Self-Emulsifiable Ester Spray Drift Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for reducing spray drift during agricultural chemical applications, such as using high molecular weight water-soluble polymers, are expensive and ineffective in high-speed aerial application conditions, leading to off-target movement and restricted usage around sensitive crops.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a self-emulsifiable ester into the spray mixture at concentrations of 0.01 to 5 volume percent to increase the volume median diameter of spray droplets, thereby reducing the production of fine droplets and minimizing off-target drift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If high molecular weight water-soluble polymers are added to spray compositions to increase droplet size and reduce drift, then droplet size increases and drift potential decreases, but the cost of application increases significantly and effectiveness is reduced in high-speed aerial application conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the spray mixture by incorporating self-emulsifiable esters at specific concentrations (0.01-5% v/v). This alters the physical properties of the spray droplets, specifically increasing the volume median diameter to reduce drift potential without incurring the high costs associated with polymer additives
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs self-emulsifiable esters as a cost-effective alternative to expensive high molecular weight polymers. These esters provide the necessary drift reduction functionality at a fraction of the cost, making the solution economically viable for widespread agricultural application
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high molecular weight water-soluble polymers are used as drift retardants, then droplet size increases, but the effectiveness is compromised in high-speed aerial application conditions due to pump shear and wind shear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the rheological and physical parameters of the spray mixture by adding self-emulsifiable esters. This creates a more robust droplet formulation that maintains its integrity under high-speed aerial application conditions, resisting breakdown from pump shear and wind shear that plagues polymer-based solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The self-emulsifiable esters provide self-stabilizing properties to the spray mixture, enabling the droplets to maintain their size distribution and performance characteristics automatically under varying aerial application conditions without requiring additional stabilizing polymers
3Productivity
If spray droplet size is reduced to improve coverage, then application efficiency increases, but off-target movement and drift potential increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the droplet size distribution parameters by incorporating self-emulsifiable esters. This creates a balanced droplet size profile that maintains sufficient small droplets for good coverage while ensuring an adequate population of larger droplets that resist drift, achieving both productivity and drift control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively reduces spray drift by increasing the median diameter of spray droplets, minimizing off-target movement, and maintaining even coverage, as demonstrated in various field and wind tunnel tests, with minimal impact on spray quality.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating a self-emulsifiable ester into the liquid to be sprayed... by incorporating a self-emulsifiable ester into an agricultural spray mixture that spray drift during application can be reduced
Data Source
AI summary
Spray drift during the application of agricultural chemicals is reduced by incorporating a self-emulsifiable ester into the liquid to be sprayed.