A Reverse Venturi Atomization Chamber

Spray drift is one of the most significant issues presently facing agricultural applicators throughout the United States. In American agriculture, up to half of the crop production materials applied are delivered to the crop by air. However, material that drifts off-site is of concern. Material not applied to the target crop or pest is a financial loss for the farmer and a potential liability for the applicator if damage occurs. Off-site drift also represents an environmental liability, particularly as habitat and water quality concerns demand more and larger buffer and/or no-spray zones. The proposed reverse venturi atomization (RVA) chamber is a potential strategy to mitigate the problem of off-site drift. Current practice delivers liquid material through a nozzle, under pressure, and utilizes air shear for at least a portion of the atomization. This atomization creates a range of droplets with those in the less than 200 micron range, known as fines, particularly susceptible to off-site drift. As the speed of application increases, so does the effect of air shear on the atomized droplets, resulting in larger droplets shattering or fracturing into fines. By creating spray droplets within the RVA chamber (which is a controlled environment than allows atomization to take place in a calmer environment), we propose to minimize the effect of air shear, reduce the overall percentage of droplets in the less than 200 micron range, and ultimately reduce the potential for material applied by air to drift off-site.