“AUTOMATION OF CHEMICAL SPRAY IN KNAP SACK USING SOLAR POWERED

MECHANICAL SYSTEM AT BIU FARM AS A CASE STUDY”

BY

ALEBIOSU KEHINDE JULIUS

(MEC/18U/0682)

A PROJECT SUBMITTED

TO

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

NIGERIAN ARMY UNIVERSITY, BIU, BORNO STATE

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (B.ENG) DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

JULY 2023
 CHAPTER 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY.

In the North-East Nigeria, agriculture is one of the basic means of livelihood among
its people, and like every agricultural systems it is met with the issues of weed and pests
which hinders the healthy growth of planted crops. The presence of these weed and pests
causes poor crop yields and diseases which ultimately cause food poisoning to the final
consumers of agricultural products hence the agricultural economy is affected at large. As a
means to control these conditions, weed and pest control measures are implemented.

Chemical sprayers are largely used as a means to control weed and pest. The most
common type of sprayers used in the North-East Nigeria agricultural system is the lever
operated knapsack chemical sprayer due its cost and design, but its greatest limitations is the
variation in the spray flow-rate of the chemical from the nozzle of the sprayer, this is because
the operator has to constantly maintain pressure in knapsack by pumping the lever, this labor
intense requirement in its operation leads to fatigue of the operator and hence leads to
misapplication of chemical in weed and pest control in Biu farming operation. The major
design modification of this project in the knapsack chemical sprayer includes the installation
of a solar panel, rechargeable battery, a DC pump, a motor and a dual rechargeable system
(both by solar and electrical power source). By this modification, the project eliminates the
need for the use of lever, piston, diaphragm pumps and the need for manual pumping to
induce pressure in the knapsack chemical sprayer. This project offers a design modification
by using green house energy in the knapsack chemical sprayer design used in local farming in
order to improve weed-pest control, preserve the health of farmers by reducing the labor
effort required in operation, improve productivity and promote mechanized farming in Biu
and Nigeria at large.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROLEM

The current design of manual knapsack sprayers used in Biu farming operation is
labor-intensive in nature, time consuming and there is high variation in chemical application
due to the inability to maintain constant pressure in the knapsack sprayer by manual pumping
and use of fossil fuel to power the knapsack sprayer will only add to noise and carbon
emissions which is a major cause of air pollution.
 1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVE

To design a solar-powered mechanical automation system for a knapsack chemical

sprayer with enhanced spraying efficiency, coverage, and uniformity compared to traditional
knapsack sprayers. Reduction in labor requirements and improved user experience.
Minimization of fuel consumption and carbon emissions, leading to a more sustainable
agricultural practice. Valuable data and insights on the sprayer’s performance, efficiency, and
user feedback for future iterations. Use of green house energy in design to promote its
demand.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE

This project utilizes renewable energy from the sun (solar energy) to power the system,
hence it eliminates labor required to pump pressure into the knapsack chemical sprayer in the
case of the manually operated chemical knapsack sprayer. It eliminates the need for fossil
fuel in it operation in the case of mechanically powered chemical knapsack sprayers and also
eliminates noise during operation. It provides a greener and more sustainable alternative by
harnessing electrical and solar energy which results in significant reduction in cost especially
for large scale spraying operations. It ensures consistent, efficient and stable application of
chemicals during weed and pest control. This is particularly beneficial in residential areas,
gardens, or environments where noise pollution needs to be minimized. Solar-powered
sprayers generally require less maintenance compared to fuel-powered sprayers. They have
fewer mechanical components and do not rely on fuel filters or spark plugs. Regular
maintenance typically involves checking the condition of the solar panel, ensuring the proper
functioning of the mechanical components, and keeping the sprayer clean. Solar-powered
sprayers are built to withstand prolonged use and offer long service lives. They are designed
with durable materials and reliable components, reducing the likelihood of breakdowns or
malfunctions. Being the automated knapsack chemical sprayer can be dual charged (by solar
and electricity) it ensures that the knapsack sprayer can effectively be use regardless of the
availability of sunlight, hence it can be used in almost any weather condition or time of the
day.

1.5 SCOPE OF STUDIES

These sprayers are suitable for a wide range of applications, including agriculture,
horticulture, gardening, pest control, and weed management. They can be used in various
settings such as farms, orchards, vineyards, gardens, and greenhouses. Solar-powered
mechanical sprayers can handle different types of liquid chemicals, including pesticides,
herbicides, fungicides, and liquid fertilizers. They allow for precise and controlled application
of these chemicals, ensuring targeted coverage and minimizing waste. The sprayers can be
used on different terrains, including flat surfaces, slopes, or uneven ground. They are suitable
for a variety of crops, including row crops, trees, shrubs, and turf. These sprayers often
feature adjustable spray patterns, nozzle types, flow rates, and pressure controls. This allows
users to customize the spraying parameters based on specific requirements, crop types, or
target pests. Solar-powered mechanical sprayers provide consistent and even spray coverage,
resulting in improved effectiveness and reduced chemical wastage. The automation feature
ensures precise application, saving time and labor. The scope of this project is limited to the
pest and weed control in Biu farming specifically.

1.6 LIMITATION OF STUDY

The efficiency and operation of a solar-powered sprayer are partially dependent on

sunlight availability. Solar-powered mechanical sprayers may have a higher upfront cost
compared to traditional manual. The inclusion of solar panels, automation systems, and
advanced technologies contributes to the higher price point. However, the potential cost
savings from reduced electricity usage can offset this initial investment in the long run. its
operation is limited to the duration of the battery life. Although solar-powered sprayers
generally require less maintenance compared to fuel-powered counterparts, they still require
regular cleaning, inspection, and occasional repairs. The mechanical components and
automation systems may need attention or servicing over time. The size and capacity of the
sprayer may be limited compared to larger-scale sprayers powered by engines or pumps.
While they are suitable for smaller to medium-sized applications, larger or more extensive
spraying operations may require alternative solutions. Also due to the addition of various
component, the overall weight of this design increases significantly. Operating and
maintaining a solar-powered mechanical sprayer may require a basic understanding of the
technology and its components. Users should familiarize themselves with the manufacturer’s
instructions and guidelines for proper operation and maintenance.
 CHAPTER 2

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

The solar-powered mechanical automated knapsack chemical sprayer is an innovative

technology with several advantages and potential applications in agriculture. The design and
components of the sprayer involve the integration of a solar panel, energy storage
mechanism, and mechanical sprayer mechanisms. This allows for the efficient utilization of
renewable energy and automated spraying operations. The functions of the sprayer include
automated control systems and spraying pattern customization. These features contribute to
increased spraying efficiency, precision, and uniformity, which can lead to improved crop
health and yield. The key advantages of solar-powered mechanical automated knapsack
chemical sprayers are reduced reliance on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions, and potential
cost savings. By harnessing solar energy, these sprayers offer a sustainable alternative to
traditional manual or fossil fuel-powered sprayers. The solar-powered mechanical automated
knapsack chemical sprayers have the potential to revolutionize agricultural spraying
operations by offering sustainable, efficient, and precise spraying capabilities. Continued
research and development in this field can contribute to the advancement of agricultural
technologies and support the transition towards more environmentally friendly and
sustainable agricultural practices.

Knapsack sprayers are indispensable agricultural equipment for small and marginal
farmers for pest control because of affordability and ease of operation. Commercially
available knapsack sprayers are manual, petrol engine operated or battery operated. Mittal et
al. (1996) reported that among all the farm operations, power spraying (47%) was the most
detrimental because of vibrations transmission to human body parts. It results in early fatigue
and reduced work output of the workers. Bawa and Kaul (1974) found that the vibration
levels transmitted to specific body parts of the operator besides causing discomfort could be a
source of long-term health hazards. The increased heart rate with the vibration to the human
body in power knapsacks sprayer operation is also reported in a study by Gupta (1979). In
case of manual sprayers, the recommended lever strokes per minute are 20-30 and 10-25 by
FAO (1994 and 1998) and RNAM (1995), respectively. The working pressure and maximum
flow rate, variation in pressure at the nozzle should not exceed 10% of the recommended rate
for optimum performance. Maintaining a constant pressure is very difficult with a manual
knapsack sprayer because of lack of consistent efforts of operator due to fatigue. Without
pressure regulation, pressure fluctuates between the down stroke of the pump and the
upstroke, high on the down stroke and low on the upstroke (Miller and Bellinder 2001).The
lever operation induces fatigue to workers along with greater variation in spray pressure
results inconsistency of application which adversely affect pest control (Awulu and
Sohotshan 2012, Nag and Nag 2004). The maximum discomfort in the body parts
experienced in the lever-operated knapsack sprayer were in the left clavicle region, followed
by lower back, neck, left thigh and right clavicle (Ghugare et al. 1991). Tamilselvi and
Krishnan (2016) evaluated two commercially available sprayers namely knapsack sprayer
and rocker sprayer with nine male subjects for the study. Heart rate and operating energy
requirement for ergo refined knapsack and rocker arm sprayers were observed as 93-120
beats/min, 97-120 beats/min, and 18.86- 24.31 kJ/min, 19.27-25.54 kJ/min respectively. With
ergo refinement knapsack sprayer and ergo refined rocker sprayer the energy expenditure
reduced by 7% and 8%, oxygen consumption as percentage of VO 2 max by 19% and 23%,
HR results gave a reduction of 22% and 23%, ODR results reduced by 4% and 5% and BPDS
score indicated a reduction of 13% to 12% respectively from the conventional sprayers.
Pravin et al. (2014) analyzed various postures of farm worker during the operation of
knapsack sprayer with modules of CATIA; Human Builder, Human Activity Analysis and
Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) analysis. In their study, with handle improvement
the fatigue reduced.
In the North-East Borno State, harsh weather conditions also inhibits the efficient
work of operator because of very high temperatures and hence farmers can barely execute
their work as per technical requirements. Ultimately, the spray quality and pattern get
affected and farmers are unable to harness the benefit of pesticide application even after
investing cost and efforts. Commercially available battery operated sprayers have operational
constraints namely choking of nozzle, poor quality of spray, high human effort, low field
capacity, uncertainty of grid power availability and deep discharge of battery etc. It was
estimated that about 50-80% of applied pesticide is wasted due to poor spray machinery and
inappropriate application methods. During spraying, farmers swing the spray nozzle head. It
results in uneven application of pesticides making the operation less efficient and
uneconomical. The non-uniform pesticide distribution results in phyto-toxicity (due to over
dosing) and resistance (due to under dosing) of pests. The man-machine interaction is of
utmost importance for performance of manual operations. Furthermore there is need for
pragmatic approach to understand safety and health issues of the farming community engaged
in agriculture. In light of the facts mentioned above, a solar powered knapsack sprayer was
designed and developed.