Kinetic energy in sprinkler irrigation: different sources of drop diameter and velocity

• DOI: 10.1007/s00271-010-0259-8
• Publication Date: 2011-01-05T00:36:27Z
• Authors: C. Bautista-Capet...; M. Zavala; E. Playán
• Keywords: drop velocity; disdrometer; kinetic energy; indoor experiments; 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; low-speed photography; drop diameter; sprinkler irrigation; 6. Clean water

Sprinkler kinetic energy has been linked to a number of problems in irrigated fields. This work presents the characterization of sprinkler drop kinetic energy and specific power from low-speed photographic drop data using a commercial impact sprinkler and three operating pressures. The spatial variability of specific power (W m−2) was assessed for different sprinkler spacings, showing different patterns in rectangular and triangular spacings. The specific power uniformity coefficient ranged from 38–77%, depending on sprinkler spacing and operating pressure. An attempt was made to characterize specific power from estimated (measured diameter and estimated velocity) and simulated data (using a ballistic model). While estimated data produced adequate results, simulated data resulted in a large overestimation. Discrepancies in kinetic variables between measured and simulated drop data permit to conclude that it is important to continue experimental drop characterization efforts as well as sprinkler simulation model development.<br/>Peer reviewed<br/>44 Pags., 5 Tabls., 7 Figs. The definitive version is available at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/0342-7188/<br/>This research was funded by the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID). Thanks are also due to the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, México.<br/>