Irrigation Flow Research Articles

Perancangan Pembangkit Listrik Pikohydro Dengan Tipe Turbin Screw

The screw type water turbine is one type of water turbine that has the potential to generate electricity on a small scale that is environmentally friendly, where this screw type water turbine is very suitable for rivers and irrigation flows in the territory of Indonesia because the use or operation of this turbine only requires low turbine head, looking at the potential for irrigation river water flow with a discharge range of 0.01-0.1 m3/s located in the lowlands in a Karawang district, it is possible to install or apply this screw type water turbine. In this study aims to be able to utilize the source of irrigation flow so that it can be converted into a source of electrical energy that can be utilized by local residents and for lighting on roads that are still poorly lit. In the process of designing a screw type water turbine, mechanical calculations are carried out to determine thedimensions of the turbine blades, turbine shaft, transmission systems such as pulleys and belts, as well as the power that can be generated by the turbine, with a relative head between 0.5 meters, 0.75 meters, and 0.9 meters and determine the correct components. The results of this calculation are obtained in the form of output power from each different head height for head 0.5, the power obtained is 220.89795 watts, for the 0.75 m head, the power is 394.29519 watts, and for the height 0.9, the output power is 356.13926 watts, the results of the design will then be made and will be realized.

PERAN SUBAK DALAM MENGURANGI ALIH FUNGSI LAHAN DI KELURAHAN PENATIH, KOTA DENPASAR

Subak is a community organization that functions to regulate the distribution system of irrigation flows that irrigate each plot of rice fields. Based on data from the Denpasar City Agriculture Office, the area of ​​rice fields in 2017 reached 2,464 hectares. Then, in early 2018 it became 2,444 hectares, or shrunk by 20 hectares. Therefore the authors conducted research on; First, identify the role of subak in reducing land use change that occurs in Penatih Village with its 3 subaks included in the government program, namely sustainable subak; Second, investigate what factors can reduce land conversion in Denpasar City, especially in Penatih Village. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of subak in reducing land conversion in Penatih Village and the dominant factors that play a role in reducing the rate of land conversion. Using descriptive qualitative and quantitative methods, this study found that subak has an important role in reducing the rate of land use change. This can be seen from the mindset that Subak already knows what land is and land use change. From the technology of rice fields, it is also currently easier for Subak to manage agricultural land. Now, how can Subak apply the existing and mutually agreed upon awig - awig to reduce land conversion and plan to develop the existing potential so that the income of farmers will increase. The dominant factors that play a role in reducing land use change are the rice field technology factor from the mindset subsystem, the awig - awig factor and subak organization from the social subsystem, and the suitability of land and rice fields from the physical subsystem.

INVESTIGATION OF HYDROCHEMICAL DYNAMICS OF GROUNDWATER IN COASTAL BLOCKS OF TIRUVALLUR DISTRICT, TAMILNADU, INDIA

This paper presents the behaviour of cation and anion in samples of water collected from the coastal blocks of Tiruvallur District, Tamilnadu, India. 13 physiochemical parameters are investigated on the uniformly collected groundwater samples. It is revealed that fifty percentage of groundwater samples surpassed water quality levels pertaining to drinking and irrigation. In this investigation, descriptive statistical analysis is performed to understand groundwater characteristics. The hydro-chemical dynamics of groundwater are evaluated using graphical plots Piper, Wilcox, and Gibbs. Through the Piper plot, it is concluded that high concentrations of sodium would induce cation exchange between Ca2+ and Mg2+ from the soil. This may lead to the acceleration of air and water circulation through the soil in wet conditions. The inference of the Piper plot is supported by end result of Gibbs plot. Gibbs plot indicates evaporation dominance of anthropogenic activities, while Wilcox plot clearly indicates groundwater’s suitability for irrigation purposes. Moreover, the cation concentration is seen to be high on the eastern portion of the chosen area. The level of groundwater treatment should be adequately determined for potable purposes and for agricultural purposes as the study concludes the intrusion of saline water, rock water interaction and irrigation flows.

A Review of Current Literature of Interest to the Office-Based Anesthesiologist

A Review of Current Literature of Interest to the Office-Based Anesthesiologist

ANALISIS PENGARUH PENAMBAHAN GEARBOX PADA TURBIN ARCHIMEDES SCREW UNTUK PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK TENAGA MIKRO HIDRO (PLTMH)

Utilization of irrigation flows as a source of electrical energy is not too much, because irrigation flows have low head heights so it's hard to do the design and type of power plant used. In addition, the water discharge in the irrigation canal is also a problem because the water seed in the irrigation canal is not always constant which is influenced by seasons and weather factors. In this study, we will discuss the effect of adding a gearbox to the Archimedes screw turbine on the output value of the generator such as electric current, voltage, efficiency, and torque. This micro hydro power plant uses an Archimedes screw turbine which has 9 blades with an angle of 24o and a blade thickness of 0.25 cm. on the gearbox used using a spur gear type which has a total ratio of 4: 9. The results of research conducted on irrigation lines in Munggu Village, Mengwi District, Badung Regency, got the highest rotation results, namely 160.7 rpm at the turbine, 882.4 at gearbox and 1013, 8 rpm on the generator. The highest voltage and current generated by the generator are 11.15 volts and 0.66 amperes. The torque obtained is 0.45 Nm and the highest efficiency is obtained at 0.00638%.

Fiber-optic laser energy for pulmonary artery denervation: results of an experimental study

Abstract Background/Introduction Pulmonary artery denervation (PADN) is an interventional procedure aiming to modulate and correct pulmonary artery (PA) pressure. New technologies and energy sources are being tested currently. However, the effects of laser energy on the PA wall are unknown. Purpose To assess the acute effects and impact of laser energy for PADN procedure in normotensive sheep by applying different power settings and session times. Methods A total of 10 normotensive Katumsky sheep were included in the experiment. Percutaneous vascular access was performed under general anesthesia. A fiberoptic open-irrigated non-steerable catheter was introduced via a femoral vein through a steerable sheath. Laser applications were applied in the PA trunk and the proximal areas of the right and left PA under fluoroscopic guidance with a 5mm distance between points in the anterior, posterior and lateral walls. Applications were delivered with power 10–30W, 10–35s in duration; irrigation flow 40ml/min. After the procedure, experimental animals were euthanized and underwent an autopsy. PA samples were obtained regardless of the absence of visible laser-related lesions for histological analysis (hematoxylin staining) and immunohistochemical labelling (S100). Results A total of 108 ablation sessions were performed, 33 in the right PA, 30 in the left PA and 42 in the PA trunk. During macroscopic examination, laser-related lesions described as irregular brown hemorrhage spots and rough defects observed in the PA endothelium were not homogenous in all experimental animals. Thermal injuries either in the left or right lung lobes were identified in 5 (50%) experimental animals when using 30W during 10–20sec. In 5 (50%) sheep no collateral lung injuries were identified when using 10–20W from 20–35s. A total of 64 PA fragments underwent microscopic examination, acute thermal tissue lesions were observed in all experimental animals despite the absence of laser-related lesions in the PA endothelium; dissection, edema, disruption trough tunica layers, hemorrhage and necrosis at different depth walls. The most frequent nerve damage was obtained with 20W ablation: 5/8 PAs vs, 1/6 with 10–15W and 1/14 with 25–30W (P=0.01). At the same time, there was no difference in intima necrosis between the groups (1/6, 2/8 and 4/14 for 10–15, 20 and 25–30W groups, respectively). Conclusion(s) Percutaneous PA laser ablation is feasible, reduction of perivascular nerve expression is seen most frequently, when 20W/20–35 s ablation is performed. PA lesions may differ in depth and characteristics, and perivascular nerve damage might be seen in cases with preserved intima. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Grant of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation

Effects of transmission pipe slope on PVC pipe drip irrigation flow

Agricultural activities on sloping land need to be supported by an adequate irrigation system such as efficient drip irrigation. This study aims to determine the impact of the slope of the drip irrigation transmission pipe on the uniformity coefficient and volume of irrigation flow. The study used a PVC drip irrigation network. The drip hole spacing was 60 cm with a diameter of 0.5 mm and a transmission network pipe using Ø1/2-inch PVC and irrigation water source from a 200-litre capacity of the tower 3.3 m high. The slope (α) of the test transmission pipes 10°, 20°, 30° and 40° and variations of the water height in the tank of 20 cm, 30cm, and 40cm, with 1, 3 and 5 minutes of dripping time. Data analyzed on uniformity coefficient (Cu), the relationship between the slope of the transmission pipe and the distributions irrigation. The test results show that α=10°- 20° and head 30 cm - 40cm have the best performance with droplet uniformity above 80%. Variations in the slope of the transmission pipe and the distribution of drip irrigation flow have a polynomial regression relationship with an average R-value of 0.6 – 0.99.

Pico hydro turbine building design utilizing irrigation water power: CFD Simulation

Using hydraulic energy from irrigation flows to become electrical energy as renewable energy still needs to be conducted. Therefore, this research aims to design a pico hydro turbine building powered by irrigation water and its energy tests and analyses. The turbine building design has been simulated with the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). The method used in this study is the solver approach simulation method which is analyzed with flow s imulation applications and analyzed using the kinetic energy equation to obtain the hydraulic energy value of the channel, where previously the turbine building design used computer-aided design. Furthermore, in irrigation canals, energy values are obtained. The impulse turbine is 3.6 - 5 kW, and the helixes turbine is 0.02-0.25 kW, the Kaplan turbine is 0.29 – 0.3 kW, for Kaplan turbine with minimal head 1 m.

Novel syphon ureteric access sheath has the potential to improve renal pressures and irrigant flow.

To describe a novel syphoning ureteric access sheath (UAS) intended for use during flexible ureterorenoscopy (URS). We aimed to assess if in vitro it could reduce intrarenal pressure (IRP) and increase irrigant flow compared to traditional UASs. A validated phantom kidney with fibre optic pressure sensing capabilities was used to assess the IRP. Standardised 80 cmH2 O irrigation via a ureterorenoscope was instilled through traditional UASs (11/13 and 12/14 F) and compared to the novel 11/13-F syphoning UAS. The measured minute volume, calculated hourly flow volume, and steady state IRP were compared. The traditional 11/13 and 12/14-F UASs had statistically poorer irrigant flow than the novel syphoning UAS, at 19.3 vs 29.3 mL/min (P < 0.001) and 22.7 vs 29.3 mL/min (P = 0.002), respectively. The steady state IRP was 20 mmHg for the traditional 11/13 F and 13 mmHg for the 12/14 F compared to 0 mmHg for the novel UAS. The described novel UAS is different from traditional devices by incorporating a syphon mechanism. Our in vitro assessment demonstrates that the novel UAS holds clinical potential to reduce IRP while allowing a significant increase in irrigant flow compared to larger diameter traditional UASs.

Thermal effects of thulium: YAG laser treatment of the prostate\u2014an in vitro study

PurposeTo objectively determine whether there is potential thermal tissue damage during Tm:YAG laser-based LUTS treatment.MethodsOur experimental model was comprised of a prostatic resection trainer placed in a 37 °C water bath. In a hollowed-out central area simulating the urethral lumen, we placed a RigiFib 800 fibre, irrigation inflow regulated with a digital pump, and a type K thermocouple. A second thermocouple was inserted 0.5/1 cm adjacently and protected with an aluminum barrier to prevent it from urethral fluid. We investigated continuous and intermittent 120 W and 80 W laser application with various irrigation rates in eight measurement sessions lasting up to 14 min. Thermal measurements were recorded continuously and in real-time using MatLab. All experiments were repeated five times to balance out variations.ResultsContinuous laser application at 120 W and 125 ml/min caused a urethral ∆T of ~ 15 K and a parenchymal temperature increase of up to 7 K. With 50 ml/min irrigation, a urethral and parenchymal ∆T of 30 K and 15 K were reached, respectively. Subsequently and in absence of laser application, prostatic parenchyma needed over 16 min to reach baseline body temperature. At 80 W lower temperature increases were reached compared to similar irrigation but higher power.ConclusionsWe showed that potentially harming temperatures can be reached, especially during high laser power and low irrigation. The heat generation can also be conveyed to the prostate parenchyma and deeper structures, potentially affecting the neurovascular bundles. Further clinical studies with intracorporal temperature measurement are necessary to further investigate this potentially harming surgical adverse effect.

Evidence-Based Wound Irrigation: Separating Fact from Fiction.

The relationship between wound irrigation and healing has been recognized for centuries. However, there is little evidence and no official recommendations from any health care organization regarding best wound irrigation practices. This is the first review of wound irrigation that systematically summarizes the literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and distills the evidence into a practical format. In this comprehensive review, the authors outline the irrigation fluids and delivery methods used in the identified studies, analyze reported treatment outcomes, summarize irrigation effectiveness, and propose evidence-based guidelines to improve wound healing outcomes and enhance the consistency of wound irrigation. Thirty-one high-quality studies with a combined total of 61,808 patients were included. Based on the current evidence provided by this review, the authors propose the following guidelines: (1) acute soft-tissue wounds should receive continuous gravity flow irrigation with polyhexanide; (2) complex wounds should receive continuous negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation with polyhexanide; (3) infected wounds should receive continuous negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation with silver nitrate, polyhexanide, acetic acid, or povidone-iodine; (4) breast implant wounds should receive gravity lavage with povidone-iodine or antibiotics; and (5) surgical-site infection rates can be reduced with intraoperative povidone-iodine irrigation.

Water Recycling System: Sustainable Water Management Approach for Paddy Production

The current climate change, combined with the increased demands from both traditional and new water users, including municipal, industrial, and agricultural sectors have impacted water resources. Thus, recycling of water as irrigation to secure seed production has a substantial impact on food security sustainability. In this research, a water recycling system was developed and tested to sustain the seed production. The research was conducted through eight seasons since 2014 to 2019 at the Rice Centre of Excellence (CoE) research plot in MARDI Seberang Perai. The system included the facilities to irrigate and collect water to be reused again. This approach was done to sustain the water resources as to ensure that the cultivation of paddy was not affected by weather changes. Rainfall and irrigation flow data were collected for the all of the seasons. Observation of field water depth was monitored every two days before irrigation was applied. This system proved that the total water saving for every season studied had a range from 20% to 32%, depending on the rainfall intensity. From this study, more than 3.5 t/ha of fragrance paddy seed were successfully produced for research and development purposes.

Enhancement of water productivity with surge irrigation

Surge irrigation is the intermittent application of water to surface irrigated furrows or borders in a series of relatively short on and off time periods during the irrigation which may be between 20 minutes to two hours. In this technique, water is usually applied intermittently rather than with a continuous stream, as in conventional surface irrigation..Water productivity and water saving of six crops viz. wheat, cotton, maize, capsicum, onion and fennel under surge irrigation were compared with traditional method for the crops grown in different environmental conditions at different location of the world.It is concluded that surge flow irrigation performs better than continuous flow irrigation in terms of water saving and yield resulting in enhancement of water productivity. In case of wheat crop, surge irrigation saved and decreased irrigation water by 27, 33.4 and 37.4 % and increased yield by 15.1, 17.7 and 12.7 % under slope of 0.0, 0.1 and 0.2 % respectively compared with continuous flow irrigation for the same discharge. It had the maximum water use efficiency values of 1.39, 1.56 and 1.59 kg/m3 for surge flow irrigation under slopes of 0.0, 0.1 and 0.2 %, respectively.Surge irrigation system for maize obtained the highest value of WUE (1.63 kg/m3) with 40 m furrow length under 12.24 l/min inflow rate, while the lowest value of WUE obtained by continuous irrigation system, with 20 m furrow length under 44.4 l/min inflow rate (1.05 kg/m3). It can be applied by farmers in areas where irrigation water is limiting factor in crop production and farmers cannot afford costly micro-irrigation system.

Evolution of Single-Use Urologic Endoscopy: Benchtop and Initial Clinical Assessment of a New Single-Use Flexible Cystoscope.

Introduction: Office cystoscopy is one of the most frequently performed procedures by a urologist. However, single-use cystoscopes remain quite undeveloped. Ambu® has developed single-use broncoscopes, rhinolaryngoscopes, and duodenoscopes. Recently, they released a single-use cystoscope. In this study, we performed a benchtop and an initial clinical assessment of the Ambu aScope™ (4) Cysto (aS4C) single-use cystoscope. Materials and Methods: Ten new, never-used aS4C single-use cystoscopes were assessed for optical performance, maximal tip flexion, and irrigation flow rate with empty working channel, 365 μm laser fiber, 0.035 in hydrophilic-tipped wire, 1.9F nitinol basket, and a 1.8 mm flexible stent grasper. All cystoscopes were then fully flexed 25 times in each direction, and maximal flexion angles were remeasured with and without instruments. Optical resolution, distortion, and depth of field were measured and compared with our reusable digital flexible cystoscopes. Assessment of clinical use was performed for inpatient bedside procedures using a Likert feedback survey and the NASA Task Load Index. Results: Maximal upward flexion exceeded 200° and 160° for all working instruments in upward and downward flexion. Downward flexion demonstrated different flexion between instrument groups in pre- and postcycling (p < 0.001). There was no clinical difference between the pre- and postcycling flexion. Flow rate decreased with increasing working instrument size (p < 0.001). The Olympus HD cystoscope resolution was superior at 3 and 5 mm distance, but not at other distances. The Ambu scope was superior to the Olympus SD scope at all distances except 3 mm. The aS4C had higher Likert scale survey scores for clinical use. Conclusions: The new Ambu single-use cystoscope demonstrates good flexion across instruments and comparable optics with reusable cystoscopes. In addition, initial inpatient bedside use of the aS4C and Monitor system compares favorably with the Olympus reusable cystoscope. Further testing in clinical scenarios such as hematuria, urothelial carcinoma, and operative endoscopy is warranted.

Land gradient and configuration effects on yield, irrigation amount and irrigation water productivity in rice-wheat and maize-wheat cropping systems in Eastern India

Laser land levelling is expanding rapidly in the rice-wheat (RW) and maize-wheat (MW) systems of the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India and Pakistan. Current practice is to level to zero (0%) gradient, whereas a small gradient (e.g. 0.1%) is typically used in developed countries. Therefore, experiments were conducted in farmers’ plots (~15 m x 40 m) in the Eastern Gangetic Plains to evaluate laser levelling with a 0.1% gradient in comparison with 0% and farmer levelling practice (FL). The study was conducted over two years in RW and MW systems. In the MW system, raised beds in plots lasered with 0% and 0.1% gradients were also evaluated. Laser levelling with 0% gradient significantly reduced irrigation amount and/or increased irrigation water productivity (WPi) in all crops/systems grown on the flat compared to FL except for wheat in the MW system. While there was a consistent trend for higher yield with a 0% gradient compared with FL, the differences were not significant in any crop/system. For the RW system, the results suggest no to marginal benefits in irrigation amount and WPi from levelling with a 0.1% gradient in comparison with 0% gradient. In that system, by far the bigger gains were from changing from FL to laser levelling with 0% gradient. This resulted in substantial reductions in irrigation amount, which greatly increased WPi in both crops (by ~40%), while yield was not affected. Rice grown with FL was not profitable, but lasering with 0% gradient significantly increased gross margin for rice, wheat and the total RW system. As for the RW system, levelling to 0% with a flat configuration significantly increased WPi of both crops in the MW system compared to FL, but by a lesser proportion. Raised beds significantly increased yield of maize by 8% (0.5 t ha−1), reduced irrigation amount by 20% (40 mm) and increased WPi by 34% (1.0 kg m−3) in comparison with the laser levelled flat plots. Gross margin of the MW system on beds was 17–20% higher than FL, and gross margin with beds on a 0.1% gradient was significantly higher than either gradient on the flat. The results suggest that the gains from levelling with a 0.1% gradient compared to 0% are marginal; however, this may change if the goal of consolidation of small farmer plots into larger fields becomes a reality provided there is a proportionate increase in irrigation flow rates, and ability to drain.

Estimating Surface and Groundwater Irrigation Potential under Different Conservation Agricultural Practices and Irrigation Systems in the Ethiopian Highlands

This study was conducted at the Dangishta watershed in the Ethiopian highlands to evaluate irrigation potential from surface and groundwater sources under different farming and water application systems. Daily streamflow and the groundwater table were monitored from 2015 to 2017. Shallow groundwater recharge was estimated using the water table fluctuation method. Automated baseflow separation techniques were used to determine the amount of runoff and baseflow from the total streamflow records. The potential of groundwater and runoff to sustain dry season irrigation (i.e., low flow) was evaluated considering two tillage systems (i.e., conservation agriculture, CA; and conventional tillage, CT), and water application (i.e., drip and overhead) systems for major irrigated crops (i.e., onion, garlic, cabbage, and pepper) grown in the Dangishta watershed. We found that the annual groundwater recharge varied from 320 to 358 mm during the study period, which was about 17% to 22% of the annual rainfall. The annual surface runoff depth ranged from 192 to 268 mm from 2015 to 2017. The results reveal that the maximum seasonal irrigable land from groundwater recharge was observed under CA with drip irrigation (i.e., 2251 and 2992 ha from groundwater recharge and surface runoff, respectively). By comparison, in the CT practice with overhead irrigation, the lowest seasonal irrigable land was observed (i.e., 1746 and 2121 ha from groundwater and surface runoff, respectively). From the low flow analysis, about 199 and 173 ha of one season’s irrigable land could be irrigated using the CA and CT systems, respectively, both with drip irrigation. Similarly, two-season overhead irrigation potential from low flow under CA and CT was found to be about 87 and 76 ha, respectively. The dry season irrigable land using low flow could be increased from 9% to 16% using the CA system for the various vegetables, whereas drip irrigation could increase the irrigable land potential by 56% compared to overhead irrigation. The combined use of groundwater recharge and runoff could sustain up to 94% of the dry season low flow irrigation through the combination of the CA system and drip irrigation. Decision makers must consider the introduction of feasible and affordable technologies to make use of groundwater and direct runoff, to maximize the potential of dry season production through efficient and appropriate CA and water management practices.

Syringe Irrigation in Minimally Shaped Root Canals Using 3 Endodontic Needles: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Study

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to compare the irrigant flow in curved root canals prepared to various apical sizes by constant-taper or variable-taper instruments during syringe irrigation with 3 endodontic needles at 2 different flow rates. MethodsTwo matched curved mesial root canals of human mandibular molars were imaged by micro–computed tomographic imaging after preparation to apical size 20, 25, and 30/.06 taper either by constant-taper or variable-taper instruments. A Computational Fluid Dynamics model was used to simulate the irrigant flow in the 2 root canals prepared to each apical size during syringe irrigation with a 30-G open-ended needle and 30-G and 31-G closed-ended needles at 0.05 and 0.15 mL/s. ResultsThe irrigant could not penetrate up to the working length in root canals prepared to apical size 20 or 25/.06 taper. The 30-G open-ended needle combined with the low flow rate allowed the irrigant to reach the working length in size 30/.06 taper root canals while maintaining a relatively low apical pressure, but the wall shear stress was very low. The 31-G closed-ended needle combined with the high flow rate also delivered the irrigant to the working length in size 30 root canals and developed higher wall shear stress, but the apical pressure was also higher. ConclusionsSyringe irrigation using 30-G and 31-G needles was compromised in minimally shaped root canals.

Study on the applicability of four flumes in small rectangular channels

Different experiments and numerical simulation research were carried out in order to explore the hydraulic characteristics and applicability of the cutthroat flume, NACA airfoil-shaped flume, airfoil pillar-shaped flume, and optimized airfoil-shaped flume in rectangular channels. The four flumes with contraction ratios of 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6 in rectangular channels were tested under 144 free-flow conditions. Based on the Fluent software, standard k-ε three-dimensional turbulence model and volume of fluid (VOF) method were utilized for numerical simulation in each working condition. The principle of critical flow was used to analyze the correlation between the discharge, the contraction ratio, and the upstream water depth. This correlation was used to obtain the discharge calculation formulas of the cutthroat flume, NACA airfoil-shaped flume, airfoil pillar-shaped flume, and optimized airfoil-shaped flume in rectangular channels. The Froude number in front of the flume, the backwater height, the critical submergence degree, the velocity distribution, the head loss, the discharge measurement formula, and the accuracy were studied and compared. It can be concluded from the results that the cutthroat flume, NACA airfoil-shaped flume, airfoil pillar-shaped flume, and optimized airfoil-shaped flume all have good applicability in rectangular channels. Moreover, the hydraulic characteristics of all the four flumes meet the water measurement specifications in the irrigation area. The upstream Froude number of the NACA airfoil-shaped flume is the smallest, whereas the backwater height and head loss of the cutthroat flume and optimized airfoil-shaped flume are the smallest. It is also worth noting that the critical submergence degree of the optimized airfoil-shaped flume is the highest, with an average value of 0.85. The discharge measurement formulas of the four flumes have been deduced using the correlation between the discharge, the contraction ratio, and the upstream water depth. It was found that the average errors between the calculated discharge and the measured discharge of the four flumes are 3.17%, 2.17%, 1.53%, and 2.29%, respectively, which are less than 5%, and therefore meet the discharge measurement requirements. In the agricultural irrigation system and flow monitoring system, the hydraulic characteristics of the four flumes can provide a reference and basis for the selection of flumes in the rectangular channel.

Biosense Webster’s Qdot Micro™ Radiofrequency Ablation Catheter

The QDOT Micro™catheter (Biosense Webster, Inc., CA, USA) is a new radiofrequencyablation catheter based on the SmartTouch SF™(Biosense Webster, Inc.). It combines diffuse external irrigation with sixthermocouples located within the outer metal shell and three additional microelectrodes in a 3.5mm-tip contact force radiofrequency catheter. This article focuses on the different characteristics of the catheter, which incorporates the ability of high power delivery, irrigation flow control based on temperature sensing through the six thermocouples and the generation of microelectrograms. An outline of its performance in preclinical and clinical setting is presented, showing promising results, especially concerning procedural efficiency and short-term safety. Additional studies need to confirm long-term effectiveness, and durability studies should evaluate whether superiority on a lesion quality level can be achieved.

Pilot Demonstration of Reclaiming Municipal Wastewater for Irrigation Using Electrodialysis Reversal: Effect of Operational Parameters on Water Quality.

The modification of ion composition is important to meet product water quality requirements, such as adjusting the sodium adsorption ratio of reclaimed water for irrigation. Bench- and pilot-scale experiments were conducted using an electrodialysis reversal (EDR) system with Ionics normal grade ion-exchange membranes (CR67 and AR204) to treat the reclaimed water in the Scottsdale Water Campus, Arizona. The goal is to investigate the impact of operating conditions on improving reclaimed water quality for irrigation and stream flow augmentation. The desalting efficiency, expressed as electrical conductivity (EC) reduction, was highly comparable at the same current density between the bench- and pilot-scale EDR systems, proportional to the ratio of residence time in the electrodialysis stack. The salt flux was primarily affected by the current density independent of flow rate, which is associated with linear velocity, boundary layer condition, and residence time. Monovalent-selectivity in terms of equivalent removal of divalent ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO42−) over monovalent ions (Na+, Cl−) was dominantly affected by both current density and water recovery. The techno-economic modeling indicated that EDR treatment of reclaimed water is more cost-effective than the existing ultrafiltration/reverse osmosis (UF/RO) process in terms of unit operation and maintenance cost and total life cycle cost. The EDR system could achieve 92–93% overall water recovery compared to 88% water recovery of the UF/RO system. In summary, electrodialysis is demonstrated as a technically feasible and cost viable alternative to treat reclaimed water for irrigation and streamflow augmentation.