Spraying performance of umbrella wind‐field‐type atomization and its application to parameter optimization

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUNDWe designed an umbrella wind‐field‐type anti‐drift spraying device to improve droplet deposit in the fruit tree canopy, reduce spray drift between fruit tree rows, and avoid uneven droplet deposit in the canopy.RESULTSWe used Computational Fluid Dynamics combined with wind field tests to optimize the parameters of the anti‐drift spray device, and the results showed that airflow velocity at the outlet of the device after optimization was 24.5 m s−1, which is 48% higher than that before optimization (16.5 m s−1) airflow velocity. We designed wind tunnel tests and field tests to analyze the anti‐drift characteristics of the anti‐drift spraying device. Wind tunnel test results showed that the side airflow velocity, outlet diameter, spray distance, and spray drift ratio were correlated. The mathematical models established by vertical and horizontal multifactor orthogonal tests were significant (P < 0.05, R2 0.947, 0.878, respectively). The results of the field tests showed that side airflow, velocity spray pressure and outlet diameter had significant effects on the droplet deposit characteristics (in descending order: the side airflow velocity, spray pressure, and outlet diameter). The maximum droplet deposit was 6.34 μL cm−2 when the side airflow velocity was 2 m s−1, the spray pressure was 0.4 MPa, and the outlet diameter was 70 mm2. When the side airflow velocity exceeded 2 m s−1, the outlet diameter and spray pressure had to be reduced to ensure better droplet deposit.CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the umbrella wind field could reduce spray drift and ineffective deposit in off‐target areas and provides a reference for the comprehensive analysis of the spray drift deposit law. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.