www.scimone.it

07/09

Packaging

The Dual Drip® driplines are provided in rolls of different lengthsfrom 800 to 2.500 m, according to diameter and thickness and spa-cing, packaged on pallets.

Pallets are protected from weather conditions and can be stockedin outdoor spaces. However, it is better to protect it from long sunexposition.

The integral driplines Dual Drip® represent one of themost technologically advanced products in the field of thedrip irrigation with dual-side delivery by every dripper.

Dual Drip is patent pending

Range of products

More reliable and greater resistance to clogging when usedfor long periods.

Complete emptying at the end of the irrigation cycle, reducingthe risk of biological clogging.

Increase of the irrigated surface area.Reduction of percolation on pipe.

Standard spacing cm

5 6 7 8 10 12 15 18 24Thickness (mil) D 16

Thickness (mil) D 22

Nominal flow rate l/h(1 bar)

8 10 12 15 18

1, 2 - 1,6 - 2,2 - 4,0

15, 20, 23, 25, 30, 33, 40, 50, 60, 70

Only on request: 5mil, 7mil and 24mil.The 15 cm spacing, thanks to its bilateral drop, is equivalent to 12 cm spacing.

Diametersmm 16 22

D16

D22

6 mil8 mil10 mil12 mil15 mil18 mil8 mil10 mil12 mil15 mil18 mil

Model Dual DripRolls/pallet

Rolls/Container

16/32 640 320

Lenght (meters/roll)Spacing

15200017001400160011008001500130012001000800

2300200018001800130010001600150012001000800

2500200020001800130010001700160013001000800

2500200020001800130010001700160013001000800

20 25 ≥ 30 40 Ft 20 Ft

On demand, varying length rolls can be provided.

Standard ISO 9261 recommend a coefficient CV (representingthe homogeneity of the construction) lower than 7%.

A low value of the CV shows a high uniformity of flow rate; on thecontrary, a high value of the CV shows different flow rates, that isa low quality of both the irrigation and the fertilizers supply.

Homogeneity of the constructionThe integral driplines are composed of a pipe made in polyethy-lene, in which the emitters are incorporated and welded, with pre-arranged distances which deliver a pre-arranged flow rate. A goodhomogeneity of the construction of the emitters and the pipe as-sures (with the same inlet pressure) a homogeneity of the deli-very of the drip point; in such way there is uniformity of thedelivery all the line. The homogeneity of the construction is mea-sured by determining the uniformity of dripper rate through thecoefficient of technological variation CV, shown by the followingformula:

is the standard deviation of the sample

is the average rate of the sample

Legend:

In conformity with Standard ISO 9261, the coefficient of te-chnological variation CV is determined among 25 emitters cho-sen at random from a lot of production.

CV =

The following points are the parameters to evaluete of the per-formances of the good working of the integral driplines, which arerecognized from many international research institutes (for ex.CEMAGREF) and regulated by Standard ISO 9261:

a) homogeneity of the construction

b) sensitivity to pressure

c) sensitivity to physical clogging

Each parameter measures one of the main characteristics of theperformances of the emitters; on the ground of these parameters,each product can be classified, compared with the other productsand deemed fit or not for the many applications of the drip irriga-tion. No global judgements are pronounced on the product.

The integral dripline Dual Drip has been tested by CEMAGREF,through a study made in collaboration with the specialized ma-gazine “Irrigazette”.

The phenomenon can be controlled if the emitters have low sen-sitivity to incoming pressure, or if a variation of incoming pressurecauses a variation of flow rate. The sensitivity to pressure is mea-sured by the flow rate-pressure curve of a emitter. The relationbetween the dripper flow rate and the inlet pressure is shown inthe following formula:

q is the rate in l/h,H is the pressure in barx is a dimensionless exponent

The value of exponent x determines the influence of pressure ofthe dripper-rate. The lower is the value x, the lower is the sensi-tivity to pressure of a emitter; the lower is, at the end, the varia-tion of rate with the variation of pressure.

The determination of exponent x allows to determine (besides thelosses of pressure of the tape) the max admissible lengths, tokeep a good homogeneity of flow rate and to consider the varia-tions caused by the topography.

About sensitivity to pressure, CEMAGREF classifies the emit-ter in function of exponent x:

Tests made by CEMAGREF on driplines Dual Drip have determi-ned a value x a slightly higher then 0.5. Such result classifies DualDrip among the products with a low sensitivity to pressure.

a) very tolerant: when x is lower than 0.5b) tolerant: when x is higher than 0.5 and lower than 0.6c) not much tolerant: when x is higher than 0.6 and lower than 0.8d) low tolerance: when x is higher than 0.8

q = k HX

Legend:Tests made by CEMAGREF on driplines Dual Drip have determi-ned a value of CV less then 5%. This result classifies Dual Dripamong the best products in the world with an excellent homoge-neity of construction.

a) very good: when the value of CV is lower than 5b) good: when the value of CV is higher than 5 and lower than 10c) middling: when the value of CV is higher than 10 and lowerthan 15d) low: when the value of CV is higher than 15

CEMAGREF classifies the homogeneity of manufacturing asfollows:

Sensitivity to pressure

Inside the dripline, pressure gradually diminishes for the loss ofpressure along the pipe. This phenomenon causes a reduction ofthe inlet pressure along each emitter in the dripline. The emitterflow rate depends on the inlet pressure, so that there will be evenmore decreasing flow rates in the direction of the hydric flow.

6 mil - 0,15 mm

1,2 l/h

1,35

2,30

1,75

2,03

2,35

3,70

4,15

2,52

1,30

2,30

1,70

2,03

2,30

3,70

4,10

2,52

1,25

2,30

1,65

2,03

2,30

3,70

4,05

2,52

1,20

2,30

1,60

2,03

2,25

3,70

4,00

2,52

1,15

2,30

1,50

2,03

2,20

3,70

3,95

2,52

1,05

2,30

1,45

2,03

2,15

3,70

3,85

2,52

1,6 l/h 2,2 l/h 4,0 l/h 1,2 l/h 1,6 l/h 2,2 l/h 4,0 l/h

1,2 l/h 1,6 l/h 2,2 l/h 4,0 l/h 1,2 l/h 1,6 l/h 2,2 l/h 4,0 l/h

1,2 l/h 1,6 l/h 2,2 l/h 4,0 l/h 1,2 l/h 1,6 l/h 2,2 l/h 4,0 l/h

8 mil - 0,20 mm

10 mil - 0,25 mm 12 mil - 0,30 mm

15 mil - 0,35 mm 18 mil - 0,45 mm

qn

CV %

qn

CV %

qn

CV %

Chemical clogging

Chemical clogging derives from the precipitates of calcium, ma-gnesium, iron or manganese which cause incrustations and clogsome or all the holes of the emitters. If water contains a highquantity of the above mentioned elements and its pH is higherthan 7, the risk of clogging is very high.

If water (rich in carbon gas and calcium) meets air, there is a car-bon dioxide out of CO2 and a chip-shaped sediment of calciumcarbonate (CaCO3) at the outlet of the emitter. This phenomenonis increased by the evaporation of water at the outlet of the emit-ter and by the use of fertilizers, which modify the chemical andphysical characteristics of water.

Iron is another potential cause of sediments, which can clog theemitters. Water, underground, contains melted iron bicarbonate.When iron meets air, it oxides, insoluble an colloidal, and it finallyprecipitates (red water).

If we use acid to lower the PH of water, we reduce the risk of che-mical precipitates and help the efficacy of chlorine. If we alwaysput acid to avoid the calcium and magnesium precipitates, wemust regulate the injection in order to obtain a pH lower than 7. Ifwe inject acid to remove sediments, we need to reduce the Ph.

If iron is a problem, we can use an auxiliary basin to oxide the fer-ruginous iron into ferric iron and activating, consequently, the pro-cess of sedimentation. It's possible to inject an oxygenating agentbefore the filters. Injecting exa-metaphosphate sodium, between2 and 4 ppm of phosphate per ppm of iron or manganese, we'llavoid the sedimentation.

If water contains big quantity of calcium, magnesium, iron or man-ganese, with a pH higher than 7, risks are very high.

Sensitivity to physical clogging

Clogging is a very important problem dealing with the correct wor-king of the localized irrigation system, because it causes a big im-pact to the costs of installation (filtering) and handwork(maintenance), of the duration of both the system (accumulationof mud) and the production (risk of scarce uniformity in the field).

This risk depends on the quality of the irrigation-water (origin andtreatment) and on the emitter (dimensions of labyrinth, principleof the hydraulic working, etc.).

When a system starts working, it's very difficult and expensive tofind the clogged emitters, to clean them or substitute them. Tha-t's why it's important to know the sensitivity to clogging of eachmodel and protect the system with an adequate filtering.

Clogging depends on the quality of water and it can be: biologi-cal, chemical, mineral. It often depends on a combination of allthese elements.

A good method to fight the biological clogging is the injection ofchlorine (hypochlorite of sodium or chloride NaOCI) in the irriga-tion water before the filtration. This method needs the acidificationof water (pH= 5.8) by injecting nitric acid.

All the pipes should be completely light-tight, in order to avoid theproliferation of green algae in the irrigation system. If we use cop-per sulphate (CuSO4) between 1 and 2 ppm, we can eliminatethe algae that often lie in the drainage basins.

Some bacteria cause clogging. The iron-bacteria on the pipesoxide the ferric iron transforming it into insoluble ferrous iron,a kind of gel called ochre. Some filamentous bacteria oxidethe hydrogen sulphide (H2S), which often lies in the deep wa-ters, producing filamentous (yellow or white) sediments thatjoin with other substances that lie in the irrigation water.

Mineral clogging is caused by sand particles, mud or clay and de-tritus that lie both in the superficial and in the deep water. Theseparticles are too big to pass through the holes of the emitters.

Particles bigger than 100 micron are stopped by net filters or diskfilters. Sand filters stop the smallest particles which, for example,colloids and organic substance that often lies in the surface of thewater (algae and bacterial gel). Particles in the irrigation water:

- cause immediate clogging because the particle is bigger thanthe section where water passes through (sand particles),

- cause slow clogging or mud sedimentation when the particlesare small. They join together and create big deposits in theemitters or in slow-speed areas (flocculation of clays).

Mineral clogging

Biological clogging

Water in the surface used for localized irrigation, contains twokinds of organic substances:- dead organic substance (inert) composed of big particles(plants, grass, leaves partially decomposed) and small particles(rests of protozoa, bacteria, algae).

- living organic substance composed of algae spore, algae, colo-nies of bacteria and some fungi that grow inside the pipes wherethey find nourishment. Biological clogging is difficult to eliminate.Problems are worse if water has a high biological activity and if itcontains a hig quantity of iron or hydrogen sulphide.

Dead organic substance and the multicellular algae bigger than50 or 100 micron are stopped by sand - filters. Anyway, the smal-lest algae pass through the filters, they join together and clog theemitters.

The most common algae need light for their photosynthesis sothey can't live inside the narrow pipes in polyethylene; we can findthem in the hole of the emitters.

The localized irrigation systems can be a good habitat for bacte-ria which produce a gel that, combined with mineral substances(clay, mud) or organic substances (algae, spore), produces ag-gregates big enough to clog the emitters.

Each step deals with a load of mineral particles (even bigger andwithout removing the previous particles).

The “clogging test” is composed of 4 different steps (of the dura-tion of 40 hours per step) divided into five periods of clogging (8hours per period), which are separated by 16 hours of pause. Thistest simulates the working on a field and avoids bringing the tem-perature of water (into the tank) too high.

Tests have been made on 4 drippers, whose rate is measuredusing clean water under a nominal pressure. This rate is used asdatum-point to determine the degree of clogging.

It's quite possible to fight chemical and biological clogging byusing the appropriate methods; but the only efficacious method tofight mineral clogging is the prevention of penetration of someparticles into the emitters. For this reason the parameter of sen-sitivity to clogging only measures the performance of the emitterin the presence of physical or mineral clogging.

1 fase: + 125 mg/lt of particles between than 80 micron

2 fase: + 125 mg/lt of particles between 80 and 100 micron

3 fase: + 125 mg/lt of particles between 100 and 200 micron

4 fase: + 125 mg/lt of particles between 200 and 500 micron

Tests on clogging Sensitivity to physical clogging is evaluated starting by the reac-tion of the drippers during the four steps. The four samples passthe test if the average rate of the four drippers is equivalent or hi-gher than 30% of the nominal rate. On the ground of the results,it's possible to recommend a degree of filtration, in order to avoidclogging:

Results

Fase 1 : cloggeddripper

Fase 2 : cloggeddripper

Fase 3 : cloggeddripper

Fase 4 : cloggeddripper

Fase 5 : non-cloggeddripper

extremely sensitive

very sensitive

sensitive

low sensitive

very low

< 80 microns

80 microns

100 microns

200 microns

500 microns

Evaluationper category

Degree offiltration

Tests made by CEMAGREF on the driplines Dual Drip 2.3l/h,show a low sensitivity to clogging (step 4).

On the ground of a research made by CEMAGREF (a well-known French Research Institute), Dual Drip is considered areliable and high-quality product.

Recommended distancesThe max recommended distances, obtained in compliancewith a uniformity of emission rate EU=90*, inlet pressure p=1

Technical data for planning

4,0

1,6

4,0

1,6

6 mil10 mil18 mil6 mil10 mil18 mil6 mil10 mil18 mil6 mil10 mil18 mil10 mil18 mil10 mil18 mil10 mil18 mil10 mil18 mil

Dmm

D16

D22

qnl/h

1,2

2,2

1,2

2,2

Spmil

971021158387956769714647491741951481611171218083

11812413910110511581838656575921123617919514114797100

1361431611171221339496100656668244274207226164170112116

154162182132137150106109113737477276310234256185192126131

164172194141146160113116120787982294330249272197205135139

186196220160166182129131137889093334375283310224233153158

216227255185193211149152159102104108387435329359259270177183

244257288209218238169172179116118122437491371405293305200207

270284319232241264187191198128130135484544411449324338222229

295311349253264288204208217140142147529594449491354369242250

343361405294306334237242251162165171614690521569411428281290

387407457332345378267273284183186193693779588643464483317328

449472531385401438310316329213216223804904683746539561368380

15 20 25 30 33 40 50 60 70 80 100 120 150

* EU: Uniformity emission rate coefficient determinated with equation of Keller-Karmeli: EU = 100 Qmin / Qave

Midway values can be determinated with good approximation by linear interpolation. For ground with slope see following table:

bar and for level grounds, are expressed in meters in the fol-lowing table in function of diameter, flow rate and spacing:

SPACING (CM) SPACING (CM)

1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%s-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%1%0%-1%-2%

9099109118102114127139788591988694103111636772766671768144464850464850531451732022301591952312661261471681881361611862101031161291421071211351497379859176828995

1061201341481201381571759210211312210211412713975828895798693100535659625558626516821025229218323628933914817820923815919523126612214116017812614616718787961051149099109118

121139158176136161185209105119132146116133149166869510311290100109119616569736368727618824430035320327434541116620724828617722627532113816318921314217019722499111123135102115128141

133157181204150181213243117134151168128150171192961071181291001121251376873788371768287204275347414220309399482182233285334194255317375152184217248157192227261111126141156114130146162

1411681952211581932292631231431631821351591842081011141271391061201341477278849075818894213293375449229329431524190249308363202272342407160196233268165204244282117134151168120139157175

1561902252591742202663091371621882121501812132431131301461621181361541728189961048492101109231333438533246374506623208283358429220309399482176223271315181232284332130152175196134158181204

1752212683121942553173741551892232551682102532931291501721931341581822059310311312396107118129251387527651266434610763228328429522241359479588196259323382201269338402147177207235151183215245

191250309364210288366439170213256297184238291342142170198224148178209238103116129142107121135149266437614768280490712902245370499614257405558693212292373448218304392472162200238274166206247286

2052773494172243194155031832362893391982633293911541882222551601982352711131291451601171341511682794847008852915438141041259410568706270449635798227324423513232337444541175221268312179229279326

21730238946823734946356619525832138021028836643916520624628517221626130312214116017812614716718728952978510023005949141180270449635798280490712902239354472578244368496610186242297349191250309365

2383514675712574055576922162993844622313344395341852392933441912513113671381631892131421701982253036149551235313689111514562875217699802965698641110259411568707264428598747207280355424211290370443

24446069288725453083510852293925637112394386498282053134235222113294505581622142663151672232803332758041472197227890317302335269682117315542727451326176725653885211082585608991173223367518650226380541680

Dual Drip 15 20 25 30 33 40 50 60 70 80 100 150

8mil

18mil

1.2l/h

D16

D22

1.6l/h

2.2l/h

4.0l/h

1.2l/h

1.6l/h

2.2l/h

4.0l/h

18mil

8mil

18mil

8mil

18mil

8mil

18mil

10mil

18mil

10mil

18mil

10mil

18mil

10mil

Slope

Flow rate-pressure curves, obtained according to Standard ISO 9260, areclassified as tolerant to inlet pressure. The graphic show the curves of flowrate in function of thickness and inlet pressure

MAX WORK PRESSURE6 mil 8 mil 10 mil 12 mil 15 mil 18 mil

D16 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4 1,8 2,2D22 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4 1,6

FLOW RATE (l/h)

Pressure curve

If it is prefered a different pressure work from the nominalfor irrigation system with this curve it is possible determi-nate the flow rate.

For example: Dual Drip 8 mil, 30 cm spacing, with 2.2 no-minal flow rate, work pressure 0.6 bar. Reading in thecurve, the correct flow rate is 2.0 l/h. In this case the re-

commented distances can be increase. A good approxi-mated value can be calculated with linear interpolationbeetwen 2.2 and 1.6 l/h. Than the correct value is 118 mfor level ground.

Attention to the max work pressure showed in the table infunction of diameter ant thickness, referring to the tempe-rature at 20°C.

Water re-source

Obstructelements

Typeof filtration

Treatment

Well

Perforation

River

Canal

Basin

sand,calcium

net filteracid per

eliminate residue

tank fordecantation for

oxidation

clean with acid

or chloral

against

clogging

hydro cycle ofdividing filter

sand filter,net filter, dividingor cycle filter

sand filter,net filter, dividingor cycle filter

floating sandor net filter

sand,calcium

lime,

organic,

algae,

bacteria

- Avoid to scrub against rigid parts or shape edges andexcess tension.- Sustain the roll during installation but laterals to turnfreely.- Avoid that the tape scrubs against the ground.- After you have installed the tape, purge the lines, con-nect to the heads, put to use and verify that all works cor-rectly.

A few useful recommendation:- The rolls should be kept well before use (if possible avoid to leave themoutdoors).- Leave the plastic film and the carton strip around the roll until ready foruse.- The tape must be installed with the drippers facing up to reduce clog-ging.- The tape must be fixed to the ground to avoid that the wind shifts it,small dirt hills can be used.- The tape can be positioned in different areas near the plant dependingon the phase of the growth, of the type and density of the culture, and theground.- Before connecting the tape to the head, put to use the system by pur-ging all the tubes. At the beginning of each irrigation cycle it is useful toclear the residue air in the drippers with an initial pressure of water mini-mal of 0.8-1.0 bar- It is important to install a good filtration system of 100 microns (150mesh).The micro-irrigators are protected from the occlusion of particles drag-ged in suspension by the water, in any case we advise, together with theindicated filtration, to make sure that the water does not contain dissol-ved oxidizable salts, that may cause oxide precipitations.The Dual Drip is suitable also for the fertirrigation, as long as the fertili-zers used are water-soluble, that do not produce oxide precipitations inthe passages of the labyrinth of the micro-irrigators (for ex. fertilizers con-taining iron microelements in ionic form).The Dual Drip is not suitable to be installed under transparent mul-ching film , for it is sensitive to the magnifying glass effect causing watercondensate.

Installation

- Position the metallic and/or wooden disks against thecarton disks of the roll.- The roll-disk-axis must become one piece.- Leave 70-80cm between the low part of the roll and theentry of the tube to insert.- Utilize a tube of diameter 40mm, with a wide curve, insteel or PVC to make the inserting tube.- The tube must be perfectly smooth.- The entry of the tube must have a funnel shape to avoidthe scrubbing of the tape against the border.- Flatten lightly the outing of the tube of insertion, to avoidthat the tape turns when exiting.

Manual installation

Mechanical installation

Dimensions of roll to adapt tools

Information on recyclingThe Dual Drip is made entirely with recycla-ble polyethylene.Please do not pollute the environment afteruse.

Maintenance

If correctly installed, a drop irrigation system with Dual Drip doe-sn't require any particular maintenance. It is need make only a re-gular cleaning of the inlet filter according to the water quality or themaintenance of the self-washing system.

In multiyear use, in presence of hard water or use of fertilizers, itis periodically advisable to make a washing through acids to dis-solve and to eliminate calcareous formations that, during the irri-gation cycles, can accumulate in the system and in the labyrinthsof the drippers.

This treatment is not appropriate for algae and other organic par-ticles.

The use of the acids require a particular attention: the contact ofthe acid with the skin can produce scorches and the contact withthe eyes is extremely dangerous.During the treatment, especially during the filling of the tank, it isrequired to wear some protective glasses, boots and fit suits.

Common acids can be used with concentration of 1%, as hydro-chloric acid. The acids fosforicos 37-85%, nitric 30-69%, and sul-phuric 25-95% can also be used such as fertilizers.

The acid can be introduced in the irrigation system through:

a) fertilizer pump, resistant to the corrosion:

1) clean the filter

2) wash the system with clean water: before the pipelines, thenthe driplines. To wash use the higher pressure to prevent the clog-ging during the treatment with acids.

3) verify the regulare working of the irrigation system in whichthe acid will be injected and the regulare working of the fertilizerpump. The treatment through acids of a system already cloggeddoesn't have any effectiveness!

4) calculate the amount of the acid to use so the acid concen-tration must be 1% in the irrigation water.

5) introduce the acid in the system for 6-10 minutes. It is re-commends the application of the acid separately for every zone,therefore, the fertilizer pump should be installed in every zone.Attention: the flow of the acid through the pipelines with large dia-meter can cause the disintegration of the existing deposits, thencause the filling of the smaller pipes and driplines.

6) turn on the fertilizing pump alone when the system has rea-ched the max work pressure.

b) fertilizing unit with tank, resistant to the acids.

1) follow the preceding instructions 1,2,3 above described.

2) clean the fertilizing tank and connect it to the system in op-posite mode to the usual: the inlet connection will now used as ou-tlet.

3) put in the tank a quantity of acid in the proportion of 1/1000of the hourly flowrate of the zone to treat.

4) run the fertilizing tank only when the system has reached themax pressure. To run the tank operate, as usual, on the valve ofthe control unit, regulating until reached a differential of pressureto activate the acid flow.

5) now effect the treatment for around 1 hour.

6) At the end of the treatment, wash well the fertilizing tank andthe control unit in way to remove every acid trace.

When finished washing, it is recommends to flow the water forsome minuts in the irrigation system to eliminate every residual ofacid. The importance of the final washing of the system is moregreat if the pipelines or the fittings are sensitive to the corrosion.