Technical Papers
May 10, 2022

The Effect of Spray-Sprinkler Design Parameters on Energy Consumption Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 7

Abstract

To determine the kinetic energy consumption of various spray-sprinkler structural parameters, the hydraulic performance, including the discharge and initial trajectory velocity, was investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses and the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. A comparison of the experimental and simulation results showed that a high accuracy was obtained using CFD technology. On this basis, a series of simulations was performed to evaluate the effects of groove length, groove number, and cone angle on jet velocities, and the kinetic energy dissipation was calculated. The results showed that the spray-plate structure had a significant influence on the water fraction patterns, leading to relatively large differences in the initial velocity; the average velocity decreased as the cone angle, groove number, or groove length of the spray plate increased. The wall shear stress results showed that a large amount of kinetic energy was dissipated in the groove, indicating that decreasing the groove number or groove length reduced energy dissipation. In addition, the wall shear stress in the cone area increased as the cone angle increased, resulting in an increase in energy dissipation. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the groove length is the most significant parameter influencing energy consumption.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

Data Availability Statement

Some or all data such as physical experiment data and numerical simulation models and results that support the findings of this study are available from the Corresponding Author upon reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Program of Henan Province (No. 212102110036) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51739009), for which the authors are grateful.

References

Abadia, R., C. Rocamora, A. Ruiz, and H. Puerto. 2008. “Energy efficiency in irrigation distribution networks I: Theory.” Biosyst. Eng. 101 (1): 21–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2008.05.013.
Al-Ghobari, H., and A. Z. Dewidar. 2021. “A comparative study of standard center pivot and growers-based modified center pivot for evaluating uniformity coefficient and water distribution.” Agronomy 11 (8): 1675. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081675.
Aydin, M. C., and M. E. Emiroglu. 2013. “Determination of capacity of labyrinth side weir by CFD.” Flow Meas. Instrum. 29 (Mar): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2012.09.008.
Baird, J. D. 2009. Energy efficient water sprinkler. Alexandria, VA: United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Bernard, A., and M. Véron. 1997. “Definition of numerical models for rapid product development.” In Proc., Int. Conf. on Computer Applications in Production and Engineering. Berlin: Springer.
Burillo, G. S., R. Delirhasannia, E. Playan, P. Paniagua, B. Latorre, and J. Burguete. 2013. “Initial drop velocity in a fixed spray plate sprinkler.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 139 (7): 521–531. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000573.
Calejo, M. J., N. Lamaddalena, J. L. Teixeira, and L. S. Pereira. 2008. “Performance analysis of pressurized irrigation systems operating on-demand using flow-driven simulation models.” Agric. Water Manage. 95 (2): 154–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2007.09.011.
Camp, C. R., E. J. Sadler, D. E. Evans, L. J. Usrey, and M. Omary. 1998. “Modified center pivot system for precision management of water and nutrients.” Appl. Eng. Agric. 14 (1): 23–31. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.19362.
DeBoer, D., D. Beck, and A. Bender. 1992. “A field evaluation of low, medium, and high pressure sprinklers.” Trans. ASAE 35 (4): 1185–1189. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.28718.
DeBoer, D. W. 2002. “Drop and energy characteristics of a rotating spray-plate sprinkler.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 128 (3): 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(2002)128:3(137).
Faci, J. M., R. Salvador, E. Playán, and H. Sourell. 2001. “Comparison of fixed and rotating spray plate sprinklers.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 127 (4): 224–233. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(2001)127:4(224).
Hills, D. J., and J. Barragan. 1998. “Application uniformity for fixed and rotating spray plate sprinklers.” Appl. Eng. Agric. 14 (1): 33–36. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.19354.
Issaka, Z., H. Li, Y. Jiang, P. Tang, C. Chen, and R. O. Darko. 2018. “Hydraulic performance characteristics of impact sprinkler with a fixed water dispersion device.” Int. J. Agric. Biol. Eng. 11 (6): 104–112. https://doi.org/10.25165/j.ijabe.20181106.4026.
James, L., and S. Blair. 1984. “Performance of low pressure center pivot systems.” Trans. ASAE 27 (6): 1753–1757. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.33041.
Jiang, Y., H. Li, Q. Xiang, and C. Chen. 2017. “Comparison of piv experiment and numerical simulation on the velocity distribution of intermediate pressure jets with different nozzle parameters.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 66 (4): 510–519. https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.2133.
Khadra, R., and N. Lamaddalena. 2006. “A simulation model to generate the demand hydrographs in large-scale irrigation systems.” Biosyst. Eng. 93 (3): 335–346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2005.12.006.
Kincaid, D. C. 2005. “Application rates from center pivot irrigation with current sprinkler types.” Appl. Eng. Agric. 21 (4): 605–610. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.18570.
Law, W. K., and H. Wang. 2000. “Measurement of mixing processes with combined digital particle image velocimetry and planar laser induced fluorescence.” Exp. Therm. Fluid Sci. 22 (3): 213–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0894-1777(00)00029-7.
Markley, K., and J. A. Elzey. 2006. Rotary irrigation sprinkler nozzle. Alexandria, VA: United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Montero Martínez, J., R. S. Martínez, and J. M. Tarjuelo Martín-Benito. 2004. “Analysis of water application cost with permanent set sprinkler irrigation systems.” Irrig. Sci. 23 (3): 103–110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-004-0098-6.
Moreno, M. A., J. F. Ortega, J. I. Córcoles, A. Martínez, and J. M. Tarjuelo. 2010. “Energy analysis of irrigation delivery systems: Monitoring and evaluation of proposed measures for improving energy efficiency.” Irrig. Sci. 28 (5): 445–460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-010-0206-8.
Nelson. 2022. “D3000 Sprinkler with 3TN Nozzle.” Accessed May 3, 2022. https://www.nelsonirrigation.com/products/pivot-sprinklers/sprayhead.
Ouazaa, S., J. Burguete, M. P. Paniagua, R. Salvador, and N. Zapata. 2014. “Simulating water distribution patterns for fixed spray plate sprinkler using the ballistic theory.” Span. J. Agric. Res. 12 (3): 850–863.
Rahman, A. 2015. “Low energy rotary nozzle: An energy and water saving device for field crop irrigation.” J. Agric. Sci. Technol. 17 (4): 1071–1082.
Ramamurthy, A. S. T. R. 2008. “Numerical simulation of flows in cut-throat flumes.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 134 (6): 857–860. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(2008)134:6(857).
Ribeiro, M. S., L. A. Lima, A. Colombo, A. C. D. M. Caldeira, and F. H. D. S. Faria. 2013. “Water distribuition characteristics and soil loss of LEPA Quad-Spray emitter nozzles.” Engenharia Agrícola 33 (2): 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-69162013000200002.
Robles, O., E. Playán, J. Cavero, and N. Zapata. 2017. “Assessing low-pressure solid-set sprinkler irrigation in maize.” Agric. Water Manage. 191 (Sep): 37–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2017.06.001.
Sayyadi, H., A. H. Nazemi, A. A. Sadraddini, and R. Delirhasannia. 2014. “Characterising droplets and precipitation profiles of a fixed spray-plate sprinkler.” Biosyst. Eng. 119 (Mar): 13–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2013.12.011.
Silva, L. L. 2007. “The effect of spray head sprinklers with different deflector plates on irrigation uniformity, runoff and sediment yield in a mediterranean soil.” Agric. Water Manage. 85 (3): 243–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2006.05.006.
Tang, P., C. Chen, and H. Li. 2020. “Improving water distribution uniformity by optimizing the structural size of the drive spoon blades for a vertical impact sprinkler.” Sustainability 12 (18): 7574. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187574.
Tang, P., H. Li, Z. Issaka, and C. Chen. 2017. “Impact forces on the drive spoon of a large cannon irrigation sprinkler: Simple theory, CFD numerical simulation and validation.” Biosyst. Eng. 159 (Jul): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2017.04.005.
Yan, H., X. Hui, M. Li, and Y. Xu. 2020. “Development in sprinkler irrigation technology in China.” Irrig. Drain. 69 (Nov): 75–87. https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.2435.
Yan, H., H. Jin, and Y. Qian. 2010. “Characterizing center pivot irrigation with fixed spray plate sprinklers.” Sci. China 53 (5): 1398–1405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-010-0090-8.
Zapata, N., O. Robles, E. Playán, P. Paniagua, C. Romano, R. Salvador, and F. Montoya. 2018. “Low-pressure sprinkler irrigation in maize: Differences in water distribution above and below the crop canopy.” Agric. Water Manage. 203 (Apr): 353–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.03.025.
Zhang, Y., B. Sun, H. Fang, D. Zhu, and Z. Li. 2018. “Experimental and simulation investigation on the kinetic energy dissipation rate of a fixed spray-plate sprinkler.” Water 10 (10): 1365. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10101365.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 148Issue 7July 2022

History

Received: Mar 9, 2021
Accepted: Jan 28, 2022
Published online: May 10, 2022
Published in print: Jul 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Oct 10, 2022

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Huiliang Wang [email protected]
Professor, School of Water Conservancy Engineering, Zhengzhou Univ., Zhengzhou 450001, China. Email: [email protected]
Postgraduate Student, School of Water Conservancy Engineering, Zhengzhou Univ., Zhengzhou 450001, China. Email: [email protected]
Associate Professor, School of Water Conservancy Engineering, Zhengzhou Univ., Zhengzhou 450001, China (corresponding author). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7068-8291. Email: [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share