Subtopic: Calculation of performance parameters – field capacity, efficiency, performance index, application rate and losses
Question Statement:
A tractor-mounted hydraulic sprayer operates with a boom having 16 hollow cone nozzles spaced $50\text{ cm}$ apart. The forward speed of the tractor is $4.8\text{ km/h}$. If the desired spray application rate is $250\text{ L/ha}$, calculate the required discharge rate of each nozzle in $\text{L/min}$.
Answer Key:
1
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
Given:
- Application rate $Q_{\text{rate}} = 250\text{ L/ha}$
- Forward speed $S = 4.8\text{ km/h}$
- Nozzle spacing $w = 50\text{ cm} = 0.5\text{ m}$
Application rate formula for an individual nozzle:
$Q_{\text{rate}} = \frac{600 \times q}{w \times S}$
Where:
- $q$ is nozzle discharge in $\text{L/min}$
- $w$ is nozzle spacing in meters ($0.5\text{ m}$)
- $S$ is forward speed in $\text{km/h}$ ($4.8\text{ km/h}$)
Rearranging for $q$:
$q = \frac{Q_{\text{rate}} \times w \times S}{600} = \frac{250 \times 0.5 \times 4.8}{600} = \frac{600}{600} = 1.0\text{ L/min}$