Ground Injection Agent Concentration Management via Fluorescence Markers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for managing the concentration of injection agents in soil purification, such as nitrate solutions or microbial agents, face challenges in accurately measuring concentrations in groundwater, making it difficult to maintain optimal levels for effective purification.

Innovation Solution

The method involves injecting purification agents and activators into the soil along with markers that exhibit similar behavior, allowing for the estimation of their concentrations in groundwater, even when mixed, using fluorescence markers and measurement instruments to determine the concentrations accurately.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If markers are used to estimate concentrations of purification agents and activators, then measurement capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates when multiple substances are mixed in groundwater

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidconcentration estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the measurement task by using different types of markers (first marker for purification agent, second marker for activator) that can be detected independently. This allows separate concentration estimation for each substance even when mixed in groundwater, resolving the precision problem while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces markers as intermediary substances that exhibit similar behavior to the purification agents and activators but can be measured independently. These markers act as mediators between the injected substances and measurement instruments, enabling concentration estimation without direct measurement of the active substances themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If different types of markers are used for purification agent and activator, then concentration estimation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcentration estimation accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a measurement instrument with multi-functionality that can detect both the first marker (for purification agent) and the second marker (for activator). This universal measurement capability allows accurate concentration estimation of both substances using a single device, avoiding the need for separate measurement systems and thus limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 approach enables precise management of injection agent concentrations, enhancing the effectiveness of soil purification by ensuring optimal levels of purification agents and activators, leading to improved contaminant decomposition and purification efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

using fluorescence markers and measurement instruments to determine the concentrations accurately

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentEP4108350B1Ground injection agent concentration management method
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 TAKENAKA CORP
  • EP4108350B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4108350B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4108350B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A ground injection agent concentration estimation method including a injecting an injection liquid to which an injection agent and a marker exhibiting similar behavior in subsurface ground to that of the injection agent have been added, into the subsurface ground through a water injection well; measuring a concentration of the marker at a location spaced apart from the water injection well, and estimating a concentration of the injection agent in the groundwater from the concentration of the marker.