Solid particles flow through labyrinth channels in drip emitters

Abstract

Clogging of drip irrigation emitters can reduce the effectiveness of drip irrigation systems. The most common way of studying clogging in a laboratory setting is to recreate the actual timing conditions of on-site drip irrigation systems. However, this requires a clogging period on the order of hours to days and an intermission period on the order of days to weeks. This thesis explores the recreation of actual drip irrigation clogging effects in lab in a shorter amount of time, using water highly concentrated with grit particles. Three different non-pressure compensating emitters with rated flow rate of 0.8 LPH, 1.6 LPH, and 2.0 LPH from Jain Irrigation System were studied. Eight different concentrations of grit were pumped through the system. A clogging period of 30 minutes and an intermission period of 30 minutes were used in the tests. The grit used was aluminum oxide sized at 180 microns. The flow rate and discharged from each emitter were measured and calculated. The data showed a significant amount of clogging with high grit concentrations. This thesis will serve as the first part to achieving a short term clogging procedure for drip irrigation that will significantly allow more emitters designs to be tested and improved upon in shorter amount of time.