DEVICE FOR COMBINED THERMAL-RADIATION TREATMENT OF SEEDS

Abstract

This utility model relates to equipment for thermal and irradiation seed treatment, specifically devices for combined infrared and convective heat treatment, as well as electromagnetic microwave and ultraviolet irradiation of seeds on a moving conveyor belt. The device can be used in technologies for producing high-quality seed for grain and other agricultural crops, medicinal herbs, and essential oil plants. It helps maintain high and uniform germination, preserve the biological stability of seeds, prevent pathogen damage, and perform pre-sowing bioactivation.A device for combined thermo-radiation seed treatment comprises horizontal belt conveyors arranged in a cascade. The first upper belt conveyor has a conveyor belt made of mesh material, located in a cascade below the first upper belt conveyor. The second belt conveyor has a conveyor belt in the form of a closed flexible rubberized steel strip with rubber sides. Vibrating electromagnets are installed under the belt, and a microwave irradiation unit and a UV irradiation unit are installed above the conveyor belt. The technical and economic advantage of the device lies in the fact that it has been improved to enable combined thermo-radiation seed treatment. The combined treatment of seeds with IR, microwave, and UV radiation achieves synergy, which consists in enhancing the disinfection effect and stimulating plant growth compared to the use of each method separately. 7 fig.

Description

[0001] The utility model relates to equipment for thermal irradiation treatment of seeds, namely to devices for combined thermal infrared and convection effects, as well as electromagnetic microwave and ultraviolet irradiation of seeds on a moving conveyor belt.

[0002] The device can be used in high-quality seed production technologies for grains and other agricultural crops, medicinal herbs, and essential oil plants. It helps maintain high and uniform germination, preserve the biological stability of seeds, prevent pathogen damage, and perform pre-sowing bioactivation.

[0003] A known method of combined disinfection and pre-sowing stimulation of seeds (RU Patent No. 2764897, IPC A01C 1 / 00, 01 / 24 / 2022) is using several methods of electrophysical sequential action on seeds, consisting of five successive stages: at the first stage, a uniform continuous thin layer of seeds is formed using a stepped vibratory conveyor, periodically mixed by the steps of the vibratory conveyor, the seeds are heated from above by IR heaters to 38-43 ° C and lose some of their moisture; at the second stage, the seeds are moistened with analyte or water at the rate of 2-3% of the seed weight under intensive stirring; At the third stage, the seeds are softened in a slow flow for 3-5 minutes; at the fourth stage, the seeds enter a microwave heating chamber, where dielectric heating of the seed components and pathogens is carried out in proportion to the moisture content at a specific microwave energy power of 0.5-1.5 W / cm 2, up to a heating temperature of 46°C to 53°C, which are selected experimentally for each type of seed, at the fifth stage the seeds from the microwave heating chamber enter a vibrating conveyor, where they are cooled by a counter-flow of air, dried using electrostatic drying and additionally disinfected by high-voltage corona discharge fields with a voltage of 3.5 kV to 5 kV per 1 cm of the gap between the electrodes and the seeds.

[0004] Disadvantages of the method: the installation used to implement this method mainly uses thermal exposure to seeds with IR and microwave radiation with a fairly high temperature limit of 53°C, which is dangerous for the structure of the seeds, however, a number of pathogenic thermophilic bacteria and fungi remain viable at this temperature, although they die from UV radiation.

[0005] A device for ultraviolet seed treatment is known (RU Patent No. 206252, IPC A01C 1 / 00, September 2, 2021). The device comprises a hopper, an electric belt conveyor, an electric distribution conveyor, an ultraviolet radiation source with a parabolic reflector, and a frequency converter. The disadvantages of this device include its narrow technological focus.

[0006] The closest in technical essence, and accepted as a prototype, is a device for heat treatment of seeds (RU Patent No. 202868, IPC F26B 9 / 06, F26B 3 / 30, 11.03.2021), containing belt conveyors with a transport belt carrying a layer of seeds, above which tubular infrared emitters equipped with reflectors are distributedly fixed, a means for transferring the processed seeds onto the belt located below the conveyor, in addition, it contains a means for moving the processed seeds from the last conveyor in the heat treatment process line to the first upper conveyor - the beginning of the heat treatment process line, which includes a bucket elevator, a loading hopper with a seed moisture sensor, a seed distribution mechanism, while the transport belt is made of mesh material and is attached at the side edges by means of tension springs to endless plate chains,the drive sprockets of which are installed on the shafts of the belt drums, in addition, under the seed-carrying section of the transport mesh belt there are heaters, above each of which, above the seed-carrying section of the transport mesh belt, exhaust fans with hoods are located, also in the loading hopper of the elevator there is also a temperature sensor for the seeds being processed.

[0007] The disadvantage of the prototype device is its limited technological functionality, namely the lack of ability to suppress pathogenic microflora in the seed material during its processing.

[0008] The objective of the utility model is to improve the device for processing seeds, with the aim of expanding its technological functionality, namely, ensuring the effective suppression of a wider range of pathogens of seed material.

[0009] The said problem is solved in that a device for combined thermal and radiation treatment of seeds, comprising horizontal belt conveyors arranged in a cascade, the first upper one with a conveying belt made of mesh material, carrying a layer of seeds, above which tubular infrared emitters equipped with reflectors are distributedly fixed, a means for reloading the processed seeds onto the belt of the conveyor located below, in addition, it contains a means for moving the processed seeds from the last conveyor in the process line for processing seeds to the first upper conveyor - the beginning of the process line for thermal treatment of seeds, which includes a bucket elevator, a loading hopper with a seed moisture sensor, a seed distribution mechanism, wherein the conveying mesh belt, embracing the drive and tension drums, is attached by its lateral edges by means of tension springs to endless closed plate chains,in pairs placed on the toothed ends of the drive and tension drums, connecting them kinematically, ensuring their synchronous rotation, in addition, under the seed-carrying section of the transport mesh belt there are heaters, above each of which, above the seed-carrying section of the transport mesh belt there are exhaust fans with hoods, also in the loading hopper of the elevator there is a sensor for the temperature of the seeds being processed, according to the utility model, the second belt conveyor located in a cascade below the first upper belt conveyor includes an individual frame, an individual electromechanical drive with an adjustable rotation speed, a transport belt in the form of a steel closed flexible rubberized strip with rubber sides, drive and tension drums, supporting the load branch of the transport belt rollers,vibration electromagnets mounted on the frame of the belt conveyor under the load branch of the conveying belt between the supporting rollers with the ability to interact with the magnetic field with the steel strip of the conveying belt, a microwave irradiating unit mounted on brackets above the conveying belt, containing a protective housing, a microwave generator with a waveguide, a strip emitter, a UV irradiating unit mounted on brackets above the conveying rubberized belt, containing a protective housing, a battery of linear UV lamps with reflectors.

[0010] The prototype features that coincide with the essential features of the utility model are the presence in the device for combined thermal and radiation treatment of seeds of horizontal belt conveyors that are arranged in a cascade, the first upper one with a transport belt made of mesh material, carrying a layer of seeds, above which tubular infrared emitters equipped with reflectors are distributedly fixed, a means for reloading the processed seeds onto the belt of the conveyor located below, in addition, it contains a means for moving the processed seeds from the last conveyor in the process line for processing seeds to the first upper conveyor - the beginning of the process line for thermal treatment of seeds, which includes a bucket elevator, a loading hopper with a seed moisture sensor, a seed distribution mechanism, while the transport mesh belt, covering the drive and tension drums,attached by the lateral edges by means of tension springs to endless closed plate chains, placed in pairs on the toothed ends of the drive and tension drums, connecting them kinematically, ensuring their synchronous rotation, in addition, under the seed-carrying section of the transport mesh belt there are heaters, above each of which, above the seed-carrying section of the transport mesh belt, exhaust fans with hoods are placed, also in the loading hopper of the bucket elevator there is a sensor for the temperature of the processed seeds.

[0011] Distinctive features of the device for combined thermo-radiation treatment of seeds from the prototype are that the second belt conveyor located in the cascade below the first upper belt conveyor includes an individual frame, an individual electromechanical drive with adjustable rotation speed, a conveying belt in the form of a steel closed flexible rubberized strip with rubber sides, drive and tension drums, supporting the load branch of the conveying belt rollers mounted on the frame of the belt conveyor under the load branch of the conveying belt between the supporting rollers with the ability to interact with the magnetic field with the steel strip of the conveying belt, vibrating electromagnets, an irradiating microwave unit mounted on brackets above the conveying belt, containing a protective housing, a microwave generator with a waveguide, a strip emitter,a UV irradiation unit mounted on brackets above a rubberized conveyor belt, containing a protective housing, a battery of linear UV lamps with reflectors,

[0012] The set of essential features of the utility model ensures the elimination of the deficiencies of the prototype and is a necessary and sufficient condition for achieving the technical result - ensuring the effective suppression of a wide range of pathogens, increasing the sowing quality and yield of seed material.

[0013] The essence of the utility model is explained by graphic materials, where Fig. 1 shows the design diagram of the device for combined thermo-radiation treatment of seeds, Fig. 2, as a top view, shows the diagram of the seed distribution mechanism, Fig. 3 is a section B-B showing the placement of the conveying mesh belt attached at the side edges by means of tension springs to endless plate chains resting on the support rollers and the relative position of the heater and the exhaust fan with an umbrella, Fig. 4 is a section D-D of the conveying belt of the load branch of the conveyor and the position of the UV emitter above it, as well as the position of the vibrating electromagnet under the conveying belt, Fig. 5 is a section G-G of the belt of the load branch of the conveyor at the place of loading seeds onto it and the position of the vibrating electromagnet, Fig. 6 is a view along arrow E, showing the position of the microwave generator above the conveying belt, in Fig.7 shows a section B-B of the seed handling device.

[0014] The device for thermal treatment of seeds contains horizontal belt conveyors, upper 1 and lower 2.

[0015] The upper belt conveyor 1 is mounted on a separate support frame (not shown in the figures). It comprises a drive drum 3 and a tension drum 4, which have toothed ends on both sides. Endless closed plate chains 5 are attached to these ends in pairs, kinematically connecting drums 3 and 4 and ensuring their synchronous rotation.

[0016] The conveyor 1 is driven by an individual electromechanical drive with variable speed, using a variable speed drive motor, such as the B2MB model (not shown in the figures). The conveyor belt 6 is made of mesh material. It encircles drums 3 and 4, and its side edges are attached to plate chains 5 by tension springs 31.

[0017] The belt 6 rests along its length on support rollers 7 mounted on a frame. Heaters 8 are located beneath the seed-carrying section of the mesh belt 6. Each heater 8 consists of a housing 9, a tubular electric heating element 10 with a temperature controller (not shown in the diagram), and a supply fan 11.

[0018] An exhaust fan 12 with an air-collecting hood 13 is installed above the seed-carrying section of the mesh belt 6, opposite each heater 8. Infrared radiant heaters 14 are mounted above the seed-carrying section of the mesh belt 6. Each heater 14 consists of an infrared tubular emitter 15 and a profiled reflector 16.

[0019] For transferring the processed seeds from the upper conveyor 1 to the belt 17 of the lower conveyor 2, a gravity transfer device 18 is provided, made in the form of a curved sheet with ribs on the working surface.

[0020] Lower belt conveyor 2 is located below upper belt conveyor 1 and mounted on a separate frame (not shown in the diagrams). Conveyor 2 contains a drive drum 19 and a tension drum 20. It is equipped with an individual electromechanical drive with variable speed control using an adjustable electric motor, such as the B2MB model (not shown in the diagrams).

[0021] Mounted on the conveyor frame 2 are support rollers 21, which support the load branch of the conveyor belt 17, which is made in the form of a closed, flexible, rubber-coated steel strip with rubber sides. Belt 17 encloses the drive drum 19 and tension drum 20.

[0022] Under the seed-carrying section of the belt 17, between the supporting rollers 21, vibrating electromagnets 22 are placed. They are designed with the possibility of interacting with the steel strip of the conveying belt 17 by a magnetic field.

[0023] A microwave irradiation unit 23 is mounted on brackets above the conveyor belt 17, comprising a protective housing 24, a microwave generator (magnetron) 25 with a waveguide 26 and a strip emitter 27. To regulate the operating mode of the microwave unit 23, an inverter power supply unit is provided, for example, model 606 4L10GP Y4L10GP (not shown in the figures). In addition, a UV irradiation unit 28 is mounted on brackets above the conveyor belt 17, comprising a protective housing 29 and a battery of linear UV lamps 30 with reflectors, for example, model GPHVA 1145T6L / 4P with a power of 200 W, bactericidal. To regulate the intensity of UV radiation, an electronic ballast is used, for example, model OG 600W (not shown in the diagram).

[0024] For moving the processed seeds from the lower conveyor 2 to the upper conveyor 1, a transport means is provided, which includes a bucket elevator 32, a hopper 33 with a seed moisture sensor 34 (for example, model FIZEPR-SW100.10.6) and a temperature sensor 35 (for example, Pt-100), as well as a seed distribution mechanism 36. It consists of a seed storage funnel 37 with a cylindrical outlet neck, a seed-delivering inclined cylindrical pipe 38, which is coaxially movably connected with the neck of the storage funnel 37 by its upper opening.

[0025] The lower opening of the inclined cylindrical seed delivery pipe 38 is located above the belt 6 of the upper conveyor 1. The rod of a cylindrical linear electric motor 39 (e.g., model LMTB...LMTC) is pivotally attached to the wall of the upper opening of the inclined seed delivery pipe 38, the longitudinal axis of which is located tangentially to the wall of the opening. The electrical circuit of the linear electric motor 39 ensures the reciprocating motion of its rod. The hopper 33 has an unloading hatch 40 with a damper.

[0026] The device for combined thermo-radiation treatment of seeds can operate in the following technological modes: full-complex thermo-radiation treatment of seeds, including sequential thermal convection and beam infrared (IR) exposure, ultra-high-frequency irradiation (UV), ultraviolet irradiation (UV), and various combinations of these effects or separately are also possible.

[0027] During the full-scale thermo-radiation treatment of seeds, the horizontal belt conveyors 1 and 2 are started up, setting the required technological speed of movement of the conveying belts 6 and 17 on them by adjusting the rotation frequency of individual electromechanical drives and (not shown in the figures), the infrared heaters 14, air heaters 8, exhaust fans 12 installed on the horizontal belt conveyor 1 are also started up, the operation of the irradiating microwave unit 23 installed above the conveying belt 17 and the irradiating UV unit 28 installed above the conveying belt 17 are also started up, the vibrating electromagnets 22 located under the conveying belt 17 of the belt conveyor 2 are also switched on. A portion of the seeds is poured into the hopper 33, in which they are captured by the buckets of the elevator 32 and transported upward to the funnel - seed storage 37 and, going around elevator head 32, inertially unloaded from buckets into storage hopper 37.From there, through the neck, under their own weight, they pass into the seed-delivery pipe 38. The seed-delivery pipe 38, being movably connected to the neck, performs reciprocating and rotary movements under the action of the reciprocating movements of the rod of the linear electric motor 39, and its lower opening accordingly performs arcuate return movements above the moving conveying belt 6 of the conveyor 1 within the limits of its width. In this case, the seeds are fed from the lower opening of the pipe 38 onto the moving conveying mesh belt 6 of the conveyor 1 and are deposited on it in a layer uniform in height, width, and in the direction of movement. The height of the seed layer on the conveying mesh belt 6 can be regulated by changing the speed of its movement. The continuously forming layer of seeds is moved by the conveying mesh belt 6 of the conveyor 1 under the infrared radiant heaters 14 and is subjected to the thermal action of infrared radiation, being in movement relative to the infrared heaters 14.

[0028] The infrared radiation intensity in radiant heaters 14 is regulated by varying the applied electric current and should prevent overheating of the seeds, compromising the integrity of the seed coat and destroying the biological structure due to high thermal stress. The infrared radiation intensity in radiant heaters 14 is individually selected for each seed type. To equalize the temperature field across the seed layer on the mesh conveyor belt 6, heaters 8 are located beneath the mesh conveyor belt 6.

[0029] The grain layer moving above heaters 8 is heated by an ascending flow of warm air from below, resulting in a uniform temperature distribution across the layer, and the seeds are heated evenly. Furthermore, the warm air flow actively ventilates the seed layer, destroying the vapor cushion and transporting moisture from the inter-seed space to exhaust fan 12, which removes it from the seed processing zone.

[0030] IR radiation stimulates germination and increases seed viability, improving their microbiological purity. It activates certain biochemical processes and prepares the seeds for subsequent processing. Preliminary IR heating helps ensure a more uniform distribution of microwave energy throughout the seed.

[0031] After heat treatment on the belt conveyor 1, by the movement of the conveyor belt 6, the seeds are poured onto the moving conveyor belt 17 of the conveyor 2 using the transfer means 18.

[0032] The section of the conveying belt 17 at the place where the seeds are poured onto it is in a vibrating state due to the interaction of the intermittent magnetic field generated by the vibrating electromagnet 22 with the steel strip of the conveying belt 17. Under the action of vibration, the pouring seeds are distributed on the conveying belt 17 in a uniform layer the thickness of one seed and the moving belt 17 moves the seeds under the irradiating microwave unit 23, which generates a high-frequency electromagnetic field directed at the moving conveying belt 17 with the seeds, due to the strip-type emitter 27, uniform distribution of radiation across the width of the conveying belt 17 with the seeds on it is achieved and ensures the continuous destruction of harmful microflora found in the seed environment. The radiation intensity of the irradiating microwave unit 23 is regulated by an inverter power supply, for example model 606 Y4L10GP (not shown in the figures).

[0033] Ultra-high-frequency electromagnetic irradiation of seeds causes dielectric deep uniform heating of seeds and exhibits stimulating effects: increasing laboratory and field germination, increasing germination energy, improving survival and yield;

[0034] exhibits thermal and non-thermal effects - influence on the genetic apparatus of cells and macromolecules (DNA, RNA) of microorganisms, which cause the death of a large group of pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi).

[0035] Further movement of conveyor belt 17 moves the treated seeds under UV irradiation unit 28. A vibrating electromagnet 22 is located in the UV irradiation zone beneath conveyor belt 17. This electromagnet vibrates the section of conveyor belt 17 moving above it, thereby intensively mixing the seeds on conveyor belt 17 in the UV irradiation zone and increasing the efficiency of UV seed treatment. UV irradiation is used for additional disinfection of the seed surface. UV rays, particularly in the UV-C range (covering wavelengths from 100 to 280 nm), effectively damage the DNA and RNA of microorganisms, providing a bactericidal and fungicidal effect. UV radiation is most effective against bacteria (including gram-negative and gram-positive species), fungi (for example, species of the genera Fusarium, Penicillium, Alternaria), viruses (including bacteriophages), as well as thermophilic bacteria and thermophilic ray fungi.Since UV radiation does not penetrate deeply into seed tissue, its use at the end of a comprehensive treatment minimizes the impact on the internal structures of the seed, preserving germination. The UV intensity of the UV irradiation unit is regulated by an electronic ballast (EB), such as the OG 600W model (not shown in the diagram).

[0036] One heat treatment cycle for a seed batch ends with the seeds being unloaded from conveyor 2 into bin 33. If a second treatment cycle is necessary, the seeds in bin 33 are mixed by the moving buckets of elevator 32. The buckets of elevator 32 also capture the mixed seed mass and transfer it to seed distribution mechanism 36, from where they are again fed to conveyor 1 and then undergo a second heat and radiation treatment cycle. Subsequent seed treatment cycles may require the exclusion of any exposure (heat, IR, microwave, or UV). This is accomplished by disabling the specific radiation source while conveyors 1 and 2 are operating.

[0037] The moisture level of the mass of processed seeds is determined by a moisture meter, the sensor 34 of which is installed in the hopper 33, which ensures monitoring of a larger volume of material and provides an accurate assessment of the moisture content with an uneven distribution of moisture in the processed seeds.

[0038] If cooling of the processed seeds is necessary, the infrared radiant heaters 14, tubular electric heaters 10, air heaters 8, microwave irradiation unit 23 and UV irradiation unit 28 are switched off, and all transport mechanisms of the unit: conveyors 1 and 2, as well as the bucket elevator 32, continue to operate, moving the seeds along the process line. The continuing operation of the supply fans 11 of the air heaters 8 from the environment supplies a stream of unheated air to the moving mesh conveying belt 6, which carries a layer of seed material, which passes through the cells of the belt 6 and the inter-seed space of the seed layer and cools it. Above the conveying belt 6 with the seed material, the air-cooling agent for the seeds is collected by a hood 13 and is removed from the seed processing area by an exhaust fan 12. Measurement and control of the temperature of the seed mass during heat treatment is performed by temperature sensor 35.The measured temperature is displayed on the meter-controller display (not shown in the diagram). After processing is complete, the seeds are unloaded from hopper 33 through hatch 40.

[0039] The claimed technical and economic advantage of the device, compared to its closest analogue, is that it has been improved to enable combined thermo-radiation seed treatment. Combined seed treatment with IR, microwave, and UV radiation achieves synergy, enhancing the disinfection effect and stimulating plant growth compared to using each method separately. This is achieved through the complementary effects of different types of radiation on seeds and pathogens, which increases treatment efficiency, improves seed quality, and enhances yield.Thus, ultra-high-frequency electromagnetic irradiation of seeds causes dielectric deep, uniform heating of seeds and exhibits stimulating effects: increased laboratory and field germination, increased germination energy, improved survival and yield. It exhibits thermal and non-thermal effects - an influence on the genetic apparatus of cells and macromolecules (DNA, RNA) of microorganisms, which cause the death of a large group of pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi). UV radiation acts most effectively on: bacteria (including gram-negative and gram-positive species), fungi (e.g., species of the genera Fusarium, Penicillium, Alternaria), viruses (including bacteriophages), as well as thermophilic bacteria and thermophilic ray fungi.

Claims

A device for combined thermal and radiation treatment of seeds, comprising horizontal belt conveyors arranged in a cascade, the first upper one with a transport belt made of mesh material, carrying a layer of seeds, above which tubular infrared emitters equipped with reflectors are distributedly fixed, a means for reloading the processed seeds onto the belt of the conveyor located below, in addition, it contains a means for moving the processed seeds from the last conveyor in the process line for processing seeds to the first upper conveyor - the beginning of the process line for thermal treatment of seeds, which includes a bucket elevator, a loading hopper with a seed moisture sensor, a seed distribution mechanism, wherein the transport mesh belt encircles the drive and tension drums and is attached with its lateral edges by means of tension springs to endless closed plate chains, pairedly placed on the toothed ends,available at the drive and tension drums, connecting them kinematically, ensuring their synchronous rotation, in addition, under the seed-carrying section of the conveying mesh belt there are heaters, above each heater, on the side of the seed-carrying section of the mesh belt, exhaust fans with hoods are placed, in the loading hopper of the bucket elevator there is also a sensor for the temperature of the seeds being processed, characterized in that the lower belt conveyor includes an individual frame, an individual electromechanical drive with an adjustable rotation speed, a conveying belt in the form of a steel closed flexible rubberized strip with rubber sides, drive and tension drums, supporting the load branch of the conveying belt rollers, mounted on the frame of the belt conveyor under the load branch of the conveying belt between the supporting rollers with the ability to interact with a magnetic field with a steel strip of the conveying belt vibrating electromagnets,a microwave irradiation unit mounted on brackets above the conveying belt, containing a protective housing, a microwave generator with a waveguide, a strip emitter, a UV irradiation unit mounted on brackets above the conveying rubberized belt, containing a protective housing, a battery of linear UV lamps with reflectors.

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