Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A METHOD OF IMPROVING GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF SOIL BY
RECYCLING EXHAUST EMISSIONS OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION
ENGINE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refates to an exhaust emissions recycling
system for recycling emissions from an internal combustion engine, and more
particularly relates to a bioactive recycling method and the equipment
therefore for
incorporating green house gases and emissions into agricultural soils to
provide
plant nutrients and improvement growth characteristics of the soif.
BACKGROUND
Agriculture is a large consumer of hydrocarbons fuels and fertilizers.
Conversions range around 20 calories to produce 1 calorie of food. The use of
industrial fixed fertilizers has and will increase yields at a high energy
cost. This
inhibits the natural plant micro flora CO2 relationship causing the plants to
rely
more on the appfied fertilizers which causes imbalances in nutrient uptake and
a
plant's ability to control chloride uptake and pH balance. Bioactivity within
the soil
environment is limited by the lack of C02, NO2 and SO2. Micro-organisms use
these compounds as an energy source to digest organic matter, dissolve
minerals
and fix N2 from the air, breaking the N-N bond and making available various
forms
of nitrogen to plants.
This bioactivity is inhibited when large amounts of ammonium
fertilizer are applied to the soil. Ammonium uptake by the roots causes the
roots to
use the CO2 from photosynthesis to make urea before transporting nitrogen to
the
shoots. Excess hydrogen, leftover from ammonium and carbohydrates forming
urea, is secreted by the roots instead of CO2 that can feed bioactivity in the
soif.
Excess hydrogen makes the root zone acidic, causing problems with root growth
and nutrient up take. This condition is worse in low pH soils, but can help in
high
pH soils if ammonium could be kept from volatilization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention assists in short circuiting the carbon and
nitrogen cycle by directly incorporating emissions into the soil structure
with
minimal emissions escaping directly into the atmosphere.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method of improving growth characteristics of a soil, the method comprising:
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operating an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust
emissions;
incorporating the exhaust emissions into the sorl; and
increasing aerobic bacteria content in the soil by adding an oxidising
agent to fuel of the internal combustion engine.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of improving growth characteristics of a soil, the method
comprising:
operating an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust
emissions;
incorporating the exhaust emissions into the soil; and
increasing NOX content in the soil by adding a catalyst to the soil with
the exhaust emissions.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided
a method of improving growth characteristics of a soil, the method comprising:
operating an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust
emissions;
incorporating the exhaust emissions into the soil; and
increasing NOX content in the soil by passing the exhaust emissions
through an afterburner operating at a temperature greater than 1900 degrees
Kelvin prior to incorporating the exhaust emissions into the soil.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of improving growth characteristics of a soil, the method
comprising:
operating an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust
emissions; collecting condensate from the exhaust emissions in a condensate
tank;
culturing micro-organisms including aerobic bacteria in the
condensate tank which feed on exhaust emissions in the collected condensate;
and
incorporating the cultured micro-organisms into the soil.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a
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method of improving growth characteristics of a soil, the method comprising:
operating an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust
emissions;
incorporating the exhaust emissions into the soil; and
drawing the exhaust emissions from the internal combustion engine
into a suction side of a blower and distributing the exhaust emissions under
pressure from a pressure side of the blower when incorporating the exhaust
emissions into the soil.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided
a method of improving growth characteristics of a soil, the method comprising:
operating an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust
emissions;
incorporating the exhaust emissions into the soil; and
distributing the exhaust emissions through plastic distribution hoses
of an agricultural seeding implement when incorporating the exhaust emissions
into the soil; and
cooling the exhaust emissions prior to distributing the exhaust
emissions through the plastic distribution hoses.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of decomposing organic matter comprising:
operating an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust
emissions; and
mixing the exhaust emissions into the organic matter.
The methods disclosed herein may be combined and may also
include any one of the following: injecting steam into the exhaust emissions;
injecting ozone enriched air into the exhaust emissions; adding gases formed
by
electrolysis of water to the exhaust emissions; and/or oxidizing a metal using
steam and incorporating oxidized metal into the soil with the exhaust gases.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
there is provided an emissions recycling system for use with a towing vehicle
having an internal combustion engine and an agricultural implement for being
towed by the towing vehicle, the agricultural implement having a plurality of
ground
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working tools for working the ground as the agricultural implement is towed
across
the ground; the system comprising:
an after burner mounted in the exhaust system directly after the turbo
or exhaust manifolds with controlled air fuel ratio to raise the exhaust
temperature
above 2000k because as temperature goes up more NOX is produced;
an exhaust collector for collecting exhaust emissions from the
internal combustion engine of the towing vehicle;
an exhaust distribution system for injecting at least a portion of the
exhaust emissions collected by the exhaust collector into the ground worked by
the
ground working tools of the agricultural implement; and
a biological culturing tank that receives condensate from the collector
and a distribution fan so that the condensate from the emissions feed the
culture in
the tank so that they reproduce rapidly and amino acids, enzymes, bacteria and
fungi are produced;
the tank being arranged such that as condensate is added to the
tank, an equal amount of cultured product is removed from the tank and applied
to
the soil, increasing the microbial population to assist the indigenous soil
micro
organisms in bioactivation of the applied emissions.
Bioactivity within the soil's micro flora consumes the greenhouse gas
and emissions to enrich the fertility of the soil. When greenhouse gas and
emissions are incorporated into agricultural soils, the bioactivity is
increased
mainly by the extra CO2 available to the micro flora.
When incorporated emissions that are conditioned to match the soil
pH and plant needs, the plant can grow with better nitrogen use efficiency and
nutrient extraction from the soil naturally by greater bioactivity within the
soil. An
abundance of COZ is present to overcome the major limiting factor for free
living
nitrogen fixing bacteria.
When the plant uses nitrogen that has gone through the bioactivity
cycle from emissions, or from free living nitrogen fixing bacteria that get
their
energy from the CO2 in the emissions to fix nitrogen from the air, this
natural plant
feeding form of nitrogen takes the form of NO3. When the roots take in NO3,
the
energy cost of CO2 is low as NO3 is transported in association with potassium
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leaving the CO2 to be secreted as root exudates to feed associated bacteria
and
fungi that in return feed back photo hormones and nutrients dissolved by
secretions. The roots are not over loaded by hydrogen so pH is more balanced.
NO3- is an anion and NH4+ is a cat ion. Nitrogen is the largest element taken
up
5 from the soil. This balance of cat ion and anion uptake can affect the
plant's cat
ion nutrient up take depending on soil pH and nutrient balances. Even plant
types
and genetic strains within plant types will grow to their full genetic
potential by
matching their preferred cat ion and anion balance to match the surrounding
environment.
To overcome this complex balancing act the emissions conditioning
chamber can be controlled by a computer that is programmed to plant type, soil
type and environment with GPS and map production history. The emissions can
be altered to maximize the genetic potential of the crop as the tractor is
doing the
tillage or seeding operation. This chemistry altering system controlled by the
agronomic computer can alter the NO, produced by the engine, splitting the N2
nitrogen in the air used for combustion. NO, production can be maximized by
high
temperatures, high compression fuel types, high or low sulphur content fuels
for
soil pH balance, or engine design. Adding or injecting a fuel additive that
works as
a catalyst in the flame of the combustion cycle produces more NOx. The
nitrogen
molecules can be oxidized or hydrogenised within the emission conditioning
chamber to emit NO3- or NH4+ or a mixture of the two.
The oxidation is achieved by injecting oxygen rich air from an
alternator, generator or a high voltage ark at prescribed locations and
temperatures within the chamber. The hydrogenation of the nitrogen can be
increased by producing hydrogen within the chamber by circulating steam over
the
glowing hot iron or a mixture of metals to be oxidized, and releasing hydrogen
near
the exhaust manifold extending into the conditioning chamber, or by
electrolysis of
water. This electrolysis can be used to oxidize micro nutrients to help as a
catalyst
within the chamber or to add micronutrients to the soil. The hydrogen is used
to
hydrogenise the nitrogen.
A catalyst and or a catalytic converter can be used at various
locations in the system to speed up desired chemistry. The altering of the
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emissions could be fixed or the onboard agronomic computer can alter the
chemistry on the go by sensing soil types past production and using GPS to
make
an emission fertilizer tailor made to maximize genetic potential of the crop
growing
at that specific site in the field. Some agricultural landscapes can have a
large
variation in soil types and can be the production limiting factor.
To help overcome this challenge the onboard agronomic computer
can select from a selection of 2 or more seed genetics and seed rates to match
the
soil's ability to yield its maximum potential. For example, on hilly land with
sandy
hill tops having high pH, low spots with low pH and salty areas, the computer
would select a drought resistant variety for hilltops while switching the fuel
to a
high sulphur content to lower the pH. Nitrogen would be best in the form of
NH4+
to help acidify the root zone. In the low land, a lodge resistant, low pH
variety is
preferred while the emissions would switch to a NO3 form of nitrogen with a
low
sulphur content fuel and oxidize copper with electrolysis. In salty areas, a
variety
is selected that resists salt uptake, and emissions could be a mixture of NO3
and
NH4 with high sulphur content fuel.
The ground speed could be reduced to condition the salty soil with
more bioactive emissions as CO2 would help restore a bacteria presence in the
soil to interact with the plants. The GPS and field mapping would interact
when
tilling multiple times and when seeding, the seeding equipment would be able
to
hold multiple varieties and vary the seed rates. Alternatively, it could be a
one
pass operation involving tilling, seeding, and bioactive recycling of
emissions to
maximize production with low emissions capturing all the energy and plant
nutrition
from the hydrocarbon fuel.
As described herein, an agricultural tractor, used for tilling or
incorporating seed into the soil or the like, burns a hydrocarbon fuel at
optimum
stoichiometric ratio, emitting C02, NOz, and SOZ and other emissions into an
emissions conditioning exhaust chamber.
A steam pressure chamber surrounds the conditioning chamber.
Water is injected into the chamber. As the water boils it removes heat from
the
exhaust stream creating pressure in the boiler chamber which injects the steam
into the exhaust conditioning chamber near the exhaust manifold where a
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replaceable cast iron pipe glows red hot. As steam passes around the iron, the
oxygen in the steam oxidizes the cast iron, releasing hydrogen that will
hydrogenate the free N molecules to form NH4. Other metals can be used to
provide micronutrients as needed.
A recirculation water injection system is located within the
conditioning chamber at various locations to react with emissions for desired
chemical reactions and to produce steam that will mix with the emissions to
condition and react to make desirable chemistry to match soil, micro flora and
plant
needs.
An oxygen rich air injection system is located at various locations and
temperatures to oxidize the free N molecules to form NO3. High voltage
electrodes
and electromagnetic fields aid in the chemical reactions.
A water electrolysis system produces oxygen and hydrogen, for use
directly or to oxidize metals into micro nutrients for soil and crop
requirements, or
to be a catalyst in the conditioning chamber.
A catalytic converter is coupled to an inlet of the exhaust conditioning
chamber using various catalysts depending on fuel type or chemical reactions
required.
The exhaust distribution system is provided to mount on the
agricultural tillage or seeding equipment attached to the tractors exhaust
conditioning chamber, via a flex hose.
A distribution injection fan, run with a hydraulic orbit motor, maintains
exhaust flow with no back presser on the exhaust system.
A condensed water return line from the injection fan conserves water
as water is transported with the equipment in a large tank, and only steam
with the
conditioned emissions are injected into the soil.
A injection network of flexible steam hoses is used which can
withstand steam up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit or 230 degrees Celsius. The hoses
are connected to the tillage points under the soil. As the soil is fractured
and
loosened the steam and conditioned emissions are injected into the furrows
formed and trapped below the surface of the soil to become bioactive. The
distribution system of hoses is sized to match the volume of the emissions
flow.
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A computer manages the many chemical reactions to produce the
most beneficial bioactive emissions matching soil type and plant genetic
requirements responding to GPS and crop mappings.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of decomposing organic matter comprising:
operating an internai combustion engine to produce exhaust
emissions; and
mixing the exhaust emissions into the organic matter.
When the internal combustion engine comprises part of a grain
harvester including a straw chopper and the organic matter comprises straw,
the
method may include mixing the exhaust emissions with the straw in the straw
chopper.
When the internal combustion engine comprises part of a lawn
mower including a mulching deck and the organic matter comprises grass, the
method may include mixing the exhaust emissions with the grass in the mulching
deck.
When the internal combustion engine comprises part of compost
mixing equipment and the organic matter comprises compost, the method may
include mixing the exhaust emissions with the compost using the compost mixing
equipment.
When the internal combustion engine comprises part of a liquid
waste management equipment and the organic matter comprises organic liquid
waste, the method may include mixing the exhaust emissions with the organic
liquid waster managed by the liquid waste management equipment.
When the internal combustion engine comprises part of a forage
chopper and the organic matter comprises forage being chopped, the method may
include mixing the exhaust emissions with the forage being chopped by the
forage
chopper.
Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic view of emissions recycling system in which
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bioactive emissions are incorporated into agricultural top soil.
Figure 2 is a flow chart diagram illustrating the method in which
internal combustion engine emissions become broactrve when they are
incorporated into the topsoil.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated an
emissions recycling system generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The
recycling system is designed to condition emissions in the emissions
conditioning
chamber 14. Internal combustion engine emissions and green house gases such
as C02, NOx, and SOx can be chemically and catalytically conditioned and
cooled
to match the plant soil micro flora and micro fauna needs.
The system 10 includes an agricultural tractor or the like with an
internal combustion engine 12 operating at optimum stoichiometric ratio to
break
the N2 bonds and achieve complete combustion. As a result, all hydrocarbons
are
burned, releasing all the energy of the fue! to provide kinetic energy to
till, seed or
rotor till the soil or implement of the like 54 that fractures the soil. This
allows the
emissions to be buried or well mixed into the soil structure, becoming
bioactive
with the micro flora 64 bacteria, fungi, and micro-organisms that in return
release
nutrients from the soil organic matter and minerals. Free living bacteria 64
bio-
activate 20 CO2 and fix N2 from the air to make plant usable nitrogen. The
catalyst
that makes this happen is molybdenum that may need to be app(ied with
emissions if the fuel source 22 does not contain sulphur, molybdenum as a
(ubricant. Two types of fuel could be used and chosen to best suit the soil as
sulphur lowers pH and helps salt resistance, but on low pH soil, a low sulphur
fuel
would be burnt as determined by the agronomic computer 66 to avoid further
acidification of the soil.
The bioactive emissions recycling system 10 includes an emissions
conditioning chamber 14 that is connected to the exhaust manifold. As the
exhaust gasses pass through the chamber, various chemical reactions can be
controlled to atter emissions to best suit the p4ant's soil type, pH and micro
flora
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that bio-activate 20 the emissions hydrogen conditioning 30 and oxygen
conditioning 40.
The N molecules will combine with hydrogen or oxygen making a cat
ion (+) or an anion (-). Multiple compartment water tanks 24 and 26 store and
5 reuse water at lower pH levels to aid in chemical reactions. The water makes
steam in the boiler chamber 34 to be injected at various locations in the
chamber.
Hydrogen conditioning 30 starts at the exhaust martiifo4d 32, which is
the hottest location to oxidize metals with steam injection. At the point of
glowing
hot metals, the oxygen oxidizes the metals, breaking the H20 bond, thus
freeing
10 hydrogen to combine with the N molecules as NH4. The replaceable metal
pipes
33 will oxidize away as the micronutrients including copper, zinc, nickel, and
iron
are beneficial to the soil. If lacking, the steam chamber 34 removes the heat
from
the conditioning chamber that creates steam pressure to inject steam into the
chamber 14. Hydrogen can be released by electrolysis of acidic water 36, or
recirculation of condensate within the chamber or from a distribution fan 52.
A
water return line 58 to the return storage tank 26 is used as the biological
culture
growing tank. As condensate is added the reproducing culture consumes the
elements from the emissions producing amino acids, enzymes, bacteria and
fungi.
This culture is applied to the soil on the go as it reproduces. Heat exchanger
38
and cooling fins can cool the chamber 14.
Oxygen conditioning can start in the exhaust manifold 32 to burn
unburned hydrocarbons or within a three stage catalytic converter 46. Air
injection
42 of 03, may be produced from an alternator or a generator high voltage arc.
Catalysts 46 are located in various locations to speed up reactions in the
chamber
14. The inside of the combustion chamber is impregnated with a ceramic parts
coating that helps the engine 12 withstand hotter exhaust temperatures.
Electromagnetic fields, a cathode and an anode in the water tank make water
favour hydrogen at the cathode outlet 28 connected to the negative terminal of
the
battery 27 or oxygen at the anode outlet 29 connected to the positive terminal
of
the battery 27.
A distribution system 50 is retrofitted to tillage equipment 54 or the
like by distribution hoses 56 which withstand up to 450 degrees F or 230
degrees
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Celsius of steam. Otherwise a heat exchanger 38, or any other form of cooling
mechanism, is used to remove heat from the hoses 56 which are connected to the
tillage points to incorporate all the emissions into the soil structure. In
other
embodiments, the emissions are distributed into a rotor tiller hood or a lawn
mower
deck to be well mixed into the soil or grass mulch.
The distribution fan 52 maintains air flow in the system is to avoid
back pressure on the engine.
Soil 60 can vary in pH, and have excessive or lacking elements. The
plants 62 adapt to the soil chemistry. Micro-organisms 64 bio-activate the
emissions. Certain micro-organisms live off of the emissions and feed back the
nutrients that they have bio-activated 20 back to the plants 62 when they die.
To
manage the many variable requirements of the soil 60, the plants 62 and the
micro-organisms 64, an agronomic computer 66 alters the emissions to best meet
the soil micro-organisms and crop needs.
As described herein, a bioactive recycling system uses the micro
flora such as bacteria, fungi and organisms that are naturally with in the
soil of a
typical agricultura! landscape. This bioactivity within the soil structure
consumes
the greenhouse gases and emissions from the hydrocarbons that are burnt at
optimum stoichiometric ratio combustion in an agricultural tractor that is
tilling or
incorporating seed into the soil. Limited availability of C02, NO2 and SO2 can
be a
limiting factor of bioactivity with in the soil structure. Plants and micro
flora use
these emissions as an energy source to assist in the cycle of plant nutrients.
For
example, free-living-nitrogen-fixing organism's ability to fix N2 from air
within the
soil structure is limited by the demand on CO2 as plants and their root's
associated
micro flora get first chance at the COz from photosynthesis. This shortage is
greater when applied fertilizer's ammonium is taken up by the roots as CO2 has
to
combine with the ammonia as urea is transported to the shoots. This CO2
consumption takes energy from the plant which causes a CO2 shortage at the
roots instead of CO2 which exudates. Hydrogen from the roots has to be
secreted
causing problems with pH balance, nutrient uptake and root growth.
NOx emissions recycled into the soil are consumed by nitrobacteria
in various oxidations to NO3 as an energy source. Uptake by the roots of N03
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allows the plant to secrete CO2 for its roots to feed associated root
bacteria. In
return, the bacteria feeds back photo hormones CYT, IAA and GA back to the
plant. Less hydrogen has to be secreted from the roots, thus balancing pH,
increasing efficiency of nitrogen use, and improving nutrient extraction by
fungi to
root associations. Any leftover CO2 goes to free-living bacteria that fix N2
from the
air in the soil.
SO2 emissions are useful to balance pH as it is oxidized by bacteria
for plant uptake and salt tolerance. The complexities of the soil and plant
requirements can be matched by the chemistry altering methods with in the
exhaust conditioning system. These methods include selecting a type of fuel
which has either a high or low sulphur content, varying fuel combustion
temperature, varying catalytic chemistry, providing electrolysis to oxidize
micro
nutrients, producing hydrogen from glowing hot cast iron with steam
circulation in
the conditioning chamber, or providing air with ozone rich oxygen from an
alternator, generator or high voltage arc injected for oxidation. The method
has no
need to scrub out the emissions or add binders that tie up or store them for
disposal. The complete exhaust stream is placed below the soil surface as the
tractor and equipment are tilling the soil or incorporating seed within the
soil, so as
to release minimal emissions to the atmosphere as conditioned emissions are
altered to be chemically bioactive within the soil profile to maximize plant
growth
and shorten the C02, NO2, SO2 emissions cycle.
The bioactive emissions recycling process incorporates the
emissions from an internal combustion engine into the topsoil while the
agricultural
tractor is pulling the tillage or seeding equipment. The emissions become
bioactive by the micro flora of the soil as COZ, NOX, SOx and other emissions
are
consumed as an energy source while releasing plant usable nutrients or fixing
nitrogen from the air.
The system includes an emissions conditioning chamber for
collecting and receiving the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine
of the
tractor. Emissions from the internal combustion engine flow through the
chamber,
which conditions and alters the chemistry of the emissions to best suit the
plant
genetics, soil pH, salinity and the bioactive soil micro flora.
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Steam is injected into the chamber at various locations within the
chamber to release hydrogen. The steam can be directed near glowing hot iron
or
a combination of metals connected to the exhaust manifold. The oxygen oxidizes
the metal, releasing the hydrogen to react with the emissions. The oxidized
metal
is carried by the steam and emissions to mix with the soil. Steam is created
in a
heat transfer chamber around the conditioning chamber. The water is injected
into
the chamber and the heat that boils the water is removed from the emissions
gases to cool the exhaust flow before oxygen or air is injected. Hydrogen and
oxygen can be formed by electrolysis of water using a cathode and anode or
alternatively by passing protons through a member. Alternatively a catalyst or
an
electromagnetic field can be used to enhance conditioning of the emissions.
Air is injected into the chamber at various locations and can oxidize
the emissions to desirable forms of chemical reactions. Atmospheric air,
oxygen
enriched air from electrolysis, or 03 enriched air from an electronic device,
including an alternator or generator, may be used for injection. Air injection
is
performed at high heat locations or within the catalytic converter to burn
unburned
hydrocarbons and produce more COZ emissions. An after burne.r 50 with a
controlled air fuel ratio can raise the temperature above 2000k as temp goes
up
NOX levels go up. Air injection in the cooler locations unable to support
combustion
will aid in chemical reactions.
Water injection into the chamber is performed at various locations as
a carrier of dissolved elements to aid in conditioning the emissions and
assist in
the bioactivity in the soil. Nickel can be added to enhance NH4 metabolism,
molybdenum can be added to aid in NO3 metabolism and bacteria assist in N2
fixation. Water recirculation or recovery at the point of incorporation can
conserve
water use and aid in chemical reactions within the chamber. Low pH water will
release more hydrogen to make NH4. High pH water has less hydrogen and more
oxygen to make NO3.
Electromagnetic high voltage fields, high voltage carbon electrode
arcs, cathodes, anodes, electro negativity of elements and catalytic aid of
metals
can be used to speed up chemical reactions and can be located from the
combustion chamber to the point of emission incorporation into the soil.
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The emissions distribution system is mounted on the tillage or
seeding equipment via flex hoses from the emissions conditioning chamber. The
flex hoses comprise a network of heat resistant steam hoses that can withstand
a
maximum temperature of 450 F or 230 C. A distributor fan maintains air flow
and
lower back pressure on the exhaust system.
The flex hoses are connected to the tillage points under the soil. As
the soil is tilled and fractured, the steam and conditioned emissions fill the
air
spaces in the soil to become bioactive. When incorporating emissions through a
conventional air seeder, the exhaust temperature has to be cooled with a heat
exchanger to prevent heat damage to the air distribution system when
incorporating emissions. When using a rotor tiller, the emissions are injected
evenly inside the tiller hood. The emissions become well mixed into the soil.
Lawn
mower decks work well to incorporate the emissions into the lawn and
clippings.
As the steam from the emissions conditioning chamber contacts the clippings,
bioactivity is sped up to decay the clippings, thus recycling the nutrients
and
emission back to the lawn. Grain harvesters can apply emissions at a straw
chopper to speed up straw breakdown. Steam injection air to air cooler
prevents
fire. Forage choppers burning bio-diesel can use cooled emissions that form
urea
as a protein booster to improve feed value. Compost turning equipment will
speed
the compost by stimulating aerobic activity fuel additive and CO2 will
increase
aerobic to anaerobic ratio in closed or open compost systems. Liquid manure
lagoon agitation motors emissions can be incorporated at agitation time to
raise
carbon to nitrogen ratio and lower ammonia and sulphur smell.
Internal combustion engine modifications and adjustments to aid in
N2 conversion to NO,t include adjustments to ignition timing the maximum
advanced and grade of fuel to support advanced ignition timing. Diesel
injection
spray pattern split injection timing can be altered to increase NOX. A cooling
system thermostat needs to maintain maximum operating temperature. Antifreeze
that boils at a higher temperature should be used. Higher compression ratio or
use
of a turbo booster to raise combustion flame temperature is desirable. To
protect
engine internal parts to withstand the extreme heat, the parts can be
protected with
a coating of ceramic with a catalyst impregnation to speed up NOX production
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internally in the engine. Exhaust gas recirculation NOX control equipment
needs to
be disabled or removed as the NOX produced by internal combustion is now
capturing the energy released by the internal combustion. The NOx is bio-
activated by the soil bacteria converting the NOX into plant usable nitrogen.
5 As described herein the growth characteristics in soil which assist in
how well plants grow can be improved by various means when exhaust emissions
from an internal combustion engine is incorporated into the soil by tillage
equipment. The growth characteristics can be improved by increasing the
aerobic
bacteria content in the soil by adding an oxidizing agent to the fuel of the
engine or
10 by providing a culturing tank in which micro organisms which feed on
exhaust
emissions can be cultured for subsequent distribution or incorporation into
the soil
as well. The growth characteristics can also be improved by increasing NOx
content in the soil either by adding a catalyst to the soil with the exhaust
emissions
or by passing the exhaust emissions through an afterburner which elevates the
15 temperature of combustion to increase the NOx content in the exhaust
emissions
which are subsequently incorporated into the soil. The oxidizing agent which
is
added to the fuel as described herein may comprise any form of chemical
compound that readily gives up oxygen or a substance that gains electrons in a
redox chemical reaction. In doing so the oxidizing agent becomes reduced in
the
process. When adding an oxidizing agent, the computer 66 is arranged to
control
an amount of the oxidizing agent being added to the fuel responsive to
measured
growth characteristic of a sample of the soil which measures characteristics
such
as ph level and the like.
When adding a catalyst to increase the NOx content in the soil, the
catalyst may be added to seed which is to be planted into the soil or
altematively
the catalyst maybe added to the soil by adding to the fuel of the internal
combustion engine prior to combustion. The catalyst is selected from the group
including nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, chromium or iron and is characterized in
that
it can withstand the elevated temperatures of greater than 1900 degrees Kelvin
in
the afterburner while still having some useful effect as a catalyst when
injected into
the ground with the exhaust emissions after combustion. In addition to
catalysts
added to the fuel, pH level of the exhaust emissions can be adjusted by adding
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sulphur to the fuel of the internal combustion engine. The computer 66 in this
instance is arranged to control the amount of catalyst or sulphur which is
added
responsive to measured growth characteristics of a sample of the soil or in
response to measured conditions of the exhaust during operation.
The afterburner 50 can be used to increase the NOx content in the
soil by passing the exhaust emissions therethrough at an operating temperature
at
greater than 1900 degrees Kelvin prior to incorporating the exhaust emissions
into
the soil. At these temperatures additional reactions are encouraged which
would
not normally take place in a normally operating internal combustion engine.
The
afterburner receives both the exhaust emissions therethrough along with some
additional fuel and air to optimize the elevated operating temperature of the
afterburner. The fuel may comprise the same fuel as the tractor or other
equipment with which the internal combustion engine is associated, or may
comprise an alternative fuel, for example oils having more carbon in the form
of
longer chain carbon molecules which are heavier to increase carbon dioxide
production and to promote oxidizing metals. Desirable bacteria in the soil use
oxidized metals produced as a result of the heavier carbon fuels as an energy
source so that feeding the aerobic bacteria produces more plant nutrients
resulting
in more fertile soil.
The computer 66 in this instance is arranged to vary composition of
the exhaust emissions by varying operating temperature of either one of the
internal combustion engine or the afterburner. The computer is further
arranged to
control the amount of fuel or air added to the exhaust emissions at the
afterburner
and the ratio thereof prior to passing the exhaust emissions through the
afterburner in response to measuring both characteristics of the soil to
determine
what additional nutrients are most effective to be incorporated into the soil.
To be used either in combination with catalysts added to the fuel,
oxidizers added to the fuel, and an afterburner for elevating the operating
temperature of combustion of the exhaust emissions, the condensate tank 26
further improves the growth characteristics of the soil by increasing the
aerobic
bacteria content in the soil by culturing these bacteria along with any other
beneficial micro organisms including various fungi and the like. The bacteria
or
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other micro organisms cultured in the tank are typically not indigenous to the
soil
being improved to further enhance the benefits thereof.
The computer 66 in this instance controls operation of the tank by
maintaining the tank at a desired operating temperature to most encourage
production of bacteria or other micro organisms while also being_ arranged to
control the rates at which condensate is added and removed from the tank so
that
an equal amount of cultured bacteria and micro organisms is solution is
removed
and incorporated into the soil as the amount of new condensate with exhaust
emissions incorporated therein is introduced into the tank.
To further enhance the benefits noted above, the system includes a
suitable blower which draws exhaust emissions from the internal combustion
engine into a suction side of the blower and distributes the exhaust emissions
under pressure from the pressure side of the blower to optimize efficiency and
to
provide some control as to the rate at which exhaust emissions are
incorporated
into the soil. The computer 66 in this instance controls the rate of the
blower
responsive to the speed of internal combustion being displaced over the ground
in
the instance of agricultural equipment including tillage or seeding equipment
for
example. The rate of the blower accordingly is controlled responsive to
demands
for exhaust emissions incorporated into the soil.
When using an afterburner in particular or simply when feeding
exhaust emissions directly from internal combustion engine to a network of
distribution hoses for incorporation to the ground, for example the plastic
distribution hoses of an agricultural seeding implement, a cooler, comprising
is
provided in series with the exhaust emissions to cool the exhaust emissions
prior
to distributing them through the plastic hoses so that no modification to the
distribution equipment is required while still protecting any plastic parts
from
damage of excessive heat.
The system as described herein may also be used for other organic
matter other than simply incorporating the emissions into the soil, for
decomposing
the organic matter so it can then be used as an additive to soil. To encourage
decomposition of organic matter the internal combustion engine is again
operated
to produce exhaust emissions which are then in turn mixed into the organic
matter.
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When the internal combustion engine comprises part of a grain harvester having
a
straw chopper, the method includes mixing the exhaust emissions with the straw
in
the straw chopper to assist in the decomposition of the straw. Alternatively
when
the organic matter comprises grass which is cut by a mulching deck of a lawn
mower, exhaust emissions from the internal combustion engine of the mower can
be mixed with the grass in the mulching deck to assist in its decomposition.
Emissions from an internal combustion engine associated with compost mixing
equipment can be mixed with the compost using the compost mixing equipment.
In liquid waste management equipment, exhaust emissions from any internal
combustion engines associated therewith can be mixed into the liquid organic
waste managed by the equipment, for example equipment used to manage waste
in a lagoon or the like. Yet a further example exhaust emissions from the
internal
combustion engine from a forage chopper may be mixed in with the forage being
chopped to assist in the decomposition thereof.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same
made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such
spirit
and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting
sense.
