DROPLET TRAJECTORIES AND DEPOSITION WITH AN AIRBLAST FORESTRY SPRAYER

The characteristics of the air pattern and spray droplet trajectories from the Algonquin airblast forestry sprayer were investigated. An exp eriment with water and Rhodamine tracer dye was conducted in a shelter wood location to evaluate droplet deposition on Kromekote(R) card targ ets above and within a canopy of poplar saplings. Computer simulation of a free jet was used to model the airblast in order to investigate d roplet trajectories. Measured deposits indicated that the effective sw ath width is 14 m from the blower outlet. Mean simulated droplet traje ctory data were in good agreement with the droplet density data observ ed in the field. Both sets of results predicted a very low level of sp ray deposition beyond 14 m.