Steam Weeding: Difference between revisions
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=Basics= | =Basics= | ||
*[[Conventional Industrial Agriculture]] relies heavily on [[Pesticides]] that, while effective at controlling weeds, have a variety of drawbacks. | |||
**Short Term (Killing [[Beneficial Insects]] / A Similar Concept to [[Bycatch]] for things like [[Rodenticides]] etc) and Long Term ( [[Bio-Accumulation]] with past ones such as [[DDT]] etc) | |||
**Long Term Human Health Risks for Workers | |||
***The exposure for those consuming food produced in an area using pesticides/herbicides is minimal, and even then simple [[Fruit Washing]] / [[Vegetable Washing]] fixes that as well etc | |||
***HOWEVER if you are walking in a field with a [[Pesticide Sprayer]] or [[Fogger]] , and ESPECIALLY if you don't wear [[PPE]] your [[Accumulated Exposure]] will be insanely high, hence the Leukemia/Lymphoma rates, and recent lawsuits in the USA about [[WD-40]] / [[Roundup (Herbicide)]] etc | |||
**High Cost | |||
***Even if the latter are handled with [[Pollution Control Measures]] for [[Agricultural Runoff]] / [[Soil Contamination]] / Measures for ''limiting'' [[Honeybee Deaths Attributable to Pesticide Use]] | |||
***Furthermore, from an [[Appropriate Materials]] standpoint, short of [[Nicotine Solution Pesticides]] / other [[Bio-Pesticides]] , most are incredibly complex to make and/or require intermediates like [[Phosphoric Acid]] or even ''Phosgene'' (that's right, the ''thing used as a chemical weapon'' ) so is probably a no-go | |||
*'''Thus an alternate method is needed for [[Organic Agriculture]] , as well as [[Integrated Pest Management]] ''' | |||
*Traditionally, organic agriculture has relied on [[Tillage]] or [[Cover Cropping]] for weed control. | |||
*While these methods avoid the use herbicides, they have their downsides. | |||
**Tillage can damage soil life and structure, resulting in a loss of valuable nutrients and [[Soil Organic Matter]]. | |||
Cover crops may compete with cash crops for nutrients and water, although this depends; [[Bait Plants]] and [[Co-Cropping]] can be beneficial (Re: [[Kionhekwa]] ) | |||
*[[Flame Weeding]] have been used with success, but often rely on propane gas from fossil sources. | |||
**Also [[Flame Weeding]] cannot be used in areas with a high [[Wildfire Risk]] and the Rows cannot have [[Companion Planting]] etc, but rather [[Mulch]] or worse yet [[Bare Topsoil]] | |||
* '''Steam Weeding has none of these limitations, and short of potentially messing up [[Soil Bacteria]] in treated zones is easy to accomplish, can be either highly selective with a [[Steam Wand]] and small nozzle, or even be scaled up to a Boom Arm sized unit. [[Pesticide Resistance]] is also not an issue''' | |||
*Short of [[Water Availability]] (and to a lesser extent [[Fuel Availability]] / [[Electricity Cost]] it is also a cheap method | |||
=OSE Design= | |||
*Essentially a [[Pyrolysis]] / [[Gasification]] - powered steam weeder, which puts out [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superheated_steam superheated steam] to kill weeds. | |||
*This device can use all kinds of dry biomass for fuel. Pelletized biomass such as wood pellets should work well. | |||
*The saturated steam from boiling water runs through a copper coil which is externally heated in the pyrolysis unit, creating the superheated steam. (Re: [[Flash Boiler]] | |||
*[[Charcoal]] / [[Biochar]] is generated as a byproduct with [[Non-Char Burning Gasifier Designs]], making the process carbon-negative. | |||
**[[Pyrolysis Oil]] could be collected in theory, but short of if done in a [[Sawdust Gas Filter]] / [[Charcoal Gas Filter]] / [[Activated Carbon Adsorber]] this would add a rather significant amount of [[Design Complexity]] | |||
*A [[Pressurized Water Boiler]] could also be used, although this introduces the risk of a [[Boiler Explosion]] and the required risk management ( [[Boilermaker]] level [[Weld Quality Control]] etc) where ''pressure'' is not the main goal (Such as a boiler for a [[Steam Engine]] ), but rather ''Temperature and Volume'' | |||
==Components== | |||
*A Biomass [[Gasifier]] / [[Pyrolysis Kiln]] to work as the heat generation core | |||
**Looking into using a [[CHP Powercube]] would be especially interesting for [[Lifetrac]] mounted steamweeders | |||
*A [[Flash Steam Generator]] | |||
**(Most Likely [[Copper]] ) Coiled Piping / other [[Heat Exchanger]] design pending further analysis (most likely of a [[Water Tube Boiler]] Configuration | |||
*A small [[Electric Blower Fan]] for [[Forced Air]] to the TLUD (either could be required, or just be for startup / heat output boosting) | |||
*An [[Arduino]] that controls: | |||
**The fan | |||
**The [[Boiler Feedwater System]] | |||
**The [[Steam Regulator]] | |||
**IO and Safety Systems (Although [[Redundant Controls]] akin to [[Safety Instrumented Systems]] may be a good idea) | |||
=Media= | =Media= | ||
[[File:large_TLUD_Rob.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Large TLUD gasifier, built by Rob Diermair, [http://biocharontario.ca/ Biochar Ontario].]] | [[File:large_TLUD_Rob.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Large TLUD gasifier, built by Rob Diermair, [http://biocharontario.ca/ Biochar Ontario].]] | ||
=Uses= | =Uses= | ||
* ( | *(Organic) [[Weeding]] | ||
* | * [[Invasive Species Control]] | ||
* | * As a [[Steam Generator]] for applications in need of High Volume High Temperature Steam / Working Fluids Such As: | ||
* | **[[Torrefaction]] / [[Pyrolysis]] / [[Gasification]] / [[Thermal Oxidation]] etc | ||
**[[Gas Stripping]] (Mainly an [[Open Source Chemical Stripping Column]] for [[Bio-Refinery Operations]] ) | |||
**[[Soil Sterilization]] / [[Biomass Sterilization]] etc, albeit not to the pressure of an [[Autoclave]] | |||
=Video= | =Video= | ||
Revision as of 17:08, 8 June 2023
Basics
- Conventional Industrial Agriculture relies heavily on Pesticides that, while effective at controlling weeds, have a variety of drawbacks.
- Short Term (Killing Beneficial Insects / A Similar Concept to Bycatch for things like Rodenticides etc) and Long Term ( Bio-Accumulation with past ones such as DDT etc)
- Long Term Human Health Risks for Workers
- The exposure for those consuming food produced in an area using pesticides/herbicides is minimal, and even then simple Fruit Washing / Vegetable Washing fixes that as well etc
- HOWEVER if you are walking in a field with a Pesticide Sprayer or Fogger , and ESPECIALLY if you don't wear PPE your Accumulated Exposure will be insanely high, hence the Leukemia/Lymphoma rates, and recent lawsuits in the USA about WD-40 / Roundup (Herbicide) etc
- High Cost
- Even if the latter are handled with Pollution Control Measures for Agricultural Runoff / Soil Contamination / Measures for limiting Honeybee Deaths Attributable to Pesticide Use
- Furthermore, from an Appropriate Materials standpoint, short of Nicotine Solution Pesticides / other Bio-Pesticides , most are incredibly complex to make and/or require intermediates like Phosphoric Acid or even Phosgene (that's right, the thing used as a chemical weapon ) so is probably a no-go
- Thus an alternate method is needed for Organic Agriculture , as well as Integrated Pest Management
- Traditionally, organic agriculture has relied on Tillage or Cover Cropping for weed control.
- While these methods avoid the use herbicides, they have their downsides.
- Tillage can damage soil life and structure, resulting in a loss of valuable nutrients and Soil Organic Matter.
Cover crops may compete with cash crops for nutrients and water, although this depends; Bait Plants and Co-Cropping can be beneficial (Re: Kionhekwa )
- Flame Weeding have been used with success, but often rely on propane gas from fossil sources.
- Also Flame Weeding cannot be used in areas with a high Wildfire Risk and the Rows cannot have Companion Planting etc, but rather Mulch or worse yet Bare Topsoil
- Steam Weeding has none of these limitations, and short of potentially messing up Soil Bacteria in treated zones is easy to accomplish, can be either highly selective with a Steam Wand and small nozzle, or even be scaled up to a Boom Arm sized unit. Pesticide Resistance is also not an issue
- Short of Water Availability (and to a lesser extent Fuel Availability / Electricity Cost it is also a cheap method
OSE Design
- Essentially a Pyrolysis / Gasification - powered steam weeder, which puts out superheated steam to kill weeds.
- This device can use all kinds of dry biomass for fuel. Pelletized biomass such as wood pellets should work well.
- The saturated steam from boiling water runs through a copper coil which is externally heated in the pyrolysis unit, creating the superheated steam. (Re: Flash Boiler
- Charcoal / Biochar is generated as a byproduct with Non-Char Burning Gasifier Designs, making the process carbon-negative.
- Pyrolysis Oil could be collected in theory, but short of if done in a Sawdust Gas Filter / Charcoal Gas Filter / Activated Carbon Adsorber this would add a rather significant amount of Design Complexity
- A Pressurized Water Boiler could also be used, although this introduces the risk of a Boiler Explosion and the required risk management ( Boilermaker level Weld Quality Control etc) where pressure is not the main goal (Such as a boiler for a Steam Engine ), but rather Temperature and Volume
Components
- A Biomass Gasifier / Pyrolysis Kiln to work as the heat generation core
- Looking into using a CHP Powercube would be especially interesting for Lifetrac mounted steamweeders
- A Flash Steam Generator
- (Most Likely Copper ) Coiled Piping / other Heat Exchanger design pending further analysis (most likely of a Water Tube Boiler Configuration
- A small Electric Blower Fan for Forced Air to the TLUD (either could be required, or just be for startup / heat output boosting)
- An Arduino that controls:
- The fan
- The Boiler Feedwater System
- The Steam Regulator
- IO and Safety Systems (Although Redundant Controls akin to Safety Instrumented Systems may be a good idea)
Media
Large TLUD gasifier, built by Rob Diermair, Biochar Ontario.
Uses
- (Organic) Weeding
- Invasive Species Control
- As a Steam Generator for applications in need of High Volume High Temperature Steam / Working Fluids Such As:
- Torrefaction / Pyrolysis / Gasification / Thermal Oxidation etc
- Gas Stripping (Mainly an Open Source Chemical Stripping Column for Bio-Refinery Operations )
- Soil Sterilization / Biomass Sterilization etc, albeit not to the pressure of an Autoclave
Video