Project Number: 6202-22000-028-07
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Feb 01, 2008
End Date: Sep 30, 2010

Objective:
Determine the swath width, droplet size, and droplet distribution of gel dispersant as compared to Corexit 9500 when aerially applied with a King Air dispersand spray system (plane and spray system will be provided) at various application speeds, application altitudes and at application dosages to determine the differences between the two dispersants and to determine the application criteria to optimize the spray system. To assess current equipment used to spray oil dispersants from high-speed aircraft. To select nozzles that produce droplets with a volume median diameter of at least 600 um to enhance spray droplet deposition within the target area. To evaluate the effects of a new higher viscosity oil dispersant gel on spray droplet size.

Approach:
Conduct aerial application field testing with collector cards of the gel and Corexit 9500 dispersants at application speeds of 130 to 170 knots, altitudes from 50 to 100 feet and dosages of 1 to 5 gallons per acre to determine application swath widths, application rates and actual deposition within swath widths, volume median droplet diameters (VMDs), and droplet size distributions, to compare the differences between the gel dispersant and Corexit 9500 and to determine optimal application criteria for applying the two dispersants. Four formulations of an oil dispersant will be evaluated in the USDA-ARS high speed wind tunnel in College Station, TX. Each formulation will be sprayed through several different types of nozzles to select the nozzle and spray pressure combinations that optimize the spray droplet spectra for each formulation.