Member
“Pumping and Hydraulics’ Solutions for Irrigation and Water Supply”
TALLEMENCO
ABN: 92 105 345 506
Auditing: Pumping and Pipelines
Rob is a Certified Landscape Auditor. He regularly undertakes catch can testing on irrigation systems. This auditing method serves to highlight deficiencies in an irrigation system by indicating low DU’s*. It does not necessarily provide the information required to fix the problem if there is one! (*see note on DU's below)
As a result of finding numerous irrigation systems with low DU’s, Rob developed an auditing system to pick up where conventional irrigation audits leave off.
As a result of finding numerous irrigation systems with low DU’s, Rob developed an auditing system to pick up where conventional irrigation audits leave off.
P.I.P.E.S. (Pumping and Irrigation Pipeline Efficiency Service) is a “next generation” irrigation auditing system which deploys Tallemenco’s own custom built data loggers to record pressure and flow data over a complete irrigation schedule.
P.I.P.E.S. is a unique auditing and reporting service. It will identify your pumping and irrigation problems, offer economical solutions, and save you money!
View this video to find out why and how P.I.P.E.S. can help you to save operating costs on your irrigation system.
P.I.P.E.S. is a unique auditing and reporting service. It will identify your pumping and irrigation problems, offer economical solutions, and save you money!
View this video to find out why and how P.I.P.E.S. can help you to save operating costs on your irrigation system.
P.I.P.E.S. Audit at Pump Station, showing logger verification prior to testing. Photo, R Welke
So, when will a P.I.P.E.S. audit benefit your irrigation system? When will it realise to you the savings it readily offers?
ANSWER: When your irrigation system exhibits any of the following symptoms:
ANSWER: When your irrigation system exhibits any of the following symptoms:
ØBurst pipes
ØOver watering (pressure, flow)
ØUnder watering (pressure, flow)
Ølow DU’s
ØInsufficient watering window
ØHigh electricity/diesel bills
ØInstallation faults
ØIrrigation demand > pump capacity
ØPumps not changing smoothly
ØBore drawdown excessive
ØPressure spikes
ØLow voltage, voltage spikes
ØOver watering (pressure, flow)
ØUnder watering (pressure, flow)
Ølow DU’s
ØInsufficient watering window
ØHigh electricity/diesel bills
ØInstallation faults
ØIrrigation demand > pump capacity
ØPumps not changing smoothly
ØBore drawdown excessive
ØPressure spikes
ØLow voltage, voltage spikes
Classic “donuts” caused by poor irrigation design. Photo drip-irrigation-guide.com
So, if your irrigation system indicates any of the above symptoms, then a P.I.P.E.S. Audit can readily find the problem and offer economical solutions.
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Click here for a reprint of the 2009 Summer Edition of the IAL Journal, p8, for an article on P.I.P.E.S.! (reprinted with permission)
Contact Rob for a quote to apply P.I.P.E.S. to solve your pumping and irrigation problems, and save you money!
Contact Rob for a quote to apply P.I.P.E.S. to solve your pumping and irrigation problems, and save you money!
Distribution Uniformity *
DU’s refers to Distribution Uniformity. It is a measure of how evenly water is distributed from irrigation sprinkler (or drip) systems.
DU’s refers to Distribution Uniformity. It is a measure of how evenly water is distributed from irrigation sprinkler (or drip) systems.
DU’s are measured by capturing irrigated water into catch cans (see photo right) placed strategically between sprinklers over a (say) 20 minute irrigation period and then applying a special formula to the resulting volumes of water caught in each catch can. Good DU’s are in the vicinity of 85% or greater.
Typically, irrigation times are increased by the Scheduling Coefficient (SC) to compensate for low DU’s. An SC is the reciprocal of the DU.
Typically, irrigation times are increased by the Scheduling Coefficient (SC) to compensate for low DU’s. An SC is the reciprocal of the DU.
Catch can testing, Runaway Bay QLD. Photo, R Welke
So, an irrigation system with a DU of 75% will have a SC of 1.33. That is to say that irrigation run times will be increased by 33% just to compensate for the low precipitation produced by just a few sprinklers because of pressure or sprinkler placement issues. That also means that many areas of your irrigation are receiving 33% more water than they require!!! Just think of how much water and pumping costs can be saved by restoring DU’s and thereby reducing SC’s!
A good Catch Can audit usually determines if a low DU is caused by either:
A good Catch Can audit usually determines if a low DU is caused by either:
low or uneven supply pressure (sprinkler head pressure is usually measured with a pitot gauge during the test) or
improperly designed sprinkler system (poor sprinkler spacing, incorrect nozzles, etc).
Both of the above
improperly designed sprinkler system (poor sprinkler spacing, incorrect nozzles, etc).
Both of the above
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If the sprinkler system is found to be improperly designed, with poorly spaced or incorrect sprinklers for your task, there may need to be some redesigning of sprinkler type/spacing/nozzle sizing.
If your system is suffering from poor supply pressures indicated by low or varying sprinkler pressures, a P.I.P.E.S. audit will most certainly benefit your irrigation system and save you money.
If your system is suffering from poor supply pressures indicated by low or varying sprinkler pressures, a P.I.P.E.S. audit will most certainly benefit your irrigation system and save you money.
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Last Updated
May 22nd 2011
May 22nd 2011