What Is Center Pivot Irrigation & How Does It Work?
Center pivot irrigation machines have been used to irrigate crops for decades. These machines have a center pivot used to distribute water leading to increased yields as compared to other methods of irrigation, like flood irrigation, which can waste water. But how does a center pivot work?
Here’s what you need to know about center pivot irrigation components and operation:
The Center Point Irrigation System
The system is located in the center of the field, assembled using a series of lateral pipes with varying lengths between 90 and 250 feet. All these pipes are supported by ground structures or towers with two wheels.
The pivot sections between each tower are known as spans. And most pivot sections have 5–7 spans. So, each tower is fixed with hydraulic motors to move the tower when necessary. And sprinklers are installed on the lateral pipeline to deliver water to the crops as the system moves around the pivot area.
You can adjust the nozzle of the sprinkles in each area to account for the spacing between each span. However, the placement and size of the nozzle are not decided randomly; it has to account for the water’s drift direction, evaporation, and maximum runoff.
The Pivots Move In A Circular Pattern
As the name implies, the center pivot sprays water in a circular pattern around a pivot point. These pivots can be used to spray herbicides, chemicals, fertilizers, and water. The versatility of this irrigation system can improve the operational efficiency at your facility or farm by using one machine to perform many operations.
How Does It Run?
Almost all center pivot irrigation machines are electrically powered. So, you’ll have to either connect the with an energy source or use a generator. The pivot machine uses a current of 120 or 480 VACs to run.
You can use the center pivot control panel for the main function of the machine. The 480 VAC power uses the power circuit to drive the machine and helps the center pivot to move in the field. Whereas, the 120 VAC is used to power the safety circuit, the movement of the LRDU (Last Regular Drive Unit), and the forward and reverse movement of the pivot.
Get Zimmatic Centre PivotFor Your Fields
If you’re looking for center pivots for sale, center pivot power drives, or center pivot control panels, Flatwater Sales Inc can help you. Visit their website or get in touch with them today to learn more about their irrigation solutions.