Experimental Evaluation of the Issuer Coefficients of a Locality in Ecuador

Abstract

The objective of this research is to evaluate the variation of the discharge coefficients of the emitters provided by the commercial companies. This includes coefficients obtained in an experimental bench test. The testing assembly was composed of the supply unit, the filter, the adduction line, the distribution lines, the selected emitters, the analogue volume meters, and digital sensors to obtain the pressure and flow rate. There were two sectors in the plot: the first was a low-pressure sector operated by gravity and the second was high-pressure, supplied by a pump. Nine types of emitters (drippers, micro-sprinklers, sprinklers) were used, including some self-compensating ones. Using an electronic data acquisition system, the pressure and flow rate were obtained and used to generate the characteristic curves of emitters. This made it possible for the characteristic curves to be determined by using the discharge equations of the emitters selected for this study. Subsequently, the network was modelled using the discharge coefficient and exponent obtained for each emitter. The results show which of the tested emitters meet the technical specifications of the local suppliers.

Keywords

• emitters (drippers, micro-sprinklers, sprinklers)
• Ke discharge coefficients
• comparative analysis