Dimensional Analysis Model of Head Loss for Sand Media Filters in a Drip Irrigation System Using Reclaimed Water

Abstract

A new model was developed to predict head loss in sand media filters. Sand filters with six different media using reclaimed water were used to measure head losses at different flow rates in the laboratory. The parameters influencing head losses were considered to be the uniformity coefficient, the effective diameter, the sand mass, the filtration velocity, the pollution load, and the water viscosity. A dimensional analysis method was used to develop the model. A comparison between the predicted and the measured head losses showed close agreement with a correlation coefficient of 91.7%, reaching a significance level of p < 0.001. The results showed that the model might give satisfactory predictions within the following range of operational and filter structure parameters: uniformity coefficient 1.48–3.31; effective diameter 0.41–2.1 mm; pollution load 0.0169–4.2049 kg, filtration velocity 0.0038–0.0398 m/s.

Keywords

• water-saving irrigation
• filter
• dimensional analysis model
• performance test
• parameter regulation