Development of an IOT based Solenoid Controlled Pressure Regulation System for Precision Sprayer

Abstract

Abstract: In recent years, Precision Agriculture has embarked a promising role in augmenting agricultural production and various farm mechanization. The present research was conducted to design and develop a Precision Spraying System (PSS) that is controlled by an Automatic Control System (ACS). PSS was equipped with micro-controller (NodeMCU), an analog pressure regulator, solenoid valve, diaphragm pump coupled with 12V DC motor; operated on a Iot platform BLYNK. A 3D printed full cone nozzle (0.2 mm orifice dia., cone angle of 95°) was designed to achieve desired spraying efficacy as per the canopy area and the need of the crop cultivated. Integration of PSS with ACS, intrigues a proper regulation on the valves (24V, 7.92W), the pump speed, pressure head and flow rates. The spray patternator test was conducted to evaluate the Delay Time Losses (DTL), application losses, effective spraying height and pressure. The test was conducted for 4 sets of increasing pressure (5.46, 6.24, 6.86 and 7.80 bar) and 3 sets of decreasing nozzle heights (890, 760 and 620 mm). The results revealed that the maximum average discharge collected from the Patternator tray was 0.45L/min (at pressure 7.80 bar; height 620 mm) and the minimum average discharge collected was 0.26 L/min (at pressure 5.46 bar; height 890 mm). The spray angle was found to vary from 72 to 82° and the percent (%) loss in discharge was estimated to maximum of 49.02% (at height 890 mm) and the minimum value of 11.76% (at height of 620 mm) suggesting possible wind drift with increasing nozzle height. Thus, the designed PSS is propitious to forefend all the ill effects of conventional spraying and it significantly reduces the DTL to 0.5 sec