Device for diluting and mixing concentrated aqueous solutions

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an apparatus (1, 21) for diluting and mixing a concentrated aqueous fertilizer solution. The device can be used to incorporate a fertilizer solution into the irrigation of a farm. The present disclosure also provides the use of the device for dispensing fertilizer to a field and a method for dispensing a fertilizer solution to a crop using an irrigation system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of fertigation, ie, the use of irrigation systems to distribute fertilizer to agricultural crops. Background Art

[0002] Fertigation, the technology of supplying nutrients to crops through irrigation systems, is a technique that allows for the precise delivery of water-soluble nutrients that can be quickly absorbed by crops. It can also reduce water consumption on farms.

[0003] Fertigation requires farmers to prepare fertilizer solutions in containers using concentrated liquid fertilizer products or solid fertilizer products and add these solutions to the irrigation systems on their farms.

[0004] Fertigation usually requires farmers to have at least two containers because some nutrient sources cannot be mixed together in high concentrations: for example, calcium salts (such as calcium nitrate) and phosphates should not be mixed together in high concentrations. Otherwise, the water-insoluble calcium phosphate salts will precipitate out of solution.

[0005] Traditional fertigation systems can either pre-mix fertilizer solutions from different tanks in a mixing tank where the nutrient concentration is low enough to minimize the risk of precipitation, or add container solutions directly to irrigation lines. However, such systems can be very expensive and complicated to use, making farmers reluctant to adopt fertigation.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to provide a simpler, less expensive system for adding aqueous fertilizer solutions to irrigation systems. Summary of the invention

[0007] It has been found that it is possible to design and build a relatively simple device comprising pipes, a liquid distributor, a static mixer and a valve, which device is configured to be connected to a water source and two containers containing a fertilizer solution, and is suitable for mixing the fertilizer solution with water from the water source to provide a diluted fertilizer solution that is easily distributed in a field via an irrigation system.

[0008] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for diluting and mixing a concentrated aqueous fertilizer solution, the apparatus comprising a water inlet fluidly connected to a first liquid distributor for distributing water to three outlets, wherein:

[0009] a first outlet fluidly connected to a first conduit comprising a first inline static mixer, the first conduit further comprising a first inlet upstream of the first inline static mixer, wherein the first inlet is configured to be connected to a first container containing a first aqueous fertilizer solution;

[0010] a second outlet fluidly connected to a second conduit comprising a second inline static mixer, the second conduit further comprising a second inlet upstream of the second inline static mixer, wherein the second inlet is configured to be connected to a second container containing a second aqueous fertilizer solution;

[0011] the first conduit and the second conduit are fluidly connected to a second liquid distributor downstream of the first inline static mixer and the second inline static mixer, the second liquid distributor further comprising a single outlet, the second liquid distributor being fluidly connected to a third liquid distributor through the single outlet;

[0012] a third outlet fluidly connected to a third conduit, the third conduit comprising a valve for regulating the flow of water, the third conduit being fluidly connected to the third liquid distributor downstream of the valve; and;

[0013] The third liquid distributor further comprises a single outlet, the single outlet being fluidly connected to an outlet conduit, the outlet conduit being configured to be connected to a water pump downstream of the third liquid distributor.

[0014] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for distributing a fertilizer solution to a field using an irrigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

[0015] a) providing two containers containing fertilizer solution;

[0016] b) providing an apparatus according to the present disclosure;

[0017] c) connecting an outlet of a container to a first inlet of the device and connecting an outlet of another container to a second inlet of the device;

[0018] d) connecting the water inlet of the device to a water source;

[0019] e) connecting the outlet pipe of the device to a water pump, which is connected to an irrigation system;

[0020] f) activating the water pump to draw water from the water source into the first conduit, the second conduit and optionally the third conduit, and to draw the fertilizer solution from the container into the first conduit and the second conduit.

[0021] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides use of a device according to the present disclosure or an arrangement according to the present disclosure for distributing fertilizer to a field. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The following description of the drawings of specific embodiments of the system according to the present disclosure is given by way of example only and is not intended to limit the present description, its application, or uses. In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar parts and features.

[0023] Figure 1 0 represents an embodiment of an apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 2 represents another embodiment of an apparatus according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms, including technical and scientific terms, used to disclose the present invention have the meanings commonly understood by ordinary technicians in the field to which the present invention belongs. By further guidance, term definitions are included to better understand the teachings of the present invention.

[0026] All references cited in this specification are hereby deemed to be incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0027] As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

[0028] As used herein, "a", "an", and "the" refer to both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, "a pipe" refers to one or more pipes.

[0029] As used herein, "comprise, comprising, and comprises" and "consisting of" are synonymous with "include, including, includes," or "contain, containing, contains," and are inclusive or open-ended terms that specify the presence of what follows, for example, a component, and do not exclude or preclude the presence of additional, unrecited components, features, elements, members, steps known in the art or disclosed herein.

[0030] The liquid distributor referred to herein is an element comprising one or more inlets and one or more outlets, and is used to distribute liquid entering through the one or more inlets to the one or more outlets.

[0031] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for diluting and mixing a concentrated aqueous fertilizer solution, the apparatus comprising a water inlet fluidly connected to a first liquid distributor for distributing water to three outlets, wherein:

[0032] a first outlet fluidly connected to a first conduit comprising a first inline static mixer, the first conduit further comprising a first inlet upstream of the first inline static mixer, wherein the first inlet is configured to be connected to a first container containing a first aqueous fertilizer solution;

[0033] a second outlet fluidly connected to a second conduit comprising a second inline static mixer, the second conduit further comprising a second inlet upstream of the second inline static mixer, wherein the second inlet is configured to be connected to a second container containing a second aqueous fertilizer solution;

[0034] the first conduit and the second conduit are fluidly connected to a second liquid distributor downstream of the first inline static mixer and the second inline static mixer, the second liquid distributor further comprising a single outlet, the second liquid distributor being fluidly connected to a third liquid distributor through the single outlet;

[0035] a third outlet fluidly connected to a third conduit, the third conduit comprising a valve for regulating the flow of water, the third conduit being fluidly connected to the third liquid distributor downstream of the valve; and;

[0036] The third liquid distributor further comprises a single outlet, the single outlet being fluidly connected to an outlet conduit, the outlet conduit being configured to be connected to a water pump downstream of the third liquid distributor.

[0037] The advantage of the device according to the present disclosure is that it can be installed on any existing irrigation system on a farm. The farmer only needs to obtain the device and two containers suitable for containing fertilizer solutions to set up a working arrangement that can be connected to his irrigation system. The device includes a water inlet, which is configured to be connected to a water source at one end and to an inlet of a first liquid distributor at the other end, the first liquid distributor including one inlet and three outlets. The water inlet is configured to be connected to a water source that the farmer usually uses for irrigation.

[0038] Another advantage of the device is that it is configured to be installed upstream of the vacuum pump, i.e. between the water source and the pump. This means that a single pump is required and the entire arrangement, which includes the device and two containers containing the fertilizer solution under vacuum, is set up using this single pump. In conventional systems, the mixing of water from the water source with the concentrated fertilizer solution is carried out downstream of the water pump, i.e. at a pressure higher than 1 bar. This requires the use of one or more additional pumps to increase the pressure of the fertilizer solution before it can be added to the water from the water source.

[0039] The characteristics of the pipes, such as diameter, length and material, can be adapted to the farmer's system. A possible advantage is that the diameter of the water inlet of the device is the same as the diameter of the pipe connected to its water source, making the connection between the two pipes easy to set up.

[0040] In one embodiment, any tubing included in the device may be made of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PET).

[0041] An inlet conduit terminating at one end with a water inlet directs water to a first liquid distributor comprising one inlet (for the inlet conduit) and three outlets.

[0042] The first outlet of the first liquid distributor is connected to a first pipeline including a first inlet, the first inlet being configured to be connected to a first container containing a first aqueous fertilizer solution and a first inline static mixer for mixing the first aqueous fertilizer solution with water from a water source, the first inlet being located upstream of the first inline static mixer. The first pipeline is designed to receive water from a water source and receive a fertilizer solution from the first inlet. Two liquids are directed to the inline static mixer. The inline static mixer is a pipeline comprising elements inside the pipeline that cause turbulence in the liquid transported in the mixer. In the case where the liquid directed to the mixer comprises different sources, turbulence can improve the mixing of the liquid. In operation, the first inline static mixer mixes water from a water source with a fertilizer solution from a container connected to the first pipeline to provide a diluted, uniform fertilizer solution.

[0043] The second outlet of the first liquid distributor is connected to a second conduit, the second conduit being similar to the first conduit. The second conduit includes a second inlet configured to be connected to a second container containing a second aqueous fertilizer solution and a second inline static mixer for mixing the second aqueous fertilizer solution with water from a water source, the second inlet being located upstream of the second inline static mixer. In operation, the second inline static mixer mixes water from the water source with the fertilizer solution from the container connected to the second conduit to provide a diluted fertilizer solution.

[0044] The third outlet of the first liquid distributor is connected to one end of a third conduit, the other end of which is connected to the inlet of the third liquid distributor including two inlets and one outlet, and the third conduit includes a valve for regulating the flow of water therein, the valve being located between the first liquid distributor and the third liquid distributor. The third conduit allows some water from the water source to bypass the first conduit and the second conduit of the device. Depending on the water flow generated by the water pump and the desired dilution of the fertilizer solution, it may be advantageous that some water from the water source does not flow through the first conduit or the second conduit to dilute the fertilizer solution. The third conduit includes a valve that regulates the amount of water flowing from the inlet conduit to the third conduit.

[0045] The first conduit is connected to the first inlet of the second liquid distributor including two inlets and one outlet downstream of the first static inline mixer, and the second conduit is connected to the second inlet of the second liquid distributor downstream of the second static inline mixer. Irrigation systems usually use a dual tank system or a dual container system. This is necessary because the fertilizer solutions to be used in fertigation have a wide range of properties. Some fertilizer solutions may be incompatible at high concentrations due to the risk of salt precipitation. For example, concentrated aqueous solutions containing calcium ions (such as calcium nitrate) should not be mixed with concentrated solutions of phosphate ions and / or sulfate ions because there is a high risk that calcium phosphate and / or calcium sulfate (salts with very low water solubility) may be formed and precipitated from the solution. Salt precipitation is highly undesirable because it reduces the nutrient content of the solution distributed to the field, and it may cause clogging of components of the irrigation system (such as pipes, drippers, sprinklers or nozzles). In addition, fertilizer solutions may have a wide range of pH values, and mixing concentrated acidic solutions with concentrated alkaline solutions often leads to salt precipitation.

[0046] However, once the concentrated solution is diluted in the first and second conduits, the risk of salt precipitation is much lower and the diluted solutions may mix together, so the device includes a third liquid distributor where the first conduit is joined to the second conduit into a single conduit and stream.

[0047] An outlet of the second liquid distributor receiving the liquid flows from the first and second conduits is connected to an inlet of the third liquid distributor such that the flow comprising both fertilizer solutions is optionally further mixed with a water flow from the water source if the valve of the third conduit is at least partially open.

[0048] The third liquid distributor includes an outlet connected to an outlet pipe, which is configured to be connected to a water pump downstream of the third liquid distributor. In operation, the water pump forms a vacuum inside the pipe of the device, so that water from the water source and the fertilizer solution from the two containers are sucked into the device, and all liquid flows mix with each other as described above.

[0049] All connections and liquid distributors of the device should include as few leaks as possible to ensure that the negative pressure caused by the water pump is as low as possible.

[0050] In one embodiment, the device comprises a particle filter between the second and third liquid distributors for removing any water-insoluble particles contained in the liquid stream. Although the risk of salt precipitation after the second liquid distributor is very low due to the dilution of the fertilizer solution, it may be advantageous for the pipe between the second and third liquid distributors to comprise a particle filter so that any water-insoluble particles due to precipitation or other reasons (such as impurities in the fertilizer solution) are captured by the filter and do not reach the irrigation system.

[0051] In one embodiment, the device comprises 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 particle filters between the second liquid distributor and the third liquid distributor for removing any water-insoluble particles contained in the liquid flow.

[0052] In one embodiment, the inlet of the first conduit comprises a valve for regulating the flow of liquid from the first container to the first conduit.

[0053] In one embodiment, the inlet of the second conduit comprises a valve for regulating the flow of liquid from the second container to the second conduit.

[0054] A possible advantage is that it is possible for the farmer to control the flow of fertilizer solution into the first and second conduits, and that valves included in the inlet of either conduit are capable of performing such tasks. Controlling the flow of fertilizer solution allows the farmer to control the final nutrient concentration of the solution distributed to crops in the field. To avoid wasting fertilizer or water or under-fertilizing crops, the nutrient concentration of the solution remaining in the outlet conduit should be adjusted according to standard fertigation knowledge.

[0055] In one embodiment, the inlet of the first conduit includes a flow meter for monitoring the flow of liquid from the container to the first conduit.

[0056] In one embodiment, the inlet of the second conduit includes a flow meter for monitoring the flow of liquid from the container to the second conduit.

[0057] A flow meter may be used to monitor the flow of liquid between the container containing the concentrated fertilizer solution and the device so that the farmer can know the amount of fertilizer solution being drawn into the device.

[0058] In one embodiment, the outlet conduit includes a sensor located downstream of the third liquid distributor for measuring the conductivity of the liquid in the third liquid distributor. The conductivity or EC of the fertilizer solution is a good indicator of the nutrient content of the solution and can be used by farmers to check whether their solution has the desired composition.

[0059] In one embodiment, the device includes a device for increasing the residence time of the liquid flow between the second liquid distributor and the third liquid distributor. When the two streams from the first pipeline and the second pipeline converge at the second liquid distributor, the stream coming out of the second liquid distributor is not a uniform solution. Possible advantages are to increase the residence time of the liquid solution between the second liquid distributor and the third liquid distributor to improve the uniformity of the solution. The device can be a longer pipeline, or a pipeline including turns and / or U-turns (i.e., 180° turns). The pipeline can also include one or more liquid distributors to divide the stream into two or more sub-streams, which converge together again before arriving at the third liquid distributor.

[0060] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an arrangement comprising two containers for storing a fertilizer solution and a device according to the present disclosure, wherein an outlet of one container is connected to a first inlet of a first conduit and an outlet of the other container is connected to a second inlet of a second conduit. The arrangement comprises the above device and two containers for storing a fertilizer solution. The two containers are connected to the device via a first inlet and a second inlet of the device.

[0061] The two containers may contain different fertilizer solutions. They may contain different fertilizer solutions, both solutions containing one or more nutrients. For example, one container may contain an aqueous solution of calcium nitrate, which contains nitrogen as nitrate ions, and the other container may contain ammonium phosphate, which contains nitrogen as ammonium ions.

[0062] The fertilizer solution contained in the container may be obtained by diluting a concentrated fertilizer liquid product or by dissolving a solid fertilizer product in a liquid composition comprising water.

[0063] The fertilizer solution contained in the container may contain one or more nutrients required by the crops. Nutrients are divided into three categories: major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), minor nutrients (calcium, magnesium and sulfur) and trace nutrients (boron, iron, manganese, molybdenum, copper and zinc).

[0064] In one embodiment, the container comprises a valve for regulating the flow of liquid in the connection between the container and the device according to the present disclosure. A possible advantage is that it is possible for the farmer to be able to regulate the flow of fertilizer solution from the container to the device, and this can be achieved by a valve on a pipe included in the container, which valve is configured to be connected to the device according to the present disclosure.

[0065] In one embodiment, the water inlet is connected to a water source and the outlet pipe is connected to a water pump.

[0066] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for distributing a fertilizer solution to a field using an irrigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

[0067] a) providing two containers containing fertilizer solution;

[0068] b) providing an apparatus according to the present disclosure;

[0069] c) connecting an outlet of a container to a first inlet of the device and connecting an outlet of another container to a second inlet of the device;

[0070] d) connecting the water inlet of the device to a water source;

[0071] e) connecting the outlet pipe of the device to a water pump, which is connected to an irrigation system;

[0072] f) activating the water pump to draw water from the water source into the first conduit, the second conduit and optionally the third conduit, and to draw the fertilizer solution from the container into the first conduit and the second conduit.

[0073] The method according to the present disclosure requires providing two containers containing fertilizer solutions, which need to be distributed to the fields via the irrigation system of the farm. As mentioned above, the containers can contain fertilizer solutions with different chemical compositions, and they can be prepared by different methods, such as diluting a concentrated liquid fertilizer product or dissolving a solid fertilizer product in a liquid composition comprising water.

[0074] A device according to the present disclosure is provided, and the outlet of the container is connected to the first inlet and the second inlet of the device.

[0075] The water inlet of the device is connected to a water source. The water source may be a body of water, such as water contained in a lake, pond or well.

[0076] The outlet pipe of the device is connected to a water pump. The water pump should be able to create a vacuum strong enough to draw water and fertilizer solution from the water source into the device.

[0077] The water pump is then activated to draw water from the water source into the first conduit, the second conduit, and optionally the third conduit, and to draw the fertilizer solution from the container into the first conduit and the second conduit.

[0078] Steps a) to e) may be performed in any order, with the proviso that step c) must be performed after steps a) and b), since step c) requires two containers (provided in step a)) and an apparatus according to the present disclosure (provided in step b)).

[0079] The containers provided in step a) may also be referred to as boxes. In the field, these boxes are usually referred to as box A and box B.

[0080] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides use of a device according to the present disclosure or an arrangement according to the present disclosure for distributing fertilizer to a field.

[0081] Figure 1 1 represents an embodiment of an apparatus according to the present disclosure. The apparatus 1 comprises a water inlet 2 configured to be connected to a water source at one end and to an inlet 4 of a first liquid distributor 3 at the other end, the first liquid distributor comprising an inlet 4 and three outlets 5a, 5b and 5c. The first outlet 5a of the first liquid distributor 3 is connected to a first conduit 6a comprising a first inlet 8a configured to be connected to a first container containing a first aqueous fertilizer solution and a first inline static mixer 7a for mixing the first aqueous fertilizer solution with water from a water source, the first inlet 8a being located upstream of the first inline static mixer 7a. The second outlet 5b of the first liquid distributor 3 is connected to a second conduit 6b comprising a second inlet 8b configured to be connected to a second container containing a second aqueous fertilizer solution and a second inline static mixer 7b for mixing the second aqueous fertilizer solution with water from a water source, the second inlet 8b being located upstream of the second inline static mixer 7b.

[0082] The third outlet 5 c of the first liquid distributor 3 is connected to one end of a third pipe 9 , and the other end of the third pipe 9 is connected to an inlet 15 a of a third liquid distributor 14 including two inlets 15 a and 15 b and one outlet 16 .

[0083] The first conduit 6a is connected downstream of the first static inline mixer 7a to a first inlet 11a of a second liquid distributor 10 comprising two inlets 11a and 11b and one outlet 12. The second conduit 6b is connected downstream of the second static inline mixer 7b to a second inlet 11b of the second liquid distributor 10. The outlet 12 of the second liquid distributor 10 is connected to an inlet 15b of a third liquid distributor 14.

[0084] The third conduit 9 comprises a valve 13 for regulating the flow of water in the third conduit, the valve being located between the first liquid distributor 3 and the third liquid distributor 14. An outlet conduit 17 is connected to an outlet 16 of the third liquid distributor 14 and is configured to be connected to a water pump downstream of the third liquid distributor 14.

[0085] Figure 2 represents another embodiment of an apparatus according to the present disclosure. Figure 2 The device 21 comprises Figure 1all features of the device: a water inlet 22; a first liquid distributor 23, which includes an inlet and three outlets; a first pipe 26a, a first inlet 28a, a first static mixer 27a; a second pipe 26b, a second inlet 28b, a second static mixer 27b; a second liquid distributor 30, which includes two inlets and one outlet 32; a third pipe 29, which includes a valve 33; a third liquid distributor 34, which includes two inlets and one outlet; and an outlet pipe 37.

[0086] In addition, the portion between the second liquid distributor 30 and the third liquid distributor 34 is not a single straight pipeline, but includes several liquid distributors 35 and pipelines 36 to increase the residence time of the liquid before reaching the third liquid distributor 34. The portion also includes two filters 39 for removing water-insoluble particles from the liquid flow. The portion is located above the first pipeline 26a and the second pipeline 26b, so that the length of the device is reduced and occupies less space on the ground.

Claims

1. An apparatus for diluting and mixing a concentrated aqueous fertilizer solution, the apparatus comprising a water inlet fluidly connected to a first liquid distributor for distributing water to three outlets, wherein: a first outlet fluidly connected to a first conduit comprising a first inline static mixer, the first conduit further comprising a first inlet upstream of the first inline static mixer, wherein the first inlet is configured to be connected to a first container containing a first aqueous fertilizer solution; a second outlet fluidly connected to a second conduit comprising a second inline static mixer, the second conduit further comprising a second inlet upstream of the second inline static mixer, wherein the second inlet is configured to be connected to a second container comprising a second aqueous fertilizer solution; the first conduit and the second conduit are fluidly connected to a second liquid distributor downstream of the first inline static mixer and the second inline static mixer, the second liquid distributor further comprising a single outlet, the second liquid distributor being fluidly connected to a third liquid distributor via the single outlet; a third outlet fluidly connected to a third conduit, said third conduit comprising a valve for regulating the flow of water, said third conduit being fluidly connected to said third liquid distributor downstream of said valve; and The third liquid distributor comprises a single outlet, the single outlet being fluidly connected to an outlet conduit, the outlet conduit being configured to be connected to a water pump downstream of the third liquid distributor.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a particle filter between the second liquid distributor and the third liquid distributor for removing any water-insoluble particles contained in the liquid flow.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first inlet of the first conduit comprises a valve for regulating the flow of liquid from the first container to the first conduit.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second inlet of the second conduit comprises a valve for regulating the flow of liquid from the second container to the second conduit.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outlet conduit comprises a sensor located downstream of the third liquid distributor for measuring the conductivity of the liquid in the third liquid distributor.

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device comprises means for increasing the residence time of the liquid flow between the second liquid distributor and the third liquid distributor.

7. An arrangement comprising two containers for storing fertilizer solution and a device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the outlet of one container is connected to the first inlet of the first conduit and the outlet of the other container is connected to the second inlet of the second conduit.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the water inlet is connected to a water source and the outlet conduit is connected to a water pump.

9. A method for distributing a fertilizer solution to crops using an irrigation system, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing two containers containing fertilizer solution; b) providing a device according to any one of claims 1 to 6; c) connecting the outlet of a container to the first inlet of the device and connecting the outlet of another container to the second inlet of the device; d) connecting the water inlet of the device to a water source; e) connecting the outlet pipe of the device to a water pump, which is connected to an irrigation system; f) activating the water pump to draw water from the water source into the first conduit, the second conduit and optionally the third conduit, and to draw the fertilizer solution from the container into the first conduit and the second conduit.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the two containers each contain a different fertilizer solution, in particular, wherein one container contains an acidic fertilizer solution and the other container contains an alkaline fertilizer solution.

11. Use of a device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or an arrangement according to claim 7 or 8 for distributing fertilizer to a field.

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