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Atomization and Sprays, Vol.15, No.6, 603-628, 2005
Electrostatic effects on agricultural air-atomized sprays and deposition. Part I: An experimental study
This article reports on an experimental investigation of inductively charged sprays used in crop spraying. Two-phase fluid mechanics and electric measurements are employed to provide an interdisciplinary basis for the electro-hydrodynamic characterization of the sprays. The charged sprays are produced using an air-atomizing induction-charging nozzle, which is convenient and practical for the electrification of aqueous liquids. The study comprises the examination of free-spray and deposition aspects of charged and uncharged sprays. The spray structures are characterized based on the drop size and velocity data obtained using laser-based techniques. The deposition study is further concerned with spectrophotometry, analysis to quantify, the drop residue on a grounded target. The charging characteristics of charged sprays are evaluated through the spray electric current and flow rate measurements, providing the spray specific charge. Test results demonstrate the dominance of aerodynamic effects within the charged free sprays, whereas, in the vicinity, of a grounded target, the sprays are influenced by the attractive electrostatic force fields created, leading to greater drop depositions on the target.