Optimisation of sequence and orientation for used nozzles based on few, full boom distribution measurements

Most studies on uniformity of pesticide applications beneath agricultural spraying booms are based on the characteristics of nozzle spray patterns. When optimising general features (boom height, pressure, ...), average nozzle characteristics are used. In this research, individual nozzle characteristics are essential. When utilising slightly used nozzles, small irregularities in the nozzle spray distribution may be averaged out or amplified in the resulting full-boom distribution. A method is proposed to find whether the coefficient of variation (cv) of a field sprayer spray distribution could be optimised by altering the sequence and orientation of a given set of flat fan nozzles. A manageable model is used in order to quickly compute possible full-boom distributions (and cv's) with a given set of single nozzle spray distributions. The individual nozzle spray distributions are extracted from a limited series of full-boom spray distribution measurements (three in most cases) with randomised nozzle sequence and orientation by means of a Matlab optimisation algorithm.