Automated spray nozzle test system

A method of testing individual nozzles on a spray system including a plurality of nozzles, the method including:

• a. providing the spray system including a main spray tank, a pump in fluid communication with the main spray tank, a valve arrangement in fluid communication with the pump, a manifold in fluid communication with the valve arrangement, and the plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the manifold, wherein the spray system further includes a first fluid passageway having a first piping branch and a main flow meter, and a second fluid passageway having a second piping branch and a nozzle check flow meter extending from the valve arrangement to the manifold, wherein the valve arrangement is operable to direct flow from the main spray tank, the pump, and through one of the first and second fluid passageways while blocking flow through the other of the first and second fluid passageways;
• b. configuring the spray system from a normal operating mode into a nozzle test mode by operation of the valve arrangement, wherein the normal operating mode includes directing flow from the main spray tank, through the pump, through the valve arrangement, through the first fluid passageway including the main flow meter, through the manifold, and to the plurality of nozzles, while preventing flow through the second fluid passageway including the nozzle check flow meter, wherein the nozzle test mode includes:
• i. directing flow from the main spray tank, through the pump, through the valve arrangement, through the second fluid passageway including the nozzle check flow meter, through the manifold, and to the plurality of nozzles such that all flow from the pump is directed through the nozzle check flow meter while preventing flow through the main flow meter;
• ii. operating the pump to meet a first pressure set point;
• iii. opening one of the individual nozzles of the spray system while maintaining the remaining nozzles in a closed position;
• iv. measuring the resulting flow rate through the nozzle check flow meter;
• v. closing the individual nozzle;
• and
• vi. repeating steps ii) to v) until the flow rate through each individual nozzle has been measured at the nozzle check flow meter.