Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G7/00—Botany in general
  • A01G7/02—Treatment of plants with carbon dioxide
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
  • A01G9/18—Greenhouses for treating plants with carbon dioxide or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
  • A01G9/24—Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature, illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
  • A01G9/246—Air-conditioning systems
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
  • Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
  • Y02A40/25—Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a system and method for efficiency improvement of agricultural productions, particularly of horticulture productions, such as potato, carrot, celery, onion, strawberry and the like.
• Such devices are divided hi static systems and thermodynamic systems.
• the former relate to systems which directly convey environmental heat from a heated surface
• the latter relate to systems which preheat the air and afterwards force it to circulate within the greenhouses.
• Such hot air generators built in greenhouses are disadvantageous in that they are not able to maintain temperature uniformity within the greenhouse. Further, one should take into account that in order to use said air generators the construction of greenhouses of a bigger size is needed, that being expensive, cumbersome, requires maintaining, is labour intensive, etc. Additionally since it is virtually impossible to seal the greenhouses completely, there are always thermal exchanges with the outside environment and, for example, when there is wind, the hot air generated is much more randomly scattered reducing its efficiency. Also, there are losses through the soil leading to a very slow heating of said soil.
• Another requirement needed in agricultural productions is that it is artificially required to accelerate the photosynthesis process. This is performed injecting carbon dioxide into the ambient air surrounded by the greenhouse. This process is required mainly during the day since the concentration of carbon dioxide during the morning is higher and because during the night the plants do not use photosynthesis, and also on cloudy days. Another important factor to take into account is that in a protected environment physiological processes occur at higher rates and as such these processes require higher carbon dioxide dosages. Disadvantages related to carbon dioxide production and distribution within greenhouses are substantially the same as in hot air.
• Another existing problem related to agriculture is about the use of pesticides, such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, miticides, etc.
• Biological agriculture avoids using such type of chemical products and it is being employed more and more.
• the yield of biological productions is low, because the problems related to pesticides cannot be fought in an "industrial" way.
• the present invention aims to solve these drawbacks.
• One purpose is also to contribute to a better environment both in material amounts and products used and in consumption reduction and agricultural production yield increase.
• the present invention enables out of traditional season harvesting by producing low cost microclimates suitable to thousands or millions of acres.
• Another purpose of the invention is related to agricultural soil disinfection, the invention solving almost entirely the problems related to the use of pesticides and everything pertaining to it, such as diseases, aquifer infiltrations, etc.
• Another advantage of the invention is that the same materials and the same devices used in prior art are able to be used, having in some cases, other functions, leading to the fact that the facilities already present do not need to be object of great investments.
• Still another advantage is that the manpower already provided is more than enough to work with the invention.
• WO 92/11759 Al discloses a device for spraying crop treating agents, such as nutrients and/or pesticides/herbicides. It is different from prior art documents in that the treating agent concentrate container is formed entirely with the pumping means. Once more, the device is used in vehicles, such as an agricultural tractor. The desired object is how to mix said treating agent with liquid carrier and how to distribute the mixing using spray members.
• the present invention is related to a system and method for efficiency improvement of agricultural productions, particularly of horticulture productions, such as potato, carrot, celery, onion, strawberry and the like.
• the present invention system for efficiency improvement of agricultural productions comprises the following components: at least a fluid storing container, at least a pressure device for injecting said fluids, an adjustment apparatus of said fluids comprising valves, and at least a distribution apparatus of said fluids, the system being characterized in that said fluids are selected from the group comprising hot air, cold air, carbon dioxide and water vapour and in that optionally a cover (8) is laid over the crop.
• Said distribution apparatus may optionally further comprise a control system comprising sensors.
• the control system may include temperature sensors or carbon dioxide concentration level sensors which convey information related to temperature or related to said carbon dioxide concentration to a control system that will perform the required adjustments.
• the system may further include other types of sensors. It should be understood that one skilled in the art will know all such devices and systems and they will not be further discussed.
• the present invention system may optionally further comprises at least a fluid treatment device.
• the fluid treatment device comprises at least a hot air generator, such as those commercially available in Techgas, such as, for example, those from EC series, GE series, EC/S series, GP, Jumbo, SP, FARM series, which are gasoline, gas, methane, LPG or electricity powered.
• a hot air generator such as those commercially available in Techgas, such as, for example, those from EC series, GE series, EC/S series, GP, Jumbo, SP, FARM series, which are gasoline, gas, methane, LPG or electricity powered.
• a hot air generator such as those commercially available in Techgas, such as, for example, those from EC series, GE series, EC/S series, GP, Jumbo, SP, FARM series, which are gasoline, gas, methane, LPG or electricity powered.
• fuel is selected from the group comprising firewood, straw, diesel, oil, biodiesel and even grain or olive cake, and others that get hot air through synergies with solar energy systems, nuclear
• Techgas such as, for example, those from BMP series, EK and Confort or burners of hot air curtain type and others.
• containers under pressure containing said carbon dioxide in a liquid state and that is easily volatilized as gaseous carbon dioxide can be used.
• a liquefied propane combustion device and other techniques known by one skilled in the art can be used.
• Water vapour boilers such as those commercially available in Proter or Moriza, are used to produce water vapour.
• Cold air generators commercially available can be used to produce cold air.
• One or more containers intended to store at least one of the fluids can be made of canvas, plastics, wood, metal, cork, glass, polystyrene, wood particleboard, platex cardboard, fabric, etc., and they are able to take on any shape suitable to the location where they will be installed.
• Pressure device comprises compressors, such as those commercially available in CompAir, such as, for example, M series reciprocating compressors and others.
• Adjustment apparatus of said fluids comprises valves. Said fluid injection is able to be performed individually or simultaneously and continuously or alternately.
• valves controlling the admission of said fluids into the fluid distribution apparatus are used.
• Such valves are able to be manually or automatically opened or closed to distribute fluids needed in a given moment.
• Distribution apparatus of said fluids comprises ducts intended to deliver said fluids.
• ducts comprise a main duct, sleeves, strips or conveyance pipes of said fluids which convey the fluids mentioned above.
• Such ducts may comprise T Tape, Poritex pipes or sleeves from Heliflex, Agroflat, Heliflat m, Heliflat h series or others.
• the cover intended to protect crops to avoid thermal losses and losses of said fluids may be a thermal blanket, such as the one commercially available in Rogertec, designated 1260, or plasties or other. Such cover is laid over crops in a way known by one skilled in the art.
• the present invention allows said fluids to be directly injected into already provided ducts.
• the fluid stream (except water vapour) eliminates condensation on the cover material surface, which condensation is harmful in that the ambient air becomes saturated with water vapour that can be harmful to some crops or in some stage of crops.
• Water vapour injection to a temperature up to, for example, 120 0 C serves to disinfect the soil that will be used as a support to the crop, eliminating weed seeds, fungi, bacteria, virus, etc.
• This way of using water vapour allows sterilization of soils intended to use as crop support and, thus, the use of pesticides it is almost entirely no longer necessary.
• the use of pesticide is a matter that is being fought virtually since the pesticides began to be used. Therefore, if said system is used, allowing that farmers will no longer apply pesticides, it solves almost definitely that problem. Ecologically speaking, such a system allows a great step forward related to the environment, reducing at the same time costs related to pesticide price and/or pesticide elimination.
• Laying of sleeves, pipes or strips is advantageously done in the same way as laying of sleeves, pipes or strips for irrigation, which is, over the soil adjacent to plants, suspended using supports or buried.
• sleeves, pipes or strips when sleeves, pipes or strips are buried, they should be buried at a depth from preferably 10 cm to 5 m, more preferably from 20 cm to 2 m and most preferably from 50 to 60 cm.
• Such sleeves, pipes or strips are buried so that they are spaced apart preferably from about 10 cm to about 10 m, more preferably from about 50 cm to about 5 m and most preferably from about 80 cm to about 1 m.
• the ducts arrangement at least when they are buried, is able to take on many different dispositions. They are able to be disposed so that they define a cross linking grid, whose intersections form right angles or other angles, they can be disposed so that they form a spiral and they can take on any shape suitable as needed.
• the present invention further relates to a method for efficiency improvement of agricultural productions, comprising: regulation of fluid admission from a container in a distribution apparatus of said fluids, injection of said fluids directly into the distribution apparatus comprising the main duct, sleeves, pipes or strips, using a pressure device which injects said fluids under a suitable pressure; and the method being characterized in that retention of said fluids near the agricultural crops is optionally performed by the provided cover, except when said sleeves (6), pipes or strips (7, 7') are disposed in a suspended way.
• the method of the present invention can further optionally comprise the fluid treatment using at least a fluid treatment device and insertion of fluids into a container to remain stored therein. Fluid treatment comprises air heating; and/or air cooling; and/or carbon dioxide generation; and/or water vapour generation
• the method of the present invention is characterized in that injection of said fluids is performed individually or simultaneously and continuously or alternately using valves which control the admission of said fluids into the distribution apparatus of said fluids.
• Such valves are able to be manually or automatically opened or closed.
• Fig. 1 shows a global plan view of the system according to a preferred embodiment according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the system main components upstream the fluid distribution ducts according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the ducts disposition in a cross linking grid arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 4.1 shows a sectioned view of cross linking grid of Fig. 3 taken at A-A in an embodiment in which the grid is buried;
• Fig. 4.2 is a sectioned view of a detail of the connection linking sleeves to strips in Fig. 1 taken at B-B in a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• Fig. 5 shows a plan view of another embodiment of the invention in which ducts disposition is a spiral
• Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a drip irrigation tube suspended according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in which the strips are disposed on the surface, laying over the soil, and a cover is laid over the crop;
• Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention in which the strips are buried into the soil and a cover is laid over the crop.
• FIG. 1 a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to the invention is shown.
• Tank 2 contains fluids which, using a compressor 3 and adjusting apparatus comprising valves 4, will be delivered through main duct 5, sleeves 6 and finally strips 1, 1'.
• the system comprises the following components: two burners
• a burner Ia heats ambient air and inserts it into a hot air tank 2a which, in turn, is connected to a compressor 3 which injects the hot air under pressure into the distribution duct 5 through valve 4.
• the hot air burner Ib heats ambient air, such as before, and it is connected to a water vapour boiler 2b which by means of valves 4 inserts the water vapour under pressure into the distribution duct 5 or main duct.
• a carbon dioxide generator Ic for example a component suitable to perform combustion of liquefied propane, inserts the carbon dioxide into the carbon dioxide tank 2c which injects it under pressure into the distribution or main duct 5 through compressor 3 and valve 4.
• a cold air generator Id which produces cold air from ambient air and inserts it into cold air tank 2d.
• a compressor 3 draws such cold air from said cold air tank 2d and injects it under pressure into main duct 5 through valve 4. , ⁇ r .
• Valves 4 are able to be opened both individually or simultaneously, or with any other sequence so that the fluids needed in a given moment could be injected into distribution duct 5.
• Fig. 3 shows a plan view bf the distribution duct disposition in a cross linking grid 6 arrangement according to a preferred embodiment.
• a cross linking grid 6 comprises irrigation strips 7, 7' disposed so as to form a cross linking grid 6 whose intersections form right angles.
• Such a cross linking grid 6 can be laid over the soil, suspended using supports or buried.
• Fig. 4.1 a sectioned view of the cross linking grid 6 in Fig. 3 taken at A-A in an embodiment in which said cross linking grid 6 is buried is shown.
• strips 7, T are buried at two different depth levels.
• Strips 7 are buried at a given depth and with a given direction, preferably horizontal, and strips T are buried at a lesser depth and perpendicular to strips 7.
• Distance between each strip 7 and the following strip 7 is the same along the grid.
• Distance between each strip 7' and the following strip 7' is also the same along the grid and equal to the distance between each strip 7 and the following strip 7.
• Fig. 4.2 a sectioned view of the detail of the connection linking sleeves 6 to strips 7, T in Fig.
• strips 7, T are buried at two different depth levels. Strips 7 are buried at a given depth and with a given direction, preferably horizontal, and strips 7' are buried at a lesser depth and perpendicular to strips 7. Although both strips 7, T are buried, they are connected to the sleeve 6 remaining on the surface.
• Fig. 5 shows a plan view of another embodiment of the invention in which strip 7 disposition is a spiral.
• Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a suspended strip 7 according to the invention. Such a strip 7 is kept suspended using supports (not shown).
• Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in which strips 7, 7' are disposed on the surface forming a cross linking grid 6.
• the crop is positioned between intervals provided between strips and over the crop and cross linking grid 6 a cover 8 intended to protect the crop is laid.
• Cover 8 is, for example, a thermal blanket or a plastic.
• Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention in which the strips 7, T are buried into the soil and a thermal or plastic cover 8 is laid over the crop.
• a burner Ia which generates hot air such as a ITM generator, is used and generates 1900 nrVhour having a temperature of about 60 0 C and consuming about 4 litres of diesel per hour.
• Said burner Ia is connected to a hot air tank 2a, such as a Passat heat accumulator, using a pipeline that can be made of plastic, metal or another suitable material, and said hot air tank 2a stores and retains the air generated by said burner Ia at a temperature of about 60 0 C, sending it, afterwards and through a pipeline to a compressor 3, such as a CompAir compressor.
• Said compressor 3 is arranged to insert said hot air having a flow rate of 50 mVhour and under a pressure of 4 kg/cm 2 , through a pipeline provided with a valve 4 intended to control the passage of said hot air to a main duct 5.
• said hot air is passed from said main duct 5 to pipes or sleeves, such as Heliflex pipes, which are connected to said main duct 5 by means of components arranged to that effect and known by one skilled in the art, such as clamps.
• Said tubes are laid over in the land to be the crop support or already cultivated and they are coupled to strips 7, 7', such as T Tape strips, positioned adjacent to the crop, through connectors or headstock junctions.
• Strips 7, 7' release said hot air under a pressure varying from about 300 grs/cm 2 to 1 kg/cm 2 , through holes provided in said strips 7, T and spaced apart for a distance of 20 cm, the strips 7, 7' being distributed according to the structure to implement, although they should not go beyond a 100 m length, from the coupling region to pipes or sleeves to any of sides, completing a 200 m total.
• a thermal blanket cover 8 such as a Texpun blanket, or a plastic cover, which is fastened to the soil by means of devices known by one skilled in the art, thus developing a microclimate, accelerating the crop cycle and protecting it from cold, frost, ice formation, etc., allowing a harvesting out of season.
• a burner Ia which generates hot air such as a ITM generator, is used and generates 1900 nrVhour having a temperature of about 60 0 C and consuming about 4 litres of diesel per hour.
• Said burner Ia is connected to a hot air tank 2a, such as a Passat heat accumulator, using a pipeline that can be made of plastic, metal or another suitable material, and said hot air tank 2a stores and retains the air generated by said burner Ia at a temperature of about 60 0 C, sending it, afterwards and through a pipeline to a compressor 3, such as a CompAir compressor.
• Said compressor 3 is arranged to insert said hot air having a flow rate of 50 mVhour and under a pressure of 4 kg/cm 2 , through a pipeline provided with a valve 4 intended to control the passage of said hot air to a main duct 5. Afterwards, said hot air is passed from said main duct 5 to pipes or sleeves, such as of plastic, metal, etc. (which can be PEX or PRET) able to support temperatures between 120 0 C e -120 0 C, coupled using junctions well known by one skilled in the art to PEX or PERT strips 7 able to be buried or laid over the soil to be cultivated, containing drippers, from 20 cm to 20 cm, which release, as needed, the hot air.
• pipes or sleeves such as of plastic, metal, etc. (which can be PEX or PRET) able to support temperatures between 120 0 C e -120 0 C, coupled using junctions well known by one skilled in the art to PEX or PERT strips 7 able to be buried or laid over the soil to
• Such strips 7 are buried in a parallel fashion into the underground at a distance from one another of 80 cm and at a depth of 50 cm, as shown in the drawing in Fig. 4.1. Then, the crop is covered with a thermal blanket cover 8, such as a Texpun blanket, or a plastic cover, which is fastened to the soil by means of devices known by one skilled in the art, thus developing a microclimate, accelerating the crop cycle and protecting it from cold, frost, ice formation, etc., allowing a harvesting out of season.
• a thermal blanket cover 8 such as a Texpun blanket, or a plastic cover
• a water vapour generator 2b of the RWK type or MSM type for treating a land with water vapour, a water vapour generator 2b of the RWK type or MSM type is used.
• the RWK type generator 2b is provided with a gas passage intended to produce saturated water vapour under a desired pressure.
• the boiler consists in a cylinder provided with a central tube (fire tube) and a aquatubular box in a back portion of the boiler.
• the body is filled with water up to a given level, splitting the cylinder in two separate parts, a water and a vapour chamber. Heat used to heat such water is generated by a burner Ib coupled at the front of the boiler in the central tube, wider than the others, through which the flame develops.
• the gas passage develops within the fire tube and aquatubular box.
• Water vapour released from the boiler can achieve temperatures up to 120 0 C and pressures up to 10 bar adjusted by said pressure regulators. Afterwards, water vapour is inserted into a duct 5, called main duct, and then, it travels along pipes or sleeves, such as of plastic, metal, etc.
• the MSM type generator 2b is provided with three gas passages intended to produce saturated water vapour under a desired pressure.
• the boiler is a heat exchanger consisting in a cylinder provided with a number of tubes passing through it. The body is filled with water up to a given level, splitting the cylinder in two separate parts, a water and a vapour chamber.
• Heat used to heat such water is generated by a burner Ib coupled at the front of the boiler in the central tube, wider than the others, through which the flame develops.
• First passage is provided in such a tube
• second and third gas passages are provided in several tubes passing through the boiler cylindrical body.
• Generated gases exit to the atmosphere through the funnel.
• the water heating is controlled by a pressure regulator which adjusts the burner operation causing the water transfer to the gaseous phase, generating the vapour that builds up inside the boiler vapour chamber.
• the security of said generator is managed by devices known by one skilled in the art. Water vapour released from the boiler can achieve temperatures , up to 120 0 C and pressures up to 10 bar adjusted by said pressure regulators.
• water vapour is inserted into a duct 5, called main duct, and then, it travels along pipes or sleeves, such as of plastic, metal, etc. (which can be PEX or PRET) able to support temperatures between 120 0 C e -120 0 C, coupled using junctions well known by one skilled in the art to PEX or PERT strips 7 able to be buried or laid over the soil to be cultivated, containing drippers, from 20 cm to 20 cm, which release, as needed, the water vapour.
• pipes or sleeves such as of plastic, metal, etc. (which can be PEX or PRET) able to support temperatures between 120 0 C e -120 0 C, coupled using junctions well known by one skilled in the art to PEX or PERT strips 7 able to be buried or laid over the soil to be cultivated, containing drippers, from 20 cm to 20 cm, which release, as needed, the water vapour.
• strips T are buried at a depth of 50 cm and spaced apart about 80 cm, and strips 7 at a depth of 60 cm, also spaced apart about 80 cm, and perpendicular to said strips 7' .
• a thermal blanket cover 8 such as a Texpun blanket, or a plastic cover, which is fastened to the soil by means of devices known by one skilled hi the art, thus developing a microclimate, accelerating the crop cycle and protecting it from cold, frost, ice formation, etc., allowing a harvesting out of season.
• strips T can be buried, horizontally, at a depth of 50 cm, presenting a spiral shape, the distance between opposed and adjacent circle arches being of 80 cm.
• a thermal blanket cover 8 such as a Texpun blanket, or a plastic cover, which is fastened to the soil by means of devices known by one skilled in the art, thus developing a microclimate, accelerating the crop cycle and protecting it from cold, frost, ice formation, etc. , allowing a harvesting out of season.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Botany (AREA)
• Ecology (AREA)
• Forests & Forestry (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
• Greenhouses (AREA)

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Cited By (2)

Citations (6)

• 2007
  • 2007-09-20 PT PT103827A patent/PT103827B/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2008
  • 2008-09-19 WO PCT/PT2008/000036 patent/WO2009038487A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (6)

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