Droplet Size Distribution Characteristics of Aerial Nozzles by Bell206L4 Helicopter under Medium and Low Airflow Velocity Wind Tunnel Conditions and Field Verification Test

• Main Authors: Weixiang Yao, Yubin Lan, W. Clint Hoffmann, Jiyu Li, Shuang Guo, Huihui Zhang, Juan Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: manned helicopter; aerial nozzle; wind tunnel; filed test; droplet size distribution; agricultural application
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/6/2179

To investigate the spray atomization characteristics of aerial nozzles adapted to manned agricultural helicopters under medium-low airflow velocity (0 to 27.8 m/s) conditions, the droplet size test was carried out in both wind tunnel and field tests. In the wind tunnel test, the laser diffraction device (LDD) was used to test the spray droplet size of CP02, CP03, and CP04 aerial nozzles. A Bell206L4 helicopter was used in the field test. The results in the wind tunnel test showed that due to the nozzles had been used for a long time and the cause of wear, the spray stability of individual nozzles was affected during the test. The limitation of droplet size measurement by using LDD was also found. The field test results showed that the main distribution range of the droplet size measured in the field test was consistent with the results of the wind tunnel test, but the droplet size value was significantly higher and the uniformity of droplet size distribution was poorer than the wind tunnel test value due to the influence of the actual environment. However, the results of field test and wind tunnel test can still be used as a reference for each other.