NL2022057B1 - Cyclone separation system - Google Patents

Cyclone separation system Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2022057B1
NL2022057B1 NL2022057A NL2022057A NL2022057B1 NL 2022057 B1 NL2022057 B1 NL 2022057B1 NL 2022057 A NL2022057 A NL 2022057A NL 2022057 A NL2022057 A NL 2022057A NL 2022057 B1 NL2022057 B1 NL 2022057B1
Authority
NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
air
discharge nozzle
discharge
air injection
separation system
Prior art date
Application number
NL2022057A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Petrus Johannes Simons Henricus
Van Kilsdonk Jaap
Petrus Maria Jansen Maurits
Original Assignee
Protix Bv
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL2022057A priority Critical patent/NL2022057B1/en
Application filed by Protix Bv filed Critical Protix Bv
Priority to PL18842585T priority patent/PL3726975T3/en
Priority to EP18842585.4A priority patent/EP3726975B1/en
Priority to CA3086326A priority patent/CA3086326A1/en
Priority to US16/954,534 priority patent/US11464204B2/en
Priority to RU2020123916A priority patent/RU2020123916A/en
Priority to PCT/NL2018/050867 priority patent/WO2019125162A1/en
Priority to CN201880082943.XA priority patent/CN111787793B/en
Priority to MA051318A priority patent/MA51318A/en
Priority to JP2020555006A priority patent/JP7373257B2/en
Priority to DK18842585.4T priority patent/DK3726975T3/en
Priority to AU2018391526A priority patent/AU2018391526A1/en
Priority to KR1020207021103A priority patent/KR20200113194A/en
Priority to ES18842585T priority patent/ES2910124T3/en
Priority to PL19813186.4T priority patent/PL3883374T3/en
Priority to US17/294,723 priority patent/US20220008937A1/en
Priority to DK19813186.4T priority patent/DK3883374T3/en
Priority to PCT/NL2019/050767 priority patent/WO2020106150A1/en
Priority to KR1020217019357A priority patent/KR20210132641A/en
Priority to ES19813186T priority patent/ES2932296T3/en
Priority to CA3119640A priority patent/CA3119640A1/en
Priority to CN201980077215.4A priority patent/CN113573580B/en
Priority to EP19813186.4A priority patent/EP3883374B1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2022057B1 publication Critical patent/NL2022057B1/en
Priority to IL275581A priority patent/IL275581A/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K67/00—Rearing or breeding animals, not otherwise provided for; New breeds of animals
    • A01K67/033—Rearing or breeding invertebrates; New breeds of invertebrates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
    • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
    • B04C5/14—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
    • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
    • B04C5/14—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations
    • B04C5/18—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations with auxiliary fluid assisting discharge
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
    • B04C9/00—Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water locks
    • B04C2009/008—Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water locks with injection or suction of gas or liquid into the cyclone

Abstract

A cyclone separation system (1) for separating live insects carried by an air stream, comprising a main cyclone chamber (2) having a top chamber part (3) and a conical shaped bottom chamber part (4). The top chamber part (3) is connected to one or more intake channels (5) each of which is arranged for connection to a primary air source providing an air stream (A) comprising live insects. The bottom chamber part (4) is connected to a discharge nozzle (6) comprising a discharge end (7) having a main discharge conduit (8) for discharging the live insects from the cyclone separation system (1), wherein the discharge end (7) comprises an air injection member (10) for connection to a secondary air source and wherein the air injection member (10) is configured to inject air back into the discharge nozzle (6).

Description

Cyclone separation system
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a cyclone separation system for separating live insects from an air stream. In a further aspect the present invention relates to a method of separating live insects from an air stream, and in particular a method of providing batches of live insects.
Background art
US patent publication US 2018 / 0049418 A1 discloses a variable-scale computer operated Insect Production Superstructure Systems (IPSS) for the production of insects for human and animal consumption, and for the extraction and use of lipids for applications involving medicine, nanotechnology, consumer products, and chemical production with minimal water, feedstock, and environmental impact. An IPSS may comprise modules including feed stock mixing, enhanced feedstock splitting, insect feeding, insect breeding, insect collection, insect grinding, pathogen removal, multifunctional flour mixing, and lipid extraction. In an embodiment, an insect feeding module is in fluid communication with an insect evacuation module comprising separator that may be a cyclone for separating insects from a gas.
U.S. patent publication US 5,594,654 discloses an automated system developed to count and package beneficial insect larvae or eggs and includes a funnel-shaped container which sits in the top portion of a sensor head and a turntable with multiple containers located below the sensor head, for collecting larvae or eggs as they drop through the sensor head. The system accurately records the number and time stamps each insect larva or egg detection as they drop through a sensor head.
Summary of the invention
The present invention aims to provide a cyclone separation system for separating live insects from an air stream, such as neonate larvae, wherein the cyclone separation system allows for efficient and reliable batch wise discharge of live insects from the cyclone separation system whilst keeping the live insects alive and preventing that the live insects stick or adhere to internal walls of the cyclone separation system. The cyclone separation system is ideally suited for being integrated in an automated live insect processing facility.
According to the present invention, a cyclone separation system of the type defined in the preamble is provided, wherein the cyclone separation system comprises a main cyclone chamber having a top chamber part and a conical shaped bottom chamber part. The top chamber part is connected to one or more intake channels each of which is arranged for connection to a primary air source providing an air stream laden with live insects, and wherein the bottom chamber part is connected to a discharge nozzle that comprises a discharge end having a main discharge conduit for discharging the (separated) live insects from the cyclone separation system. The discharge end of the discharge nozzle comprises an air injection member that is arranged for connection to a secondary air source and wherein the air injection member is configured to inject air back into the discharge nozzle.
According to the present invention, the air injection member of the discharge end is configured for injecting air back into the discharge nozzle, i.e. in upstream direction, so that separated live insects in the discharge nozzle and moving in a direction toward the discharge end, i.e. in downstream direction, can be stopped and air suspended/cushioned by the injected air. Through injection of back/upstream flowing air into the discharge nozzle the discharge of live insects can be stopped and as such the air injection member acts like a controllable air valve. Furthermore, the injected air allows live insects to be air suspended/cushioned, e.g. pushed in upstream direction, thereby preventing the live insects from sticking to inner walls of the discharge nozzle and a such prevent clump formation of live insects that could potentially block the discharge nozzle.
Another advantage of the air injection member is that intermittent, time limited air injections back into the discharge nozzle can be performed, thereby achieving intermittent discharge of live insects between two successive air injections. The time interval between two successive air injections then determines a batch of discharged live insects that can be collected and transferred for further processing. Transferring such a collected batch of live insects is achieved during such a time limited air injection.
In an embodiment, the air injection member of the discharge end comprises an air chamber and an air injection conduit (i.e. a first air injection conduit) fluidly (e.g. gaseous) connecting the air chamber and the main discharge conduit of the discharge end. The air injection conduit is configured to provide an injected airflow in a direction back into the discharge nozzle when air is pushed through the air injection conduit. In this embodiment the air injection conduit allows for the injected airflow to be directed into the discharge nozzle in upstream fashion such that live insects are effectively suspended in air, thereby stopping the discharge. For example, in an embodiment the air injection conduit is arranged at an injection angle smaller than 60° degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the discharge nozzle, so that the airflow being injected does indeed move in a direction back into the discharge nozzle.
According to the present invention, it is possible to utilize a plurality of air injection conduits that are configured to provide an injected airflow in a direction back into the discharge nozzle. For example, the air injection member of the discharge end may comprise a further or second air chamber and a further or second air injection conduit fluidly (e.g. gaseous) connecting the further/second air chamber and the main discharge conduit of the discharge end, wherein the further/second air injection conduit is arranged to provide a further/second injected air flow in a direction back into the discharge nozzle. Like the air injection conduit (i.e. the first air injection conduit), the further/second air injection conduit allows fora further/second injected airflow to be directed into the discharge nozzle in upstream fashion such that live insects are effectively air suspended or air cushioned for further stopping the discharge of live insects.
in an embodiment the further/second air injection conduit is arranged at a further/second injection angle smaller than 60° degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the discharge nozzle, so that the further/second air flow being injected through the further/second air injection conduit does indeed move in a direction into the discharge nozzle.
Utilizing a plurality of injection conduits for injecting air into the main discharge conduit allows for further optimization of injected air flow. For example, in an embodiment the aforementioned first and further/second air injection conduits may be arranged on opposite sides of the main discharge conduit. This embodiment then allows two separate airflows to be injected back into the discharge nozzle for an overall improved flow distribution of injected air throughout the discharge nozzle. This in turn allows for improved distributed air suspension/cushioning of live insects for stopping the discharge thereof.
Since the air injection member is configured for connection to a secondary air source, it may be advantageous to minimize and simplify the number of physical connections of the secondary air source to the air injection member. To that end an embodiment may be considered wherein the first and second air chambers are arranged on opposite sides of the main discharge conduit and are fluidly (e.g. gaseous) connected to one another. That is, in this embodiment the first and second air chambers are fluidly (e.g. gaseous) coupled and may be envisaged as forming a single air chamber circumferentially encircling the main discharge conduit. Since the first and second air chambers effectively form a single air chamber, it is possible to utilize a single air inlet configured to connect to the secondary air source and wherein the single air inlet also fluidly connects to the interconnected first and second air chambers.
Short description of drawings
The present invention will be discussed in more detail below, with reference to the attached drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a cyclone separation system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a three dimensional view of a discharge nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3A shows a first cross section of a discharge nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3B shows a first cross section of a discharge end of a discharge nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4A shows a second cross section of a discharge nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4B shows a second cross section of a discharge end of a discharge nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5A shows a three dimensional view of a main discharge conduit with a first air injection conduit according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5B shows a three dimensional view of a main discharge conduit with a second air injection conduit according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 6 shows a schematic view of a camera based counting system arranged at a discharge end of a discharge nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Description of embodiments
Figure 1 depict a schematic view of a cyclone separation system 1 for separating and batch wise discharging live insects carried by one more air streams A. The cyclone separation system 1 comprises a main cyclone chamber 2 having a top chamber part 3 and a conical shaped bottom chamber part 4, e.g. a hopper. The top chamber part 3 is connected to one or more intake channels 5 each of which is arranged for connection to a primary air source (not shown) providing an air stream A comprising live insects. The live insects under consideration may be viewed as granular matter comprising various types of larvae, such as neonate larvae. The bottom chamber part 4 is connected to a discharge nozzle 6 comprising a discharge end 7 which has a main discharge conduit 8 for discharging the separated live insects from the cyclone separation system 1.
As the skilled person will understand, in operation the one or more intake channels 5 carrying the air streams A induce a main vortex in the top chamber part 3 that allows centrifugal separation of the live insects from the (combined) air streams A. The separated live insects then follow conical inner walls of the bottom chamber part 4 toward the discharge nozzle 6. Due to the conical shaped bottom chamber part 4, an ascending inner vortex of “clean air is generated that exits the top chamber part 3 through an air exit 9 arrange thereon.
As further depicted, the discharge end 7 of the discharge nozzle 6 comprises an air injection member 10 for connection to a secondary air source (not shown) and wherein the air injection member 10 is configured to inject air back into the discharge nozzle 6.
According to the present invention, the air injection member 10 of the discharge end 7 is configured to inject air back into the discharge nozzle 6, i.e. in an upstream direction “U”, so that separated live insects moving downstream into the discharge end 7, i.e. in downstream direction “D”, can be stopped from discharging through suspension by the injected air. By virtue of injection of backward or upstream flowing air into the discharge nozzle 6, the discharge of live insects can be stopped and as such the air injection member 10 acts as a controllable air valve allowing the main discharge conduit 8 to be opened or closed through a “wall” of upstream flowing air.
Furthermore, as the injected air effectively cushions the live insects in air, prolonged contact of live insects with inner walls of the discharge nozzle 6 is prevented. This ensures that live insects are less prone to stick to inner walls of the discharge nozzle and a such prevent clump formation therein.
As will be discussed in further detail below, another advantage of the air injection member 10 is that intermittent, time limited air injections back into the discharge nozzle 6 can be utilised for intermittent discharge of separated live insects between two successive air injections when the cyclone separation system 1 is in operation. The time interval between two successive air injections then determines a batch of discharged live insects that can be collected and transferred for further processing. Transferring a collected batch of live insects can be achieved during a subsequent air injection by the air injection member 10.
In an embodiment, the top chamber part 3 may be further connected to an auxiliary intake channel 11 arranged to receive additional air, called “pilot air”, to further optimize vortex generation within the top chamber part 3.
To maintain sufficient pressure and air flow within the one or more intake channels 5, an embodiment may be provided wherein each of the intake channels 5 comprises an air amplifier unit 5a, which is configured to provide a supplementary air stream to the air stream A in a flow direction thereof.
Figure 2 shows a three dimensional view of a discharge nozzle 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the discharge nozzle 6 comprises the aforementioned discharge end 7 but may further comprise an intake end 12 that may be utilized to connect the discharge nozzle 6, e.g. through a bolt on flange or a quick-release flange connection, to the bottom chamber part 4. As shown in the depicted embodiment, the intake end 12 may be circular, matching a circular shape of the bottom chamber part 4, and wherein the discharge end 7 may have a substantially rectangular shape with a substantially rectangular main discharge conduit (not visible). Generally, the discharge nozzle 6 provides a funnel shaped passage 13 allowing separated live insects to converge to the main discharge conduit of the discharge end 7.
It is noted that an embodiment is conceivable wherein the bottom chamber part 4 and the discharge nozzle 6 are integrated as a single piece to reduce the number of ridges at which live insects could potentially stick and clump together.
The air injection member 10 may further comprise an air inlet 14 for connecting to the secondary air source and wherein the air inlet 14 is fluidly (gaseous) connected to the main discharge conduit 8 allow air injecting back into the discharge nozzle.
Note that Figure 2 further indicates a first cross sectional view “III A and a second cross sectional view “IV A”, which are depicted in Figure 3A and Figure 4A respectively.
In particular, Figure 3a shows the indicated first cross section “III A” of a discharge nozzle 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown, the air injection member 10 comprises an air chamber 15, i.e. a first air chamber 15, and an air injection conduit 16, i.e. a first air injection conduit 16, fluidly (gaseous) connecting the first air chamber 15 and the main discharge conduit 8 of the discharge end 7. As further shown, the first air injection conduit 16 is configured to provide an injected air flow F1, i.e. a first injected air flow F1, in a direction back into the discharge nozzle 6. An advantage of the first air chamber 15 is that the location and orientation of the first air injection conduit 16 in the discharge end 7 can be chosen more freely to accommodate a specific design of the discharge nozzle 6 and particular shape and direction of the first injected airflow F1, as long as the first air injection conduit 16 fluidly (gaseous) connects to the first air chamber 15.
In an embodiment, the first air injection conduit 16 is arranged at an injection angle cti, i.e. a first injection angle cn, smaller than 60° degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis L of the discharge nozzle 6. The first injection angle ai less than 60° ensures that when air is being injected into the main discharge conduit 8 through the first air injection conduit 16, that the first injected air flow F1 is directed into the discharge nozzle 6 for air suspension/cushioning the live insects and stop discharge thereof. In specific embodiments, the first injection angle ai may be 45° or less to ensure good back flow of injected air into the discharge nozzle 6.
In advantageous embodiments, the first injected airflow F1 may engage an inner wall portion 17, i.e. a first inner wall portion 17, of the discharge nozzle 6 in parallel fashion as most live insects will descend into the bottom chamber part 4 and the discharge nozzle 6 along walls thereof. In an embodiment, the first inner wall portion 17 may be located somewhere halfway a converging section “C” of the discharge nozzle 6 as sufficient convergence and compaction of live insects will have occurred at such a location for the first injected air flow F1 to be adequate for air suspension/cushioning separated live insects. It is noted that the skilled person will understand that the converging section “C” may comprise various profiles of the first inner wall portion 17 and that the substantial parallel engagement of the first injected air flow F1 with the first inner wall portion 17 may occur closer or further away from the first air injection conduit 16.
To allow for the substantial parallel engagement between the first injected airflow F1 and the first inner wall portion 17, an embodiment is provided wherein the discharge nozzle 6 comprises the first inner wall portion 17 which is arranged, e.g. at least locally, at a wall angle βι, i.e. a first wall angle βι, with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the discharge nozzle 6. The first injection angle cu of the first air injection conduit 16 is then substantially equal/aligned with the first wall angle βι. In this embodiment the first inner wall portion 17 is at least locally arranged at the first wall angle βι which substantially coincides with the first injection angle ai. This alignment of angles ai, βι allows the first injected airflow F1 to engage the first inner wall portion 17 in substantial parallel fashion for good air suspension/cushioning the separated live insects as most live insects descend into the discharge nozzle 6 along inner walls thereof, e.g. the first inner wall portion 17. This embodiment may be further clarified by imagining a tangent line Ti coinciding with the first inner wall portion 17 and wherein the tangent line Ti is at the first inner wall angle βι. As depicted in Figure 3A, the first inner wall portion 17 may be (slightly) curved without significantly deviating from the tangent line Ti. In an embodiment, the first injection angle ai of the first air injection conduit 16 is not smaller than the first wall angle βι to further ensure that substantial parallel engagement between the first injected airflow F1 and the first inner wall portion 17 is achieved.
Figure 3B shows the indicated cross section “UI B” (see Figure 3A) of a discharge end 7 of a discharge nozzle 6. In this embodiment it is clearly shown that the first air injection conduit 16 extends between and fluidly (gaseous) connects the first air chamber 15 and the main discharge conduit 8. It is further shown that the first air injection conduit 16 may be a straight conduit extending between the first air chamber 15 and a discharge conduit wall portion 18, i.e. a first discharge conduit wall portion 18, to provide a shortest path from the first air chamber 15 to the main discharge conduit 8 for minimizing pressure loss and maximize the intensity of the first injected air flow F1.
In an embodiment, the first air injection conduit 16 may have a width, i.e. a first width Wi, between 0.2 mm and 1 mm to allow sufficiently strong air flow back into the discharge nozzle 6 for air suspension/cushioning separated live insects. It is noted that in this embodiment a smaller first width Wi within this range will generally provide a faster first injected airflow F1 with less air usage compared to having a larger first width Wi within this range for the first air injection conduit 16. Choosing smaller values for the first width Wi will typically lead to reduced disturbance of the air flow within the discharge nozzle 6.
Turning to Figure 4A, wherein the indicated second cross section “IV A” (see Figure 2) of a discharge nozzle 6 is depicted. In the embodiment shown, the air injection member 10 may comprise a further air chamber 19, i.e. a second air chamber 19, and a further air injection conduit 20, i.e. a second air injection conduit 20, fluidly (gaseous) connecting the second air chamber 19 and the main discharge conduit 8. The second air injection conduit 20 is then arranged to provide a further injected air flow F2, i.e. a second injected air flow F2, in a direction back into the discharge nozzle 6. As with the first air chamber 15, an advantage of the second air chamber 19 is that the location and orientation of the second air injection conduit 20 can be chosen more freely to accommodate a specific design of the discharge nozzle 6 and a particular shape and direction of the second injected air flow F2 as long as the second air injection conduit 20 fluidly (gaseous) connects to the second air chamber 19.
In an embodiment, the second air injection conduit 20 is arranged at a further injection angle ct2, i.e. a second injection angle ct2, smaller than 60° degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis L of the discharge nozzle 6. Providing a second injection angle 02 less than 60° ensures that when air is being injected into the main discharge conduit 8 through the second air injection conduit 20, that the second injected air flow F2 is primarily directed into the discharge nozzle 6 for air suspension/cushioning the live insects and stop discharge thereof. In specific embodiments, the second injection angle 02 may be 45° or less to ensure good back flow of injected air into the discharge nozzle 6.
In advantageous embodiments, the second injected airflow F2 may engage a further inner wall portion 21, i.e. a second inner wall portion 21, of the discharge nozzle 6 in parallel fashion as most live insects will descend into the bottom chamber part 4 and the discharge nozzle 6 along inner walls thereof. In an embodiment, the second inner wall portion 21 may be located somewhere halfway the aforementioned converging section “C” of the discharge nozzle 6 as sufficient convergence and compaction of live insects will have occurred at this location for the second injected air flow F2 to be adequate for air suspension/cushioning separated live insects.
As mentioned earlier, the converging section “C” may comprise various profiles of the second inner wall portion 21 and that the substantial parallel engagement between the second injected air flow F2 and the second inner wall portion 21 may occur closer or further away from the second air injection conduit 20.
To facilitate the substantial parallel engagement between the second injected airflow F2 and the second inner wall portion 21, an embodiment is provided wherein the discharge nozzle 6 comprises a second inner wall portion 21 which is arranged at a further wall angle β2, i.e. a second wall angle β2, with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the discharge nozzle 6. The second injection angle ct2 of the second air injection conduit 20 is then substantially equal/aligned with the second wall angle β?. In this embodiment the second inner wall portion 21 is at least locally arranged at the second wall angle β2 which substantially coincides with the second injection angle 02. This alignment of angles 02, β2 allows the second injected air flow F2 to engage the second inner wall portion 21 in substantial parallel fashion for good air suspension/cushioning of the separated live insects when descending into the discharge nozzle 6 along inner walls thereof, e.g. the second inner wall portion 21. This embodiment may be further clarified by imagining a tangent line T2 coinciding with the second inner wall portion 21 and wherein the tangent line T2 is at the second wall angle β2. As depicted in Figure 4A, the second inner wall portion 21 may be (slightly) curved without significantly deviating from the tangent line T2 as depicted. In an embodiment, the second injection angle 02 of the second air injection conduit 20 is not smaller than the second wall angle β2 to further ensure that substantial parallel engagement between the second injected air flow F2 and the second inner wall portion 21 is achieved.
Further, the air injection member 10 may comprise an air inlet 14 for connecting the air injection member 10 to the secondary air source (not shown) and wherein the air inlet 14 is fluidly (gaseous) connected to the main discharge conduit 8 allowing air injection back into the discharge nozzle 6. In an exemplary embodiment, the air inlet 14 may be fluidly (gaseous) connected to the air chamber 15, i.e. the first air chamber 15, thereby allowing for the injected air flow F1, i.e. the first injected air flow F1, in a direction back into the discharge nozzle 6. In a further exemplary embodiment, the air injection member 10 may comprise a further air inlet (not shown), i.e. a second air inlet, which is fluidly (gaseous) connected to the second air chamber 19, thereby allowing for the second injected airflow F2 in a direction back into the discharge nozzle 6.
By using a first and second air inlet it is possible to provide the first and second injected air flows F1, F2 through the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20.
From Figure 3A and 4A it is seen that, in an embodiment, the first and second air chambers 15, 19 may be arranged on opposite sides of the main discharge conduit 8, providing air in distributed fashion throughout the air injection member 10 of the discharge end 7. Then in an advantageous embodiment the oppositely arranged first and second air chambers 15, 19 may be fluidly (gaseous) connected to one another, so that a single air inlet 14 as shown in Figure 2 and 4A may be provided for providing air to both the first and second air chambers 15, 19.
By fluidly (gaseous) connecting first and second air chambers 15, 19, an embodiment is conceivable wherein the first and second air chambers 15, 19 form a circumferentially arranged air chamber encircling the main discharge conduit 8. Such a circumferentially arranged air chamber allows for further equal air distribution throughout the air injection member 10 toward the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20.
In line with an opposing arrangement of the first and second air chambers 15, 19, and as depicted in Figure 3A and 4A, an embodiment can be provided wherein the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 may be arranged on opposite sides of the main discharge conduit 8. By arranging the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 in opposing fashion, it is possible to provide a combination of the first and second injected airflows F1, F2 into the discharge nozzle 6 that is more symmetrical and evenly distributed there through. Providing improved distribution of injected air back into the discharge nozzle 6 facilities a more uniform air suspension/cushioning of separated live insects, thus further minimizing any unwanted discharge of live insects during an air injection cycle of the air injection member 10.
Turning to Figure 4B, in this figure the indicated cross section “IV B” (see Figure 4A) of a discharge end 7 of a discharge nozzle 6 is shown. In this embodiment it is clearly depicted that the second air injection conduit 20 extends between and fluidly (e.g. gaseous) connects the second air chamber 19 and the main discharge conduit 8. It is further shown that the second air injection conduit 20 may be a straight conduit extending between the second air chamber 19 and a further discharge conduit wall portion 22, i.e. a second discharge conduit wall portion 22, to provide a shortest path from the second air chamber 19 to the main discharge conduit 8 to minimize pressure loss and maximize the intensity of the second injected air flow F2.
In an embodiment, the second air injection conduit 20 may have a width W2, i.e. a second width W2, between 0.2 mm and 1 mm to allow sufficiently strong air volume flowing back into the discharge nozzle 6 for air suspension/cushioning of separate live insects. It is noted that in this embodiment a smaller second width W2 within this range will generally provide a faster second injected airflow F2 with less air usage compared to having a larger second width W2 in this range forthe second air injection conduit 20. Choosing smaller values for the second width W2 will typically lead to less disturbance of the air flow within the discharge nozzle 6.
When the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 are arranged on opposite sides of the main discharge conduit 8, then this implies that the first and second discharge conduit wall portions 18, 22, at which the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 terminate, are also oppositely arranged with respect to the main discharge conduit 8.
To further elaborate on the indicated cross sections “III A” and “IV A in Figures 2, 3A, 4A, in Figure 5A a three dimensional view is shown of the main discharge conduit 8 with the first air injection conduit 16, and Figure 5B shows a three dimensional view of the main discharge conduit 8 from a different angle showing the second air injection conduit 20. Both Figures 5A and 5B pertain to the same embodiment of the discharge nozzle 6.
From Figure 5A it is seen that in an embodiment the air injection conduit 16, i.e. the first air injection conduit 16, may be a slit shaped conduit, allowing for a widened first injected air flow F1 providing improved air distribution for air suspension/cushioning of live insects within the discharge nozzle 6. The slit shaped first air injection conduit 16 extends in a lateral direction indicated by “S” between the first air chamber 15 and the first discharge conduit wall portion 18 of the main discharge conduit 8. This embodiment ensures that a wide/planarfirst injected airflow F1 is achieved for improved air suspension/cushioning of separated live insects. In a further embodiment, the slit shaped first air injection conduit 16 may have a width W1 of about 0.2 mm to 1 mm, thereby allowing for sufficiently strong volumes of air flowing back into the discharge nozzle 6.
From Figure 5B it is seen that in an embodiment the second air injection conduit 20 may be a slit shaped conduit, allowing for a widened second injected airflow F2 providing improved air distribution for air suspension/cushioning of live insects within the discharge nozzle 6. As shown, the slit shaped second air injection conduit 20 extends in a sideways/lateral direction indicated by “S” between the second air chamber 19 and the second discharge conduit wall portion 22 of the main discharge conduit 8. This embodiment also ensures that a wide/planar second injected air flow F2 is achieved for improved air suspension/cushioning of separated live insects. In a further embodiment, the slit shaped second air injection conduit 20 may have a width W2 of about 0.2 mm to 1 mm, thereby allowing for sufficient air volume flowing back into the discharge nozzle 6.
From Figure 5A and 5B it is further seen that the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 may be arranged on opposite sides of the main discharge conduit 8. That is, the first and second discharge conduit wall portions 18, 22 being arranged on opposite sides of the main discharge conduit 8. Such an opposing arrangement of slit shaped first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 allows for a further even distribution of back flowing air into the discharge nozzle 6 for optimal air suspension/cushioning of separated live insects.
In an embodiment, as exemplified in Figure 5A and 5B, the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 (e.g. slit shaped conduits 16, 20) may be sideways/laterally offset or shifted in opposing directions in the indicated sideways/lateral direction “S” with respect to the discharge nozzle 6. Sideways/lateral offsetting the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 in opposite direction allows for a back flowing air vortex “V” (see Figure 2) to be generated by the first and second injected air flows F1, F2, so that an even further improved distribution of air suspension/cushioning of live insects is achieved.
In an advantageous embodiment, the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 are arranged to provide a back flowing vortex V exhibiting a rotational direction identical to a rotational direction of the main vortex in the top chamber part 3 which is responsible for centrifugal separation of the live insects from the air streams A. Having identical rotational directions of the main vortex and the back flowing vortex V prevents that rotationally moving live insects descending into the discharge nozzle 6 could potentially stop rotating by an oppositely rotating back flowing vortex V. As a result, live insects could come into prolonged contact with inner walls of the discharge nozzle 6 increasing the chance ofclump formation.
In an embodiment, the slit shaped first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 may each have a length Ls of at most 50% of a width Wc of the main discharge conduit 8, thereby allowing the first and second injected air flows F1, F2 to generate a back vortex V within the discharge nozzle 6 through appropriate placement of the slit shaped first and second air injection conduits 16, 20. For example, by lateral/sideways offsetting slit shaped first and second air injection conduits 16, 20, and limiting the length Ls of each of these conduits 16, 20 to at most 50% of the width Wcof the main discharge conduit 8, then a stable and uniform backflowing vortex V can be generated through the first and second injected airflows F1, F2 for optimal air suspension/cushioning of live insects. Of course, in further embodiments it would be possible that the slit shaped first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 may each have a length Ls of more than 50% of the width Wc of the main discharge conduit 8, thereby allowing for further improvements of the first and second injected air flows F1, F2 if necessary. In even further embodiments the slit shaped first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 may each have a length Ls between 0 and 100% of the width Wc of the main discharge conduit 8 in case full design freedom of each of the conduits 16, 20 is required for achieving a specific back flowing air profile into the discharge nozzle 6.
For example, Figure 5A and 5B show an embodiment wherein the intake end 12 of the discharge nozzle 6 is circular whereas the discharge end 7 is substantially rectangular, i.e. comprising a substantially rectangular main discharge conduit 8. Both the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 are seen to be slit shaped conduits, wherein the first air injection conduit 16 is arranged on a left side of a lateral centreline Ύ” of the main discharge conduit 8 whereas the second air injection conduit 20 is arranged on a right side of the centreline “Y”. So based on the view provided in Figure 5A, the slit shaped first air injection conduit 16 laterally extends in a top left corner of the substantially rectangular main discharge conduit 8, and based on the view provided in Figure 5B, the second air injection conduit 20 laterally extends in a bottom right corner of the substantially rectangular main discharge conduit 8. This embodiment then provides a good back flowing vortex V for air suspension/cushioning of live insects.
Furthermore, since the discharge nozzle 6 changes from a circular geometry at the intake end 12 toward a rectangular geometry at the discharge end 7, enhances the generation of a back flowing vortex V as the first and second injected air flows F1, F2 engage and follow a curvature of the first and second inner wall portions 17,21.
As further depicted in figure 5A and 5B, in an embodiment both the slit shaped first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 may have a length Ls smaller than the width Wc of the main discharge conduit 8 and that an opposing lateral/sideways offset of these conduits 16, 20, i.e. an offset in opposing directions along the indicated direction S, is chosen such that both the first and second air injection conduits 16, 20 do not extend beyond/across the lateral centreline Ύ” as depicted. In such a configuration the first and second injected airflows F1, F2 will not directly collide and a such a smooth and uniform back flowing vortex V can be generated with minimal turbulence in the main discharge conduit 8.
As mentioned earlier, in an embodiment the discharge nozzle 6 may have a circular intake end 12 and a substantially rectangular discharge end 7, i.e. with a substantially rectangular main discharge conduit 8.
This not only facilitates generation of a backflowing vortex V as explained above, but having a substantially rectangular main discharge conduit 8 is also advantageous for reasons related to reliably counting the number of live insects being discharged as explained below.
In particular, Figure 6 shows a schematic view in the direction “A” as indicated in Figure 2, wherein an embodiment is depicted comprising a camera based counting system 23 arranged at the discharge end 7 of the discharge nozzle 6. In this embodiment, the cyclone separation system 1 may further comprise a camera based counting system 23 which is arranged to count the number of live insects being discharged from the main discharge conduit 8 when the cyclone separation system 1 is in operation. Then based on the counted live insects, the air injection member 10 can be activated to momentarily stop the discharge of live insects from the discharge nozzle 6 such that a batch of live insects is collected and can be transferred for further processing.
For example, in Figure 1 and 6 the camera based counting system 23 is depicted and a container 24 is arranged on a transportation system 25, e.g. a conveyor belt, a roller conveyor and the like. Let the cyclone separation system 1 be in operation and live insects are separated and discharged from the discharge nozzle 6 through the main discharge conduit 8 thereof. The camera based counting system 23 is active and counts the number of live insects that pass through its triangular field of view “FV”. At some point a desired number of live insects has been collected in the container 24 and should be transferred for further processing. To that end the air injection member 10 is activated for a predetermined amount of time to be sufficient for moving the container 24 out of the way and to place another or different container 24 below the discharge nozzle 7. Therefore, the camera based counting system 23 further facilities accurate control of batches of live insects being discharged based on the actual number of live insects discharged and counted, so that the air injection member 10 can be activated to momentarily suspend/cushion live insects in air within the discharge nozzle 6 to stop the discharge. Once the discharge comes to a stop, the container 24 with collected live insects can be replaced with another or different container, which may or may not be empty, e.g. when holding some food for the live insects to be discharged into the container. Once the other or different container is positioned correctly, the air injection member 10 can be deactivated to resume collection of separated live insects being discharged from the discharge nozzle 6.
Now, to facilitate accurate and reliable operation of the camera based counting system 23, in an advantageous embodiment the main nozzle discharge conduit 8 is rectangular such that the live insects discharged there through form a relatively wide but thinner “curtain11 or “cloud” of live insects. That is, having a wider and thinner stream of live insects discharged from the discharge nozzle 6 reduces the chance that live insects closer to a camera block the view of live insects behind them. So by ensuring that the field of view FV extends through a widest side of the rectangular main discharge conduit 8, facilitates accurate counting of discharged live insects.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the camera based counting system 23 defines a planar triangular field of view FV and wherein the main discharge conduit 8 comprises a trapezium shaped cross section having two opposing non-parallel sides 25, 26 each of which is parallel to an edge 27 of the planar triangular field of view FV. This ensures that the entire trapezium shaped cross section of the main discharge conduit 8 can be monitored by the camera based counting system 23 and that no blind corners of the main discharge conduit 8 exist through which live insects may be discharged undetected.
Of course, in case the main discharge conduit 8 is rectangular, i.e. all sides thereof are perpendicular, then a wider triangular field of view FV would be needed to avoid blind corners of the main discharge conduit 8.
In an embodiment, the camera based counting system 23 comprises a light source 28 arranged opposite the main discharge conduit 8 for easier detection through illumination of live insects passing through the field of view FV. In a further embodiment the light source 28 may be an elongated, line light source 28, allowing substantially equal light intensity along the cross section of the main discharge conduit 8. In a further embodiment the camera based counting system 23 may comprise a line scanning camera allowing for the aforementioned planar, triangular field of view FV.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, in a further aspect the present invention relates to a method of separating live insects from an airstream A, and in particular to a method of providing batches of live insects, wherein the method comprises the steps of a) providing a cyclone separation system 1 according to the invention outlined above, and b) connecting each of the one or more intake channels 5 to a primary air source providing an air stream A comprising live insects and connecting the air injection member 10 to a secondary air source.
Then, assuming the cyclone system 1 is in operation, the method continues with the step of c) collecting separated live insects being discharged from the discharge nozzle 6. When a prescribed number of live insects have been collected, then the subsequent step of the method comprises the step of d) injecting air back into the discharge nozzle 6 with the air injection member 10 for a predetermined time period to temporarily stop discharge of live insects from the discharge nozzle 6. In this step the injection member 10 is temporarily deployed to cease discharge of live insects by air suspension/cushioning through the injected air flow F1, i.e. the first injected air flow F1, or the first and a further injected air flow F2, i.e. the second injected air flow F2. Then during the predetermined time period when air injection is active, the method continues with the step of e) transferring the collected live insects away from the discharge nozzle 6, which step may be associated with exchanging a loaded container 24 for an empty one.
In an embodiment, when the method step e) has been completed, then the method may further comprise the step off) repeating the steps c) to e), i.e. to c) collect separated live insects and when a desired number of live insects have been collected, to d) inject air back into the discharge nozzle 6 for a predetermined time period, and during this predetermined time period, to e) transfer the collected live insects away from the discharge nozzle 6.
In view of the above detailed description of the figures, the present invention can now be summarized by the following embodiments:
Embodiment 1. A cyclone separation system (1) for separating live insects carried by an air stream, comprising:
a main cyclone chamber (2) having a top chamber part (3) and a conical shaped bottom chamber part (4), wherein the top chamber part (3) is connected to one or more intake channels (5) each of which is arranged for connection to a primary air source providing an air stream (A) comprising live insects, and wherein the bottom chamber part (4) is connected to a discharge nozzle (6) comprising a discharge end (7) having a main discharge conduit (8) for discharging the live insects from the cyclone separation system (1), and wherein the discharge end (7) comprises an air injection member (10) for connection to a secondary air source and wherein the air injection member (10) is configured to inject air back into the discharge nozzle (6).
Embodiment 2. The cyclone separation system according to embodiment 1, wherein the air injection member (10) of the discharge end (7) comprises a first air chamber (15) and a first air injection conduit (16) fluidly connecting the first air chamber (15) and the main discharge conduit (8) of the discharge end (7), wherein the first air injection conduit (16) is arranged to provide a first injected airflow (F1) in a direction back into the discharge nozzle (6).
Embodiment 3. The cyclone separation system according to embodiment 2, wherein the first air injection conduit (16) is arranged at a first injection angle (cn) smaller than 60° degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis (L) of the discharge nozzle (6).
Embodiment 4. The cyclone separation system according to embodiment 3, wherein the discharge nozzle (6) comprises a first inner wall portion (17) which is arranged at a first wall angle (βι) with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the discharge nozzle (6), and wherein the first injection angle (cn) of the first air injection conduit (16) is substantially aligned with/equal to the first wall angle (βι).
Embodiment 5. The cyclone separation system according to any of embodiments 2-4, wherein the first air injection conduit (16) is a slit shaped conduit extending in lateral direction between the first air chamber (15) and a first discharge conduit wall portion (18) of the main discharge conduit (8).
Embodiment 6. The cyclone separation system according to embodiment 5, wherein the slit shaped first air injection conduit (16) has a width (Wi) of about 0.2 mm to 1 mm.
Embodiment 7. The cyclone separation system according to any of embodiments 2-6, wherein the air injection member (10) of the discharge end (7) comprises a second air chamber (19) and a second air injection conduit (20) fluidly connecting the second air chamber (19) and the main discharge conduit (8) of the discharge end (7), wherein the second air injection conduit (20) is arranged to provide a second injected air flow (F2) in a direction back into the discharge nozzle (6).
Embodiment 8. The cyclone separation system according to embodiment 7, wherein the second air injection conduit (20) is arranged at a second injection angle (02) smaller than 60° degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis (L) of the discharge nozzle (6).
Embodiment 9. The cyclone separation system according to embodiment 8, wherein the discharge nozzle (6) comprises a second inner wall portion (21) being arranged at a second wall angle (β2) with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the discharge nozzle (6), and wherein the second injection angle (02) of the second air injection conduit (20) is substantially aligned with the second wall angle (β2).
Embodiment 10. The cyclone separation system according to any of embodiments 7-9, wherein the second air injection conduit (20) is a slit shaped conduit extending between the second air chamber (19) and a second discharge conduit wall portion (22) of the main discharge conduit (8).
Embodiment 11. The cyclone separation system according to embodiment 10, wherein the slit shaped second air injection conduit (20) has a width (W2) of about 0.2 mm to 1 mm.
Embodiment 12. The cyclone separation system according to any of embodiments 7-11, wherein the first and second air injection conduits (16, 20) are arranged on opposite sides of the main discharge conduit (8).
Embodiment 13. The cyclone separation system according to embodiment 12, wherein the first and second air injection conduits (16, 20) are laterally/sideways offset in opposite direction.
Embodiment 14. The cyclone separation system according to embodiment 13, when dependent on embodiments 5 and 10, wherein the slit shaped first and second air injection conduits (16, 20) each have a length (Ls) of at most 50% of a width (Wc) of the main discharge conduit (8).
Embodiment 15. The cyclone separation system according to any of embodiments 7-14, wherein the first and second air chambers (15, 19) are arranged on opposite sides of the main discharge conduit (8) and are fluidly connected to one another.
Embodiment 16. The cyclone separation system according to any one of embodiments 1-15, wherein an intake end (12) of the discharge nozzle (6) is circular and wherein the main discharge conduit (8) of the discharge nozzle (6) is substantially rectangular.
Embodiment 17. The cyclone separation system according to any of embodiments 1-16, further comprising a camera based counting system (23) arranged at the discharge end (7) of the discharge nozzle (6).
Embodiment 18. The cyclone separation system according embodiment 17, wherein the camera based counting system (23) defines a planar triangular field of view (FV) and wherein the main discharge conduit (8) comprises a trapezium shaped cross section having two opposing nonparallel sides (25, 26) each of which is parallel to an edge (27) of the planar triangular field of view (FV).
Embodiment 19. The cyclone separation system according to any of embodiments 1-18, wherein each of the intake channels (5) comprises an air amplifier unit (5a) for providing a supplementary air stream to the air stream (A) in a flow direction thereof.
Embodiment 20. A method of providing batches of live insects, comprising
a) providing a cyclone separation system (1) according to any of embodiments 1-19;
b) connecting each of the one or more intake channels (5) to a primary air source providing an air stream (A) comprising live insects and connecting the air injection member (10) to a secondary air source;
c) collecting separated live insects being discharged from the discharge nozzle (6); and when a desired number of live insects have been collected,
d) injecting air back into the discharge nozzle (6) with the air injection member (10) for a predetermined time period to temporarily stop discharge of live insects from the discharge nozzle (6); and during the predetermined time period,
e) transferring the collected live insects away from the discharge nozzle (6).
Embodiment 21. The method of embodiment 20, when step e) has been completed, further comprises the step of f) repeating the steps c) to e).
The present invention has been described above with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings. Modifications and alternative implementations of some parts or elements are possible, and are included in the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (21)

1. Een cycloonscheidingssysteem (1) voor het scheiden van levende insecten die door een luchtstroom worden meegevoerd, omvattende:A cyclone separating system (1) for separating live insects carried by an air stream, comprising: een hoofdcycloonkamer (2) met een bovenste kamerdeel (3) en een conisch gevormd onderste kamerdeel (4), waarbij het bovenste kamerdeel (3) is verbonden met één of meer inlaatkanalen (5) die elk zijn ingericht voor verbinding met een primaire luchtbron die een luchtstroom (A) verschaft omvattende levende insecten, en waarbij het onderste kamerdeel (4) is verbonden met een afvoermondstuk (6) omvattende een afvoereinde (7) voorzien van een hoofdafvoerleiding (8) voor het afvoeren van de levende insecten uit het cycloonscheidingssysteem (1), en waarbij het afvoereinde (7) een luchtinjectiedeel (10) omvat voor verbinding met een secundaire luchtbron en waarbij het luchtinjectiedeel (10) is ingericht om lucht terug in het afvoermondstuk (6) te injecteren.a main cyclone chamber (2) with an upper chamber section (3) and a conically shaped lower chamber section (4), the upper chamber section (3) being connected to one or more inlet channels (5) each arranged for connection to a primary air source which provides an air stream (A) comprising live insects, and wherein the lower chamber portion (4) is connected to a discharge nozzle (6) comprising a discharge end (7) provided with a main discharge pipe (8) for discharging the live insects from the cyclone separation system ( 1), and wherein the discharge end (7) comprises an air injection part (10) for connection to a secondary air source and wherein the air injection part (10) is arranged to inject air back into the discharge nozzle (6). 2. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens conclusie 1, waarbij het luchtinjectiedeel (10) van het afvoereinde (7) een eerste luchtkamer (15) en een eerste luchtinjectieleiding (16) omvat die de eerste luchtkamer (15) in fluïdumverbinding brengt met de hoofdafvoerleiding (8) van het afvoereinde (7), waarbij de eerste luchtinjectieleiding (16) is ingericht om een eerste geïnjecteerde luchtstroom (F1) te verschaffen in een richting terug in het afvoermondstuk (6).The cyclone separation system according to claim 1, wherein the air injection portion (10) of the discharge end (7) comprises a first air chamber (15) and a first air injection line (16) that fluidly communicates the first air chamber (15) with the main discharge line (8) from the discharge end (7), the first air injection conduit (16) being arranged to provide a first injected air flow (F1) in a direction back into the discharge nozzle (6). 3. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens conclusie 2, waarbij de eerste luchtinjectieleiding (16) is opgesteld onder een eerste injectiehoek (ai) die kleiner is dan 60 ° graden ten opzichte van een longitudinale as (L) van het afvoermondstuk (6).The cyclone separation system of claim 2, wherein the first air injection conduit (16) is arranged at a first injection angle (ai) less than 60 degrees from a longitudinal axis (L) of the discharge nozzle (6). 4. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens conclusie 3, waarbij het afvoermondstuk (6) een eerste binnenste wandgedeelte (17) omvat dat is opgesteld onder een eerste wandhoek (βι) ten opzichte van de longitudinale as (L) van het afvoermondstuk (6), en waarbij de eerste injectiehoek (ai) van de eerste luchtinjectieleiding (16) in hoofdzaak is uitgelijnd met de eerste wandhoek (βι).The cyclone separating system according to claim 3, wherein the discharge nozzle (6) comprises a first inner wall portion (17) arranged at a first wall angle (βι) relative to the longitudinal axis (L) of the discharge nozzle (6), and wherein the first injection angle (ai) of the first air injection line (16) is substantially aligned with the first wall angle (βι). 5. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens één van de conclusies 2-4, waarbij de eerste luchtinjectieleiding (16) een spieetvormige leiding is die zich in zijdelingse richting uitstrekt tussen de eerste luchtkamer (15) en een eerste afvoerleidingwandgedeelte (18) van de hoofdafvoerleiding (8).The cyclone separation system according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein the first air injection conduit (16) is a spline conduit extending laterally between the first air chamber (15) and a first exhaust conduit wall portion (18) of the main exhaust conduit (8) . 6. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens conclusie 5, waarbij de spieetvormige eerste luchtinjectieleiding (16) een breedte (Wi) heeft van ongeveer 0.2 mm t/m 1 mm.The cyclone separation system of claim 5, wherein the spike-shaped first air injection conduit (16) has a width (Wi) of about 0.2 mm to 1 mm. 7. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens één van de conclusies 2-6, waarbij het luchtinjectiedeel (10) van het afvoereinde (7) een tweede luchtkamer (19) en een tweede luchtinjectieleiding (20) omvat die de tweede luchtkamer (19) in fluïdumverbinding brengt met de hoofdafvoerleiding (8) van het afvoereinde (7), waarbij de tweede luchtinjectieleiding (20) is ingericht om een tweede geïnjecteerde luchtstroom (F2) te verschaffen in een richting terug in het afvoermondstuk (6).The cyclone separation system according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein the air injection portion (10) of the discharge end (7) comprises a second air chamber (19) and a second air injection conduit (20) that fluidly communicates the second air chamber (19) with the main discharge line (8) from the discharge end (7), the second air injection line (20) being arranged to provide a second injected air flow (F2) in a direction back into the discharge nozzle (6). 8. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens conclusie 7, waarbij de tweede luchtinjectieleiding (20) is opgesteld onder een tweede injectiehoek (02) die kleiner is dan 60 0 graden ten opzichte van een longitudinale as (L) van het afvoermondstuk (6).8. The cyclone separation system according to claim 7, wherein the second air injection line (20) is arranged at a second injection angle (02) which is smaller than 60 0 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis (L) of the discharge nozzle (6). 9. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens conclusie 8, waarbij het afvoermondstuk (6) een tweede binnenste wandgedeelte (21) omvat dat is opgesteld onder een tweede wandhoek (β2) ten opzichte van de longitudinale as (L) van het afvoermondstuk (6), en waarbij de tweede injectiehoek (02) van de tweede luchtinjectieleiding (20) in hoofdzaak is uitgelijnd met de tweede wandhoek (β2).The cyclone separating system according to claim 8, wherein the discharge nozzle (6) comprises a second inner wall portion (21) arranged at a second wall angle (β2) with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the discharge nozzle (6), and the second injection angle (02) of the second air injection line (20) is substantially aligned with the second wall angle (β2). 10. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens één van de conclusies 7-9, waarbij de tweede luchtinjectieleiding (20) een spieetvormige leiding is die zich uitstrekt tussen de tweede luchtkamer (19) en een tweede afvoerleidingwandgedeelte (22) van de hoofdafvoerleiding (8).The cyclone separation system according to any one of claims 7-9, wherein the second air injection pipe (20) is a spit-shaped pipe extending between the second air chamber (19) and a second discharge pipe wall portion (22) of the main discharge pipe (8). 11. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens conclusie 10, waarbij de spieetvormige tweede luchtinjectieleiding (20) een breedte (W2) heeft van ongeveer 0.2 mm t/m 1 mm.The cyclone separation system according to claim 10, wherein the spit-shaped second air injection conduit (20) has a width (W2) of about 0.2 mm to 1 mm. 12. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens één van de conclusies 7-11, waarbij de eerste en tweede luchtinjectieleidingen (16, 20) aan weerszijden van de hoofdafvoerleiding (8) zijn opgesteld.The cyclone separation system according to any of claims 7-11, wherein the first and second air injection pipes (16, 20) are arranged on either side of the main exhaust pipe (8). 13. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens conclusie 12, waarbij de eerste en tweede luchtinjectieleidingen (16, 20) zijdelings verschoven zijn in tegenovergestelde richting.The cyclone separation system of claim 12, wherein the first and second air injection lines (16, 20) are laterally shifted in the opposite direction. 14. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens conclusie 13, wanneer afhankelijk van conclusies 5 en 10, waarbij de spieetvormige eerste en tweede luchtinjectieleidingen (16, 20) elk een lengte (Ls) hebben van ten hoogste 50% van een breedte (Wc) van de hoofdafvoerleiding (8).The cyclone separation system according to claim 13, when dependent on claims 5 and 10, wherein the spliced first and second air injection lines (16, 20) each have a length (Ls) of at most 50% of a width (Wc) of the main discharge pipe ( 8). 15. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens één van de conclusies 7-14, waarbij de eerste en tweede luchtkamers (15, 19) aan weerszijden van de hoofdafvoerleiding (8) zijn aangebracht en middels een fluïdumverbinding met elkaar zijn verbonden.The cyclone separation system according to any one of claims 7-14, wherein the first and second air chambers (15, 19) are disposed on either side of the main discharge line (8) and are connected to each other by fluid communication. 16. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens één van de conclusies 1-15, waarbij een inlaateinde (12) van het afvoermondstuk (6) cirkelvormig is en waarbij de hoofdafvoerleiding (8) van het afvoermondstuk (6) in hoofdzaak rechthoekig is.The cyclone separation system according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein an inlet end (12) of the discharge nozzle (6) is circular and wherein the main discharge line (8) of the discharge nozzle (6) is substantially rectangular. 17. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens één van de conclusies 1-16, verder omvattende een op een camera gebaseerd telsysteem (23) dat is opgesteld aan het afvoereinde (7) van het afvoermondstuk (6).The cyclone separation system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising a camera based counting system (23) disposed at the discharge end (7) of the discharge nozzle (6). 18. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens conclusie 17, waarbij het op een camera gebaseerd telsysteem (23) een vlak driehoekig gezichtsveld (FV) definieert en waarbij de hoofdafvoerleiding (8) een trapeziumvormige dwarsdoorsnede omvat met twee tegenovergestelde niet-parallelle zijden (25, 26) die elk evenwijdig lopen aan een rand (27) van het vlakke driehoekige gezichtsveld (FV).The cyclone separation system of claim 17, wherein the camera-based counting system (23) defines a planar triangular field of view (FV) and wherein the main discharge line (8) comprises a trapezoidal cross section with two opposite non-parallel sides (25, 26) each parallel to an edge (27) of the planar triangular field of view (FV). 19. Het cycloonscheidingssysteem volgens één van de conclusies 1-18, waarbij elk van de inlaatkanalen (5) een luchtversterkereenheid (5a) omvat voor het verschaffen van een aanvullende luchtstroom aan de luchtstroom (A) in een stroomrichting daarvan.The cyclone separation system according to any one of claims 1-18, wherein each of the inlet channels (5) comprises an air amplifier unit (5a) for providing an additional air flow to the air flow (A) in a flow direction thereof. 20. Een werkwijze voor het leveren van partijen levende insecten, omvattendeA method of supplying batches of live insects, comprising a) het verschaffen van een cycloonscheidingssysteem (1) volgens één van de conclusies 1-19;a) providing a cyclone separation system (1) according to any one of claims 1-19; b) het verbinden van elk van de één of meer inlaatkanalen (5) met een primaire luchtbron die een luchtstroom (A) verschaft die levende insecten omvat, en het verbinden van het luchtinjectiedeel (10) met een secundaire luchtbron;b) connecting each of the one or more inlet channels (5) to a primary air source providing an air stream (A) comprising live insects, and connecting the air injection portion (10) to a secondary air source; c) het verzamelen van gescheiden levende insecten die uit het afvoermondstuk (6) worden afgevoerd; en wanneer een gewenst aantal levende insecten is verzameld,c) collecting separated live insects to be discharged from the discharge nozzle (6); and when a desired number of live insects have been collected, d) het injecteren van lucht terug in het afvoermondstuk (6) met het luchtinjectiedeel (10) gedurende een vooraf bepaalde tijdsperiode om de afvoer van levende insecten tijdelijk uit het afvoermondstuk (6) te stoppen; en gedurende de vooraf bepaalde tijdsperiode,d) injecting air back into the discharge nozzle (6) with the air injection part (10) for a predetermined period of time to temporarily stop the discharge of live insects from the discharge nozzle (6); and during the predetermined time period, e) het overplaatsen van de verzamelde levende insecten weg van het afvoermondstuk (6).e) transferring the collected live insects away from the discharge nozzle (6). 21. De werkwijze volgens conclusie 20, wanneer stap e) is voltooid, verder omvattend de stap van f) het herhalen van de stappen c) t/m e).The method of claim 20, when step e) is completed, further comprising the step of f) repeating steps c) through e).
NL2022057A 2017-12-22 2018-11-23 Cyclone separation system NL2022057B1 (en)

Priority Applications (24)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2022057A NL2022057B1 (en) 2018-11-23 2018-11-23 Cyclone separation system
MA051318A MA51318A (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 LIVE INSECT TRANSPORT DEVICE
ES18842585T ES2910124T3 (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 Live Insect Transport Device
US16/954,534 US11464204B2 (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 Live insects transport device
EP18842585.4A EP3726975B1 (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 Live insects transport device
PCT/NL2018/050867 WO2019125162A1 (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 Live insects transport device
CN201880082943.XA CN111787793B (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 Living insect transporter
AU2018391526A AU2018391526A1 (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 Live insects transport device
JP2020555006A JP7373257B2 (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 live insect transport device
DK18842585.4T DK3726975T3 (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 TRANSPORT DEVICE FOR LIVING INSECTS
PL18842585T PL3726975T3 (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 Live insects transport device
KR1020207021103A KR20200113194A (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 Live insect transport device
CA3086326A CA3086326A1 (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 Live insects transport device
RU2020123916A RU2020123916A (en) 2017-12-22 2018-12-21 DEVICE FOR MOVING LIVE INSECTS
PL19813186.4T PL3883374T3 (en) 2018-11-23 2019-11-21 Cyclone separation system
US17/294,723 US20220008937A1 (en) 2018-11-23 2019-11-21 Cyclone separation system
DK19813186.4T DK3883374T3 (en) 2018-11-23 2019-11-21 CYCLONE SEPARATION SYSTEM
PCT/NL2019/050767 WO2020106150A1 (en) 2018-11-23 2019-11-21 Cyclone separation system
KR1020217019357A KR20210132641A (en) 2018-11-23 2019-11-21 Cyclone Separation System
ES19813186T ES2932296T3 (en) 2018-11-23 2019-11-21 Cyclonic separation system
CA3119640A CA3119640A1 (en) 2018-11-23 2019-11-21 Cyclone separation system
CN201980077215.4A CN113573580B (en) 2018-11-23 2019-11-21 Cyclonic separation system
EP19813186.4A EP3883374B1 (en) 2018-11-23 2019-11-21 Cyclone separation system
IL275581A IL275581A (en) 2017-12-22 2020-06-22 Live insects transport device

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FR1130633A (en) * 1954-11-17 1957-02-07 Ver Westdeutsche Waggonfab Device for pneumatic emptying of dust collectors with breathable bottom
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