THE INNOVATORS
Dura Mag: Solving Irrigator Flow Measurement Challenges
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MCCROMETER.
cCrometer is known as the industry standard for irrigation flow measurement, with the invention of the McPropeller® meter in 1955. Since then, McCrometer has developed many products for many different applications and industries. The newest addition to the McCrometer lineup of products is the Dura Mag™, specifically designed for irrigators who could benefit from an electromagnetic flow meter due to dirty water, tight installation space requirements, higher accuracy expectations, or a preference for a meter with no moving parts to maintain. As McCrometer’s Product Manager Adam Setzler explained, “Dirty water can wear down meters with mechanical components, so the lack of parts in the Dura Mag meter is advantageous. Another example is surface water that can have more trash or debris, which can obstruct the propellers of other meters, but since there are no parts to obstruct or damage, this is a nonissue.” Dura Mag can also be installed in confined spaces or in systems that have tight installation requirements. They require just two diameters of upstream pipe and one diameter downstream, which reduces the need to install flow straighteners upstream or downstream inside the pipe. Mr. Setzler added, “Dura Mag has an accuracy margin of 1 percent, and most agricultural meters have an accuracy margin of 5 percent, which makes Dura Mag more than adequate for agricultural applications.” Ken Quandt, McCrometer’s market development manager, noted that the batteries are the only components that require any kind of regular maintenance. “If customers are concerned about how the quality of their water will affect the meter’s electrodes, they can inspect the electrodes inside the meter to ensure they are free of debris. However, that is an infrequent issue, so much so that we do not even list checking the electrodes as part of standard maintenance procedures.” McCrometer’s product development team prioritized a long battery life and field-replaceable batteries for the Dura Mag. The primary battery pack consists of two batteries that are tied together, along with an additional single battery unit that serves as a backup. The primary pack is expected to last 5 years, and the meter switches to the backup battery automatically when the primary pack dies. IRRIGATION LEADER
