On-demand pressurized water distribution system impacts on sprinkler network design and performance

On-farm irrigation networks are designed for optimum performance at a specific upstream pressure head. In pressurized water distribution systems operating on demand, the upstream pressure head of the on-farm network can be subject to high and continuous fluctuations depending on the number of the hydrants being simultaneously opened. In this paper, a methodology combining network design and performance analysis of a sprinkler network is described and applied to an irrigation distribution system operating at two different water demands (1,200 and 600 l s−1) using a case study in Italy. Four designs of the same sprinkler network were optimized at different upstream designing pressure and were evaluated at all the possible operating conditions of the system. The expensive large pipe size diameter design presented the best performance and the highest reliability at a wide range of hydrant pressure while the small pipe size designs have the tendency to fail during the peak water demand period as a result of low hydrant pressure. Flow regulators within the hydrants showed to have an important role in stabilizing the network performance at elevated upstream pressure head.

[1]  P. Carrión,et al.  SIRIAS: a simulation model for sprinkler irrigation , 2001, Irrigation Science.

[2]  Enrique Playán,et al.  Coupled crop and solid set sprinkler simulation model. II: Model application , 2004 .

[3]  A. Molenaar,et al.  Irrigation by sprinkling. , 1960 .

[4]  Enrique Playán,et al.  Assessing sprinkler irrigation uniformity using a ballistic simulation model , 2006 .

[5]  André L.H. Costa,et al.  Optimization of pipe networks including pumps by simulated annealing , 2000 .

[6]  R. W. Skaggs,et al.  Soil Water Balance and Management , 1991 .

[7]  R. G. Allen,et al.  SPRINKMOD – pressure and discharge simulation model for pressurized irrigation systems. 1. Model development and description , 1999, Irrigation Science.

[8]  Giulio Lorenzini,et al.  SIMPLIFIED MODELLING OF SPRINKLER DROPLET DYNAMICS , 2004 .

[9]  J. Tarjuelo,et al.  SIRIAS: a simulation model for sprinkler irrigation , 2001, Irrigation Science.

[10]  J. G. Kroes.  Managing nitrogen for groundwater quality and farm profitability , 1994 .

[11]  R. G. Allen,et al.  SPRINKMOD – pressure and discharge simulation model for pressurized irrigation systems. 2. Case study , 1999, Irrigation Science.

[12]  R. López Luque,et al.  Model to Forecast Maximum Flows in On-Demand Irrigation Distribution Networks , 2007 .

[13]  Umberto Fratino,et al.  On-farm Sprinkler Irrigation Performance as affected by the Distribution System , 2007 .

[14]  J. Montero,et al.  Sprinkler droplet size distribution measured with an optical spectropluviometer , 2003, Irrigation Science.

[15]  Thomas M. Walski,et al.  State-of-the-Art Pipe Network Optimization , 1985 .

[16]  Ido Seginer,et al.  The distortion by wind of the distribution patterns of single sprinklers , 1991 .

[17]  Wesley W. Wallender,et al.  Collector Size and Test Duration Effects on Sprinkler Water Distribution Measurement , 1988 .

[18]  Maurits W. Ertsen,et al.  The development of irrigation design schools or how history structures human action , 2007 .

[19]  Jerry W. Knox,et al.  Competing demands for irrigation water: golf and agriculture in Spain. , 2007 .

[20]  Nicola Lamaddalena,et al.  Assessing Pressure Changes in an On-Demand Water Distribution System on Drip Irrigation Performance—Case Study in Italy , 2010 .

[21]  John M. Blatt,et al.  Description of the Model , 1988 .

[22]  Jiusheng Li.  Effect of Pressure and Nozzle Shape on the Characteristics of Sprinkler Droplet Spectra , 1997 .

[23]  Y. Labye,et al.  Étude des procédés de calcul ayant pour but de rendre minimal le cout d'un réseau de distribution d'eau sous pression , 1966 .

[24]  Nicola Lamaddalena,et al.  Performance analysis of on-demand pressurized irrigation systems , 2000 .