Frost Protection Wind Machine Control via Thermal Inversion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind machine systems for plant frost protection rely solely on critical temperature or wind speed for control, leading to incorrect or null operations, which can exacerbate frost damage or result in energy wastage due to lack of thermal inversion consideration.
Innovation Solution
A control method and apparatus for wind machines that automatically start or stop based on both plant critical damage temperature and temperature difference between the top and bottom of the thermal inversion layers, using temperature sensors to determine optimal operation timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If wind machines are controlled based only on critical temperature or wind speed, then the control system is simple, but the system may operate incorrectly or waste energy due to lack of thermal inversion consideration
Solution Approach 1:
The control system segments the temperature monitoring into multiple layers: critical temperature threshold detection and thermal inversion layer temperature difference detection. This segmentation allows the system to independently evaluate each condition and make accurate control decisions based on the combination of both factors, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and operational accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal inversion layer temperature difference as an intermediary parameter between the simple temperature/wind speed control and the complex operational decision. This intermediary provides additional environmental context, enabling the system to distinguish between genuine frost conditions requiring intervention and normal conditions where operation would be wasteful or harmful.
2Speed
If wind machines operate without thermal inversion consideration, then the response time is fast, but frost damage may be exacerbated by incorrect operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of thermal inversion conditions through temperature difference monitoring before initiating wind machine operation. This preliminary action ensures that the system only activates when environmental conditions genuinely support frost protection, preventing harmful operation during non-inversion periods when it would exacerbate frost damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors both critical temperature and thermal inversion layer temperature difference, creating a feedback mechanism that dynamically adjusts wind machine operation. This feedback loop ensures rapid response to genuine frost threats while preventing harmful operation by continuously verifying thermal inversion conditions.
3Reliability
If wind machines operate with insufficient thermal inversion temperature difference, then the frost protection coverage is maximized, but energy is wasted due to null operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by setting a threshold temperature difference for thermal inversion layer that must be exceeded before activation. This prevents null operation during weak inversion conditions where the wind machine would consume energy without providing effective frost protection, while still ensuring adequate protection when the threshold is met or exceeded.
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
Effectively prevents frost and freeze damage by ensuring wind machines operate only during thermal inversion, reducing energy waste and enhancing plant protection and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
convecting thermal inversion layer near ground by wind machines to push upper warmer air downward to plant canopy below
Implementation Method 2
temperature sensors to determine optimal operation timing
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to control method and apparatus of wind machine for plant frost protection, and belongs to the domain of agro-meteorological disaster monitoring and control. Existing wind machines for plant frost protection only rely on critical damage temperature or wind speed as a condition to start. If there is no thermal inversion, operation of the wind machine will aggravate freezing injury to plants. If the strength of thermal inversion is weak, the effect will be minimal. The feature of this invention is that when temperature at the plant canopy is lower than the critical damage temperature of a certain plant and temperature difference between the top and bottom of the thermal inversion layers exceeds set threshold, wind machine will start automatically. Otherwise it will remain off. The control apparatus mainly consists of sensor 5 at the top of thermal inversion layer, sensor 7 at bottom of thermal inversion layer, and controller 4. This invention of the control of frost protection wind machine ensures rational and effective operation and avoids aggravated freezing risk due to misuse of energy and incorrect operation.