High pressure aero mist/fog discussion

Dr. VonDank said:

I have been testing a new set-up. If you have any ideas or experience please post-

Here is what I am working with and some ideas Ive had-

I'm testing one unit for the ease and cost of it but in the hopes of building a multi-unit set-up if it works well. (lol)

The materials:

1---rapid cool"stealth" self priming high pressure pump with adj 200 to 1000 psi
4---stainless fogger nozzles with replaceable tips and internal diffusers(5 to 30 micron)
1---small rubber made trash can with lid
1---10" net pot
1---10 gallon rez
1---3/4"id
tubing and 3/4"id male fitting with rubber o-ring
50' of flex nylon high pressure line(smallest quant I could find)
small bag of zip ties
misc tools

First I cut a 10" hole in the lid of the trash can for the net-pot
The lids have reinforcement plastics plates molded in that make for an easy mount of the 4 nozzle head ring that I have assembled from the flex line/ and T-fittings. zip ties mount the ring 4" below the lid and surround the net-pot.
I then drilled the 1" hole for the drain fitting 1/4" above the bottom of the trash can. I have use a milk crate to raise the bottom of the can above the top level of the rez. The drain line from from the can runs back into the top of the rez. The self priming pump is external and runs from the rez to the nozzle ring inside the can.

My concerns are length of time to fogg----intervals of fogging. Since the pump pressure is adjustable 200 to 1000. what pressure would be ideal. I have a concern about clogging of the tips since the system was designed for pure water. In theory I'm thinking I will be able to run very low nutrient concentrations with this system and maybe drip clean or SM-90 to reduce nozzle friction??? If you have ideas or recommendations please post---thanks.

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guitarzan420 said:

kind of like the outdoor misters to keep you cool? sounds cool but im thinking nozzle problems as well the hp pump. i would think the type of filter required to keep pump operational might clean out your nutes too. i'd try and see. i use large orifice drips with drip clean and still get nozzle clogs

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tree farmer said:

you will have to run a good filter to keep the nozzels clean. you can run very low nute concentrations if you have short enough cycle times as not to drench the roots. IMHO the micron size might be alittle too small. this small might cause an excess of root hairs or not sustain enough moisture. read this article especially under the sub title "water and nutrient hydro atomizing"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroponics#Water_and_nutrient_hydro-atomization

the whole article is very informative.

you might also want to consider DTW as you will use very little solution if dialed in and have much better control over everything.
the principle design you have listed should work. the pump pressure should be geared to what the nozzels recommended operating range is if you have that much control over the pump output pressure. although i dont see really how you can control that unless the pump allows for adjustable pressure settings or you use some sort of bypass.

the key isnt the pressure so much as long as you can produce hydro atomized solution in bursts to achieve the HP aero effect.

the intervals will have to be deterimed from observing the roots as every system will be somewhat different due to varying parameters.

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