Low pressure irrigation translates to reduced horsepower requirements and reduced energy consumption. With rising fuel and electricity costs, low operating pressures offer you a tremendous opportunity to lower total pumping costs. The savings vary depending on your specific system. Hours of operation, flow, pressure, energy source, and cost are all considerations. We at Senninger have a tool available that can provide you with a snapshot of the possible savings based on these considerations. It can be found as a link on our homepage to the Energy Calculator (screenshot shown here).
The Energy Calculator is a tool available online to show you possible energy savings.
If you try to use your older applicators designed for higher pressures at lower pressure, they will produce distorted distribution patterns. They will also deliver droplets that are too large and can have an adverse impact on the soil surface.
Before you select new applicators, you should be sure that they are specifically designed for low pressure operation. If not, they will not provide you with optimum performance. The criteria for low pressure may vary from one manufacturer to another. Typically, low pressure is 20 psi or less. Anything over that is really more of a mid-range applicator.
If applicators are designed for low pressure, they should not be used with high pressures. Otherwise, they can produce water droplets that are susceptible to evaporation and wind drift. For optimum performance, it is best for you to use the manufacturer’s guidelines.
For more information about low pressure applicators and their energy savings, contact Senninger Irrigation at info@senninger.com or visit www.senninger.com
“I have heavy to sandy soil with slope in some places. Using Senninger’s i-Wobs, I’m not getting the runoff I had with other product packages. That means I am able to cut back the gallonage on the machines a bit and spread my water out farther.”