We are in South Africa in the Eastern Cape region, and precisely in the area known as Langkloof, a valley between the Kamanasie and Kouga mountains in the north, and the Outeniqua- Langkloof and Tsitsikamma mountains in the south. It is the second largest fruit production area in South Africa and apples and pears are the main agricultural products.

Mr. Rademeyer tells us that his farm is 140 ha in extent, of which 80 ha  are planted with apples and the remaining with pears.

He was introduced to Martignani electrostatic machines by their spray technical adviser of 30 years, Mr. Billy Swiegelaar.

After careful analysis of their requirements and of the possible choice of machines, they decided to purchase, within 6 months, 3 x 1500 litre “Martignani” Electrostatic Sprayer B612 Turbo 2, one in December 2009, and one each in February and May 2010, which are now working full time.

Mr. Rademeyer has supplied us with the results of his careful reports on the efficiency of the machines and on the advantages achieved by using the “Martignani” Electrostatic mist blowing system in his farm vs. the conventional air blast sprayers, and the numbers speak for themselves:

Time/Labour saving: 15%

Water Saving (l/ha applied with the Martignani): 40% (Important remark: Vast areas of Langkloof  valley are currently heavily affected by drought)

Chemicals saving: 15% (aiming to 35%)

Furthermore he kindly showed us the modification he had made to the spray heads lay-out and protection plates added to the machine for their orchards to avoid damages
to the heads (see pictures).

We thanked Mr. Rademeyer for his kindness and cooperation and for having shared with us the modification made to the machines, as we, at Martignani, appreciate very much the input
we receive from our clients concerning possible improvements.

For us it is of fundamental importance to constantly develop and improve our machines.

It is our mission to supply products that can help the farmer to achieve the best possible results according to the requirements of the person who has put his trust in Martignani
and our machines.

A few images of one of  Rademeyer’s farm Electrostatic mist blower

Related posts:

1. Dr. Massimo Randi of the Randi Farms S.S.

Energy Conveyance Service and Telecommunications,
Supply Centre of the Conveyance
Network – Travaux du Mans

128, Avenue Felix Geneslay,
72100 Le Mans – FRANCE
Tel. 43.84.72.33 E.D.F.
R.C. Paris B 552 081 317

=============================================

Person in charge:
Mr MAIRESSE

To the
BRICAUD ESTATE Techno agricultural
570, Rue du Maréchal Foch 44370
V A R A D E S  -  FRANCE
Attn.: Mr. BRICAUD

=============================================

Le Mans, July 6th, 1989

Re: Electrostatic Mist-Blowing

Dear Sirs,

We wish to thank you for making available the equipment for spraying orchards with the electrostatic mist-blowing system.
A range of tests were carried out on our request at the E.D.F. High Voltage laboratory in Renadières (Moret sur Loing) with a view to answering the following questions:

Can the electric field caused by a 400 kV line over the fruit trees affect the efficiency of the electrostatic mist-blower? Is there any danger involved if the conductor cables are directly wetted by the mist-blower?

We would like to mention that the questions derive from the operating principle of the electrostatic mist-blower: charging the chemical droplets with a negative electrical charge, so that when they reach the trees, having an opposite polarity (+) they are attracted by the two faces of the leaves.

Some hundred tests were carried out, reproducing the real field conditions:

electrical field on the ground below a 400 kV line perpendicularly to its lowest point = 5.4 kV/m (1)
at 1.5 m from the ground below a conductor placed 8.5 m from the ground (minimum height and maximum operating temperature of the 400 kV lines).

Horizontal and vertical slot rain gauge; to measure the volumes of chemicals caught during a 10 minutes’ treatment. The rain gauge was connected to the ground and placed at a height of 3 to 5 m over the mist-blower.

At comparable weather conditions (in particular wind speed and direction) the tests showed that:
the electrostatic system is efficient (the quantity of product caught is 30 to 40% higher than with non-electrostatic systems)
the electric field of a 400 kV line does not modify the efficiency of the mist-blower.

As concerns the safety in use of electrostatic mist blowers below 400 kV lines, more tests were carried out and the most unfavourable conditions were chosen (electric field 6.8 kV/m at 1.5 m from the ground, perpendicularly to the lowest point of the conductor instead of 5.4 kV /m below the lines; chemical product with the highest conductivity, maximum spraying rate by the blower, straight wetting of the conductor, mist blower connected to the ground).
The very low current levels through the blower were always below the values that might cause pathological effects as listed in the C.E.I. 479 publication.

(1) Max. value affecting a small surface below the line (500 sq.m. for a length of 500 m).
(2) C.E.I. = International Electro technical Committee

As a conclusion, the presence of a 400 kV line over the orchards does not affect the efficiency of the treatments with electrostatic mist blowers and poses no danger.

Thanking you again for your cooperation, we are

Yours sincerely,

The Le Mans Base Chief
J. P. MAIRESSE

Related posts:

1. The Action of Electrostatic Mist-Blowing