The Rainmaker is a flexible rain simulator for the investigation of soil erosion events, developed in cooperation with the Soil and Water Protection working group at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. This mobile and modular field instrument simulates rain events with adjustable intensity for areas from 1 m² to 3 m². A stainless-steel plot limitation enables the recording of surface runoff and eroded soil material.

Modular design

The system consists of an adjustable base frame and individual sprinkler heads. Each sprinkler head covers a test area of 1 m². For larger measuring areas, up to 3 sprinkler heads can be combined to form a complete system with a maximum measuring area of 3 m². The plot limitation for recording surface runoff and eroded soil material can be adjusted accordingly.

Swivel nozzles in the sprinkler heads distribute the water from a reservoir evenly over the test plot. The sprinkler heads are height-adjustable. The telescopic legs of the frame enable quick and easy rough adjustment. Precise alignment is achieved via a spindle drive on each leg. This makes it possible to vary the drop height of the water, while at the same time enabling use on uneven or sloping terrain, as the sprinkler heads can always be aligned horizontally.

The entire periphery of the irrigation system can be flexibly selected. Existing pumps and water tanks can be used as long as they correspond to the desired irrigation intensity. If required, pumps and water tanks can also be ordered from UGT GmbH to match the overall system to the specified intensity.

Mobility

The system can be completely dismantled to enable it to be used on different measuring surfaces. The support frame and the sprinkler head surrounds are made of anodized aluminium for minimum weight and high robustness. The hoses can be disconnected using quick-release couplings and all cable connections have an IP65 degree of protection.

Avoiding the influence of wind

Protective tarpaulins can optionally be fitted to the device carrier to minimize the effects of wind.

Control system

The swivel speed and the dwell time of the nozzles at the end point can be set via a control unit with LCD display in order to regulate the simulated precipitation intensity. The control unit is powered by a rechargeable battery for independent operation.