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Making Thermotherapy Work in the Field Are We Ready Today?. Rex Clonts. Solar Thermotherapy W orks… BUT , can it Save the Industry ?. Small Tree Tenting . 3 day treatment time. Size Does Make a Difference!. Physical size Cost Foliage Terrain Weather - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Making Thermotherapy Work in the Field
Are We Ready Today?
Rex Clonts
Solar Thermotherapy Works…BUT, can it Save the Industry?
Small Tree Tenting
3 day treatment time
Size Does Make a Difference!
Physical size
Cost Foliage Terrain Weather Interfere
with normal practices
Treating Large Acres of Large Trees
Challenge
• Uneven Heating• Excessive Heat• Pulling Down the Row• Moving Row-to-Row• Uneven Terrain• Interference w/ Daily
Grove Operations
Solution
• Circulation Fans• Thermostatically Controlled
Vent• V-Ditch Track• Linked “2 Tree Modules”• Flexible Connection Joints• Efficient Strings 1/8 Mile
Long
Custom Greenhouse Modules
Will capture and hold solar heat in the 105*F-125*F range in commercial groves for any age or size tree up to at least 14' tall and will adapt for almost any grove, 5 acres to 5000 acres.
Effectively Heating with Convection• Convection ovens have become a
popular feature in homes the last few years.
• Regular ovens rely primarily on radiation from the oven walls, and to a lesser extent, on natural convection caused by temperature differences within the oven, to transfer heat to food.
• In contrast, the fans in convection ovens allow more heat to be transferred via convective heat transfer.
• Fans help distribute heat evenly around the food, removing the blanket of cool air that surrounds food in an oven, allowing food to cook more evenly in less time and at a lower temperature than in a conventional oven.
Heat Circulation
Heat will be uniform from 12 inches off the ground to within a few inches of the top of structure.
Fans circulating air through the tree
Controlling Excessive Heat
Powered by a thermostatically controlled blower.
Ridge Vent sealed with inflated tube
Controlling Excessive Heat
Self-venting even when ignored for long periods of time.
Ridge Vent open with tube collapsed
Heat Circulation
Monitoring temperatures in the top, the bottom and in mid-tree.
Digital Recording Thermometers
Top of Structure Temperature
Bottom of Structure Temperature
Linked Together into “Strings”
Capable of tracking down rows in strings up to 624 feet long (so that four "3-day setups" can complete a 1/2 mile long row).
Flexible Connection Joints
Uphill
Downhill
V-Ditch Tracks
Provides cross section strength. Allows strings to follow in a straight line regardless of topography including bedded or ridge groves.
Addressing ‘Real Grove’ Conditions
Flexible enough to be moved from row-to-row, though not location-to-location (therefore the number of Modules purchased for a location would be based on needs to treat 1/3 of that acreage annually for as long as need).
Strong enough to withstand normal Florida weather.
Low maintenance with an average depreciation life of >7 years.
Requiring only moderate management.
Making it All Work…..
For example, to treat 180 acres during a summer season: Requires 260 modules linked into 10
strings, each 1/8 of mile long. Covering 6,240 linear feet each “3 day
treatment setup“. Making 52 setups in 26 weeks of optimum
solar conditions. Operate with a crew of 6 men using 4
tractors.
What We Will Learn….
Gather data on tree response and fruit yields. Refine heating parameters.` Determine economic feasibility.
Module Costs (52 setups/year)Module Costs (52 setups/yr) per per treated per treated
for 1 module cost life year tree (52s) acre frame 1,250$ 25 50$ wheels 140$ 2 70$ covering 575$ 5 115$ fans, thermostat, wiring, vent blower 314$ 5 63$ vent envelope 195$ 2 98$ on-location erection 750$ 25 30$ TOTAL 3,224$ 425$ $4.09 $617.50
Other for 26 modulesgenerator 10kw 2,700$ 2 1,350$ anchors (3 ft. T posts) 10$ 10 1$ Sledge hammer, puller 20$ 10 2$
2,730$ 1,353$ $0.50 $75.56
Total Costs for 1 Module & acc 5,954$ 1,778$ $4.59 $693
Annual Operating Costs (7 months)Annual Operating Costs (7 months) 6 man crew hrly for per treated per treated
for 260 modules hrs/week rate 7 months tree (52s) acre Labor (6 man crew- 57hr / week) 342 $17 174,420$ Tractor Rental (four- 85 hp 4wd ) 60,000$ Gator Rental (two JD Gators) 10,500$ Fuel, gas and oil 60,000$ Management 15,000$ Total Annual Operating Costs 304,920$ $11.28 $1,703
Total Treatment Costs per per treated per treated year tree (52s) acre
Total Costs for 1 Module & acc $1,778 5.00 $693Total Annual Operating Costs $304,920 11.28 $1,703
TOTAL TREATMENT COSTS $306,698 $2,396
Total Treatment Costs per per treated per treated assume 3yr trmt year tree (52s) acre acre costs
Total Costs for 1 Module & acc $1,778 5.00 $693 $231Total Annual Operating Costs $304,920 11.28 $1,703 $568
TOTAL TREATMENT COSTS $306,698 $2,396 $799
What a difference a year could make!