Method and apparatus for avoiding or ameliorating cavitation in an asphalt cement fluid circuit

A system for dispensing asphalt cement in connection with a working operation on a roadway, said system comprising:

• (a) a storage tank for asphalt cement;
• (b) a working machine comprising a spray assembly for dispensing the asphalt cement;
• (c) an asphalt cement fluid circuit including a pump having a suction side, said pump being adapted to pump the asphalt cement from the storage tank to the spray assembly;
• (d) a controller that is operatively connected to the pump and is adapted to control the operation of the pump;
• (e) a cavitation sensor that is provided in the asphalt cement fluid circuit, said cavitation sensor being operatively connected to the controller and being adapted to transmit a cavitation signal to the controller when the cavitation sensor detects conditions in the asphalt cement fluid circuit that are indicative of the existence of cavitation in the pump.