Analysing the effect of speed variation on irrigation efficiency in travelling irrigators

Campbell, Nicholas (2005) Analysing the effect of speed variation on irrigation efficiency in travelling irrigators. [USQ Project]

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Abstract

Tests were carried out to analyse the affects speed variation has on irrigation efficiency in
travelling irrigators. These trials required the data collection of a number of different
parameters, these being longitudinal and lateral depth; applied velocity variation; water
flow and pressure. From these results, distribution uniformity and velocity variations can
be deduced.
It was found that velocity variation reduced distribution uniformity, and the velocity
variation characteristics are dependent on the drive mechanism. The auxiliary engine
offered consistent average velocity with small oscillating velocity values, while the
turbine's velocity tended to vary slightly more across the run. As well, oscillations were
greater, while the piston drive mechanism tended to change rapidly with no particular
trend. It was decided this was due to a characteristic of the drive mechanism itself, as the
test data offered no other reasons for the extreme variations. It was also concluded that
the cable drum radius changes significantly across the run, causing variation in speed
over the whole run as possibly causing oscillations throughout.
It was concluded that irrigation efficiency is influenced by the drive mechanism in use,
and improvements in the performance of these drive mechanisms could be achieved if the
cable could be applied evenly onto the cable drum.


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Item Type: USQ Project
Refereed: No
Item Status: Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited: 11 Oct 2007 00:23
Last Modified: 02 Jul 2013 22:32
Uncontrolled Keywords: irrigation, auxilliary motor, drive systems, travelling irrigators
Fields of Research (2008): 09 Engineering > 0913 Mechanical Engineering > 091399 Mechanical Engineering not elsewhere classified
09 Engineering > 0905 Civil Engineering > 090509 Water Resources Engineering
Fields of Research (2020): 40 ENGINEERING > 4017 Mechanical engineering > 401799 Mechanical engineering not elsewhere classified
40 ENGINEERING > 4005 Civil engineering > 400513 Water resources engineering
URI: https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/513

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