Applications of Drag-Reducing Polymers in Sprinkler Irrigation Systems: Sprinkler Head Performance
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 128, Issue 3
Abstract
The study investigates the effects of polymer additives on sprinkler performance. Experiments were carried out on a medium-pressure sprinkler to determine the effect of polymer additives. Two kinds of polymer additives with several concentrations were used: a low molecular weight polymer, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and a high molecular weight polymer, polyacrylamide. The results show that with polymer additives the radius of throw and the sprinkler flow rate increase. The jet is slightly affected. Generally, polyacrylamide shows better results than sodium carboxymethylcellulose.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Aase, J. K., Bjorneberg, D. L., and Sojka, R. E.(1998). “Sprinkler irrigation runoff and erosion control with polyacrylamide—Laboratory tests.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 62(6), 1681–1687.
Ben-Hur, M., Faris, J., Malik, M., and Letey, J.(1989). “Polymers as soil conditioners under consecutive irrigations and rainfall.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 53(4), 1173–1177.
Chiou, C. S., and Gordon, R. J.(1977). “Vena contracta suppression in dilute polymer solutions.” J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 21(5), 1359–1376.
Christiansen, J. E. (1942). “Irrigation by sprinkling.” Bull. 670, Univ. of California Agricultural Experiment Station.
den Toonder, J. M. J., Draad, A. A., Kuiken, G. D. C., and Nieuwstadt, F. T. M.(1995). “Degradation effects of dilute polymer solutions on turbulent drag reductions in pipe flows.” Appl. Sci. Res., 55(1), 63–82.
Elias, V., and Vocel, J.(1978). “Application of polymer additives in sprinkler irrigation.” Vodohospodarsky cas., 26, 610–621 (in Czech).
Ernst, W. D.(1967). “Turbulent flow of an elasticoviscous non-Newtonian fluid.” AIAA J., 5(5), 906–909.
Fabula, A. G.(1971). “Fire-fighting benefits of polymeric drag reduction.” J. Basic Eng. Trans. ASME, 93(4), 453–455.
Fajzullaev, D. P., et al. (1974). Uvelicenije raschoda vody v trubo-provdach s pomose ju maloj dobavky preparata E-1, Doklady AV UzSSR, 7 (in Russian).
Hoyt, J. W.(1972). “The effect of additives on fluid friction.” J. Basic Eng., Trans. ASME,, 94(2), 258–285.
Hoyt, J. W., Taylor, J. J., and Runge, C. D.(1974). “The structure of jets of water and polymer solution in air.” J. Fluid Mech., 63(4), 635–640.
Khalil, M. F., Kassab, S. Z., Elmilligui, A. A., and Naoum, F. A. (2001a). “Effect of drag reducing polymer additives on the pipe friction loss.” Proc., 6th Int. Conf. and Exhibition on Potable Water Management and Water Treatment Technologies (AQUA-TEC 2001), 348–366.
Khalil, M. F., Kassab, S. Z., Elmilligui, A. A., and Naoum, F. A. (2001b). “Effect of water soluble polymers on energy loss in pipe fittings.” Proc., ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting (FED2001-18172), American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York.
Levy, G. J., Levin, J., Gal, M., Ben-Hur, M., and Shainberg, I.(1992). “Polymer’s effects on infiltration and soil erosion during consecutive simulated sprinkler irrigation.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 56(3), 902–907.
Martin-Benito, J. M. T., Gomez, M. V., and Pardo, J. L.(1992). “Working conditions of sprinkler to optimize application of water.” J. Irrig. Drain Eng., 118(6), 895–913.
Merriam, J. L., Shearer, M. N., and Burt, C. M. (1983). “Evaluating irrigation systems and practices.” Design and operation of farm irrigation systems, M. E. Jensen, ed., American Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, Mich.
Naoum, F. A. (2000). “Effect of polymer additives on sprinkler irrigation system performance.” PhD thesis, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria Univ., Egypt.
Sellin, R. H. J., Hoyt, J. W., Pollert, J., and Scrivener, O.(1982). “The effect of drag reducing additives on fluid flows and their industrial applications. Part 2: Present applications and future proposals.” J. Hydraul. Res., 20(3), 235–292.
Sellin, R. H. J., Hoyt, J. W., and Scrivener, O.(1982). “The effect of drag reducing additives on fluid flows and their industrial applications. Part 1: Basic aspects.” J. Hydraul. Res., 20(1), 29–68.
Solomon, K.(1979). “Variability of sprinkler coefficient of uniformity-test results.” Trans. ASAE, 22(5), 1078–1086.
Toms, B. A.(1977). “On the early experiments on drag reduction by polymers.” Phys. Fluids, 20(10), S3–S5.
Union Carbide Corp. (1996). “Friction-reducing agent improves water flow.” Chem. Eng., 73(16), 36.
van der Meulen, J. H. J.(1974). “Friction reduction and degradation in turbulent flow of dilute polymer solution.” Appl. Sci. Res., 29(3), 161–174.
Vories, E., and von Bernuth, R.(1986). “Single nozzle sprinkler performance in wind.” Trans. ASAE, 29(5), 1325–1330.
Zhu, H., Dexter, R. W., Fox, R. D., Reichard, D. L., Brazee, R. D., and Ozkan, H. E.(1997). “Effects of polymer composition and viscosity on droplet size of recirculated spray solutions.” J. Agric. Eng. Res., 67(1), 35–45.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 128 • Issue 3 • June 2002
Pages: 147 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 19, 2000
Accepted: Aug 15, 2001
Published online: May 15, 2002
Published in print: Jun 2002
Authors
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.