OverviewThe SlipMeter is a breakthrough all-in-one gate and meter for farmer turnouts and lateral headings. Now it’s less labor intensive to provide irrigators with a reliable, flexible and accurate water delivery service.

You can remotely pre-set the SlipMeter to turn on and off automatically to deliver a constant and accurately measured flow rate and volume. This means you can provide a great service day or night, even when supply canal levels are fluctuating.

And the all-in-one design means everything – drive system, motor control, ultrasonic measurement, power supply, local control keypad and telemetry – functions as a single unit. There are no installation problems or incompatibilities, it simply works.

The SlipMeter’s ability to measure accurately at high and very low flow rates means it is suitable for all crop types. And the extremely low head loss means that command is not compromised even when very little head is available.

It has been designed to be installed in existing structures without costly civil work, by simply sliding into a frame that is fixed to the existing structure.

The built-in software provides the following control possibilities:

Control objective Gate action

Local Position Moves to a desired set-point and stays there

Flow Maintains a constant flow regardless of canal levels

Features• Sonaray flow measurement accuracy of ±2.5%*

• Exceeds California SBx7-7 requirements

• Solar-charged battery system or AC line power

• SCADA ready communication system – can be integrated to many SCADA platforms

• Partially-full measurement when fitted with MicronLevel® sensor

An ideal solution...• For turnouts requiring very low head loss and/or high accuracy

• When water level fluctuations mean the meter is frequently partially full

• To minimize expenditure on civil infrastructure

• Where there is high turbulence, debris or other contaminants

• For remote locations that require controlled flow rates

SlipMeter™

Data Sheet

A TCC® productThe SlipMeter is one of the products making up a modular family of precision hardware and software called TCC (Total Channel Control®). TCC is an advanced technology set designed to improve the management and productivity of water in open canal distribution. Unlike traditional infrastructure, TCC products can interact and work together to help managers improve:

• the availability of water

• service and equity to users

• management and control

• health and safety for canal operators

Traditional flow stabilization requirements at meter entry and exit not necessary

Control pedestal

1 Antenna

2 Solar panel

3 Hinged mast

4 Secure controller housing with LCD display

Meter/control unit

5 Entry flare

6 Sonaray sensors

7 Meter box

8 Gate seals

9 Internal frame (one side houses the ultrasonic level sensors)

10 Gate panel

11 Output drive assembly (gear box)

12 Lifting hooks

13 Motor and encoder

14 Motor drive shaft

15 Planetary gear box

16 Encoder

17 Motor cover

18 CableDrive assembly

19 Cable drum

20 Cable guide

21 External frame

SlipMeter™ components

Sonaray® flow measurement technologyRubicon’s SlipMeter employs Sonaray ultrasonic array technology. The ultrasonic array principle maps the velocity profile by using multiple transecting paths to provide an accurate representation of the velocity distribution within the meter box.

This technique measures across the entire velocity field within the meter box and is resistant to swirl, or other non-uniform velocity distributions caused by garbage or other debris.

It also eliminates the need for flow profile calibrations that are required for single-point, single-path and doppler flow meters.

Eight horizontal planes sample the velocity distribution passing through the meter (side view)

Each measurement plane implements crossed-path transit time ultrasonics to sample the entire velocity field in that plane (plan view of measurement plane)

The horizontal velocity distributions are then integrated vertically to construct the three dimensional flow velocity distribution (side view)

Motor assembly detail

CableDrive detail

Control Pedestal

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14

8

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10

5

2

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18

3

7

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Control PedestalEach SlipMeter installation includes a robust pedestal that provides power and control to the gate and is a secure, weather proof housing for electronic components and batteries.

The pedestal also serves as a local user interface. A keypad and LCD display are located under the lockable pedestal lid, allowing farmers to monitor, or operators to control and troubleshoot on-site.

Partially-full measurementWith a MicronLevel ultrasonic water level sensor fitted, the SlipMeter provides accurate flow measurement even when the measurement box is not completely full.

The sensor is unaffected by surrounding objects, debris, foam, silt or other contaminants and it self-calibrates on every reading to eliminate drift in speed of sound variations due to changes in temperature or humidity.

Gate control technologyCableDrive™ is Rubicon’s actuation system designed to provide precision gate position accuracy and repeatability in harsh environments. The drive is a wire-rope (cable) and drum mechanism that provides positive drive in both the raise and lower directions. It is designed for high duty cycle operation and provides precise gate positioning to within ±0.5mm (0.02in).

The drive is managed by Rubicon’s SolarDrive® technology – a purpose built integrated circuit board that manages gate positioning, solar power regulation, battery charge, fusing and the pedestal user interface.

Low maintenanceThe SlipMeter’s modular design allows it to be maintained in the field with minimal tools, training, and easily replaceable parts.

• Level sensors are easily removed during in-field servicing

• Seals can be replaced

• On-site diagnostics built into the software

• Service can be done by local Rubicon field technicians or authorized/trained independent local integrators

Local user interface

Debris filter inlet ports

Communication cable plug-in

Vented air escape

Water tight zone

Self-calibrating reference

MicronLevel® sensor detail

SlipMeter™

Data Sheet

SlipMeter™ specifications

General

Minimum flow rate 2ft wide gate: 0.4 cfs; 2.5 ft wide gate: 0.6 cfs; 3ft wide gate: 0.9 cfs; 4ft wide gate: 1.6 cfs

Data interface Local display (4 line LCD with keypad), Modbus serial, data radio

Unit of measure User definable (metric/imperial (US))

Local interface language

English, Spanish, French, Chinese and Italian

Data tags 140+ available for integration into SCADA systems

Data storage All volumetric usage is accumulated and backed up internally in nonvolatile memory. Historical data can be uploaded through the Modbus interface, a local data logger or from the SCADA host database.

Alarming Alarm indicates when water level falls below bottom measurement plane

Control Local or remote via SCADA

Electronics SolarDrive® power management and control technology housed in the local control pedestal. Each unit passes a 12hr heat pre-stress and 100% functional test.

Motor 12V DC

Gate position 256 count magnetic encoder

Seal performance <0.1 gallons/minute/foot of seal (exceeds AWWA C513)

Actuation options 12V DC powered (solar); 120V AC powered; mechanical override; electrical override pendant and battery

Flow measurement

Technique Cross-path ultrasonic transit-time

Transit time measurement resolution

100 picoseconds

Measurement frequency

2.5 seconds

Accuracy ±2.5% *Accuracy of 24” 45° SlipMeter verified by Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, April 2011 and Provost & Pritchard, November 2011

Velocity measurement range

Accuracy listed above is achieved at flow velocities greater than 1 inch per second

Sensor quantity 32 individual acoustic sensors, arranged in four cartridges, across 8 planes of measurement

Calibration method Factory pre-calibrated. Optional ultrasonic level sensor is also internally self-calibrating. Simple in-field verification process.

Water level measurement (optional)

Technique Ultrasonic

Accuracy 0.02”

Resolution 0.004”

Material

Frames Extruded marine grade aluminum

Gate panels Marine grade aluminum sheet and aluminum extrusion

Hardware Stainless steel

Shafts Stainless steel

Seals EDPM rubber (Durometer 70 (Shore A))

Wear strip PVC

Pressure rating Refer to the Dimensions and Maximum Water Level table on page 4

Water level sensor Anodized marine grade aluminum and copolymer acetyl plastic with stainless-steel fittings and gold-plated connectors

Power

Power supply 12V DC self-contained battery charged from solar panel or AC line power

Solar panel 85W monocrystalline

Batteries Sealed gel lead acid with temperature sensor (~5yr life, provides ~5 days of operation without solar or AC line power)

Communications

Protocols Modbus, DNP3, MDLC

Remove existing manual gate and...

replace with face mounted SlipMeter

Easy to installSlipMeters are designed to mount to existing headwall structures as well as purpose built emplacements significantly reducing costs associated with civil work.

• Installed and operational in two days during irrigation or off-season

• Factory calibrated and pre-configured

Independently tested flow measurement accuracyThe SlipMeter’s flow measurement accuracy has been independently verified under a wide range of conditions and has demonstrated compliance with California’s SBX7-7 legislation.

• Provost & Pritchard engineers in California conducted in-situ testing ina customer turnout configuration under calm, turbulent, and extreme turbulent conditions

• Manly Hydraulics Laboratory in Sydney, Australia conducted laboratorytests under wave disturbance, upstream disturbance and submerged conditions

3000 100 200 400 500

Flow rate (cfs)

Erro

r (%

)

Flow rate (cfs)

0 100 200 300 400 500

Provost & Pritchard

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

Manly Hydraulics Laboratory

SlipMeter measurement accuracy (24” 45° path SlipMeter measured under normal operating conditions relative to ABB Magmaster)

SlipMeter head loss (24” 45° path SlipMeter measured at Manly Hydraulics Laboratory)

Specifications subject to change

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,16

,14

,12

,10

,08

,06

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,02

0

Hea

d lo

ss (f

t)

Dimensions and maximum water levels

Mounting options

A Gate size

B Maximum height of water above meter box floor

C Frame width

D Overall meter height

E Box length

DS-

SM-0

2/17

-US-a

About Rubicon WaterRubicon Water delivers advanced technology that optimizes gravity-fed irrigation, providing unprecedented levels of operational efficiency and control, increasing water availability and improving farmers’ lives.

Founded in 1995, Rubicon has more than 20,000 gates installed in TCC systems in 10 countries.

Contact Rubicon for complete dimensions or additional sizes. Consultation with a Rubicon engineer or agent is recommended prior to gate sizing. Weights are approximate.

ModelWeight A B C D E

lb in in in in in

SM-2’-2’-5’ 353 24 60 34 84 33

SM-2’-2’-6’ 375 24 72 34 97 33

SM-2’-2’-8’ 397 24 96 34 121 33

SM-2’-2’-10’ 441 24 120 34 145 33

SM-2½’-2½’-6’ 485 30 72 40 97 35

SM-2½’-2½’-8’ 540 30 96 40 121 35

SM-2½’-2½’-10’ 596 30 120 40 145 35

SM-3’-3’-6’ 595 36 72 46 103 37

SM-3’-3’-8’ 639 36 96 46 123 37

SM-3’-3’-10’ 683 36 120 46 147 37

SM-3½’-3½’-8 727 42 96 52 127 37

SM-3½’-3½’-10’ 772 42 120 52 147 37

SM-4’-4’-8’ 816 48 96 58 127 39

SM-4’-4’-10’ 860 48 120 58 147 39

Headwall Sidewalls

Front and side views

A

BD

C E

www.rubiconwater.com

© 2012-2017 Rubicon Water. RUBICON logo and SlipMeter, MicronLevel, CableDrive, Total Channel Control, TCC, Sonaray and SolarDrive are trademarks and service marks, or registered trademarks and service marks of Rubicon Water or its affiliates in Australia, the United States of America and other jurisdictions. Systems, components, methodologies and software supplied by Rubicon Water may be the subject of patent and design rights in Australia and elsewhere.

California Contractor’s License Number 984209.

1501 S. Lemay Avenue Suite 101 Fort Collins, CO 80524

615 Kansas Avenue, Unit B Modesto, CA 95351

Toll free: 1 877 440 6080 Telephone: +1 970 482 3200Fax: +1 970 482 3222 inquiry@rubiconwater.com

415 W Aten Road Imperial, CA 92251

Control box