Irrigation System with Electrolytic Gas Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The use of pesticides and chemicals in agriculture leads to environmental pollution and health risks, and the high cost of organic farming makes it challenging to provide affordable, healthy produce while reducing chemical usage.
Innovation Solution
An irrigation system employing a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer generates hydrogen, oxygen, and ozone gases, which are dissolved in water to irrigate plants, reducing the need for pesticides and chemicals, with a control unit adjusting gas concentrations for optimal plant growth and disease prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pesticides and chemicals are used to protect plants, then plant diseases are reduced and yield is ensured, but environmental pollution and health risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of irrigation water by dissolving electrolytically generated gases (hydrogen, oxygen, ozone) into the water. This transforms ordinary irrigation water into a functional solution that provides plant protection without harmful pesticides, directly resolving the contradiction between effective disease protection and environmental safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of electrical energy (which can be dangerous) into a beneficial process by using electrolysis to generate protective gases. The electrical energy that could potentially be harmful is transformed into hydrogen, oxygen, and ozone gases that protect plants when dissolved in irrigation water
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual labor is increased to maintain pesticide-free plantation, then organic produce quality is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service plant protection through automated electrolytic gas generation and dissolution into irrigation water. The control unit automatically regulates gas concentration based on detector feedback, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and intervention while maintaining pesticide-free conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between quality and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where detectors monitor gas concentration in the irrigation water and provide information to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the electrolysis process based on this feedback to maintain optimal protective gas concentrations, ensuring effective plant protection without waste, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining organic quality
3Reliability
If electrolytic gas generator voltage is increased to generate more protective gases, then plant protection effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic voltage control where the control unit continuously adjusts the electrolytic gas generator voltage based on real-time gas concentration measurements from detectors. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal protection effectiveness while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding excessive voltage application, resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and energy use
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 system effectively reduces pesticide use, enhances plant growth, and extends the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, while minimizing environmental pollution and health risks associated with chemical residues.
Implementation Method 1
the electrolysis of water carried out by a proton exchange membrane (PEM), such as hydrogen gas, oxygen gas
Implementation Method 2
employing a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer for processing irrigation water... such as hydrogen gas, oxygen gas and ozone
Implementation Method 3
The reservoir stores irrigation water and is in fluid communication with the electrolytic gas generator for mixing the first gas and the second gas with the irrigation water
Data Source
AI summary
An irrigation system is provided. The irrigation system includes a reservoir for storing irrigation water, an electrolytic gas generator, a detector, and a control unit. The electrolytic gas generator is in fluid communication with the reservoir to output a first gas and a second gas generated by the electrolytic gas generator to the irrigation water. The detector is arranged in the water reservoir to detect the concentrations of dissolved first gas and dissolved second gas of the irrigation water to obtain dissolved gas concentration information. The control unit electrically connects to the detector and the electrolytic gas generator receives the dissolved gas concentration information and adjusts the voltage applied to the electrolytic gas generator according to the dissolved gas concentration information to control the type of gas generated by the electrolytic gas generator and the concentrations of dissolved first and second gas of the irrigation water.