In the past, farming was left to areas that enjoyed considerable rainfall to guarantee plant growth. Nowadays, however, you can grow different types of plants in even the hottest and driest regions thanks to irrigation.
With the push towards eco-conservation however, you should still ensure the water you use on your plants is the right amount. Too much water will soak your plants while too little will be hardly enough. Both instances, unfortunately, spell doom for your farming venture.
With volumetric irrigation water flow meters for your farm, you can be assured that your plants get the right amount of water. This directly or indirectly measures the volume of water that will pass through a particular location in a specified timeframe.
Most volumetric flow meters will actually measure the water flowing speed rather than the volume of water. They will then generate an instant digital, pulse, or analog output of the flow rate that you can regulate as needed.
Here are the types of volumetric flow meters that will suffice for your farming venture.
Ultrasonic Meters
These use sound waves for the measurement of a liquid’s velocity as it passes through a pipe. “Transit time” ultrasonic meters will send ultrasonic waves between upstream and downstream transducer directions as water flows in your pipes.
The time difference in up and downstream flow is directly proportional to your liquid’s flow velocity. Doppler ultrasonic meters measure sound waves of the water as it bounces off the air bubbles and debris in its stream.
These are used for dirty or aerated fluid while the transit time meters are used for non-aerated clean water.
Vortex Meters
These use a shedder bar or bluff body for flow interruption. As water flows through your irrigation pipes, swirl or vortices will be created downstream in alternating patterns. Pressure sensors will then be used to pick the frequency of these swirls and interpret it relative to the liquid’s velocity.
Vortex meters are used for wastewater, steam, and clean water applications.
Magnetic Meters
These use electromagnetic induction for the measurement of your water’s flow. A magnetic field will be channeled through a conductive liquid as it flows through a pipe. The ions in this magnetic field will generate a voltage signal that will be sensed by the pipe’s walls.
This voltage is proportional to your liquid’s velocity. Magnetic flow meters are used for measuring the flows of conductive fluid-like slurries, water, and acids.
Turbine Meters
These use the kinetic energy of your fluid to measure its flow. They rotate a submerged turbine that will turn in proportion to your liquid’ flow. A sensor on the turbines will pick the movements of the blades. A fast fluid movement sends more pulses to the sensor and generates a high-velocity reading and vice versa.
You cannot afford to simply install an irrigating pipe on your property and sit back hoping for thriving plants. You should ensure your plants are getting the right amount of water with the above volumetric meters installed along with your irrigation system.
Your choice of volumetric flow meters and its periodic servicing should nonetheless be professionally handled to guarantee you have the best irrigation flow.
