Variable Flow Control for Pressure Atomization Nozzles

An electrically-actuated system for control of volumetric flow through pressure-atomization spray nozzles was developed. A direct acting, in-line solenoid valve was modified to allow an agricultural nozzle tip to be mounted immediately downstream of the valve seat. By exciting the valve with a square wave electrical signal of variable frequency (7.5 to 12.5 Hz) and duty cycle (10 to 70%), volumetric flow through the nozzle was controlled. Nozzle flow rate was accurately predicted by gated sampling of the dynamic pressure in the region between the valve seat and the nozzle orifice.