Soil Slurry Recirculation for Fast As-Collected Sample Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soil sampling processes are inefficient and cumbersome, requiring drying, grinding, and multiple steps for sample preparation and analysis, which limits the ability to process samples quickly and accurately.
Innovation Solution
An automated computer-controlled sampling system that processes and analyzes agricultural samples, such as soil, in a simultaneous and continuous manner, eliminating the need for drying and grinding by preparing a slurry directly from the 'as collected' sample.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional drying and grinding steps are used for sample preparation, then sample integrity is maintained, but processing time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary drying and grinding steps from the traditional sample preparation process. By directly using the 'as collected' soil sample to prepare slurry, the system removes time-consuming operations while maintaining analysis accuracy through direct chemical extraction of nutrients from fresh samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary slurry preparation directly from collected samples without waiting for drying. The mixing device immediately creates a slurry suspension that allows for concurrent processing and analysis, enabling multiple samples to be prepared and analyzed in rapid succession before degradation occurs.
2Measurement precision
If multiple samples are processed sequentially through traditional methods, then thorough analysis is achieved, but productivity and throughput are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous processing where the mixing device continuously receives 'as collected' samples and produces slurry in uninterrupted flow. The recirculation system maintains continuous mixing and processing, allowing multiple samples to be analyzed simultaneously or in rapid succession without sequential bottlenecks, thereby maintaining high productivity and analysis quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple sample processing operations into a single integrated slurry preparation and analysis system. By combining sample reception, slurry mixing, filtration, and chemical analysis into one continuous workflow, the system achieves both high throughput and maintained analysis quality for multiple samples concurrently.
3Measurement precision
If complex multi-step preparation processes are used, then sample accuracy is ensured, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing device serves multiple functions: it receives 'as collected' samples, adds water to create slurry, performs initial mixing, and feeds directly to filtration and analysis. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would traditionally require separate drying, grinding, and mixing equipment into one universal device, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the natural properties of fresh soil samples directly without requiring external preparation services like drying or grinding. The 'as collected' samples self-suspend in water to form analyzable slurry, eliminating the need for complex mechanical processing equipment and simplifying the overall device architecture while preserving sample integrity.
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 allows for rapid and simultaneous analysis of multiple samples for various chemical properties, improving efficiency and accuracy while maintaining the integrity of the samples.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing device which mixes the collected raw soil sample in the 'as sampled' condition (e.g. undried and unground) with a diluent such as water to form a sample slurry
Implementation Method 2
The unfiltered slurry is then coarsely filtered through a coarse filter unit to remove larger than desired oversized solid particles
Implementation Method 3
The filtered slurry (filtrate) then enters a closed slurry recirculation flow loop configured to circulate the slurry for determining the water to solids ratio of the slurry
Implementation Method 4
various components forming integral parts of the flow loop are configured to circulate the slurry in the closed flow loop, suppress pressure surges, measure slurry density, and measure the density of the solid particulate component of the slurry
Implementation Method 5
The extracted and filtered slurry is then processed through chemical analysis sub-system which quantifies the concentration or level of the analyte(s) of interest
Data Source
AI summary
An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (e.g., mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The preparation sub-system may comprise a slurry recirculation flow loop configured with devices to stir, measure, and adjust a water to solids ratio of the slurry.