FluidInsider

 Introduction: As drip irrigation is already introduced in  "introduction to drip irrigation" . This article aims to explain a general design for an efficient drip system. This  will involve some engineering concepts, fundamentals of fluid mechanics and mathematics. Considerations: Following steps are fundamental to design drip irrigation system for a given crop, area and water availability: • Survey of the area Find the total area that needs to be irrigated using the drip system. Then determine the topography and relative position to the highest point from the pumping unit. Determine the type of crop (vegetables and drip system are a perfect match) and find the power source, also, locate where the pumping system is located. Determine where Main lines, submain lines and lateral will be laid out. Refer to the image below.   • Water quality consideration Emitters in a drip system have very small openings and can be easily clogged by dust particles, salts and other soli...

Introduction: Drip Irrigation is the process of slow application (droplets) of available water on or below the soil surface as per the requirement of the crop. The first account of drip irrigation system is recorded in Germany in 1860. The drip irrigation as known today was introduced (or made mainstream) by an Israeli engineer Simcha Blass in 1930's. He noticed a tree near a leaking faucet was growing greener and healthier than the ones surrounding it.                                               Figure 1: A typical Drip Irrigation Field View He then founded a company in called Netafim  which is a giant in the industry of High Efficiency Irrigation Systems. Thus, irrigation and agriculture was never the same and was revolutionized by Drip irrigation technology. Components of A drip Irrigation System: • Head Unit: Head unit consists of prime mover (motor or engine), w...

  In today's water-stressed world, efficient irrigation practices are crucial for sustainable agriculture. Automated irrigation systems offer a significant advancement over traditional methods, enabling precise water delivery and improved crop yields. Benefits of Automated Irrigation Systems: Water Conservation: By delivering water only when necessary, automated systems significantly reduce water waste compared to traditional flood irrigation methods. Improved Efficiency: Automation eliminates the need for manual monitoring and adjustments, saving time and labor costs. Precise Delivery: Targeted watering ensures that each plant receives the optimal amount of water, leading to better growth and higher yields. Reduced Disease Risk: Overwatering can lead to fungal diseases. Automated systems prevent this by delivering the right amount of water. Examples of Automation Technologies: Soil Moisture Sensors: These directly measure the moisture content in the soil, triggering irrigatio...

Manometry is the science of measuring pressure with the help of manometers , instruments that utilize columns of liquid. By analyzing the height of these liquid columns, we can determine the pressure being exerted. How Does it Work? Imagine a U-shaped tube partially filled with a liquid like mercury or water. One end of the tube is connected to the pressure source (the fluid whose pressure we want to measure), while the other end remains open to the atmosphere. Here's the magic: The applied pressure forces the liquid in the connected arm to rise. This movement creates an  imbalance  in the pressure between the two arms. Due to the fundamental principle that pressure equals the product of density, gravity, and height (P = ρgh), the height difference between the liquid columns signifies the pressure difference being measured. The simple formula to find pressure of fluid using a manometer is to draw a straight line across the U shape at same elevation as shown by the dotted line ...

Imagine water taking a well-deserved nap, completely still. That's what hydrostatics studies: the chill side of water, not the crazy rapids or splashing waves. Here's where it gets interesting: Civil engineers: Figuring out how much  push  water gives when it's all piled up in giant tanks or dams. This helps them build strong enough walls to keep the water happy in its home. Submarine builders:  Picture a sub going down, down, down. The water gets squished tighter, making a  super squeeze . Hydrostatics helps design subs that can handle all that pressure without going  pop ! The design of dams and submarines to resist hydrostatic forces in itself is a large topic and needs separate writings (In future hopefully) to grasp fully. However, a general introduction to this branch of fluid mechanics is given here. This science is ancient. A guy named Archimedes figured it all out over 2,000 years ago! He basically cracked the code for understanding how much force sti...

The Story of Archimedes' Principle Thousands of years ago in 250 B.C a man named Archimedes in Greece ran naked into the street shouting at the top his lungs eureka!. Such enthusiasm is justified when you just discovered an experimental method to find the gold content in the crown of king of Syracuse (or else get Zapped!). The story goes such that the king suspected some blacksmith had short changed him by making him a crown of alloyed gold (Blasphemy!). So, he consulted Archimedes a wise and a great scientific mind of that time (remember it is Greece) to check if such is the case. The Approach to the problem Most people would approach this problem by taking into the account the weight of crown and try to compare it to the weight of a crown made by pure gold. But lets say the forger was very clever and made sure that this crown of alloyed gold was to weigh the same in air compared to a crown made with pure gold (say the king already has). This now complicates the problem (for that...