Wood Pest Eradication via Continuous Thermal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for eradicating burrowed pests like gypsy moths and emerald ash borer beetles in wood, such as heat treatment in wood kilns, are slow, expensive, and often involve toxic chemicals or significant material loss, failing to meet regulatory requirements for efficient and safe pest eradication.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a closed chamber with a conveyor and heating system that heats wood pieces to a threshold temperature (at least 160°F for firewood and 132°F for pallets) for a specified time, using embedded temperature sensors and an air circulation system to maintain consistent temperatures, allowing for efficient and safe pest eradication while minimizing material loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wood is heated in traditional wood kilns to eradicate pests, then pests are killed and wood is dried, but the process is slow and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent heating zones along the conveyor path, allowing different sections of wood to be heated simultaneously at optimal temperatures, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining effective pest eradication
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system enables continuous feeding and processing of wood through the heating chamber, eliminating idle time between batches and maintaining constant heating action, which significantly increases productivity compared to batch processing in traditional kilns
2Reliability
If traditional heat treatment methods are used, then pests are eradicated, but the process is expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Embedded temperature sensors in the wood automatically monitor and feedback internal temperatures to the control system, enabling self-regulating heating that optimizes energy consumption and reduces operational costs while ensuring effective pest eradication
3Reliability
If fumigation is used to eradicate pests, then pests are killed, but toxic chemicals are released into the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses controlled heat treatment to achieve pest eradication, converting the harmful effect of high temperature into a beneficial sterilization process that kills pests without releasing toxic chemicals into the environment
4Reliability
If debarking is used to eradicate pests, then pests are eliminated, but a large amount of non-bark material is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the eradication parameter from mechanical removal (debarking) to thermal treatment, heating the wood to temperatures that kill pests while preserving all wood material, thereby eliminating material loss
5Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are embedded in wood for monitoring, then accurate temperature control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Embedded temperature sensors provide real-time feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts heating power to maintain target temperatures, achieving precise temperature control that ensures effective pest eradication
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 effectively kills pests and dries wood, ensuring compliance with regulations by achieving consistent internal wood temperatures, reducing processing time and costs, and avoiding environmental toxicity.
Implementation Method 1
a heating system configured for heating the chamber interior
Implementation Method 2
an air circulating system adapted for circulating air inside the chamber interior
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of sensors adapted for embedding in the interior of the wood pieces, the sensors also being adapted for sensing the temperature in the interior of the wood pieces
Implementation Method 4
a conveyor adapted for conveying the wood pieces from the entrance port through the chamber interior and out the exit port
Data Source
AI summary
A device and process for heating wood for the purpose of eradicating burrowed pests such as gypsy moths and emerald ash borer beetles are disclosed. The device is used for treating firewood and pallets made of wood to insure that burrowed pests are killed before transporting the wood across state lines in following of state regulations. The device comprises a conveyor adapted for transporting firewood or pallets an insulated and heated chamber. The wood core temperature of the wood is monitored using wireless temperature sensors. Conveyor speed is adjusted according to temperature readings in order to achieve a threshold wood core temperature and in order to maintain the threshold wood core temperature for the minimum required period of time.