Statistical quality control to emission uniformity in micro sprinkler with autonomous photovoltaic pumping

This work aimed to evaluate a microsprinkler irrigation system using photovoltaic energy without energy storage. The influence of photovoltaic pumping on irrigation was evaluated from the Emission Uniformity, Shewhart control charts and Process Capacity. The experiment consisted of two amorphous photovoltaic panels connected in parallel, directly connected to a water pump, where the flow of the pumping system was carried out through a ½” tube (main line), to the irrigation system composed of four microsprinklers. The voltage and current parameters were collected, and the power of the photovoltaic system was calculated, while for the irrigation system the pressures of the four microsprinklers were measured to later calculate the flow rate of the irrigation system. The experiment was conducted at the State University of Western Paraná, UNIOESTE, where 25 days of collection were carried out, in the open, at four different times, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, from 11:05 am to 12:05 pm, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm and from 3:05 pm to 4:05 pm . Power generation presented a low coefficient of variation throughout the day, which resulted in flow and pressure stability, culminating in an Emission Uniformity (UE) value qualified as excellent (93.66%) according to the ASAE. The values of energy generation, flow, pressure, and emission uniformity presented a Process Capacity (CP) value above 1.33, defining the process as capable and adequate throughout the analyzed period.

Development of test bench to determine the distribution of granular fertilizers in planting rows using spiral roller, two spiral rollers and fluted roller

The success of the application of granular fertilizers (GFs) in planting rows depends on the uniformity and performance of product dispensing systems, which are influenced by external factors. The objective of this study was to determine the outflow rates of two GF formulations (GF1 04-14-08 and GF2 04-30-10) using three types of fertilizer spreader—with one spiral roller (A), two spiral rollers (B), or a fluted roller (C)—and three operating speeds (1,11, 1.94, and 2.77 m s-1). The following parameters were determined in GFs: density, angle of repose, water content, and segregation (particle size). In the designed test bench, GFs were transferred from a reservoir to a spreader, and ultimately to a container, where they were weighed, and data were transmitted to the data acquisition system (DAS). A total of 7,560 outflow data points were collected (g s-1) and subjected to descriptive analysis of measures of central tendency, dispersion, asymmetry, and kurtosis, and Shewhart control charts were generated. Particle density and segregation were significantly different between the GFs, whereas the angle of repose and water content were not significantly different. The bench design and the DAS allowed measuring the outflow of GFs in different spreaders and demonstrated that this parameter was influenced by particle segregation. The segregation of GF1 was higher than that of GF2. The outflow variability at the speed of 1.11 m s-1 was lower, and the spreader with a fluted roller had the highest uniformity and was the most suitable for application with variable rates.