Comparison between sprinkler irrigation and natural rainfall based on droplet diameter

Abstract

<p>An indoor experiment was conducted to analyze the movement characteristics of different sized droplets and their influence on water application rate distribution and kinetic energy distribution. Radial droplets emitted from a Nelson D3000 sprinkler nozzle under 66.3, 84.8, and 103.3 kPa were measured in terms of droplet velocity, landing angle, and droplet kinetic energy and results were compared to natural rainfall characteristics. Results indicate that sprinkler irrigation droplet landing velocity for all sizes of droplets is not related to nozzle pressure and the values of landing velocity are very close to that of natural rainfall. The velocity horizontal component increases with radial distance while the velocity vertical component decreases with radial distance. Additionally, landing angle of all droplet sizes decreases with radial distance. The kinetic energy is decomposed into vertical component and horizontal component due to the oblique angles of droplet impact on the surface soil, and this may aggravate soil erosion. Therefore the actual oblique angle of impact should be considered in actual field conditions and measures should be taken for remediation of soil erosion if necessary.</p>

Modeling and Dynamic-Simulating the Water Distribution of a Fixed Spray-Plate Sprinkler on a Lateral-Move Sprinkler Irrigation System

“…To establish the theoretical basis proposed in this study, water depth data (collected using catch pans) for a single groove was initially used to determine the water distribution pattern of a sprinkler in motion. Assuming negligible differences among the grooves of FSPS and in the water distribution characteristics of dozens of single water jets [27,30], the water distribution pattern of other grooves was determined by changing the angles of the measured groove. When the sprinkler was in motion, the projected water depth of any one groove in the lateral direction was calculated separately.…”

Development and implementation of a laboratory spray device and rainfall simulator for retention research using small amounts of agroformulations

“…Therefore, the kinetic energy of tap water was calculated in this study without correcting for possible air inclusions of the droplets produced with the air‐induction nozzle. Future studies should determine whether the kinetic energy of the spray droplets approaches that of rain droplets, as for example done by Ge et al , and whether kinetic energy is the rain droplet characteristic that should be aimed to be reproduced to achieve realistic rainfall.…”

The Influence of Sinusoidal Oscillating Water Flow on Sprinkler and Impact Kinetic Energy Intensities of Laterally-Moving Sprinkler Irrigation Systems

“…The study of sprinkler irrigation is not only limited to testing sprinkler intensity and other macro parameters, but is also limited by the instrument, and the size, diameter, and other micro parameters of the droplets tested. Droplet motion parameters are used to calculate the impact kinetic energy intensity of the droplets [20,21]. Impact kinetic energy intensity is the largest factor causing soil erosion, as well as an important index affecting irrigation quality and water use efficiency [22].…”