ADVANCEMENT OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA

APPLICATION4/21/2010

Background Fertilizer use exploded after WWII

Plants built during the war to supply nitrogen for bombs; after war supplied ammonia for fertilizer

Most of ammonia applied in 1940’s was ammonium nitrate pellets, but this was highly explosive

Research on anhydrous ammonia started in mid 1940’s

1943 researchers at Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station developed a way of injecting anhydrous into soil

Fertilizer Prices At local coop in Grant county UAN - $280/ton

28-0-0 $0.50/lb of N

Anhydrous Ammonia $390/ton 82-0-0 $0.23/lb of N

Problems with traditional application systems

Do a good job of applying consistent amounts over a field, but not to each knife.

Poor distribution of ammonia is more evident in strip-till

Problems with traditional application systems

Anhydrous ammonia is a liquid under pressure

A small percentage of ammonia vaporizes when pressure drops

Majority of mass in ammonia is in liquid while gaseous ammonia is a large part of the volume Up to 90% of space inside metering valve can

be gas, making uniform distribution difficult

Remedies to the problem Traditional systems

Over-apply to compensate for rows with less ammonia

Application at an angle to planting rows Equal hose lengths between the manifold and

knife Unused manifold ports should be plugged

equally Upgrade to newer metering systems

Advanced delivery systems aNH3 Equaply System

Maintains constant pressure of ammonia distributed to knives

Allows for anhydrous ammonia to be distributed over a wide variation in tank pressure

Flow control system is used to assure rate of application and to allow for variable rate application

Liquimatic System No need for heat exchanger Works almost like a steam trap Can handle higher rates

aNH3 Equaply System

aNH3 Equaply System Nurse Tank

Requires a high flow globe valve at the nurse tank

For high rates, dual tanks are recommended Heat Exchanger

Cools anhydrous ammonia below its boiling point and condenses vapor into liquid

Pump increases pressure of liquid and lowers the boiling point

aNH3 Equaply System Pump

Uses a Hypro centrifugal pump with a hydraulic motor Avoids surges like in a piston pump

Pump keeps anhydrous ammonia at a liquid until it is split evenly at the manifold

aNH3 Equaply System Flow and Measurement Control

Signals from flow sensor go to a cab console which operates the servo valve

Can interface with AgLeader, Raven, and John Deere Greenstar II

Also uses a gauge tree to monitor flow to individual rows

aNH3 Equaply System Monitor and Gauge tree

aNH3 Equaply System Manifolds and Orifices

From servo valve, anhydrous ammonia goes to one or more manifolds that are controlled by an electronic on/off valve

From these manifolds, EVA ammonia tubing runs to individual knives

Connecting lines also go to gauge tree

Benefits of Equaply System

Accurate control of anhydrous ammonia application

Ability to achieve variable rates Decrease of streaking in fields Can be used in no-till situations

Liquimatic System Anhydrous Ammonia flows from tank to a

Liquimatic tower Tower has a metal dam in it making

incoming vapor and liquid move upward When pressure from vapor reaches a

certain point, a solenoid opens a valve and lets off liquid

This also keeps a head pressure on liquid ammonia, ensuring it remains a liquid

Liquimatic system Flow meter after the tower is metering

only liquid which makes it much more accurate

Benefits of Liquimatic System

Eliminates the need for a heat exchanger Allows for higher rates

Can apply up to 80 gallons/minute 60 ft applicator can apply 250 lb/ac anhydrous

at 12 mph

Questions?