Size Distribution of Droplets Sprayed by an Orchard Sprayer

과수방제기 살포입자의 직경 분포특성

Generated agri-chemical droplets by orchard sprayers are evaporated regenerated and transported along wind streams. The droplets are deposited to targets after changing their sizes, affecting the retention of droplets. An orchard sprayer, designed for spraying grapevines was studied on the spatial distribution of droplet size. The experimental variables were spray direction (0, 22.5, 45, 67.5 and 90˚), distance(2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 m) and fan speed (2,075 and 3,031 rpm). Droplet sizes were converted and analyzed from spray stains, sampled using water sensitive papers. The number median diameter (NMD) increased with an increase of the distance due to disappeared fine droplets (<50 ㎛): however, the volume median diameter (VMD) decreased due to shrunken large droplets (>100 ㎛). Fast fan speed delivered large droplets to 3.5 m, but the spatial distributions of NMD and VMD were not uniform. Slower fan speed decreased the possibility of evaporation and drift; therefore, plenty of droplets were maintained up to 3.0 m. The upward blasting distance was limited within 3 m, but the limit to the ground level was extended to 3.5 m. Concentrated wind and droplets to the ground level should be redistributed to upper canopy direction, leading more uniform deposits. High speed wind and system pressure should be avoided because of generating fine droplets, which would be disappeared and drifted away.