Huntingdon 15th May 1997: Chavtrac demonstrate the Melroe Spra Coupe fitted with ESP at Michael Picton's Townsend Farm at Easton near Huntingdon on 15th May 1997. The Energised Spray Process has been developed by Melroe, manufacturers of the Spra Coupe in order to improve spraying efficiency and reduction of drift.
The standard Spra Coupe High Speed spraying system has proved to give superior results in cereals and broad leaved crops.
The ESP system has been developed in the USA by Melroe to improve the effectiveness of spraying chemical on crops where there are application problems with conventional sprayers. In that way, ESP is a compliment to the standard Spra Coupe. ESP will be most appropriate on applications such as high value vegetable crops, seed crops and on insect pests which are difficult to eradicate. These spraying situations in the UK are currently addressed by using high water volumes - up to 1000 litres/ha, coupled with strong air currents to disturb crop leaves and aid penetration into dense crop canopies. These type of sprayers are necessarily heavy and expensive to buy and to operate. Unless air blast systems are carefully operated they may be prone to increased drift and thus possible contamination of neighbouring crops. High volumes of water inevitably operate by spraying to runoff which means that a high percentage of the chemical is left on the ground.
The ESP system on the other hand allows the use of all droplet sizes down to medium to very fine - giving superb coverage at low water volumes, with minimal runoff. Fine droplets are currently associated with drift problems and poor penetration into the crop. The ESP system avoids these pitfalls by imparting an extremely powerful electrical charge to the droplets which are then attracted both into the crop canopy and onto the individual leaves of the target crop. ESP can often achieve full effective coverage of dense crops with low water volumes down to 50 litres/ha.
Electrostatic systems are not new of course, but previous systems have relied on induction charging where the spray pattern is projected through an electrostatic field, which imparts a charge to the droplets. These systems typically work at 5000 volts and will only charge extremely fine droplets below 50-70 microns. Each nozzle had its own electrode separately connected.
The ESP system however relies on an alternative principle of contact charging. The entire spray boom and nozzle assembly including pump, valves and a secondary tank are charged to approximately 40,000 volts using a single electrical connection to the spray pump. This simplicity means reliability and the high voltage means that larger droplets can be charged effectively. There is not only an acceleration towards the crop as a whole but also an attraction towards individual leaves. The charge - although at a high voltage is of extremely low power and is quite safe in operation. The whole system draws only 3-4 amps from the sprayer's 12v battery. Should conventional spraying be required then the ESP system can be switched off and the sprayer operates as normal.
ESP advantages are :- ESP allows the use of fine sprays giving increased coverage of crops with dense foliage without the usual attendant problems of drift and evaporation . Full coverage in dense crops with low water volumes, Reduced spray runoff and thus environmental impact. Lightweight sprayer with high output. Ability to use cheaper and safer contact chemicals . Less runoff means reduced residues on crops and on soil surface. Potential of chemical savings.
Market Placement :- The ESP system is initially intended to be the spraying solution for difficult spraying situations in high value crops and where drift and runoff might be a problem.
Availability. :- The Sprayer at the launch day is one of 40 prototypes built in 1996 for evaluation world-wide. Production of the first batch of production machines has now commenced and a limited number will be available for sale in 1997 with full availability for 1998. A production version of the ESP sprayer will be exhibited at Sprays and Sprayers Show in June 97.
Development :- Melroe purchased the patents for ESP from Ontario University in 1993 and have been developing the system since then. Whilst the principle of contact charging has remained unchanged Melroe have taken a laboratory novelty and turned it into a commercially viable and revolutionary spraying system. Millions of dollars have been invested in development of the ESP system and Melroe believe that ESP has a world-wide potential to revolutionise the spraying of intensively grown food crops.
Testing:- Testing has been carried out both in the USA and at Long Ashton in Bristol and also in France. UK tests will be taking place this summer to validate and expand previous results. Test results have shown at least 30% Drift reduction and up to 100% improved chemical deposition on top of leaves and over 400% more under leaves in certain crops.
Pricing :- Prices will be announced at Sprays and Sprayers 1997.
ESP will add around £10,000 to the price of an 18m Spra Coupe which will make an extremely competitive package for a specialist sprayer. ESP has been designed as an integral part of the ESP Spra Coupe and will not be available as an add - on kit or enhancement for conventional sprayers.
ESP is exclusively available with the Melroe Spra Coupe from Chavtrac 01495 756 451