CHENNAI: Ideas need not always be big; in fact simple ideas are better appreciated.Case in point: a group of three electrical engineering graduates who made a Hybrid Power Sprayer to ease farmers’ life.A final year project work of J Vivin, H Sukumar and T Thirumurugan, the sprayer automatically sprays the pesticides and insectisides using solar energy, thus reducing farmers’ labour.“The farmer should just fill the liquid in the sprayer, and then wear it and walk on the field,” says Vivin, native of Nagarkoil, who is preparing for ME entance examinations.The 30W solar panel that is attached above the sprayer (which will be on top of the farmer’s head) will convert the solar energy into power and run the motor attached, which, in turn, will pump the pestisides through atomiser, he adds. Interestingly, the solar panel also acts as a roof that protects farmer from direct sunlight.T Thirumurugan, another student in the group, says that the sprayer will reduce the time taken by a farmer in the field. “Usually, it will take over four hours to spray the pesticides in one acre, whereas using our sprayer a farmer can finish it in twoand- a-half hours,” he says.The sprayer can also save the additional energy which can be used at times when there is enough sunlight.Native of Jeyankondam near Kumbakonam, Thirumurugan’s family is into farming and hence, he knows the requirements.The students took less than a month to construct this sprayer. “We wanted to construct a less-weighing machine, so we bought a sprayer made of plastic.Getting the monocrystelline solar panel slightly delayed our project, because the suitable panel was not available here,” says Chennai- based H Sukumar.After a number of attempts, the students have managed to control the voltage that helps to control the motor speed and the pestiside flow. “We also planned to attach an FM radio and a socket for mobile phone charger with the sprayer, but we couldn’t concentrate on it due to time constraints,” says Sukumar.He feels if the cost of the solar panels come down, the sprayer can be used by masses.Professor Palanisamy of Bharath University, under whom the students developed the sprayer, says that they will soon apply for a patent. “The students worked very hard to make it possible. They tested different types of motors for the sprayer and finally selected diaphram motor as it could block the water reversal into the motor,” says Palanisamy.He adds that the university will develop it with the next batch students and produce in bulk numbers.The electrical engineering department is also working on lighting a classroom with solar energy.
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