Vacuum Closed System for Essential Oil Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting essential oils from plant material are costly and hazardous due to the use of high-pressure systems, which pose safety risks and inefficiencies in solvent recovery.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum closed system employing an oil separation kettle with a heat jacket and condenser for efficient solvent vaporization and separation, allowing for the safe and efficient extraction and recovery of essential oils using a solvent like alcohol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-pressure systems are used to force solvent through plant material, then extraction efficiency is improved, but safety risks and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional high-pressure extraction approach by using vacuum (low pressure) to pull solvent through the plant material. The system creates a pressure differential by removing air from the extraction chamber, causing solvent to flow through the material without requiring high-pressure forcing, thereby maintaining extraction efficiency while eliminating safety hazards associated with high-pressure systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from high-pressure to vacuum/low-pressure conditions. By operating under vacuum, the system achieves solvent penetration through plant material without the dangerous high pressures of conventional systems, and the subsequent heating phase uses controlled temperature parameters to evaporate and recover the solvent
2Productivity
If high-pressure systems are used for extraction, then solvent penetration through material is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex high-pressure pumping systems to force solvent through material, the patent uses a simple vacuum system to pull solvent through. This inversion of the pressure approach dramatically simplifies the equipment needed while achieving the same solvent penetration objective
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical high-pressure systems with a thermal-vacuum system. The solvent penetration is achieved through vacuum creation rather than mechanical pressure forcing, and the subsequent solvent removal is achieved through heating and condensation rather than mechanical separation systems
3Quantity of substance
If conventional extraction methods are used, then oil extraction is achieved, but solvent recovery is inefficient and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase transitions to achieve solvent recovery. After extraction, the system heats the solvent-oil mixture to evaporate the solvent (liquid to gas phase transition), then condenses the vapor back to liquid form (gas to liquid phase transition) in a separate condensation chamber. This allows complete solvent recovery and reuse, eliminating solvent loss and reducing operational costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the solvent from the oil-solvent mixture through evaporation and condensation, separating it from the essential oil. The recovered solvent is collected in a separate container for reuse, while the pure essential oil remains in the extraction chamber, achieving complete solvent 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 provides a safer and more efficient process for extracting essential oils, enabling the recovery of solvents in liquid form, thus reducing costs and improving oil purity.
Implementation Method 1
creating a vacuum in a kettle that is in fluid communication with the material container
Implementation Method 2
pulling the solvent through the plant material to extract oil from the plant material and pulling the mixture of solvent and extracted oil into the kettle with the vacuum
Implementation Method 3
heating the kettle; and pulling the solvent through the plant material to extract oil from the plant material and pulling the mixture of solvent and extracted oil into the kettle with the vacuum from the material container and separating the solvent from the oil by heating the kettle to a temperature that causes the solvent to evaporate out of the mixture of solvent and oil and form a solvent vapor
Implementation Method 4
heating the kettle to a temperature that causes the solvent to evaporate out of the mixture of solvent and oil and form a solvent vapor
Implementation Method 5
removing the solvent vapor from the kettle, condensing the solvent vapor into a liquid solvent, and collecting the liquid solvent in a collection tank
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of extracting essential oils from plant material through the use of a low pressure alcohol-based closed system that includes a solvent chamber connected to a material column that is, in turn, connected to a kettle. Plant material in the material column and the solvent in the solvent chamber are cooled using a cooling liquid, such as nitrogen. A vacuum pump connected to the kettle creates a vacuum in the kettle to draw the cooled solvent through the cooled plant material and extract essential oils, which are collected in the kettle.