1. Presented by the Irrigation Association
Center Pivot Design
Presented by the Irrigation Association

2. Class Objectives
You will be able to design a center pivot system by the end of class
You will understand the proper steps and techniques for designing pivots for high efficiency

3. Agenda - day one Introductions and class overview Basic pivot concepts
Site inventory and analysis
Pivot hydraulics

4. Agenda - day two More pivot hydraulics Nozzling the pivot
Pumps and pivots
Pivots and chemigation
Refining and adjusting your design

5. Other class info Ask lots of questions
Breaks will be frequent but short - please!
There will be coffee in the a.m. and soft drinks in the p.m.
Lunch on your own
We will be doing lots of practice sessions and group work

6. Important! Please turn off your pagers and cell phones
You will need a calculator
You will need a pencil or pen

7. Irrigation, Sixth Edition
Over 1500 years combined knowledge and experience summarized in 1100 pages
Member price $134.00
Non-member price $179.00
IA Bookstore
Order online
© Irrigation Association

8. Understanding Basic Pivot Concepts

9. Understand and Identify Center Pivot Components
Drive system
Guidance system
The pivot
Nozzle types and configurations

10. Understand and Identify Center Pivot Components
Corner systems
Controls
Injection equipment

11. Back to the Beginning
Patented by Frank Zybach in eastern Colorado in July, 1952
Business arrangement between Zybach and A.W. Towbridge began in 1953 to manufacture pivots in Columbus, NE
Manufacturing rights sold to Valley Mfg. In 1954
Over 100,000 now in operation

12. Valley - Model 1972

13. Hygromatic
Raincat
Olson
Dowd

14. Center Pivot Manufacturers
Reinke
T & L
Valley
Zimmatic
May also deal with Olson, Gifford-Hill, Lockwood, Pierce, Hygromatic, Raincat, and others.

15. center pivots can be designed
You want to irrigate it
center pivots can be designed
to do the job

16. Multi-Purpose Machines
Wetland enhancement
Wildlife habituate
Watering facility

17. Land Mark for NASA

18. Making Center Pivots Work Properly
Minimize run-off
Maximize uniformity
Minimize energy costs
Where pivots don’t fit

19. We will discuss how to use soil texture and topography information

20. Instantaneous Application Rates Above Soil Infiltration

21. Irrigating Irregular Field Shapes

22. Pivots Operate on Undulating Terrain

23. How do we plan for wind?

24. Pressure Regulation

25. Spacing and Overlap

26. Distribution and
application

27. Time of Application Raingage Peak Application Rate End Time
Initiation Time

28. Lets look at some system components
Look for definition of terms
starting on Page 297

29. Pivot base

30. Center Pivot Lateral

31. End Tower and Super Structure

32. Pivot Height Four Profiles Low profile 5.1 - 7.2’ depends on pipe size
Standard Profile ’
High profile ’
Ultra high profile 15’ +

33. Low profile

34. Super Ultra High