ELI VOLPE: Distribution unit for air-assisted sprayers

Transcription

1 AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY FUNCTIONAL AND SAFETY TESTING SERVICE ELI VOLPE: Distribution unit for air-assisted sprayers Test centre: Manufacturer: ELIVENT Srl Via Ragazzi del 99, Mancasale (RE) ITALY Test report no. 40c.001 February 2013

2 Technical data lenght (mm) width (mm) height (mm) height of air output (mm) width of air output (mm) total weight (kg) Description of device The distribution unit is intended for use on tree crops (vineyards and orchards) trained using the trellis method. For its deployment it must be installed on a support structure that must also supply the crop protection product. It can also be attached to a swinging arm for use on tall trees. The device consists of a vertical, elliptical structure specially designed to generate a uniform flow of air to the 7 nozzles placed vertically inside the air outlet unit. The flow of air is generated by an axial fan with vertical axis located in the upper part of the structure. This solution avoids the picking up of leaves and vegetation during work, thus preventing the obstruction of the grille, which would reduce fan performance. The fan is operated by a hydraulic motor fitted directly to the pivot axis of the fan blower. Fan speed can be adjusted by varying oil pressure (Tab. 1). Inside the air outlet unit are deflectors for directing the outflow along the vertical axis: it is thus possible to obtain a horizontal flow, upwards and downwards. It is possible to adjust the upper and lower parts of the flow separately. The ELI VOLPE distribution unit is also equipped with a container that collects any product that drips from the nozzles during spraying, thus preventing it from falling on the ground. This container must be regularly emptied to maintain efficiency levels. 2

3 Blades inclination Fan speed (rpm) bar 75 bar 105 bar bar 100 bar 145 bar bar 125 bar 175 bar Tab. 1 Supply pressure of hydraulic motor depending on rotation speed and inclination of fan blades. Test method Fan air flow Fan air flow was calculated by channelling air taken in to the inside of a pipe and measuring its speed. The flow rate was obtained by multiplying speed values according to the diameter of the pipe. This method is recommended in point of standard ISO Air speed Air speed was measured at a distance of 0.50 m from the nozzles. While measuring, the anemometer was oriented crosswise to air flow to measure the maximum value. The distribution unit was positioned at 0.30 m from the ground, meaning that the lowest nozzle was at 0.50 m from the ground. Measurements were taken with the deflectors in a horizontal position. Vertical pattern The profile was measured using a vertical test bench at a distance of 0.50 m from the nozzles. Albuz ATR yellow nozzles were used at a working pressure of 10 bar. The distribution unit was placed at a height of 0.30 m from the ground. Measurements were first taken with deflectors in a horizontal position, and then with the upper deflectors pointing upwards. 3

4 Test results Fan air flow The amount of air supplied by the fan depended on the speed of rotation and inclination of the blades. At the minimum values of both parameters (1,500 rpm at 20 ), a flow rate of 5,500 m 3 /h was recorded. The maximum value of 12,400 m 3 /h was measured at 2,500 rpm with a blades inclination of 30 (Tab. 2). Blades inclination Fan speed (rpm) m 3 /h m 3 /h m 3 /h m 3 /h m 3 /h m 3 /h m 3 /h m 3 /h m 3 /h Tab. 2 - Air flow rate of fan at different rotation speeds and blades inclination. Air speed The maximum air speed measured in the vicinity of the vegetation wall to be sprayed (0.50 m from nozzles) was quite uniform at all heights (Fig. 1). With the blades inclined at an angle of 20 and a fan rotation speed of 1,500 rpm, an average value of 9.0 m/s was recorded. Increasing the speed of rotation to 2,000 and 2,500 rpm, values of 14.5 and 16.9 m/s respectively were obtained. 4

5 Distance from ground (m) Distance from ground (m) Distance from ground (m) Elivent ELI VOLPE Air speed (m/s) Air speed (m/s) Air speed (m/s) 1,500 rpm 2,000 rpm 2,500 rpm Fig. 1 Air speed with varying speed of rotation measured at a distance of 0.50 m from nozzles and with blades at an angle of 20. Vertical pattern The vertical liquid pattern was influenced by the position of the deflectors. With the deflectors in a horizontal position, the dispensing breadth was the same as that of the air outlet unit. By directing the deflectors upwards it was possible to increase the breadth of the sprayed area % 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% Amount of liquid % 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% Amount of liquid Fig. 2 Vertical pattern: Horizontal deflectors. Fig. 3 Vertical pattern: Upper deflectors pointing upwards. 5

6 Remarks about results The ELI VOLPE distribution unit, to which this test report refers, may be used to spray crop protection products on trellis-trained tree crops. The possibility of adjusting air flow makes it possible to optimise the process according to the height of vegetation being sprayed. To improve liquid dispensing results it is advisable to use two units at the same time, arranged around and over the row of vines and oriented so that the two flows oppose each other. In this way the distance travelled by drops dispensed in the absence of vegetation is considerably reduced. 6

7 The present test report is valid for a period of five years or until reference regulations for the Distribution unit for air-assisted sprayers, model ELI VOLPE, are altered. The part has been certified at the request of the manufacturer. Functional testing was performed at the Crop Protection Technology Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Sciences of the University of Turin (DiSAFA). Supervisor: Prof. Paolo Balsari Heads of testing: Dr. Mario Tamagnone, P.I. Claudio Bozzer and Dr. Simone Savoia Test results conform to ENAMA Specifications for measuring the functional characteristics of Distribution unit for air-assisted sprayers (Category 40c - Rev.1 - September 2012). MANUFACTURER: ELIVENT SRL Tel Fax elivent@elivent.com internet: ENAMA - ENTE NAZIONALE PER LA MECCANIZZAZIONE AGRICOLA VIA VENAFRO, ROMA TEL FAX info@enama.it 7