Heating Cable Attached to Trellis Wire for Frost Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for protecting trellis orchards from frost, such as heaters, wind machines, sprinklers, and smoke generators, are inefficient, environmentally harmful, or costly, and existing heating cable systems are complex to install and dismantle, limiting their effectiveness and practicality.
Innovation Solution
Attaching a heating cable to the fastening wire of a trellis orchard, allowing direct heat transfer to the plants via the wire's good thermal conductivity, with a thermally conductive hollow profile for protection and efficient heat distribution, and using a mobile energy supply with temperature control and battery-powered options for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heating cables are attached to individual plants, then effective frost protection is achieved, but assembly complexity and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The heating cable is merged with the support wire structure by attaching it to the fastening wire that already supports the plants. This combines the support function and heating function into a single integrated system, eliminating the need to separately attach heating cables to each plant while maintaining effective frost protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening wire serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the plants and simultaneously acts as a heat transfer conductor for the heating cable. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall system assembly.
2Ease of operation
If heating cables are attached to support wires, then assembly is simplified, but heat transfer efficiency to plants decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support wire acts as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the heating cable and the plants. The heating cable transfers heat to the support wire, which then conducts the heat to the plants through direct contact, enabling efficient heat transfer while maintaining simple assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The support wire structure serves dual purposes: it provides mechanical support and simultaneously functions as the heat conduction path. The existing wire infrastructure is utilized for heat transfer without requiring additional dedicated heat transfer components.
3Power
If large combustion heaters are used, then heating capacity is sufficient, but fuel consumption and environmental pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical combustion heating system is replaced with an electrical heating cable system. This substitution eliminates fuel consumption and associated environmental pollution while providing sufficient heating capacity through electrical energy conversion to heat.
4Loss of time
If heating cables remain in place year-round, then reassembly costs are reduced, but damage to young shoots during assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating cable is attached to the support wire structure during the initial setup phase, before the young shoots are vulnerable. Once in place, the system remains installed throughout the year, eliminating repeated assembly and disassembly operations that could damage shoots.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is segmented into a permanent support wire component and a removable heating cable component. The support wire structure remains in place year-round as a stable framework, while the heating cable can be independently managed without requiring dismantling of the entire system.
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 protects young shoots from frost down to -7°C with reduced assembly and energy costs, allowing the heating system to remain in place without damage, and optimizing energy use with minimized cabling and efficient heat output.
Implementation Method 1
The heating cable is attached to the fastening wire and is in thermally conductive contact with it
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an espalier fruit system, in particular a viticulture system, for fruit plants (10) which are positioned in rows and which can be secured to a securing wire (12.1) of a wire framework preferably, said securing wire (12.1) being stretched between support posts (13), wherein a heating device is provided. The aim of the invention is to allow an effective heating of such an espalier fruit system in order to protect young shoots with little assembly and energy expenditure. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the heating device has a heating cable (40) which is secured to the securing wire (12.1) and is connected to same in a thermally conductive manner.