Composite Fertiliser Pellet with Polyhalite Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fertiliser products, such as polyhalite, face challenges in bioavailability, uniform application, and mechanical stability when used in agricultural spreading, particularly due to their irregular shape and hygroscopic nature, which delays nutrient release and complicates machinery usage.
Innovation Solution
A composite fertiliser pellet design featuring a nitrogen-providing urea core coated with a polyhalite layer, providing a staggered release of nutrients and improving bioavailability, with the polyhalite layer comprising over 30% alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and sulphur, enhancing plant growth and development with a single spreading operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If polyhalite is used in raw or crushed form to minimise processing costs, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the mineral has irregular shape and size causing difficulties in uniform application and machinery usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical form parameter of polyhalite from irregular crushed material to uniform spherical pellets with controlled size (4-12mm diameter), enabling both cost-effective manufacturing and uniform application with standard agricultural machinery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the polyhalite mineral into discrete spherical pellets of uniform size, allowing each pellet to be independently handled and distributed evenly by spreading machinery, resolving the application uniformity issue while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
2Ease of operation
If polyhalite is used in powdered form for easier spreading, then ease of operation is improved, but the powder is hygroscopic causing rapid variation in mechanical properties over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure where polyhalite powder is embedded in a spherical pellet matrix, maintaining the ease of spreading while protecting the hygroscopic powder from direct environmental exposure, thus stabilizing mechanical properties over time
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical pellet acts as a protective shell or capsule around the polyhalite powder core, preventing direct contact with moisture in the environment while allowing controlled nutrient release, thereby maintaining stable mechanical properties during storage and handling
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple distinct fertiliser compositions are applied to provide multiple nutrients, then nutrient diversity is improved, but the number of spreading operations required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple nutrient sources (polyhalite providing potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur) into a single composite fertiliser pellet, enabling delivery of diverse nutrients through one spreading operation, thus improving both nutrient diversity and operational efficiency
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
The composite pellet design ensures balanced nutrient release, accelerates plant growth, and simplifies application by providing immediate sulphur availability and additional micronutrients, promoting efficient plant development without the need for separate fertiliser spreading.
Implementation Method 1
Urea can be made synthetically and then formed into pellets for spreading over a crop
Implementation Method 2
Polyhalite is an evaporite mineral. It is a complex hydrated sulphate of potassium, calcium and magnesium of general formula K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2H2O
Data Source
AI summary
A fertiliser pellet comprising: a first region of a nitrogen-providing fertiliser composition; and a second region adhered to the exterior of the first region, the second region comprising a fertiliser composition capable of providing (a) two or more alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal nutrients and (b) sulphur.