PRESSURE REGULATION
Manifold with electric pressure reducing valves
irrigation designers to provide systems with nearly perfect distribution uniformity, while helping farmers save up to 40% of their water.
This electric throttling valve manifold allows the grower to control flow to four separate blocks and irrigate them individually or simultaneously.
pressure bursts as well as provide a visual indication of high pressures or system failures.
The most common causes of pressure spikes include sudden closing of valves, excessive water velocity and clogging filters. The most common locations for pressure relief valves include low points, pump stations and anywhere in the system where certain products need protection from over-pressurization. On pump stations without variable frequency drives, a pressure relief valve can act as a reservoir or tank return valve when the system demand is significantly lower than the pump capacity. In high-pressure situations, it is often recommended to use both a spring pressure relief as well as a pilot-controlled hydraulic relief valve in the same location. Adding a relief valve to an
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irrigation system is a low-cost preventative that should be considered by all growers.
PRESSURE COMPENSATING EMITTER With low pressures and relatively flat terrain, a properly designed system can be fairly efficient using conventional nonpressure compensating emitters. As systems have evolved and demands have changed, designers looked for new ways to improve uniformity and help farmers save water. Arguably one of the most important improvements for irrigation system efficiency and uniformity is the pressure compensating emitter. Opposite of a pressure regulator, a pressure compensator will allow a dripper or microsprinkler to run at the same or very close to the same flow rate over a wide range of pressures. They have allowed
The emitter has a rubber diaphragm that is designed to open or close the emitter orifice, contingent on incoming pressure, while maintaining a constant output flow rate. This allows designers to stretch hose runs, add more emitters on one line and enable systems to operate uniformly on undulating terrain. Replacing old nonpressure compensating systems with new pressure compensating systems is usually the first step growers take to improve their system uniformity and efficiency.
There are many different types of hydraulic control products that can be used in even more applications. All have been designed and implemented in order to protect irrigation systems as well as improve efficiency and uniformity. When choosing a control valve or pressure compensating emitter, consider factors including operating pressure ranges, flow requirements and installation locations. Consult with an irrigation designer or technician to ensure proper sizing and setting of all types of control valves.
Michael Meyer works in design and sales knowledge and assistance in all aspects automation.
Winter 2021 | Irrigation TODAY 11
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