MIST BLOWERS, AIR BLAST SPRAYERS - IMPORTANT POINTS

MIST BLOWERS, AIR BLAST SPRAYERS  - a "pre-flight" check.

Before you even calibrate a sprayer or attempt a spraying application make sure you check the following.

PRESSURE   Do not use the pressure setting at the pump.  Make sure that  you have a good quality guage fitted at a nozzle position furthest from the pump.  In most cases there is a 25%........ yes 25% variation between the two guages.  20 bar at the pump and 15 bar at the boom/nozzle guage.

On the right,  showing various adaptors to secure the guage to a nozzle body.

CHECK THE FLOW RATE OF EACH NOZZLE-TIP.  Use a hose and capture the liquid in a calibrated measuring cylinder or jug.   Any tip with a flow rate variation of more than 5% from the specified flow rate and pressure, will need replacing.  If more than 2 are worn replace the set.

FILTERS OR IN-LINE STRAINERS.  Check for damaged or blocked filter elements. Refer to my earlier posting regarding mesh sizes. Blocked filter elements will starve the pump and reduce the flow.  Broken elements will result in blockages at the nozzle.  Use slotted strainers with all  disc and core combinations irrespective of materials used.

Here's a image showing a common problem. The element was placed into the filter bowl and then screwed onto the filter head. As you can see the element frame has been crushed.

A SIMPLE RIBBON TEST

Make a few ribbons and attach them to the nozzle assemblies to get an idea of where the wind in taking the spray cloud.

Where possible adjust the air deflector vanes.

Be very careful.  Even though the nozzles are facing up the air stream can still force the spray-cloud in the wrong direction.

DON'T, FOR A MINUTE, THINK BECAUSE YOU SEE SOME MIST THAT ITS GETTING TO THE TARGET. YOU COULD BE WASTING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MATERIAL OR NOT PUTTING DOWN ENOUGH.

NEXT POSTING: A SPREAD SHEET TO SORT OUT ALL THE LITTLE SUMS FOR CALIBRATION. YOU JUST PLUG IN THE NUMBERS!!!

chemicon@multispray.com




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TOWER SPRAYERS COMING UP.  THAT MIST IS GOING TO DRIVE SOME CRAZY.

INCHES, CENTIMETRES, MILLMETRES, MESH AND MICRONS.

INCHES, CENTIMETRES, MILLMETRES, MESH AND MICRONS.

The average brown human hair is 70 micron. Judging by the number of farmers who confuse mesh sizes with microns I thought it best to shed some light on the matter.

I think if you were to ask most people to show you an inch using their thumb and forefinger they would have a pretty good idea. I'm not too sure about 25 mm!

1" = 25.4 mm or 2.54 cm. 1mm = 1'000 micron.

MESH size refers to the number of openings in a linear inch of mesh. You have to consider the thickness of the wire used in the mesh. There is a difference between commercial or market grade and mill grade but that is not important at this stage. Using the US standard mesh size, here are the common mesh sizes and their micron and mm equivalents.

MESH - No. of openings	MILLIMETRES	MICRONS
16 GREY	1.180	1180
30 YELLOW	0.595	595
50  RED	0.300	300
80  BLUE	0.177	177
100 GREEN	0.149	149
120 BROWN	0.125	125
200 ORANGE	0.074	74

When looking under the nozzle section in the catalogue note that the appropriate filter mesh size in specified in parenthesis under each nozzle-tip. If not specified then no filter is required. 

DO NOT USE A FILTER WITH A FINER MESH SIZE OTHER THAN THAT SPECIFIED AS IT WILL BLOCK UP AND DRASTICALLY REDUCE THE FLOW RATE.

When using Disc and Core spray-tips use the correct SLOTTED FILTER.

chemicon@multispray.com

Tel Intl: +27 83 289 0327

Tel Natl:  083 289 0327

THE 18999 VERSATILE SEAL - Used with the Quick TeeJet system.

THE 18999 VERSATILE SEAL - Used with the Quick TeeJet system.

From the pictures you can see how this seal fits over the small filters and nozzle-tip cores.    Pay special attention to the design. The one shoulder is square and the other is rounded. The rounded shoulder faces the outlet.

The seal is used with the Quick TeeJet system.

In the real world, the chances of losing a filter in-field are pretty good when using the standard gasket - 19438. If the 18999 seal is used with the filter it cannot be lost. Why? Because the Quickjet cap must have a gasket or seal for a water-tight fit.

Here's a pic of a split-eyelet body, 100 mesh filter with 18999 seal,air induction Twinjet tip and cap.

chemicon@multispray.com

Tel Intl : +27 83 289 0327

Tel Natl : 083 289 0327

  

FILTERS IN-LINE - How to use and maintain.

IN-LINE FILTER - What's inside and how to use and maintain it.

This flush-out filter type is placed in-line between the supply tank and a positive displacement pump. It can also be placed in-line after a centrifugal pump. Sizes from 3/4" to 1 1/2" are rated to 14 bar 1400 kPa or 200 psi.

Only 3 of the filter elements are shown: Red 50 mesh while the Blue is 80 mesh and the Green element 100 mesh.

Ensure that the suction size of the pump matches or is smaller than the filter connections. EXAMPLE: If the pump has a 32 mm or 1 1/4" suction or inlet then use an in-line filter with 32 mm or bigger connections.

Leaking? A common fault when the bowl leaks is to overtighten it. The square profile o-ring in the head needs replacement. It's a tight fit and make sure it is flush and square with the head.

Cleaning and reassembly: After cleaning the filter element, always push it into the filter head before screwing on the bowl. If you don't,   this is what happens. 

The end is crushed and the dirt gets through to the pump valves and the nozzle-tips.

THE REAL WORLD.

Contact:  chemicon@multispray.com
   
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TECHNICAL - SMALL FILTERS

SMALLER FILTERS (AKA    STRAINERS )

Here are the small filters that fit into the standard bodies supplied by most spray equipment manufacturers.

MATERIALS AVAILABLE              Polymer, brass or NYLON with stainless steel mesh elements.

MESH SIZES

The mesh size refers to the number of blocks per inch. For example the 50 mesh element has 50 blocks per inch. The higher the number the finer the element. As you can see the red filter is 50 mesh and the green filter has the 100 mesh element.

 This is the 50 mesh brass filter with stainless steel mesh.  These are also available in non-drip form.

In the case of the slotted filters the red one would be the 50 mesh equivalent and the yellow slotted filter as illustrated below is the equivalent of a 25 mesh. Used primarily with disc and core nozzles.

Please note mesh size does not refer to microns.

IMPORTANT POINTS

Match the filter MESH SIZE to suit the nozzle-tip. THESE ARE SPECIFIED IN THE TEEJET CATALOGUE. The filter mesh size is specified in parenthesis below each nozzle code.  Usually in the 1st column.   DO NOT USE FILTERS FINER THAN SPECIFIED AS THESE WILL QUICKLY BLOCK RESULTING IN REDUCED FLOW AND INCORRRECT APPLICATION.

NOTE, IF FILTERS ARE NOT CLEANED REGULARLY THEY WILL EVENTUALLY BUILD UP DEPOSITS AND BLOCK!!

chemicon@multispray.com

Tel Intl: +27 83 289 0327

Tel Natl:  083 289 0327