Three way valves

When it comes tothree way valves, many immediately imagine the simplest designs for switching flows, but in modern agricultural complexes this has not been the case for a long time - here we need devices that can work with precise doses of fertilizers and withstand constant switching cycles.

Features of operation in agricultural systems

In our projects forintegration of water and fertilizersThree-way valves have become a critical component. I remember how we installed standard valves at one of the first facilities in Shandong - after two months problems with dosing accuracy began. It turned out that the manufacturer did not take into account the chemical aggressiveness of liquid fertilizers.

Now when selectingthree way valvesWe always check the material of the seals - for nitrogen fertilizers, for example, ordinary EPDM is not suitable; specialized fluorine rubber is needed. This is a detail that is often missed in technical specifications.

By the way, in projectsShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,LtdWe have worked out a scheme with backup lines - if one valve fails, the system automatically switches to a backup circuit without stopping irrigation.

Remote control problems

When did we start implementing systems?remote valve control, encountered an interesting phenomenon - when switching severalthree way valveswater hammer occurred. We had to develop an algorithm for sequential operation with delays of 0.3-0.5 seconds.

In the project for a greenhouse complex near Qingdao, valves with stepper motors were used - yes, they are more expensive, but they allow you to precisely regulate the proportions of mixing flows. This is especially important when working with different types of fertilizers in the systemintegration of water and fertilizers.

Sometimes customers ask to install the cheapest electromechanical valves, but we always warn that in systems with frequent switching they will not last even a season. It is better to install high-quality devices with a servo drive once.

Nuances of integration with filters

On systems withwater filtration equipmentThree-way valves operate under particularly difficult conditions. The smallest particles of sand and suspension gradually wear out the valve seat - we have learned to install additional strainers in front of critical components.

I remember an incident during constructionhydraulic structuresin a mountainous region - due to the high mineral content in the water, the valves began to stick after just a month of operation. We had to urgently change the entire circuit to valves with increased flow sections.

Currently in new projectssmart agricultural parksWe use valves with an automatic flushing function - they are 15-20% more expensive, but significantly reduce maintenance costs.

Experience of adaptation to Russian conditions

WhenShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltdstarted working on the Russian market, we had to reconsider approaches to thermal insulationthree way valves. Standard Chinese solutions could not withstand local winters - they developed a valve shell heating system with temperature sensors.

In the project forhigh quality agricultural fieldsin the Krasnodar region they faced another problem - the high iron content in the water led to rapid oxidation of moving parts. We switched to 316L stainless steel valves, although this was not initially included in the estimate.

It is interesting that Russian customers more often ask for manual duplication of control - apparently, this is due to the experience of working with unreliable automation in the past. It is necessary to additionally install mechanical switches in parallel with the electronic controllers.

Prospects for technology development

We are now experimenting with valves that can not only mix flows, but also analyze the composition of the mixture in real time. In test mode onlyzhihuinongye.ruWe use a system with optical sensors - it is still expensive, but the accuracy of fertilizer regulation has increased by 40%.

In new projectsintelligent water and fertilizer integration equipmentWe are gradually abandoning purely mechanical solutions in favor of valves with a digital interface. They are better integrated into automation systems for the entire farm.

I think they will appear in a couple of yearsthree way valveswith built-in AI - they will be able to predict the need for maintenance based on changes in operating characteristics. We are already negotiating with manufacturers to develop such prototypes for our projects.