Title of article :
Methodology to Evaluate Dripper Sensitivity to Clogging due to Solid Particles: An Assessment
Author/Authors :
Lavanholi, Rogério Biosystems Engineering Department - College of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz” (ESALQ) - University of Sao Paulo (USP) - ˜ Piracicaba - SP - Brazil , Oliveira, Fabricio C Faculty of Agrarian Science (FCA) - Federal University of Great Dourados (UFGD) - Dourados - MS - Brazil , de Camargo, Antonio P College of Agricultural Engineering (FEAGRI) - State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) - Campinas - SP - Brazil , Frizzone, José A Biosystems Engineering Department - College of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz” (ESALQ) - University of Sao Paulo (USP) - ˜ Piracicaba - SP - Brazil , Molle, Bruno National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture (IRSTEA) - Montpellier - France , Ait-Mouheb, Nassim National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture (IRSTEA) - Montpellier - France , Tomas, Séverine National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture (IRSTEA) - Montpellier - France
Abstract :
Emitter clogging is a major problem in microirrigation systems, which may result from the isolated or combined effects of physical, chemical, and biological agents. Clogging caused by suspended solid particles is the most common plugging form of emitters.Water quality and emitter geometry are key aspects in clogging processes. Any suitable test procedure to assess the sensitivity of drippers
to clogging should take into account the predominant factors that infuence clogging and must reproduce the feld conditions. Tis
research set out to assess the performance and suitability of a laboratory clogging test procedure in order to validate a methodology
and to provide scientifc results that may support the standardization of a clogging test method. The evaluated methodology has
been used by the IRSTEA laboratory since 1974 (Platform of Research and experiment on Science and Technology for Irrigation
- PReSTI, formerly LERMI) and its contents are currently being discussed by the ISO TC23/SC18 committee. Te aim is to defne
a standardized testing protocol to evaluate the sensitivity of emitters to clogging due to solid particles. Replications analyzing the
clogging resistance of four models of emitting pipes were carried out in a laboratory.The clogging test procedure enabled an accurate
assessment of the combinations of concentration and size of particles that caused clogging in each model of dripper. However, a
signifcant variability in degree of clogging was identifed when the results of replications for each model of dripper were compared.
Several requirements, concerns, and improvements related to the clogging test protocol were discussed.
Keywords :
Methodology , Evaluate Dripper Sensitivity , Clogging due , Solid Particles , Assessment
Journal title :
The Scientific World Journal
