CHAIPATTANA AERATOR & OTHER INVENTIONS
Many people who go to Lumpini Park on the weekends have probably wondered what the little barges with water wheels found floating around the lake are.
These little barges are an invention of His Majesty that helps keep lake water clean.
The Chaipattana Aerator is a low-speed surface aerator that helps to treat wastewater (waste water treatment). This invention by His Majesty was granted a patent in 1993, making him the only monarch in the world to have received this honour.
It was also recognised by the Belgian Chamber of Inventors during the 49th Brussels Eureka 2000 in Belgium for its “widespread use and being beneficial to improvements in the quality of life and environment worldwide”. In its statement, the International Committee noted: "The King of Thailand is a developer king who possesses high diligence, ingenuity, and exceptional vision, in working arduously for the benefit of his subjects. He utilises simple technology in his inventions which can be applied widely throughout the world."
RAINMAKING & GRASS TO FIGHT SOIL EROSION
His Majesty's royal rainmaking project and his book Royal Rainmaking Textbook were awarded with a gold medal at Brussels Eureka 2001. The royal rainmaking project had been implemented since 1969.
In another invention, the lowly ya faek (vetiver grass) took on new meaning when His Majesty introduced this long-rooted grass as a natural barrier against soil erosion. The long roots hold the soil together, the grass protects the topsoil, and can also be used to feed animals.