The hydraulic performance of a fertilizer injector (Venturi-type) was evaluated. The tested injector is made of polyethylene, T-shaped, MAZZEI 1078 model, has 200 mm length, 19.6 mm inside diameter in the normal pipe passage and 7,6 mm in the cylindric body (throat). The injector was tested with input pressures of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 m.w.c. and their respective differential pressures: 2, 3 and 4; 4, 5 and 6; 4, 5 and 6; 6 and 7 and 7 and 8 m.w.c. The performance parameters analysed were suction-flow versus suction-tension and efficiency. Pairs of these were submitted to regression analysis and the linear model fitted best. With the purpose of evaluating injector efficiency, an equation was developed from the expression that defines cinetic and piezometric energies, based on the motive and useful power concepts. The efficiency decreased with the increase in suction tension, for all input pressures and differential pressures. The greatest efficiency (16.28%) was observed at the input pressure of 10 m.w.c. differential pressure of 2 m.w.c. and tension pressure of 1.43 m.w.c. The lowest efficiency (1.87%) was at the input pressure of 20 m.w.c., pressure diferential of 4 m.w.c. and suction tension of 1.91 m.w.c.
Venturi injector; hydraulic performance; fertirrigation