DryFi (Technically Complex Product)

Technically Complex Product Contraption for eliminating dew from the outfield of a cricket ground

By: Dhanashree Manohar PG 2 PD

Problem Background Precipitation of any kind on the cricket field is an unwelcome nuisance. Moisture either in the form of rain or dew has many adverse effects on the game and becomes a irritant to all players, whether he/she is a batsman, a bowler or a fielder.

Presence of moisture, whether in the form of dew or rain is always detrimental to the game. The effect on the game of cricket is as follows: • Bowling: The ball becomes wet and is difficult to grip, killing the ball variations. The pitch becomes wet, due to which the ball does not get enough traction, it skids, killing the spin. So the ball goes straighter and is easier to hit. Dew makes the ball shinier, irrespective of the side, affecting the contrast swing (both side polished). • Batting : It becomes easier to play shots, as the ball reaches the bat straight, without much turn and swing. Dew affects the synthetic glove by making it wet, due to this the glove material and the hand perspiration will not evaporate rapidly.

• Fielding : The ball skids which can result in bad timing while fielding. The wet outfield becomes slippery, making fielding unpleasant and tough.

General Problem Statement

To design a device which helps to remove moisture on the cricket field in time of play, without damaging the natural turf.

Secondary Research • Dew and precipitation • Dew and cricket • The cricket field • Cricket Stadiums in India • Adverse effects of dew in real time • Material Research

Dew and precipitation Dew is water in the form of droplets that appears on thin, exposed objects in the morning or evening due to condensation. As the exposed surface cools by radiating its heat, atmospheric moisture condenses at a rate greater than that at which it can evaporate, resulting in the formation of water droplets.

Dew is usually formed due to the temperature difference between the ground and the air above it, followed by the condensation of the water vapour molecules in the air, since the ground is cooler than air at night which is precisely, the reason for dew affecting day-night matches where the latter part of a match is largely affected by the wet surface.

The amount of water vapour in the air is often expressed as absolute humidity. The total amount of water that the air can hold is dependent on the air temperature. The absolute humidity indicates the amount of water in a certain volume of air at a certain temperature and is subsequently expressed in g /m at x degree C. As the temperature of the air increases, the volume of water in the air can hold on increases, as shown in the table Temp.

Max Water Vap Temp.

Max Water Vap (oC )

(g/m3)

(oC)

(g/m3)

0

4.8

25

23

5

6.8

30

30.4

10

9.5

35

39.6

15

12.8

40

51.1

20

17.3

4.5

65

Dew and Cricket Every cricket team today has an entire army of support staff. The coaches, analysts, technicians, doctors, physios, mentors, mascots apart from a host of managers, selectors and administrators accompany the team on their tours. It wouldn’t be very long before meteorologists too joined them who could help predict the extent of dew.

The reasons for dew formation can be explained by elementary physics. During the day, the earth’s surface heats up much faster than the air around it by absorbing the solar radiations. Similarly in the evenings, the earth’s surface loses heat by emitting radiations while the air around it is still warm.

Moisture held in the warm air condenses when it comes in contact with the cold ground hence forming a layer of dew across the entire outfield in the evenings.

The Cricket Field A cricket field consists of a large grassy ground on which the game of cricket is played; this is ostensibly an oval though most cricket grounds would more accurately be described either as ”a convex set or as a convex polygon with an infinite number of sides”.

• It has no fixed dimensions, but the diameter usually varied between 450 feet (137m) and 500 feet (150m).

• Cricket is unusual among major sports in that there is no official rule for a fixed-shape ground for professional games.

• A rope demarcates the perimeter of the field and is known as a boundary.

• Within the boundary and generally as close to the centre as possible will be the square which is an area of carefully prepared grass upon which cricket pitches can be prepared and marked for matches.

The Cricket Field • The minimum playing area : 150 yards (137.16m) from boundary to boundary square of the pitch • With shorter of the two boundaries being minimum 65 yards (59.43m) • The straight boundary at both ends of the pitch shall be minimum 70 yards (64.0m) be measure from center of the pitch to be used.

• The conditions require a minimum three yards gap between the “rope” and the surrounding fencing or advertisement board.

• A cricket field must have atleast 16,000 square yards of area i.e. ((150+3+3)/2 * (70+70+3+3-22)*π)

Cricket Stadiums • Test cricket grounds The first Test match in India was held at the Bombay Gymkhana in Mumbai on 15 December 1933.

In total, India has hosted 229 Test matches.

There are 21 test cricket grounds in India.

• ODI cricket grounds The first one-day international cricket match in India was played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on November 1981. In total, India has hosted 370 ODI games, including matches in the 1987, 1996 and 2011 World Cups.

There are total 42 ODI cricket grounds in India.

• Twenty20 International grounds India have hosted 14 T20Is as on 8 October 2015. India is scheduled to host the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.

There are in total 13 T20 International grounds in India.

Adverse effects of dew in real time • Pakistan 160 for 4 (Sarfraz 46*, Latif 40) beat West Indies 144 for 9 (Narine 30, Fletcher 29, Tanvir 3-13) by 16 runs -Pakistan v West Indies, 2nd T20I, Dubai

• India lost the match. The teams bowling effort was describes as, “Sending down a wet ball of soap.“ So soft was the ball and so difficult to grip.

-India v Sri Lanka, Tri-series, 2nd ODI, Mirpur • ‘M.S. Dhoni said the ball "was gripping" the pitch during India's innings, but the dew made it skid through when West Indies batted, making it easy for them to hit the spinners.’

-India v West Indies, World T20 2016, semi-final, Mumbai • 'Dew had big impact on game' – Dhoni -India v Pakistan4, th ODI, 2007, Gwalior

Material Research Superabsorbent polymers: Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) (also called slush powder) are polymers that can absorb and retain extremely large amounts of a liquid relative to their own mass.

Water-absorbing polymers, which are classified as hydrogels when cross-linked, absorb aqueous solutions through hydrogen bonding with water molecules

Superabsorbent polymer

Sodium Polyacrylate • 800 times its own weight in distilled water

• 300 times in tap water • 60 times in 0.9% NaCL Filter press cloth: It is a filtering media which is generally used in processing ceramics. It forms a filtering medium between the surface which needs moisture removal and the absorbing surface.

Filter Press cloth

Material Research Canvas: It is a plain woven fabric made of cotton or linen. The absorbency of cotton is very high.

It is easy to drain as well.

HEPA filters: They are composed of thin densely packed glass fibers arranged in a special way so that air molecules can pass through, but larger pollutant molecules are trapped within the fiber glass.

Filtration Process

Primary Research • User Research The primary research was done by interviewing some of the most notable figures in the field of cricket as well as technical, administrative and maintenance persons involved in the field.

User Profiles: Kiran More Retired Team India Player Associated with Baroda Cricket Association and BCCI

Manin Pandya Regional and club cricket player Associated with Baroda Cricket Association

Sanjay Hazare International Umpire Associated with Baroda Cricket Association and BCCI

Vasudev Patel Ground and pitch curator Associated with Baroda Cricket Association

Bhuvanbhai Patel Ground and pitch maintenance head Associated with BCA and Motibaug Cricket Association Col. Anil Pradhan First level golfer Associated with EME Golf Course

How does dew affect a cricket game? • To win the match, win the toss While cricket has always been hailed as a game that requires luck, dew has largely been the factor that has proven the same. In a match where dew is supposed to affect proceedings, captains are under pressure to somehow, manage and win the toss. As dew affects only during the second innings of a day-night match, toss becomes an increasingly important factor in deciding the outcome of a game. • Topsy turvy for the batsmen For the men with the bat, it becomes a roller-coaster ride. While dew does come with its fair share of advantages for the batsmen, the slowing of the outfield becomes a frustrating obstacle; especially for those who bank on timing, rather than power to get their runs. For batsmen who love to slam bang the bowlers, dew acts like the perfect boon as the ball does not move in the air and comes nicely to the bat.

How does dew affect a cricket game? • Nightmare for the bowlers Not just the swing, the dew kills any kind of movement that bowlers are capable of extracting from the pitch. As the ball becomes wet with every passing delivery and the vigorous rubbing of the towels doing some or little to keeping it dry, the bowlers fail to have a grip over the ball which often slips out of the hand. With difficulty in maintaining the shine of the ball, it negates any possibility of reverse swing as well. • Formality for the fielders The effect of a good fielding unit gets neutralized, albeit the outfield is damp and slow, gripping the ball perfectly becomes a struggle. Taking high catches is extremely difficult under lights with the ball being wet. Much like the bowlers, even good fielders struggle to send the ball in the right direction with throws going wayward.

During the game‌ When the match starts at say at 400 PM air is warm and RH is low, hence no moisture will be deposited on the pitch surface and the pitch would be ideal for batting (except the first few overs).

As the evening progresses temperature drops gradually and the air becomes more and more humid with the same pre-existing amount of water vapour, already contained in it. The moment temperature drops to Dew Point, RH becomes 100%. Any further fall in temperature will cause condensation of water vapour into liquid water which appears on the surfaces of grasses, leaves and others as dew looking as a galaxy of pearls. However, if the RH in the air is low, the gap between current and dew point temperatures will be wider with lesser possibility of attainment of dew point or dew formation. Little amount of dew formation would naturally put least impact on the pitch behaviour. But at high RH levels like 90% and above more water droplets will be deposited on the pitch and the surface will become softer than it was before, during the first session. The surface becomes softer due to the absorption of dew in to the soil. Seamers who can maintain a good seam position can exploit these favourable conditions and will get lots of seam movement off the pitch as the seam of the fresh cherry will penetrate more in to the softer pitch surface. Even after 20 to 30 over’s since the air is heavy with high levels of humidity and if the bowlers can maintain a difference in surface smoothness on two halves of the ball, they can achieve more swing in the air or more reverse swing.

Time

Example, 8 days average (22-29 April, 2014) meteorological data’s a available, at the JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi, during IPL 2014.

T oC

RH%

DP

22.35

50

12.35

6.30 am

24.05

49

13.85

7.30 am

29.4

38.5

17.1

8.30 am

33.05

22.5

17.55

9.30 am

34.4

17.5

17.9

10.30 am

35.7

15.5

18.8

11.30 am

36.1

15.5

19.2

12.30 am

36.95

16

20.15

1.30 am

38

15

21

2.30 am

38

14

20.8

During match time 3.30 pm

38.05

13.5

20.75

4.30 pm

37.85

13.5

20.55

5.30 pm

36.3

15.5

19.4

6.30 pm

32

22

16.4

7.30 pm

29.95

23

14.55

8.30 pm

29.15

25.5

14.25

9.30 pm

27.9

29

13.7

10.30 pm

27.2

26

12.4

11.30 pm

27.75

23.5

12.45

Measures of control Though dew is a desired diurnal climatic variation which recharges the atmospheric and soil moisture levels (through SPAC – Soil Plant Atmospheric Continuum). It cannot be eradicated above the cricket pitch and outfield at the time or before the match but it can be minimized by adopting the following measures

• Chemical Measures Foliar spray of APSA- 80 or Active 80 solely or along with the fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides or herbicides helps to minimize the effect of dew just 3-4 days before the match.

It contains specials element “Non Ironic Surfactants” that beaks the surface tension of the water. These surfactants work on the surface of water droplet to reduce its tendency to bead up pulling the water and wax on the leaf surface together, reducing the water’s surface tension and causing the water droplet spread out. When the water used in pesticide sprays spreads out more evenly, the result is much better pesticide coverage. Adding APSA-80 helps insecticides, defoliators and foliar fertilizers to penetrate the surface of the leaf faster and more evenly.

Measures of control • Mechanical or Cultural Measure 1)Don’t irrigate the outfield at least 3 to 4 days before the match as the fully or less saturated outfield soil provides enough moisture through the process of evapo - transpirational and radiational cooling effect leading in achieving the dew point earlier .

2)To control the cooling effect due to transpiration through outfield grasses cut it to minimum possible as dew is mainly formed on the leaf blades due to evaporative and transpirational cooling effect. Mowing at lower height will reduce the leaf area index thereby reducing the impact of dew.

3)Frequently mow and dethatch the outfield so as to have lesser and uniform density of grass. Dead, decaying and unwanted grass also acts as a source of dew formation on the outfield. Also mow and dethatch the outfield even after boundary area as unattended thick grasses along with the thatches beyond the boundary acts rich source of moisture deposited due to due.

4)Keep the outfield free from weeds as these are generally broad leaved, deep rooted and competes more in pumping out water from the root zone further adding much cooling effect by transpiring more.

5)If it is really required to play D/N matches we can change timings on both ODI and T20 matches by starting the play little early and finish it latest by 800 PM (in humid nights). If the RH is less than 80% during the night we can continue the play until late night. However, lesser the RH values safer will be the game

Parallel Products Super Sopper • It is a sponge roller which absorbs the moisture from a grassy field. • Works like a mechanical mop for the grassy land.

Pros Works very well in heavy rains Cons Not fast enough. It cant cover the whole outfield in a small duration of time. Generally takes up to 20 minutes to clear 1/4th part of the outfield.

The machines are not very effective in light dew fall.

Super sopper (field study)

Generic ropes Long ropes are use to unsettle the dew on the grass on a cricket ground. The water droplets fall onto the earth and get absorbed by the soil.

Pros Effective upto a certain extent. It is more effective on heavy dew than light dew.

Cons It takes a long time for the groundkeepers to run along with the rope. They are not able to correct the whole field.

Groundstaff drag rope around the outfield during the 1st Natwest One Day International Series between England and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground

APSA - 80 APSA-80, manufactured by Indian company Amway, has been sprayed on the outfield in an attempt to reduce the amount of dew that forms on the outfield during day-night matches.

APSA-80 needs to be sprayed one hour before a match starts. And is allowed to set.

It stops the moisture from settling on the ground and increases the soil absorbent capacity.

Pros: It helps to eliminate the negative effects of dew up to a certain extent.

Cons: Spraying the chemical gives of a particular stink. It can cause rashes and can be allergic to players.

The chemical needs to be sprayed one hour before the match and needs to set. If it is a day night match which starts at 2pm, then the chemical will be sprayed at say 1pm. Now the dew effect will start at ay 6pm in the evening, and the effects of the chemical only last for 3 hours. Hence it becomes ineffective in game.

Grass trimmers In an unconventional way to remove dew, mechanical grass trimmers are used. The blade of the trimmer is lifted and set at a height of 10mm - 12 mm approximately. It is then moved about on the outfield. It unsettles the dew droplets that gather on the blade of grass. The droplets fall on the ground and are absorbed.

SWOT Analysis Strength

Weakness

Availability of funds

Time frame is very less

Scope for exploration and design intervention

Ground area to be covered is vast

Scale

No new/ fresh ideas in market

Management

Bad for ecology

Opportunity

Threat

Appreciation for new design

More push for chemical use

Demand is strong

Bureaucracy

No shortage of funding

Red tape

Inferences From the completed research, it is observed that even though various methods are used in clearing up dew, none are a 100% successful. Each device lacks some features, and generally take too long to be actually useful during the short break time during a cricket match.

The mechanical devices like Super Sopper are generally slow moving since the foam needs time to soak up the water. They cannot cover the whole outfield in a short period of time.

Chemical means of clearing dew are complicated and often do more harm then good. They at times cause severe skin rashes and allergies to the players. Also the chemical needs to sit on the field for a period of 3 days in order to be useful. This cannot be done during break times.

Hence there is scope for a fresh design intervention.

Design criteria Minimum break time allotted in a cricket match is to be considered for development of the process. Test and ODI matches generally have 10 minute breaks. But the new format of cricket i.e.

T20 cricket and also the IPL (Indian Premier League) have a strategic break of 7minutes between an inning ( generally the 9th or 11th over) and a 5 minute break between two innings.

Hence, the contraption should be able to clear the outfield in the time duration of 5 minutes.

The contraption should cover the following features in order for full success of functioning:

• • • • • • •

The device should do the work in a set period of time with 100% efficiency.

Should not wilt/dry out the grass blades.

Should de-moisturize the whole outfield within a very short period of time.

Non-motorized : for the pitch square Should be able to dry the outfield in between drinks break between overs.

Should be able to tackle both heavy and light dew.

Should be able to work efficiently to eliminate the damage of heavy rains as well.

Ideations 01

Ideations 02

Ideations 03

Ideations 04

Concept Development Evaluating the above ideations, it is clear the absorption or evaporation alone cannot clear the outfield off dew in such a short period of time.

But the combination of absorption and evaporation will help increase the rate of dew elimination off the outfield.

The device will be a sandwich of nylon, fiber and high density foam, with a skeletal structure of high pressure inflated tubes.

The idea is that the end tubes will have small punctures at regular intervals which will release jets of air to increase the rate of evaporation. The foam at the bottom will absorb as much moisture as possible working on the principle of capillary action.

Area of outfield covered by the main body Area covered by the jets of air from the end pipes

Air at high pressure using a pressure pump is forced through the skeletal structure

Tiny cluster of punctures along the tube give out jets of pressurized air for dislocating and evaporating the dew drops.

Process of working • The whole structure is wrapped and ready in the form of a tight roll.

• Before play the pumps and the roll are kept ready at selected points behind the boundary line.

• On cue, Pressurized air is passed from the center tubing at about 1500 psi. This will make the tubing to expand very quickly, propelling the whole cloth structure forward.

• Next air at about 850psi will be passed from the side tubes.

• On inflation of the tubes, jets of air will be pushed out from the sides of the pipe.

• Once the whole process is done, the whole structure is pulled back in an orderly fashion and is tightened at the base, so as to drain out the accumulated water.

• The whole process is carried out again to ensure proper cleaning of the outfield.

All dimensions are in meters

How it works When air is passed through the central pipe, the whole structure unfurls. While doing so, it unsettles dew drops from the blades of grass. These drops get absorbed by the ground.

When the structure opens, the foam at the bottom is in contact with the ground. The moisture gets absorbed by capillary action.

1

2

3

Jets of air are released from the side tubes, which will unsettle the drops of dew as well as increase the rate of evaporation.

4

When air is sucked back, The structure drags on the ground, ensuring all absorption of moisture.

5

Exploration of motion

Assembly When the outfield needs to be cleared, the whole assembly will be placed at the 8 cardinal directions, outside the boundary, ready to be launched.

First one set of units will be launched. Once they retreat, the other will be launched. The process will be repeated one more time.

Break up of time: Time available: 5 minutes Pumps fired, device opens up : Device works (absorbtion, evaporation) Device folds back Total time taken

20sec 1min 40sec 2min Set of unit 01

Hence, using both set of units, the outfield can be cleared within 5 minutes.

Set of unit 02

Materials and details Total area of cricket field (assuming 164 yards) = 21124.07 square yards Total spread area of one unit = 706.86 square yards Hence by using 8 units total, the whole area of the outfield can be covered.

Materials used : • Urethane coated Nylon as material of pipes and covering material • Aluminium coated paint (for fire proofing) • Pressure pump with 1500 psi pressure output • Nitrogen and carbon dioxide pump • Aspirator

Details

Central tubing Made of urethane coated nylon 25cms diameter Flat when not in use

Base layer End tubing Made of urethane Made of urethane coated nylon And high density foam at the bottom coated nylon Flat when not in use 15cms diameter Flat when not in use Has 0.5 cm punctures along the outer sides, at regular intervals of 30 cms Holes are situated atan angle of 50 deg when the tube is inflated

Details End tubing Made of urethane coated nylon 15cms diameter Flat when not in use Has 0.5 cm punctures along the outer sides, at regular intervals of 30 cms Holes are situated atan angle of 50 deg when the tube is inflated Base layer Made of urethane coated nylon And high density foam at the bottom Flat when not in use

Sectional View of end tubing

Branding

Branding can be done by printing on the nylon fabric.

It can be done specifically for home or away teams in the World Cup, IPL or league matches.

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