Methane is known to be a potent greenhouse gas, having a global warming potential
that is considerably higher than that of carbon dioxide. Livestock are known to be a
significant source of methane gas, which is released via exhalation and eructation. The
methane emission of livestock often has direct economic consequences for livestock
producers, who may be subject to taxes based on their carbon footprint. Additionally,
15 with cattle being key contributors to global warming, it is vital to reduce methane
emissions from livestock.
A method of reducing the quantity of methane emissions is to capture and oxidise the
methane before it is released into the atmosphere. In this process, methane is oxidised
20 with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water vapour, reducing the quantity of
harmful methane released. The energy demand of this process is high, with a required
oxidation temperature of around 500°C. Additionally, recurrent emissions from livestock
mean that the need to oxidise this methane arises very frequently.
25 It can be difficult to capture and oxidise methane after it is emitted from an animal, such
as by exhalation, eructation or flatulence. In such cases, correct positioning of the
methane oxidation system is paramount to guarantee effective oxidation. As such,
there is a benefit in oxidising methane prior to natural emission from the animal.
30 Another method to reduce methane emissions in cattle is to add dietary supplements to
cattle feed to reduce methanogenesis occurring in the rumen. However, such feed
additives require regular dosage, possess a low efficiency of methanogenesis reduction
and cannot be used with non-cattle feed.
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Objects and aspects of the present claimed invention seek to alleviate at least these
problems with the prior art.
5 Summary of the invention
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a methane oxidation device
for oxidation of methane from a digestive cavity associated with an animal, the device
comprising a methane oxidation unit for oxidising methane; wherein the methane
10 oxidation unit comprises an inlet portion in fluid communication with the external
environment, the inlet portion further configured to be mounted to a hollow member in
fluid communication with a digestive cavity associated with an animal, and further when
the methane oxidation unit comprises an outlet portion in fluid communication with the
external environment, so that methane from a digestive cavity associated with an animal
15 is oxidised in the oxidisation unit prior to release into the external environment.
In this way, there is provided a device for oxidising methane from an animal prior to
emission from exhalation, eructation or flatulence. The methane oxidation device is
particularly advantageous for use on bovine animals, such as cattle, but use on non-
20 bovine animals, such as sheep and goats, is also envisaged. Difficulties capturing
methane emitted from the mouth or snout of an animal can lead to methane escaping
into the external environment prior to methane oxidation. As such, a benefit of the
present invention is that methane from a digestive cavity of the animal can be oxidised
prior to emission to the external environment via the mouth or snout. It is understood
25 that fluid can be gas, liquid and/or a combination of the gas and liquid. Preferably, fluid
communication is gaseous communication.
Preferably, the digestive cavity is a rumen of an animal. In this way, a methane
oxidation device for oxidising methane from the methane rich rumen of an animal is
30 provided.
Preferably, the methane oxidation device further comprises; at least one hollow member
comprising a first portion and second portion; and a piercing member for piercing a
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channel into a digestive cavity of an animal, the piercing member located at the first
portion of the at least one hollow member, wherein the methane oxidation unit is located
at the second portion of the at least one hollow member; wherein the first portion of the
at least one hollow member is in fluid communication with a digestive cavity associated
5 with an animal.
In some embodiments, the at least one hollow member consists of one hollow member.
In other embodiments, the at least one hollow member comprises a plurality of hollow
members. In embodiments comprising a plurality of hollow members, all hollow
10 members may be in fluid communication with the methane oxidation unit. Alternatively,
the methane oxidation unit comprises a plurality of methane oxidation units and one or
more hollow members of the plurality of hollow members is in fluid communication with
each methane oxidation unit of the plurality of methane oxidation units.
15 Preferably, the methane oxidation unit is located between the at least one hollow
member and the external environment. In this way, an efficient fluid pathway from the
digestive cavity of an animal to the external environment is provided.
Preferably, the methane oxidation unit comprises at least one catalytic material.
20 Preferably, the at least one catalytic material is located between the inlet portion and the
outlet portion and at least a portion of the at least one catalytic material is arranged in a
permeable configuration so as to allow fluid flow from the inlet portion to the outlet
portion. It is understood that a permeable configuration is one that allows air to flow
from the inlet portion to the outlet portion. For example, the catalytic material is
25 permeable and/or the arrangement of the catalytic material allows fluid flow from the
inlet portion to the outlet portion. For example, the catalytic material may be arranged in
a grid or mesh configuration and/or comprises a plurality of even or unevenly distributed
apertures or other vents. Preferably, the outlet portion is configured to inhibit liquid flow
from the external environment into the methane oxidation device. It is advantageous to
30 prevent rain and other contaminants entering the methane oxidation unit from the
external environment.A methane oxidation device for oxidation of methane from a digestive cavity
associated with an animal, the device comprising
a methane oxidation unit for oxidising methane;
wherein the methane oxidation unit comprises an inlet portion in fluid
communication with the external environment, the inlet portion further configured
to be mounted to a hollow member in fluid communication with a digestive cavity
associated with an animal,
and further when the methane oxidation unit comprises an outlet portion in fluid
communication with the external environment,
so that methane from a digestive cavity associated with an animal is oxidised in
the oxidisation unit prior to release into the external environment.
2. The methane oxidation device of claim 1, wherein the methane oxidation device
further comprises;
at least one hollow member comprising a first portion and second portion; and
a piercing member for piercing a channel into a digestive cavity of an animal, the
piercing member located at the first portion of the at least one hollow member,
wherein the methane oxidation unit is located at the second portion of the at least
one hollow member;
wherein the first portion of the at least one hollow member is in fluid
communication with a digestive cavity associated with an animal.
3. The methane oxidation device of claim 2, wherein the methane oxidation unit is
located between the at least one hollow member and the external environment.
4. The methane oxidation unit of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the methane oxidation
unit comprises at least one catalytic material.
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5. The methane oxidation device of claim 4, wherein the at least one catalytic
material is located between the inlet portion and the outlet portion and at least a
portion of the at least one catalytic material is arranged in a permeable
configuration so as to allow fluid flow from the inlet portion to the outlet portion.
6. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the methane
oxidation device comprises a retaining member configured to removably retain
the methane oxidation unit to an animal.
7. The methane oxidation device of claim 6, wherein the retaining member is
located at the first portion of the at least one hollow member and comprises a
collapsible portion wherein retraction of the methane oxidation device through a
channel into a cavity of an animal draws the first portion towards the second
portion for collapsing the collapsible portion, the collapsible portion configured to
splay outwardly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the at least one hollow
member as it collapses.
8. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the at least
one hollow member comprises a valve located in the second portion and
configured to inhibit fluid flow exiting the second portion of the at least one hollow
member.
9. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the outlet
portion comprises a plurality of vents located on an external surface of the
methane oxidation unit.
10. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the methane
oxidation device comprises a sensor.
11. The methane oxidation device of claim 10, wherein the methane oxidation device
comprises a data transfer unit configured to transfer data from the sensor to an
external device.
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12. The methane oxidation unit of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the at least one
hollow member comprises a flow regulator configured to inhibit fluid flow into the
methane oxidation unit when the sensor detects a characteristic of the device is
at a predetermined threshold.
13. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the methane
oxidation unit comprises a thermal barrier configured to inhibit heat transfer from
the methane oxidation unit to the external environment.
14. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the methane
oxidation unit is dome-shaped.
15. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 14, wherein the first
portion of at least one hollow member is in fluid communication with the external
environment via a permeable mesh.
16. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 15, wherein the at least
one hollow member comprises an unclogging member configured to unclog
accumulated matter from at least a portion of the at least one hollow member.
17. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 16, wherein the methane
oxidation device comprises a methane dilution unit configured to dilute the
concentration of methane.
18. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 17, wherein the methane
oxidation unit comprises a cooling unit configured to lower the temperature within
the methane oxidation unit.
19. The methane oxidation device of any one of claims 2 to 18, wherein the at least
one hollow member comprises a buoyant member configured to float inside the
digestive cavity associated with the animal.
20. An installation gun for installing the methane oxidation device of any one of
claims 1 to 19; the installation gun comprising;