CLAIMS
1. A system for efficiency improvement of agricultural productions comprising the following components:
at least a fluid storing container (2; 2a to 2d), at least a pressure device (3) for injecting said fluids, and an adjustment apparatus (4) of said fluids comprising valves,
at least a distribution apparatus (5, 6, 7, 7') of said fluids,
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.
2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that further optionally comprises at least a fluid treatment device (Ia, Ib, Ic and/or Id) to obtain said fluids.
3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjustment apparatus further optionally comprises a control system comprising temperature sensors, colour sensors and others.
4. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the fluid treatment device (Ia, Ib) is at least a hot air generator which fuel is selected from the group comprising gasoline, gas, methane, LPG firewood, straw, diesel, biodiesel and even grain or olive cake.
5. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the fluid treatment device (Ia, Ib) gets hot air through synergies with solar energy systems, nuclear plants, incinerators and thermal power plants.
6. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that said fluid treatment device (Ic) comprises a component suitable to perform combustion of liquefied propane.
7. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that said fluid treatment device (Ia, Ib) is at least a heater or burner of hot air Curtain type and others.
8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said fluid storing container (2; 2a, 2b) is at least a water vapour boiler.
9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said fluid storing container (2; 2a, 2b) is at least a hot air tank.
10. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said fluid storing container (2c) comprises at least a container under pressure containing carbon dioxide in a liquid phase.
11. The system according to claim 1 and claims 9 to 10, characterized in that said fluid storing container (2; 2a to 2d) is made of a material from the group comprising canvas, plastics, wood, metal, cork, glass, polystyrene, wood particleboard, platex cardboard and fabric.
12. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said adjustment apparatus (4) comprises valves.
13. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said distribution apparatus (5, 6, 7, 7') of said fluids comprises ducts intended to deliver said fluids.
14. The system according to claim 13, characterized in that said ducts comprise a main duct (5), sleeves (6) and strips (7, 7') or pipes for conveying said fluids.
15. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said cover (8) is a thermal blanket.
16. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said cover is of plastic.
17. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said sleeves (6), pipes or strips (7, 7') are laid over the soil adjacent to plants.
18. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said sleeves (6), pipes or strips (7, 7') are laid suspended using supports.
19. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said sleeves (6), pipes or strips (7, 7 1 ) are buried.
20. The system according to claim 19, characterized in that said sleeves (6), pipes or strips (7, 7') are 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.
21. The system according to claim 19, characterized in that said sleeves (6), pipes or strips (7, T) 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.
22. The system according to claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the ducts (7, T) arrangement defines a cross linking grid, which intersections form right angles or other angles.
23. The system according to claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the ducts (7, 7') arrangement form a spiral.
24. A method for efficiency improvement of agricultural productions, comprising: regulation of fluid admission from a container (2; 2a to 2d) into a distribution apparatus (5, 6, 7, 7') of said fluids,
injection of said fluids directly into said distribution apparatus comprising the main duct (5), sleeves (6), pipes or strips (7, 7'), using a pressure device (3) 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, T) are disposed in a suspended way.
25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the fluid treatment is optionally performed at least by a fluid treatment device (Ia, Ib, Ic and/or Id); and
the fluids are inserted into a container (2; 2a to 2d) to remain stored therein.
26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the fluid treatment comprises:
- air heating; and/or
- air cooling; and/or
- carbon dioxide generation; and/or
- water vapour generation.
27. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the injection of said fluids is performed individually or simultaneously and continuously or alternately using valves (4) which control the admission of said fluids into the distribution apparatus (5, 6, 7, 7') of said fluids.
28. The method according to claim 24 and 27, characterized in that said valves (4) are able to be manually or automatically opened or closed. |
"SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS"
Field of Invention
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.
Background
Agriculture is a productive sector prone to many risks. This happens, among other factors, due to losses caused by cold, ice, snow, frost, etc. To avoid this situation there is a kind of known agriculture called forcing agriculture aiming a production in advance or out of season and being also intended to control the environment in which the crops are developing. Until now this kind of agriculture has been carried out using a number of types of protection, such as covers, greenhouses, bell glasses, etc. Such protections are intended to allow forcing agriculture. This invention aims to reduce the risks pertaining to the agriculture itself since it allows production out of the traditional season and with better results. In such type of protections there are means and systems intended to adjust temperature which are the basis of the thermal conditioning of same. Greenhouse heating is performed by devices that supply heat by radiation and convection. 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. Moreover, due to the size of greenhouses themselves and to phenomena pertaining to convection, "shadow areas" appear which do not allow uniformity in crop developing. Also, it should be taken into account that the heat needed for heating the existing air volume within a greenhouse is high. To overcome these drawbacks, the heating device power is required to be higher leading to greater energy consumption along with the resulting drawbacks in terms of cost and environment.
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.
Additionally, if it is necessary and instead of hot air, the insertion of cold air into greenhouses may also be needed during very hot days which could lead to a soil moisture deficit condition in that plants loose more water by transpiration that the water they absorb. Disadvantages related to air cold production and distribution 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. Unfortunately, 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.
Further, 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.
Document US 5193744 Al discloses a computer controlled apparatus intended to the application of fertilizers by means of automatic spraying with water. It does not refer to hot air distribution, neither cold ah * , neither carbon dioxide. Further, distribution is only performed by sprinklers laid on the ground. It also discloses the employment of marsh and swamp water in the spraying. It also presents a means that allows filter backwash.
It is known from document US 7156321 B2 a system to supply active compound to a spraying device comprising a carrier liquid tank, a carrier liquid pump, spray nozzles and a carrier liquid line connecting such different components. Moreover, it comprises one active compound preliminary container, one metering pump for feeding said compound into the
carrier liquid, one active compound forward flow line, connecting the container to the metering pump, and a return line form said compound to the container. Also, there is not here any reference to hot air, cold air or carbon dioxide distribution. The main objective is to allow the active compound and carrier liquid mixing to be made directly just prior to spraying. Further, the system is arranged to be installed in self-propelling field sprayers or being carried behind towing vehicles, such as tractors.
It is also known from document US 0030119 Al in which is described a spraying device intended to be used in agriculture fields allowing a metering of chemical products without polluting the carrier product (e. g., water). Said device allows using viscous products without them having to be mixed directly in the main tank. Said device is also able to meter the chemical product accurately. Once more, the main concern of this patent is not based in hot air, cold air or carbon dioxide distribution and also teaches that said device is used in tractors.
t Document 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.
None of the prior art documents solves the problems related to greenhouses and the drawbacks related to said greenhouses, this being one of the main purposes of this invention.
Summary of the Invention
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.
Moreover, the present invention system may optionally further comprises at least a fluid treatment device.
When using hot air, 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. Additionally, there are other devices which 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 plants, incinerators and thermal power plants. It can also comprise heaters, such as those commercially available
> in Techgas, such as, for example, those from BMP series, EK and Confort or burners of hot air Curtain type and others.
With reference to carbon dioxide, containers under pressure containing said carbon dioxide in a liquid state and that is easily volatilized as gaseous carbon dioxide can be used.
One only needs a pressure regulating valve and a capacity meter. Also, 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.
To this end, 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. Such 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.
Using the system for efficiency improvement of agricultural productions, it is no longer needed, for some crops, to build greenhouses to contain burning devices, compressors, etc. and to maintain hot or cool the ambient air and/or increase carbon dioxide levels. That is very important since costs, labour, room space, etc. related to greenhouses construction axe not negligible. Moreover, soil heating is done in a much more rapid way than when using greenhouses. Virtually, "shadow areas" are no longer present as the crops are more confined. Another advantage is related to the fact that air volume to be heated is smaller, which allows a greater saving in terms of consumption of some of the system components, and further there is an improvement in environmental terms due to a more efficient system. Additionally, the separate components used are all from prior art techniques.
The fact that the fluids are injected into said ducts also has the following advantage: 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.
Advantageously, 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.
All splices, junctions, couplings, links, fastening and conveyance systems, or others are known by one skilled in the art and so they will not be further discussed in detail.
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.
Brief Description of Drawings
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description given by way of example not restrictive and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
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; and
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.
Description of preferred embodiments of the invention
In the following detailed description of the figures, the similar reference numerals indicate similar parts or parts having similar functions.
In 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'.
With reference to Fig. 2, the system comprises the following components: two burners
Ia, Ib, a carbon dioxide generator Ic, a cold air generator Id, a hot air tank 2a, a water vapour boiler 2b, a carbon dioxide tank 2c, a cold air tank 2d, several compressors 3, several regulating valves 4 and a distribution duct 5. 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. There is also provided 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.
AU component connections and its respective operation are known by one skilled in the art and, as such, they will not be described in detail.
Fig. 3 shows a plan view bf the distribution duct disposition in a cross linking grid 6 arrangement according to a preferred embodiment. Such 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.
With reference to 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. As seen in Fig. 4.1, 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.
With reference to Fig. 4.2 a sectioned view of the detail of the connection linking sleeves 6 to strips 7, T in Fig. 1 taken at B-B in a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the cross linking grid 6 is buried is shown. As seen in Fig. 4.2, 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.
Example 1
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, for treating a land with 1 ha size, 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 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. 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.
Example 2
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, for treating a land with 1 ha size, 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. 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.
Example 3
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, 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. 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. 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. (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. 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. 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. (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.
In the exemplary embodiments in which strips 7, 7' are buried underground, forming a cross linking grid, 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' . Afterwards, 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 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.
Example 4
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention and according to Fig. 5, 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. Afterwards, 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.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that numerous modifications can be made without leaving the scope of appended claims.
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