Optimization of Spray Characteristics of Full Cone Nozzles Used in Pesticide Application Using the Taguchi Method
Abstract
The present study aims to reduce the amount of pesticide that can be released into environment, soil, air, and water by minimizing the type of nozzle and the use of excess pesticides by making use of the Taguchi method. For this purpose, studies were carried out to determine the spray characteristics of the pesticide. The sodium fluorescein was used in the experiments. In this study, the effects of the nozzle-to-surface distance (spray height), spray pressure, nozzle orifice diameter, and nozzle position angle on the droplet diameter and flow characteristics were investigated using the Taguchi method. The mean diameter values were determined first. Then, the volumetric median diameter (VMD) was considered as performance parameter and L9(34) orthogonal sequence was chosen as the experimental plan for four parameters that were determined. Calculating the VMD considered as the performance characteristics, optimum results were obtained using 6 bar spray pressure, 100 mm spray height, 30o nozzle position angle, and 1.10 mm nozzle orifice diameter. The VMD values were calculated using the image processing method and the effects of the parameters on the droplet diameter were interpreted using charts.
Keywords
Pesticide application, Spray optimization, Spray characteristics, Taguchi method
Project Number
BAP-FYL-2019-8101
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