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IMPACT SPRINKLER OR GEAR DRIVE SPRINKLER?
As previously discussed, in order to find the most suitable sprinkler, first of all, we must know the water pressure and flow rate that we have in our system. When the right sprinkler is used, you will achieve the highest performance and water uniformity coverage over maximum area.
Based on what makes the sprinklers rotate, we have categorized our sprinklers into two most common styles, impact sprinklers and gear drive sprinklers.
Impact Sprinklers are the most common style of sprinklers in the market. As the water flows through the sprinkler head, the arm bouncing off the mainstream drives the sprinkler head to turn. In small size sprinklers, when the arm hits, a small amount of water sprays directly around the sprinkler each time. Therefore, the small size of impact sprinklers which can throw up 15m radius provide quite even water distribution. When the sprinkler size gets bigger, the flow rate and pressure the sprinkler can handle increases as well. The high volume pressurised water stream gets harder to be distributed evenly. Thus, that size of impact sprinklers have another small (4-6 mm) nozzle to water the area for the closer area to the sprinkler. The main stream will start spreading in the air after a certain distance to the sprinkler head. If the water volume and pressure are too high water distribution and uniformity of this type of sprinkler get lower.
Advantages:
- Coverage – can cover large areas up to approximately 45 metres radius and it provide a high output of water allowing you to adequately soak your land during dry months
- Usability – most user friendly and easily adjusted to part circle or full circle depending on your need
- Maintenance – due to their simple design, it requires minimum maintenance and they last long as well.
- Affordability – even the lower end models will work well for most applications
- Well water/Hard water – it can last longer with hard water due to the limited number of parts and the simple head design
Disadvantages:
- Noise – impact sprinkler might be a little bit noisy due to their working method
- Might required more water as they need more water to more their arm.
- Low water pressure – sometimes make it difficult as they need a certain minimum pressure to work efficiently to create the arc pattern, water uniformity, and coverage.
- Less even water distribution compared to gear drive sprinkler
Gear (turbine) drive sprinklers rotate by using part of the water spray to spin a wheel (turbine) that resulted in the rotation of the internal gears to provide a very smooth rotation, which means a perfect water distribution and uniformity at all times. They are more common for larger application system. In addition to their high grade water uniformity, they move constantly at the same speed on reverse and forward directions. Comparing to the impact sprinklers, they require little maintenance like cleaning and greasing the gear mechanism of the sprinkler.
Advantages:
- Better coverage – Gear drive sprinklers can cover areas from 20 metres up to 84 metres radius
- Low water pressure – works better with the low water pressure
- Uniformity – can provide perfectly even water distribution over an irrigated area as the sprinkler head is rotating at a uniform speed. Even in high pressure application, it will still provide more uniform result.
- More efficient – most gear drive sprinklers are better than other types of sprinkler. However, depending on your needs and purpose, selecting the right type of sprinklers are very important
- Less water – they are throwing water exactly where you want it in your desired volume so it wastes the least water
- Less noise – as it driven by an internal gear, this sprinkler works with no “impact” noise
- Constant rotation speed on both reverse and forward directions
Disadvantages:
- The gear box might get damaged by the environmental effects; however, we have added a coupling in order to prevent this issue
- Maintenance – a break in the system can be hard to fix, depending on the problem
- Slightly less effective than impact sprinkler in a very windy situation due to lighter water droplets
Our wide range of sprinklers provides over 85% CU and 75% DU which are better than the acceptable standard. They are suitable for all kinds of irrigation applications, from garden irrigation, lawn irrigation, horse paddock, dust suppression, mining, and any agricultural irrigation covering small acreages to large acreages. They provide highest performance with the minimum volume of water and pressure.
All sprinklers come with different nozzles and specific angles to allow you to find the perfect match to your particular pressure and flow rate in your system in order to achieve the highest efficiency and provide the maximum coverage. In addition, we also have the perferct stands for the sprinkler, from skid base, wheeled cart, to tripod stand.
IrrigationBox supplies technically advanced irrigation equipment for variety of irrigation solutions, aiming at providing the perfect sprinklers uniformity and reliability. Buy online now with confidence.