Categories: Mounted tractor atomizers, Trailed tractor mist blowers, Fan units, Vineyard, orchard, olive grove, and specialized tree crop line

FAN UNIT SELECTION GUIDE: TOP LINE VERSUS BASIC

Difference between TL and BS

Dal Degan mist blowers in the Kronos, Platinum, Iridium, and Xenon lines can be equipped with two different fan unit and distribution circuit configurations, depending on the required spraying performance, the desired level of treatment precision, and the farm’s investment budget. The two configurations — named TL (Top Line) and BS (Basic) — represent two distinct construction philosophies, both valid but aimed at different customer targets. This information sheet is designed to guide the customer in choosing between the two configurations, detailing the technical differences, advantages, and typical application fields of each. TL Configuration — Top Line The TL (Top Line) configuration is the premium equipment level for Dal Degan fan units, developed to offer the highest spraying quality, maximum treatment precision, and lowest operating noise available in the range. It is the choice for professional customers seeking top-tier performance, with component sizing that reflects the technological standards of European manufacturers specializing in precision treatments for orchards, high-value vineyards, and specialized tree crops. The distinctive construction feature of the TL is that all nozzles are out-of-flow relative to the main air jet generated by the fan. This technical choice has a significant agronomic impact: the product is already finely atomized by the ATR nozzles before meeting the airflow, and the fan air simply transports the already formed mist toward the plant canopy. The result is better droplet breakup, more uniform product distribution on the leaf surface, and less treatment sensitivity to the tractor’s forward speed. From a system standpoint, two high-pressure hoses run from the control unit to an aluminum manifold, from which high-resistance PE tubes feed the individual nozzles. This architecture offers three advantages over traditional stainless steel manifolds: the nozzles can be moved individually into position, calibrating delivery exactly to the geometry of the plant (a valuable feature for orchards with irregular spacing or for fine-tuning on individual rows); the PE tube is chemically compatible with all agricultural products without the galvanic corrosion issues that can affect stainless fittings near the aluminum manifold; the aluminum manifold significantly reduces the total weight of the fan unit compared to stainless steel. The nozzles are all ATR type (hollow cone), offering fine atomization, precise adjustment of each individual nozzle, and superior durability compared to traditional fan nozzles. The fan blades are helical, available in 10 or 8-blade configurations depending on the unit size. The blade plastic is antibacterial, a technical choice of concrete agronomic value: the antibacterial compound helps prevent the transmission of plant diseases between different plots and successive treatments, reducing the risk of spreading pathogens carried by the machine itself. The helical geometry ensures exceptional flow performance, significantly reduced noise compared to standard blades, and easy adjustability. Lower operating noise is a concrete advantage in professional settings increasingly sensitive to field noise: urban and peri-urban contexts, farms near residential areas, tourist and educational orchards, local noise pollution regulations, and operator comfort during long shifts. BS Configuration — Basic The BS (Basic) configuration is the entry/mid-range equipment level for Dal Degan fan units, designed to offer solid and reliable treatment performance at a significantly more accessible purchase cost than the TL configuration. It is the choice for customers seeking a functionally complete, robust, and reliable mist blower without requiring the level of spraying precision typical of top-of-the-range machines. From a system standpoint, the BS configuration adopts traditional stainless steel manifolds and nozzle holder tubes, a classic construction solution in the mist blower industry. It is a valid choice proven over decades, with the advantage of great mechanical robustness and ease of maintenance and component replacement. The nozzles are ATR with ceramic discs: ceramic offers superior abrasion resistance compared to alternative materials, extending nozzle life even when using abrasive mineral products like copper sulfate. The main technical difference compared to the TL is that in the BS configuration the nozzles are in-flow, meaning they are positioned directly in the main air jet generated by the fan. This configuration is a still valid but somewhat more obsolete method compared to the out-of-flow choice of the TL: the fan air contributes to the atomization of the product exiting the nozzles, achieving acceptable droplet breakup but with greater sensitivity to the tractor’s forward speed and lower calibration precision than the out-of-flow solution. For most standard vineyard and orchard applications, the BS configuration still provides good quality treatment results. The fan blades are standard, available in 9 or 12-blade configurations depending on the unit size, without the antibacterial compound of the TL configuration and with standard operating noise compared to the reduced level of the TL. How to choose between TL and BS The choice between TL and BS depends on five main factors:

Type and value of treated crops. For high-value crops (DOC/DOCG vineyards, commercial orchards of premium varieties, organic productions), the spraying precision of the TL translates directly into treatment quality and lower pesticide use per hectare. For standard crops, the BS configuration offers adequate performance.
Customer profile. For contractors operating across multiple client farms, the TL offers two specific advantages: the antibacterial blade compound which reduces the risk of disease transmission between farms, and the ability to move nozzles individually to quickly adapt the machine to the geometries of different client farms.
Sustainability and drift reduction. The out-of-flow atomization of the TL produces more uniform droplet sizes and reduces product drift, a feature that is highly relevant today for both environmental regulations (buffer zones, sensitive areas) and for reducing pesticide waste.
Field noise sensitivity. The reduced noise of the TL — the result of the combination of helical blade geometry and technological plastic compound — is a concrete operational advantage in urban and peri-urban contexts, on farms near residential areas, in tourist orchards, and wherever local regulations or operator comfort require a low acoustic emission level.
Investment budget. The BS configuration represents a more affordable entry point to the Dal Degan mist blower range, while maintaining the construction quality of the frame, tank, gearbox, and the entire machine structure. The price difference between TL and BS is concentrated entirely on the fan unit and the product distribution circuit: choosing BS instead of TL allows access to Dal Degan mist blower lines with a lower initial investment, while maintaining the possibility of upgrading the fan unit in the future if farm needs evolve.

Fields of Application

TL Top Line: DOC/DOCG and premium vineyards, commercial orchards with premium varieties, organic production, professional contractors, farms sensitive to drift and precision, farms in noise-sensitive contexts (urban, peri-urban, tourist areas)
BS Basic: standard professional vineyards, traditional commercial orchards, olive groves, farms with limited budget, routine treatment applications, first investment in a Dal Degan atomizer
Both configurations: vineyards, orchards, olive groves, specialized tree crops
Both configurations: compatibility with all Dal Degan lines (Helium, Kronos, Platinum, Iridium, Xenon)

Technical Data

FEATURE	TL – TOP LINE	BS – BASIC
JET POSITIONING	ALL OUT-OF-FLOW	IN-FLOW
NOZZLE TYPE	ATR	ATR WITH CERAMIC PLATE
MANIFOLD	ALUMINUM	STAINLESS STEEL
JET CARRIER PIPES	HIGH-RESISTANCE PE TUBES	STAINLESS STEEL PIPES
SUPPLY HOSES	TWO HIGH-PRESSURE HOSES FROM CONTROL UNIT TO MANIFOLD	STANDARD
JET POSITIONING	INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTABLE IN POSITION	FIXED POSITION ON PIPE
FAN BLADES	HELICAL ANTIBACTERIAL PLASTIC	STANDARD
NUMBER OF BLADES	10 – 8 (depending on size)	9 – 12 (depending on size)
DROPLET BREAKUP	SUPERIOR (more uniform droplets)	GOOD (traditional method)
DRIFT REDUCTION	SUPERIOR	STANDARD
OPERATING NOISE	SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED	STANDARD
PURCHASE COST	HIGHER	MORE AFFORDABLE
LINE COMPATIBILITY	KRONOS, PLATINUM, IRIDIUM, XENON	KRONOS, PLATINUM, IRIDIUM, XENON
TARGET CUSTOMER	ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL, CONTRACTORS, PREMIUM CROPS, NOISE-SENSITIVE CONTEXTS	STANDARD PROFESSIONAL, LIMITED BUDGET, FIRST PURCHASE

Benefits

TL Configuration — Top Line:

All out-of-flow jets: superior droplet breakup, more uniform distribution
Drift reduction: less product waste and compatibility with sensitive areas
Reduced noise: operator comfort and compatibility with urban and peri-urban contexts
Individually adjustable jets: fine calibration to plant geometry
Aluminum manifold: reduced weight compared to stainless steel
High-resistance PE tubes: maximum chemical compatibility
ATR nozzles: fine atomization and precise adjustment of each jet
Antibacterial helical blades: does not transmit diseases between plants
Ideal configuration for premium crops and contractors