Case
Precision Framer get more than 73% more efficiency with Grundfos Solution
Background:
Douglas is an agricultural and irrigation farming town situated near the confluence of the Orange and the Vaal Rivers, in the Northern Cape. This is where you will find Hein Mulke, owner of Zoutpansdrift farm, just 90km’s southwest of Kimberley. Hein is an irrigation farmer who depends mostly on technology and manages all his centre pivots remotely, using Valley Base Station 3 Technology.
He is a precision farmer and mainly produces wheat for local markets and alfalfa for export markets. Being in the agricultural and irrigation segment as a double-crop farmer, his main priority is to supply water on his fields throughout the year, by minimizing potential system failures. Hein is producing top quality, high protein alfalfa for the Easton export market, and therefore requires uniform irrigation products and technology, to ensure a uniform product, complying to very strict gradings.
The Situation:
As a dedicated farmer, Hein is constantly monitoring his water uniformity within his irrigated lands. Recently he has discovered lower CU’s (Coefficient of Uniformity) levels on more than one of his centre pivots, resulting in system pressures which are not enough to energise water to the end of the pivot, at the correct design pressure. Due to the outer part of his centre pivot not applying the exact water requirements, as per the specific crop factor, a substantial yield drop on the last tower and overhang of the centre pivot was identified.
After re-evaluating his current pump station and comparing the performance of the pump vs the system’s “Total Dynamic Head” requirements, it was evident that his current pumps were not providing the required system capacity, and unfortunately did not meet the hydraulic design criteria. Looking at various options to get the existing system pressurised to the desired Head(H), he decided on a Grundfos NK End-Suction Solution. By doing so, Hein was able to irrigate with the same amount of Kw’s, supplying the exact amount of water, at the perfect pressure requirements. By implementing the Grundfos NK solution, the total yield increase by 1 ton/ha, with a return on investment of R18 000 per hectare in one season. Hein contacted Valley Irrigation of SA to assist with his pump stations and finding the right solution.
Let’s have a closer look at the two problematic pump stations:
The Customer is drawing water from a suction lift water source, supplying centre pivots on the outer banks of the Riet River. Both 2pole and 4pole motors were used to power the Grundfos End suction pumps. The main challenge was based on finding a pump solution that will result in additional pressure, using the same number of kilowatts.
He faced the following constraints:
· Pump station A: The pumping system may not exceed 7.5kW at the transformer. A transformer upgrade was not possible due to power availability. The system was in need of an additional 5m’s of pressure, with no additional energy available. After carefully selecting an NK40-160, using the Grundfos online Pump Selection Tool (GPC), the correct pump was recommended.
· Pump Station B: The pumping system may not exceed 45kW at the transformer. As per the above scenario, they could not exceed 45kW at the transformer, and a transformer upgrade was not possible due to power availability. The system was also in need for 5m’s of additional system pressure, but with the same initial available energy.
Outcome:
After going through many options on how to get his irrigation system as efficient as possible, with the lowest capital investment, Hein concluded that he now has peace of mind with a state of the art Grundfos system result.
Now that the farm is saving energy, with an irrigation system working 100% according to the hydraulic design and operating at maximum efficiency, Hein actually managed to accurately address the real demand for being a successful irrigation farmer in tough South African weather conditions… More efficient and reliable pumping solutions, to ensure better crop yield.