From the tank to the road surface
The tank holds the specified binder. A pump moves it through valves and piping to a spray bar, where nozzles distribute it across the active width. The material and installed equipment determine the circulation and temperature arrangements.
Material flow must keep pace with travel speed and active width. Etnyre explains this relationship for its own distributors; its component ratings and settings are not KEEYAK specifications.
Can the system deliver the specified rate?
Once the material and rate basis are known, assess the pump, piping, nozzles and controls as one installed system.
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| Decision | What to establish | Condition or limit |
|---|---|---|
| Tank and material | Match tank compatibility, usable volume and temperature management to the binder. | Heating instructions depend on the binder or emulsion. |
| Pump and circulation | Use the available flow at the intended material and operating condition, through the installed circuit. | A pump’s headline maximum may exceed what reaches the spray bar. |
| Spray bar and nozzles | Set the working width and nozzle choice, then assess uniformity and the permitted flow range. | Changing the active width changes total flow demand. |
| Speed-linked control | Establish how the supplied controls respond to speed and active-width changes. | Automatic control remains subject to the equipment’s mechanical limits. |
Calculate liquid volume and pump flow for a sample job
For a rate measured as liquid volume per area, required flow Q (L/min) = application rate R (L/m²) × active width W (m) × travel speed v (m/min). A wider spray pattern or faster pass needs more flow to maintain the same rate. Etnyre: distributor flow principle
For the example, assume R = 0.8 L/m², W = 3 m, v = 50 m/min and a treated length of 500 m. The 0.8 L/m² figure is chosen for arithmetic only; it is not a recommended treatment rate. This calculation includes no conversion to residual binder.
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| Quantity | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 500 m × 3 m | 1,500 m² |
| Liquid volume | 1,500 m² × 0.8 L/m² | 1,200 L |
| Spraying time | 500 m ÷ 50 m/min | 10 min |
| Required flow | 0.8 L/m² × 3 m × 50 m/min | 120 L/min |
| At 75 m/min, same rate and width | 0.8 × 3 × 75 | 180 L/min |
The calculation leaves out starts, stops, overlaps, losses and unusable tank contents. It cannot set a working speed or predict usable coverage. The proposed duty still needs a nozzle-range and uniformity check within the equipment’s approved limits.
Record the configuration and calibration conditions
Give the supplier the material specification, rate basis, working width and planned speed. Agree on a demonstration of flow and spray uniformity, recording the equipment used and the test conditions.
Information to prepare for this review
- Binder or emulsion specification and supplier instructions
- Specified application rate and its measurement basis
- Active spray width and planned working speed
- Usable tank volume and refill access
- Required controls, measuring instruments and calibration records
- Site acceptance method, trained operators and service support
Records to request and keep
- Exact material and equipment configuration
- Pump and nozzle operating-range documentation
- Calibration and uniformity demonstration under agreed conditions
- Instrument readings, exceptions and corrected acceptance record
Common mistakes and what to check instead
- Using tank volume as the measure of spray accuracy: Check flow measurement, active width, speed and distribution.
- Mixing liquid application and residual binder rates: State the basis and apply the job-specific conversion where required.
- Increasing speed without checking flow: Keep operation within the approved pump, nozzle and control range.
Scope of this guide
The worked example is arithmetic, not an application-rate recommendation or a KEEYAK performance test.
Material instructions, the project specification and the exact equipment manual control operation.
Do not heat, spray or service unfamiliar material or equipment without the prescribed training and procedures.
Sources and applicability
Flow relationships only; manufacturer-specific operating limits are not KEEYAK specifications.
Does not establish: It applies to the named manufacturer example and does not establish a KEEYAK model rating or project result.
Sources checked: