Water Supply (Apr 2024)
Numerical simulation and structure optimization for hydraulic performance of perforated drip irrigation emitters
Abstract
The perforated drip irrigation emitter (PDIE) is a novel drip irrigation emitter incorporating multiple energy dissipation mechanisms, chiefly hedging, deflection, and friction. To characterize the influences of structural parameters and vortices on the hydraulic performance of PDIE, the discharge exponent, discharge rate, and emitter unit constant were analyzed via hydraulic performance experiments and numerical simulation. The key findings are: (1) Discharge exponents of PDIE ranged from 0.478 to 0.515; average high-pressure hydraulic performance exceeded low pressure by 4.882%. (2) The four key structural parameters impacted hydraulic performance from large to small as follows: the width of the perforation (a), the angle of the scalariform perforation plate (α), the distance of the two perforations (b), and the length of the channel cavity (c). Among them, the discharge exponent changes significantly with a and α. (3) Vortex-retaining PDIE exhibited a lower emitter discharge exponent versus vortex-removed versions. However, vortices increase discharge rate and reduce energy consumption of PDIE. After optimization, the emitter discharge exponent of the PDIE with the reserved vortex is 0.461, which is relatively improved by 3.556%. This study can provide a theoretical reference for the structural design of new drip irrigation emitters and functional analysis of vortices. HIGHLIGHTS The hydraulic performance of the perforated drip irrigation emitterr is optimized.; Key structural parameters and the vortex were explored for their effects on the hydraulic performance of the perforated drip irrigation emitter.; By retaining vortices and adjusting key structural parameters, the hydraulic performance of PDIE can be optimized.; The emitter of PDIE with better hydraulic performance is put forward.;
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