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02 Valve Friction Loss - pnw290
02 Valve Friction Loss - pnw290
Sizing Irrigation
Mainlines and Fittings
W. Trimmer and H. Hansen
When designing or retrofitting an irrigation the money to purchase the pipe or fittings is
system, one of the key decisions is picking the borrowed, the annual cost will be the loan repay-
proper size pipes and fittings for the system. The ment.
best pipe size or fitting is not always the one with The second cost category is the operating or
the lowest initial cost. The important consideration variable cost. These costs depend on the number
is the lowest cost of ownership. The objective is to of hours the irrigation system is operated and the
minimize the sum of capital, pumping, mainte- expected friction loss in the pipeline and fittings.
nance, and energy costs during the life of the Smaller pipelines and fittings will have a greater
system. friction loss and, hence, a higher operating cost
than larger-diameter pipes and fittings. The total
Cost categories operating cost will depend on the number of hours
In general, costs can be classified under two the system is operated, the total friction loss, and
categories. The first is capital or fixed cost of the the present and future cost per unit (kWh) of
pipe and fittings. This cost is determined by the electrical energy. The friction loss depends on
initial installed purchase price of the pipe or fitting pipe size, pipe material, pipe length, and flow rate
and the number of years of service that it is pro- in gallons per minute.
jected to last (usually 20 years). The annual cost of An economic analysis of a typical system is
different-sized pipe or fittings is found by amortiz- illustrated in Figure 1. This example assumes the
ing the purchase price, using the interest rate and following conditions:
service life. This amortization is similar to the Flow rate (in gallons per minute) = 600
repayments that are made on a loan. In fact, if all Operating hours per year = 2,500
Pumping plant wire-to-water efficiency = 60%
12,000 Cost per kWh for electricity = 4¢a
ANNUAL COST, $/yr
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