Deposition Efficiency of Air-assisted, Charged Sprays in a Wind Tunnel

Abstract

Small spray droplets which rely primarily on electrostatic and gravitational forces for transportation and deposition are highly susceptible to drift, and spray penetration into dense plant canopies is inadequate. Spray deposits of air-assisted charged sprays, with volume median diameter of 92 m, were collected in a wind tunnel with wind velocities up to 5 m/s. The results indicated that an air jet with 11 m/s downward air velocity, where the spray entered the target area, greatly increased the amount of spray deposited in the target area and also improved penetration of the spray downward into the target area.