Irrigation Control

Irrigation solution is pumped onto the heap through a series of parallel emitter lines. Emitters are uniformly spaced on the heap for even solution distribution. A flow control valve linked by PLC to a pressure sensor maintains constant pressure in the emitter system.

As aeration flow is adjusted during the lifecycle of the heap, the irrigation flow is also adjusted to maintain the predetermined aeration to irrigation ratio. Varying irrigation rates are possible by pulsing the irrigation system through switching of the irrigation lines on and off using a timer built into the flow-pressure control PLC. The timer can either be a standalone unit, or controlled via PLC.