SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODULAR DEHYDRATION WITH HEATING AND COOLING MODULES

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a selectively automated airflow system that quickly removes built up heat and moisture by introducing processed (temperature and humidity controlled) or ambient air, while removing heat accumulation found on the products and in the surrounding space during processing to provide higher rates of dehydration with lower food structure degradation and better volatile retention. All of this is completed while using less energy during processing than previous systems. The present system includes both asymmetric and symmetric perforations in air ducting that have been created by computer assisted guidance and can be further customized for processing specific agricultural, food and industrial ingredient inputs.

Claims

1. A modular dehydration system with heating and cooling modules, the system comprising: a temperature and humidity-controlled ducting system to introduce temperature-controlled and ambient air within said modular dehydration system; a conveyance channel, configured to guide movement and transmit said ambient air using at least one air vent; a central vent for exhausting hot air and excess heat and moisture; and a system processing unit, configured to receive and transmit sensor data from a plurality of sensors corresponding to said conveyance channel and said temperature and humidity-controlled ducting system.

2. The modular dehydration system of claim 1, wherein said humidity-controlled ducting system has asymmetric and symmetric perforations.

3. The modular dehydration system of claim 2, wherein heat transfer efficiency is increased by said asymmetric and symmetric perforations in said humidity-controlled ducting system.

4. The modular dehydration system of claim 2, further comprising of said asymmetric and symmetric perforations in said humidity-controlled ducting system utilizing computer-assisted guided to achieve desired airflow patterns.

5. The modular dehydration system of claim 1, wherein airflow introduced into said at least one air vent is customized using parameters of bio-active product inputs.

6. The modular dehydration system of claim 1, further comprising of said system processing unit receiving real-time adjustments to airflow parameters using feedback from said plurality of sensors.

7. The modular dehydration system of claim 1, wherein volatile compound retention is maximized by controlling temperature and humidity levels during a dehydration operation.

8. A method for heating and cooling modules in a modular dehydration system, the method comprising: monitoring and controlling a temperature within a temperature and humidity-controlled ducting system to introduce temperature-controlled and ambient air within said modular dehydration system; introducing ambient air using at least one air vent in said modular dehydration system through a conveyance channel; interposing a heating chamber between a cooling chamber; exposing a specimen to said ambient air within said modular dehydration system using said heating chamber and said cooling chamber; exhausting hot air and excess heat and moisture through at least one central vent; and processing, receiving and transmitting sensor data from a plurality of sensors on said conveyance channel and said temperature and said humidity-controlled ducting system through a system processing unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said humidity-controlled ducting system has asymmetric and symmetric perforations.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein heat transfer efficiency is increased by said asymmetric and symmetric perforations in said humidity-controlled ducting system.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising of said asymmetric and symmetric perforations in said humidity-controlled ducting system utilizing computer-assisted guided to achieve desired airflow patterns.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein airflow introduced into said at least one air vent is customized using parameters of bio-active product inputs.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising of said system processing unit receiving real-time adjustments to airflow parameters using feedback from said plurality of sensors.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein volatile compound retention is maximized by controlling temperature and humidity levels during a dehydration operation.

15. A modular dehydration system with heating and cooling modules, the system comprising: a temperature and humidity-controlled ducting system to introduce temperature-controlled and ambient air within said modular dehydration system, and wherein said humidity-controlled ducting system has asymmetric and symmetric perforations for temperature transfer; a conveyance channel, configured to guide movement and transmit said ambient air using at least one air vent, and wherein said conveyance channel uses said temperature and said humidity controlled ducting system to generate a desirable airflow pattern; a central vent for exhausting hot air and excess heat and moisture; and a system processing unit, configured to receive and transmit sensor data from a plurality of sensors corresponding to said conveyance channel and said temperature and said humidity-controlled ducting system.

16. The modular dehydration system of claim 15, further comprising of said temperature and said humidity-controlled ducting system utilizing bioactive data of a specimen or product undergoing a dehydration operation.

17. The modular dehydration system of claim 16, further comprising of said airflow introduced into said at least one air vent customized using parameters of bio-active product inputs.

18. The modular dehydration system of claim 15, further comprising of said system processing unit receiving real-time adjustments to airflow parameters using feedback from said plurality of sensors.

19. The modular dehydration system of claim 15, wherein volatile compound retention is maximized by controlling temperature and humidity levels during a dehydration operation.

20. The modular dehydration system of claim 15, wherein at least one heating chamber and at least one cooling chamber are disposed in proximity to said conveyance channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The various embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings. Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a rendering of the inner mechanism of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the method of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 4 depicts the modular dehydration system flow.

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates the sensor training model of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the present invention. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, processed (temperature and humidity controlled) or ambient air is pushed into the system while hot or warm air is exhausted in a separate vent. This occurs while the product moves through the dehydration system 100. The influx of processed (temperature and humidity controlled) or ambient air allows the product to receive a higher intensity of IR for dehydration purposes without the risk of burning or altering the product. The duct 102 on the top of the system brings in the processed (temperature and humidity controlled) or ambient air, which is vented onto the product at each of the cooling stations labeled below. The central vent 108 exhausts the hot air and moisture to prevent the accumulation of heat and moisture within the system. Interspersed between each cooling station 104 is a heating station 106. This is where the product is exposed to the low to high intensity IR for dehydration.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a rendering of the inner mechanism of the present invention. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the product is moved through the system on a conveyance system 200. The conveyance system located in the cooling stations are configured to provide processed (temperature and humidity controlled) or ambient air from the vents 202 onto the product from the cooling ducts 102 shown in FIG. 1. Hot or warm and moist air is then exhausted from the space via vents 204 located on each section of the conveyance 200 opposite of the processed (temperature and humidity controlled) or ambient air vents. Each cool air vent 202 contains an insert designed based on fluid dynamic analysis to ensure even distribution of airflow from the fan, through the ducts and out onto the material being dehydrated. This system of venting hot air and pushing in processed (temperature and humidity controlled) or ambient air allows for the product to receive a higher intensity of IR for dehydration purposes without burning or changing in composition.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the method of the present invention. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a product that is to be dehydrated enters the system through a conveyance process. The first IR chamber exposes the product to IR for dehydration purposes. Following the first chamber, the product enters a second non IR chamber in which processed (temperature and humidity controlled) or ambient air is pushed in and hot or warm (and moisture laden) air is exhausted out via a system of ducts and vents. This prevents the surface temperature of the product from overheating and burning, which may cause damage. Once the product has cooled in the second chamber, it enters another IR chamber, and this process of alternating IR and cooling chambers is repeated along the path of the conveyance in accordance with the system and its specific design for the product that is being dehydrated. The system can be designed to have various numbers of cooling or IR chambers to achieve the desired dehydration level of a specific product. Once the product has reached the desired level of dehydration, it exits the system.

[0026] FIG. 4 depicts the modular dehydration system flow 400. The airflow system 402 which comprises of the system processing unit 404, a heating chamber 406 with infrared light 412 (IR), and a cooling chamber 408. The system processing unit 404 retrieves data from sensors 410 mounted within the airflow system 402. The cooling chamber 408 retrieves cool air 414 and enables it to enter while also allowing hot air 416 to escape the chamber.

[0027] The modular dehydration system flow 400, is designed to optimize the dehydration process. Within the airflow system 402, the system processing unit 404 serves as the central control hub, managing the operation of the system from various communication devices, Bluetooth enabled devices, network connections (i.e., WiFi, internet, hotspot), and digital displays/interfaces. Integrated within the airflow system are heating and cooling chambers: the heating chamber 406 equipped with infrared light 412 (IR) for dehydration, and the cooling chamber 408 for temperature control. Mounted sensors 410 within the airflow system provide real-time data to the system processing unit 404, enabling precise control and monitoring of dehydration conditions throughout the process.

[0028] The dehydration process begins with the product exposed to IR in the first chamber, initiating the moisture withdrawal process with precision. AI analyzes data acquired from the sensors 410 to predict optimal dehydration conditions for preserving volatile compounds or specific compounds the model is trained to preserve. Subsequently, the product transitions into a non-IR chamber, the cooling chamber 408 where processed or ambient air is introduced, while hot or warm, moistened air is exhausted via ducts and vents. This alternating choreography of IR and cooling chambers prevents the product surface from overheating, minimizing the risk of damage. As the product graduates along the conveyer belt's path, it undergoes multiple cycles of IR exposure and cooling. It should be noted that the system is custom tailored based on the dehydration requirements of the product in response to the specifications of the desired end result, and the data in which the machine learning model is trained on.

[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates the sensor training model of the present invention. Components delineated within two solid lines represent elements of the system processing unit 502, which incorporates memory 504. For clarity, memory 504 may encompass random access memory (RAM), as well as local and cloud variants. Serving as the central controller of the sensors, the system processing unit 502 facilitates the execution of functions performed by the AI algorithm 518, delineated within two dotted lines.

[0030] Sensors 510 in the modular dehydration system comprise of a plurality of sensor types and can be configured to receive sensor data from conveyance systems and other sensor systems both internally and externally. By way of example, and not limitation, the figure depicts conveyance system sensors 512 and heat sensors 514 which all generate sensor feedback 516 data. This data is used to manage and monitor conditions during the dehydration process. The heat sensor 514 captures temperature data at various points within the system and supplies real-time feedback on temperature levels on the system display 504 as well as a communication enabled user device 508.

[0031] Feedback 516 from sensors 510 are also provided to the A.I algorithm 518. The AI algorithm 518 is deployed to analyze the sensor data collected by both local and external sensors 510 configured to the system processing unit 502. The algorithm utilizes advanced machine learning techniques to process the data, identify patterns and effectuate the conditions necessary for a dehydration operation without sacrificing vital compounds in a bioactive specimen. This is executed using real-time data sources, such as bioactivity data from local sensors and research databases.

[0032] Once the target dehydration level is achieved, the end product should still comprise of the desired nutrients and compounds due to the system's adaptive control models use of dehydration parameters.

[0033] While various embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosed technology, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that may be included in the disclosed technology. The disclosed technology is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features may be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations may be implemented to implement the desired features of the technology disclosed herein. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein may be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.

[0034] Although the disclosed technology is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead may be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed technology, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the technology disclosed herein should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

[0035] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term including should be read as meaning including, without limitation or the like; the term example is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms a or an should be read as meaning at least one, one or more or the like; and adjectives such as conventional, traditional, normal, standard, known and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.