Methods for energy efficient extraction using symphasic closed-cycle heat exchange
AssigneeScientific 710, LLC
InventorClancy Callaghan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention discloses systems, devices, and methods for symphasic closed-cycle heat exchange, applicable to processes for extraction of compounds from biological materials, such as cannabis and other plants; said systems, devices, and methods incorporating a closed-cycle refrigeration circuit to provide energy savings and other improvements over existing single loop closed-cycle extraction processes.
Claims20
A method for extraction using a solvent extraction system, the method comprising:
- thermally coupling a closed-cycle heat exchange device to the solvent extraction system, the closed-cycle heat exchange device comprising:
- (a) an evaporator;
- (b) a compressor;
- (c) a condenser;
- and
- (d) a throttling device or a control means for controlling a flow of a refrigerant between the condenser and the evaporator;
- wherein the evaporator is thermally coupled to a solvent tank structured to hold an extraction solvent of the solvent extraction system, and the condenser is thermally coupled to a collection tank or an evaporation vessel of the solvent extraction system;
- and
- supplying a thermal gradient driving the extraction solvent in the solvent extraction system with the closed-cycle heat exchange device.
A method of extraction using a solvent extraction system thermally coupled to a closed-cycle heat exchange device, the method comprising:
- (a) packing a biological material into a material column of the solvent extraction system;
- (b) passing an extraction solvent from a solvent tank through the material column;
- (c) collecting the extraction solvent in a collection tank or in a collection vessel;
- (d) evaporating the extraction solvent from the collection tank or from an evaporation vessel;
- and
- (e) condensing the extraction solvent in the solvent tank;
- wherein an evaporator of the heat exchange device is thermally coupled to the solvent tank and is fluidly connected to a condenser of the heat exchange device that is thermally coupled to the collection tank or to the evaporation vessel;
- and
- producing a biological compound concentrate from the biological material, by driving the extraction solvent using the thermal gradient created by thermally coupling the solvent extraction system to the closed-cycle heat exchange device.
A method of driving an extraction solvent in a solvent extraction system thermally coupled to a closed-cycle heat exchange device, the method comprising:
- (a) evaporating the extraction solvent using a condenser of the heat exchange device, when the extraction solvent is in a liquid state;
- and
- (b) condensing the extraction solvent using an evaporator of the heat exchange device, when the extraction solvent is in a gaseous state;
- wherein the condenser is fluidly connected to the evaporator, and the closed-cycle heat exchange device is thermally coupled to the solvent extraction system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.