Spray drift is a significant issue facing agricultural applicators throughout the United States. Up to half of the crop production materials applied are delivered to the crop site by air. This method is highly valued by the farmer and contributes to American agricultural productivity. However, material that drifts off-site is of concern. Material not applied to the target is a financial loss for the farmer and a 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. Atomization creates a range of droplets with those in the <200 /m/ range, known as fines, particularly susceptible to off-site drift. As air speed increases, so does the effect of air shear on the atomized droplets, resulting in larger droplets shattering into fines. By creating spray droplets within the RVA chamber, we propose to minimize the effect of air shear, reduce the overall percentage of droplets in the < 200 /m/ range, and ultimately reduce the potential for material applied by air to drift off-site.
