Weta Irrigator
Weta Irrigator
AgFirst Engineering has developed the Weta Irrigator in conjunction with an Italian company, following two years of research and development.
The Weta Irrigator has been developed to enable the uniform and controlled application of nutrients as required in Europe and New Zealand.
The Weta Irrigator is the first ever traveling effluent irrigator that automatically maintains its travel speed and uniformity of nutrient application along its travel path.
The Weta Irrigator has the ability to achieve wetted lane widths in excess of 100m, with application depths ranging from 1mm to 25mm. The consistent uniformity of nutrient application across and along the irrigation lane, makes the Weta Irrigator ideal for effluent application.
The innovative features associated with the Weta Irrigator that separate it from other effluent irrigators are:
- An efficient turbine system that provides the required winch system drive energy, without sacrificing gun nozzle flow and pressure.
- The installation of a turbine drive system rather than a gearbox, which minimises maintenance requirements and costs.
- A speed control system sensors the speed of the winch rope retrieval and adjusts turbine flow to maintain a constant speed.
- An end of run and lack of travel speed shut off valve is incorporated in the irrigator.
The effluent irrigator has been designed to enable the addition of a GPS tracking and high/low pressure safety. Pump starts and machine operation can be activated using a cell phone, which will receive text alerts if problem occurs.
Weta Irrigator Performance Parameters
NOZZLE SIZE (mm) |
MINIMUM OPERATING INLET PRESSURE |
PRESSURE AT GUN |
FLOW (range) |
||
Bar |
PSI |
Bar |
PSI |
M3/hr |
|
14 |
2.8 |
40 |
2-5 |
30-70 |
10-16 |
16 |
2.8 |
40 |
2-5 |
30-70 |
13-21 |
18 |
2.8 |
40 |
2-5 |
30-70 |
17-27 |
20 |
3.4 |
50 |
3-6 |
45-85 |
26-37 |
22 |
3.4 |
50 |
3-6 |
45-85 |
31-44 |
24 |
4.8 |
70 |
4-7 |
60-100 |
43-57 |
NOZZLE SIZE (mm) |
SPREAD (range) |
PERFORMANCE (range) |
||
Width (m) |
Radius (m) |
Rate (mm/hr) |
Depth (mm) |
|
14 |
48-72 |
24-36 |
4-11 |
1-25 |
16 |
50-76 |
25-38 |
4.6-13 |
1-25 |
18 |
52-80 |
26-40 |
5.4-16 |
1.3-25 |
20 |
66-90 |
33-45 |
5.8-15 |
1.6-25 |
22 |
68-96 |
34-48 |
6.1-17 |
1.8-25 |
24 |
80-104 |
40-52 |
6.7-17 |
2.1-25 |