New Project: Boom Sprayer

We are designing a Boom Sprayer for a farm in Cambodia. They are planting peanuts at the farm.

We managed to find a flat spray nozzle with 120 degree fan (Model: NF06) that can generate the required mist spray for the boom sprayer. We tested the nozzle to see the effective spray actions. The results are promising.

The specifications of the Fan Nozzle are as follows:

Design Features

• One-piece material construction, AcetalNo internal parts
• Size - 1/4" Male NPT
• Model: NF06 with equivalent orifice diameter 1.57 mm

Spray Characteristics

• High impact
• Uniform distribution with tapered edges for overlapping sprays
• Spray Angles 120°
• Spray pattern: Fan Jet
• Spray angles: 120°
• Flow rates:  1.93 litres per minute @ 2 Bar

Next, we have determine the separation between the nozzles to be 90 cm apart based on the Spray Angle of 120° at about 0.5m above ground so that there is minimum overlap in spraying action between nozzles.

Tubing Joints Accessories

The different joints are available for 1/2 and 3/8 inch tube sizes.

We intend to use a Tractor below to tow the Boom Sprayer for watering the plants.

Below are all the components fabricated for the Boom Sprayer assembled in parts and ready for shipment to Cambodia.

The Boom Sprayer is assembled and functionally tested before shipment.

The Boom Sprayer components are dismantled and shipped in a container to Cambodia.

The components arrived safely in Cambodia.

They are re-assembled and tested working. Praise the Lord!

PITEBA: hand operated oilpress

On May 2012, we experimented the Piteba Oil Expeller from Holland, it is a low cost manual oil expeller able to make your own high quality raw nut and seed oil at home.

Another possible micro-credit projects for home industry for the poor in third world countries. Farmers can grow their own soyabeans or groundnuts. Unsold soyabeans and groundnuts can be converted into high quality oil which can also be sold.

I constructed a wooden frame made of 1 inch thick plywood for mounting the Piteba. The wooden structure is mounted securely on a table top using 2 "F" clamps.

We experimented with soyabeans and groundnuts and try to extract oil using the Piteba. We started to extract oil from peanuts. First. we weigh the peanuts to determine the amount of peanuts used and later measure the amount of oil extracted. The front end of the Piteba is heated using a kerosene lamp. Notice the blacken soot at the front end.

A one man force is required to turn the crank. As the crank turns, the oil begins to drip out of the Piteba and collected in a glass container (Brand Essense of Chicken bottle). The byproduct, the press cake of crush peanuts is collected at the front end in a metal basin.

Finally, 200g of peanuts is able to produce 70ml of peanut oil. A conversion efficiency of 35%.

Somehow, the soyabeans were not successful in extracting the oil. No oil was extracted.

After one week, the sediments managed to settle down and the groundnut oil becomes clear.

Visit PKH and Farmland in Cambodia

On 18 April 2012, I went on a mission trip with my friend's church to Cambodia for 5 days. We stayed at PKH in Kg Speu for 2 nights. During the period, we taught the students who are studying Industrial Skill Training, workshop safety, 5S and measurements.

Currently, the ISC is training its 3rd batch. The 1st and 2nd batches were 21 students each. A summary of the employment history of the 2 batches are:

Type of Work

          Category                                        Graduates

1. Constructions / M&E                             19
2. Maintenance (Hotels & Bldg)                   7
3. Farming                                               5
4. Self-Employed                                      4
5. Pursue further studies                           1
6. Unemployed                                         5
7. Training (PKH)                                      1

At night, we conducted english lessons for the students.

The trainers of the Industrial Skill Training have manage to organise the tool and materials room neatly as shown in the picture below. They have practise 5S concept effectively.

It is mango seasons and at PKH, the mango trees are fruiting. We were given a treat of mangoes from their harvest.

Next, we travel to Snoul, a small market town, close to the Vietnamese border and on the main road from Phnom Penh to Kratie, north east Cambodia and Laos. Along the way, we passed by rubber plantations, tapioca plantations and dragon fruits farm.

A Dragon Fruit Flower

At Snoul, we visited a farm that grows tapioca and dragon fruits. In June 2012, the dragon fruits were harvested. Inside the dragon fruit is red colour, high in anti-oxidant. The fruit taste sweet.

They have just harvested tapioca and have chopped them into pieces and dry them in the sun.



Below is a picture of how the workers in the farm stay.

New Solar Powered LED Lamp

A new LED lamp is designed. It is brighter than the previous design. The new design incorporates 4 LEDs  and uses 2 AA metal hydride batteries. The solar panel has an output of 7.2 volts which is sufficient to charge the 2 AA cells.

 A solar charging indicator is provided to indicate the battery is charging.