System and method for irritating with aerated water

• US 7,128,278 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Revalesio Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microdiffusion, Inc.
• Inventors: Archambeau, Greg, Wood, Anthony, Klena, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORMAN, DARREN W
• Application Number:
  US10/424,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20040089746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 239/8, 239/143, 239398-4345, 239461-524, 239/9, 239/142, 47/485, 47/62.R, 261/87, 261/122.1, 261/124, 405/44, 405/45, 405/51
• US Class Current: 239/8
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/00 Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/042 Introducing gases into the water, e.g. aerators, air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/233 using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2331 characterised by the introduction of the gas along the axis of the stirrer or along the stirrer elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2332 the stirrer rotating about a horizontal axis; Stirrers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/41 Emulsifying
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/43 using driven stirrers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/431 the liquids being introduced from the outside through or along the axis of a rotating stirrer, e.g. the stirrer rotating due to the reaction of the introduced liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/271 with means for moving the materials to be mixed radially between the surfaces of the rotor and the stator
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/2713 the surfaces having a conical shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/272 with means for moving the materials to be mixed axially between the surfaces of the rotor and the stator, e.g. the stator rotor system formed by conical or cylindrical surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/2723 the surfaces having a conical shape
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/20 by degassing, i.e. liberation of dissolved gases degasification of liquids in general B01D19/00; arrangement of degassing apparatus in boiler feed supply F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/34 with mechanical oscillations
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/68 by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water medicinal water A61K
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/685 Devices for dosing the additives
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/727 using pure oxygen or oxygen rich gas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/322 Volatile compounds, e.g. benzene
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 : Disinfection

Abstract

An irrigation system for supplying aerated water to plants includes a diffuser. Oxygen is diffused into water by the diffuser to generate aerated water. The aerated water is supplied to an irrigation device which supplies the aerated water to the plants.

Claims

1. An irrigation system for supplying aerated water to plants comprising:

a diffuser for diffusing oxygen into continuously streaming water, said diffusion of oxygen caused by disturbances created by a flow of the continuously streaming water through said diffuser;

an oxygen supply for supplying oxygen into said disturbances created by the flow of the continuously streaming water through said diffuser;

a water inlet for supplying the continuously streaming water to said diffuser; and

a water outlet for supplying aerated streaming water from said diffuser to an irrigation device.

2. The irrigation system of claim 1 wherein said diffuser further comprises a bubble diffuser membrane.

3. The irrigation system of claim 1 wherein said diffuser further comprises a venturi injector.

4. The irrigation system of claim 1 wherein said diffuser further comprises a stone wherein oxygen is bubbled through said stone.

5. The irrigation system of claim 2 wherein said oxygen is passed from a first side of the membrane through the membrane into water on a second side of the membrane.

6. The irrigation system of claim 1, further comprising a power source for supplying power to the diffuser.

7. The irrigation system of claim 6, wherein said power source is a portable generator.

8. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein said oxygen supply is an air compressor.

9. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein said oxygen supply is a pressure swing absorption unit.

10. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein said oxygen supply comprises a molecular sieve.

11. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein said oxygen supply comprises a membrane.

21. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein said irrigation device is a hydroponic chamber.

12. A method of supplying aerated water to plants comprising:

continuously streaming a constant flow of non-aerated water between an input of a diffuser and an output of the diffuser, said continuously streaming flow through the diffuser generating disturbances in the non-aerated water;

diffusing oxygen into the continuously streaming non-aerated water within the diffuser by supplying the oxygen into the disturbances formed by the flow of the continuously streaming flow through the diffuser to form aerated streaming water;

supplying the aerated streaming water to an irrigation device; and

irrigating plants with said aerated streaming water.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said diffusing is performed using a rotating diffuser.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said diffusing is performed using a bubble diffuser membrane.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said diffusing is performed using a venturi injector.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said diffusing comprises the step of bubbling oxygen through a stone.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said diffusing comprises the step of passing oxygen through a membrane into water.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein said irrigation device comprises a hydroponic chamber.

18. A irrigation system for providing oxygenated water comprising:

a water supply;

an oxygen supply;

a diffuser, including an inlet for receiving non-oxygenated water and an outlet for providing oxygenated water, for diffusing oxygen from said oxygen supply into continuously streaming water from said water supply to create the oxygenated streaming water, wherein a flow of said continuously streaming water through said diffuser creates disturbances within the continuously streaming water for diffusing the oxygen into the continuously streaming water to create the oxygenated water; and

an irrigation device;

wherein said oxygenated water streams from said diffuser to said irrigation device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said oxygen supply is a pressure swing absorption unit.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said diffuser comprises a venturi injector.

23. The irrigation system of claim 18, wherein said irrigation device comprises a hydroponic chamber.