Solutions for agricultural flow monitoring & telemetry

Metering farm waste discharges is becoming an increasingly important endeavour. Due to State and Federal discharge laws, animal waste from farm enterprises such as: dairies; hog farms and slaughter houses must be measured as critical information is needed on the amount of waste entering settling ponds and also being re-used for irrigation.

The MACE AgriFlo XCi is ideally suited for metering animal waste. A MACE Doppler ultrasonic sensor provides little obstruction to the flow and is impervious to the often greasy build-ups that can coat the electrodes of electromagnetic flow meters. If solid build-ups occur in the pipe, the patented MACE insertion sensor can easily be removed (via a ball valve) for cleaning without the need to shut down the line. Conventional metering methods such as electromagnetic or mechanical require the shut-down of the process line, as these types of meters are often fanged and must be completely removed for service.

With the added advantage of being able to monitor multiple sensors, the same MACE AgriFlo XCi unit can be used to measure both inflows from the waste source and at the same time, monitor the re-use of the waste after mixing with irrigation water. Furthermore, with an Input/ Output card, water quality sensors can also be connected and the nutrient levels in the effluent/water mix can be measured to fulfill additional environmental recording requirements. With a MACE WebComm card installed, these readings are available 24/7 on the MACE website, as well as having the ability to be alarmed via SMS/email to any mobile phone.

Lateral diversions are generally deep underground with limited access and even more limited metering options. Combined with silt and trash-laden stream flows, the large pipes often associated with lateral diversions used by irrigation water-supply companies to distribute water usually mean either expensive meters or no meter at all.

The MACE AgriFlo XCi, provides a simple and cost-effective solution to the measurement of these flows. Firstly, a choice of MACE sensors can be installed inside the pipe (from 6″ to 100″ diameter) with or without underground access. Secondly, cables are routed either underground and/or through the mounting pole to the AgriFlo XCi device, providing an extremely tamper and vermin resistant design.

Many large lateral diversions monitored by irrigation districts have multiple pipes that need to be monitored. With the AgriFlo XCi, up to five pipes can be measured with the same unit, providing even greater overall water management at an extremely affordable price. Because MACE velocity sensors provide very little obstruction to the flow and have no moving parts, the whole system is virtually maintenance free.

In the example shown, the AgriFlo XCi is monitoring a typical lateral diversion with twin pipes. The flow in each pipe is measured with a MACE insertion velocity sensor . With a MACE WebComm card installed, these readings are available 24/7 on the MACE website, as well as having the ability to be alarmed via SMS/email to any mobile phone.

Metering surface water that is pumped from rivers or channels is a challenge that often fails traditional mechanical meters. The stream flows are usually trash-laden and moving at very high velocities. The wear and tear on a mechanical meter under these conditions is extreme, and consistently leads to failures and expensive repairs. Furthermore, a farm enterprise often will require more than just flow measurement information. With the AgriFlo XCi, many other farm sensors can also be monitored and logged with the same device, providing a true value-add solution.

The MACE AgriFlo XCi provides an extremely accurate and inexpensive solution for these types of applications. By using a MACE insertion velocity sensor, the MACE AgriFlo can be used in pipes from 100mm to 2.5m in diameter. Because the MACE insertion velocity sensor provides very little obstruction to the flow and has no moving parts, the whole system is virtually maintenance free.

However, what really sets the AgriFlo XCi apart is the ability to also monitor just about any other farm sensor. Whether the farm enterprise requires data to be monitored from soil moisture sensors or engine management sensors, the AgriFlo XCi has suitable inputs.

In the example shown, the AgriFlo XCi is monitoring the pumped flow as well as engine speed (RPM). Furthermore, a MACE EchoFlo depth sensor is providing the measurement of the level of diesel fuel in a tank. With a MACE WebComm card installed, these readings are available 24/7 on the MACE website, as well as having the ability to be alarmed via SMS/email to any mobile phone.

Metering surface water that is pumped from rivers or channels is a challenge that often fails traditional mechanical meters. The stream flows are usually trash-laden and moving at very high velocities. The wear and tear on a mechanical meter under these conditions is extreme, and consistently leads to failures and expensive repairs. Furthermore, a farm enterprise often will require more than just flow measurement information. With the AgriFlo XCi, many other farm sensors can also be monitored and logged with the same device, providing a true value-add solution.

The MACE AgriFlo XCi provides an extremely accurate and inexpensive solution for these types of applications. By using a MACE insertion velocity sensor, the MACE AgriFlo can be used in pipes from 100mm to 2.5m in diameter. Because the MACE insertion velocity sensor provides very little obstruction to the flow and has no moving parts, the whole system is virtually maintenance free.

However, what really sets the AgriFlo XCi apart is the ability to also monitor just about any other farm sensor. Whether the farm enterprise requires data to be monitored from soil moisture sensors or engine management sensors, the AgriFlo XCi has suitable inputs.

In the example shown, the AgriFlo XCi is monitoring the pumped flow as well as engine speed (RPM). Furthermore, a MACE EchoFlo depth sensor is
providing the measurement of the level of diesel fuel in a tank. With a MACE WebComm card installed, these readings are available 24/7 on the MACE website, as well as having the ability to be alarmed via SMS/email to any mobile phone.

Metering surface water that is pumped from rivers or channels is a challenge that often fails traditional mechanical meters. The stream flows are usually trash-laden and moving at very high velocities. Furthermore, a farm enterprise often will require more than just flow measurement information. With the AgriFlo XCi, many other farm sensors can also be monitored and logged with the same device, providing a true value-add solution.

The MACE AgriFlo XCi provides an extremely accurate and inexpensive solution for these types of applications. By using a MACE insertion velocity sensor, the MACE AgriFlo can be used in pipes from 100mm to 2.5m in diameter. Because the MACE insertion velocity sensor provides very little obstruction to the flow and has no moving parts, the whole system is virtually maintenance free.

However, what really sets the AgriFlo XCi apart is the ability to also monitor just about any other farm sensor. Whether the farm enterprise requires data to be monitored from soil moisture sensors or weather sensors, the AgriFlo XCi has suitable inputs.

In the example shown, the AgriFlo XCi is monitoring the pumped flow as well as a variety of weather sensors. With a MACE WebComm card installed, these readings are available 24/7 on the MACE website, as well as having the ability to be alarmed via SMS/email to any mobile phone.

Many open channels in irrigation schemes have been historically monitored using a flume or weir structure that has been “rated” using empirical data. Typically this rating is based on the depth of the water running over/through the structure.

In recent times, the use of flumes and weirs has been negated somewhat by the advent of cheaper area/velocity methods, such as the MACE Doppler ultrasonic. However, thousands of rated structures are still used worldwide in diverse applications such as rectangular weirs on irrigation distribution channels or smaller flumes at farm turnouts. The AgriFlo XCi includes built-in weir/flume equations and a look-up table that enables the user to interface downward looking ultrasonic or submerged depth sensors, and convert the depth readings to flow rate readings.. The AgriFlo includes equations for all major flume/weir types including:

• Parshall flumes
• V-notch weirs (30°, 45°, 60°, 90°)
• Cipoletti weir
• Replogle flume
• Rectangular weir (contracted/suppressed)
• 35-point user defned “Look-up” table

In the example shown, the AgriFlo XCi is measuring the depth of flow through a Parshall flume with a MACE EchoFLo ultrasonic depth sensor, converting this to a flow rate and totalising the result. With a MACE WebComm card installed, these readings are available 24/7 on the MACE website, as well as having the ability to be alarmed via SMS/email to any mobile phone.

Most irrigation enterprises have ground water extraction points that require accurate flow metering. These extraction points may discharge into open channels for further network distribution or directly into irrigation implements such as lateral move irrigators or centre-pivots.

As water resources become less secure, the importance of accurate flow measurement increases. In the past, groundwater was not deemed necessary to monitor as it was thought that it was a completely “renewable” resource from season to season. However, the lack of aquifer re-generation during times of drought and excess surface-water usage has made the groundwater resource even more important to meter, ensuring equitable distribution.

The MACE AgriFlo XCi provides an extremely accurate and inexpensive solution for these types of applications. By using a MACE insertion electromagnetic flow sensor, the MACE AgriFlo can be used in pipes from 50mm to 1m in diameter. Because the MACE insertion electromagnetic sensor provides very little obstruction to the flow and has no moving parts, the whole system is virtually maintenance free. Furthermore, when monitoring flow into centre pivot or lateral move irrigators, the AgriFlo XCi also has suitable inputs to monitor other parameters such as pressure and temperature.

In the example shown, the AgriFlo XCi is measuring the flow of groundwater that is being directly discharged into a centre pivot irrigator. With a MACE WebComm card installed, these readings are available 24/7 on the MACE website, as well as having the ability to be alarmed via SMS/email to any mobile phone.

Combined with a submerged siphon structure, the MACE AgriFlo has been used extensively throughout Australia and USA for metering water supplied to irrigation farmers.

Generally, an insertion sensor is mounted through the wall of the pipe and the cable is routed to the pole-mounted AgriFlo electronics module. With all cables routed either underground and/or through the mounting pole this provides an extremely tamper and vermin resistant design. A solar panel is used to charge the internal battery, thus making the AgriFlo a truly remote electronic flow meter.

By utilizing a full pipe structure, the accuracy of such an outlet is increased when compared to open channel (or non-full pipe) configurations. Field accuracies better than 2% are easily obtainable. This degree of accuracy leads to far better management of the overall water resource.

Because the MACE insertion velocity sensor provides very little obstruction to the flow and has no moving parts, there is no measurable head-loss and the whole system is virtually maintenance free.

In the example shown here, an AgriFlo XCi is being used to measure & display the flow rate and cumulative total of the turnout. With a MACE WebComm card installed, these readings are available 24/7 on the MACE website, as well as having the ability to be alarmed via SMS/email to any mobile phone.

Combined with a through-the-bank siphon structure, the MACE AgriFlo XCi provides an economical solution for metering water supplied to irrigation farmers.

A MACE Doppler ultrasonic insert velocity sensor is mounted through the wall of the siphon pipe and the cable is routed through conduit to the pole-mounted AgriFlo XCi electronics module. With all cables routed either underground and/or through the mounting pole this provides an extremely tamper and vermin resistant design. A solar panel is used to charge the internal battery, thus making the AgriFlo a truly remote electronic flow meter.

By utilizing the full pipe siphon structure, the accuracy of the meter is increased when compared to open channel (or non-full pipe) configurations. Field accuracies better than 2% are easily obtainable. This degree of accuracy leads to far better management of the overall water resource.

Because the MACE insertion velocity sensor provides very little obstruction to the flow and has no moving parts to foul or clog with trash-laden flows, the whole system is virtually maintenance free.

In the example shown here, an AgriFlo XCi is being used to measure & display the flow rate and cumulative total of the turnout. With a MACE WebComm card installed, these readings are available 24/7 on the MACE website, as well as having the ability to be alarmed via SMS/email to any mobile phone.