System for the disinfection of agricultural soil

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10602734-B2
Application number	US-201715999294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2017
Priority date	Feb 18, 2016
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

System for the disinfection of agricultural soil includes an electric energy source, at least one radiofrequency or microwave generator connected to the electric energy source and arranged to convert the electric energy into electromagnetic power and a plow-like electromagnetic applicator connected to the radiofrequency or microwave generator via wave-guiding lines, the plow-like electromagnetic applicator being arranged to be inserted into the soil so as to transmit the electromagnetic power to the soil, thus obtaining a disinfection of the soil.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for the disinfection of agricultural soil comprising:
an electric energy source;
at least one radiofrequency or microwave generator connected to the electric energy source and arranged to convert the electric energy into electromagnetic power;
a plow shaped electromagnetic applicator connected to the at least one radiofrequency or microwave generator via wave-guiding lines, said plow shaped electromagnetic applicator being arranged to be inserted into the agricultural soil so as to transmit the electromagnetic power to the agricultural soil, thus obtaining a disinfection of the agricultural soil;
a cooling system arranged to recover heat produced by the at least one radiofrequency or microwave generator during the generation of electromagnetic power;
a steam generator connected to the cooling system and arranged to generate steam;
at least one pipe connected to the steam generator and arranged to be inserted into the agricultural soil so as to allow the steam to be transferred from the steam generator into the agricultural soil.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electric energy source comprises a fuel tank and an electrical generator connected to the fuel tank and arranged to generate electrical power by using the fuel contained in the fuel tank.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric energy source comprises an electricity network.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wave-guiding lines are metal hollow or coaxial waveguides.

5. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of radiofrequency or microwave generators and a plurality of plow shaped electromagnetic applicators, each plow shaped electromagnetic applicator being associated to a respective radiofrequency or microwave generator.

6. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of plow shaped electromagnetic applicators connected to the at least one radiofrequency or microwave generator.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein a further tank is used to provide fuel for the steam generation.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plow shaped electromagnetic applicator comprises:
dielectric walls arranged to maximize the electromagnetic power transmission into the agricultural soil and minimize electromagnetic power backward reflection;
a chisel arranged to facilitate the penetration of the plow shaped electromagnetic applicator into the agricultural soil.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible wire mesh arranged to be positioned on a surface of the agricultural soil and be attached to the wave-guiding lines so as to act as a shield to prevent leakage of the electromagnetic power outside the agricultural soil.

Assignees

• Torino Politecnico

Inventors

• Vecchi Giuseppe
• Dassano Gianluca
• Giordanengo Giorgio

Classifications

• A01M21/046

  by electricity · CPC title

• A01B47/00

  Soil-working with electric potential applied between tools and soil · CPC title

• A01M19/00

  Apparatus for the destruction of noxious animals, other than insects, by hot water, steam, hot air, or electricity {(electric traps A01M23/38)} · CPC title

• A01G11/00

  Sterilising soil by steam · CPC title

• A01M17/00 Primary

  Apparatus for the destruction of vermin in soil or in foodstuffs {(injecting fertilisers into the roots of trees A01G29/00)} · CPC title