Investigation of local pressure losses in reducers for sprinkler irrigation systems: Experimental, analytical and CFD approaches
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2025
Yazarlar: Vedat DEMİR, Hüseyin YÜRDEM
Ege Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, Hakemli Üniversite Dergisi, Uluslararası, Scopus, 2025, cilt 62, ss 435-449
Özet
Objective: This study aims to investigate the local pressure losses for conical reducers used in sprinkler irrigation systems using experimental, analytical, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods. Material and Methods: Eight different reducers with nominal outer diameters of 90-75, 110-90, and 110-75 mm were considered. In the experiments, the pressure losses in the reducers were measured at different water flow rates. The CFD analysis was carried out using the Realizable k-ε, SST k-, and RSM turbulence models. The pressure loss coefficients were determined by measurements, analytically, and CFD analysis and were compared with each other. Results: Taking the experimental data into account, the local loss coefficients for the R19075, R29075, R411090, and R511090, reducers were determined to be values between 0.5 and 1.0. The R611075, and R711075, R811075 reducers local loss coefficients between 0.8 and 1.5 were determined. The local loss coefficients determined using the SST k- turbulence model considered in the CFD analysis were in better agreement with the experimental results. Conclusion: It can be said that the pressure losses in the newly designed reducers could be determined by the CFD analysis at the design stage, and it would be useful to use these values in the system design.