Computer simulation of urea particle acceleration in an aerial spreader

• Published in: Transactions of the ASAE Vol. 41; no. 4
• Main Authors: Bansal, R.K. (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.), Walker, J.T, Gardisser, D.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.1998
• Subjects: ABONOS; AERIAL APPLICATION; ANALYTICAL METHODS; APLICACION AEREA; APLICACIONES DEL ORDENADOR; APPLICATION DES ORDINATEURS; COMPUTER APPLICATIONS; ENGRAIS; EPANDAGE AERIEN; FERTILIZERS; GROSSEUR DES PARTICULES; PARTICLE SIZE; PARTICLE VELOCITY; SIMULACION; SIMULATION; TAMANO DE LA PARTICULA; TECHNIQUE ANALYTIQUE; TECNICAS ANALITICAS
• ISSN: 0001-2351; 2151-0059
• DOI: 10.13031/2013.17252

The objective of the research reported in this article was to develop a computer simulation procedure for predicting the speed and ejection angle of particles released from an aerial spreader. The acceleration of urea particles in an 11-duct wide-discharge spreader was simulated with a commercial software package, FLUENT version 4.32, assuming an aircraft speed of 54 m/s and urea application rate of 110 kg/ha. Simulation results showed that: (1) air speed inside the spreader was much higher than it was outside the spreader; (2) urea particles released from the middle section of the spreader had lower average speeds than those released from side ducts; (3) the ejection angle of particles, measured in the horizontal plane with respect to the spreader centerline, was maximum (66 degrees) from the outermost duct on either side of the spreader; and (4) the ejection angle did not change in equal steps from one duct to the next. The predicted speed of urea particles emanating from the spreader varied from 42 to 69 m/s depending upon the particle size and the curvature of individual ducts. Simulation results also showed that increasing the urea mass flow rate from 1 kg/s to 2 kg/s per duct lowered particle speeds by 7 to 10%