DIY a frost protection wind machine

frostprotectbuilder · May 1, 2021

Good afternoon everybody,

I'm looking into starting a project. I want to build a wind machine to protect my orchard fields from frost damage.
Those that are currently buyable are a lot-lot overpriced in my opinion.

I'm looking into building a small fixed electronic first, to make all the mistakes in small scale. I mean a really small one, like a demo one.
After that I want to build a real scaled (6-7 meters tall) fixed wind machine and a tractor powered towed one, to suck upper air into lower colder parts.

I want to make this topic to share ideas and to share the progress that I am making.

Anyone every tried doing something like this? Do anyone have documentations of already working wind machines?

TechWise · May 1, 2021

What does it actually do? Just suck air in from 6m up and blow it out at ground level? If so, why does it have to be electronic?

manhill · May 2, 2021

frostprotectbuilder said:
Good afternoon everybody,

I'm looking into starting a project. I want to build a wind machine to protect my orchard fields from frost damage.
Those that are currently buyable are a lot-lot overpriced in my opinion.

I'm looking into building a small fixed electronic first, to make all the mistakes in small scale. I mean a really small one, like a demo one.
After that I want to build a real scaled (6-7 meters tall) fixed wind machine and a tractor powered towed one, to suck upper air into lower colder parts.

I want to make this topic to share ideas and to share the progress that I am making.

Anyone every tried doing something like this? Do anyone have documentations of already working wind machines?

2nd hand Florida swamp boat then you have the added bonus of sailing it in the summer.

Kidds · May 2, 2021

Often wondered if an orchard sprayer could be adapted in some way, even if it meant 7m of tubing feeding it from above.

frostprotectbuilder · May 2, 2021

As warmer air lifts up, and colder air lowers to the groups. Like its +3 celsius at 6-7 meters high, and - 1 at ground level.

The turbine mixes the higher warmer air with the lower colder, so the lower goes to 0 - plus 1 celsius. So the flowers won't frost.

frostprotectbuilder · May 2, 2021

manhill said:
2nd hand Florida swamp boat then you have the added bonus of sailing it in the summer.

Hahaha, good idea. But here in Europe there are not a lot of swamps

frostprotectbuilder · May 2, 2021

Kidds said:
Often wondered if an orchard sprayer could be adapted in some way, even if it meant 7m of tubing feeding it from above.

There is something like that developed here in Hungary.

Here is the video

But it's also like 33 000 EUR here, which is crazy depending on how much the production cost could be on that..

manhill · May 2, 2021

frostprotectbuilder said:
Hahaha, good idea. But here in Europe there are not a lot of swamps

Put it on wheels and GPS steering system. Job done!

manhill · May 2, 2021

manhill said:
Put it on wheels and GPS steering system. Job done!

Plus joy rides for the public, could be a gold mine.

Deutzdx3 · May 2, 2021

Look at a fog dragon. Make some thing like that. Put straw bale in it, wood chip etc and drive it around your trees.

pine_guy · May 2, 2021

I have a blower/fan from my old haylage silo, it used to blow grass in and suck haylage out of an 80ft silo. Moves a lot of air and worked by the grass travelling in the air flow rather than physically throwing the grass.
Sounds like it might do what you want. Also have a one for spares/repair. And a load of pipe. Driven off a tractor pto. I don’t want a lot for it, just seems a shame to scrap it.

pine_guy · May 2, 2021

pipe/ducting

I have a selection of pipe that was used with a haylage tower we took down last year. It is much heavier duty than ventilating ducting. I think it is 17" but need to check exact measurements. Mixture of lengths, straight and bends. There will be some clamps to join them. The pieces with cut ends...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

That’s the pipe, the fan is buried in a shed. So can’t really photo it.

frostprotectbuilder · May 3, 2021

Do you think it is possible to set 3-4 orchard sprayer turbine in a row to move air? Also reverse the way it is turning. So instead off pulling air in from the back and push it out, it would suck in air and push it out in the back.

Kidds · May 3, 2021

frostprotectbuilder said:
Do you think it is possible to set 3-4 orchard sprayer turbine in a row to move air? Also reverse the way it is turning. So instead off pulling air in from the back and push it out, it would suck in air and push it out in the back.

It is probably possible but those fans take a fair bit of power, you would need 3-4 tractors. The fins on the fans are designed and shaped to blow the other way so reversing them would reduce efficiency.

Deutzdx3 · May 3, 2021

View attachment 958600

If you look at the size of the fan, crop sprayer ones aren’t large enough. Especially as previously said, turning it the opposite way will reduce efficiency. The blades are Male to be progressive for maximum airflow in a certain direction.

Some thing more refined than these will be your cheapest option.

Kidds · May 3, 2021

Deutzdx3 said:
View attachment 958600

If you look at the size of the fan, crop sprayer ones aren’t large enough. Especially as previously said, turning it the opposite way will reduce efficiency. The blades are Male to be progressive for maximum airflow in a certain direction.

Some thing more refined than these will be your cheapest option.

Would they be as effective at keeping frost off as they are at getting rid of your prunings?
They look a bit clutching at straws to me.

Deutzdx3 · May 3, 2021

Kidds said:
Would they be as effective at keeping frost off as they are at getting rid of your prunings?
They look a bit clutching at straws to me.

I have little knowledge of them tbh, from a couple of vineyard dealers we we supply machines to say they are very popular in Europe, fogdragon being the biggest, they create a thermal barrier in the vineyard with smoke and heat which displaces the cold air at ground level. If wood chip is burnt they don’t smoke. Got to be better than candles they currently use, there is a huge shortage and the price has gone up to £20 plus per candle from what I’m told. My interest is that I’ve been asked to develop a mobile machine for a local vineyard. Seems to be a big problem this year due to the inclement weather we’re currently having.

Kidds · May 3, 2021

Deutzdx3 said:
I have little knowledge of them tbh, from a couple of vineyard dealers we we supply machines to say they are very popular in Europe, fogdragon being the biggest, they create a thermal barrier in the vineyard with smoke and heat which displaces the cold air at ground level. If wood chip is burnt they don’t smoke. Got to be better than candles they currently use, there is a huge shortage and the price has gone up to £20 plus per candle from what I’m told. My interest is that I’ve been asked to develop a mobile machine for a local vineyard. Seems to be a big problem this year due to the inclement weather we’re currently having.

I have heard of serious damage on the continent to vineyards this year. My orchards are not having a great time of things but too early to say what size crop there might be yet.
If I was using frost protection it would have been every night for more than 2 weeks, that would literally be exhausting.

Courier · May 3, 2021

You have probably already come across this - -

Gallery - New Zealand Frost Fans Ltd

View some of our FrostBoss® Frost Fans in action and various set ups here. Our Frost Fans are able to protect crops from frosts.

www.nzfrostfans.com

farmerm · May 3, 2021

I visited a vineyard in NZ where they employed a couple of helicotopters to do the job!

DIY a frost protection wind machine

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page