Research on the Application Effect and Parameter Optimization of 3HW36 Mountain Orchard Rail-Mounted Wind-Driven Plant Protection Equipment in Fruit Tree Canopy

This study presents a systematic optimization framework of 3HW36 Mountain Orchard Rail-Mounted Wind-Driven Plant Protection Equipment through integrated computational fluid dynamics (CFD), wind field validation, and field experiments. The CFD model demonstrated high fidelity with experimental measurements, achieving a mean absolute percentage error of 9.2% across 15 sampling points and resolving critical airflow–canopy interactions through a novel porous media approach. Field trials in Fujian citrus orchards quantified the following optimal operational parameters: 29 m/s airflow velocity (23% velocity attenuation through mid-canopy), 15° blower pitch angles (89.6% upper-middle canopy coverage), and 0.5 m/s railcar speed. The equipment’s terrain adaptability was validated through sustained post-canopy velocities (>6.4 m/s) and 62% momentum retention at 4.2 m downstream, addressing critical limitations in mountainous pesticide application. These findings establish a replicable protocol for precision canopy management, balancing agrochemical efficacy with environmental stewardship in complex orchard ecosystems.