Advancement of Anhydrous Ammonia Application

1. Advancement of Anhydrous Ammonia Application 4/21/2010

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. aNH3 Equaply System

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. aNH3 Equaply System • Monitor and Gauge tree

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Liquimatic system • Flow meter after the tower is metering only liquid which makes it much more accurate

17. 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

18. Questions?