Evaluation of Different Internal Designs of Hydraulic Nozzles under an Accelerated Wear Test

Abstract

The use of worn-out agricultural nozzles in pesticide application has a negative effect on the efficiency and cost of the application process. It also has an effect on environmental pollution due to an excessive amount of pesticide being applied when spraying with worn-out nozzles. In this paper, the resistance to wear of three different internal design hydraulic nozzles was ascertained. Changes in the flow rate and spray distribution as a result of this wear were also investigated. The wear test was done inside a closed system, and it was accelerated using an abrasive material to generate 100 h of wear. The tested nozzles were the Turbo TeeJet (TT)-twin chambered, Turbo Twinjet (TTj60)-dual outlet, and Drift Guard (DG)-pre-orifice. Wear rate, flow rate, and the virtual coefficient of variation (CVv) were measured at different wear intervals. The results showed that the TTj60 type was the most resistant to wear, followed by the TT type and DG. The latter two types showed an increase in the flow rate only in the first 45 h of wear. Virtual coefficient of variation (CVv) values were less than 10% after finishing the test (after 100 h of wear) for the three types of nozzles, which are acceptable values according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 16122-2, 2015.

The Effect of Power Sources in the Agricultural Tractor and the Developed Sprayer System on the Performance of the Electrical and Mechanical Sprayer System and some Performance Indicators of the Engine

“…Therefore, it is important to select the appropriate nozzle size and ensure its resistance to excessive wear. It has been observed that wear on spray nozzle orifices can increase the flow rate beyond the design specifications [23]. Hence, this research incorporates the use of different sizes of spray nozzles in testing the electrified sprayer and comparing its performance to that of the sprayer operating with the rear power take-off shaft, assessing their impact on spray characteristics.…”

Effect of Vertical Boom Position of the Greenhouse Sprayer on the Penetration of Spray to the Eggplants Canopy

“…In a previous study, [20] confirmed that the effect of the horizontal nozzle holder is less than the effect of pressure on the size of droplets, as with increasing pressure, the size of the sprayed droplets decreases, regardless of the type of nozzle used, the result was the formation of a number of drops at the highest pressure and also led to better coverage for the same pressure, in order to increase the pressure from (15psi = 1bar) to (45psi=3bar) both the percentage of coverage and the rate of the sprayer (l/ha) with increasing the number of drops to almost double In Iraq, spraying does not follow international standards, especially in terms of calibration and type of nozzle [21]. The use of worn agricultural nozzles effects the spraying process on plants, in terms of homogeneity of spraying and an increase in the amount of sprayed, which leads to an increase in the economic costs of spraying [22]. Saving spray while maintaining its quality leads to a reduction in the material costs of service operations [23].…”

Spray Nozzle Wear Effects on Droplet Population

“…Thus, the correct selection of spray nozzles or droplet-generating devices is fundamental to obtaining satisfactory and efficient results in hydraulic applications (Parafiniuk et al, 2018). The misuse of pesticides due to the application of worn-out nozzles translates into a higher operational cost, increased risks of environmental pollution, and, in some cases, causing direct damage to the plant (Milanowski et al, 2022).…”

“…The rate of wear depends on factors such as spray pressure, abrasiveness of the sprayed liquid, and the material of the nozzle (Milanowski et al, 2022). Agricultural spray nozzles are manufactured using various materials, including brass, stainless steel, hardened stainless steel, nylon, plastic, and ceramic.…”