Water heating device for cluster weeding apparatus designed to provide a constant temperature at the nozzle outlet of 95 to 99°c
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weeding devices using hot water or steam face inefficiencies due to high water consumption, energy expenditure, and ineffective temperature control, leading to incomplete treatment and seed germination, as they struggle to maintain consistent droplet size and temperature, especially when water vapor is used, resulting in reduced treatment efficiency and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A water heating device that regulates water temperature between 95 to 99°C at the nozzle outlet and controls droplet size between 0.5 to 1.5 mm by managing the boiler temperature and water flow using a servo-control system, ensuring consistent caloric reservoirs and uniform temperature distribution across the treated surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water temperature is increased to 95-99°C to prevent seed germination and improve weeding effectiveness, then weed control efficiency is improved, but risk of water vapor formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention precisely controls water temperature within the narrow range of 95-99°C, which is below the boiling point to prevent vapor formation while maintaining sufficient heat for effective weed control. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between achieving reliable weed control and avoiding harmful vapor formation.
2Area of stationary object
If water flow rate is increased to ensure complete surface coverage, then treatment coverage is improved, but energy consumption and water usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates a flow meter that continuously monitors water consumption and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the water flow rate dynamically to optimize coverage while minimizing water and energy usage, resolving the contradiction between complete surface coverage and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The water flow rate is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt to different treatment requirements and surface areas. This dynamic control enables complete coverage when needed while reducing consumption during routine maintenance, resolving the energy-cov erage contradiction.
3Stability of the object's composition
If droplet size is reduced to improve temperature distribution uniformity, then temperature homogeneity is improved, but droplet heat capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes droplet size within a specific range (0.5-1.5mm) that balances heat capacity and temperature distribution. This parameter optimization ensures droplets are small enough for uniform distribution but large enough to maintain sufficient heat capacity, resolving the contradiction between temperature homogeneity and droplet heat capacity.
4Quantity of substance
If water temperature is maintained below 100°C to prevent vaporization, then water retention is improved, but treatment penetration depth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts water flow rate and droplet distribution to enhance penetration effectiveness. By optimizing the delivery mechanism and droplet distribution pattern rather than simply increasing temperature, the system achieves adequate root-zone penetration while maintaining water retention below 100°C, resolving the contradiction between water retention and penetration depth.
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 solution optimizes weeding efficiency by reducing water consumption and energy use, maintaining effective temperature control, and preventing seed germination, while ensuring thorough soil treatment with consistent droplet size and temperature, thus enhancing the overall treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element (l) integrated into the lance or diffusion bar (m)
Implementation Method 2
a nozzle whose orifice diameter is between 4.5 and 5 mm, all to ensure the formation of water droplets at the nozzle outlet with a size varying between 0.5 and 1.5 mm
Implementation Method 3
The temperature difference between that observed at the boiler outlet (k) (120°C) and that at the nozzle outlet (i) (95 to 99°C) is explained by the fact that above 100 degrees, the density of water is greater than that observed below 100°C, indicating pressurization that forces the water towards the nozzle. When the water exits the nozzle, it is immediately subjected to atmospheric pressure, resulting in immediate heat loss.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Water heating device for a single or multi-station weed control unit, capable of supplying low-pressure water at a regulated and constant temperature of 95 to 99° Celsius at the nozzle outlet (i), and of producing water droplets of a controlled size ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mm at the diffusion means (m), characterized by: - A control system composed of: a programmable logic controller (PLC) (j), a flow switch (a) connected to the PLC (j), a temperature probe at the boiler outlet (f) connected to the PLC, a PWM controller (d) that transmits commands to the fuel pump (b), a PWM controller (h) that controls the water flow rate at the water pump (g), - A fuel supply flow rate continuously managed by the control system, varying according to the desired water flow rate to obtain a temperature of 120° Celsius at the boiler outlet, - A water flow rate variable ensuring hot water production at a temperature of 120° Celsius at the boiler outlet (k),equipped with a nozzle (i) whose orifice has a diameter between 4.5 and 5 mm.