Development of a real-time chemical injection system for air-assisted variable-rate sprayers

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue (or initial) Shen ◽  
Heping (or initial) Zhu ◽  
Hui (or initial) Liu ◽  
Yu (or initial) Chen ◽  
Erdal H. Ozkan
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Variable Rate

Use of geographic information systems and remote sensing as automated tool for variable rate irrigation prescriptions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Anh Thi Tuan Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Water Application ◽  
Center Pivot

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Economic as well as water shortage pressure on agricultural use of water has placed added emphasis on efficient irrigation management. Center pivot technology has made great improvement with variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology to vary water application spatially and temporally to maximize the economic and environmental return. Proper management of VRI systems depends on correctly matching the pivot application to specific field temporal and areal conditions. There is need for a tool to accurately and inexpensively define dynamic management zones, to sense within-field variability in real time, and control variable rate water application so that producers are more willing to adopt and utilize the advantages of VRI systems. This study included tests of the center pivot system uniformity performance in 2014 at Delta Research Center in Portageville, MO. The goal of this research was to develop MOPivot software with an algorithm to determine unique management areas under center pivot systems based on system design and limitations. The MOPivot tool automates prescriptions for VRI center pivot based on non-uniform water needs while avoiding potential runoff and deep percolation. The software was validated for use in real-time irrigation management in 2018 for VRI control system of a Valley 8000 center pivot planted to corn. The water balance model was used to manage irrigation scheduling. Field data, together with soil moisture sensor measurement of soil water content, were used to develop the regression model of remote sensing-based crop coefficient (Kc). Remote sensing vegetation index in conjunction with GDD and crop growth stages in regression models showed high correlation with Kc. Validation of those regression models was done using Centralia, MO, field data in 2016. The MOPivot successfully created prescriptions to match system capacity of the management zone based on system limitations for center pivot management. Along with GIS data sources, MOPivot effectively provides readily available graphical prescription maps, which can be edited and directly uploaded to a center pivot control panel. The modeled Kc compared well with FAO Kc. By combining GDD and crop growth in the models, these models would account for local weather conditions and stage of crop during growing season as time index in estimating Kc. These models with Fraction of growth (FrG) and cumulative growing degree days (cGDD) had a higher coefficient of efficiency, higher Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency and higher Willmott index of agreement. Future work should include improvement in the MOPivot software with different crops and aerial remote sensing imagery to generate dynamic prescriptions during the season to support irrigation scheduling for real-time monitoring of field conditions.

Chemical Concentration and Spatial Uniformity of a Premixing In-Line Injection System Attached to a Variable-Rate Orchard Sprayer

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 1977-1987
Author(s):  
Zhihong Zhang ◽  
Heping Zhu ◽  
Zhiming Wei ◽  
Ramon Salcedo
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Duty Cycle ◽  
Spray Deposition ◽  
Injection System ◽  
List Type ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Chemical Concentration ◽  
Fluorescent Tracer ◽  
Distribution Uniformity ◽  
The Mean

HighlightsA newly developed premixing in-line injection system attached to a variable-rate orchard sprayer was evaluated.Tests were conducted to verify the in-line injection system performance using a vertical spray patternator.Concentration accuracy and spatial distribution uniformity were determined with a fluorescent tracer.Uniform spray mixtures were obtained for different spray viscosities and duty cycle combinations.Abstract. Pesticide spray application efficiency is highly dependent on the chemical concentration accuracy and spatial distribution uniformity. In this study, the performance of a newly developed premixing in-line injection system was evaluated when it was attached to a laser-guided, pulse width modulated (PWM), variable-rate orchard sprayer. The chemical concentration accuracy was determined with respect to spray deposition with a fluorescent tracer, and the spatial distribution uniformity was determined with spray deposits at different heights on a vertical spray patternator. Outdoor tests were conducted with 27 combinations of target chemical concentration (1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%), viscosity of the simulated pesticide (1.0, 12.0, and 24.0 mPa·s), and various spray outputs manipulated with PWM duty cycles. For each injection loop, the amounts of the chemical concentrate and water discharged into the mixing line were measured separately in response to preset target concentrations. The results showed that the measured concentrations were consistent across the patternator heights, spray viscosities, and duty cycle combinations. For all treatments, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of the measured concentration was 6.96%, indicating that the concentration accuracy of the system was acceptable. The mean coefficient of variation was 3.35%, indicating that the spatial distribution uniformity of the system was in the desirable range. In addition, there was little variation in chemical concentration for spray mixtures collected at different heights on the patternator. Thus, the premixing in-line injection system could adequately dispense chemical concentrate and water to produce accurate concentrations and uniform spray mixtures for variable-rate nozzles to discharge to targets. Keywords: Environment protection, Precision pesticide application, Laser-guided sprayer, Tank mixture disposal, Specialty crop.

scholarly journals Improved premixing in-line injection system for variable-rate orchard sprayers with Arduino platform

2019 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 389-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhihong Zhang ◽  
Heping Zhu ◽  
Huseyin Guler ◽  
Yue Shen
Keyword(s):  
Injection System ◽  
Variable Rate

Research on Low-Pressure Common Rail Electrical Control Injection System of Dimethyl Ether Engine

2011 ◽  
Vol 228-229 ◽  
pp. 702-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Tao ◽  
Guang De Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Test Bench ◽  
Saturated Vapor ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Test System ◽  
Common Rail ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Signal Acquisition ◽  
Engine Operation ◽  
Electrical Control

According to such properties of DME as high saturated vapor pressure, low viscosity and easy formation of mixture with air, a CPC (Controllable Premix Combustion) low-pressure common rail electrical control fuel injection test bench of DME engine is developed through this research. In addition, an overall design of the test system, hardware and software development of electrical control unit (ECU) and a test on the test bench are undertaken. The software of ECU is programmed by using real time modular programming. It has the advantages of flexible programming, convenient transplantation and wide extending possibility. Test results show that the injector switch timely, spray powerfully and pulverize perfectly. The software accomplishes many tasks such as signal acquisition as well as real-time control requirement of engine operation. Test result also shows the feasibility and good comprehensive performance of low-pressure common rail electronic system for DME fuel.

Variable rate spreader for real-time spot-application of granular fertilizer in wild blueberry

2014 ◽  
Vol 100 ◽  
pp. 70-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan S. Chattha ◽  
Qamar U. Zaman ◽  
Young K. Chang ◽  
Scott Read ◽  
Arnold W. Schumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Wild Blueberry
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