Continuous Dry Particulate Matter Injection Device for Fertigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fertigation systems are labor-intensive and inefficient in dissolving and injecting dry particulate fertilizers directly into irrigation systems, often resulting in high undissolved particulates that can clog devices and reduce system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A device that combines the dissolving and injection of dry particulate matter into a pressurized irrigation system using a hopper or silo to store large quantities, with a slurry mixing chamber and valve system to ensure consistent and predictable dissolution and injection of fertilizers into the irrigation water, minimizing undissolved particles and allowing for continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If dry particulate fertilizers are directly injected into the irrigation system without pre-dissolving into stock solution, then labor intensity and operational complexity are reduced, but undissolved particulates increase causing clogging of drip/spray devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fertilizer injection process into discrete cycles: filling the dosing chamber with dry particulate matter, dissolving it in water, and injecting the resulting solution into the irrigation system. This segmentation allows complete dissolution in a controlled environment before injection, eliminating undissolved particulates that would cause clogging while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary dissolution of dry particulate fertilizer in the dosing chamber before injection into the main irrigation system. By pre-dissolving the fertilizer in a controlled manner with adequate water contact time, the system ensures complete dissolution occurs before the solution enters the drip/spray devices, preventing clogging while maintaining automation.
2Measurement precision
If concentrated liquid fertilizer solution or dry water soluble particles are first dissolved into a concentrated stock solution, then injection precision is improved, but labor intensity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates continuously by automatically cycling through filling the dosing chamber with dry particulate matter, dissolving it with irrigation water, and injecting the solution into the main line. This continuous automated operation eliminates manual stock solution preparation time while maintaining precise concentration control through regulated water flow and dosing chamber volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically filling the dosing chamber with dry fertilizer, dissolving it using irrigation water from the main line, and injecting the resulting solution back into the irrigation system. This self-automated process eliminates manual labor for stock solution preparation while maintaining precise concentration control.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual dissolving and stock solution preparation is used, then fertilizer dissolution is achieved, but operational complexity and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the dissolving chamber and injection mechanism into a single integrated dosing chamber assembly. The dosing chamber serves dual functions: dissolving dry particulate fertilizer with irrigation water and then injecting the resulting solution into the main irrigation line. This merging simplifies operation while the automated cycling mechanism manages the inherent complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing chamber performs multiple functions: storing dry particulate fertilizer, dissolving it with irrigation water, and injecting the resulting solution into the main irrigation line. This multi-functionality reduces operational complexity by eliminating separate stock solution storage and injection equipment, requiring only one integrated component.
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 device effectively dissolves over 90% of particulate matter within minutes, reducing clogging and operational complexity, enabling efficient and continuous fertigation with precise control over fertilizer concentration and application rates.
Implementation Method 1
injected into the pressurized water system by a pump or Venturi-type system
Implementation Method 2
flushed with a bypass water-flow into the pressurized mixing tank, at least as a slurry
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to continuous dry particulate matter injection device (1), and more in particular to a device for use in a fertigation application in which a soluble matter, such as a fertilizer, is suspended and/or dissolved into the irrigation water in order to use the irrigation system and irrigation water as a delivery system for the soluble matter, in particular a soluble fertilizer. To this end, the device comprises at least one feed device (2), suitable for feeding particulate matter, and connected, by a first connection pipe (3), to the top of a vertically positioned slurry mixing chamber (5), located under the first connection pipe (3), and a pressurized mixing tank (12), connected to the bottom of the slurry mixing chamber (5) by a second connection pipe (8). The device is operated in a continuous cycle.