With the pilot fires in Germany in mind, it is advisable to deal carefully with sprout inhibition products and their application.“You work at a high temperature with products that are flammable,” explains Ilse Eeckhout.Then some safety rules must be observed.Biox-M, Argos and 1,4Sight must be applied by fogging.Improper use can lead to adverse effects and even a fire hazard.Recently, for example, several warehouses in Germany burned out due to the fogging of the resources Argos and 1.4Sight with devices that were not sufficiently safe.Caution is advised, however, as high temperatures are produced during fogging and the sprout inhibitors themselves are flammable.Argos and mint oil are oily products and work at a very high fog temperature.The fog temperatures are important and differ per product.For mint oil it is 190°C with the electrofog and 195°C when used with the synofog.The fog temperature for Argos is about the same as for mint oil.1,4Sight must be fogged at 250°C with an electrofog and 280°C with the Synofog.To achieve this, an even higher temperature is required in the heating chamber of the appliance, which is close to the flash point.And therein lies the danger.PCA researcher Ilse Eeckhout therefore goes over the possible devices that can be used, and some points for attention when fogging itself.PCA researcher Ilse Eeckhout explains more about how to use the fog devices correctly.- Photo: PCAThe electrofog is a device for hot atomization.Especially Biox-M is often used with this device.It works with a capacity of 30 liters per hour.“That means that you need 2 hours to treat a warehouse for 1000 tons at a dose of 60 ml of Biox-M.”The device is electrically powered, which has the advantage that no combustion gas such as CO2 enters the shed.“The device does require some power, so this has to be taken into account,” warns Eeckhout.Especially Biox-M is often used with the electrofog.- Photo: PCAThe most commonly used for hot nebulization is the synofog.Just like the electrofog, this has a capacity of 30 liters per hour.The synofog is also electrically controlled, but requires more power than the electrofog.“There is a need for 28 amps and 380 volts.We see that many companies are struggling with a shortage of electricity to provide the device with sufficient power.A number of phyto traders have adapted to this and are bringing a generator with them.This is necessary, because not only does the appliance have to work, the rest of the shed also has to be supplied with power, for example for the fans to function properly.”If the power goes out, this entails additional risks.Eeckhout: “The appliance is very hot.If the liquid product then ends up on a hot pipe, a flash fire can occur, which can lead to a fire.”Handling the device must therefore be done with knowledge of the facts.You must be aware of the temperature settings and be sure that there is sufficient power available during the treatment.“The phyto trader who will handle it must therefore have followed training,” it sounds.After handling the fog device, it must be thoroughly cleaned.After all, oily products such as Biox-M and Argos can cake in the tube.“These residues must be removed after treatment.When the device is used next time, those leftovers can catch fire, give sparks and possibly be sent to the storage warehouse," Eeckhout said.“And then you definitely have to be careful with 1.4Sight, which is foged at an even higher temperature.Residues of Biox-M and Argos can ignite very quickly.”Ilse Eeckhout therefore advises to always use the same product with a device and not to exchange it.A third device for hot atomization is the crop fog.This device has a capacity of 60 to 90 liters per hour, and is therefore suitable for large warehouses with large parties.It has a long flexible exhaust pipe that can be brought into the shed.“This system is useful if the gas has to be brought into the shed at a great height, such as in a shed with cross ventilation.An electrofog and synofog are often not recommended, since it is not possible to work stably at height.The cropfog does not require any power.In addition, there is less risk of fire as there is a physical separation between the heating chamber and the agent inlet.The cropfog is useful if you have to bring the gas into the shed at a great height.- Photo: PCAOther hot misting devices are the swingfog and pulsefog, but these are not recommended for the new sprout inhibitors: the temperature cannot be regulated properly and the tank on the machine is too close to the heat source.“That is very dangerous”, Eeckhout admits.There is also the hot fog resonator, but there is no experience with that in Belgium yet.“It is already being used in the Netherlands.”An alternative is cold nebulization.Some devices are the Potatofog, Fotan starlet and Fontan mobilstar.The biggest advantage is that there is no fire hazard.These machines work on compressed air or with negative pressure.By means of a very fine nozzle, very small drops are created, so that they can be taken along with the ventilation.“We have little practical experience in this area.This storage season, a few growers did try, so we are monitoring them."The fog device must always be installed outside the shed.The pipe of the appliance then enters the shed through a hole in the wall or gate.“Work safely here too and finish the hole with rock wool or a stainless steel plate to prevent a fire hazard, especially if there is combustible material such as insulation,” it sounds.Placing the pipe in the pressure chamber is certainly to be avoided.“If the gas enters under the fans, the gas does not have time to mix with air and there is no homogeneous distribution throughout the potatoes.”The ideal position for the appliance is opposite the fans.This is no problem for warehouses with longitudinal ventilation.In large long sheds with cross ventilation it is recommended to use the cropfog on the wall opposite the wall with fans.Another option is to place a fog device at the gate, but to force the gas to the rear potatoes by only turning on the rear fans.The front fans can then be set up to direct the gas through the potatoes there as well.Finally, sufficient power must always be available.Make sure that cables are sufficiently thick, so that no power drop can occur.Agricultural life The Rural Publishers Rue Royale 100 1000 BrusselsPhone.subscription.: 02/730.33.09 Phone.Pub administration : 02/730.33.15 Tel.Classifieds : 02/730.33.17 Tel.Legal Service : 02/730.33.17© Rossel & Cie - 2022 — General sales conditions — Copyright — Privacy