Abstract: To realize site-specific and variable-rate application of agricultural pesticides, accurately
metering and controlling the chemical injection rate is necessary. This study presents a prototype
of a direct nozzle injection system (DNIS) by which chemical concentration transport lag was
greatly reduced. In this system, a rapid-reacting solenoid valve (RRV) was utilized for injecting
chemicals, driven by a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal at 100 Hz, so with varying pulse
width the chemical injection rate could be adjusted. Meanwhile, a closed-loop control strategy,
proportional-integral-derivative (PID) method, was applied for metering and stabilizing the chemical
injection rate. In order to measure chemical flow rates and input them into the controller as a
feedback in real-time, a thermodynamic flowmeter that was independent of chemical viscosity was
used. Laboratory tests were conducted to assess the performance of DNIS and PID control strategy.
Due to the nonlinear input–output characteristics of the RRV, a two-phase PID control process
obtained better effects as compared with single PID control strategy. Test results also indicated that
the set-point chemical flow rate could be achieved within less than 4 s, and the output stability was
improved compared to the case without control strategy.
Keywords: variable-rate application; closed-loop control; pulse width modulation; direct nozzle
injection; thermodynamic flowmeter