How does fogging cool the air?

The droplets produced by fogging are so small that you wouldn't be able to see 1 by its self. Because they are so small these microscopic droplets evaporate very quickly, (flash evaporation) drawing heat from the surrounding air.

What type of lines do you use?

We use semi rigid high density nylon fogging lines. The reason for the semi rigid lines is that by having some flexibility they are not damaged by the impact of the pressure in the system when it cycles on and off.

What if a line gets damaged?

All lines are equipped with isolation valves so if for some reason they are damaged they can be shut off and the rest of the system can continue unaffected. Repair kits are readily available and easily installed.

How long do the nozzles last?

The nozzles are made of brass with a stainless steel seat for long life and optimal performance. There is no reason why they wouldn’t, with good filtration and cleaning, give many years of service.

Do the nozzles get blocked?

Nozzle blocking is the main maintenance issue that needs to be addressed. Depending on the quality of your water supply, nozzles could last between 12 to 36 months between cleaning. Cleaning nozzles is simply a matter of soaking them in our cleaning solution and returning them to service.

What size area can be fogged?

Any size area can benefit from fogging. Areas from 200 m2 to 20,000 m2 are common.

If you are using nozzles with a 200 micron orifice, how do you get 10 micron droplets?

The pressure is what does most of the work. The nozzle has a 200 micron outlet (almost too small to see) and an impeller inside which atomises the water. The water pressure determines how fine the droplets are and by running the system at up to 1000psi, we can achieve droplets a s small as 10 microns.

What is the difference between fogging and misting?

Essentially fogging and misting are the same process. Misting has been used for many years as a cooling, humidifying and watering system. Misting operates at much lower pressures than fogging and produces much larger (around 200 microns) droplets. These heavier droplets are too heavy to be suspended in the air and fall onto the crop or animals it is meant to be cooling. Some cooling is achieved by evaporation directly from the crop or animals however this is a much less effective way of cooling and can have other undesirable effects.

Fogging operates at up to 1000psi and produces droplets so small that they are suspended in the air until they evaporate, without wetting the crop or animals they are cooling. Fogging cools the air in the greenhouse or animal enclosure.

Will the nozzles drip onto my plants?

Nozzles can be fitted with anti drip adaptors to ensure they don’t start spraying until the system is pressurised. The system is also automatically depressurised as it turns off to release any pressure in the system and prevent dripping.

Is high pressure fogging dangerous?

Our systems operate at high pressure but with minimal water flow. As the water flow is low the pressure is only kept high while it is contained in the system. As soon as there is any release of water in the system the pressure drops to standard tap pressure which presents no risk to people or animals. The fog coming from the nozzles is like being hit with a cloud, which also presents no risk to people.

How much can I reduce my greenhouse temperatures?

Reductions of up to 15oC are have been achieved. The amount of reduction will always be dependant on your particular situation. Our systems are always designed to provide the maximum cooling in your conditions.

How high can I get my greenhouse humidity?

It is possible to achieve and maintain humidity levels in excess of 95%.

How do I stop the humidity getting too high?

Our systems are controlled to keep the environment at the humidity level you require, regardless of whether you are trying to increase or limit the humidity.

How do you stop the air getting too cold?

As with humidity, we have temperature control units that cycle the system to maintain the desired temperature.

How does fogging compare with other types of greenhouse cooling?

Open curtains and fans assist with cooling however they can only provide reductions to the outside air that they are bringing in. This is often inadequate to offset the radiant and reflected heat felt in these situations. Fogging actually cools the air already inside the structure, continuously removing excess heat. As fogging is conducted above the crop or livestock, the cooled air then drops to floor level as the hotter air rises to be cooled. Even temperature distribution is possible because the air is cooled all through the structure, not just in one place, and then needing to be circulated.

Do you install or do I have to do it myself?

We offer complete supply and installation services or you can arrange your own installation if your wish. Our system is modular and quite easy to install with basic instructions.

What power supply does it need?

Smaller systems are easily supplied from single phase power however three phase power is best for larger systems. If there are any issues to be overcome we can design the system to work with whatever resources you have available. Just call us to let us work it out for you.