Minor Losses through Start Connectors in Microirrigation Laterals: Dimensional Analysis and Artificial Neural Networks Approaches
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 5
Abstract
In microirrigation systems, start connectors are used at lateral-manifold or microtube-lateral junctions, and minor losses occur when water flows through the start connectors. The connector’s geometry may cause contractions and/or expansions in the flow section, inducing local head losses that should be considered when designing irrigation subunits. The objective of this research was to analyze the experimental datasets available from previous studies in order to develop and validate mathematical models to estimate local head losses through start connectors using dimensional analysis and artificial neural networks. A dataset with 55,331 records of local head loss as a function of flow rate through several geometries of start connectors was evaluated. Four models based on dimensional analysis and artificial neural networks were developed and validated. The local head losses through start connectors depended on the fluid properties, operating hydraulic conditions, and geometric characteristics of the start connectors. For the full and simplified models based on dimensional analysis, 95% of discharge predictions had relative errors less than 13.0% and 14.3%, respectively. For the full and simplified models based on neural networks, 95% of discharge predictions had relative errors less than 12.2% and 12.7%, respectively. A web application was developed to facilitate the discharge predictions. Depending on the connector’s geometry, the minor losses through start connectors represent a significant percentage of the total head loss along the lateral.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code used during the study were provided by a third party. The models based on dimensional analysis and artificial neural networks were generated from the test database provided by the Irrigation Testing Laboratory (LEMI/ESALQ/USP). The three databases served previously for publication of individual articles by the researchers Bombardelli et al. (2019), Vilaça et al. (2017), and Zitterell et al. (2013), which belong to the same laboratory. Direct requests for these materials may be made to the provider as indicated in the acknowledgments.
All data mentioned in the manuscript are available from the corresponding author by request. So, the corresponding author also agrees to dispose of the material, if requested.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the following Brazilian institutions for their financial support: the Federal Department of Science and Technology (MCT), the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brazil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001, the São Paulo State Scientific Foundation (FAPESP), and the National Institute of Science and Technology in Irrigation Engineering (INCTEI). Also, the authors are grateful to the Irrigation Testing Laboratory (LEMI) for providing their database of start connectors.
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Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 146 • Issue 5 • May 2020
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©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 15, 2019
Accepted: Dec 12, 2019
Published online: Mar 4, 2020
Published in print: May 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Aug 4, 2020
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