Rotating Atomizer for Land Spraying Drop Size Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current land spraying technologies for phytosanitary products lack efficient drop size control, leading to inefficiencies such as endo-drift, exo-drift, and excessive water and chemical usage, resulting in reduced crop yield and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A rotating atomizer device with a variable speed electric engine (BLDC type) that measures instantaneous temperature and flow, applying the Tanasawa equation to maintain programmed drop size, achieving uniform drop distribution and minimizing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hydraulic pickaxes are used for spraying, then the application can be performed with simple equipment, but the drop size control is deficient and heterogeneity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotating atomizer disc with variable rotation speed to dynamically control drop size. The rotation speed can be adjusted to optimize drop diameter for different application requirements, transforming the static hydraulic pickup system into a dynamic atomization system that maintains precision while remaining relatively simple in construction
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the spraying system by using a rotating disc that varies rotational speed and atomization parameters. This allows control of drop size through parameter adjustment rather than complex mechanical precision, resolving the contradiction between equipment simplicity and drop size control
2Reliability
If bigger drops are applied to reach the bottom part of plants, then coverage is improved, but endo-drift increases and product is wasted on the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating atomizer produces drops of optimized size (150-300 microns) through controlled rotation rather than using large drops. This parameter optimization ensures drops are small enough to be retained by foliage but large enough to resist wind drift, eliminating the need to use bigger drops for coverage while preventing endo-drift and ground deposition
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that provide feedback on spray application, allowing real-time adjustment of rotation speed and flow rate to maintain optimal drop size and distribution. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent coverage efficiency while minimizing product waste through precise control
3Loss of substance
If smaller drops are used to reduce endo-drift, then product waste is minimized, but exo-drift increases and drops are lost to evaporation and wind
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating atomizer optimizes drop size to 150-300 microns, finding the optimal parameter range that balances resistance to both endo-drift and exo-drift. This optimized parameter range prevents drops from being too small (which would cause wind drift and evaporation) while avoiding being too large (which would cause ground deposition), thus resolving the contradiction between minimizing product waste and preventing exo-drift
4Reliability
If excessive water is used in spraying, then drop distribution is improved, but water consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses flow sensors and rotation speed sensors to provide feedback that enables precise control of water delivery. This feedback control ensures water is applied at optimal rates for uniform drop distribution without excessive consumption, maintaining reliability while reducing quantity of substance used
5Productivity
If higher concentration of phytosanitary product is applied to improve control efficiency, then fewer applications are needed, but drift and pollution of non-desired areas increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating atomizer produces optimized drop sizes (150-300 microns) that reduce drift potential while maintaining effective active ingredient delivery. This parameter optimization allows efficient control with reduced chemical concentrations, improving productivity while minimizing harmful drift and pollution effects
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 solution ensures efficient application of phytosanitary products with controlled drop sizes, reducing endo- and exo-drift, minimizing water and chemical usage, and increasing the active cycle of the spraying machine.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating atomizer device with a variable speed electric engine (BLDC type) that measures instantaneous temperature and flow, applying the Tanasawa equation to maintain programmed drop size
Implementation Method 2
variable speed electric engine (BLDC type)
Data Source
AI summary
A rotating atomizer device for the correction of eventual separations that random variations cause in the final result of the phytosanitary treatment so the application of the chemical products is done completely in agreement with what has been prescribed by the agronomic professional, achieving a greater efficiency of the phytosanitary spraying process. The technical information generated by the manufacturers of the agrochemical products regarding the physical characteristics of the phytosanitary chemicals; information regarding wind speed and direction, ambient humidity and temperature generated by a meteorological center and mounted in the spraying vehicle; information regarding the geo referential position, the speed and direction of the vehicle generated by a GPS type device mounted in the spraying vehicle; the information generated by the acceleration and magnetic field sensors, gyroscopes, flowmeters, spray liquid temperature sensors, rotation speed of plates sensor, magnetic analogic sensors for measuring angular positions.