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A Simulation and Experiment on the Optimization Design of an Air Outlet Structure for an Air-Assisted Sprayer

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  • Shuaijie Jing

    (College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
    Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Machinery and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China)

  • Longlong Ren

    (College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
    Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Machinery and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China)

  • Yue Zhang

    (College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
    Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Machinery and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China)

  • Xiang Han

    (College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
    Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Machinery and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China)

  • Ang Gao

    (College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
    Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Machinery and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China)

  • Baoyou Liu

    (Yantai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yantai 265500, China)

  • Yuepeng Song

    (College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
    Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Machinery and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China)

Abstract

In response to the issues of low-velocity zones and non-uniform jet velocity distribution in the airflow field of traditional air-assisted orchard sprayers, an arc-shaped air outlet suitable for axial-flow air-assisted systems is designed. This article employs the method of CFD numerical simulation and experimental verification to compare and analyze the internal flow field of the air-assisted system and validates the reliability of the numerical simulation results through calculation error and chi-square test. The wind speed of the cross-section is measured at different distances from the outlet, and the distribution characteristics of the outflow field wind speed before and after the structural optimization of the air-assisted system are compared. The horizontal distribution of fog droplets is collected using a fog collection chamber. The experimental results show that the design of the arc-shaped outlet increases the average wind speed of the annular outlet from 14.95 m/s to 18.20 m/s and reduces the proportion of low-speed area from 20.83% to 0.71%. When the rounded corner radius of the air outlet is 50 mm, optimal parameters are attained. The maximum error between the simulated and experimental values is 9.52%. At a significance level of 0.05, the χ 2 value is 0.252, indicating that the simulated values follow the distribution of the actual measurement values. On the cross-sections located at distances of 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.5 m from the air outlet, the wind speed distribution with no arc-shaped air outlets exhibits a “low left and high right” type, tending to shift towards the right as a whole. Fog droplets also display a drift tendency towards the right side. The wind speed distribution with arc-shaped air outlets shows a symmetric “high in the middle and low on the sides” type. Fog droplets concentrate in the central position. The optimized air-assisted system can reduce the air field’s low-flow area, increase the airflow distribution uniformity, improve the average wind speed at the outlet, and decrease fog droplet drift. This provides a reference for the structural design of air-assisted systems in current orchard sprayers of the same type.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuaijie Jing & Longlong Ren & Yue Zhang & Xiang Han & Ang Gao & Baoyou Liu & Yuepeng Song, 2023. "A Simulation and Experiment on the Optimization Design of an Air Outlet Structure for an Air-Assisted Sprayer," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:12:p:2277-:d:1301030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yongguang Hu & Yongkang Chen & Wuzhe Wei & Zhiyuan Hu & Pingping Li, 2021. "Optimization Design of Spray Cooling Fan Based on CFD Simulation and Field Experiment for Horticultural Crops," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, June.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zhanhong Guo & Jiajia Zhang & Lining Chen & Zhaoyang Wang & Hongbiao Wang & Xufeng Wang, 2024. "Study on Deposition Characteristics of the Electrostatic Sprayer for Pesticide Application in Greenhouse Tomato Crops," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-19, November.

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