Abstract
The correct operation of the backwashing process in sand filters used in micro irrigation determines directly the effectiveness of the subsequent filtration processes, and consequently the micro irrigation systems maintenance. As backwashing involves the filter bed expansion, the current sand filter design makes it impossible to measure the process. In this sense, this work aims to present a hydraulic characterization methodology of the backwashing process of sand filters used in micro irrigation, evaluating the influence of the sand particle size, the filter bed height, and the sand filter design. The proposed methodology can assist manufacturers in gathering equipment operating information, aiming at its presentation in the product catalogs.•This method article discusses a method of hydraulic evaluation of the backwashing process of sand filters used in micro irrigation.•The method can assist sand filter manufacturers in the correct definition of the equipment's operating parameters.•The method shows the effectiveness of using the filter media pressure loss evaluation in the indirect definition of the minimum fluidisation velocity.
Highlights
This article is a detail of the hydraulic evaluation methodology of the backwashing process of sand filters used in micro irrigation, of the article published by de Deus et al (2020) [7]
The water previously filtered by one or more filters expands and disturbs the filter bed, and because there is a specific mass difference between the impurities and the filter media, the less dense particles, the impurities, are removed from the equipment [2,3]. This procedure promotes the filter bed expansion, which is a function of the surface velocity, that according to Gupta and Sathiyamoorthy (1999) [4], this process involves a mechanism associated with fluidisation theory, that is a phenomenon of providing fluid properties to a solid particles layer, and determining its expansion
The surface velocities were defined based on extreme values, spaced above and below the reference value of 0.01 m s−1 proposed by Pizarro Cabello (1996) [11] for backwashing processes in sand filters used in micro irrigation
Summary
This article is a detail of the hydraulic evaluation methodology of the backwashing process of sand filters used in micro irrigation, of the article published by de Deus et al (2020) [7]. This procedure promotes the filter bed expansion, which is a function of the surface velocity (flow rate ratio for the cross-sectional area of the sand filter), that according to Gupta and Sathiyamoorthy (1999) [4], this process involves a mechanism associated with fluidisation theory, that is a phenomenon of providing fluid properties to a solid particles layer, and determining its expansion. Evaluate the filter bed expansion in the backwashing processes, side viewers must be adapted to allow visualization.
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