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Petroleum Fuel Burners for the Generation of Radiant Energy for Frost Control PDF

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PETROLEUM fuel burners for the generation of RADIANT ENERGY FOR FROST CONTROL By Francis Jefferson Hassler A THESIS Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan State College of A griculture and Applied Science in p a rtia l fulfillm ent of the requirements fo r the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of A gricultural Engineering 1950 i i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTR QDUGTI Q'J------------------------------------------- ................................- 1 Review of the Weed and Ilethods for Frost Control- 2 Wature of the problem ------------------------------------- 2 Radiation-type fro st --------------------------------------- 2 ilethods used for the protection of vegetation from fro st damage ------------------------- 5 Preliminary te sts a t Michigan State College- 7 Theory of the Emission, Transmission, and Absorption of Infrared or Thermal Radiation -------- 11 Q uantitative lav/s for blackbody radiation — 14 Transmission of infrared radiation --------------- 20 Absorption of radiation by vegetation ---------- 22 Previous Work and Present Status of the U tilization of Infrared Radiant Energy for the Protection of Vegetation from Frost Damage ---------- 24 Original investigations ---------------------------------- 24 Studies to develop a high capacity non­ powered liquid petroleum fuel b u rn e r----------- 27 Reflector studies -------------------------------------------- 29 EXPERIMENTAL WORK —--------------- 33 Studies to Improve the F rostguard ------------------------- 34 A study of liquid petroleum f u e l s ----------------- 34 I i i i Page An analysis of the burning characteristics of the F rostguard-------------------------------------------- 41 Experimental tria ls to improve the F rostguard------------------------------------------------- 45 The original burner— ----------------------------- 45 F irst m odification---------------------------------- 48 Second m odification -------------------------------- 50 Third m o dification ---------------------------------- 52 Discussion of r e s u lt s ------------------------------------- 55 Studies to Develop a High Capacity Non- powered Liquid Petroleum Fuel Burner ---------------------- 58 O bjective---------------------------------------------------------- 59 Procedure---------------------------------------------------------- 61 Existing non-powered liquid petroleum fuel burners — --------------------------------- 66 F irst tr ia l b u rn e r------------------------------------------- 68 Second tr ia l burner ----------------------------------------- 76 Third tr ia l b u rn e r------------------------------------------- 79 Discussion of r e s u lt s ------------------------------------- 81 Development of a Liquified Petroleum Gas Burner for the Generation of Radiant Energy for Frost C o n tro l------------------------------------------------------------ 83 O bjective---------------------------------------------------------- 35 Procedure---------------------------------------------------------- 86 I iv Page Discussion of resu lts ------------------------------------- 89 Summary----------------------------------------------------------------------- 97 C onclusions----------------------------------------------------------------- 101 LITERATURE CITED -------------------------------------- 103 ACKW CWLEDGIaENTS - ------------- -1 0 6 V LIST OF FIGURES Page Fig. 1 A comparison of the radiant energy d istrib u tio n from an oxidized steel surface with a theoretical blackbody--------------------------- 15 Fig. 2 Spectral energy d istrib u tio n as a function of tem perature--------------------------------------------------- 17 Fig. 3 Total radiation as a function of temperature- 19 Fig. 4 Diagram showing the principle of the inverse square lav; of radiation distribution from a point source of o rig in ------------------------------------- 21 Fig. 5 The effect of comparatively large reflecto rs on the d istribution of radiation from a straight surface ------------------------------------------------ 30 Fig. 6 Radiant energy d istrib u tio n from the F rostguard---------------------------------------------------------- 31 Fig. 7 The Evans F rostg uard----------------------------------------- 55 Fig. 8 Pressure heat-vaporizing type kerosene burner 42 Fig. 9 The arrangement of the burner and combustion chamber of the Evans F rostguard---------------------- 46 Fig. 10 Illu stratin g the f ir s t m odification of the F rostguard---------------------------------------------------------- 49 Fig. 11 Illu stratin g the second m odification of the F rostguard---------------------------------------------------------- 51 v i Page Fig. 12 Showing the position of the ceramic m aterial to stab ilize the burner for the Frostguard — 54 Fig. 13 Arrangement for testing non-powered liquid petroleum b u rn e rs---------------------------------------------- 63 Fig. 14- Apparatus for measuring the radiant energy d istrib u tio n from heater u n its ------------------------ 65 Fig. 15 Open pot b u rn e rs------------------------------------------------ 67 Fig. 16 Burning characteristics and radiant energy d istrib u tio n for the United Stove Company Orchard Heater --------------------------------------------------- 69 Fig. 17 Burning characteristics and radiant energy d istrib u tio n for an open-topped container ---- 70 Fig. 18 The Return-stack Orchard Heater developed at the University of C a lifo rn ia --------------------------- 71 Fig. 19 Burning ch aracteristics and radiant energy d istrib u tio n for the Return-stack Orchard H e a te r----------------------------------------------------------------- 72 Fig. 20 F irst T rial B u rn er-------------------------------------------- 73 Fig. 21 Burning ch aracteristics and radiant energy d istrib u tio n for the F irst T rial Burner -------- 75 Fig. 22 Second Trial B u rn er------------------------------------------ 76 Fig. 23 Burning ch aracteristics and radiant energy d istrib u tio n fo r the Second T rial Burner ------ 78 Fig. 24 Third T rial B u rn er-------------------------------------------- 80 v ii Page Fig. 25 Experimental propane burner units - - --------------- 90 Fig. 26 Burning characteristics and radiant energy d istrib u tio n for the 60° type propane burner- 91 Fig. 27 Burning ch aracteristics and radiant energy d istrib u tio n for the 32° type propane burner- 92 1 INTRODUCTION 2 Review of Reed and Methods of Frost Conti ol Nature of the problem One of the main hazards to fru it and truck ci ops is radiation-type fro st damage (26). This damage in ckludes la te m aturity of crops (due to la te planting), poor qua lity and quantity, and in some instances a to ta l lo ss of pi oduce. In the United S tates, losses because of fro st dam ge are more pronounced in states such as Florida and Cal if ornia where the citru s crop makes up intensive or highly -valued agriculture. The same is true for states that grccw truck crops and fru it orchards extensively. Michigan re presents th is type of agriculture and the annual fro st damsj ge in the State of Michigan is estim ated to range from ten \ o twenty m illion d ollars (6). Radiation-type fro st The earth receives its heat from the sun in t he form of radiant energy. This energy is absorbed by plad nts and transformed into sensible heat. At the same time that heat is being received, plants are radiating a part of th is heat back toward the sky. However, there is a net gair l on the part of the plants during a twenty-four hour peric d. This condition is brought about by the blanketing effe ctt of the 3 atmosphere on the earth, for the energy of the sun is emitted in short wave-length radiation which penetrates the atmosphere of the earth with l i t t l e loss, while the plants, having ab­ sorbed th is energy, emit i t in long wave-length radiation which is readily absorbed by the atmosphere and thereby resu lts in heat being added to the atmosphere; which at the same time decreases the net loss from the earth and plants. This implies th at, void of its atmosphere, the earth would become extremely hot during the day and extremely cold during the night which corresponds to the teaching of physicists in general. Therefore, the atmosphere serves as a trap whereby the earth retains sufficient heat to carry it through the night. The condition of the atmosphere, then, w ill greatly influence the net amount of heat gained by plants in any one period of time. For example, the absorbing characteristics of the a ir become more pronounced as the absolute humidity increases. Conversely, if there is l i t t l e humidity in the a ir, as on a clear night, the plants rapidly lose th e ir heat. Radiation-type fro st is common during the early and la te parts of the growing season. Its formation can be ex­ plained as follows on the theory of heat tran sfer. To set the stage for th is type of freeze, i t is required that there

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