BladeValve™
Automated high-flow valve for high-performance surface irrigation
Large Diameter
For high-flow gravity irrigation
Powered by the FerIT™
Incorporates the FerIT Solar Node for long range communication and long battery life
Smart Operation
Intelligent motor allows for variable open/close position, event driven operation and adaptive control
Solar-Powered
Solar-charged battery system
Remote operation
Irrigate without having to be on-site and time irrigations to precisely meet crop water requirements.
Features and Benefits
With a few mouse-clicks from any location with an internet connection you can open or close the BladeValve. You can also set-up pre-planned irrigation sequences to time the opening and closing of a series of BladeValves and receive alerts from the field to give you peace of mind that all is going as planned.
The BladeValve’s all-in-one design means everything has been designed – solar power, motor control and communications – to function as one single unit. Continuing Rubicon’s tradition of completely rethinking gravity irrigation to design innovative solutions from the ground-up, the result is a rugged product designed for reliability and to lower costs of installation, operation and overall cost of ownership.
Highlights
- Fits 400mm vertical riser pipes
- Large diameter for lower water velocity
- Closes and seals under 16 meters of head†
- Capable of remote operation from anywhere with an internet connection
- Engineered and manufactured for long life
- Email and SMS text alerts to track irrigation progress
- Powered by the FerIT™ Solar Node, containing location registers that are uploaded to the host for automatic mapping.
A FarmConnect® product
The BladeValve is part of the FarmConnect product range for farmers. FarmConnect’s modular hardware and software enables precisely-timed application of water to crops using high-flow, high-performance surface irrigation. With FarmConnect, farmers can grow higher-value crops using less labour, water and energy.
†Consult Rubicon if operation under higher pressure is required.
Technologies
The BladeValve uses technologies which are common across Rubicon products:
Valve control technology
Traditional large diameter valves require a large force and expensive high-power actuators to close the valve against the pipe network’s pressure. In contrast, the BladeValve’s unique design allows the valve to seal under high pressures at large diameters using a high torqu
e electric motor with minimal power from the solar power supply.
Remote operation
The BladeValve’s secure pole mounted housing contains the electronics, high capacity power system and wireless communications for remote operation. Each BladeValve communicates through a FarmConnect Gateway* installed in the field which is connected to a cellular network and then the internet, enabling remote management using FarmConnect Software*.
GPS positioning ensures each BladeValve is accurately displayed on a Google Maps interface making remote opening, closing, programming and monitoring simple.
*Sold separately
Specifications
General |
|
|---|---|
| Maximum static head (pressure) | 16 m Consult Rubicon if operation under higher pressure is required. |
| Control | Local via a toggle switch or remote via FarmConnect software (sold separately) |
| Drive mechanism | Motor driven screw connected to actuator arms |
| Electronics | Power management and control technology contained within integrated housing. Each unit passes a 12hr heat soak pre-stress and 100% functional test. |
| Weight | Refer to the BladeValve sizes and dimensions table |
| Motor | Brushless 12V DC |
| Typical stroke time | Less than 2 minutes |
| Valve position control | Can be set to open, closed or a percentage of open |
| Actuation options | 12V DC powered (solar); manual with ratcheting socket wrench |
Material |
|
| Valve lid, mounting collar, actuator arms, top beam, housing pole | Structural grade aluminium |
| Hardware, shafts, pins | Structural grade stainless steel |
| Seals | EPDM rubber |
Power |
|
| Power supply | 12VDC self-contained battery charged from solar panel |
| Solar panel | 10W monocrystalline (20W optional) |
| Battery | (1) 12V sealed gel lead acid with temperature sensor (~5yr life, provides ~5 days of operation without solar power) |
Communications |
|
| Protocols | Modbus, analog/digital I/Os, USB |
| Data communications | ZigBee (international wireless communication standard) |
| Zigbee radio frequency | 2.4GHz |
| Gateway (sold separately) | A FarmConnect Gateway provides the interface to cellular networks and can link up to 120 BladeValves. Additional gateways enable unlimited expansion. |
| Transmission range | 1km between BladeValves. A BladeValve can reach the Gateway over much larger distances by passing data through intermediate BladeValves (called self-meshing). |
Environmental |
|
| Operating temp | 1°C to 60°C |
| Operating humidity | 0% to 100% |
| Water temperature | 1°C to 50°C |
Specifications subject to change