Design, development and evaluation of an electrical heater for protecting tree from winter injury

Abstract

When woody plants are subjected to a sudden large drop in temperature, injury or even death of plants can occur. An electrical heater unit designed for cold protection tree in winter. It made up from three layers. Material of middle layers was from glass wool and two outer layers were from waterproof rubber covering. Thermal wires were placed inside the layers. Electrical heater of tree could be used for trees with trunk diameter between 15 cm to 45 cm. The electrical heater around the trunk was wrapped, and then in a cooler chamber was placed. Tests carried out in five different temperatures (-8, -12, -15, -18 and -20 °C) with five replications on the same trunk. Essential power and voltage for this electrical heater was 54.6 W and 24 V. Tests results indicated that the tree heater kept trunk in temperature 20, 19, 18, 15 and 14°C while cooler chamber temperature was -8, -12, -15, -18 and -20°C, respectively.