EVALUATION AND PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR OPERATED KNAPSACK SPRAYER BY

USING 37 WATT SOLAR PANEL

1

Patil Ashish P (M- 130905), 2Geete Mandar H, 3Patil Amol P, 4Chavan Shivgauri V
Membership status: Annual Member

ABSTRACT
Various types of knapsack sprayers produce different impacts on agriculture in terms of
protection, use of chemicals and feasibility. These parameters describe their advantages and
disadvantages. Solar operated knapsack sprayer using 37 watt solar panel facilitate to operate it
on both modes independently i.e. on battery mode and on directly solar panel mode. Overall
model design provides weight of panel as well as weight of sprayer on operator shoulder, which
facilitate effortless operation. Solar panel provides shadow on the head of the operator which
gives protection from high solar intensity. Solar operated knapsack sprayer, sprayed liquid 2.5
hours more without changing its liquid head from battery power after 5 hours of spraying
operation were done in full solar intensity which ultimately provides spraying operation facility at
night. Rate of flow of liquid through sprayer is influenced by the liquid head. Sprayer is capable
of spraying the liquid 360 liter/hectare in 4.00 hours at a walking speed of 0.7 meter/second.
Discharge rate of sprayer is 0.0267 liter/second but there is a slightly chances of variation in the
discharge capacity due to lack of constant walking speed of operator during the field operation.
Keywords: Knapsack sprayers, photovoltaic, Electrical Power, Flow rate
1

1 Assistant Professor, C.S. College of Agriculture, Kirlos, Oros, Maharashtra.

Mobile No.
+919420007331, Email id- [email protected]
2
Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Sindhudurg, Kirlos, Maharashtra.
3
M. Engineer, Viraj Industries pvt.ltd, Shirala, Maharashtra.
4
Assistant Professor, C.S. College of Agriculture, Kirlos, Oros, Maharashtra.

INTRODUCTION
Pesticide use is an important aspect of the modern agriculture (Surendra Singh, 2007) to
protect plants by insects, fungus, virus parasites and weeds which are unfavorable for
agricultural plant growth. Sometime weeds can be destroyed by effective cultivation, but pests
and diseases have to be kept under control with chemical spray and powder application.
Knapsack sprayer is the best selection of the farmers for chemical spraying. Knapsack
sprayers are generally used for spraying low crops, vegetables and trees up to 2.5 meter height
(Surendra Singh, 2007).
Various types of knapsack sprayer produce different impacts on agriculture in terms of
protection, use of chemicals and feasibility. Knapsack sprayer practicability roughly described in
terms of human efforts, time consumption for the operation, health hazards, economical
investments and power consumption. The most prevalent types of knapsack sprayer in India
are mechanical type and battery operated type. Mechanical type sprayer requires operator to
continually move their hands in order to spray the liquid contained in the knapsack which
ultimately cause fatigue on the operator back, shoulder and the muscles of the hand. Battery
operated sprayer requires charging of the batteries before operation and its application is limited
where electrical source is not available.
Therefore article presents an innovative approach to develop solar operated knapsack
sprayer which will facilitate to operate knapsack sprayer pump on solar energy so it will
eliminate exhaustion of the operator, reduce charging hours of the batteries from the electrical
source and to evaluate the performance of the solar operated knapsack sprayer by using 37
watt solar panel.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The main parts of the machines are photovoltaic panel 37 Watt, 16.4 V DC, STC 25 0C &
1000 Watt/m2, the backpack 12 liters tank as shown in Fig 1. 12 volts, 7.0 AH dry lead battery,
12 volts, 2 A. battery operated water pump, in line fuse 3A, battery case, filter and sprayer
handle with lance and nozzle. The top opening with a cover is for filling and refilling of liquid. An
outlet orifice at the bottom of the tank for discharge of liquid, pipes strips of aluminimum metals
as fitting accessories.

Fig. 1: Photovoltaic panel and backpack arrangement.

Electrical power
Electrical power is defined as the amount of electric current flowing due to an applied
voltage. It is the amount of electricity required to start or operate a load for one second.
Electrical power is measured in watts (W).
Power = voltage x current.................... (1)

W =V A
Where, V = Voltage (V), I = Current (A), P = Power (Watt)

Efficiency of solar cells

Efficiency of a solar cell is defined as the ratio of the energy output to the energy input from
the sun.
PV Efficiency % =

Output Power (Watt)

100 .. (2)
Input Power (Watt )

Voltage produced ( v ) current developed (A )

100
watt
2
Corresponding solar intensity
area of t h e array(m )
m2

( )

The energy output (watt-hour) indicates the amount of energy produced during the day. Most
of the suns energy reaching a solar cell is lost before it can be converted into useful electricity.
The minimum amount of energy necessary to free an electron from its band varies with different
semiconductor materials. Since solar cells are unable to respond sunlights entire spectrum, the
solar cells cannot be 100% efficient. Another factor that limits cell efficiency is the inadvertent
recombination of electrons and holes before they can contribute to an electric current. The
natural resistance to electron flow in a cell also decreases cell efficiency. Its efficiency is also
affected by temperature. Solar cells work best at low temperature as determined by their

material properties. All cell materials give less efficiency as the operating temperature rises.
Thus, efficiency of the solar cell is affected by several losses. Some of these losses are
avoidable and other cannot be avoided under normal conditions of production and utilization.

Table1: Losses for retarding efficiency of solar cell

Sr.

Nature of losses

No.
1
2
3

Top surface constant losses

Losses due to reflection at the top surface
Photons not utilized due to their lower energy content than the

4
5

band gap
Excess energy of photons lost as heat
Quantum efficiency losses if thickness of the cell is less than the

minimum required thickness

Collection losses: to minimize collection losses better design need
to be developed
Voltage factor loss
Curve factor loss
Series resistance loss
Shunt resistance loss
Power left to be delivered

7
8
9
10

Contribution in
percentage
3
1
23
33
0.4
Varies
20
4
0.3
0.1
20 approximately

(Source: Alternate Sources of Energy, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi,
2007.)

Pumping efficiency
Pumping efficiency is defined as the ratio of power needed to deliver water to the power
supplied by the array.

Power needed

Pumping efficiency % =

dilever water (watt)

100
Power supplied by t h e array( watt)

... (3)
And thus,
System efficiency % =

( ) Pump effici ency ( )

100 )
( PV efficiency
100
100

Determination of flow rate (Q)

Q= A V ... (5)
av

.. (6)

Where,

Lit

m
Q = Flow rate of discharge (
) or sec
sec

A = Area of cross section of pipe

= Velocity of flow in pipe (

m
( 2)

sec

m
a = Area of the nozzle outlet ( 2)

v = Velocity of the flow at the nozzle outlet (

Determination of static head (Hstat)

H stat =hs+hd .... (7)

Where,
Hstat = Static head (m)

sec

.. (4)

hs = Static suction head

(m)

hd = Static delivery head

(m)

Determination of velocity head ( Vh )

V 2 s V 2d
.. (8)
V h=
+
2 g 2g
Where,
2

V s
= Velocity in suction head (m)
2g
2

V d
= Velocity in delivery head (m)
2g
g= Acceleration due to gravity, usually values 9.81

m
sec 2

Determination of friction head ( hf )

hf =

4 fLV 2
.. (9)
D2g

Where,

hf

= Head lost in the pipe

(m)

= Co-efficient of friction for the pipe

= Length of the pipe

= Velocity of flow in the pipe (

= Acceleration due to gravity usually, values 9.81

(m)

D = Diameter of pipe (m)

sec
m
2
sec

Total pump head (H)

2

V d
... (10)
H=H stat + h f +
2g
Where,
H = Total pump head

(m)

Pump pressure (P)

P=

F
... (11)
A

Where,

P = Pressure

F = Force

(N )

A = Cross section area of the pipe, (

2
m

A= d 2 (12)
4
Where,
d= Diameter of the pipe ( m
But, P=W H
Where,

W = Specific weight of the liquid

H = Pump total head ( m

Determination of flow rate (Laboratory Test)

A conical flask was used for collecting the volume of liquid discharged into it in ml per minute.
A measuring cylinder was used together with the conical flask for accurate measurement of the
discharged liquid. A digital time (stop watch) was used for the timing and the result recorded.
The procedure was repeated four (4) times and the varying liquid heads were noted. The mean
flow rate was calculated and presented in a tabular form.

Determination of application rate (Field Test)

A 12 liter capacity tank was filled up with a liquid. The tank was mounted at the back. The
electrical system was switched on and the liquid was sprayed using the pressuring of the
pump. The effective performance of the developed electrically operated knapsack sprayer was
determined by practical trials on the field. The field test was an open field measuring 4 m by 25
m. The operator walked within a space of 0.7 m per second through the test field as shown in
Fig 3. The discharged volume in liters per minute was recorded. The procedure was replicated
four (4) times and the mean value determined.

Fig. 3: Field test

Calibration of sprayer
Area of test plot = Length Breadth. (13)
Area rate of sprayer =

Volume rate =

Application rate (

Area of test plot (h a)

. (14)
Time taken(h r )

Volume collected(L)
.... (15)
Time(h r)
L
ha

Volume rate(
)=

L
)
hr

ha
Arearate of sprayer( )
hr

. (16)

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

Solar operated knapsack sprayer, sprayed liquid when the D.C. pump directly connected with
the solar panel. Liquid head of the sprayer fluctuated when the shadow of the field trees came
across the solar panel.

Solar operated knapsack sprayer, sprayed liquid 4 hours continuously without changing its
liquid head after battery were fully charged through 37 watt solar panel in full solar intensity for 5
hours before operation. This highlights the battery charging quality through 37 watt solar panel.
Solar operated knapsack sprayer, sprayed liquid 2.5 hours more without changing its liquid
head from battery power after 5 hours of spraying operation were done in full solar intensity
which highlights the battery charging quality through 37 watt solar panel during spraying
operation.
When the liquid head was at 320 mm, the corresponding discharge capacity was 1600 ml,
same like the liquid head was reduced to 300 mm, the discharged volume comes to 1485 ml,
again liquid head was reduced to 280 mm, the discharged volume drop to 1100 ml. It indicates
that the rate of flow of liquid is influenced by the liquid head.
Table 2 shows that the mean discharge volume is 3.6 liters; mean time taken to spray 100
m2 was 134 second. Discharge rate per second was 0.0267 Liter/second. The equivalent
hectare coverage of this device was 360 liters per hectare. There was variation in the discharge
capacity recorded due to lack of constant walking speed during the field test operation.

Table2: Field test (Application Rate)

Replication

Discharge

Time Taken

Discharge

Area rate

Application

Volume (liter)

(second)

Rate(Lit/sec)

covered

rate (Lit/ ha)

(a)

(b)

(a/b)

(m2/sec)

3.8
3.6
3.5
3.5
3.6

142
135
131
131
134

0.0267
0.0266
0.0267
0.0267
0.0267

0.69
0.69
0.68
0.68
0.685

1
2
3
4
Mean

CONCLUSION

380
360
350
350
360

Spraying operation perform by both waysOn direct solar panel mode- in which electrical energy comes directly to the sprayer for the
running of 12 volts, D.C. 2 A. water pump in line with 3A. fuse, with disregard of battery supply.
On direct solar panel mode, full sunshine hour with clear weather is needful and any shadow will
not come across the solar panel during operation.
On battery mode- in which electrical energy comes from the battery source for the running of the
D.C. pump, with disregard of electrical energy comes to the battery either from household
electrical supply or solar panel.
Solar operated knapsack sprayer, sprayed liquid 2.5 hours more without changing its liquid
head from battery power after 5 hours of spraying operation were done in full solar intensity
which ultimately provides spraying operation facility at night. Rate of flow of liquid through
sprayer is influenced by the liquid head. Sprayer is capable of spraying the liquid 360 lit/ha in
4.00 hours at a walking speed of 0.7 m/s. Discharge rate of sprayer is 0.0267 lit/sec but there
is a slightly chances of variation in the discharge capacity due to lack of constant walking speed
of operator during the field operation.
Overall model design provides weight of panel as well as sprayer on operator shoulder,
which ultimately provide effortless operation. Solar panel provides shadow on the head of the
operator which gives protection from high solar intensity. Solar panel facilitates to use it for other
applications. Solar operated knapsack sprayer having the facility of battery charging through
electrical source which may helpful during spray operation in rainy days.

REFERENCES

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Dr Sahay J. 2010.

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Rathore N S; Mathur A N; Kothari S. 2007. Alternate Sources of Energy. Indian Council of
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Rajput R K. 1998. A textbook of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines. S.Chand and
company Ltd, New Delhi.
Surendra Singh. 2011. Farm Machinery principles and Applications. Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, New Delhi.