Starch Paste Recirculation for Enzyme Inactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In continuous enzymatic starch processing, the starch paste cannot be reliably inactivated to the required temperature before being discarded as waste water, leading to inefficiencies and costs due to uncontrolled enzyme reactions and product loss.
Innovation Solution
A device with a circulation system that recirculates the starch paste back to the reaction container during the heating phase until the inactivation temperature is reached, allowing for controlled heating and preventing premature discharge, and a dual transport system for safe storage after inactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the starch paste is discharged into the sewage system during the heating-up phase of thermal inactivation, then the risk of uncontrolled enzyme reactions is avoided, but waste water and product loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle by capturing the starch paste that would otherwise be discarded during the heating-up phase and redirecting it through the transport section back to the reaction container. This allows the paste to be reheated and reprocessed until inactivation temperature is reached, thereby recovering the product that would have been lost to the sewage system while ensuring reliable enzyme inactivation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by creating a closed-loop system where the transport section continuously circulates starch paste between the reaction container and the inactivation device during the heating-up phase. This ensures that the useful action of heating and inactivating the starch paste continues without interruption, preventing both product loss and uncontrolled enzyme reactions
2Loss of substance
If the starch paste is circulated back to the reaction container during heating-up phase, then product loss is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing the transport section to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a discharge path to the sewage system and a recirculation path back to the reaction container. The same transport infrastructure is used for both waste removal and product recovery, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated systems and minimizing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The transport section acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the inactivation device and the reaction container. By introducing this intermediate transport mechanism, the patent enables flexible routing of starch paste without requiring direct connections or complex valve systems, thereby managing device complexity while achieving product recovery
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 method reduces waste water and product loss by ensuring complete inactivation before storage or further processing, optimizing energy use and maintaining starch paste usability.
Implementation Method 1
an inactivation device, in which steam is introduced into the starch paste and the starch paste is heated, among other things, by the heat of condensation released
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device and a method for the continuous decomposition of starch by means of a reaction container (2) for producing enzymatically decomposed starch paste, a first transport section (4, 7, 21, 22) for a volumetric flow of the starch paste having at least one pump (5) and an inactivation device (6) for heating the starch paste to the inactivation temperature of the enzymes. The invention is characterised in that the first transport section (4, 7, 21, 22) provides a circuit of the starch paste between the reaction container (2), pump (5) and inactivation device (6) and a second transport section (23) is provided, by means of which at least one part-stream of the starch paste is transferred from the first transport section (4, 7, 21, 22) downstream of the inactivation device (6) into a storage container (11) or for further processing.