Drip Irrigation Design & Supplies

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Drip Irrigation Design & Supplies

KIM is a small firm located in Kibbutz Amir, in the Upper Galilee of Israel. The company focuses on irrigation design, 3D modeling for pipe systems, mapping, GIS, frame design, and analysis and WEB application development for engineers.

General Information We Request from Clients

  1. We need polygon marking over Google Earth files (kmz) or a survey map . If a survey map is not sent, Google Earth topography will be used in the design or High-Res satellite date. If you already have a specific layout for the piping network, you must mark it before we begin the process on the first map.
  2. Marking Water Sources.. This can be any sort of pond, lake, river, etc., as well as marking a preferred pumping method (i.e., centrifugal pumps, submersible, borehole). If a pressure system exists, marking the water source is required.
  3. Defining crop type. This includes the daily water usage of crops, the distance between rows, distance, between laterals.
  4. Emitter type. Sprinkler, drip, pivot, etc. If you are using a specific emitter, please send a PDF of the product data.
  5. Pipe types. For both the main and sub-main types. For example PVC, PE, steel, GRP.
  6. Fittings standard for flanges. Examples: DIN2502, BS4506, ISO7005.

General Information about Drip Irrigation Design & [email protected] KIM

Irrigation design at KIM is divided into two main sections. Mapping + BOM, and 3D Detail + BOM.

A map is a two-dimensional representation of the designed field, and the BOM includes mostly the “infield components,” meaning main pipe, sub-main, fittings, laterals, manual valves, and other components that repeat on land and are represented by a symbol on the map.

The 3D detail is a 1:1 representation of an assembly that serves as a unique system on the field. For example, an irrigation head, pump station, barrier valve, filtration system, fertilizer head. A 3D detail is presented by a drawing which contains a couple of views (usually top, front, and isometric) and BOM with “balloons” on at least one of the views (typically the isometric one).

Defining the details to be modeled for each project is a must. It is also crucial to keep in mind as the client, what exactly are you paying for. The contractor that installed the system should likewise have a clear understanding of what to do when s/he reads the drawings.

How the Process Works

We get the information (listed above) from the client and start mapping the area with Autocad. We will then send the polygons and their respective areas to you for review. We wait for your approval before moving onto the irrigation design.  This usually takes 1 to 4 days, including client review.

The next step is the hydraulic calculation. We will draw according to calculus and create a clear and easy to read map. There will you find piping diameters, flow rates, critical velocity, and required head. You can review and take notes on this map. The notes will be written in the PDF directly using the program “Foxit Reader” (which is free.)

The next step is to finalize the map according to the client notes and create the aesthetic changes necessary as well.

3D details will be created according to the client request, and a drawing for each detail will be reviewed and approved by the client. We will also supply the BOM on .csv or .xls format, depending on the client’s request.

The client will choose whether s/he prefers to order the parts from Israel or a preferred supplier. The advantage of ordering from Israel is that we already have most of the top manufacturers here and our BOM refer to item codes which belong to local manufacturers.

Steel manifold and steel filters can also be supplied from Israel from known and partnering factories. We create for them a set of shop drawings and they build up the manifolds for a 1:1 ratio, and afterward take care of paint, finish type, and packaging details.

Pricing and Corrections

A price quote will be sent for the design before commencing work. Each project is unique and will have its own specific quote according to its needs. For projects that use nearly identical configurations, a price per hectare is possible. This type of project demands a set of defined rules set by you to create a standard.

We hope to assist you in your future projects. We can help you succeed and serve your clients at the highest level. We are a small team, we react fast, we give attention to each project carefully, and we are here to serve those who believe in details.

Plan your fruit frost protection

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As winter is just around the corner, it’s a good time to review basic irrigation methods you can use for frost protection for your crops. Since ice forms inside plant cells, you need to balance heat to prevent damage done to your product. Several methods of irrigation can be used to actively prevent such damage.

Frost protection methods

One of the most effective methods, if you can spare the large amount of water required, is over-crop sprinkling. Over-crop sprinkling is useful for different heights of growing crops and is useful for combating frost both by radiation and advection. This technique applies water directly to the surface of the plant, which releases heat, keeping the water an icy-water mix consistency. To maintain crops, a fast sprinkler and consistency of distributing the water are both vital. Keeping the temperature to above 0 degrees Celsius is also a must. This works because as water freezes, its latent heat is released, which keeps the temperature of the plant itself from dropping below freezing. So long as the freezing point of the plant tissue liquid is above the freezing point of the water, this technique can be maintained.

Likewise, using sprinklers inside the canopy of trees can be helpful for preventing limb damage. This technique creates an ice build up on the inner parts of the tree, which are sturdier than outer limbs. Conversely, applying water to the underside of the tree or crop canopy is also effective for taller crops.

Minding water usage

If water usage is a key factor to deciding your frost protection method, consider targeting. This technique applies water only to the canopy of the plant, by using one micro-sprinkler per plant. However, make sure to cover the majority of the total growing area, otherwise evaporation losses may be higher and allow for frost damage.

If you’re still water conscious, preheating the water applied is also an effective method. This allows for less water used, which in turn translates into a reduction of water-logged soil and leached nutrients and chemicals for your plants. This also gives you the option for changing the heat of the water as needed to match fluctuating temperatures caused by Mother Nature.

When selecting an irrigation plan for preventing frost this winter, keep in mind the following knowledge of your growing area: minimum temperatures for your growing area and expected duration of frost; specifications of potential inversions (heat rising to the air meters above the ground, lying on top of cold air closer to the ground), soil conditions, wind patterns, cloud cover patterns, plant temperatures, and knowing the general contours of your growing area.

Frost protection irrigation is critical not only for the winter–but also the spring, contrary to what you may expect. During the season when flowers are expected to bloom, if frost can still creep up on flowers before full bloom, this will also harm the ability to produce fruit. Also, keep in mind that ice coating blossoms is not enough to protect them. Rather, it is the continuous process of ice making that releases heat and provides protection.

Choosing wisely

For your frost protection needs, it helps to find the right equipment and design. KIM Engineering Solutions provides frost protection design as well as suitable equipment for enacting those plans. Contact us for getting started on a proactive approach to guarding your crops this winter!

While you’re at it, check out this great video on frost protection for your fruit:

Cannabis farming

Getting to Know Cannabis Farming

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[fusion_text]Israel’s agricultural industry is ripening for the beginning of medical cannabis export, with the expected passage of medical export legislation by the end of the year. The timing is particularly fruitful for growers who are interested in succeeding in a new venture that is still in its infancy. The rewards are also high: Israel’s Health and Finance ministries have assessed that international exports would generate $4 billion in revenues annually.

Getting started in the cannabis industry involves commitment and some planning, just like with any other new venture.

Knowing Your Cannabis Industry

While recreational use of marijuana remains illegal in Israel, medical cannabis has been legal since the 1990s. Currently, cannabis is available out of one main hospital, but under new regulations, it will become available in pharmacies throughout the country. Staying on top of regulation changes and developments is a must.  

Growing Cannabis Wisely

Cannabis, as with any plant, is vulnerable to pests, weather, and drought. This means calculating the pros and cons of investing in an indoor facility, versus dealing with elements of nature with an outdoor facility. Outdoor growing regulations may develop over the first wave of new farms approved by Israeli legislation.

Monitoring the pH levels of your soil is also necessary, as cannabis plants prefer pH environments of 5.9 to 6.5. Commercial fertilizers tend to make soil more acidic.

Optimal day temperatures for cannabis plants are 24 to 30 degrees Celsius (75 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit), making Israel’s warmer climate, quite ideal during the daytime. Do not allow temperatures to drop below 13 degrees Celsius, as this causes the plant to go into shock.

Cannabis roots need a lot of space and tend to expand quickly, so choose a pot that allows at least 5 gallons per plant. The bigger the receptacle, the bigger the yield.

Cannabis plants require both dark and light photoperiods (artificial light: 16-24 hours of light, 0-8 hours of darkness), so lights need a timer to create intervals. The plant can handle both high pressure sodium and metal halide lamps, as studies have shown benefits for metal halide during the vegetative phase of growth, and high pressure sodium for the reproductive phase.

Use Your Water Wisely

One cannabis plant can use up to 22.7 liters of water per day. To obtain the maximum efficiency and cost saving you can achieve, drip irrigation provides a neat solution for growers. Controlled irrigation directly onto the surface or root zone provides your crops with all the nutrients and water they need to grow. Research has shown that drip irrigation saves you about 50% of the water you’d have spent using a sprinkler, plus you reduce the use of fertilizers significantly.

What does this mean to you? Elevated chances for increased revenue and crop yields.

Think Energy-Efficient Greenhouses

An energy efficient greenhouse can cut down the costs of growing by half. Studies have shown that sustainable building is not only environmentally sound, but also beneficial for profit margins, even with large-scale facilities.

Ventilation is another factor for growing cannabis. Proper levels of CO2 must be maintained, as well as strong air circulation.  [/fusion_text]

Drip Irrigation California

Drip Irrigation Design

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Why Drip Irrigation Design is Crucial to Your Success

Drip irrigation is one of the most cost-effective and efficient watering methods in agriculture. It has become incredibly popular in the past 50-years and has been widely adopted by agriculturalists in dozens of countries throughout the world.

In simple term, drip irrigation works by sending water through plastic pipes into drip emitters. These emitters are specifically designed to release water at a certain rate, called the flow rate. There are also Pressure Compensated (PC) emitters available that prevent pressure loss, allowing the first and last emitter in the line to have the same flow rate.

Drip irrigation pipes can be laid on the surface of the soil or buried at root level. Drip irrigation is far more water-efficient than many other irrigation methods including flood irrigation and spray irrigation.

To maximise the benefits that you receive from a drip irrigation system, it is important to use a professional drip irrigation design service. A professional design service will ensure the installation uses the appropriate technology mix to maximise the benefits you receive. This article will examine drip irrigation technology, its advantages over other forms of irrigation and the importance of using a drip irrigation design service.

The History of Drip Irrigation

Historians believe that drip irrigation has been in use for thousands of years. The earliest written record of drip irrigation can be found in Fan Sheng-Chih Shu, a Chinese agriculturalist manual from the 1st-Century BC. Ancient drip irrigation designs used buried clay pots filled with water. The pots would accurately drip water to the plant’s roots. This kind of drip irrigation design continued to be used over the century and was popular in the Middle East and throughout Asia.

Modern-day drip irrigation design began in the 19th-Century, with German researchers testing subsurface clay pipes. These pipes operated as both a drainage method and drip irrigation technique. The use of plastic pipes began in the 1950s and researchers began testing micro irrigation systems.

Symcha Blass, a retired British Water Agency employee living in Israel, developed larger plastic emitters that were less likely to be blocked. This emitter type was patented in the 1964 and is still in use today. Richard Chapin, an American inventor, developed the first drip tape in the 1960s. Drip tape is a thin walled dripperline that is extremely flexible and can be rerouted easily. Technology has continued to improve over the years and there are now many advanced emitters, pipes and control systems used in drip irrigation systems.

Advantages of Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is one of the most important inventions in the history of agriculture. It is capable of saving vast amounts of water and is very popular in any country with limited water resources. The key advantages of drip irrigation include:

  • Water application is extremely efficient and little water is lost to evaporation
  • Fertiliser and nutrient application is very efficient because fluids are applied directly on the plant. This allows farmers to save money on fertiliser.
  • Non-potable water can be safely used
  • Drip irrigation designs can accomodate fields of any shape
  • Field levelling is not required for drip irrigation
  • There is less soil erosion caused by water run off
  • There are less weeds, because water is directed towards crops and not used haphazardly
  • Water does not land on leaves, which reduces the risk of some diseases occurring
  • Water distribution is highly precise and easy to control
  • The permeability of soil is less important
  • Drip irrigation is environmentally friendly because precise fertiliser application means fertilisers will not mix with the ground water
  • Compared to other watering methods, drip irrigation is not labour intensive.

Why Drip Irrigation Design is Important

It is a good idea to use a professional drip irrigation design consultant for a number of reasons including:

Large-scale Drip Irrigation Designs Can be Complex

While the principle of drip irrigation is very simple, there are many components used in modern commercial drip irrigation systems. Those components include pumps, water filters, backwash controllers, pressure control valves, safety valves, various types of emitting devices and various poly fittings. Using a professional drip irrigation design service ensures that the system is designed to be reliable, efficient and cost-effective.

Drip Irrigation Designs Should be Tailored to Your Property

Drip irrigation designs should be matched to your farm’s operating conditions including the type of water you have, the infrastructure already in place and the lay of the land. A professional drip irrigation design service will take all of these factors into hand, designing a system that is perfect for your farm.

There Are Many Types of Drip Irrigation Systems on the Market

There are hundreds of drip irrigation components on the market. A professional drip irrigation consultant knows which components are more reliable, better value-for-money and ideal for your installation. They have the experience necessary to help you save thousands of dollars on your installation.

Different crops and climates need different systems

When designing a drip irrigation system, it is important to consider the type of crops being grown and the climate. Alterations may need to be made to obtain the best results from a drip irrigation system. A professional drip irrigation design service is experienced with a wide variety of installations — they can make certain your drip irrigation system is appropriate for your crop and climate.

Drip Irrigation Designers can 3D Model Installations Before Building

Professional design services use 3D modelling procedures that can simulate complex drip irrigation systems and related components, including pump stations, emitters and filters. These 3D modelling procedures can test the efficiency of the system before it is rolled out. Any potential problems with the installation can also be identified well before they cost you any money.

If you are interested in learning more about drip irrigation design services, contact Kimprojects today via our website — https://www.kimprojects.com

Irrigation Calculator Drip Lateral Length Apllication Rate

Drip Irrigation Calculator

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So.. you have your field ready for planting, but you don’t know how to calculate the Flow Rate and how much drip lines you need to order from your supplier,

so here is a very cool drip-irrigation-calculator for you.

just chose the desired Area unit you are using normally (you can choose between acres or hectares) if don’t use any of the last ones I mention just do the conversion with this one. 

Now insert the Emitter Flow rate (in liter per hour), the distance between laterals, the distance between emitters, and if you want more then one drip irrigation lateral per crop row just add it in the box

 voila  🙂  it’s ready. not sure about which is which? check out the image!

in the upper box,  you can see the results, including your application rate (the rate that tells you how many hours you need to irrigate your plant according to agronomy detail), flow rate and the drip lateral length according to your field area.

Any comments are more than welcome.

Noam

 

 

 

Inventor Add On Development

AutoDesk Inventor Macro-Plugin-Add on

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AutoDesk Inventor Macro-Plugin-Add on

AutoDesk Inventor provides the means to create macros that perform tasks or actions a user normally performs via mouse or keyboard commands. These Inventor Macros are produced using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), a common scripting language used by many populate desktop applications, and as such have similar concepts and features.
Inventor Macros are often used to automate repetitive tasks or streamline more complex actions where a customised user interface can be designed to control or capture specific content.
The Inventor Macro VBA code editor is accessed via the Tools> Macro> Visual Basic Editor
Menu. There one or more macros can be created and stored within a drawing document or separately its own project (*.ivb) file. Since the VBA editor is integrated into AutoDesk Inventor, creating a macro can be straightforward with the Inventor drawing objects and their properties easily accessible via the Object Browser, great for prototyping a solution.
The Inventor Macro can be run from the Tools> Macro> Menu or assigned to a shortcut/button

AutoDesk Inventor Plugins (or Addins) provide much the same features however they are created using more advanced programming languages (VB.Net, etc). The code created is not visible to users, instead it is compiled into DLL files that can be loaded by Inventor.
Creating a Plugin/Addin rather than using VBA enables more advanced integration and a richer user interface.

AutoDesk provide template projects for use with external development tools such as Visual Studio. These templates include the required Inventor modules (APIs) that enable the drawing objects and their properties to be accessed. AutoDesk Inventor Plugins/Addins can be wrapped into a bundle along with supporting files and placed in specific locations Inventor searches in order to load either at startup or on-demand. These bundles can themselves be packaged into an installation script so they can be easily distributed.

Land Area Measurement

Land Area Measurement

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Land Area Measurement and the units of measurement have historical links to agriculture. An acre was the land tillable in one day by a man with an ox drawn the plough. Traditional acres would be long, narrow strips to avoid the difficulty in turning the plough. For simple regular shapes as these or a rectangular field/site, measuring just requires two values, length and width.
The importance of being able to accurately measure land area for agriculture means livestock will be fed without causing damaging over grazing; Crops can be adequately irrigated without fear of wasting precious natural resources; Fertilization can be optimised to ensure the best return on investment and minimise ecosystem impact from excess run-off; And ultimately crop yield can be predicted.
However, today often a field/site will be an irregular shape that is not that simple to measure, manually calculate, nor even estimate its area. Fortunately, tools such as Area Measure take the uncertainty away by providing an accurate means to measure the land area.

Free LISP programs

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 Free LISP programs are programs written in AutoLISP Language that is a dialect of the old LISP programming language, but specifically built for AutoCAD (Full Version, Not LT)

These programs can help drafters significantly reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, sometimes from days to seconds.

You can find many free LISP programs here on this site. There are many discussions and lots of free functions to be found within relevant forums like CADtutor and TheSwamp .

LISP programs are used  with Bricscad, IntelliCAD and other CAD drafting software beside AutoCAD.

Using  LISP programs is very easy, the simplest form of testing one is saving the source code as .lsp file. [ To be clear : copy the code you find then Open Notepad >Paste your Code> Save As> xyz.lsp ]

Now you can drag this file into your current AutoCAD drawing and use the LISP!

In most LISP programs you will find the command that calls the LISP at the first row of the code : [ something like : (define c:xyz ]

Usually save your file as the command shortcut (eg: xyz.lsp ), then you will always know how to call the command.

There are some other ways to load LISP files so that every session of AutoCAD to auto upload them, like adding them to the “startup suite”.Load Autocad Lisp On Every Drawing [ To be more clear : type AP at the command line, then you will get a dialog box. On the buttom right you will see an image of briefcase, click on “Contents” add your LISP files and Restart AutoCAD.

Note: Remember to put your .lsp files in the same location , AutoCAD uses the location as reference, so if you move them from there, AutoCAD will not find them.

 

 

 

 

Building A Raft

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Building a raft for irrigation systems can be a very useful way to hold equipment above water level or at a certain depth beneath the water.

For example: you may have suction baskets you want to keep away from the riverbed or hold maintenance equipment in the middle of a river you pump from.

Raft Buoyancy

Suction Baskets

 

There are many cool instructions on how to build one like this.

I like the idea of building one from the materials you have already and repurposing items that would otherwise become trash in our environment. Plastic barrels were the first thing I had in mind and actually it’s probably because I saw that as the most common buoy used in irrigation projects we design for developed countries.

Building a raft isn’t difficult but calculation for buoyancy might be a pain in the #@!# for some, so we created a buoyancy calculator especially for this purpose. The calculator defaults to dimensions of a typical 200-liter barrel made from plastic but these may differ a little between manufacturers. You can always google to find the appropriate barrel and change dimension accordingly. (Remember to get the info for the barrel weight, as it will affect the buoyancy of course.)

Beside making sure the raft will float, you need to know how deep the barrels will be submersed in water and how much additional weight you can have on the raft. We built a very cool slider that you can play with water level on the barrel.

The frame of the raft will have its own weight that can be added too, and the calculator assumes that it will be above the water level or at least does not contribute any additional buoyancy if submerged, so the worst case is covered! You can add as many barrels as you want.

Note: This buoyancy calculator built on responsive template so it will fit on your mobile device without downloading additional apps 🙂 

 

Buoyancy Calculator
Water Level Slider

Written By : Noam Kompano