Coal-Based Fertilizer Granulation via Segmentation and Intermediary Carrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coal, despite containing essential minerals for plants, cannot be effectively used as a fertilizer in its solid form due to its inability to be readily absorbed by plants.

Innovation Solution

The process involves crushing and grinding coal to a fine size, mixing it with salt as a carrier, and adding nutrients and biostimulants to create a coal-based fertilizer that can be absorbed by plants, followed by granulation and double packaging for ease of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If coal is used in its solid form as fertilizer, then it contains essential minerals for plants, but it cannot be readily absorbed by plants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemineral contentVSAvoidabsorbability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coal is crushed and ground into fine particles to increase surface area and make the mineral components more accessible to plants. This segmentation of the solid coal structure allows plants to absorb the nutrients more effectively while retaining the full mineral content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Salt is used as a carrier material to bind the ground coal particles. This intermediary substance facilitates the delivery of coal-based nutrients to plants, improving absorbability while maintaining the essential mineral content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If coal is ground to fine size to improve absorbability, then plants can absorb it more easily, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveabsorbabilityVSAvoidprocessing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coal processing is divided into sequential stages: crushing followed by grinding. This segmentation allows each operation to be optimized independently, achieving fine particle size necessary for plant absorbability while managing processing complexity through systematic breakdown of operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Salt serves as a carrier that simplifies the final formulation step. By using this intermediary material, the processed coal particles can be easily combined into a usable fertilizer product, reducing the overall processing complexity despite the ground coal requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If coal is processed into fine particles and mixed with carrier, then it becomes usable fertilizer, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveusabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process is segmented into distinct operations: coal crushing, grinding, salt mixing, and granulation. This segmentation makes each step manageable and standardized, improving usability of the final product while organizing the manufacturing complexity into routine, repeatable processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coal undergoes parameter changes from large solid pieces to fine particles through crushing and grinding. These controlled parameter changes transform the coal into a form suitable for plant absorption, making it usable as fertilizer while establishing a clear manufacturing pathway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If coal minerals are made accessible to plants, then plant growth is enhanced, but energy consumption for processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant growthVSAvoidprocessing energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The energy-intensive processing is segmented into two main stages: mechanical crushing followed by grinding. This segmentation allows energy to be applied in controlled amounts at each stage, making the coal minerals accessible to plants for enhanced growth while managing energy consumption through efficient process design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This process converts coal into a form that is easily usable by plants, enhancing plant growth and providing complete nutritional content, thereby improving agricultural productivity.

Implementation Method 1

The process involves crushing and grinding coal to a fine size

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical crushing and grinding:

Implementation Method 2

mixing it with salt as a carrier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCarrier transport:

Implementation Method 3

coal in its solid form cannot be used effectively by plants as a fertilizer since it cannot readily be absorbed by the plants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlant absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10683243B2Process for producing coal-based fertilizer and the products produced

Publication Date: 2020.06.16 R UMAR HASAN SAPUTRA

AI summary

This invention is connected with the products and the process of coal-based fertilizer, the process of which starts with coal crushing, filtering, mixing with other substances such as salt and essential nutrients maturing and forming the fertilizer into granules or prills (granulation). The processes of crushing and filtering will make the coal change into a simple form so that it can more easily be used by plants, while the granulation process will make this coal fertilizer easier to use when the application of fertilizing has to be done.