Performing Department
Application Insight
Non Technical Summary
This project's goal is to reduce spray drift from aerial applications while at the same time significantly increase the efficiency and profitability of aerial applicators. The project will achieve this objective through development of a scalable, commercial-scale, high pressure chemical delivery system designed to mount on most any piloted fixed or rotary-wing aircraft, and potentially larger Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. High-pressure sprays used in aerial application conditions can meaningfully reduce formation of small droplets that would be prone to drift. The system will give an applicator superior control over droplet size by increasing the capability to deliver spray pressures significantly higher than anything currently found in any of the current array of commercially available aerial spray application systems. Even at full-pressure, the system will be able to maintain desired flow ranges appropriate to the desired application rates of most if not all aerial agricultural and forestry spray applications. Pump modules will be typical flow for a boom section rather than the whole boom. Modules would be matched to the size aircraft, ideally 2-4 modules to achieve the necessary application rate on most aircraft. This increased swath precision will improve ability to cover a whole field including "clean-up" on edges, and improve the effectiveness of existing wind-swath compensation. Most importantly, it will allow application in a wider range of meteorological conditions and at higher speeds which will significantly impact the marginal profitability per hour and the number of tach hours a year that a pilot can be applicating. These improvements could improve the profitability of US aerial applicators by an extra $150 million or more in increased annual revenue at little additional marginal cost, and tens of millions of dollars of added productivity, with an increase in our collective health and safety by improving the proper placement of aerially-applied agricultural crop protection materials. This system will positive policy benefits, as Registrants may be more willing to pursue aerial application on a wider range of pesticide labels if accurate placement can be better assured, and EPA may be more willing to work with them as the risk is reduced. The potential market opportunity for this technology as a commercial product is substantial. It is estimated that half of the ~4000 aerial application aircraft in the US could find enough benefit to justify investment in this technology upgrade. We estimate that each application aircraft would use an average of 2-3 of the modules per vessel, creating a $100 to 150 million dollar potential market in the US alone. Aerial application is common in Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Australia, the Philippines, and New Zealand. The total global market for this hardware is likely closer to $250-300 million dollars.
Animal Health Component
10%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
10%
Developmental
90%
Goals / Objectives
The major goal of this project is the development of a scalable, commercial-scale, high pressure precision chemical delivery and control system for aerial spray application platforms. The system will be designed to mount on most any piloted fixed or rotary-wing aircraft, and potentially larger Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).The ability to substantially increase spray delivery pressure has been well documented by the USDA Aerial Application Technology Research Unit to reduce driftable fine droplets in aerially applied sprays, yet there are virtually no commercially available systems that exist which would allow an applicator to do it. This project will solve that gap in technology allowing aerial applicators to take advantage of the precision and drift reducing benefits of hi-pressure aerial spraying.In Phase 1, the project will evaluate and identify key mechanical and electronic control components and perform engineering evaluations leading toward the integration of a complete aerial based system. The power source, controller, motor, and pump will be sized such that each system would provide flow to one boom section, eliminating the need for multiple boom valves and large plumbing conduits. Phase one work will be limited to bench work.In Phase 2, gaps identified in Phase 1 will be resolved/bridged, and refinements of the core project concepts that the working prototype embodies will be bench and field tested toward the goal of a useable concept.
Project Methods
Application Insight will work with manufacturers of pumps, motors, controllers, and powersources to select and or develop the ideal hardware combination to achieve the goals of this project. Candidate selections will be rigorously tested for suitability in conditions typical to an aerial application.Using a high-resolution flowmeter that will be purchased as part of this project, data log the pump output at high time resolution. Set up a plumbing system that would simulate the suction and flow conditions anticipated as part of operation on an aircraft. Log continuous amp draw and voltage during tests, then calculate watts and integrate area under curve to determine total power draw. This will guide power source development.?