The use of particle imaging systems for the measurement of spray fan angle and distribution of spray liquid

摘要

An important component of spray nozzle performance is the uniformity of the distribution of spray. 'Pattemation' is a recognised measurement for characterising agricultural nozzles, and the 'coefficient of variation' is used to define uniformity. Spray fan angle is a second measurement which influences distribution as well as droplet size and drift and is therefore a useful indicator for spray operators when selecting nozzles. Measurement of droplet size distribution for a complete spray with a particle imaging system requires scanning across the spray fan. The information obtained relating to location within the spray fan, size and velocity of droplets can be combined to deduce the distribution of spray volume and fan angle. The paper describes thetechniques used, the analysis undertaken, and some example results to demonstrate that the use of particle imaging a valid alternative approach to characterising volume distribution and fan angle.