving high production rates with optimal energy efficiency, leading to energy wastage and environmental emissions, while traditional methods compromise on quality due to varying roasting temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A roasting system utilizing a photovoltaic unit, heat storage device with phase change materials, and a thermal circuit to optimize energy generation and storage, enabling continuous roasting with controlled temperature zones and reduced emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional roasting methods operate at high temperatures for rapid production, then productivity increases, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to burning and loss of refined flavours
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts roasting temperature over time through multiple heating phases (pre-heating, roasting, cooling) with specific temperature ranges and durations. This dynamic temperature control enables high production rates while maintaining quality by preventing burning during rapid roasting
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes key process parameters including temperature (150-350°C ranges), time durations (5-30 minutes per phase), and atmospheric composition (oxygen-controlled environments). These parameter changes enable rapid roasting without burning by optimizing the thermal and chemical conditions throughout the process
2Device complexity
If open system roasting is used for simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of energy increases due to emissions of roasting gas and steam to the outside
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers thermal energy from exhaust gases and steam that would otherwise be discarded to the environment. Heat exchangers capture this waste heat to pre-heat incoming air and water, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining a relatively simple system structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic and hydraulic systems including fans for air circulation, pumps for water circulation through heat exchangers, and controlled gas flow systems. These systems enable energy recovery and efficient heat transfer while adding only moderate complexity to the overall device
3Object-generated harmful factors
If emissions treatment installations operate at high power levels for environmental compliance, then object-generated harmful factors are reduced, but use of energy increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts harmful exhaust gases and steam into beneficial resources by using them as heat sources. The exhaust gases and steam are routed through heat exchangers to provide thermal energy for pre-heating and process water, transforming environmental liabilities into energy assets that reduce overall emissions and energy consumption
4Manufacturing precision
If low temperature traditional roasting is used for quality, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to long duration
Solution Approach 1:
The roasting process is segmented into distinct phases (pre-heating, roasting, cooling) with specific temperature ranges and time durations for each. This segmentation allows optimization of each phase independently, achieving high quality through controlled low-temperature zones while maintaining overall productivity through efficient phase transitions and parallel processing capabilities
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 achieves high-quality roasting at low temperatures with reduced energy consumption and emissions, utilizing solar energy efficiently and minimizing waste through phase change material storage.
Implementation Method 1
a photovoltaic unit (100) configured for generating electricity from solar radiation
Implementation Method 2
a heat storage device (200) comprising at least one phase change material
Implementation Method 3
the storage of latent heat through the use of phase change materials proves to be a solution of interest since it can lead to reduced storage size and to high temperature
Implementation Method 4
a thermal circuit (400) connecting the heat storage device (200) to the roasting device (300) and configured for circulating a fluid (F1) through the roasting device (300)
Data Source
AI summary
A system for roasting particulate material, such as coffee or cacao beans, grains, or malt, includes a photovoltaic unit configured for generating electricity from the solar radiation, a heat storage device comprising at least one phase change material, a roasting device configured for roasting said particulate material, a thermal circuit connecting the heat storage device to the roasting device and configured for circulating a fluid through the roasting device, and an electrical circuit connecting the photovoltaic unit to the heat storage device and configured for exchanging heat with said at least one phase change material.