AN ALTERNATIVE FOR ENERGY CONSUMPTION REDUCTION IN DRIP IRRIGATION

Abstract

The energy consumption in drip irrigation systems as well as in the other irrigation techniques and technologies is an important indicator and an essential part of the operating costs. In contrast to the other irrigation techniques, the irrigation water runoff is smaller because of the fact that only part of the soil surface around the plants is wetted. Nevertheless, taking into account that in most cases the working head in the drippers is 10 m, and there are hydraulic head losses in conducting network, losses in the filters and accessories in the network, then the working head at the beginning of these systems reaches comparatively high values – 35 - 45 m. Taking this into consideration, the author suggests for the first time a new technical solution aimed at the reduction of the working head in the drip laterals and drippers, and more reliable operation of the drip irrigation systems. By now, all companies producing systems for classic drip irrigation in the world offer drip laterals with built-in single and similar nozzles drippers with a long path of the water at the point of water supply, the drippers being of two types-cylindrical and flat. The essence of the suggested solution is that instead of single drippers at the water supply point polynomial drippers are suggested to be built-in, also with a long path of water, consisting of several, located one after another, smaller drippers, connected between each other with a flexible tie (like a chain), both in the cylindrical type and in the flat type. Besides the energy consumption reduction, the new solution features other advantages as well: realization of a larger wetted area of the soil contour and consequently, wetted volume due to the disconcerted water supply at several points of the polynomial dripper; increasing the working flow rate of the drippers for minimum growth of the pressure in them, and a lower probability for termination of the water supply in case of clogging of some of the nozzles drippers; the time for irrigation is reduced.