New sprayer solves drift problem

Press, 24 April 1980, Page 11

New sprayer solves drift problem

A sprayer claimed to overcome the problem of drift because it charges the chemical electrically so that it "sticks” to the plant has been developed.

More than 80 per cent of applied pesticides miss the intended target with conventional spraying methods, and the latest answer is the Electrodyn. Its other advantages include the elimination of moving parts and a low power requirement.

No compressor is required to force chemical through the nozzles. Instead, it flows out by gravity, passing an atomising nozzle which consists of a pair of electrodes with one at each side of a narrow outlet gapThe liquid is subjected to an intensely divergant electrical field as it passes through, and the curved trajectory is said to ensure that the chemical reaches the undersides of the leaves. The electrical field the sprayer creates is used to propel the liquid to the crop. Droplet size is controlled by a dial, and electro d e s rather than mechanically driven spinning discs form the droplets. Application rates as low as 0.7’ litres per ha compare with 2.8 to 5.6 litres per ha for some controlled droplet application sprayers. The electrical charge that ensures the chemical “sticks” to the plant overcomes the difficulty of drift when spray droplet size is reduced from 200 to 60 microns. The new sprayer is said to consume very little power. At the moment, the prototype is in hand-held form. The next stage is to develop tractor mounted versions, and reformulation of oil based chemicals for use with the machine will also be necessary.