What is the purpose of high-volume guns, which irrigation systems can they be paired with, and what are their areas of application? We take a look at these powerful distribution devices, along with a brief outline of Komet’s current portfolio.
High-volume irrigation is defined by a flow rate exceeding 20 gallons per minute (gpm). Thanks to their high flow rate and large throw radius, impact sprinklers (also known as long-distance sprinklers or irrigation cannons) are perfect for water-intensive crops that are grown across expansive areas, such as sugarcane, corn, hay and pasture grasses, as well as vineyards and orchards.
Impact sprinklers can also be a great solution for fields with irregularly shaped boundaries or physical obstructions (e.g. trees, power-lines or streams), as they allow the water to be directed exactly where it is needed.
Outside of agriculture, they are widely used for industrial wastewater, dust control and mining applications, as well as for sports-turf irrigation. The Komet Twin 101, for example, was responsible for the flawless green spaces of the 2016 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Compatibility
Impact sprinklers can be installed throughout an entire irrigation system such as a solid set installations, or as the end gun of a center pivot system, whereby a big-volume gun is mounted on the end of system to irrigate beyond the machine and reach areas that would otherwise stay dry.
They are also the go-to choice for hose reel systems (aka travelers), whereby a single irrigation cannon is mounted atop a wheeled traveling cart that moves it across the field at a set pace. Travelers come in two variations: soft-hose reel systems (‘cable-tow travelers’), and hard-hose reel systems (‘hose-pull travelers’). The main difference between them is the hose material (collapsible rubber versus rigid polyethylene), and the mechanism by which the cart travels along the irrigation lane. While hose reel systems are much more labor-intensive than a solid-set or center pivot set-up, they are obviously easier to move between multiple fields, and can be a great way to open up the benefits of mechanized irrigation with less initial expense.
Available models
Komet’s line-up of high-volume guns covers a broad spectrum of flow rates (22 – 113 gpm), nozzle sizes (0.39 – 1.77”) and throw radiuses (192 – 590 ft). The segment currently consists of the Komet Twin Max, the Komet Twin 101 Ultra, the Komet Twin 140 Ultra, the Komet Twin 160 Ultra, and the Komet Twin 202 Ultra. To cater to various environmental factors, crop types and topographies, Komet’s impact sprinklers are available with different trajectory angles (18° / 21° / 24°); in addition, the line-up includes several Vari-Angle variants, which can be adjusted in one-degree increments from 15° to 45°.
For ultimate convenience, most of Komet’s sprinkler guns can be paired with the separately available Komet Twin Inverter: when installed on the exterior of an impact sprinkler, this patented timing device changes the cannon’s irrigation angle after a pre-selected period of time – so that one high-volume gun can irrigate two different sectors without any additional input or labor requirements.