A new pipe network for irrigation and drainage: Development and simulation

Abstract

【Objective】 Acrylate polymer blended with poly (vinyl chloride) resin (ABR) is a composite material to make pipes. This paper investigates the pipe network manufactured by it for irrigation and drainage. 【Method】 The study was based on field experiments and CFD simulations. Based on performance of the network under different configurations, we optimized the system and applied it to dry-land chili pepper grown in Shandong plains in Northern China. 【Result】 ①Compared with single-ring and tree-like pipe network configurations, the double-ring and equidistant pipe network configuration in the ABR system reduced the coefficient of variation of water discharge for each irrigation-drainage pile by 1.327 to 0.766, thereby enhancing water supply balance. ②The suitable area for a single set of pipe network systems was 1.5 hm2, and the distance between the irrigation-drainage piles was 50 m. Under these conditions, water flow velocity at the outlet of each pile varied from 0.60 to 0.24 m/s, and each irrigation event can be completed in 12 h. ③The drainage capacity of each pile was 28.8 m3/h, sufficient to alleviate waterlogging during heavy rainfalls. 【Conclusion】 The proposed irrigation-drainage system significantly improved irrigation and flooding-control for the chili pepper grown in the dryland in the study area. It has a wide implication and application for crop productions in other regions.

Keywords

• agricultural water conservancy
• irrigation and drainage system
• numerical simulation
• abr pipe