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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #81849
Title: REDUCING METERING LAG AND NONUNIFORMITY FOR INJECTION SPRAYERS APPLYING HIGHLY VISCOUS FLUIDS

Author
item ZHU, H - OHIO STATE UNIV
item OZKAN, H - OHIO STATE UNIV
item Fox, Robert
item Brazee, Ross
item Derksen, Richard

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/12/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A laboratory in-line injection sprayer system was developed to determine spray mix uniformity with time in nozzle supply lines and lag time required to reach expected concentrations at nozzle positions on a boom with from 2 to 10 nozzles spaced 50 cm apart. The computer controlled system used sample bottles on a variable-speed turntable, which allowed the operator to collect samples at any nozzle while a simulated sprayer underwent changes in specified travel speeds. Three water-soluble liquids (water, Prime Oil and Prime Oil II) and one non-water-soluble liquid (Silicon Oil) with viscosities that ranged from 0.9 to 97.7 mPa s were used as the simulated pesticides in spray delivery booms with 1.07 and 2.09 cm diameters. Viscosity of water-soluble or non-water-soluble liquid only slightly influenced the mean flow rate from the metering pump. The two simulated pesticides with the highest viscosities were difficult to mix with water and it was necessary to use a spiral mixer to maintain a uniform mixture. Increasing the number of active nozzles on the spray boom reduced the variation of the mixture uniformity among nozzles along the spray boom when the carrier rate remained constant. To provide a CV of less than 5.5% for the concentration of the Prime Oil-water mixture required at least six 8002 fan-pattern nozzles on the spray boom. Lag time was greatly reduced by reducing the boom diameter, but was not reduced substantially by decreasing the number of active nozzles on the boom. Lag times were not affected by viscosity of the simulated pesticide.