The sprayer pump must be large enough to...

• A. Supply the volume needed for nozzles and hydraulic agitator and maintain desired pressure
• B. Be able to operate without electricity
• C. Never require maintenance
• D. Be as small as possible

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the pump must be sized to meet the system’s flow and pressure demands. It has to deliver enough volume to feed all the nozzle outlets at the desired spray pressure, plus provide the flow needed for the hydraulic agitator to keep the spray mixture in suspension. If the pump is too small, opening multiple nozzles or facing line losses will cause pressure to drop and the application to be inconsistent, leading to poor coverage and potential drift. A pump that can supply the total required gallons per minute while maintaining the target pressure ensures uniform, effective application. The other notions—operating without electricity, never needing maintenance, or making the pump as small as possible—aren’t practical design goals because they don’t address actual performance for spray volume and pressure.