Patent Application
20120261271
The field of the present invention relates to electrochemical systems, especially those which produce nitrogen-rich water economically.
The present application claims priority of Jordanian patent application No. 126/2011 filed on 14 Apr. 2011.
Nitrogen-containing plant fertilizers are essential for a healthy plant growth; since nitrogen is crucial nutrient of plants and forms a part of their constituents.
For this reason, numerous conventional systems and methods for the production of Nitrogen-containing fertilizers have been presented in the prior art.
Among these conventional solutions, a method to simulate lightning by using high-voltage discharge and electrostatic discharge effect is disclosed. In such method, the oxygen and nitrogen in air are compounded with each other and then sufficiently mixed with and dissolved in atomized water drops to generate nitric acid.
Another conventional solution discloses a portable, self-contained system for producing nitric acid from a supply of electricity and water, such system incorporates a nitrogen generating unit including a cabinet enclosing a manifold defining a plurality of series connected air combustion chambers each having one electrode concentric within a restricting orifice defined by a second electrode. The unit also includes an air compressor for supplying air which spirals through each combustion chamber to rotate the arc within the orifice, and each combustion chamber is exposed for viewing through a corresponding lens. The system also incorporates a liquid fertilizer generator unit including a closed plastic tank containing water and a submersible pump which re-circulates the water through an aspirator where nitrogen gas is introduced into the water and then through a long plastic absorption tube coiled within the tank. The compressor also supplies additional oxygen to the tank for further converting nitrous oxide to nitric acid.
The disclosed methods and systems found in the prior art have to be modified and enhanced in order to produce nitrogen-based fertilizer practically, efficiently, and economically with simpler and easier methods; wherein the user can control the concentration of such fertilizer upon his need.
The present invention provides a nitrogen-rich water production system; wherein such system uses electricity, air, and water in order to produce nitrogen dissolved in water.
The system of the present invention comprises a source of water vapor; an air pump; a source of high potential difference; an electrochemical reaction chamber comprising an inlet, two electrical conducting plates placed parallel to each other with an air gap between them, means for adjusting such air gap between said electrical conducting plates, a plate of a non electrical conductive material placed perpendicularly to the direction of the cross-sectional area of said electrical conducting plates, and two outlets. The system of the present invention further comprises a chemical reaction chamber connected to one of said electrochemical reaction chamber's outlets comprising an inlet, a source of atomized water, an outlet; a flask; and a plurality of valves.
In the system of the present invention, fresh air is mixed with water vapor and are propelled inside an electrochemical reaction chamber by means of said air pump and said source of water vapor, then, such mixture of air and water vapor is passed between said two electricity conductive plates after applying high potential difference to such plates, and finally, such mixture of air and water vapor after passing through said electrochemical reaction chamber is further mixed with atomized water in said chemical reaction chamber in order to produce water rich in nitrogen.
As a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a Nitrogen-rich water production system comprising a source of water vapor or steam; a source of fresh air; an electrochemical reaction chamber, wherein such chamber comprises of a plurality of similar electrical conductive plates in an adjustable spaced relationship defining a space therebetween; an electrical non-conductive plate; a source of high potential difference; a chemical reaction chamber; a source of atomized water or water shower; a reservoir; a plurality of valves; and means for adjusting the dimensions of said gap between said electrical conductive plates.
As a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for producing Nitrogen-rich water using a source of water vapor, fresh air and atomized water or water shower, the method comprising:
Preferably, the source of water vapor or steam comprises a mystifier.
Preferably, the source of fresh air comprises an air pump.
Preferably, the system is configured to enable fresh air and water vapor or steam to be mixed together before entering said electrochemical reaction chamber.
Preferably, the electrochemical reaction chamber is configured to break the strong bonds between the Nitrogen atoms in the air as well as the bonds between Hydrogen and Oxygen in the water.
Preferably, the electrochemical reaction chamber comprises one inlet, and two outlets.
Preferably, the number of said electrical conductive plates is two, and wherein such plates are arranged opposite and parallel to each other with an air gap between them.
Preferably, the electrical conductive plates are made of any electrical conductive material in solid state, preferably Copper alloy.
Preferably, the cross-section of said similar electrical conductive plates is regular shaped, preferably rectangular.
Preferably, the electrical non-conductive plate is made of any electrical non-conductive material in solid state.
Preferably, the cross-section of said electrical non-conductive plate is regular shaped, preferably rectangular.
Preferably, the source of high potential difference is configured to appliey high potential difference on said electrical conductive plates.
Preferably, the chemical reaction chamber comprises two inlets, an upper outlet, and a lower outlet.
Preferably, each one of said chemical reaction chamber inlets is connected to one of said electrochemical reaction chamber outlets.
Preferably, said upper outlet is configured to exhaust said unwanted gases from said chemical reaction chamber.
Preferably, the source of atomized water or water shower is configured to produce atomized water particles or water showers inside said chemical reaction chamber for dissolving the mixture of air and steam entering said chemical reaction chamber via said chemical chamber inlet to produce Nitrogen-rich water.
Preferably, the reservoir is configured to collect the resulted nitrogen-rich water leaving said chemical reaction chamber lower outlet in it.
Preferably, the valves control the flow rate and the quantity of materials entering and leaving said system.
Preferably, the system further comprising power screws for adjusting the dimensions of said space between said electrical conductive plates.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention without restricting the scope of the invention, and in which:
The electrochemical reaction chamber also comprises a non-electrical conductive plate 31 placed perpendicularly to the cross-sectional direction of said electrical conductive plates 30, wherein such plate 31 is made of any non-electrical conductive material and has a regular shaped cross-section preferably rectangular; an inlet 3a; two outlets 3b and 3c; and means for adjusting said air gap between said electrical conductive plates 4 such as power screws.
The system of the present invention also comprises a chemical reaction chamber comprising two inlets 5a and 5b, wherein such inlet 5a is connected to said electrochemical reaction chamber outlet 3b by means of pipes, and wherein said inlet 5b is connected to said electrochemical reaction chamber outlet 3c; and two outlets 5c and 5d, wherein said outlet 5c is connected to a reservoir 6, and wherein unwanted gases leave said chemical reaction chamber through the outlet 5d. Said reservoir 6 is used to collect the produced Nitrogen-rich water that is considered as a fertilizer and can be used to irrigate plants, and ammonium containing compounds leave said electrochemical reaction chamber 3 through said outlet 3c and enter said chemical reaction chamber through said inlet 5b.
The chemical reaction chamber 5 also comprises a source of atomized water 7 or a water shower, wherein such atomized water or water showers dissolve the said mixture of air and water vapor leaving said electrochemical reaction chamber 3 in order to produce Nitrogen-rich water.
The system of the present invention further comprises a plurality of valves 8a, 8b, and 8c, wherein valve 8a controls the amount of said fresh air flowing throughout the components of the present system, valve 8b controls the flow of water vapor that is being mixed by said fresh air before entering said electrochemical reaction chamber 3, and wherein valve 8c controls the flow of unwanted gases leaving the system via said outlet 5c.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said source of water vapor 1 generates water vapor, and said air pump 2 propels fresh air; wherein such water vapor and fresh air are mixed together before entering said to electrochemical reaction chamber 3 through said inlet 3a.
When said mixture of water vapor and air enters said electrochemical reaction chamber 3, the electrochemical reaction is initiated by said high potential difference applied to said similar two electrical conductive parallel plates 30, wherein such electrochemical reaction chamber 3 breaks the strong bonds between the Nitrogen atoms in the air as well as the bonds between Hydrogen and Oxygen in the water, with the abundance of Nitrogen atoms compared to that of Oxygen, the released Oxygen atoms will help increase the efficiency of the oxidization process of Nitrogen while the released Hydrogen atoms will react with Nitrogen to form ammonium.
Finally, air leaving said electrochemical reaction chamber 3 through said outlet 3b and 3c enters said chemical reaction chamber 5 through said inlets 5a and 5b, wherein such air entering through 5a and 5b is dissolved in atomized water particles or water showers produced from said source of atomized water or water shower 7 in said chemical reaction chamber 5, thus producing Nitrogen-rich water, wherein such liquid water is collected in said chemical reaction chamber 5 and drained in said reservoir 6 through said outlet 5c. At the same time, unwanted gases leave said chemical reaction chamber through said outlet 5d when said valve 8c is opened.
The internal design and dimensions of said system play an important role in its efficiency, thus, in a lab-scale prototype of the preferred embodiment, said similar electrical conductive plates 30 are made of Copper alloy having a width of 5 cm, a height of 3 cm, and a thickness of 0.2 cm; wherein the air gap between such plates is 2 cm.
The value of the applied potential difference to said electrical conductive plates is 15 kV at a frequency of 240 Hz while maintaining the polarity of the plates. Taking into consideration that said values and dimensions may be scalable according to the size and the productivity rate of said system.
The distances between said similar conductive plates 30 are adjustable by said plurality of power screws 4; wherein the adjustments of such distances control the concentration of the Nitrogen content in water depending on the user's need.
Said high potential difference can be obtained by using an induction coil and a simple electronic control circuit.
While the invention has been described in details and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skill in the art that various additions, omissions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
Although the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention but is merely representative of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. The embodiment(s) of the invention described above is(are) intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 126/2011 | Apr 2011 | JO | national |
