Electric water valves

When they talk aboutelectric water valves, many people immediately imagine a simple faucet with a motor - and this is the first mistake. In fact, this is a complex system, where not only the moment of opening and closing is important, but also compatibility with controllers, resistance to water hammer, and even the banal position during installation. I have seen more than once how an incorrectly selected valve ruined the entire drip irrigation system - the water either did not reach the outer nozzles or broke the line.

Why standard solutions don't always work

In our projects for Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC, we initially tried universal valves - and encountered a calibration problem. For example, for sandy soils in Kazakhstan a smooth start of the flow was needed, and in the chernozem zones - a pulsed mode. Ready-made solutions with fixed settings did not take into account the difference in pressure between the beginning and end of the line.

I remember a case on a project in the Astrakhan region: they installed valves with an electric drive for 220V, and when the voltage surges in the network, the servos began to malfunction. We had to urgently change to low-voltage models with protective blocks - now this is a mandatory item in our specifications.

By the way, about specifications - on the website https://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru we always indicate that we test valves not under ideal conditions, but at temperature differences from -30°C to +50°C. This is more important than beautiful water flow graphs.

How to choose a valve actuator

Electric drives are a different story. Stepper motors are good for precise dosing, but they are afraid of moisture in the bearings. Solenoid ones are cheaper, but they overheat during prolonged operation - tested in greenhouse complexes, where the valves operate in cycles of 15-20 minutes.

We at Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology have now switched to hybrid solutions: stepper motor + handwheel. This is more expensive, but when the controller burned out due to a thunderstorm last year in the Rostov region, customers were able to switch to manual control without stopping watering.

An important nuance is the material of the seals. EPDM rubber can withstand fertilizers, but with constant contact with sulfates it deteriorates faster than stated in the data sheet. I advise you to change the seals every two seasons, even if the manufacturer promises 5 years of service.

Integration with control systems

The most common question is compatibility with existing controllers. Our engineers have long abandoned proprietary protocols in favor of Modbus RTU - even if the client later wants to change equipment, the valves will remain operational.

When designing smart agricultural parks, we always provide backup communication channels. For example, in Crimea where the GSM signal is unstable, we use 868 MHz radio modems to controlelectric water valves- the delay is longer, but the reliability is worth it.

By the way, about software - many people forget about calibrating flow meters. If a valve is 50% open, this does not always mean 50% flow - it depends on the pressure in the line. We have developed calibration tables for different pipe diameters, which we now include in the documentation at https://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru

Costly installation mistakes

I saw how on a large farm in the Stavropol region valves were installed immediately after the pumping station without check valves - when the power was turned off, the water hammer disabled three drives in one day. Now we always recommend installing damper chambers or at least membrane dampers.

Another mistake is the orientation of the valve in space. Electric drives with worm gears cannot be mounted vertically - the lubricant flows to the bottom, causing the gears to run dry. In the technical requirements of Shandong Lingyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology, this is written in bold, but clients still sometimes save on installation.

Winter preservation is a separate topic. Blowing the system with air is not enough; you need to drain the water from the drive chamber. Once, frozen condensation ruptured the aluminum casing - I had to explain to the customer that the warranty does not cover such cases.

Prospects for technology development

Now we are experimenting with piezoelectric valves - they have fewer wearing parts, but are higher in price. For precision irrigation projects, such as seed farms, this may be justified.

An interesting direction is valves with autonomous power supply from solar panels. So far, the efficiency is unstable, but we are already trying it in pilot projects for remote pasture systems.

The main conclusion over the years of work:electric water valves- not just a shut-off valve, but a key element of the entire irrigation system. Their choice needs to be given no less attention than pumps or filters - otherwise all investments in smart technologies may be useless.