Performance evaluation of an axial flow blower of spraying system for columnar growth orchard

Abstract

A spraying system intended for columnar growth orchards was developed with axial flow blower. The performance evaluation of an axial flow blower is essential to ensuring effective pesticide application by developed spraying system for sustainable farming approaches. The spraying system for columnar growth orchard is consist of axil flow fan with variable blade angle having 375 mm diameter at tip operated by 5 hp PMSM motor fitted inside e blower duct, where motor was operated by 60 V batteries accommodated on portable trolley. This research focuses on performance evaluation of newly developed axial flow blower of spraying system of columnar growth orchard with study of measurement of flow parameters. The performance of the developed axial flow blower was evaluated at five different blower speed in laboratory as per AMCA standard to know the best operating parameters for efficient operation. The best performance was observed at blower speed of 3000 rpm where blower efficiency was found to be maximum as 26.06% and the operational speed of blower and power requirement of blower was thus finalized for development of spraying system for columnar growth orchard.