Two-dimensional automatic measurement for nozzle flow distribution using improved ultrasonic sensor.
Spray deposition and distribution are affected by many factors, one of which is nozzle flow distribution. A two-dimensional automatic measurement system, which consisted of a conveying unit, a system control unit, an ultrasonic sensor, and a deposition collecting dish, was designed and developed. The system could precisely move an ultrasonic sensor above a pesticide deposition collecting dish to measure the nozzle flow distribution. A sensor sleeve with a PVC tube was designed for the ultrasonic sensor to limit its beam angle in order to measure the liquid level in the small troughs. System performance tests were conducted to verify the designed functions and measurement accuracy. A commercial spray nozzle was also used to measure its flow distribution. The test results showed that the relative error on volume measurement was less than 7.27% when the liquid volume was 2 mL in trough, while the error was less than 4.52% when the liquid volume was 4 mL or more. The developed system was also used to evaluate the flow distribution of a commercial nozzle. It was able to provide the shape and the spraying width of the flow distribution accurately.
College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China. liweizibo@nwsuaf.edu.cn.
Changyuan
C
Zhai
National Engineering Research Centre for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing 100097, China. zhaocj@nercita.org.cn.
Chunjiang
C
Zhao
National Engineering Research Centre for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing 100097, China. wangx@nercita.org.cn.
Xiu
X
Wang
Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 75078, USA. ning.wang@okstate.edu.
Ning
N
Wang
National Engineering Research Centre for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing 100097, China. zouw@nercita.org.cn.
Wei
W
Zou
College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China. liweizibo@nwsuaf.edu.cn.
Wei
W
Li
D000383:Agriculture / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards*; D004867:Equipment Design; D010575:Pesticides; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
D010575:Pesticides
nozzle flow distribution; spray deposition measurement; two-dimensional automatic measurement; ultrasonic sensor