The ultimate guide on irrigation pumps
Water is a crucial element for the survival of every living being. About 70% of the human body consists of water, but still, humans have to depend on some exterior sources to fulfil the water requirements of their bodies. Similarly, the plant body is 90% composed of water, but it depends on the outside water sources for growth and development. The process of supplying water to the plants or crops is called irrigation, and it is done using irrigation pumps.
Pumps are an integral part of a farm or a house when you have sprawling space for cultivation and gardening. Considering the current water and energy issues, the water pump manufacturers have advanced pump technology developments. They have built advanced pumping systems that best serve the needs of modern agriculture and modern farming.
Different types of irrigation pumps
Pumps come in a wide range of varieties allowing farmers to choose based on the capacity of pumps they need. Depending on the design, water pumps can be categorised into the following types:
Submersible pumps
Submersible pumps are the ones that are installed underwater in a well, canal, lake, or pond. These pumps pump out the water from the water bodies for irrigation purposes. They are a single unit that comes with an integrated electric motor. However, the power cord remains connected to the device underwater, which needs to be safeguarded from possible damage by debris, boats, or water animals.
Displacement pumps
As the name suggests, water is moved by displacing these pumps, for example, pistons, roller tubes, rotary pumps, and diaphragms. In these pumps, water is forced out by pressing a long lever up and down. Displacements are especially beneficial when displacing thick liquids like fertilisers with tremendous pressure and precise volume. Displacement pumps are easy to use, maintain and repair as they have a simple construction.
Centrifugal pumps
As the name suggests, these pumps work on the principle of centrifugal force to spin water rapidly inside a housing, chamber, or casing. These pumps are designed to have stages where each stage is responsible for increasing the pressure. While using centrifugal pumps, first, the user needs to ensure that the pipes and the cases are always filled with water and then turn on the pump quickly. These are the most widely used pumps as they are inexpensive, enabling all small and marginal farmers to purchase them easily. Plus, they offer greater flexibility at work.
Turbine
Turbines are another commonly used pump in irrigation systems because they can generate high water pressure and offer a wide working range in size and capacity. A centrifugal pump becomes a turbine when installed underwater and attached to a motor on the ground with a shaft. The motor operates the shaft in these pumps, which turns the device in return.
What do you need to look for when buying irrigation pumps?
That said, there are several types of irrigation techniques; the goal of each one remains the same- to pump water from the source and distribute it evenly within the field. Therefore, when buying irrigation pumps, you first need to decide the type of pump that would cater to your needs and its size. While determining size, five factors can influence your choice- power consumption, variable speed controls, system pressure, efficiency, and motor protection. So if you will carefully analyse these things, you will be able to buy the best suitable pumps for your needs.