Another possibility is the flooding nozzle, which can be mounted in nearly any position to get the desired coverage and direction. In any case, a nozzle capacity of about 0.5 to 1 gallon per minute should be sufficient for a timed system. Space the nozzles four to five feet apart along the water line to get good sprinkling coverage over the cows. Each has its advantages. The vertical-axis paddle fan uses less power and can use less headroom than the other two systems, yet the animals directly beneath the fans get the most benefit.
Paddle fans tend to evaporate water from bedding and floors best.
Horizontal-axis fans are noisier and take more power, but can throw air farther than paddle fans. Fan-tube systems use one fan on the end of a lightweight polyethylene plastic tube, the tube having outlet holes sized and spaced to handle the fan's air delivery. A tube can be suspended over a double row of free stalls and the holes placed so that air blows over the cows' backs. A fan-tube system has the advantages of quietness and low power consumption. It can bring fresh air through a sidewall and deliver it the length of the building, placing air exactly where it's needed to increase comfort in free stalls or stall barns.