What are the system types of sprinkler irrigation machines and sprinkler irrigation equipment?
Sprinkler irrigation equipment mainly consists of a water source power machine, water pump, pipeline system and sprinklers. The water source power machine and water pump, supplemented by pressure regulating and safety devices, form the sprinkler irrigation pumping station. The pipelines at all levels connected to the pumping station, together with gate valves, safety valves, exhaust valves, etc., form the water conveyance system. The spraying equipment includes the sprinklers or traveling devices on the terminal pipeline. Sprinkler irrigation systems are divided into the following 3 categories according to the degree of mobility during sprinkler irrigation operations.
Fixed sprinkler irrigation system
Except for the sprinklers, all components remain fixed throughout the year or during the irrigation season. The main pipes and branch pipes are mostly buried underground, and the sprinklers are installed on vertical pipes connected from the branch pipes. It is convenient to operate, highly efficient, occupies little land, and is also convenient for comprehensive utilization (such as combining fertilization and pesticide spraying, etc.) and for realizing automatic irrigation control. However, it requires a large amount of pipe material, and the investment per unit area is high. It is suitable for cash crop areas with frequent irrigation (such as vegetable growing areas) and high-yield crop areas.
Semi-fixed sprinkler irrigation system
The sprinkler irrigation machine, water pump and main pipes are fixed, while the branch pipes and sprinklers can be moved. The movement methods include manual carrying, rolling movement, end-tow type pulled by a tractor or winch, power rolling type with intermittent movement driven by a small engine, winch type, and self-propelled circular and translational types, etc. Its investment is less than that of a fixed sprinkler irrigation system, and its sprinkler irrigation efficiency is higher than that of a mobile sprinkler irrigation system. It is often used for field crops.
① Winch-type sprinkler irrigation machine. Water is supplied through a hose from a water hydrant on the main pipe. There are 3 types: one is to install the steel cable winch together with the power machine used to drive the winch, the sprinkler, etc. on the sprinkler irrigation cart, with one end of the steel cable fixed at the edge of the field to pull the sprinkler irrigation cart forward; another is to place the steel cable winch and its power machine at the edge of the field, and pull the sprinkler irrigation cart equipped with sprinklers forward through the steel cable; and another is to wind the hose serving as the water supply branch pipe onto the winch, with the winch and sprinklers installed on the sprinkler irrigation cart or sled, and pulled forward by the hose. The hydraulically driven winch-type sprinkler irrigation machine uses high-pressure water led from the main pipe to drive the winch through a water turbine, eliminating the need for a power machine.
② Circular sprinkler irrigation machine and translational sprinkler irrigation machine. Both are multi-tower self-propelled types, that is, a thin-walled metal branch pipe equipped with many sprinklers is supported on several automatically traveling tower carts. Each tower cart has a set of speed regulation, synchronization, safety control and drive systems, so that the entire branch pipe system, driven by electricity or hydraulic power, automatically and coordinately performs slow linear motion or rotational motion around one end. The circular sprinkler irrigation machine supplies water from the central pivot, the branch pipe is 60-800 m long, one revolution takes 8 hours to 7 days, and it controls an area of 150-3000 mu, with a very high degree of automation. However, the sprayed area is circular. To solve the irrigation problem in the four corner areas of a square plot, some are equipped with corner sprinkler devices, that is, extending spray booms or long-range sprinklers are installed at the end of the branch pipe and automatically connected when turning to the corner areas. The translational sprinkler irrigation machine supplies water through a hose from a canal or a water hydrant on a fixed main pipe. When water is supplied from the main pipe, the sprinkler irrigation machine must move the hose after traveling a certain distance and reconnect it to the next hydrant, so the degree of automation is relatively low, but no corners are left after sprinkler irrigation.
Mobile sprinkler irrigation system
Except for the water source, the power machine, water pump, main pipes, branch pipes and sprinklers can all be moved, so they can be used in different plots in turn during one irrigation season, improving equipment utilization and saving investment per unit area, but the work efficiency and degree of automation are low. Among the commonly used types, some are light and small sprinkler irrigation machines with the power machine and water pump installed on a pushcart or hand frame, and their sprinklers installed on a lightweight tripod and connected to the water pump through a hose; some are small sprinkler irrigation machines with the water pump and sprinklers installed on a walking tractor, with the water pump driven by the power take-off device of the walking tractor; and some are double-cantilever sprinkler irrigation machines installed on large and medium-sized tractors. Mobile sprinkler irrigation systems are suitable for field crops and small plots that require fewer irrigation applications.
In addition, in areas with suitable conditions, self-pressure sprinkler irrigation can also be developed. Its advantages are that it can use the natural drop of water, does not require a power machine or water pump, has simple equipment, is convenient to operate, and has low use cost.