Once again. MSD AG had to optimize many components of the system. Thus, we achieved our aim of making the container self-cleaning and hence creating minimal costs for maintaining the needed steaming quality even across numerous steaming sessions.
Apart from the material, we worked on the methodology, which, despite the relatively high throughputs, guarantees that all harmful plant material present in the soil to be steamed is completely killed off. Above all, absorption volume in relation to steam exposure time and quantity play an important role here. A patent has been filed for the new method. More information can be requested directly from MSD: www.msd-ag.de
]]>The final experiment took place in Durbach in the Baden region. There, ridges were raised for the experiment using heterogeneous soil. The breadth of the ridge was 75 cm at the top and 90 cm at the base. The ridge was shaped 30 cm high. The steamer cups used were organised on a 30×30 cm planting grid. The steaming spikes or spines were arranged in a lattice. The ridge was covered using a standard film. The steamings took place on a double-row ridge of 3 rm hood length.
An MS 200 steam boiler made by MSD Corp., Durbach was used to generate the steam with a maximum steam output of 250 kg/h at a working pressure of 0.5 bar and a steam emission temperature of 200°C.
In summary, the experimental arrangement was suited to the main questions raised. The spikes did not damage the film. No heat adhesion was observed – the same applies to contact points of the film with the steamer cup. In spite of observable hindrances like patches of too-wet soil, sufficient heat flow could be observed in the raised ridge. As expected, the highest temperatures of over 90°C were observed in the immediate surrounding of the steaming spike’s injection spot. Temperatures of at least ~75°C could still be measured on the ridge’s exterior. These temperatures are definitely sufficient to eliminate soil nematodes, soil-borne fungi, and weeds. It is assumed that soil fatigue could probably also be eliminated. Further experiments should confirm this assumption.
The official test report can be requested from Mr. Arno Fried at the Chamber of Agriculture, Office of the District Administrator, Karlsruhe (Landwirtschaftskammer des Landratsamts Karlsruhe).
]]>The system is designed as a semi-automatic solution. The spike-covers for sandwich-steaming are mounted to a hydraulic, lift- and lowerable carrier vehicle, which also has the steam generator installed. The result is a compact steaming unit, that can process three bank-rows at the same time, 30-40cm deep. The steaming time is dependent on the efficiency of the steam generator as well as the size of the covers and the desired steaming depth.
Video available on Youtube: https://youtu.be/huE-L2H-FhY
In any case, this solution facilitates highly efficient energy consumption. With a steam consumption of under 40kg of steam per cubic meter of earth during testing, this sandwich-steaming system with spike-covers can minimize heating oil consumption, converted to square meters, under 0,4 liters by square meter at a steam depth of a little more than 30 cm.
After steaming, the rows can be planted on the next day. The district administration of Karlsruhe will observe and monitor the growth and gain of the strawberry culture over the next three years. Results as good as from last years steaming tests are expected. We already reported on this: Click here for the article – An interview about the positive effects of superheated steam with strawberry cultures is found here.
]]>The new steaming system runs continuously. Using injectors, the steam is introduced at a depth of 10 to 30cm. At the same time air is siphoned out of the ground to achieve a quick penetration with the steam.
The test run took place at the strawberry farm Osterloh, between Bremen and Osnabrück, in the middle of June. Here, superheated steam using the steam boiler type S 2000 by MSD was generated and used. The new steaming system comes very close to the energy efficiency and speed of cover-steaming. Heating-oil consumption per square meter at a steam depth of 10cm is approximately 0,35liters. It is remarkable that the fuel-consumption per additional 10cm of depth is linear and doesn’t increase, according to first evaluations. At a steam depth of 10cm the machine has an area output of approximately 430 square meters.
At the Interspa Praxis in September an optimized version of the steaming device is expected to be presented. Additionally, the audience will have the possibility to inspect steaming results, in particular the effect on plant growth and gain of steamed areas.
]]>The goal of the development is a procedure that, in the shortest possible timespan, with the lowest possible personnel costs, can sanitize large amounts of earth from the introduced neophyte completely. The total costs should be significantly lower than 30 Euro/m³. For this, the appropriate heavy technology was used.
In this context, in the first step specially equipped tipping trailers are filled and alternatingly steamed using the low pressure steam boiler Type S 2000 of the company MSD (Möschle-Seifert-Dämpftechnik). The steaming procedure was done with an additionally fitted vacuuming-extraction system so that the steam can penetrate the contaminated ground more easily.
The second step used roll-off containers instead of tipping trailers, which were fitted with the appropriate steam distribution systems. In these, special sliding floors were used as well as the vacuuming-system. The hygienization goal was always reached. The soil was free of Japanese Knotweed after the steaming process.
On basis of this way gained experiences a final, further optimized steaming system will emerge in summer, surpassing the target of 20m³ per hour per 2 tons of used steam at minimal personnel costs. On this basis, in a period of 6 months up to 10.0000m³ of Japanese Knotweed contaminated soil will be sanitized.
]]>This solution was developed and put into a trial operation by a service team of Marten Barel Consultancy B.V., a well-known consulting company for hot steam applications.
The flower farm, which has successfully tested the new technology, specializes in high quality crops, especially amaryllis.
After the culture is harvested and all plants are pulled out from the substrate, a special steam hose is laid on the substrate along the longitudinal axis of the plant tray. The steam hose is extremely steam-permeable and, thereby, uniformly gives off the stream along the entire plant tray. The plant tray and the hose laid in the middle of it are covered with a heat-resistant steam foil whose edges are weighted with appropriate weighting hoses.
As soon as the steam boiler is connected and started, the substrate starts to be gently steamed. Since the steam is slowly guided through the clay substrate and condensed in it, the irrigation hoses installed at the bottom of the plant tray are not exposed to excessive heat. The steaming time is very short. In already 30 minutes you can sanitise a plant tray of up to 50m length when only using ~30-40kg steam per cubic metre. As the substrate shall not be moved or shifted, additional labour cost is minimal.
]]>The complete tractor-towed system has a steaming capacity of 800kg per hour. A special feature of its design is a large boom hood of more than 7 m length and a total area of approx. 18 sq. m. The system allows treatment of 180 – 200 sq. m soil surface per hour.
Video available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKMkzokNgF8
With this steaming system, propagation areas can be kept clean, in particular from the seeds of previous breeding strains, without using chemicals. In this way, several hectares will be annually prepared for breeding of new seed varieties.
The system was directly commissioned by its manufacturer MSD Corp. in a day. From the very first day, the system was effectively operated. Its design is largely autonomous. In arranged tanks, fuel oil level supply is enough for a full day of operation. The water is continuously supplied through a hose pipe. During the operation, the minimum water pressure is maintained by an installed pump system. The semi-automatic machine also has its own water treatment unit to ensure optimal water hardness.
]]>The steam hoods are raised and lowered by a hydraulic system. A special winch pulls the raised steaming hoods over the surface. Using this system, the farm can sanitise280 sq. m per hour and completely liberate the treated surface it from weeds, weed seeds, pests, soil diseases and fatigue.
In sandwich-type steaming, soil preparation is still a key factor of success for good steaming results. The surface must not be too moist. It shall be well loosened to the desired depth of steaming effect, at least.
For more information on sandwich-type steaming, please visit:
http://www.moeschle.de/en/sandwich-type-steaming#
The business – which is based near Stuttgart in the Federal state of Baden-Württemberg – had been operating successfully for more than 10 years using sheet steaming, and wanted to take a step forwards towards greater energy efficiency.
Under the guidance of MSD Corp. the business took the step and, instead of procuring a new sheet, it opted for two steaming hoods used in sandwich-type steaming. Instead of guiding the steam under a sheet which is weighted at the edges, the sandwich-type steaming method utilises a special steaming hood equipped with spikes, which drive the steam into the soil to a depth of up to 25cm. The business made the decision to initially operate the hood manually. This involves a single operator lifting and lowering the hood using a lever construction, and moving it while positioned on wide rollers.
The result was worth it. The savings generated in comparison to sheet steaming were close to 50%. Instead of almost 6,000kg of steam, the horticultural business only requires just over 3,000kg of steam per greenhouse with a surface area of 260m² and a steaming depth of approx. 25cm, for a target temperature of more than 80°C. This equates to a very cost-effective steam requirement of approx. 12 kg per m². Consequently, energy costs when measured in today’s price for heating oil are below EUR 0.5 per m².
]]>In contrast to the fully automatic machine, which operates in self-propulsion over the field without a driver, the semi-automatic, with the complete assembly including the appropriate high-performance steam boiler, is drawn over the beds by a towing vehicle. The system operates, however, in a similarly automatic way. In the current version of the machine, three beds can be steamed simultaneously with one hood. The three hoods are lifted and lowered hydraulically.
A video on Youtube can be watched here: VIDEO semi-automatic steam robot, 2016
The semi-automatic steam machine is available from MSD Corp., Durbach, in two sizes. The smaller version has a steam performance of up to 600kg per hour and can completely free a surface of up to 12m² of weeds in around 5 minutes with a steam depth of 4-7cm. The larger version of the semi-automatic has a steam performance of up to 800kg per hour and can completely disinfect a surface of up to 18m² in the same time and to the same depth.
The semi-automatic steam machine carries all the fuel oil it needs with it in a tank and supplies its own electricity via a hydraulic generator for steering and for the operation of the high-performance burner. Further information can be obtained directly from the MSD company: www.moeschle.de
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