One of Peru's largest private conglomerates, AGROAURORA, launched a game-changing agricultural initiative in the northern part of the country. The objective was to convert 1,960 hectares of desert land into productive sugarcane fields using advanced micro irrigation technology.
North Peru's coastline is characterized by an arid, harsh desert climate with virtually no rainfall. AGROAURORA’s vision was to implement scalable, efficient and smart irrigation solutions that ensure long-term productivity and environmental responsibility.
Project Challenges
On top of the harsh climate, the project site was completely undeveloped, a virgin landscape. The challenge was to design and implement a full-scale irrigation system delivering high volumes of water with precision and minimal waste.
Key targets :
- Delivering river water from the Andes mountains to an arid area that has little natural precipitation.
- The necessity to efficiently irrigate two large agricultural zones, each covering 980 hectare area,.
- Ensuring uniform ,efficient & smart irrigation.
Integrating BERMAD's solution into the micro irrigation system
The project began with a comprehensive hydraulic design.
BERMAD was involved from the early stages of the irrigation system’s design, starting at the pumping station, through the primary filtration system and distribution lines, extending to the 9 ha field plots. The involvement allowed our expert team to provide technical recommendations that significantly optimized the system’s performance and reliability.
Water is sourced from an Andes-fed river, stored in an operative reservoir, and pumped through a high-efficiency distribution network. Two irrigation zones were designed, each with its own pumping station. Each pumping station was designed and built with two vertical pumps, delivering approximately 1,900 m³/h with a pressure of about 3 bar to an agricultural area covering 980 hectares.
Due to its precision and water-saving properties, micro irrigation has been chosen for growing the sugar cane crops efficiently. In this irrigation method the water is delivered directly to the crop root zone, minimizing evaporation and water runoff.
BERMAD solution implemented in this project, delivers real-time flow monitoring, pressure regulation and water hammer protection, ensuring the system's reliability and efficient water delivery across all irrigation zones. During the design phase, BERMAD conducted detailed sizing and allocation of air valves and hydraulic control valves to optimize system performance.
Air control solutions
Air control in the system was done by using the C70 Combination air valves, high-quality combination air valves for a variety of water networks and operating conditions. It evacuates air during pipeline filling, allows efficient release of air pockets from pressurized pipes, and enables large volume air intake during network drainage & surge scenarios. With its advanced aerodynamic design, double orifice and Surge Protection (Anti-slam / slow closing) device, this air valve provides excellent protection against air accumulation, vacuum formation and pressure surges, with improved sealing under low-pressure conditions.
Filter Backwash valves
To ensure efficient and accurate filters backwash process BERAMD Filter Backwash Valves Model IR-350 were installed. This valve is a compact 3-port composite valve, in a T configuration. It is double chambered, hydraulically operated, and diaphragm actuated. Designed for automatic backwashing of filtration systems, such as gravel filters, sand filters , disk filters and screen filters.
Surge Protection
Each pump discharge line was equipped with Surge Anticipating Valve model WW-735-M it is a hydraulically operated off-line surge anticipating valve that immediately opens in response to the pressure drop associated with abrupt pump stoppage. The pre-opened valve dissipates the returning high pressure wave, eliminating the surge. The valve smoothly closes drip tight as quickly as the relief feature allows, thereby preventing closing surge. The valve also relieves excessive system pressure.
Pressure regulation solutions
Quick pressure relief valves - WW-73Q, hydraulically operated, diaphragm-actuated quick pressure relief valve that relieves excessive system pressure when such pressure rises above a pre-set value. It responds immediately, accurately, and with high repeatability to a rise in system pressure by opening fully. Also provides smooth drip-tight closing with no secondary surges.
Pressure reducing and sustaining valves - IR-423-RXZ hydraulically operated, Pressure Reducing and Sustaining Valve is a hydraulically operated, diaphragm actuated control valve with two independent functions. It sustains minimum preset upstream pressure, prevents downstream pressure from rising above maximum preset .When installed downstream to a filtration battery it ensures the minimum required pressure for efficient backwash of the filters.
Pressure reducing plot valves – model IR-120-54-3W-X with hydraulic relay control, it is a hydraulically operated, diaphragm actuated control valve that reduces higher upstream pressure to lower constant downstream pressure regardless of fluctuating demand and opens fully upon line pressure drop.
Electromagnetic Flow Meters - MUT2300 (reduced bore) and MUT2200 (full bore) with MC608A converter installed at the irrigation system with diameter of 18 and 12 inch these non-moving-part, electromagnetic flow meters, providing highly accurate metering in district areas, irrigation, and many other applications. Theses electromagnetic flow meters are practically maintenance-free meters, offering a wide range of flow in a compact or remotely mounted version. The MUT2300 flow meter can be installed virtually anywhere without straightening distances before and after the flow meter.
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