A dynamic model for sprinkler irrigation water distribution

Sprinkler irrigation is one of the most popular methods for water saving irrigation. Understanding the irrigation water distribution and its influencing factors is important for improving the sprinkler design and irrigation water use efficiency. The objective of this study was to examine the combined effects of the working pressure, wind, and slope on sprinkler water distribution and to achieve the dynamic simulation of the sprinkler water distribution under complex conditions. Force analysis was first performed on spray droplets in a sloping environment, and a droplet motion equation was then established using Newton's second law. With the assumption that the sprinkler water distribution changes continuously, the continuous interpolation function approximation method was used to establish a pressure-water distribution model. The droplet motion equation was linked with the pressure-water distribution model to implement the dynamic simulation of the sprinkler water distribution under complex conditions. The model was tested with catch-can data measured in a sprinkler spray test under multiple working pressures. The result showed that the model can simulate the three-dimensional dynamic distribution of sprinkler discharge, calculate the combination uniformity and optimize the combination spacing of the sprinklers and pipelines in the sprinkler irrigation system. The model study provides guidance for optimizing the design of sprinkler structures and sprinkler irrigation systems and reduces the workload in the sprinkler hydraulic performance test.