10 uses of compressed air in agriculture

There are many functions that can be carried out with air compressors in agriculture and food production.

Compressed air has a fundamental role in various fields of application, including industrial, pharmaceutical, construction. However it is in agriculture that it is employed nowadays in the most innovative way: in food production, the transport of products and maintenance of work areas to mention some of them.

The agricultural field demands efficient compressors, that can work at continuous heavy-duty cycle but also for brief periods of time.

Competitiveness is crucial in the primary sector: for this reason, reliable and efficient compressors are fundamental.

There are many functions that can be carried out with air compressors in agriculture and food production.

So we have made a list of ten possible uses in this application field

1. Ripe-fruit knocking down
   
2. Pruning
   
3. Storing excess wind energy
   
4. Hydraulic pumps
   
5. Storing excess grains produce
   
6. Orchard protection
   
7. Spray painting barns, sheds or other farm structures
   
8. Nail-guns and screw-guns
   
9. Cleaning of work areas
   
10. Agricultural vehicle tyre pumping

1.       Ripe-fruit beating down

For bearing down ripe fruit from trees farmers can use pneumatic pickers (with compressed air generated by motor-compressors). These have extendable poles that cause the falling of the fruit on nets thanks to fast vibrations (over 100 bpm) or opposing combs.

Beating down is a harvesting method that entails the shaking of the tree in order to make ripe products fall. It is mainly used for nuts, olives, and chestnuts. Thanks to pneumatic pickers, farmers can prevent trees from damage that would lead to possible parasitic diseases.

2.       Pruning

Compressed air pruning systems are recommended for their speed and sharpness.

They are vastly used for olive-tree pruning and fruit trees but they are also successfully used for vine pruning. Compressed air pruning systems are powered by motor-compressors or electric compressors that provide in every moment, the right answer to all the necessities in terms of cutting. Another advantage is that they are very light and therefore allow work to be more accurate and easier.

3.       Wind energy storing

Air compressors can be used to store the excess energy accumulated in wind farms, where a compressed air system can provide useful support during periods with scarce ventilation.

4.       Water pumps

Compressors are a valid solution for providing energy to water pumps which used to transport water from dams to a farms or to keep crops hydrated.

5.    Transport of excess food or grains

Compressed air powers transport systems that transport food or grains to silos.

6.       Orchard protection

Compressors can be employed to spray pesticides to keep away bugs and pests and protect plants, crops or trees.

7.       Spray painting of farm structures

Compressed air allows you to work quickly and accurately in spraying different types of structures on a farm (sheds, fences, barns) in agricultural areas, farms or homesteads.

8.        Nutrunners and nail-guns

Thanks to air compressors you can easily and efficiently carry out any kind of maintenance, repair job, fence installation, or any sort of function that requires utes like nutrunners or nail guns.

9.       Cleaning of work areas

Air Compressors provide an affordable solution for cleaning work areas on a farm: barns or other structures can be cleaned and sanitized quickly by means of compressed air and without having to recur to any other type of consumables.

10.   Tire inflation on agricultural vehicles

You can rely on an air compressors to quickly pump up the tires of various types of vehicles on a farm. Furthermore, screw compressors can be used for carrying out regular maintenance on a wide range of vehicles.

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