Weeding method and corresponding weeding equipment
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2022007158
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-07-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-03
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-07-12
Smart Images
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Abstract
Claims
Claims
1. A method of weeding comprising generating a plasma from a plasma gas and exposing unwanted plants to the plasma to eliminate these unwanted plants, characterized in that it comprises generating at least one plasma jet (16) by ionizing the plasma gas using microwaves.
2. A weed control method according to claim 1, wherein the plasma gas is air.
3. A weed control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plasma gas is compressed.
4. A weeding method according to claim 3, wherein each plasma jet (16) has the shape of a column or a curtain.
5. A weeding method according to claim 3 or 4, comprising generating a plurality of plasma jets (16) spaced apart from each other in a distribution direction (DD).
6. A weeding method according to claim 5, wherein the plasma jets (16) are uniformly spaced, with a constant pitch between the plasma jets along the distribution direction.
7. A weeding method according to claim 5 or 6, comprising moving the plasma jets along rows of planting extending in a planting direction, the distribution direction (DD) being perpendicular to the planting direction, each plasma jet (16) being located opposite an inter-row of the planting.
8. A weeding method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein generating the at least one plasma jet (16) comprises generating microwaves in a waveguide (20) elongated between a first end intended to receive the microwaves and a second closed end, and circulating a flow of plasmagenic gas in one or more passages (22) transversely passing through the waveguide, a respective plasma jet (16) being formed at the outlet of each passage (22).
9. A method of weeding according to claim 8, wherein each passage (22) is located at a distance from the second end of the waveguide tube which is substantially equal to X / 4 + N*X / 2 where X is the wavelength in the microwave guide and N is a natural integer equal to or greater than zero.
10. A weeding method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a plurality of waveguides (20) are connected to respective output branches of a branched power divider through which the waveguides (20) receive the microwaves.
11. A weeding method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising generating at least one plasma jet by discharge, in particular by bare electrode discharge, by single dielectric barrier discharge or by double dielectric barrier discharge.
12. A method of weeding according to any preceding claim, comprising generating a plasma by ionizing a slice of air located above the ground.
13. A method of weeding according to claim 12, wherein the ionization is carried out using a power electrode (72) positioned above the soil, a dielectric layer (74) being located under the power electrode, by applying a voltage between the power electrode and the soil.
14. Weeding apparatus comprising a plasma generation system (14) configured to generate a plasma from a plasma gas, characterized in that it is configured for the generation of at least one plasma jet (16) by ionization of the plasma gas using microwaves.
15. A weeding apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the plasma gas is air.
16. A weeding apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the plasma gas is compressed.
17. A weeding apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein each plasma jet (16) is in the form of a column or curtain.
18. Weeding apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17, configured for the generation of several plasma jets (16) spaced from each other in a distribution direction (DD).
19. A weeding apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the plasma jets (16) are uniformly spaced, with a constant pitch between the plasma jets along the delivery direction.
20. A weeding apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 19, comprising a microwave generator (18) configured to generate microwaves in at least one waveguide (20) elongated between a first end adapted to receive the microwaves and a second closed end, each waveguide (20) having at least one passage (22) passing transversely through the waveguide (20), and a feeder (36) configured to feed each passage (20) with a plasma gas flow for generating a respective plasma jet (16) at the outlet of each passage (22) when the microwave generator (18) generates microwaves in the waveguide (20).
21. A weeding apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each passage (22) of each waveguide (20) is located at a distance from the second end of the waveguide (20) which is substantially equal to X / 4 + N*X / 2 where X is the wavelength in the microwave guide and N is a natural integer equal to or greater than zero.
22. A weeding apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, wherein a plurality of waveguides (20) are connected to respective output branches of a branched power divider through which the waveguides (20) receive the microwaves.
23. Weeding apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 22, configured to generate at least one plasma jet by discharge, in particular by bare electrode discharge, by single dielectric barrier discharge or by double dielectric barrier discharge.
24. A weeding apparatus according to any preceding claim, configured to generate a plasma by ionizing a slice of air located above the ground.
25. A weeding apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the ionization is carried out using a power electrode (72) positioned above the soil, a dielectric layer (74) being located below the power electrode, by applying a voltage between the power electrode and the soil.