Micro Irrigation Engineering

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Prof. Kamlesh Narayan Tiwari
Agricultural and Food Engineering Department

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Lecture 26
N Hydraulics of Drip Irrigation System Pipes
 Pressure Variation in Pipes

 Head Loss Due to Friction in Pipes

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 Selection of Lateral, Sub-main and Main Pipe

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 Hydraulics of Drip Irrigation System Pipelines
o The pipes of drip irrigation system are made of plastics and comprise of the main line,
sub-mains and laterals.

o Drip irrigation system design must ensure nearly uniform discharge of the drippers in

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each section that is controlled by a valve and irrigated as unit of the system.

o The maximum pressure difference allowable in a system is 20% and the maximum

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difference in pressure between the head end and the tail end of a lateral should not
exceed 10%.

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 Pressure Variation in Irrigation Pipe Line
o Friction loss in pipes and fittings, and differences in elevation cause pressure to vary in a
field.
o Friction loss causes the pressure to decrease in the downstream direction, while changes in
elevation can cause either an increase or decrease in pressure due to pipe running on
uphill or downhill.

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The difference in pressure between locations along pipe line can be estimated as
𝑷𝑷𝒅𝒅 = 𝑷𝑷𝒖𝒖 − 𝟗𝟗. 𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖 𝒉𝒉𝒍𝒍 ± 𝜟𝜟𝜟𝜟

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Where
Pd & Pu= pressure at down and upstream positions, respectively (kPa)

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hl = energy loss in pipe between the up- and downstream positions (m)
ΔZ = elevation difference (m) (+ve for uphill & -ve for downhill)
The energy loss (hl) includes head loss due to friction and minor loss, which can
be estimated as.

𝒉𝒉𝒍𝒍 = 𝑭𝑭𝑯𝑯𝒇𝒇 + 𝑴𝑴𝒍𝒍

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where
F =constant; f (number of outlets and method used to estimate, Hf)
Hf = friction loss in pipe between up and downstream locations (m)

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Ml = minor losses through fittings (m)

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Major and minor losses are two types of losses that occur in pipe flow.
 Major losses
Major losses occur while water flow along straight pipes.

𝑲𝑲 𝒄𝒄 𝑳𝑳 𝑸𝑸𝒎𝒎 (𝑭𝑭)
𝑯𝑯𝒇𝒇 = Equations for c m n
𝑫𝑫𝟐𝟐𝒎𝒎+𝒏𝒏 computing (Hf)

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where Darcy-Weisbach 277778 2.00 1.00
K = friction factor that depends on pipe material Hazen-Williams 591722 1.85 1.17
L = length of pipe (m)

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Scobey 610042 1.90 1.10
Q = flow rate (L min-1)
F = reduction factor
D = diameter of pipe (mm)
c, m, n = constants
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To calculate friction losses of water flow along a pipe by the Hazen-Williams equation is

𝟏𝟏.𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖
𝑸𝑸
𝑯𝑯𝒇𝒇 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏 = 𝑲𝑲 × 𝑫𝑫−𝟒𝟒.𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖 × 𝑭𝑭
𝑪𝑪
where,

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Hf (100)= head loss due to friction per 100 meter of pipe length (m/100m)
K = a constant which is 1.22 × 1012 in metric units

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D = inner pipe diameter (mm)
C = friction coefficient (indicates inner pipe wall smoothness, the higher the C coefficient, the
lower the head loss)
Q = flow rate (L s-1)
F = reduction factor N
 Reduction Factor

1. When the distance from the pipe line to 2. When the distance to first outlet is half of the outlet
the first outlet is equal to the outlet spacing spacing
𝑵𝑵−𝟏𝟏
𝟏𝟏 𝟏𝟏 𝒎𝒎 − 𝟏𝟏 𝟏𝟏 𝟐𝟐 𝒎𝒎
𝑭𝑭 = + + 𝑭𝑭 = + � 𝑵𝑵 − 𝟏𝟏

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𝒎𝒎 + 𝟏𝟏 𝟐𝟐𝑵𝑵 𝟔𝟔𝑵𝑵𝟐𝟐 𝟐𝟐𝑵𝑵 − 𝟏𝟏 𝟐𝟐𝑵𝑵 − 𝟏𝟏 𝑵𝑵𝒎𝒎
𝒊𝒊=𝟏𝟏

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Where
m = Exponent, m depending on type of equation involved in estimating Hf.
N = Number of emitters
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o The Hazen-Williams equation is valid in a limited range of temperature and flow
pattern.
o The Darcy-Weisbach equation gives better results in calculating head loss due to
friction in small diameter lateral pipes. It is given by
𝑳𝑳𝑽𝑽𝟐𝟐
𝑯𝑯𝒇𝒇 = 𝒇𝒇
𝟐𝟐𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫

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where
Hf = head loss (m) L = pipe length (m)

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f = Darcy-Weisbach friction factor
obtained from the Moody diagram V = Flow velocity (m s-1)
g = gravitation acceleration (9.81, m s-2) D = inner pipe diameter (m)

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o In the Darcy-Weisbach equation, higher values of friction factor indicate higher
head losses.
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Minor losses

o The minor losses through fittings can be estimated or obtained from standard tables.
o Minor losses are created by the flow at bends and transitions.

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o If the flow velocities are high through many bends and transitions in the system, minor
losses can build up and become substantial losses.

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o Minor head losses are expressed as an equivalent length factor that adds a virtual length
of straight pipe of the accessory diameter to the length of the pipe under calculation.

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Minor Loss Table

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Design of Lateral Pipe
o Lateral lines are the hydraulic link between the main or sub-main lines and the emitters.
o The emission devices can be connected directly to the lateral line.
o The lateral will have hydraulic fittings (tees, unions, etc.,) to connect to the sub-main or main line.
The Darcy-Weisbach equation should be used to compute head loss due to pipe friction.

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The Darcy-Weisbach friction factor, f, for small-diameter drip tubing is related to the Reynolds
number, Re
𝛒𝛒 𝐃𝐃 𝐕𝐕
𝑹𝑹𝒆𝒆 =

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𝐊𝐊 𝛍𝛍
Where,
Re= Reynolds number (dimensionless); D = diameter of pipe (cm);
ρ = density of water (g cm-3);
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μ = viscosity of the fluid (N s m-2);
V = average velocity (cm s-1);
K = unit constant, 10 with these unit
For Re less than 2000 (laminar flow), the friction factor
𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔
𝒇𝒇 =
𝑹𝑹𝒆𝒆

For Re between 2000 and 10,0000 (turbulent flow)

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𝒇𝒇 = 𝟎𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝑹𝑹𝒆𝒆 −𝟎𝟎.𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐

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For Re greater than 10,0000 (fully turbulent flow)
𝑹𝑹𝒆𝒆
𝒇𝒇 = 𝟎𝟎. 𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖 + 𝟐𝟐. 𝟎𝟎 𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍
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𝒇𝒇
Design of Sub-main
o The sub-main line hydraulics are similar to that of lateral hydraulics.
o The sub-main line is designed to allow approximately the same energy loss as
compared to the lateral line for several laterals and sub-main line.
o Keller and Karmeli (1975) recommended that the lateral energy loss should be 55

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percent and the submain energy loss should be 45 percent of the total allowable energy
loss.

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o The sub-main design depends on the location of flow or pressure regulation.
o Energy loss in the sub-main is directly related to the length of the sub-main line.
o The energy loss cannot exceed the allowable limits without lowering uniformity.
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o The sub-main hydraulics characteristics can be computed by assuming the laterals are
analogous to emitters on lateral lines. The hydraulic characteristics of sub-main and
main line pipe are usually taken as hydraulically smooth since PVC pipe are normally
used.

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o The energy loss in the sub-main can be computed with methods similar to those used
for the lateral computations.

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Main Design
o Normally flow or pressure control or adjustment values are provided at the sub-main
inlet. Therefore, energy losses in the mainline should not affect system uniformity.
o The mainline pipe size is based on economic comparisons of power costs and pipe
costs.

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o The mainline pipe size should be selected to minimize the sum of power costs and
capital costs over the life time of the pipeline.

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In case of lateral, sub-main and main pipe , it is standard practice to start
design by considering minimum available pipe diameter till it satisfy the
allowable head loss condition.
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 Water Supply Manifold
o The water supply manifold consist of pump, valves, chemical injectors, pressure regulators,
filters, water meters, vacuum breakers, automatic controllers etc.
o The pump operating range is selected based on the number of operating sub units and their
flow rate and the total system head.
o The system flow rate is the sum of the flow rates to each concurrently operating subunit.

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o The system head is the sum of lateral inlet pressure head, elevation difference from the
pump to the highest lateral inlet, and the energy losses between the pump and lateral to
include sub-main friction loss, valve loss, and mainline loss.

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o The filter loss will represent energy losses resulting from partially clogged filters and screens.
o Usually these energy loss will have a fixed range between 30 to 100 kPa depending on the
type of filter.
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Pump horse power requirement

H × Qm
75 ×η p × η m

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H = Total pumping head (Hf + He + HS) (m)
HS = Total static head (m)
Hf = Total head loss due to friction (Friction
head loss in mains + Friction head loss in Qm = Discharge of main (Ls-1)

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sub mains + Friction loss in laterals + ηp = Efficiency of pump (fraction)
Head loss in accessories) (m)
ηm = Efficiency of motor (fraction)
He
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= Operating pressure head required at the
dripper (m)
References

1. Lamm, F. R., Ayars, J. E., & Nakayama, F. S. (2006). Microirrigation for crop
production: design, operation, and management. Elsevier.
2. James L.G. (1988). Principle of Farm Irrigation System design. Jhon Wiley & Sons,

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New York
3. Michael, A.M. (2008). Irrigation Theory and Practice. Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd.

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New Delhi.

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 Lecture Summary
 Major and Minor head losses in pipelines
 Design of Lateral, Sub-main and Main Pipe

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Forth Coming Lecture
 Tutorial 5 - Drip irrigation System Design

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