Theory and Precise Sprinkling Irrigation for the Complete

Fluidic Sprinkler (English Description)

Crises resulting from water shortages will be increasingly aggravated as the 21st century
progresses. Water-saving irrigation is the national basic policy. To develop water-saving
agriculture, the key equipments are necessarily needed as a guarantee. Sprinkler irrigation has
been used as an important method of water conservation. The sprinkler is an important device
used in irrigation systems and directly affects their hydraulic performances. As a domestic
original production, the complete fluidic sprinkler has attracted much attention. It may
become a substitute for the impact sprinkler in the near future. However, its application may
be restricted due to its disadvantages, such as complex jet flow and unstable rotary driving
force. Seen from the development of sprinkler irrigation at home and abroad, the trend of
sprinkler head is multifunctional, energy-saving and low operating pressure. Researches on
such new products have not gone deep enough so far. To overcome the key technical issues,
systematic research for the complete fluidic sprinkler has high academic value and practical
significance.
This dissertation deals with the needs of new water-saving equipment development. This
project was supported by the National High-tech Research and Development Program (Grant
No. 2006AA100211) Light-duty Irrigation System for Variable Sprinkling. With a series
of complete fluidic sprinkler as an example, the working principle and characteristics were
introduced firstly, the works involved design method, development of new fluidic sprinkler,
dynamical analysis, inner flow dynamic model, variable rate irrigation, combined irrigation
and experimental study. Combined with theoretical analyses, experimental tests and numerical
simulation, the theory of the complete fluidic sprinkler and the technology of the precise
sprinkling irrigation were systematically investigated. Fig.1 shows the whole assembly of
complete fluidic sprinkler.

1. Connection parts 2. Rotary seal body 3. Limit ring 4. Hollow shaft 5. Reversing mechanism 6. Spraying body
7. Reverse plastic pipe 8. Spraying nozzle 9. Fluidic element 10. Water flowing
Fig.1 The whole assembly of complete fluidic sprinkler
 The driving moment of the complete fluidic sprinkler was achieved by the flow reaction,
and the fluidic direction was changed. Because of the whole jet characteristics, we named
them Complete Fluidic Sprinkler. The process of sprinkler operation contained stationary,
rotated step-by-step, and reversal rotation. Firstly, the main flow jet is straight because the
pressures are equal on both sides, and thus, the sprinkler remains stationary. In the meantime,
the signal flow makes the right side a low-pressure eddy. The main flow jet is bent toward the
boundary and is eventually attached to it. Then, the sprinkler achieves a stepwise rotation in
sequence by self-control. The reversing blowdown nozzle is filled when the sprinkler step is
confined. The main flow jet is reattached to the left plane, and the sprinkler rotates to the
opposite direction. When the sprinkler rotates to the other side, the reverse blowdown nozzle
opens, and air comes into the left side to equalize the pressure again. The complete fluidic
sprinkler achieves its stepwise rotation in sequence and reversal by self-control. The sprinkler
has several advantages, such as easy-constructing, low loss of energy, low price and so on.
The main contents in this dissertation were as follows:
(1) The important geometrical parameters of complete fluidic sprinkler were summarized.
It contains inner contraction angle, diameter of basic nozzle, air input hole, water input hole,
water fetching angle, offset length and working area. An orthogonal array with four factors
and three levels was selected to carry out the experiments. After fifty-four tests, design
method of the complete fluidic sprinkler was put forward firstly. The relationships between
the main sprinkler geometrical parameters were obtained: the influencing factors in
decreasing order of importance for stepped frequency are inner contraction angle, water
fetching angle, offset length and working area; the influencing factors for stepped angle are
offset length, inner contraction angle, water fetching angle and working area in decreasing
order of importance. The important geometrical parameters were confirmed as follows: the
size of base circle is determined by the type of the sprinkler. Design method for water inlet
and air inlet were the same. 14 and 30 degrees were defined for inner contraction angle and
water fetching angle respectively. The equation of offset length and base circle relationship as
well as the equation of working area and base circle were established using the method of
quadratic regression analysis.
(2) Some kinds of new type of fluidic sprinklers were developed, including the
continuous operated fluidic sprinkler, the outside signal fluidic sprinkler, the three section
fluidic sprinkler and the twice wall-attachment fluidic sprinkler. Their structure and working
principle were described respectively. An orthogonal array with five factors and four levels
was selected to carry out the experiments for the continuously operated fluidic sprinkler. The
graduations of geometrical parameters which affected working conditions were achieved after
the orthogonal experiments. They were diameter of cover plate for outlet, length of beeline
sect, length of lead-flow, offset length, length of working area, pipe length in sequence. The
best geographical parameters of the continuously operated fluidic sprinkler typed 10 was
summarized. The diameter of cover plate for outlet is 6.2 mm, the length of beeline sect is 6
mm, the length of lead-flow is 31 mm, the offset length is 2.6 mm, the length of working area
is 22 mm, the pipe length is 20 mm. The minimum diameter of cover plate for outlet was 5.2
mm with the maximum diameter 7.2 mm. An orthogonal array with four factors and there
levels was selected to carry out the experiments for the outside signal fluidic sprinkler. The
factors influencing the coefficient of uniformity (CU) and range, in decreasing order of
importance, were working area length (A), offset length (B), lead-flow length (C), and plate
cover diameter (D) and DCAB, respectively. The best geographical parameters of the outside
signal fluidic sprinkler typed 10 was summarized. The offset length is 2.6 mm, the working
area length is 20 mm, the plate cover diameter is 6.4 mm, the lead-flow length is 31 mm. As
the optimal values were confirmed, the national original irrigation equipments were added.
(3) The formula for calculating the mechanics characteristics of the complete fluidic
sprinkler was sumed up. The performance parameters for the complete fluidic sprinkler and
impact sprinkler were contrasted by experiments. The results demonstrated that the adjustable
range of stepping angle and frequency for the complete fluidic sprinkler was much bigger
than that of the impact sprinkler. To overcome the problem of unstable rotary driving force
and enlarge the scope of working pressure for the complete fluidic sprinkler, the turning angle
was added in the effuser. It can increase the intrinsic driving moment for the sprinkler. The
important geometrical parameters for the turning angle effuser included the angle and arm of
force. Experiments were carried out based on seven effusers of different turning angles or
arms of force. It can be seen from the results that the testing value agreed well with the
theoretical analysis. Turning angle positively influenced the stepping angle and uniformity
coefficient, while negatively influenced the stepping frequency. Turning arm of force
positively influenced the stepping angle, and negatively influenced the wetted radius. For the
30PXH complete fluidic sprinkler, it arrived at critical condition whether moved when the
angle was 7 degrees and the arm of force was 0.2 m.
(4) Mathematical model for the inner flow of the complete fluidic sprinkler was
established using computational fluid dynamics. The finite volume method was used to
numerically simulate the inner flow of the sprinkler. When turning angle was 2 or 5 degree
for the effuser, the relationships between driving force, transfer driving force and flux were
calculated by numerical simulation. The average deviation of the results between theoretical
analysis and numerical simulation was less than 5 percent. Numerical simulations and
experimental studies were performed to gain insight into the convective flow characteristics
of the sprinkler. A detailed study of the relationship between the flow rate and the pressure in
the eddy section, as well as the position of the reattachment region, in this sprinkler is
presented. The simulated results agreed well with the experimental results. The numerical
simulation results obtained in this study do reflect the inner flow of a complete fluidic
sprinkler.
(5) The theoretical study of variable irrigation for the complete fluidic sprinkler was carried
out. The boundary equations of rectangular irrigated area were developed. The relationships
between wetted radius, working pressure and operated time were simulated using the MATLAB
program. The activity pieces to achieve rectangular irrigation for the complete fluidic sprinkler
were designed. The irrigated water distribution was measured and the three-dimensional water
distribution picture was drawn. It has the advantages of simple design, operable characteristics
and easy to promote. The frequency control technology was brought into the sprinkler irrigation
system. Energy consumption analysis was carried out for the variable-rate irrigated system. The
data was tested and collected using the virtual instrument technology. It has the advantages of
energy saving, universal characteristics and reliable work. The results demonstrated that
rectangular irrigation can be achieved both by mechanical activity pieces designing and frequency
control technology. It supplied theoretical foundation for future variable rate irrigated sprinkler .
(6) The complete fluidic sprinklers contain 10PXH, 15PXH, 20PXH, 30PXH, 40PXH and
50PXH. Under the rated operating pressure, the wetted radius is 19.8, 22.6, 29.4, 35.2 and 39.5 m,
respectively. Combination irrigation for the complete fluidic sprinkler was studied firstly. The
MATLAB was used to analyze the data of water distribution. The data can be made visible in
multidimensional orientation as a result. It was proved to change the radial data into net data
conveniently and reliably. And three-dimensional water distribution pictures for sprinkler and
combined sprinklers were drawn. Fig.2 shows three-dimensional water distribution of sprinkler
type 10PXH in rectangular combined irrigation. According to the tested data, the total water depth
of net point was calculated using superposition method. Then the combined uniformity coefficient
of the complete fluidic sprinkler was simulated in different combined spacing. After the
simulation, combined spacing coefficient was chosen by 1.2 in the rectangular combination, and
1.5 in the triangular combination. The average uniformity coefficient can be 82.4% and 85.7%
respectively. A case study shows that the MATLAB is reliable for simulating water distribution in
sprinkler irrigation.

Fig.2 Three-dimensional water distribution of sprinkler type 10PXH in rectangular combined irrigation

(7) Series of PXH sprinklers were manufactured into plastic sprinklers, but there are still
some problems. Fig.3 shows the photos of them. After field experiments, six respects were put
forward to improve the working conditions. There are two important respects that must be
improved. First, the match of hollow shaft and connected case must be revised. Second, the two
fluorine circle should be movably fitted. After the resolved schemes, the reliability of field
operation was increased and the PXH complete fluidic sprinklers could be put into mass
production.

Fig.3 a series of plastic complete fluidic sprinkler

Key words: complete fluidic sprinkler; precise sprinkling; variable spraying; unit sprinkling;
numerical simulation; orthogonal experiment

The main innovative contributions in this dissertation were as follows:

(1) Four kinds of new fluidic sprinkler were developed for the first time. The effects on
water characteristics based on some important geometrical parameters were sumed up. It
supplied theoretical foundation for design of the fluidic sprinkler.
(2) To enlarge the scope of working pressure for the complete fluidic sprinkler, the
turning angle was added in the effuser for the first time. Relationships between the turning
angle and the rotated or hydraulic characteristics were carried out by experimental study. It
supplied important foundation to solve inadequate intrinsic driving moment for the complete
fluidic sprinkler.
(3) The frequency control technology was brought into the sprinkler irrigation system.
The rectangular spraying form was achieved, and the energy consumption was decreased. In
the meantime, the versatility and reliability of system operation was improved.
Based on the above innovations, 3 Chinese patents were authorized, 1 PCT international
patent and 5 Chinese patents were accepted, 21 academic papers were published, of which 12
papers were EI indexed and 3 papers were ISTP indexed. One paper presented in Hongkong
2009ICEC international conference. (Zhu XY, Yuan SQ, Liu JP, et al. Strategy of
energy-saving for variable-rate irrigation sprinkler. International Conference on Engineering
Computation (ICEC 2009). Hongkong, China. IEEE CS. May 2-3, 2009: 2932). It has
caught the attention and favorable comments of the peers both domestic and abroad. On the
basis of the contents of this dissertation, the author got the first prize of Chinese eleventh
"Challenge Cup Contest" in 2009. On the basis of the extended research of the contents of this
dissertation, as the first applicant, the author has obtained the conference review of experts
group from National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2010. In 2010, this dissertation
got the award of Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of Jiangsu Province.