JP4358779B2 - High concentration oxygen bubble water supply device and plant cultivation device using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus that mixes a gas containing oxygen (for example, air) and a liquid such as water under pressure to supply high-concentration oxygen water having a high dissolved oxygen concentration.

  In the field of seafood cultivation and plant cultivation, it may be necessary to manage the oxygen concentration of the supplied water to maintain a sufficient value. For example, in irrigation necessary for plant growth, it is required to increase the oxygen concentration of water so that sufficient oxygen can be supplied to the root portion. In particular, when a large number of plants are cultivated using a medium different from general soil, an oxygen deficiency is likely to occur, resulting in hindering root growth. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in summer when the dissolved oxygen concentration decreases due to an increase in water temperature.

  In order to solve this problem, it is desired to supply a high-concentration oxygen nutrient solution (mixed with liquid fertilizer) to the root portion continuously through a water supply pipe through soil or a medium. Therefore, various devices have been proposed in which a high-concentration oxygen nutrient solution is produced by mixing water and oxygen under a constant pressure, and this is continuously supplied to the plant root through a water supply pipe. .

For example, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, oxygen and water are supplied to a pressurized mixing tank, and high-concentration oxygen water is generated by dissolving a part of oxygen in the supplied water.
JP 2001-21770 A

  However, the apparatus shown in Patent Document 1 requires constant pressurization in the pressurized mixing tank because of the need to mix oxygen with water with high efficiency, and the structure of the entire apparatus is complicated. When the pressure condition changes, the dissolved oxygen concentration also changes, so it is difficult to supply a high concentration oxygen nutrient solution in a stable physical state. Further, since the tank is merely used as a buffer for mixing oxygen and water, it is difficult to keep the dissolved oxygen concentration in the tank at a constant value.

  The present invention relates to a high-concentration oxygen bubble water supply device capable of efficiently and stably supplying a high concentration of dissolved oxygen concentration and a large amount of fine bubble water with a simple configuration, and a plant cultivation apparatus using this device The purpose is to provide.

The present invention relates to a bubble water generator that mixes a gas containing oxygen and a liquid under pressure, dissolves the gas in the liquid to generate bubble water,
A bubble water storage tank for temporarily storing the bubble water supplied from the bubble water generator, and supplying high concentration oxygen bubble water from the bubble water storage tank.

As the bubbling water generator, the "squeezed part" that squeezes the introduced liquid with a venturi tube or orifice, the part that dissolves and mixes the liquid and gas under pressure in the "expanded part" on the downstream side, and further downstream The “nozzle part” provided on the liquid crystal and the flow rate of the dissolved and mixed liquid is accelerated by the “nozzle part”, thereby releasing the gas dissolved in the liquid and generating bubbly water containing a large number of fine bubbles. Configure as follows .

  In the present invention, for example, air or oxygen is used as the gas, and water is used as the liquid, for example. In the present invention, the bubble water means a liquid containing bubbles. By configuring the present invention as described above, in the bubbling water generating device, bubbling water having a high dissolved oxygen concentration and containing a large amount of fine bubbles is generated. Does not require a water storage tank. In addition, by configuring the bubble water generator as described above including the venturi tube, orifice, etc., the dissolved oxygen concentration is high in a small device, a large amount of fine bubbles are contained, and the bubble water with a long bubble life can be stabilized. Can be generated.

The present invention also provides a dissolved oxygen meter that measures the dissolved oxygen concentration of bubble water stored in the bubble water storage tank, and bubbles stored in the tank by connecting the tank and the bubble water generating device. By operating the circulation system according to a circulation system for introducing water into the bubbly water generator and the dissolved oxygen concentration measured by the dissolved oxygen meter, the dissolved oxygen concentration according to the dissolved oxygen concentration in the tank A control unit that introduces bubbling water having a reduced dissolved oxygen concentration from the circulation system into the bubbling water generating device and circulates the bubbling water to the tank as bubbling water of high concentration dissolved oxygen.

  According to such a configuration, even if the behavior is such that bubbles are released from the liquid phase surface of the bubble water stored in the tank and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreases, the dissolved oxygen meter detects this. Since the circulating system can be operated and bubble water containing high-concentration dissolved oxygen can be supplied to the tank, the dissolved oxygen concentration of the bubble water in the tank can be kept constant. Further, it is possible to stably supply bubble water having a high dissolved oxygen concentration to a plant cultivation apparatus or the like efficiently without continuously operating the bubble water generation apparatus.

  In still another embodiment of the present invention, tank internal pressure detecting means for detecting the internal pressure of the bubbling water storage tank and a decrease in the tank internal pressure are detected, and a gas such as compressed air is supplied above the liquid level in the tank. A pressure device is provided.

  According to the above configuration, the bubble water level of the tank decreases due to the supply of the bubble water, and when the tank internal pressure decreases, the pressurization device operates to supply compressed air or the like to the tank to keep the tank pressure constant. Since it can maintain, bubble discharge | release from a bubble water-liquid level can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, since the bubble water having a high dissolved oxygen concentration and containing a lot of fine bubbles is generated by the bubble water generator, the structure is simplified, and the generated bubble water is temporarily stored in the bubble water storage tank. Then, since it is supplied to the outside of the plant cultivation device or the like, it is possible to stably supply the bubble water having a high dissolved oxygen concentration efficiently without continuously operating the bubble water generation device.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a plant cultivation apparatus to which the present invention is applied .

  Water is introduced into a bubble water generation device (hereinafter referred to as GALF (registered trademark)) 1 for generating bubble water having a high dissolved oxygen concentration through a valve V1, and the atmospheric air in the GALF 1 Mix with water. As shown in detail in Japanese Patent No. 2554608 regarding the configuration of the GALF 1, water introduced into a constricted portion such as a venturi tube or an orifice is dissolved and mixed under pressure at a downstream expanded portion, and further downstream thereof. The gas dissolved in the liquid is released by accelerating the mixing flow rate at the nozzle portion provided on the side, and bubble water containing a large number of fine bubbles is generated.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the GALF 1.

  This GALF 1 is provided with a venturi tube 11 having a throat portion 10 provided at the center as a throttle portion. A gas inlet 13 for mixing gas (atmosphere) into the flow path is formed in the expanded portion 12 on the downstream side of the venturi tube 11 slightly downstream of the throat portion 10.

  A mixing unit 14 that mixes the gas flowing in from the gas inlet 13 and the water in the flow path is provided on the downstream side of the spreading part 12. The mixing unit 14 can arbitrarily set the outer diameter according to the degree of pressurization. In this example, the shape is set to be extended from the maximum diameter of the expanded portion 12, and a nozzle port 15 is formed at the downstream end of the mixing portion 14.

  In the GALF 1 configured as described above, the water that has flowed into the introduction portion 16 is accelerated by the throat portion 10 of the venturi tube 11, and the flow velocity is slowed and the static pressure increases at the spread portion 12. At this time, gas flows into the flow path and mixes with water. The mixed gas becomes bubbles and flows into the mixing unit 14 and dissolves in water because the static pressure of the mixing unit 14 is higher than that of the throat unit 10. The water in which the gas is dissolved reaches the nozzle port 15 as mixed water together with bubbles that cannot be dissolved. Since the flow velocity of the mixed water is accelerated again at the nozzle port 15, the static pressure is lowered, and the gas dissolved in the water is released as microbubbles. Further, even when bubbles that cannot be completely dissolved are accelerated by the nozzle port 15, shearing and fragmentation of the bubbles occur due to the disturbance of the water flow. As a result, bubbling water having a high dissolved oxygen concentration and containing a large amount of fine bubbles is output from the nozzle port 15.

  As described above, the GALF 1 allows water with a high dissolved oxygen concentration and a large amount of fine bubbles to be supplied to the outside.

  The bubble water generated by the GALF 1 is once supplied to the bubble water storage tank 2.

  The aerated water storage tank 2 stably maintains the dissolved oxygen concentration of the aerated water generated by the GALF 1 without being affected by the operating conditions of the culture medium or the plant cultivation device, and operates the bubble generating device efficiently and intermittently. Is what you do.

  In the bubbly water storage tank 2, some fine bubbles merge with each other over time to form a bubble of a visible size, and the bubble rises to the upper surface of the liquid phase and is released and extinguished. Even in the case, the liquid phase portion maintains a high dissolved oxygen concentration. The dissolved oxygen concentration is typically about 10 to 16 ppm after 2 hours even when summer is assumed (water temperature 30 degrees).

The bubbling water stored in the bubbling water storage tank 2 is appropriately sent to the downstream side by the pump 3. A motor valve 4 that can be opened and closed by a motor is provided behind the pump 3, and bubble water supplied through the valve 4 is sent to the culture medium 7 through the regulating valve 6 and the tube 30 by the water supply pipe 5. The water supply pipe 5 is provided with a plurality of regulating valves 6, and these regulating valves 6 can be added as necessary.

By providing the bubbly water storage tank 2 between the GALF 1 and the water supply pipe 5, even if the number of tubes 30 connected to the water supply pipe 5 changes, the conditions on the output side (nozzle port 15 side) of the GALF 1 are satisfied. Since there is no change, the bubble water generated by GALF1 is physically stable with no change in the dissolved oxygen concentration or the amount of fine bubbles.
An electric conductivity sensor 8 and a flow meter 9 are provided between the motor valve 4 and the first regulating valve 6. The electrical conductivity sensor 8 is connected to an electrical conductivity meter 31 , and the electrical conductivity measured here is output to motor valves 34 and 35 connected to the liquid fertilizer tanks 32 and 33 . Since the electric conductivity correlates with the liquid fertilizer concentration, the liquid fertilizer concentration of the bubbling water flowing through the water supply pipe 5 is measured by simply measuring the electric conductivity with the sensor 8, and the motor valve is set so that this value becomes constant. 34 and 35 are controlled. The liquid fertilizer whose flow rate is adjusted by the motor valves 34 and 35 is mixed with bubble water between the motor valve 4 and the electric conductivity sensor 8.

  With the above configuration, the bubble water having a high dissolved oxygen concentration and containing a large amount of fine bubbles is supplied to each medium 7 separated into a plurality, and the dissolved oxygen concentration of the bubble water, the amount of fine bubbles, and the liquid fertilizer The mixing amount is always stable.

  The bubble water supplied to the culture medium 7 contains a large amount of fine bubbles, and these fine bubbles exist for a long time as bubbles of a size that can be visually recognized by adhering to the roots of the medium and plants. Since a high concentration of dissolved oxygen is maintained, oxygen necessary for root growth can be supplied. FIG. 3 is a photographic image showing a state where bubbles are attached to the culture medium and roots. In the figure, it can be seen that bubbles appear to be circular, and there are a culture medium and roots around the bubbles.

  According to the experiments by the inventors, it was observed that even in the culture medium 7 several tens of meters away from the bubble water storage tank 2, a large number of bubbles adhered to the culture medium and the roots in the culture medium. It was confirmed that the temperature was maintained for 5 hours or more even in a high temperature environment (30 degrees) in summer. Usually, when water mixed with liquid fertilizer is irrigated, it is often about twice per hour (approximately every 30 minutes), so even if the irrigation interval is widened by using the apparatus of this embodiment, the above is performed. The described functions can be fully realized.

  In the plant cultivation apparatus having the above configuration, even in an environment where the oxygen concentration in the plant root area is likely to decrease, such as in summer, bubbles that have a continuously high dissolved oxygen concentration do not fall into an oxygen-deficient state including irrigation. Water can be supplied to the medium. In addition, since air bubbles can be directly attached to the medium and roots, high concentration oxygen can be supplied to the deep part of the medium according to permeation of irrigation, and this state can be maintained for a long time.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, a bubble water circulation path 20 in which a motor valve V2 is connected between the GALF 1 and the bubble water storage tank 2 and a dissolved oxygen meter 21 that measures the dissolved oxygen concentration of the bubble water stored in the bubble water storage tank 2. And are provided.

  The liquid phase part of the bubbly water stored in the bubbly water storage tank 2 maintains a high dissolved oxygen concentration, but its value decreases when left for a long time. Therefore, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the liquid phase part is measured with the dissolved oxygen meter 21. When this value becomes a certain value or less, the motor valve V2 is driven and the bubbles in the bubble water storage tank 2 are driven by the bubble water circulation path 20. Return the water to GALF1. By doing in this way, the dissolved oxygen concentration of the bubble water stored in the bubble water storage tank 2 and the mixing amount of the fine bubbles can be made stable.

  FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, a pressure device 22 is connected to the bubbly water storage tank 2 and a sensor 23 for detecting the pressure of the gas part in the tank 2 is provided. When the pressure device 22 detects that the pressure on the liquid phase surface of the bubbling water storage tank 2 has dropped below a certain value by the sensor 23, the pressure device 22 supplies gas into the tank 2 to prevent pressure drop. The pressure in the tank 2 is set slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure. The gas may be air or oxygen.

  When the amount of bubble water supplied from the bubble water storage tank 2 to the downstream side exceeds the amount of bubble water generated from the GALF 1 side, the bubble water level in the tank 2 decreases and the internal pressure in the tank decreases. For this reason, bubbles rise and discharge from the liquid phase increase, and the number of fine bubbles in the liquid phase decreases. However, by supplying the compressed gas from the pressurizing device 22 into the tank, it is possible to suppress the release of bubbles from the liquid phase surface and to suppress the reduction of fine bubbles in the liquid phase. Further, the pressure of the pressurizing device 22 at this time advantageously acts on the bubble water supply from the tank 2. The pressure in the tank is preferably set slightly higher than atmospheric pressure.

  In the above embodiment, the supply destination of the bubble water is the culture medium, but normal soil may be used. Moreover, it can replace with water and can also supply the solution which mixed liquid fertilizer to the bubbling water production | generation apparatus.

It is a whole lineblock diagram of the plant cultivation device concerning this invention. It is a block diagram of the bubble water production | generation apparatus used for the said plant cultivation apparatus. It is a figure which shows the photograph image which copied the state which the bubble adheres to a culture medium or a root. It is a partial configuration diagram of a plant cultivating apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a partial block diagram of the plant cultivation apparatus which is further another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1-GALF (bubble water generator)
2-bubble water storage tank 7-medium

Claims (4)

A bubble water generating device that mixes a gas containing oxygen and a liquid under pressure and dissolves the gas in the liquid to generate bubble water;
A high-concentration oxygen bubble water supply device that supplies high-concentration oxygen bubble water from the bubble water storage tank. And
The bubbling water generating device includes a constricting part for constricting the introduced liquid, a part for dissolving and mixing the liquid and the gas under pressure in an expansion part provided on the downstream side, and a nozzle part provided on the downstream side thereof. , And by releasing the gas dissolved in the liquid by accelerating the flow rate of the dissolved and mixed liquid at the nozzle part, to generate bubble water containing a large number of fine bubbles,
A dissolved oxygen meter that measures the dissolved oxygen concentration of the bubble water stored in the bubble water storage tank, a circulation system that connects the tank and the bubble water generator, and a dissolved oxygen concentration measured by the dissolved oxygen meter A high-concentration oxygen bubble water supply device comprising: a control unit that operates the circulation system in response . An internal pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure in the bubbling water storage tank and a gas pressurized to the upper surface of the bubbling water in the tank according to the pressure detected by the internal pressure detecting means are supplied to maintain the tank internal pressure constant. The high-concentration oxygen bubble water supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressurizing device. A high-concentration oxygen bubble water supply device according to any one of claims 1 and 2 and a water supply pipe for sending the bubble water supplied from the device to the culture medium or soil, wherein the bubbles are trapped in the culture medium or soil. Plant cultivation device that cultivates plants in the state. The plant cultivation apparatus of Claim 3 provided with the liquid fertilizer tank which stores liquid fertilizer, and the means to mix the liquid fertilizer supplied from this liquid fertilizer tank with bubble water in the said water supply pipe.

Images