Testing and Demonstration of Propane-Fueled Mobile "Thermal Remediation" Pest Management System for Farms (PERC docket 11958)

Transcription

1 Testing and Demonstration of Propane-Fueled Mobile "Thermal Remediation" Pest Management System for Farms (PERC docket 11958) Quarterly Report 1 October 1, 2006 Submitted to: Mark Leitman Manager, Agricultural Programs Propane Education & Research Council Submitted by: Bruce Lindsay Director, Business Development TEMP-AIR

2 PERC Quarterly Report October 1, 2006 Project Management Bruce Lindsay continues to be the principal investigator for the project. Gregory Grabow has been assigned as the project manager and will work with Purdue researchers. Dr. Dirk Maier is the Principal investigator at Purdue University. The testing will be conducted by Dr. Dale Moog. Summary of Work To Be Performed The mobile heat treatment system was to be designed and fabricated by TEMP-AIR and shipped to Purdue University to be tested. Purdue was to develop the experimental protocol and test the efficacy of heat treatment to control insects at their Post Harvest Research Education Center pilot bin facility. Purdue was also to test the efficacy of the heat treatment in on-farm bins/silos and obtain data on cost-benefit analysis and user satisfaction. Summary of Work Completed TEMP-AIR developed the preliminary design and specifications for the mobile heat treatment system. The major components were procured. This included the propane tank, propane-fueled generator, and dual axle trailer. The equipment was measured for fit and the final design was developed. Sheet metal and heater components were manufactured. The system was fabricated in modules and completed by September 30. The unit was prepared for testing and painting. Decals were developed and applied. PERC graphics were obtained, but there was not sufficient time to produce and apply them to the unit. A separate, stand-alone poster was developed for use in photo shoots at Purdue. Pictures of the unit during fabrication and at completion and a specification sheet are attached. TEMP-AIR met with Purdue researchers to discuss how to fund the testing. Contracting with Purdue would entail a 50% overhead rate. A research gift would not be subject to overhead, but would not have contractual obligations. TEMP-AIR authorized a research grant of $65,000. Another grant amounting to $18,000 is planned for 2007 as results of the research are published and Purdue would be expected to attend related conferences such as Methyl Bromide Alternative Outreach (MBAO), ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers), GEAPS (Grain Elevator Processing Society) as a part of our outreach program. Purdue developed the test protocol for measuring the efficacy of heat on insects in the pilot research bins and submitted it to TEMP-AIR. The delivery of the MHT1500 to Purdue was delayed until the first week of October. The bins were to be filled with grain in mid-october, significantly compressing the time to conduct tests on the empty bins.

3 Purdue made adjustments and notified TEMP-AIR that they would not be able to conduct tests on nearby farms under the revised schedule. They requested a no-cost time extension to conduct these tests in the following year. TEMP-AIR submitted papers to LP Gas World Forum and GTI Environmental Conference on using heat for insect eradication. Pictures of the MHT1500 will be incorporated into the presentations on Oct 20 and Oct 23 respectively. Discussion Delays in executing the contract required TEMP-AIR to postpone the purchase of components and shift the fabrication schedule. This compressed the time available for testing the unit on bins prior to harvesting. Purdue had to commit significant resources to complete the testing. This required that the testing on nearby farms had to be postponed. As the testing is to determine the efficacy of the heat treatment on controlling stored product pests, the next opportunity will be in late TEMP-AIR and Purdue recognized that we needed results to share with the propane industry and justify their investment in this project. TEMP-AIR and Purdue made a commitment to complete the basic tests in Problems with the Generac generator were experienced during the preliminary testing phase. Frequency variations caused the variable speed drive on the blower motor to fail. The VSD was removed for the testing at Purdue. An alternative generator will be investigated and the variable airflow option will be operable. Work to Be Performed Next Quarter The MHT1500 will undergo final testing and painting. A technician will be trained to provide service and he will train the Purdue staff in the operations of the unit. Limited decals will be applied and the unit will be shipped to Purdue in the first week of October Purdue will prepare the research pilot bins and the insect bioassays. Purdue will measure temperatures in the pilot bins using both the MHT1500 and the propane grain dryer. Purdue will place insect bioassays in the bins and monitor the efficacy of heat to determine the required exposure time. Testing should be completed in October. Purdue will develop the preliminary test report and share with TEMP-AIR and PERC. The MHT1500 will be shipped back to TEMP-AIR to resolve the generator problems. PERC graphics will be applied. TEMP-AIR will make presentations to the LP World Gas Forum and the GTI Environmental conference, which will showcase the MHT1500 and PERC support. TEMP-AIR will develop promotional materials for the MHT1500. TEMP-AIR will work with PERC to make the MHT1500 available for display by propane associations. (TEMP-AIR currently does not have a marketing budget to exhibit at these shows, which

4 would include renting several booths and providing displays. We are very willing to ship the unit to the association and have them exhibit it at their booth or outside. We would plan to have a representative operate the system.) TEMP-AIR will develop a prospectus for field testing the MHT1500 in applications other than bin/silo treatment. This may include treating barns and poultry houses and drying water-damaged buildings. Budget TEMP-AIR invoiced PERC for $65,000. This was paid to Purdue University as a research gift. TEMP-AIR will be submitting its second quarterly invoice for $60,000. This covers the purchase of major components and manufacturing labor costs. The project will have $58,000 remaining, of which $18,000 is intended for Purdue University. These will be invoiced much later in 2007, reflecting the change in the testing at Purdue.

5 Attachment 1 Photographs of MHT1500 Photo 1: Dual axle trailer Photo 2: 150-gallon Propane Gas Storage Cylinder Photo 3: Generac generator Photo 4: MHT1500 under fabrication Photo 5: Completed MHT1500 with side discharge Photo 6: Completed MHT1500 with generator Photo 7: Completed MHT1500 rear view Photo 8: PERC label (for rear door application)

6 Attachment 2 Specification for MHT1500

7 Attachment 3 Purdue Test Protocol METHODOLOGY FOR EMPTY BIN HEAT TREATMENT AND LONGTERM GRAIN STORAGE TRIALS AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY DURING THE CROP YEAR Dirk E. Maier and Dale Jude P. Moog Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Purdue University 225 South University St. West Lafayette, IN maier@purdue.edu Tel. no Fax:

8 METHODOLOGY FOR EMPTY BIN HEAT TREATMENT AND LONGTERM GRAIN STORAGE TRIALS AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY DURING THE CROP YEAR Dirk E. Maier and Dale Jude P. Moog Bin Preparations Our first project experiment was initiated on October 3, 2006 and initially involves two empty bins (18 ft diameter, 14 ft sidewall height, 3200 bushel capacity each), one as control (Bin 9B) and the other for heat treatment (Bin 9A). The bins are located at the Post-Harvest Education & Research Center (PHERC) near West Lafayette, Indiana. It is noted that neither bin received a chemically-based empty bin treatment. Nor will the corn be treated with a residual grain protectant. The outside concrete and metal surfaces near the bottoms of both bins were sprayed with an approved empty bin residual insecticide (Tempo) in late September. Normally, the inside of both bins would have been sprayed with Tempo. However, that step was avoided this year so that the existing residual insect populations could be quantified ahead of the empty bin heat treatment trials. Additionally, both bins were thoroughly swept with brooms and vacuum cleaners to remove any residual corn left after unloading the bins in early September. Figure 1. One of the 3200 bushel capacity bins in PHERC for heat treatment

9 Before the heat treatment of Bin 9A planned for the week of October 9, insect populations and mold infection under the perforated floor are currently being determined for both bins. For insect populations, flight traps to monitor adult moths were placed in the center of each bin about one foot above the perforated floor, cardboard rolls to monitor moth larvae were placed on the perforated floor, and Storgard dome traps to monitor both weevils and beetles were placed on the concrete floor under the perforated floor. Cardboard rolls were placed at five locations: North, South, East, West, and Center, and dome traps at three locations: North, South and Center. Traps will be collected after one week (i.e., Monday, October 9) and insects will be counted and species identified. For mold infection, grain and fines accumulated under the perforated floor were collected this week prior to heat treatment and will be plated in malt salt agar for seven days to determine both percent infection and CFU count. Insects traps in Bin 9A will be removed during a planned series of empty bin heat treatment trials (described below). After the heat treatment process, traps under the floor will be replaced and additional samples of grain and fines will be collected for mold analysis. Then both bins will be filled with wet corn (expected moisture content around 18-20%) for a planned in-bin drying experiment involving propane-fired burners using a new fan and burner controller developed by Purdue University. Once the drying process is completed (expected in late fall), a longterm grain storage experiment (described below) will be initiated during which insect traps below the false floor (dome traps and cardboard rolls), near the grain surface (pitfall traps), at the grain surface (cardboard rolls) and in the headspace above the grain surface (flight traps) will be used for monitoring. Empty Bin Heat Treatment Trials The goal of the empty bin heat treatment trials is two-fold. The first objective is to verify the performance of the TempAir MHT-1500 unit and confirm that needed treatment temperatures and exposure times can be achieved repeatedly to cause the death of insects

10 in bioassays placed inside the empty bin. The second objective is to heat-treat the plenum and bottom portion of Bin 9A and prepare the bin for a comparative long-term grain storage trial. It is noted that the second objective will be accomplished as a result of successful completion of Objective 1. During the empty bin heat treatment trials in Bin 9A, live stored grain insects (red flour beetles, maize weevil) placed in PVC pipe cages will be used. While red flour beetle was found to be more resistant to heat (Roesli et al., 2003) other insects that could be investigated are rice weevil, red flour beetle, and lesser grain borer. Fifteen adult insects for each species will be placed in each cage containing 200 g of flour. Both ends of the PVC pipe cages will be closed by double layers of fine mesh cloth to prevent escape of insects. The flour and empty cages will be kept in a freezer (<0 o C) for at least 72 hours to ensure that there is no prior contamination of insects. In addition to the above insects, Indianmeal moth larvae/egg may also be used depending on availability from our lab rearing colonies. Cages will be placed under the perforated floor in five locations (N, S, E, W and Center) for each bin. On top of the perforated floor, four additional cages will be placed but these cages will be filled with whole corn kernels instead of flour. Once a heat treatment is completed, cages will be collected and live and dead insects will be counted for each cage. Additional cages will be kept inside Bin 9B for control purposes. Figure 2. PVC pipes with fine mesh cloth at both ends used for live insect cages

11 Figure 3. Maize Weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) Figure 4. Red Flour Beetle (Tribolium casteneum) For the empty bin heat treatment trials, two temperatures (55 o C vs. 65 o C) resulting in two different exposure times will be used. Required exposure times based on literature values (Hagstrum and Subramanyan, 2006) are 3 hours and 15 min for 55 o C vs. 65 o C, respectively. Exposure temperatures will be measured in the flour and corn of the cages and required time will be measured starting after the critical treatment temperatures (i.e., 55 o C and 65 o C) have been reached. A heat treatment trial will be considered complete once the required exposure time has been reached. Each heat treatment trial will be repeated three times, which will result in a total of six empty bin heat treatment trials (2 temperatures and exposure time x 3 replicates). Temperatures will be monitored using thermocouples and recorded in real-time using a FLUKE data logger. In addition to placing sensors inside the live insect cages, additional sensors will be placed at the outlet of the TempAir unit to measure leaving air temperature, under the perforated floor to measure plenum air temperature, and 0, 3, 6 and 9 ft above the perforated floor to measure the stratified air temperatures inside the empty bin. Ambient air temperature and relative humidity will also be recorded as well as propane consumption and electric energy use by the TempAir MHT-1500 unit

12 Long-term Grain Storage Experiment In order to evaluate the efficacy of the empty bin heat treatment, a long-term grain storage experiment will be initiated after in-bin drying of the wet corn is completed in bins 9A (heat treatment bin) and 9B (control bin). The trial is expected to last through September 2007 and will compare to what extent the empty bin heat treatment prevented stored grain insects from infesting (especially the plenum and bottom grain layers) and damaging the corn (especially in the bottom layers) compared to the corn in the control bin. During the long-term storage trial, insect traps will be placed below the false floor (dome traps and cardboard rolls), near the grain surface (pitfall traps), at the grain surface (cardboard rolls) and in the headspace above the grain surface (flight traps) for monitoring. Sealable port holes will be cut into the bottom ring of corrugated metal sheets of both bins at four locations (E, W, S, N) in order to access the plenum below the perforated floor and place and retrieve insects traps. During the cold weather months (November through April), the traps will be replaced monthly and during the warm weather months (May through September), the traps will be replaced bi-weekly. Each time traps are replaced, insect counts will be conducted. In order to maintain the quality of the stored grain, standard best management practices will be implemented. These include aeration cooling and maintenance aeration of the grain during the cold weather period (goal is to cool corn stepwise to around 30 F by late December, early January), keeping the cooled grain cool during the spring and summer months (including sealing the fans), monitoring the grain using temperature cables, spoilage detectors (i.e., CO 2 sniffers) and insect traps, and sampling the grain monthly to quantify moisture content, official grade factors (BCFM, damage, test weight), insect presence and mold infection.