阅读说明：本技术 烟捕获系统和方法 (Smoke capture system and method ) 是由 伊兰·费费尔贝格 威廉·莱维内 施门·莱希特 于 2018-10-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种蒸汽/烟捕获捕集器系统,其以烟腔室捕集器为特征,烟腔室捕集器用于使分散在腔室中的烟沉淀。腔室包含：底池,其用于容纳液态溶剂的储集器；以及充气部分,在充气部分中下部烟雾部分含有液态溶剂的雾型小滴并且烟引入到充气部分中；和上部澄清部分,在上部澄清部分中烟和小滴的浓度相对于其在烟雾部分中的浓度减小。设置在烟雾部分和澄清部分之间的雾冷凝器将烟雾部分的雾小滴沉淀到池中。细雾生成器使与烟混合的液态溶剂的雾型小滴喷流流向烟雾部分处的一定浓度的烟。闭环气体循环器从澄清部分抽取气体,并在压力下通过细雾生成器使气体再循环到烟雾部分中。通过烟输送导管将新鲜烟引入到气体循环器中。一种互补烟捕获方法包含：填充储集器；使雾型小滴喷流流向分散在充气部分的下部烟雾部分内的一定浓度的烟；由设置在充气部分的下部烟雾部分和上部澄清部分之间的雾冷凝器将烟雾部分中的小滴沉淀到池中；在闭环气体循环器中在压力下将从澄清部分抽取的气体通过细雾生成器再循环到烟雾部分中；以及通过烟输送导管将新鲜烟传导到气体循环器中。(A vapor/smoke trap system features a smoke chamber trap for precipitating smoke dispersed in a chamber. The chamber comprises: a bottom tank for containing a reservoir of liquid solvent; and an air-filled portion in which the lower smoke portion contains mist-type droplets of a liquid solvent and smoke is introduced into the air-filled portion; and an upper clarification section in which the concentration of smoke and droplets is reduced relative to its concentration in the smoke section. A mist condenser disposed between the mist portion and the clear portion precipitates mist droplets of the mist portion into the pool. The fine mist generator causes a mist-type droplet jet of the liquid solvent mixed with the smoke to flow toward the smoke of a certain concentration at the smoke portion. A closed loop gas circulator withdraws gas from the clarification section and recirculates the gas under pressure through a mist generator into the fume section. Fresh smoke is introduced into the gas circulator through a smoke delivery conduit. A complementary smoke capture method comprising: filling the reservoir; directing a spray of mist-type droplets toward a concentration of smoke dispersed in a lower smoke portion of the gas-filled portion; settling droplets in the mist fraction into a pool by a mist condenser disposed between a lower mist fraction and an upper clear fraction of the aerated fraction; recirculating the gas extracted from the clarifying section under pressure in a closed-loop gas circulator through a fine mist generator into the fume section; and conducting fresh smoke into the gas circulator through the smoke transport conduit.)

1. A vapor/smoke ("smoke") capture (trapping) system comprising:

(a) a smoke chamber trap for precipitating smoke dispersed in the chamber, the chamber comprising:

(1) a bottom tank for containing a reservoir of liquid solvent;

(2) an inflatable portion, comprising:

(I) a lower smoke portion containing mist-type droplets of the liquid solvent and into which the smoke is introduced;

(II) an upper clear section in which the concentration of the smoke and droplets is reduced relative to its concentration in the smoke section; and

(III) a mist condenser disposed between the mist portion and the clear portion for precipitating the mist droplets in the mist portion into the pool; and

(3) a fine mist generator for causing a mist-type droplet jet of the liquid solvent mixed with the smoke to flow toward a concentration of the smoke at the smoke portion;

(b) a closed loop gas circulator for withdrawing the gas from the clarification section and recirculating the gas under pressure through the mist generator into the fume section; and

(c) a smoke delivery conduit for delivering fresh smoke into the gas circulator.

2. The smoke capture system of claim 1, further comprising a liquid solvent primary mixing circulator for dispersing droplets of the solvent drawn from the reservoir into the gas circulator.

3. The smoke capture system of claim 1, wherein the fine mist generator comprises:

(a) a stationary bottom element emerging upwards from the floor of the cell, comprising a first head disposed above the level of the solvent in the reservoir, the first head being positioned at a first distance from the bottom of the floor, the first head comprising an inlet opening through which a jet of the closed-loop gas circulator is continuously injected into the smoke fraction;

(b) an upper element, stationary or movable, partially submerged in the reservoir of liquid solvent, the upper element comprising: a second head comprising an outlet opening disposed in the path of the jet stream, the second head being positioned a second distance from the bottom of the base plate, the second distance being greater than the first distance such that a gap is disposed between the stationary bottom element and the upper element, the gap being for generating a negative pressure when flowing; and an injector fitted to the outlet opening, the jet being continuously ejected by the injector before entering the aerosol portion; and

(c) a surface positioned in front of the injector of the upper element for enhancing smoke association or dissolution in the liquid solvent by breaking down the droplets of the jet stream into tiny mist-type liquid droplets and smoke-derived droplets and particles when the droplets of the jet stream impact the surface.

4. The smoke capture system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second heads is tapered.

5. The smoke capture system of claim 3, wherein the jet stream comprises a gas with smoke and solvent droplets.

6. The fume capture system of claim 1 wherein the mist-type droplets comprise a diameter ranging from 0.1 microns to 100 microns, and/or an average diameter of about 2 microns.

7. The smoke capture system of claim 3, wherein a diameter of the injector is constant or varies to correspondingly vary a pressure of the injection stream of gas with smoke and solvent droplets.

8. The smoke capture system of claim 1, further comprising heating equipment for continuously burning and/or vaporizing a substance for generating the fresh smoke, the heating equipment comprising weighing means for weighing a substance for generating the fresh smoke to allow access to the smoke delivery conduit.

9. The smoke capture system of claim 8, wherein the heating equipment is configured to heat the substance at a temperature preset to be at or below 230 ℃ or at a temperature that would cause spontaneous combustion or ignition of the substance or a spontaneous further increase in temperature.

10. The smoke capture system of claim 8, wherein the heating equipment is locked and operable with a code interface for preventing improper operation.

11. The fume capture system of claim 1 further comprising at least one pump for pumping liquid solvent from the sump to the mist condenser to precipitate and/or cause condensation of the mist-type droplets.

12. The smoke capture system of claim 1, wherein the liquid solvent comprises at least one selected from the list consisting of:

ethanol;

acetonitrile;

propylene glycol;

glycerol;

water;

methanol;

an organic solvent; and

combinations of any of the above.

13. The smoke capture system of claim 1, further comprising at least one atomizer connected to the smoke conduit and/or liquid solvent conduit to mix the smoke and liquid traversing the atomizer.

14. The smoke capture system of claim 1, further comprising a mixing chamber for enhancing dissolution of smoke in the liquid solvent, wherein the mixing chamber comprises a mixing injector comprising a plurality of apertures through which the smoke and liquid solvent flow passes, and wherein the apertures form regions of increased pressure in the flow to thereby facilitate association of smoke with the liquid solvent.

15. The smoke capture system of claim 1, further comprising a controller for setting and controlling parameters comprising at least one selected from the list consisting of:

the duration of the operation;

the total weight of the material to be treated;

solvent weight before and after the process;

a preset temperature at the combustion chamber;

the pressure of the liquid;

air pressure;

vacuum pressure;

ash weight; and

turbidity of the solvent to indicate a level of smoke absorption; and

optical means for qualitative or quantitative measurement of the dissolved component.

16. The smoke capture system of claim 1, further comprising an internal conduit residue collection cleaning mechanism for washing the conduit with the liquid solvent to release smoke adhered to a side of the conduit and circulating the liquid solvent and released smoke through the conduit.

17. The smoke capture system of claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature sensor.

18. A method of smoke capture comprising the process of:

(a) providing the smoke chamber trap of claim 1 for capturing smoke dispersed in an aerated portion of the chamber;

(b) a reservoir filled with a liquid solvent, the reservoir disposed in a bottom well of the chamber;

(c) flowing, by a fine mist generator, a jet of mist-type droplets of the liquid solvent with the smoke toward the smoke dispersed within the lower smoke portion of the gas-filled portion, wherein the smoke portion contains the mist-type droplets of the liquid solvent and into which the smoke is to be introduced;

(d) (ii) precipitating droplets in the smoke portion into the pool by a mist condenser disposed between the lower smoke portion and the upper clear portion of the aerated portion, thereby reducing the concentration of the smoke and mist-type droplets in the clear portion relative to their concentration in the smoke portion;

(e) recirculating gas extracted from the clarified fraction under pressure in a closed loop gas circulator through the mist generator into the smoke fraction; and

(f) fresh smoke is conducted into the gas circulator through a smoke transport conduit at a smoke introduction junction.

19. The smoke capture method of claim 18, further comprising dispersing droplets of the liquid solvent drawn from the reservoir in the gas circulator downstream of the smoke introduction junction.

20. The smoke capture method of claim 18, wherein the flow process by the fine mist generator comprises:

(1) continuously injecting a gas jet with smoke and solvent droplets from the closed loop gas circulator into the smoke portion by the fine mist generator;

(2) continuously ejecting the jet by the injector of the upper element upon entering the aerosol portion, wherein the jet creates a negative pressure in the gap between the fixed base element and the upper element, wherein the negative pressure draws the liquid solvent from the reservoir towards the injector, and the fine mist generator breaks up the jet into mist-type droplets having a relatively high surface area to volume ratio.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to systems and methods for capturing and collecting vapors and smoke. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for capturing vapors, fumes, and smoke by dissolution or mixing with a solvent.

Background

Various plants have been found to contain compounds (e.g., molecular entities or molecular complexes) having pharmaceutical, therapeutic and/or cosmetic properties. Historically, certain compounds found in plants have been extracted for human application by combustion, also known as smoking or vaporization. Smoking of the botanical substances is typically achieved by rolling the botanical substances into a cigarette and lighting the cigarette or by using a smoking device such as a hookah. Vaporization of the plant matter is typically achieved by using a vaporizer configured to hold an amount of plant matter, the vaporizer being heated by air that is hot enough to vaporize the compound, but not hot enough to ignite the plant matter (or a substantial portion thereof), whereby the hot effluent air carrying the vaporized compound is then actively or passively cooled and then inhaled by the user.

Compositions for pharmaceutical, therapeutic and/or cosmetic use can be prepared from plants comprising compounds from plant matter using various methods including solvent extraction and distillation methods.

Various devices and methods are available today for extracting basic material from plants. For example, fig. 1 depicts a prior art smoking device 100 for obtaining a plant matter smoke using a cigarette. The smoking device 100 includes a chamber 110, a mouthpiece 112, an air pump 114, and a smoke conduit 116. During operation of the smoking device 100, the cigarette 120 is inserted into the mouthpiece 112 and lit at its distal end (a). The chamber 110 is a closed chamber with no other air inlets than the smoke conduit 116. The air pump 114 is configured to draw air from the chamber 110 through the smoke conduit 116 to the exterior of the chamber 110, thereby creating a vacuum in the chamber 110 and introducing smoke from the lit cigarette 120. Upon ignition, the smoke travels distally through the cigarette 120 and into the chamber 110. Smoke may be analyzed or used within the chamber 110. Optionally, smoke may be delivered from the chamber 110 by the air pump 114 and smoke conduit 116 for further use or analysis.

Disclosure of Invention

In accordance with the disclosed technology, there is thus provided a vapor/smoke ("smoke") capture "trap" system that features a smoke chamber trap for precipitating smoke dispersed in a chamber. The chamber comprises: a bottom tank for containing a reservoir of liquid solvent; and an aerated section in which the lower smoke portion contains "mist-type" droplets of a liquid solvent and smoke is introduced into the aerated section; and an upper clarification section in which the concentration of smoke and droplets is reduced relative to its concentration in the smoke section. A mist condenser disposed between the mist portion and the clear portion precipitates mist droplets of the mist portion into the pool. The fine mist generator is used to cause a mist-type droplet jet of the liquid solvent mixed with the smoke to flow toward the smoke of a certain concentration at the smoke portion. A closed loop gas circulator withdraws gas from the clarification section and recirculates the gas under pressure through a mist generator into the fume section. Fresh smoke is introduced into the gas circulator through a smoke delivery conduit.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the smoke trapping system may further comprise a liquid solvent preliminary mixing circulator for dispersing the solvent droplets drawn from the reservoir into the gas circulator.

Further, according to the present invention, the fine mist generator may include:

(a) a stationary bottom element, emerging upwards from the floor of the cell, comprising a first head arranged above the level of the solvent in the reservoir, the first head being positioned at a first distance from the bottom of the floor, the first head comprising an inlet opening through which the jet of the closed-loop gas circulator is injected continuously into the smoke fraction;

(b) an upper element, stationary or movable, partially submerged in a reservoir of liquid solvent, the upper element comprising: a second head comprising an outlet opening disposed in the path of the jet stream, the second head being positioned a second distance from the bottom of the base plate, the second distance being greater than the first distance such that a gap is disposed between the stationary bottom element and the upper element, the gap being for generating a negative pressure when flowing; and an injector fitted to the inlet opening, the jet being continuously ejected by the injector before entering the fume portion; and

(c) a surface positioned in front of the injector of the upper element for enhancing smoke association or dissolution in the liquid solvent by breaking up the jet stream droplets into tiny mist-type droplets of liquid and smoke-derived droplets and particles when the jet stream droplets impact the surface.

Further, according to the present invention, at least one of the first head and the second head may be tapered. Furthermore, according to the invention, the jet may contain a gas with smoke and solvent droplets.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, the mist-type droplets may comprise a diameter in the range of 0.1 microns to 100 microns, and/or an average diameter of about 2 microns.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the diameter of the injector may be constant, or varied, to correspondingly vary the pressure of the gas jet with the smoke and solvent droplets.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the smoke capturing system may further comprise heating means for continuously burning and/or vaporizing the substance for generating new fresh smoke to allow access to said smoke transport conduit, the heating means comprising weighing means for weighing the substance for generating new fresh smoke.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the heating equipment may be configured to heat the substance at a temperature preset to be equal to or lower than 230 ℃ or at a temperature which may cause the substance to spontaneously burn or ignite or to spontaneously increase further in temperature.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the heating equipment can be locked and operated with a code interface for preventing improper functioning.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the fume capture system may further comprise at least one pump for pumping liquid solvent from the sump to the mist condenser to precipitate and/or cause condensation of said mist-type droplets.

Further, according to the present invention, the solvent may comprise at least one selected from the list consisting of: ethanol, acetonitrile, propylene glycol, glycerol, water, methanol, organic solvents, and combinations of any of the above.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the fume capture system may further comprise at least one atomizer connected to the fume conduit and/or the liquid solvent conduit to mix the fume and liquid traversing the atomizer.

Further, according to the present invention, the smoke capture system may further comprise a mixing chamber for enhancing dissolution of the smoke into the liquid solvent, wherein the mixing chamber comprises a mixing injector comprising a plurality of apertures through which the smoke and liquid solvent flow, and wherein the apertures form a region of increased pressure in the flow to thereby assist in associating the smoke with the liquid solvent.

Further, according to the present invention, the smoke capturing system may further comprise a controller for setting and controlling parameters comprising at least one selected from the list consisting of: duration of operation, total weight of the substance to be treated, weight of solvent before and after the process, preset temperature at the combustion chamber, liquid pressure, air pressure, vacuum pressure, ash weight, turbidity of the solvent for indicating smoke absorption level, and optical means for qualitative or quantitative measurement of the dissolved components.

Further, according to the present invention, the smoke trap system may further comprise an internal duct residue collection cleaning mechanism for washing the duct with a liquid solvent to release the smoke attached to the side of the duct and circulating the liquid solvent and the released smoke through the duct.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the smoke capturing system may further comprise at least one temperature sensor.

Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a smoke capturing method comprising the processes of:

(a) providing the above-described smoke chamber trap for capturing smoke dispersed in the inflated portion of the chamber;

(b) a reservoir filled with a liquid solvent, the reservoir being disposed in the bottom basin of the chamber;

(c) flowing a jet of mist-type droplets of a liquid solvent mixed with the smoke by a fine mist generator toward the concentration of smoke dispersed within a lower smoke portion of the gas-filled portion, wherein the smoke portion contains the mist-type droplets of the liquid solvent and the smoke is introduced into the smoke portion;

(d) settling droplets in the smoke portion into a pool by a mist condenser disposed between a lower smoke portion and an upper clear portion of the aerated portion, thereby reducing the concentration of smoke and mist-type droplets in the upper clear portion relative to its concentration in the smoke portion;

(e) recirculating the gas extracted from the clarifying section under pressure in a closed-loop gas circulator through a fine mist generator into the fume section; and

(f) fresh smoke is conducted into the gas circulator through a smoke transport conduit at the smoke introduction junction.

Further, according to the present invention, the fume capture process may further comprise dispersing droplets of the liquid solvent drawn from the reservoir in the gas circulator downstream of the fume introduction junction.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the flow process by the fine mist generator may further comprise

(1) Continuously injecting a gas jet with smoke and solvent droplets from a closed loop gas circulator into the smoke portion by a fine mist generator;

(2) a jet is continuously emitted by the injector of the upper element upon entering the smoke portion, wherein the jet generates a negative pressure in the gap between the fixed base element and the upper element, wherein the negative pressure draws liquid solvent from the reservoir towards the injector, and the fine mist generator breaks up the jet into mist-type particles having a relatively high surface area to volume ratio.

Drawings

The disclosed technology will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 depicts a prior art smoking device for obtaining a plant matter smoke using a cigarette;

FIG. 2A depicts a schematic depiction of a vapor and smoke trapping system constructed and operated in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2B shows an enlarged view of an injector used in the mixing chamber depicted in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 depicts a cauterization/vaporization device constructed and operative in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a smoke trapping method operating in accordance with the disclosed invention;

figure 5 is a block diagram of a sub-process that is optionally added to the smoke trapping method of figure 4.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 present the determination of the presence of the major components of an inflorescence in an exemplary system constructed and operated in accordance with the present invention the graph of FIG. 6 depicts the results obtained by high pressure liquid chromatography (HP L C) and by measuring light absorption and presented as mAU (milliarbitrary units) as a function of residence time (minutes). for simplicity, the results are also presented in the graph of FIG. 7 and summarized in Table I of FIG. 8.

Detailed Description

The various systems and methods available today are ineffective because the extraction rate achieved is about 25% (e.g., using supercritical CO)₂Extraction of (1). In addition, the material to be burned or otherwise extracted must be reloaded into the system multiple times during the process, and therefore, such a capture process is cumbersome and not continuous.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for trapping smoke in a liquid solvent. The disclosed technology of the present invention provides a novel system and method for continuously capturing (e.g., dissolving or mixing) smoke in a liquid solvent, wherein extraction yields of greater than 90% can be achieved. Such systems and methods are simple, easy to operate, fast and efficient.

Referring now to fig. 2A, depicted is a schematic depiction of a vapor and smoke (vapor, smoke, etc. are interchangeable and referred to herein simply as "smoke") capture (or trapping) system 200 constructed and operated in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

The gas and smoke trapping system 200 can include a smoke chamber trap 202, a combustion chamber 204, a smoke delivery conduit 206, a first vacuum pump 208, a first one-way sprayer 210, a second vacuum pump 212, a second one-way sprayer 214, a liquid pump 216, and a mixing chamber 218. The system 200 includes at least one pump, such as pump 208, 212, or 216, effective to ultimately pump the liquid solvent from the sump 220 to a mist condenser (e.g., mist precipitator 230) to precipitate and/or cause condensation of the mist-type droplets.

The smoke chamber trap 202 comprises a bottom sump 220 containing a reservoir 221 of liquid solvent, an aerated portion 222 and a fine mist generator 224. The liquid solvent may comprise at least one selected from the list consisting of: ethanol, acetonitrile, propylene glycol, glycerol, water, methanol, organic solvents, and combinations of any of the above.

The inflated portion 222 includes:

(I) a lower smoke portion 226 containing mist-type droplets of a liquid solvent into which steam or smoke is introduced;

(II) an upper clear portion 228 in which the concentration of smoke and mist droplets is reduced relative to the concentration of smoke and mist droplets in the smoke portion 226; and

(III) a mist precipitator 230 disposed between the mist portion 226 and the clarifying portion 228 for precipitating droplets in the mist portion 226 into the pool 220.

The mist precipitator 230 may, for example, feature one of the following, and so on:

a condensation chimney, where the mist condenses and drops back to the reservoir;

a sprinkler that sprays liquid solvent "rain";

a perforated grid-lattice-mesh barrier on which the mist condenses and drips back to the reservoir; and/or

Cooling the condensing duct radiator.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the smoke chamber trap 202 further comprises:

(a) a closed-loop gas circulator 231 for drawing gas under pressure from the clear section 228 by suction thereof and recirculating into the smoke section 226 through the mist generator 224; and

(b) a fume transport conduit 206 for transporting fresh fume into the gas circulator 231 at a fume introduction junction 252.

The fine mist generator 224 is partially submerged in the reservoir 221 to cause a spray of mist-type droplets of the liquid solvent to flow toward the mist portion 226. The mist generator 224 comprises a stationary base member 232, an upper member 234 and a surface 245.

The fixed base element 232 and the upper element 234 may have a conical, cylindrical or any other shape.

The fixed bottom element 232 emerges upwardly from the floor of the basin 220 and includes a first header 236 disposed above the level 237 of the solvent in the reservoir 221 at a first distance from the bottom of the floor.

The first head 236 contains an inlet opening 238 through which a gas jet of smoke and solvent droplets with the closed loop gas circulator 231 is continuously injected into the smoke portion 226.

The upper element 234 is partially submerged in a liquid solvent reservoir disposed above the fixed bottom element 232 and features a second head 240. The second head 240 is arranged at a second distance from the bottom of the sole plate, the second distance being greater than the first distance, such that a gap is provided between the fixed bottom element and the upper element, the gap generating a negative pressure when flowing, the second head 240 comprising an outlet opening 242 and an injector 244 through which a jet is continuously ejected to impinge on a surface 245 when entering the aerosol portion 226. Surface 245 is positioned in front of injector 244 of upper element 234 for enhancing smoke association or dissolution in the liquid solvent by breaking up the jet stream droplets into tiny mist-like droplets of liquid and smoke-derived droplets and particles as they impact surface 245.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the first head 236 and/or the second head 240 may have a conical shape, and the second head 240 may be stationary or movable. According to some embodiments of the present invention, as the jet exits the stationary bottom element 232, the jet lifts the upper element 234 and creates a vacuum that draws liquid solvent from the reservoir toward the back injector 244.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the diameter of the injector 244 is constant or variable, i.e., increases or decreases as needed, when manufactured or by featuring a variable diameter assembly that can be controlled to change its diameter, preferably dynamically. A significant reduction in diameter will typically correspondingly reduce the pressure of the gas mixed with the solvent (due to the bernoulli effect), and a significant increase in diameter will typically correspondingly increase the pressure of the gas mixed with the solvent. This pressure change mixes (first mix) the mixture of solvent and gas and converts it into a mist.

According to the invention, the high pressure and increased surface area of the solvent droplets (creating micro-droplets) combine the gas/smoke into the solvent and form a mist.

As the jet of solvent and gas exits injector 244, the jet impinges surface 245 and breaks up into mist-type droplets having diameters in the range of 0.1 microns to 100 microns, which may have an average diameter of about 2 microns.

The increased surface area of the micron-sized droplets and the relatively high pressure generated as the jet of solvent and gas exits the injector 244 enable continuous association or dissolution and capture of the fumes and gas into the solvent.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mixing chamber 218 for enhancing dissolution of the smoke into the liquid solvent includes an injector 248 for agitation and mixing that helps to associate the smoke with the liquid solvent.

The injector 248 includes apertures 249 (e.g., the apertures of a grid or perforated jets) through which the liquid and smoke streams pass upon entering the mixing chamber 218, wherein the apertures 249 form regions of increased pressure in the liquid and gas streams, thereby facilitating dissolution of the vapor or smoke into the liquid.

Referring now to fig. 2B, an enlarged view of injector 248 is shown. As seen in fig. 2B, the injector 248 includes a plurality of apertures 249 through which the liquid and smoke streams enter the precipitation chamber, wherein the apertures 249 form regions of increased pressure in the liquid and gas streams and thereby facilitate dissolving the smoke into the liquid.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, injector 248 pulverizes the incoming jet of solvent droplets, creating regions of increased pressure in the stream of solvent droplets, and thereby enhancing the absorption of smoke into the liquid solvent.

Thus, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the fine mist generator 224 enhances the degree of absorption of the smoke into the liquid solvent by breaking up the incoming solvent droplets into tiny micron-sized mist-type droplets having a relatively high surface area to volume ratio.

The degree of smoke absorption in the smoke chamber trap 202 is quite high and can reach up to about 90% to 97%, and therefore, it may not be necessary to include the mixing chamber 218 in the process.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the smoke trap system 200 may include various sensors, such as:

-at least one temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature throughout the process;

-at least one sensor for monitoring the gas composition throughout the process;

-at least one sensor for monitoring the amount of liquid solvent before starting the process, during the whole process and after completion of the process.

The fume capture system 200 enables the addition of liquid solvents throughout the process as needed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the smoke trap system 200 may include an internal conduit residue collection cleaning mechanism for washing the conduit with liquid solvent to release smoke attached to the side of the conduit and circulate the liquid solvent with the released smoke through the conduit into the bottom tank 220.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the smoke trapping system 200 is computerized and, therefore, the parameters of interest may be controlled by a suitable computerized controller. Such parameters may include the duration of the operation, the total weight of the material to be treated, the weight of the solvent before and after the process, the preset temperature at the combustion chamber, the liquid pressure, the air and vacuum pressures, the ash weight and the turbidity of the solvent (to indicate the absorption of smoke), as well as optical means for qualitative or quantitative measurement of the dissolved components (such as FT-IR or similar integrated detectors and analysis systems for quantitative measurements in the treatment of compounds dissolved in liquids).

The smoke trap system 200 can include multiple vaporization procedures, each having a predefined process temperature and a predefined vaporization duration intended to accommodate various types of materials.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the smoke deposition trap system 200 achieves four mixing stages of liquid and smoke throughout the process:

1. a first mixing stage-occurs in the mixing chamber 218;

2. second mixing stage-occurs as the jet stream exits the stationary base member 232

3. Third mixing stage-occurs as the jet stream exits the upper element 234

4. The fourth mixing stage-occurs as the jet hits the surface 245 and breaks up into tiny mist-like droplets.

Fig. 3 depicts a burning/vaporizing unit 300 constructed and operated in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The burning/vaporizing unit 300 includes a weighing member 302, a plant delivery conduit 304, a smoke delivery conduit 306, a screen 308, a filter 310, a heating element 312, an ash collector 314, a first sensor 316, and a second sensor 318.

Plant delivery catheter 304 has a proximal end 305A and a distal end 305B.

The smoke delivery conduit 306 is open at one end to the plant delivery conduit 304 and is configured to allow smoke to flow from the plant delivery conduit 304.

A screen 308 is placed between the smoke transport conduit 306 and the plant transport conduit 304 to prevent plant matter from entering the smoke transport conduit 306 from the plant transport conduit 304.

The filter 310 is configured to allow smoke to flow, but prevent large particles from passing through.

The burning/vaporizing unit 300 includes a first sensor 316 within the plant delivery conduit 304 for determining the ignition status of the plant matter, and a second sensor 318 spaced a distance from the distal end 305B for determining the ignition status of the plant matter at the distal end 305B.

Thus, according to some embodiments of the invention, the plant matter is weighed and the weight is recorded. Plant matter then enters through the proximal end 305A and proceeds to the distal end 305B of the plant delivery catheter 304. The plant delivery conduit 304 is accompanied by an external heating element 312 that heats the plant to a temperature at which plant steam is formed while the plant is advancing toward the distal end 304. Heating element 312 represents heating equipment for continuously burning and/or vaporizing a substance for generating new fresh smoke to be admitted into smoke delivery conduit 306.

The plant matter is advanced through the plant delivery conduit 304 at a rate that allows steam or water vapor of the plant matter to reach the distal end 305B. Thus, steam/water vapor is continuously drawn through the plant matter in the plant transport conduit 304, through the screen 308 and into the fume transport conduit 306.

As the plant matter proceeds in the direction of distal end 305B, spent plant matter falls to ash collector 314. The ash was then weighed and recorded. It should be noted that according to some embodiments of the present invention, the heating equipment may comprise a weighing member for weighing the plant material. In addition, the heating equipment may be locked and may operate with a code interface to prevent improper operation.

Examples of the invention

The captured yields of nine major components (cannabinoids) are measured for inflorescences containing such medical components processed in an exemplary system constructed and operated in accordance with the present invention referring now to figures 6, 7 and 8 which present the determination of the major components of the inflorescences present the graph of figure 6 depicts the results obtained by high pressure liquid chromatography (HP L C) and are obtained by measuring light absorption and are presented as mAU (milliarbitrary units) as a function of residence time (minutes) for simplicity the results are also presented in the graph of figure 7 and summarized in table I of figure 8 the initial concentration of cannabinoids in the inflorescence before burning is presented in mg/g the extracted yield percentage represents the percentage of evaporated material after burning (calculated by analytically measuring the components in ash remaining in the burning chamber) and the captured yield percentage of the captured residue (components) is measured and calculated relative to the unburnt inflorescences.

Procedure of operation

During operation of the smoke trap system 200, plant matter is continuously introduced into the combustion or vaporization chamber 204, which is ignited or operated at a preset temperature.

As the plant matter burns/vaporizes at the combustion chamber 204, the first vacuum pump 208 is used to create a vacuum to draw fresh smoke from the combustion chamber 204 through the smoke delivery conduit 206. Fresh smoke is then delivered to the first one-way atomizer 210 and introduced at point 250, at which point it is blended with the stale smoke exiting from the smoke chamber trap 202, and the blend is circulated by the action of the second vacuum pump 212. The combined flow of stale and fresh tobacco is delivered to the second one-way sprayer 214 and then to node 252. At node 252, solvent exiting the smoke chamber trap 202 and circulating through the action of the liquid pump 216 is intermixed with the smoke. The combined flow of solvent and fumes enters the mixing chamber 218 through the injector 248 for agitation and mixing that helps to associate the fumes with the liquid solvent.

As the solvent and plume enter the mixing chamber 218, it passes through the apertures of the injector 248, thus creating multiple regions of increased pressure in the solvent. The increase in pressure enhances the dissolution of the smoke in the liquid solvent.

To achieve an even greater degree of dissolution, the solvent and plume enter the smoke chamber trap 202 where it breaks down into tiny mist-type droplets with an average diameter of about 2 microns. Such fine mist droplets are characterized by a high surface area to volume ratio, which significantly enhances the degree of smoke absorption.

It should be noted that because the incoming jet enters the section between the two heads of the fixed bottom element 232 and the upper element 234, the total pressure in the smoke chamber trap 202 does not build up, but remains constant, and therefore, there is no need to release pressure into the atmosphere, and therefore, unblended/undissolved gas/smoke is not lost to the surrounding atmosphere.

It should also be noted that as the pressurized jet of solvent and smoke exits the stationary base member 232, the pressurized jet lifts the upper member 234 and creates a vacuum that draws in the solvent.

The process further comprises: a closed loop gas circulator for drawing and recirculating gas under pressure extracted from the clear portion 228 into the smoke portion 226 through the mist generator 224; and a fume transport conduit 206 for conducting fresh fume into the gas circulator at the fume introduction junction.

During the process, the smoke-laden air stream exits the smoke chamber trap 202 and is repeatedly circulated, i.e., pumped with the second vacuum pump 212, to blend with fresh smoke exiting the combustion chamber 204. According to some embodiments of the invention, multiple blending cycles may be performed during a process.

According to some embodiments, the combined smoke stream may enter the mixing chamber 218 before entering the smoke chamber trap 202.

At the end of the process, the solvent with trapped smoke may be condensed and stored in a liquid reservoir. The solvent is then vaporized (cooking or boiling) -the residue is freed from the solvent.

Smoke/gas capture/capture method

Reference is now made to fig. 4, which is a block diagram of a smoke capture (or trapping) method 400 that operates in accordance with the disclosed invention. Reference is made to specific components shown in fig. 2A, 2B, and 3 for convenience only, and it should be noted that any similar or equivalent component may be used for the purposes of the method 400. According to some embodiments of the invention, the smoke trapping method 400 comprises the steps of:

in step 402, the smoke chamber trap 202 described above with reference to fig. 2A, 2B and 3 is provided for capturing smoke dispersed in the gas filled portion 222 in the chamber trap 202. The smoke chamber trap 202 comprises a bottom sump 220 containing a reservoir 221 of liquid solvent, an aerated portion 222 and a fine mist generator 224.

In step 404, a reservoir 221 of liquid solvent is filled, the reservoir being disposed in the bottom basin 220 of the smoke chamber trap 202.

In step 406, a spray of mist-type droplets of the liquid solvent mixed with the smoke is directed by the mist generator 224 toward a concentration of the smoke dispersed within the lower smoke portion 226 of the plenum portion 222, wherein the smoke portion 226 contains the mist-type droplets of the liquid solvent and into which the smoke is to be introduced. The fine mist generator 224 is partially submerged in the reservoir 221 to cause a spray of mist-type droplets of the liquid solvent to flow toward the mist portion 226. The mist generator 224 comprises a stationary base member 232, an upper member 234 and a surface 245.

In step 408, the droplets in the smoke portion 226 are precipitated into the pool 220 by a fog precipitator 230 or fog condenser disposed between the lower smoke portion 226 and the upper clear portion 228 of the aerated portion 222, thereby reducing the concentration of the smoke and fog-type droplets in the clear portion 228 relative to their concentration in the smoke portion 226.

In step 410, the gas extracted from the clear fraction 228 is recirculated under pressure into the smoke fraction 226 by the fine mist generator 224 in the closed loop gas circulator 231. A closed-loop gas circulator 231 for drawing gas under pressure from the clear section 228 by suction and recirculating into the smoke section 226 through the mist generator 224;

in step 412, fresh smoke is delivered (conducted) into the gas circulator 231 through the smoke delivery conduit 206 at the smoke introduction node 252; and

in optional step 414, droplets of liquid solvent drawn from reservoir 221 are dispersed in gas circulator 231 downstream of smoke introduction point 252. This may be accomplished in the primary mixing chamber 218 by a dispersion injector 248. The combined flow of solvent and fumes enters the mixing chamber 218 through the injector 248 for agitation and mixing that helps to associate the fumes with the liquid solvent.

Referring now to fig. 5, there is a block diagram 500 of a sub-process that may be included in the flow process 406 by the fine mist generator 224. Process 406 may include the following sub-processes:

1. in step 516, a gas jet stream with smoke and solvent droplets is continuously injected from the closed-loop gas circulator into the smoke portion 226 by the fine mist generator 224.

2. In step 518, a jet is continuously emitted by the injector 244 of the upper element 234 upon entering the smoke portion 226, wherein the jet creates a negative pressure in the gap between the fixed base element 232 and the upper element 234, wherein the negative pressure draws liquid solvent from the reservoir 221 towards the injector 244, and the fine mist generator 224 breaks up the jet into mist-type particles having a relatively high surface area to volume ratio. For example, the injected jet is continuously ejected upon entering the smoke portion 226 by an upper element 234 partially submerged in a reservoir 221 of liquid solvent and disposed above a fixed base element 232.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a method for the preparation of a liquid solvent impregnated with smoke involves the following stages:

a) providing the liquid solvent laden with smoke to a storage tank;

b) condensing the liquid solvent;

c) weighing the liquid solvent filled with smoke;

d) the container is sealed and an RFID tag is attached to the container.

e) The weight and lot number of the container are recorded and stored (in a computer, cloud, etc.).

According to some embodiments of the invention, any containment system similar to the preparation system used to prepare the cans for storage may be used to open the cans. Prior to opening the cans, the containment system may weigh the cans and compare the weight, lot number, and RFID to data stored by the preparation system, such as in the cloud.

If the above data matches data stored in the cloud, and if the operator has access to the machine, the containment system may allow the tank to be opened.

For security purposes, i.e. to prevent theft or tampering, illegal opening of the tank may result in release of chemicals, which may damage the contents of the tank.

In addition to the combustion chamber 204 depicted in fig. 2A, various other heating equipment may also be used for the combustion, burning, smoking, vaporization, or cooking of plant matter.

It should be noted that the preset temperature in the combustion chamber is preferably preset at or below 230 ℃, or below a temperature that may cause spontaneous combustion, spontaneous ignition and/or spontaneous further increase in temperature (e.g. to above 230 ℃ and up to 350 ℃, and even higher) to avoid such a non-bright spontaneous event.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the techniques are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove.

In the detailed description and claims of this application, the verbs "comprise," "include," and "have," and their cognate root are each used to indicate that the subject of the verb is not necessarily a complete list of components, elements, or parts of the subject of the verb.

The detailed description of the embodiments of the invention in this application is provided by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The described embodiments contain different features, not all of which are required in all embodiments of the invention. Some embodiments utilize only some of the features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of the invention described, as well as embodiments of the invention comprising different combinations of features mentioned in the described embodiments, will occur to persons skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.