Session: IMECE Undergraduate Research and Design Exposition

Paper Number: 113899

113899 - Cdf Analysis on Dispersion of Rural Agrochemicals in a Controlled Area, a Case Study (Work in Progress) 

Rural agrochemicals and their dispersion are a recurring case of concern in a country like Paraguay, where the agricultural sector represents more than 30% of its GDP. The regulations and laws applied to the agricultural sector in the country regarding the spraying of agrochemicals, as well as the potential pests that can affect the crops in the area mean that the local producer is forced to find an optimal point between the amount of agrochemical products used to care for your plantation and compliance with regulatory health measures for your workers and the environment surrounding the plantation (houses, schools, routes, towns, etc.).

For the reasons stated above, this study goes back to the application of modern engineering, the optimization of resources and the efficiency of work systems. This proposed analysis, is looking into developing a fluid dynamics (CFD) model applied to a controlled field (low-medium height plantation) that would analyze the spraying of agrochemicals. This is, to study the dispersion, range, and influence on the different environmental conditions. Thus, to evaluate their impact on the final trajectory of the spray droplets. The turbulent flow model used in this simulation is the k-ε model. The plantations to which the study is directed is an herbaceous and cereals of low-medium height type. It is important to achieve accurate and reliable data to be applied in actual field, this is, faithfully replicating the real situation of spraying in the field and providing exact and precise data on the general behavior of the spray droplets, difficult to obtain with a regular field measurement. Through satellite images, the characteristics of the terrain and the plantation that was used as the base field of study were acquired; the simulations were carried out evaluating the effect of the wind, humidity and temperature gradients in the field of study, basing them on the average values obtained in the area where the study is carried out through statistical studies and data.

At the end of the study, it is expected that the results obtained can be oriented towards the optimization and maximum use of the resources and machinery used in the country's agricultural sector, based on the premise that the natural environment of a field can determine a series of conditions that more than affect the plantation, can be used in favor of the farmer and the environment that surrounds his production, saving time and money while improving your agrochemical diffusion system, and more importantly, assuring this chemicals doesn’t reach to human settlements nearby.

Presenting Author: Jonathan Gutierrez Facultad de Ingenieria - Universidad Nacional de Asuncion

Presenting Author Biography: Student of the sixth semester of the Electromechanical Engineering career at the National University of Asuncion, Paraguay.
23 years old.

Authors:

Jonathan Gutierrez Facultad de Ingenieria - Universidad Nacional de Asuncion
Enzo Benitez Facultad de Ingenieria - Universidad Nacional de Asuncion
Mathias Ramirez Facultad de Ingenieria - Universidad Nacional de Asuncion
Jorge Kurita Facultad de Ingenieria - Universidad Nacional de Asuncion