Method and system for disinfection and aeration of soil

• US 7,513,077 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PDT Agro, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: PDT Agro, Ltd.
• Inventors: Fridman, Igor
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad; Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US11/560,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20080115410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 47/10.1 R, 47/14.2, 47/14.4, 47/581.R, 47/581.SC, 479/05, 47D/IG.8, 47D/IG.9, 47D/IG.10, 47D/IG.12
• US Class Current: 47/1.01R
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 77/00 Machines for lifting and treating soil biocides, pest repellants or attractants, plant growth regulators A01N25/00 - A01N65/00; fertilisers C05; soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 11/00 Sterilising soil by steam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/10 Physical and chemical treatment of agricultural soils
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/12 Sonic or ultrasonic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/905 To remediate contaminated soil

Abstract

A method and a system for soil disinfection and aeration by generating shock waves and a flow of detonation products on soil particles. The system includes a combustion chamber having an input port for supplying a predetermined air-fuel mixture to the combustion chamber. An igniter for igniting the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Means for shifting soil particles into an internal space where shock waves propagate. Rotovator which has rotary blades crumbles soil and shifts soil particles into the internal space of the rotovator. A flame arrester is attached between an air-fuel supply line and the input port. An outlet nozzle increases pressure of the detonation wave and thereby increases the pressure of shock waves and the velocity of detonation products A reflecting plate operates to reflect shock waves after the shock waves pass the soil particles Soil particles receive an additional impact during collision with the reflector plate. The system may be connected and pulled by a mode of transportation used in agriculture, such as a tractor, to efficiently disinfect large areas of soil.

Claims

1. In a system for disinfection and aeration of soil, a method comprising the steps of:

(a) supplying a predetermined air-fuel mixture to a combustion chamber, said combustion chamber having an input port; and

(b) igniting said air-fuel mixture in said combustion chamber said igniting causing a detonation thereby generating detonation products and shock waves; and

(c) shifting particles of the soil into a space, wherein said shock waves propagate into said space and impinge on said particles and detonation products contact said soil particles.

2. The method, according to claim 1, whereby temperature and pressure applied to said particles of the soil is increased.

3. The method, according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(d) upon said shock waves passing though said space, reflecting said shock waves back though said space.

4. The method, according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, and prior to said shifting particles:

(d) cultivating soil by rotary blades, whereby said cultivating breaks said particles of the soil into smaller particles.

5. The method, according to claim 1, wherein said detonation products and said soil particles interact and create a drag effect, wherein a flow of said soil particles flows towards a reflecting plate resulting in a high impact between the soil particles and the reflecting plate.

6. A system for soil disinfection and aeration, the system comprising:

(a) a combustion chamber including an input port for supplying a predetermined air-fuel mixture to the combustion chamber;

(b) an igniter for igniting said air-fuel mixture in said combustion chamber, said igniting causing detonation thereby generating shock waves; and

(c) means for shifting soil particles into an internal space, wherein said shock waves propagate into said internal space and said detonation products contact said soil particles.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

(d) a rotovator having rotary blades for crumbling soil and shifting soil particles into said internal space of said rotovator.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

(d) a flame arrester attached between an air-fuel supply line supplying said air-fuel mixture, said flame arrester operative to prevent backfire from said combustion chamber to said air-fuel supply line.

9. The system, according to claim 8, wherein said flame arrester allows operating with high sequence of detonation pulses.

10. The system, according to claim 8, wherein said flame arrester includes channels of diameter less than two millimeter and of length greater than sixty millimeters.

11. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

(d) an outlet nozzle operative to increase pressure of the shock waves and the velocity of detonation products.

12. The system, according to claim 11 wherein said outlet nozzle is operative to increase detonation wave pressure thereby influencing at least one parameter of the shock wave.

13. The system for soil disinfection and aeration according to claim 6, the system further comprising:

(d) a reflecting plate operative to provide a collision surface against which said soil particles collide and to reflect said shock waves after said shock waves pass through said soil particles.

14. The system, according to claim 13, wherein said reflecting plate is positioned opposite exit from said combustion chamber.

15. The system, according to claim 6, is connected and pulled by means of a transportation means used in agriculture.