Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2009 Hydraulics of IDEal Drip Irrigation Systems Evan J. Thompson Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Civil Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Thompson, Evan J., "Hydraulics of IDEal Drip Irrigation Systems" (2009). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 296. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/296 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. HYDRAULICS OF IDEAL DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEMS by Evan J. Thompson A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Irrigation Engineering Approved: _____________________________ _____________________________ Gary P. Merkley Andrew A. Keller Major Professor Committee Member _____________________________ _____________________________ Steven L. Barfuss Byron Burnham Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2009 ii Copyright © Evan J. Thompson 2009 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Hydraulics of IDEal Drip Irrigation Systems by Evan J. Thompson, Master of Science Utah State University, 2009 Major Professor: Gary P. Merkley Department: Biological and Irrigation Engineering The hydraulics of IDEal drip irrigation system components were analyzed under controlled laboratory conditions and the results can be applied to the design of IDEal systems. The hydraulic loss coefficient for the lateral-submain connector valves was determined based on laboratory measurements. It was found that the hydraulic loss due to friction in the lay-flat laterals can be accurately estimated with standard friction loss equations using a smaller effective diameter based on the wall thickness and inlet pressure head. The equivalent length barb loss, expressed as an equivalent length of lateral, was calculated for button emitters, as well as for micro-tubes inserted to lengths of 5 and 10 cm. It was concluded that the barb loss is essentially constant over the micro- tube insertion range of 5-10 cm. The head-discharge relationship and coefficient of manufacturer’s variation of pre-punched lateral holes (without emitters), button emitters, and micro-tubes were characterized. Finally, several IDEal drip irrigation systems in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia were evaluated in the field. Recommendations were given for future research iv and improvements in the manufacturing, installation, operation, and maintenance of IDEal drip irrigation equipment. (169 pages) v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank the Utah Water Research Laboratory for providing the facilities and funding for this research. I am also grateful for the generous support of Keller-Bliesner Engineering throughout my academic studies. I am indebted to International Development Enterprises for giving me the opportunity to study in Ethiopia, and to discover a wonderful country and people. Thanks to Bob Yoder for sharing his great knowledge, and to his wife, Jo, for making my wife and me feel at home in a foreign land. I am privileged to have benefited from the wisdom, advice, and counsel of Jack Keller, which laid the foundation for this project. I would especially like to thank my committee members, Drs. Gary Merkley and Andrew Keller, as well as Steven Barfuss, for their dedicated and selfless assistance, much of which came from the other side of the planet. Above all, I am grateful for the loving support and patience of my wife, Holly, which were unwavering whether at home or on a crazy adventure in Ethiopia. Evan Thompson vi CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................x NOTATION .......................................................................................................................xv CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................1 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................3 III. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN .......................................................................8 Head Loss in Connector Valves ...........................................................11 Head Loss Due to Friction in the Laterals ...........................................13 Emitter Barb Loss ................................................................................18 Emitter Performance ............................................................................20 Additional Testing ...............................................................................22 IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................................................24 Head Loss in Connector Valves ...........................................................24 Head Loss Due to Friction in the Laterals ...........................................28 Emitter Barb Loss ................................................................................39 Emitter Performance ............................................................................42 V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS.............48 Summary ..............................................................................................48 Conclusions ..........................................................................................52 Recommendations ................................................................................58 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................62 APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................64 vii Appendix A. Additional Tables ...........................................................................65 Appendix B. Photographs of the Laboratory Setup and Experimental Work ......................................................................67 Appendix C. Additional Figures .........................................................................70 Appendix D. Lateral Wall Thickness Study ........................................................75 Appendix E. Emitter Spacing Study ...................................................................79 Appendix F. Time-lag Study...............................................................................81 Appendix G. Field Study in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia ........................84 Appendix H. Photographs of the Field Evaluations in Ethiopia ........................129 Appendix I. Individual Field Catchment Results from Selected Sites in Ethiopia .........................................................................137 Appendix J. Summary Tables of Field Information from Selected Sites in Ethiopia .........................................................................142 Appendix K. Valve Dimension Measurements .................................................151 Appendix L. Drip System Field Evaluation Form ............................................152 viii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Methods of Estimating Friction Loss .....................................................................18 2 Valve Loss Coefficients for Six Connector Valves ...............................................24 3 Valve Loss Coefficients for Valve 6 Before and After Debris Removal .....................................................................................................26 4 Summary of Friction Loss Estimation in IDEal Lay-Flat Laterals ........................50 5 Summary of IDEal Emitter Characteristics ...........................................................51 6 Average Measured Head Loss as a Percent of Inlet Pressure Head in a 250-µm Wall Thickness Lateral Using Various Emitter Types .............................52 Appendix Tables Page A.1 Flow Rates in lps for Valves at Various Hydraulic Heads ....................................65 A.2 Inside Diameters of Connector Valves ..................................................................65 A.3 Flow Rate at Various Heads in Valve 6 Before and After Debris Removal .....................................................................................................65 A.4 Summary of Measured Data for Performance of Pre-punched Holes ...................66 A.5 Summary of Measured Data for Performance of Micro-tube Emitters .................66 A.6 Summary of Measured Data for Performance of Button Emitters ........................66 D.1 Measured Wall Thickness for 200-μm IDEal Lateral ...........................................76 D.2 Lay-Flat Width of 200-μm Wall Thickness IDEal Lateral ....................................78 E.1 Summary Data for Emitter Spacing in Four Samples of 250-µm Wall Thickness Pre-punched Lateral .....................................................................80 G.1 Summary of Field Evaluations.............................................................................111