AU2022209317A1 - Frost fan assembly - Google Patents

Frost fan assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2022209317A1
AU2022209317A1 AU2022209317A AU2022209317A AU2022209317A1 AU 2022209317 A1 AU2022209317 A1 AU 2022209317A1 AU 2022209317 A AU2022209317 A AU 2022209317A AU 2022209317 A AU2022209317 A AU 2022209317A AU 2022209317 A1 AU2022209317 A1 AU 2022209317A1
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Australia
Prior art keywords
fan assembly
burner
frost fan
tower
propeller
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Pending
Application number
AU2022209317A
Inventor
Bruce Forlong
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of AU2022209317A1 publication Critical patent/AU2022209317A1/en
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G13/00—Protecting plants
    • A01G13/06—Devices for generating heat, smoke or fog in gardens, orchards or forests, e.g. to prevent damage by frost
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G13/00—Protecting plants
    • A01G13/08—Mechanical apparatus for circulating the air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D80/00—Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
    • F03D80/60—Cooling or heating of wind motors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/20—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus
    • F03D9/22—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus the apparatus producing heat
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G15/00—Devices or methods for influencing weather conditions
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/40—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D7/00—Controlling wind motors 
    • F03D7/02—Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor
    • F03D7/04—Automatic control; Regulation
    • F03D7/042—Automatic control; Regulation by means of an electrical or electronic controller
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D80/00—Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
    • F03D80/80—Arrangement of components within nacelles or towers
    • F03D80/82—Arrangement of components within nacelles or towers of electrical components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/30—Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/32—Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations on moving objects, e.g. vehicles

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Abstract

There is provided a frost fan assembly comprising a tower, a propeller at or near the top of the tower, a burner near the propeller, a blower configured to blow air towards the burner such that a pressurised air flow is provided to the burner. The burner is configured to heat the pressurised air flow before it is blown by the propeller. There is also provided a method of operating a frost fan assembly, the method comprising providing a frost fan, blowing a pressurised air flow through the conduit such that the pressurised air flow is provided to the burner, using the pressurised air flow to support combustion such that a heated air flow is provided by the burner, directing the heated air flow towards the propeller, and directing the heated air flow to the crops by the propeller. 2/12 51 11 9) FIGURE 2

Description

2/12
51
11
9)
FIGURE 2
FIELD OFTHEINVENTION This invention relates to a frost fan assembly.
BACKGROUND Cold weather conditions, such as frosts, can cause damages to crop(s) and plants. Under normal atmospheric conditions, air temperature usually decreases with height with warmer air near the earth and cooler air away from the earth. During the day, the earth absorbs heat from the sun which is then released at night. Sometimes the release of heat reverses the normal behaviour of temperature in the atmosphere and creates an 'inversion layer', in which a layer of cool air near the ground surface is covered by a layer of warm air in the atmosphere.
A frost fan can be used to draw the warm air from the inversion layer and direct the warm air towards the crops to prevent the cold air causing damage to the crop. When the inversion layer is weak or negligible, the inversion layer is only slightly warmer than the air near the ground surface. That is, both the layer of air near the ground surface and the air in the inversion layer are cold air that will damage the crop(s) and plants. As a result, the frost fan sometimes makes frost events worse by continuously blowing cold air onto crop fields.
It is an object of at least the preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a frost fan assembly and/or method of operating a frost fan assembly that provides warm air to crop(s) and plants, and/or to at least provide the public with a useful alternative.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect, there is provided a frost fan assembly comprising: a tower, a propeller at or near the top of the tower, a burner near the propeller, a blower configured to blow air towards the burner such that a pressurised air flow is provided to the burner, wherein the burner is configured to heat the pressurised air flow before it is blown by the propeller.
In an embodiment, the burner is located behind the propeller.
In an embodiment, the burner is located upstream of the propeller.
In an embodiment, the blower is located at or near the bottom of the tower and is connected to the tower to deliver the pressurised air to the burner.
In an embodiment, the frost fan assembly further comprises of a plurality of temperature sensors.
In an embodiment, at least one sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors is located at or near the top ofthe tower and at least another one sensor ofthe plurality of temperature sensors is located near the base of the tower.
In an embodiment, the frost fan further comprises of a control system configured to determine the strength/temperature of an inversion layer based on the input from the plurality of temperature sensors.
In an embodiment, the control system is configured to control the blower and burner based on the strength/temperature of the inversion layer.
In an embodiment, the burner comprises of a pressurised oil burner.
In an embodiment, the burner comprises of a combustion chamber, and an exhaust delivery assembly.
In an embodiment, the oil burner is a diesel burner.
In an embodiment, the exhaust delivery assembly is angled towards the frost fan.
In an embodiment, the height of the frost fan and burner are adjustable on the tower.
In an embodiment, the frost fan assembly is fixed.
In an embodiment, the frost fan assembly is collapsible.
In an embodiment, the tower has sections such that the joint between each section allows the tower to collapse.
In an embodiment, the frost fan assembly is transportable.
In an embodiment, the frost fan assembly is transportable on a chassis or vehicle.
In an embodiment, the propeller comprises of a plurality of blades.
In an embodiment, the frost fan assembly comprises of a main motor configured to drive the propeller.
In an embodiment, the frost fan assembly comprises of a slew motor driven by the main motor to rotate the burner and propeller about the vertical axis of the tower.
In an embodiment, the frost fan assembly comprises a lower slew assembly configured to rotate the tower about the vertical axis of the tower.
In an embodiment, the lower slew assembly comprises a slew motor configured to drive a lower slew ring.
In accordance with a second aspect, there is provided a method of operating a frost fan assembly, the method comprising: providing a frost fan of the first aspect, blowing a pressurised air flow through the conduit such that the pressurised air flow is provided to the burner, using the pressurised air flow to support combustion in the burner such that a heated air flow is provided by the burner, directing the heated air flow towards the propeller, and directing the heated air flow to the crops by the propeller.
In an embodiment, the method comprises of determining the strength/temperature of an inversion layer based on the input from the plurality of temperature sensors.
In an embodiment, the method comprises of rotating the burner and propeller about the vertical axis of the tower.
In an embodiment, the method comprises rotating the tower about the vertical axis of the tower.
The term 'comprising' as used in this specification and claims means 'consisting at least in part of'. When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which include the term 'comprising', other features besides the features prefaced by this term in each statement can also be present. Related terms such as 'comprise' and 'comprised' are to be interpreted in a similar manner.
It is intended that reference to a range of numbers disclosed herein (for example, 1 to 10) also incorporates reference to all rational numbers within that range (for example, 1, 1.1, 2, 3, 3.9, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9 and 10) and also any range of rational numbers within that range (for example, 2 to 8, 1.5 to 5.5 and 3.1 to 4.7) and, therefore, all sub-ranges of all ranges expressly disclosed herein are hereby expressly disclosed. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.
To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting. Where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.
As used herein the term '(s)' following a noun means the plural and/or singular form of that noun.
As used herein the term 'and/or' means 'and' or 'or', or where the context allows both.
The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a frost fan assembly. Figure 2 is a side view of the frost fan assembly of figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top of the frost fan assembly showing details of the burner assembly and the propeller. Figure 4 is a front view of the top of the frost fan assembly of figure 3. Figure 5A is a side view of the frost fan assembly of figure 3. Figure 5B is the other side view of the frost fan assembly of figure 3. Figure 6 is another perspective view of the top of the frost fan assembly showing details of the burner assembly and the propeller showing the hidden detail of the burner assembly. Figure 7 is another perspective view of the top of the frost fan assembly. Figure 8 is a perspective view from the front of another embodiment of a frost fan assembly in a folded configuration. Figure 9 is a perspective view from the rear of the frost fan assembly of figure 8. Figure 10 is a perspective view from the front of the frost fan assembly of figure 8 in an upright configuration. Figure 11 is a schematic of another embodiment of a frost fan assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOFAPREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to figures 1 to 7, a first preferred embodiment of a frost fan assembly is shown, indicated generally by reference number 1. The frost fan assembly 1 has a tower 3 with a propeller 5 at the top of the tower 3. The frost fan assembly 1 also has a burner assembly 7 located near the propeller 5.
Figure 1 shows a blower 9 at the base of the tower 3. The blower 9 is configured to blow air through the interior of the tower 3 such that a pressurised flow of air is provided to the burner 13. The burner 13 is configured to use the pressurised air flow to support combustion in the burner 13 such that a heated air flow is provided by the burner 13, which is then directed toward the propeller 5 via a combustion chamber and an exhaust delivery assembly 45 or outlet manifold 15. The propeller 5 then directs the heated flow of air towards the crops.
The embodiment shown in figures 1 to 7 is shown as an assembly in which the blower 9 and burner assembly 7 are retro-fitted to an existing frost fan tower. However, a frost fan assembly 1 may be manufactured as a new assembly.
The various components of the frost fan assembly will now be described. Figure 1 shows the blower 9 located at the base of the tower 3, close to the ground. The blower 9 is a centrifugal fan with an inlet configured to draw air from the atmosphere and an outlet 11. The outlet 11 of the blower 9 extends generally perpendicular relative to the tower 3. The blower 9 may operate continuously, may operate at predetermined time periods, or may operate when controlled by the control system or an operator.
The type of blower 9 and location of the blower 9 may be different to that shown in figure 1. For example, the blower 9 may be near the base of the tower 3, but elevated away from the ground. In another example, the blower 9 may be at the top of the tower 3, near the frost fan 5. Instead of a centrifugal blower 9, the blower 9 may be a positive displacement blower, a regenerative blower, a high speed blower, or a helical screw blower.
As described above, the outlet of the blower 9 is connected to the interior of the tower 3. The top end of the tower 3 is coupled with the burner 13. As a result, the flow of air generated by the blower 9 will flow from the blower 9 to the burner 13 via the interior of the tower 3. In the embodiment shown, the air flows through the interior of the tower 3. In an alternative embodiment, air may flow between the blower 9 and the burner 13 via a conduit that is located externally from the tower 3.
With reference to figure 3, 5B and 6, as described above, the top end of the tower 3 is coupled with the burner 13 of the burner assembly 7. In particular, the top end of the tower 3 is connected to an air inlet of the burner 13 such that the flow of air from the top of the interior of the tower 3 will flow directly into the air inlet of the burner 13.
With reference to figure 6, the burner 13 is an oil burner. The burner 13 comprises a pressurised oil burner. In addition to the burner 13, the burner assembly 7 comprises a combustion chamber and outlet manifold 15. Oil in the burner 13 is atomised so that the pressurised oil burner can ignite and burn the atomised oil in the combustion chamber 15, which heats the pressurised flow of air. In one example, the oil burner is a diesel burner. The burner 13 may operate continuously, may operate at predetermined time periods, or may operate when controlled by the control system or an operator.
In the embodiment shown, the burner assembly 7 has a main entry chamber 19 positioned directly above the top end of the tower 3. The main entry chamber 19 has an inlet that is connected to top of the tower 3 and an outlet that is connected to the combustion chamber housing 17. The main entry chamber 19 has a substantially square cross section, which houses the body of the burner 13 such that a burner portion of the burner 13 is positioned in the combustion chamber and outlet manifold 15. The burner assembly 7 may be automated or manually controlled.
The combustion chamber housing 17 has an inlet that is connected to the outlet of the main entry chamber 19 to receive the pressurised flow of air. As mentioned above, the burner 13 is positioned in the combustion chamber 17. The combustion in the burner 13 heats the pressurised flow of air as it enters the combustion chamber and outlet manifold 15. The burner 13 is configured to use the pressurised air flow to support combustion in the burner 13 such that a heated air flow is provided by the burner 13.
Figure 3 shows the burner assembly 7 includes an exhaust delivery assembly 45 extending outwardly from the combustion chamber and manifold 15. The exhaust delivery assembly 45 comprises of a plurality of tubes. Each tube of the exhaust delivery assembly 45 includes a plurality of apertures 47. The apertures 47 are arranged in a straight line that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of each tube 45 and are directed towards the propeller 5. The apertures 45 are configured to provide a flow of heated air towards the propeller 5. The plurality tubes may be replaced with an alternative design of the exhaust delivery assembly. For example, the exhaust delivery assembly may be a single exhaust port that is centrally aligned with the burner 13, or a pair of exhaust ports with one on each side of the propeller.
The burner 13 is located behind the propeller such that the apertures 47 provide a flow of air to the back of the propeller blades. It will be appreciated that one or more of those features may be modified.
In use, the pressurised flow of air will pass through the burner 13 and be directed to the exhaust delivery assembly. The pressurised and heated flow of air will then travel through the tubes 45 of the exhaust delivery assembly and exit via the apertures 47.
With reference to figure 6, the assembly 7 has propeller blades 5, a main motor 49, and a slew motor 51. The main motor 49 drives the propeller blades 5, which are configured to rotate and generate a flow of air down towards the crops. The slew motor 51 is configured to be driven independently of the main motor 49. The slew motor 51 is configured to rotate the burner assembly 7 together with the propeller 5 about the vertical axis of the tower 3. Rotating the burner assembly 7 and the propeller 5 changes the direction the air is blown to the crops.
The frost fan assembly 1 may have other types of propellers, or may be a propeller 5 with a different number of blades, such as two, three, four, five, or more blades.
The air may be the air flow that has travelled from the blower 9 and through the burner assembly 7. Alternatively, the air may be air from the inversion layer.
The frost fan assembly 1 further comprises a control system having a plurality of temperature sensors. At least one sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors is located at or near the top of the tower 3. At least another temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors is located at the base of the tower 3. The temperature sensors at the base of the tower 3 may measure the temperature of the air near ground level.
A control system is configured to determine the strength/temperature of the inversion layer based on the input from the temperature sensors. When the temperature at or near the top of the tower 3 is higher than the temperature at the base of the tower 3, the difference in temperatures indicates there is an inversion layer. The amount of difference between the temperatures indicates the strength of the inversion layer. When the temperature at or near the top of the tower 3 is higher than the temperature at the base of the tower 3 by 3 to 4°C or more, there is a strong inversion layer. When the temperature at or near the top of the tower 3 is higher than the temperature at the base of the tower 3 by 1 to 2°C, there is a weak inversion layer. For example, if the ground temp is -1°C and the top sensor is +1°C, then this is a weak inversion layer.
The control system is configured to control the blower 9 and burner 13 based on the strength/temperature of the inversion layer. When the control system determines the inversion layer is strong, the control system may turn the blower 9 and the burner 13 off. The propeller 5 blows the air from the inversion layer towards the crops. When the control system determines the inversion layer is weak or there is no inversion layer, the control system turns the blower 9 and the burner 13 on. The blower 9 provides an air flow which is heated by the burner 13 and the propeller 5 will blow the heated air from the air flow.
In use, the temperature sensors will determine the temperature of the air at or near the ground and the temperature of the air at or near the propeller 5. If the temperature of the air at or near the ground is at or below a predetermined temperature (such as a temperature that may damage the crops), the controller will operate the propeller 5 to direct air towards the crop. If the temperature of the air at or near the propeller 5 is at or above a predetermined temperature (such as a temperature that may damage the crops), the burner 13 will not operate because the temperature of the air driven by the propeller 5 towards the crops will be sufficient to prevent, or at least substantially inhibit, damage to the crops. If the temperature of the air at or near the propeller 5 is below the predetermined temperature, the burner 13 and blower 9 will operate to provide a flow of pressurised heated air towards the crops by the action of the propeller 5.
With reference to figures 8 to 10, another embodiment of the frost fan assembly 101 is shown. The features and operation of this embodiment are the same as the previously described embodiment, unless described below. Like numbers are used to indicate like parts with the addition of 100.
In this embodiment, the frost fan assembly 101 is collapsible, to enable the frost fan assembly 101 to be portable if required. The tower 103 has sections 104 that are configured to pivot relative to each other via pivot joints 106, which allows the tower 103 to collapse. The joints 106 allow the sections 104 to pivot relative to each other so that the tower 103 folds over itself. Once the tower 103 is folded, the frost fan assembly 101 is transportable. The frost fan assembly 101 is transportable on, for example, a chassis or vehicle, such as a trailer 108. In the embodiment shown, the sections 104 of the tower 103 are each supported by cylinders 110. The cylinders 110 are hydraulic cylinders, or any other suitable actuator. When the sections 104 are folded, the cylinders 110 are in a corresponding unextended position. To move from the folded configuration to the upright configuration, the cylinders 110 are extended until the frost fan assembly 101 has the configuration shown in figure 10. In this configuration, the cylinders 110 support each section 104 ofthe tower103.
With reference to figure 11, another embodiment of the frost fan assembly is shown. The features and operation of this embodiment are the same as the embodiment shown and described in relation to figures 1 to 7, unless described below. Like numbers are used to indicate like parts with the addition of 200. Similar to the embodiment of figures 1 to 7, this embodiment is retro-fitted to an existing frost fan tower.
In this embodiment, the frost fan assembly 201 comprises a lower slew assembly 250 configured to rotate the tower 203 about the vertical axis. In this embodiment, the existing engine 204 and blower 209 are mounted on the lower slew assembly 250 and will rotate with the tower. That is, the position of the engine 204 and blower 209 are fixed relative to the tower 203.
The lower slew assembly 250 comprises a slew motor 252 to drive a lower slew ring 251 including slew bearing. The lower slew assembly 250 is fixed to a concrete pad 256 at the base of the frost fan assembly 201. The fan motor drive train may be configured to drive the blower 209.
In this embodiment a frost fan without a lower slew motor to rotate the burner and propeller 205 is mounted on the lower slew assembly 250. The existing engine and gearbox plus the burner are connected to the tower 203 and will rotate with the tower 203. That is, the position of the engine 204, gearbox and burner are fixed relative to the tower 203. Alternatively, the frost fan assembly of the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 7 may be mounted on the lower slew assembly 250. If the assembly has an upper slew drive such as the slew motor 51 of the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 7, the slew drive may be disabled so the burner assembly 7 and the propeller 5 are fixed relative to the tower 3.
A fuel oil tank 260 may be provided near the base of the frost fan assembly 201. Oil from the fuel oil tank 260 is delivered to the blower via hoses or pipes 261 through a rotary joint in the tower to enable continuous oil feed when required.
Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example only and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.
For example, the height of the propeller 5 and burner may be adjustable on the tower 3.

Claims (27)

1. A frost fan assembly comprising: a tower, a propeller at or near the top of the tower, a burner near the propeller, a blower configured to blow air towards the burner such that a pressurised air flow is provided to the burner, wherein the burner is configured to heat the pressurised air flow before it is blown by the propeller.
2. The frost fan assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner is located behind the propeller.
3. The frost fan assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner is located upstream of the propeller.
4. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blower is located at or near the bottom of the tower and is connected to the tower to deliver the pressurised air to the burner.
5. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors.
6. The frost fan assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors is located at or near the top of the tower and at least another one sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors is located near the base of the tower.
7. The frost fan assembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5, further comprising a control system configured to determine the strength/temperature of an inversion layer based on the input from the plurality of temperature sensors.
8. The frost fan assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control system is configured to control the blower and burner based on the strength/temperature of the inversion layer.
9. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the burner comprises a pressurised oil burner.
10. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the burner comprises a combustion chamber, and an exhaust delivery assembly.
11. The frost fan assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the oil burner is a diesel burner.
12. The frost fan assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the exhaust delivery assembly is angled towards the frost fan.
13. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height of the frost fan and burner are adjustable on the tower.
14. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frost fan assembly is fixed.
15. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frost fan assembly is collapsible.
16. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tower has sections such that the joint between each section allows the tower to collapse.
17. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frost fan assembly is transportable.
18. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frost fan assembly is transportable on a chassis or vehicle.
19. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the propeller comprises a plurality of blades.
20. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a main motor configured to drive the propeller.
21. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a slew motor driven by the main motor to rotate the burner and propeller about the vertical axis of the tower.
22. The frost fan assembly as claimed in any one claims 1 to 20, wherein the frost fan assembly comprises a lower slew assembly configured to rotate the tower about the vertical axis of the tower.
23. The frost fan assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the lower slew assembly comprises a slew motor configured to drive a lower slew ring.
24. A method of operating a frost fan assembly, the method comprising: providing a frost fan of any one of the preceding claims, blowing a pressurised air flow through the conduit such that the pressurised air flow is provided to the burner, using the pressurised air flow to support combustion in the burner such that a heated air flow is provided by the burner, directing the heated air flow towards the propeller, and directing the heated air flow to the crops by the propeller.
25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising: determining the strength/temperature of an inversion layer based on the input from the plurality of temperature sensors.
26. The method as claimed in claim 24 or 25, further comprising rotating the burner and propeller about the vertical axis of the tower.
27. The method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26, further comprising rotating the tower about the vertical axis of the tower.
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FIGURE 9
11 / 12 28 Jul 2022
101 2022209317
115
105 145
106
104 110
110
108
FIGURE 10
12 / 12 28 Jul 2022
201 2022209317
215
203
204 260 209
250
252 251
261 256
FIGURE 11
AU2022209317A 2021-07-28 2022-07-28 Frost fan assembly Pending AU2022209317A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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NZ778553 2021-07-28
NZ77855321 2021-07-28

Publications (1)

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AU2022209317A1 true AU2022209317A1 (en) 2023-02-16

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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AU2022209317A Pending AU2022209317A1 (en) 2021-07-28 2022-07-28 Frost fan assembly

Country Status (1)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2022209317A1 (en)

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