Atomization and Sprays, Vol.28, No.4, 345-356, 2018
WATER DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF DIAPHRAGM-TYPE PRESSURE ATOMIZER FOR WATERING AND IRRIGATION
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of an atomizer design and liquid pressure on droplet diameter and a liquid spray atomization spectrum. Tests were carried out under constant laboratory conditions with the use of a GF 5405 atomizer with a diaphragm. With the use of the Malvern Spraytec laser diffraction method, the size of formed drops was analyzed. It was observed that with increased pressure, the typical diameters d(0.1), d(0.5), and d(0.9) and Sauter mean diameter d(32) get smaller. It is a logarithmic dependence. It was also proved that the size of drops depends on the distance between the diaphragm and the nozzle. Increasing the distance between the diaphragm and the outlet hole causes a considerable increase in the droplet, diameters. A relative constant, the relative span RS for a given type of nozzle settings implies Hutt atomizer operation is stable within the whole range of applied pressure values. The obtained data are very important in terms of atomizer design and agricultural treatments.