Comparison of droplet distributions from fluidic and impact sprinklers

Abstract

To adapt to the trend toward low-energy precision irrigation, the droplet distributions for two new prototype sprinklers, outside signal sprinkler (OS) and fluidic sprinkler (FS), were compared with impact sprinkler (IS). A laser precipitation monitor was used to measure the droplet distributions. Droplet size and velocity distributions were tested under four operating pressures for nozzles 1.5 m above the ground. For the operating pressures tested, the mean OS, FS and IS droplet diameters ranged from 0 to 3.4, 0 to 3.5, 0 to 4.0 mm, respectively. The mean OS and FS droplet velocities ranged from 0 to 6.3 m·s-1, whereas IS ranged from 0 to 6.3 m·s-1. Being gas-liquid fluidic sprinklers, droplet distributions of the OS and FS were similar, although not identical. IS mostly produced a 0.5 mm larger droplet diameter and a 0.5m·s-1 greater velocity than OS and FS. A new empirical equation is proposed for determination of droplet size for OS and FS, which is sufficiently accurate and simple to use. Basic statistics for droplet size and velocity were performed on data obtained by the photographic methods. The mean droplet diameter (arithmetic, volumetric and median) decreased and the mean velocity increased in operating pressure for the three types of sprinkler.