Liquid Oxygen Injection for Drip Irrigation Oxygenation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drip irrigation systems face challenges in efficiently delivering oxygen to the soil, leading to suboptimal crop yields due to inefficient oxygenation methods, such as large bubble formation and high energy consumption, which result in commercially insignificant yield improvements at significant costs.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses compressed liquid oxygen (LOX) injected directly into the irrigation water stream, eliminating the need for compressors and specialized nozzles, and controls oxygen flow based on water pressure to achieve optimal oxygen saturation without excessive bubble formation, using a pressure sensor and control device to manage oxygen injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air is forced into water at high pressure through a small orifice to create microbubbles, then oxygen transfer efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the phase transition of liquid oxygen to gas oxygen directly in the irrigation water stream. Compressed liquid oxygen is injected into the pressurized water, where it automatically vaporizes and dissolves, providing oxygenation without requiring high-pressure air injection systems or microbubble generators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the compressor and complex nozzle system from the oxygenation process by using pre-compressed liquid oxygen that naturally expands to gas phase upon injection into pressurized water, eliminating the need for on-site compression equipment.
2Productivity
If air is forced into water at high pressure through a small orifice to create microbubbles, then oxygen transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the compressor and complex nozzle assembly from the system by using pre-compressed liquid oxygen that naturally expands and dissolves in pressurized irrigation water, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of oxygen from gaseous air to liquid oxygen, which then naturally transitions to gas phase in the pressurized water stream, eliminating the need for mechanical compression and complex injection nozzles.
3Quantity of substance
If large bubbles are produced in oxygenated water, then oxygen is delivered to soil, but oxygen transfer efficiency decreases as bubbles break surface and are discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the phase transition of liquid oxygen to gas oxygen directly in the irrigation water stream. Compressed liquid oxygen is injected into the pressurized water, where it automatically vaporizes and dissolves, providing oxygenation without requiring high-pressure air injection systems or microbubble generators.
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 method provides enhanced crop yields and earlier maturation with improved microbial activity in the soil, achieving economic benefits while reducing system stress and costs, with better uniformity and efficiency compared to previous methods.
Implementation Method 1
the source of compressed liquid oxygen provides oxygen at a pressure greater than the pressure of the stream of water for irrigation of crops merely by the change in state from liquid oxygen to oxygen gas
Implementation Method 2
capable of providing saturation of oxygen at the line pressure of the water
Data Source
AI summary
A system for agricultural irrigation water oxygenation for enriching soil oxygen level comprises a source of compressed oxygen (and not compressed air) coupled to a water line feeding an irrigation system, such as a drip irrigation system. The coupling system may include a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the water line, a solenoid safety valve, a control valve, a flow meter and a controller that controls the flow of oxygen from the source of compressed liquid oxygen to the water line using the components of the coupling system, without using a special cavitation valve and using off-the-shelf components while achieving the same benefits as a system incorporating the special cavitation valve.