Solar Thermotherapy Works… BUT, can it Save the Industry?

Making Thermotherapy Work in the Field

Are We Ready Today?

Rex Clonts

Solar Thermotherapy Works…BUT, can it Save the Industry?

Small Tree Tenting

3 day treatment time

Size Does Make a Difference!

Physical size

Cost

Foliage

Terrain

Weather

Interfere with normal practices

Treating Large Acres of Large Trees

Challenge

• Uneven Heating

• Excessive Heat

• Pulling Down the Row

• Moving Row-to-Row

• Uneven Terrain

• Interference w/ Daily Grove Operations

Solution

• Circulation Fans

• Thermostatically Controlled Vent

• V-Ditch Track

• Linked “2 Tree Modules”

• Flexible Connection Joints

• Efficient Strings 1/8 Mile Long

Custom Greenhouse Modules

Will capture and hold solar heat in the 105*F-125*F range in commercial groves for any age or size tree up to at least 14' tall and will adapt for almost any grove, 5 acres to 5000 acres.

Effectively Heating with Convection• Convection ovens have become a

popular feature in homes the last few years.

• Regular ovens rely primarily on radiation from the oven walls, and to a lesser extent, on natural convection caused by temperature differences within the oven, to transfer heat to food.

• In contrast, the fans in convection ovens allow more heat to be transferred via convective heat transfer.

• Fans help distribute heat evenly around the food, removing the blanket of cool air that surrounds food in an oven, allowing food to cook more evenly in less time and at a lower temperature than in a conventional oven.

Heat Circulation

Heat will be uniform from 12 inches off the ground to within a few inches of the top of structure.

Fans circulating air through the tree

Controlling Excessive Heat

Powered by a thermostatically controlled blower.

Ridge Vent sealed with inflated tube

Controlling Excessive Heat

Self-venting even when ignored for long periods of time.

Ridge Vent open with tube collapsed

Heat Circulation

Monitoring temperatures in the top, the bottom and in mid-tree.

Digital Recording Thermometers

Top of Structure Temperature

Bottom of Structure Temperature

Linked Together into “Strings”

Capable of tracking down rows in strings up to 624 feet long (so that four "3-day setups" can complete a 1/2 mile long row).

Flexible Connection Joints

Uphill

Downhill

V-Ditch Tracks

Provides cross section strength.

Allows strings to follow in a straight line regardless of topography including bedded or ridge groves.

Addressing ‘Real Grove’ Conditions

Flexible enough to be moved from row-to-row, though not location-to-location (therefore the number of Modules purchased for a location would be based on needs to treat 1/3 of that acreage annually for as long as need).

Strong enough to withstand normal Florida weather.

Low maintenance with an average depreciation life of >7 years.

Requiring only moderate management.

Making it All Work…..

For example, to treat 180 acres during a summer season:

Requires 260 modules linked into 10 strings, each 1/8 of mile long.

Covering 6,240 linear feet each “3 day treatment setup“.

Making 52 setups in 26 weeks of optimum solar conditions.

Operate with a crew of 6 men using 4 tractors.

What We Will Learn….

Gather data on tree response and fruit yields.

Refine heating parameters.`

Determine economic feasibility.

Module Costs (52 setups/year)Module Costs (52 setups/yr) per per treated per treated

for 1 module cost life year tree (52s) acre frame 1,250$ 25 50$ wheels 140$ 2 70$ covering 575$ 5 115$ fans, thermostat, wiring, vent blower 314$ 5 63$ vent envelope 195$ 2 98$ on-location erection 750$ 25 30$ TOTAL 3,224$ 425$ $4.09 $617.50

Other for 26 modulesgenerator 10kw 2,700$ 2 1,350$ anchors (3 ft. T posts) 10$ 10 1$ Sledge hammer, puller 20$ 10 2$

2,730$ 1,353$ $0.50 $75.56

Total Costs for 1 Module & acc 5,954$ 1,778$ $4.59 $693

Annual Operating Costs (7 months)Annual Operating Costs (7 months) 6 man crew hrly for per treated per treated

for 260 modules hrs/week rate 7 months tree (52s) acre Labor (6 man crew- 57hr / week) 342 $17 174,420$ Tractor Rental (four- 85 hp 4wd ) 60,000$ Gator Rental (two JD Gators) 10,500$ Fuel, gas and oil 60,000$ Management 15,000$ Total Annual Operating Costs 304,920$ $11.28 $1,703

Total Treatment Costs per per treated per treated year tree (52s) acre

Total Costs for 1 Module & acc $1,778 5.00 $693Total Annual Operating Costs $304,920 11.28 $1,703

TOTAL TREATMENT COSTS $306,698 $2,396

Total Treatment Costs per per treated per treated assume 3yr trmt year tree (52s) acre acre costs

Total Costs for 1 Module & acc $1,778 5.00 $693 $231Total Annual Operating Costs $304,920 11.28 $1,703 $568

TOTAL TREATMENT COSTS $306,698 $2,396 $799

What a difference a year could make!