Sprayer Calibration
How important is Calibrating your sprayer on a regular basis? If you spend $50,000.00 dollars per year on chemical! We divide that cost by the number of nozzles on your sprayer. For instance: $50,000.00/26=$1923.08 dollars per nozzle. If we allow for 10% wear factor it means you are wasting $192.3. (Or $5000.00 per year wasted per season). That said a $10.00 nozzle purchase is pretty cheap insurance!!!
Wear Analysis of Nozzle Done by John Deere
What is the most important piece of equipment for calibration?
YOU the Operator!
Calibration is not just about the math or Choosing nozzles
These are all of the areas that you must be aware of to do a Calibration.
Let s review the theory behind the Math!
What does the Calibration Formula actually represent? Row width x Gallons per Acre x Ground Speed Constant =Results in Gallons per minute per side.
The Colored square represents the calculated spray area of the formula application rate or GPM PER SIDE!
A lot of spray problems can be linked to: Simply trying to do too much! A lot are missing the target! Not enough carrier (water) volume for canopy (or too much!) i.e., Too low of a volume for canopy area. Spraying multi rows with same rate as the single half row rate. More is not always better Too much wind for the spray canopy Air in the wrong place or not were it is needed High travel or ground speed which does not allow the sprayer to displace the volume of air within the canopy. Everyone s favorite drift.
How do I determine the right amount of air for my application? Place flagging tape on the opposite side of the tree from the sprayer How do I know what is enough air?
Let s talk nozzles *Full Cone *Hollow Cone *Air induction
How do I know which nozzle to use?
Choosing a nozzle by Droplet Size, to avoid Drift, but do you still get great coverage?
Super, I have to guess again! The Optimum water particle size was discovered in tests done in the 60 and 70 s. The optimum water particle size was determined to be 150 micron
How do I do I know if I have made the right choice???? What do we use for test media? Water sensitive paper is our test media to get a representation of what a 150 micron water droplet should look like in a tree
That s Great but How do I determine particle size when choosing nozzles? Does this ever stop! More questions!
All nozzle manufactures can supply micron nozzle charts to provide you with the required information
Does my sprayer have an effect on particle size? Does nozzle location effect particle size? Yes! Air Velocity from a sprayer can reduce particle size! 420 micron water entering an airstream at 90 degrees Produces a water droplet of 280 micron Which is a 33% reduction in size
What is the Effect of Water particle size in relationship to the nozzle position in the air stream? The pictures below: Sprayer nozzles are the same size and in the same location on both booms (Information supplied by Air Blast 101) Durand Wyland Turbomist Rears, Durand Wyland, Air o fan Nozzle location of sprayers Turbomist
How do I know what Spraying pressure I should use to achieve 150 micron?
Every Nozzle manufacturer has this information. www.teejet.com http://teejet.it/english/home.aspx/result.aspx
Remember, we learned that 150 micron was optimum! Now remember air shear!!!! Spray Pressure at 100 PSI Spray Pressure at 200 psi
As a General rule of thumb a good place to start with pressure on air blast sprayers is: 100 psi
Lets RECAP! Questions Answer What is the most important piece of equipment in calibration? There a 6 areas of concern in a good calibration. Calibration formula only solve for what area? How do I test for correct coverage? What size water particle is optimum? How do I know what nozzles give what size microns? Does the air of my sprayer effect the particle size? What spraying pressure should I start at? Operator/you! Method, Weather, Target, Product, Operator The actual drive row! Flagging tap on the opposite side of the tree to the sprayer drive row! 150 Micron! All nozzle manufacture can provide them, I will give you copies!!! Yes, general rule of thumb reduce the water particle by 33% 100psi
We have solved the fear of Calibration? www.slimlinemfg.com Calibration program
Are there any questions so FAR?
Decision tools available to you to avoid Drift
Drift reduction is all about targeting spray where you need it!
Step #1 Target your AIR We set our deflectors or outlets to get the desired coverage area.
Step #2 How do we know if we have enough air flow thru the tree?
Can there Really be too much air???
Yes! There is a scenario of too much air which Slimline calls Push Back What is Push Back Lines indicate the wind flow around and limited flow thru the tree. As the target gets closer to the blower Trees ability to allow air to travel thru the canopy becomes evident. Sprayers blower supply s 10,000 cfm but the tree ability to all the air pass thru is only 5,000 cfm we get Push Back
Step #4 Focusing the Air to avoid Drift and improve Coverage
How to use new nozzle technology in high density planting Tan area Air induction Purple area TXVK if rows are less 15 Different tree design: same rules
New Nozzle Technology with Towers Top of Tower Air induction or Swirls Moving down to TXVK or 25 Swirls Concept here is the greater the distance from target to tower the larger the water particle to avoid drift Different planting same rules
When it comes to reducing drift follow the illustrations below Wrong Way Right Way
What have we learned so far about control Avoid using nozzles that produce water droplets smaller than 100 Micron 100 PSI is the SWEET SPOT TO AVOID DRIFT In the canopy areas that are prone to drift increase water particle size. Target air! drift? All Drift Data Provided by Ohio State University
By Gear Up Throttle Down Simply reducing tractor RPM & Shifting up a gear to achieve the same ground speed
How do I use the throttle without having to recalibrate? My Present Calibration is: 15 wide Row 100 Gallon per acre Ground speed of 2.5 in Second B Range Tractor PTO at 540 RPM Applying Gear Up Throttle Down Row 15 Wide 100 Gallons Per Acre Ground is 2.5 Mph 3 gear in A range But PTO SPEED is Now 450 RPM
Has there been any research done on the Gear Up Throttle Down Concept?
University of Davis Test on Gear Up Throttle Down and Drift Reduction 100 GPA with D4/25 & D6/25 Test Pads 25,50,75,100,200
Results of testing done by the University of Davis Drift Reduction by 50% Distance from sprayer to sample pad PTO RPM Number of Trails 25' 50' 75' 100' 200' Fuel Consumption 450 Test 1 1.99 0.28 No Sample No Sample No Sample 1.19 450 Test 2 2.42 0.28 0.11 No Sample No Sample 1.19 540 Test 1 9.42 1.56 1.06 0.45 No Sample 2.44 540 Test 2 9.76 1.95 1.11 0.36 No Sample 2.75
Let s Recap what we have learned so far! Recap the Facts Visual Goal No droplets less 100 micron Use flagging tape to determine enough blow thru. If needed use the throttle to achieve enough penetration
Remarks from customers about Gear Up Throttle Down!
What is New Sprayer Technology?
Hooray!!!!
Nozzles Technology Full Cone Examples: FL, TG, & Disc-Core Hollow Cone Examples: TX, TXA, TXB, AITX, TXR, & Disc-Core
TX & TXA & TXB Applications: Air Blast for orchards, vineyards, & specialty crops Features and Benefits: Maximum operating pressure 300 psi Small droplets = great coverage 80 Spray pattern angle 017 04 capacities
TXR-VK ConeJet Tips Applications Air Blast Features and Benefits 12 Capacities Ceramic orifice & core plate Direct replacement for Albuz ATR Maximum 360 PSI / 25 Bar rating Meaningful part numbers Flow rated at 40 psi 80 Degree cone pattern Easy cleaning & inspection
AITX Air Induction Hollow Cone TeeJet Applications Air Blast Features and Benefits Air induction combined with hollow cone design Great penetration Drift control Increased droplet size
What the new technology means to you! More consistent particle size Easier to Clean Color Coded Less Drift Better Coverage Lower Purchase price per nozzle!!!!
Here are our Recommendations 1) Avoid Nozzle or Pressure the produce droplet size less than 100 Micron (when Target are more than 15 away!. 2) Calibrate for a spraying pressure of 100 psi to avoid drift! 3) Use Flagging Tape to prove penetration of canopy and manage drift! 4) Reduce Fan Speed Or Air Volumes to match canopy size thru Gear Up Throttle Down. * Improve Coverage * Reduce Fuel Consumption * Reduce Noise 5) Use new Nozzle technology to improve coverage and reduce capital costs. * TXVK use on rows less than 15 * Standard Swirl and Cores on rows 15 or more On high targets that are susceptible to drift * AITX Air Induction Hollow Cone Nozzles Avoid Drift with the use of Gear Up Throttle Down *Reduce air speeds to save fuel and chemical waste 6) Good resource for material is Air Blast 101 available on the internet. FREE!!!
Electro Static Spraying
Why is Turbomist NOT Researching Electro-static Sprayers?
Electrostatic Spraying or not! Ohio State University States: Avoid particle Sizes less than 50 Micron due to drift and drying out before reaching target. www.ohioline.osu.edu/b816/ Advertising Brochure from Popular Electro static Sprayer High velocity air, moving at speeds over 200 mph, passes by unique airshear nozzles where chemical-laden liquid is pulled into the air stream. Small, fine droplets, (approximately 50 micron in size) are created and take on a charge as they pass by patented electrostatic electro
OSU University Sprayer Comparison Report (www.ipmnet.org)
OSU University Sprayer Coverage
Turbomist Conclusions on Electrostatic Sprayers I cannot find any third party test that conclusively states that electro static sprayers provide better coverage than a correctly calibrated traditional air blast sprayer. Therefore I cannot find a return on investment to warrant the research and development capital costs.