Steam Weeder: Difference between revisions

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[[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].]]
Industrial Agriculture relies heavily on pesticides and toxic chemicals that, while effective at controlling weeds, have a variety of very nasty drawbacks.
Traditionally, organic agriculture has relied on tillage or cover cropping for weed control. While these methods avoid the use herbicides, they have their drawbacks. Tillage can damage soil life and structure, resulting in a loss of valuable nutrients and organic matter. Cover crops may attract pests, delay ripening and compete with cash crops for nutrients and water. Flame weeders have been used with success, but often rely on propane gas from fossil sources.  
Traditionally, organic agriculture has relied on tillage or cover cropping for weed control. While these methods avoid the use herbicides, they have their drawbacks. Tillage can damage soil life and structure, resulting in a loss of valuable nutrients and organic matter. Cover crops may attract pests, delay ripening and compete with cash crops for nutrients and water. Flame weeders have been used with success, but often rely on propane gas from fossil sources.  


Enter the pyrolysis-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. Pyrolysis releases heat which turns water into steam. The saturated steam from boiling water runs through a copper coil which is externally heated in the pyrolysis unit, creating the superheated steam. [[Biochar]] is generated as a by-product, making the process carbon-negative. So far, this is only a concept, published here for the purpose of creating prior art and to prevent patenting. No prototypes have been built. Different scales are possible, from a hand-drawn cart to a larger version as a tractor implement.  
Enter the pyrolysis-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. Pyrolysis releases heat which turns water into steam. The saturated steam from boiling water runs through a copper coil which is externally heated in the pyrolysis unit, creating the superheated steam. [[Biochar]] is generated as a by-product, making the process carbon-negative.  
 
<iframe width="560" height="345" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed//YmAUBmPdL6k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
   
   
==Components==
==Components==
* as the core heat-generating unit, a biomass gasifier (example: modified version of a top-lit-up-draft ("TLUD") gasifier)
* a biomass [[gasifier]] - heat generation core
* boiler for water  
* boiler for water  
* copper coil  
* copper coil  
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* paper: [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3180.2009.00733.x/abstract A direct-fired steam weeder]  
* paper: [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3180.2009.00733.x/abstract A direct-fired steam weeder]  
* related internal page: [[Food_Drying_with_Superheated_Steam|"food drying with superheated steam"]]  
* related internal page: [[Food_Drying_with_Superheated_Steam|"food drying with superheated steam"]]  
*
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_steam_sterilization Wikipedia: Soil Steam Sterilization]
* [http://www.physicalweeding.com/information/flame-vs-steam.html Flame vs. Steam]

Revision as of 22:10, 4 September 2011

Main > Food and Agriculture > Farm equipment

Large TLUD gasifier, built by Rob Diermair, Biochar Ontario.

Industrial Agriculture relies heavily on pesticides and toxic chemicals that, while effective at controlling weeds, have a variety of very nasty drawbacks.

Traditionally, organic agriculture has relied on tillage or cover cropping for weed control. While these methods avoid the use herbicides, they have their drawbacks. Tillage can damage soil life and structure, resulting in a loss of valuable nutrients and organic matter. Cover crops may attract pests, delay ripening and compete with cash crops for nutrients and water. Flame weeders have been used with success, but often rely on propane gas from fossil sources.

Enter the pyrolysis-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. Pyrolysis releases heat which turns water into steam. The saturated steam from boiling water runs through a copper coil which is externally heated in the pyrolysis unit, creating the superheated steam. Biochar is generated as a by-product, making the process carbon-negative.

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed//YmAUBmPdL6k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Components

  • a biomass gasifier - heat generation core
  • boiler for water
  • copper coil
  • small electric fan for air flow to the TLUD
  • an Arduino that controls the fan, thereby controlling temperature in the TLUD

Uses

  • (organic) weeding
  • against invasive species
  • biomass drying, even torrefaction - generating more fuel right where it's needed.
  • possibly for soil sterilization, but will need modifications

Links

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