Evaluation of a spray nozzle patternator

Abstract Evaluation of a patternator for measuring lateral distribution of liquid from single nozzles or small booms is described. Liquid from the individual channels on the patternator table was collected in tubes and measured by weighing on an electronic balance, linked directly to a microcomputer. Considerable variation in pattern occurred between successive runs with individual nozzles: the coefficient of variation from seven different nozzles ranged from 3·27% to 9·15%; this may be caused by turbulence in liquid flow within the nozzle. The pattern obtained from sintered alumina nozzles was better than that with brass nozzles. The overall pattern from a boom was less variable than that obtained from single nozzles.