Hydraulic Fluid Injection System for Fertigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid injection systems for fertigation face challenges such as inaccurate and quantitative nutrient application, precipitation of fertilizers leading to clogging, and the need for complex and costly systems that require electricity and pressure-tight structures, especially when dealing with solid fertilizers and exposed to wind and rain.
Innovation Solution
A fluid injection system that uses a feeder tank with a fluid nozzle designed to introduce fluid at a flow rate based on the solubility of the product, weight, and dispensing time, allowing for continuous dispensing of a substantially saturated solution without sensors, and can operate hydraulically with fewer components and no pressure-tight structure, using multiple feeder tanks to prevent precipitation and maintain consistent ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pressure differential system with a by-pass fertilizer tank is used, then the system is simple to install and operate without external energy source, but the nutrient application is inaccurate and quantitative because concentration decreases over irrigation time
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-dissolves solid fertilizers in the by-pass tank before irrigation begins, creating a concentrated nutrient solution in advance. This preliminary dissolution ensures that nutrients are ready for immediate injection without needing to dissolve during irrigation, maintaining consistent concentration throughout the irrigation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The by-pass fertilizer tank acts as an intermediary device between the main irrigation line and the field. It receives a portion of the irrigation water, dissolves fertilizers in this intermediate stage, and then returns the nutrient solution to the main line, enabling accurate nutrient application without complex equipment.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a venturi apparatus is used, then the system operates without external energy source, but it requires liquid state fertilizers which need labor of dissolving solid state fertilizers in advance
Solution Approach 1:
The by-pass fertilizer tank system is self-service in that it automatically dissolves solid fertilizers using the kinetic energy of the irrigation water flow itself. The water pressure and flow through the tank create turbulence and mixing action that dissolves the fertilizers without requiring external energy input or manual preparation of liquid fertilizer solutions.
3Manufacturing precision
If pump injection methods are used, then proportional nutrients can be applied to the crop field, but the system has complicated designs with a large number of working components which are prone to wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of fertilizer dissolution and injection from the complex pump-based system. By removing pumps, sensors, and control mechanisms, the system retains only the critical by-pass tank that performs dissolution and proportional mixing, dramatically simplifying the design while maintaining accurate nutrient application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic principles where irrigation water pressure and flow rate naturally control the dissolution and injection rates. The water flow through the by-pass tank creates the necessary mixing and propulsion forces, eliminating the need for mechanical pumps and complex hydraulic control systems.
4Manufacturing precision
If a fully equipped dosing system with sensors and computer is used, then accurate dosing and automation are achieved, but the system is very expensive and not suitable for open-field and orchard where electric power is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces expensive, complex, and fragile electronic components with simple, durable, and inexpensive mechanical-hydraulic elements. The by-pass tank system uses ordinary irrigation water flow and basic tank construction to achieve dosing functionality that would otherwise require costly sensors, computers, and powered equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes electronic control systems with a purely mechanical-hydraulic system. Instead of using sensors, computers, and electric motors to control dosing, the system relies on natural water flow dynamics, pressure differential, and gravitational forces to achieve accurate and automated nutrient injection.
5Device complexity
If conventional fluid injection systems mix multiple fertilizers in one tank, then the system is simple, but precipitation occurs leading to clogging and reduction in efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fertilizer storage into multiple separate tanks, each dedicated to a specific fertilizer type. This segmentation prevents incompatible fertilizers from mixing and precipitating, while the by-pass injection mechanism ensures proportional dissolution and injection from each tank, maintaining system reliability without excessive complexity.
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 system ensures accurate and proportional delivery of nutrients over time, preventing precipitation and reducing maintenance, while being economical and suitable for use without electricity, even in open fields and orchards exposed to wind and rain.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid nozzle means is designed, configured, programmed, and/or controlled to introduce the fluid into the feeder tank at a flow rate of fluid predetermined based upon characteristics comprising solubility of a product at a temperature, weight of a product to be dispensed or to be dissolved in the feeder tank, and dispensing time
Implementation Method 2
The suction by the venturi apparatus is achieved by water passing through a constricted section, resulting in the increased velocity of water flow and a negative pressure, which sucks nutrient solution from an open reservoir tank via a tube mounted in the constricted section
Implementation Method 3
said pump is in communication with said inlet connection and said feeder tank for introducing said fluid into said feeder tank
Implementation Method 4
an overflow pipe, the outlet of which is disposed below the apex of the filter
Data Source
AI summary
In a fluid injection system for dispensing a solution, said fluid injection system comprises a feeder tank having a product to be dispensed therein, an inlet connection for diverting fluid from a flow line to a fluid nozzle means and an outlet connection for dispensing the solution into the flow line or onto a matter. The fluid nozzle means is in communication with the feeder tank and the inlet connection and the fluid injection system controls a flow rate of fluid at which the fluid nozzle means introduce the fluid into the feeder tank based upon characteristics comprising solubility of the product at a temperature of the fluid in the feeder tank, weight of the product to be dispensed or to be dissolved in the feeder tank, and dispensing time, and the fluid injection system controls a flow rate of the fluid nozzle means to satisfy equation: F=(W)/(T×S) wherein, F is the flow rate of the fluid nozzle means, W is weight of the product in the feeder tank, T is dispensing time and S is solubility of the product at the temperature of the fluid in the feeder tank.