Subsurface Fertilizer Pouch Deployer for Emission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for deploying farm fertilizer, such as spraying and ground-level deployment, lead to odor contamination, high volatility, and increased greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in regulatory challenges and nutrient loss during storage and application.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural fertilizer deploying system using packaged fertilizer pouches with compostable materials that minimize volatilization and nutrient loss, featuring subsurface injectors to introduce fertilizer into the soil, ensuring efficient and controlled deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional spraying methods are used to deploy liquid fertilizer, then fertilizer can be applied to fields, but odor contamination, high volatility, and greenhouse gas emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fertilizer application process into discrete units by using individually packaged fertilizer pouches instead of bulk liquid storage and spraying. Each pouch is a self-contained unit that can be precisely deployed at specific locations, eliminating the need for large-scale liquid handling and spraying operations that cause volatilization and emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the fertilizer from its traditional liquid storage form and repackages it into sealed pouches. This extraction of fertilizer from bulk liquid form into individual packages removes the source of volatilization and odor problems associated with open liquid storage and spraying systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If liquid fertilizer is stored in reservoirs for later deployment, then fertilizer can be applied on demand, but volatilization and fermentation processes cause nutrient loss and emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The fertilizer is pre-packaged in sealed pouches before deployment, preparing it in advance in a stable, protected state. This preliminary packaging action prevents nutrient loss during storage by sealing the fertilizer in individual pouches, while still allowing on-demand deployment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses disposable fertilizer pouches that are sealed and stable during storage, then deployed individually when needed. These single-use packages eliminate the need for long-term liquid storage infrastructure while maintaining on-demand deployment capability, as each pouch is designed for one-time use after extended storage.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If ground level deployment methods like drag hose are used, then volatilization is limited, but energy efficiency decreases and preparation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts fertilizer from energy-intensive liquid handling systems and delivers it in pre-packaged pouches directly to the field. This eliminates the need for energy-consuming pump and hose systems used in drag hose methods, while still achieving low volatilization through direct ground-level placement of the pouches.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
An agricultural fertilizer deploying system for farm fertilizer comprises a hold configured to retain a plurality of fertilizer pouches (14), said fertilizer pouches (14) each enclosing a pre-determined amount of said farm fertilizer, a retrieval and dispensing section coupled to said hold, said retrieval and dispensing section being configured to retrieve said fertilizer pouches (14) from the hold and to dispense a dispensed fertilizer pouch in a controllable manner, and one or more subsurface injectors each coupled to said retrieval and dispensing section, said subsurface injectors being configured to receive the dispensed fertilizer pouch from said retrieval and dispensing section and to introduce the pre-determined amount of said farm fertilizer into a subsurface region of soil.