ABSTRACT Electromagnetic and ultrasonic flowmeters are high precision devices that can measure the water flow in pressurized irrigation networks. In these networks, the inadequate installation distance of flow control valves generates upstream disturbances which will increase measurement errors and reduce the accuracy of the equipment. Therefore, estimating these errors is important to establishing the correct installation distance of the hydraulic accessories and to ensuring the metrological reliability of the flowmeters. This work proposes a numerical study using Computational Fluid Dynamics to evaluate water flow behavior in pipes and estimate measurement errors caused by gate and butterfly valves in installation configurations found at pressurized irrigation networks. The numerical simulations were made for gate (15, 50 and 75 % closed) and butterfly (open and 30º closed) valves installed three and six diameters (3D and 6D) from the flowmeters. The numerical study with three-dimensional simulation allows for evaluating the flow behavior and estimating measurement errors correctly. According to the study, the installation configurations of the gate and butterfly valves change the flow velocity profile at different positions in the pipe, generating both positive and negative measurement errors at both flowmeters. Among the tested configurations, only the butterfly valve installed 3D and 6D from the electromagnetic flowmeter ensured the measurement accuracy required by ISO 4064.

ABSTRACT: DIMSUB is a computer program to complement a decision support tool (DST) to effectively study different hydraulic design alternatives in microirrigation systems. We developed environments in Visual Basic for applications for Microsoft Excel® that allow specific step-by-step functions to be created for the design of irrigation subunits. Different alternatives can be considered, such as types of emitter, lateral and submain pipe sizes, different feeding points, irregular subunit shapes and topography slopes. Furthermore, specific uniformity criteria need to be considered to achieve efficient water applications and proper design systems. Lengths of run lateral and submain pipes, position of the hydrant connection, pressure head and head loss in pipes or pressure-compensating emitters can be assigned to evaluate the results and choose the best design alternative. This user-friendly tool to study hydraulic variables is expected to be a valuable aid for the decision-making process in designing irrigation systems. Some examples of practical cases under specific crop conditions to design drip irrigation subunits are given using DIMSUB.

ABSTRACT Venturi-type chemigation injectors are widely used due to their advantages: they do not require electric power and are cheap to operate. However, they also generate considerable energy losses which affect the pressure in the system. The correct characterization of these systems requires pressures to be correctly set at the inlet, injector and outlet points in relation to main and injected solution flows. These analytical relationships, as described in the International Organization for Standardization’s standard ISO 15873:2002, can be obtained theoretically, although it is recommended that the manufacturer should determine the real behavior of the injector by operational tests. These relationships should also be provided graphically in the form of nomograms in order to facilitate the association of the variables involved and the subsequent selection of a specific model or class and type of assembly. In order to make the right choice, it is also necessary to have precise information on the irrigation sub-units that it feeds and the grower’s fertilization program.

RESUMEN El inyector para quimigación tipo Venturi tiene ventajas que hacen que sea un dispositivo bastante utilizado; no requiere energía eléctrica y es económico. Por el contrario, genera pérdidas de energía elevadas, afectando a las presiones en la instalación. Para una correcta caracterización de estos equipos deben relacionarse las presiones en los puntos de entrada, salida e inyección con los caudales principales e inyectados. Estas relaciones analíticas, que las introduce la norma de la Organización Internacional de Normalización (ISO 15873:2002), se pueden obtener de forma teórica; aunque es más recomendable que el fabricante establezca mediante ensayos de funcionamiento, el comportamiento real del inyector. Es oportuno que estas relaciones se proporcionen gráficamente, en la forma de nomogramas, para facilitar la asociación de las variables implicadas y la posterior selección de un modelo o clase concretos bajo una tipología de montaje. Así, para que esta selección sea adecuada es necesario también el conocimiento preciso de las subunidades de riego que alimenta y el programa de fertilización de la explotación.

Resumo Para manter a qualidade de medição do consumo de água, é necessário conhecer a metrologia de hidrômetros unijato ao longo do tempo. Conhecer a metrologia desses instrumentos com o tempo permite estabelecer um período de operação metrológica para diferentes vazões. Isso ajudará as empresas de água a otimizar a gestão e a reduzir as perdas econômicas devido ao consumo do volume de água não contabilizado. Neste estudo, a influência do fator tempo sobre o erro de medição de hidrômetros unijato foi analisada com o objetivo de estimar sua deterioração e, com isso, o período de operação metrológica. Conforme as normas 8316 e 4064 da Organização Internacional de Normalização (ISO), foram avaliados em seis abastecimentos 808 hidrômetros de classe metrológica B, com uma faixa de idade de 3,7 a 16,4 anos de uso. O erro de medição foi calculado pela comparação entre o volume de um depósito calibrado e o volume medido pelos hidrômetros, nas vazões de 30, 120, 750 e 1.500 L h-1. O período de operação metrológica dos medidores foi estimado para cada vazão, por meio da relação entre erro de medição e tempo de uso (regressão linear simples). De acordo com os resultados, a maioria dos hidrômetros apresenta erros crescentes de submedição com o tempo, sendo mais pronunciados nas vazões reduzidas e nas condições de funcionamento menos favoráveis. O período de operação metrológica para as vazões de 30, 120, 750 e 1.500 L h-1 é estimado em aproximadamente 3, 8, 14 y 13 anos. Este período de operação, combinado com os padrões de consumo dos usuários, estabelecerá o melhor momento para substituir os hidrômetros.

Abstract To maintain quality measurement of water consumption, it is necessary to know the metrology of single-jet water meters over time. Knowing the accuracy of these instruments over time allows establishing a metrological operation period for different flow rates. This will aid water companies to optimize management and reduce economic losses due to unaccounted water consumption. This study analyzed the influence of time on the measurement error of single-jet water meters to evaluate the deterioration of the equipment and, with that, launch the metrological operation period. According to standards 8316 and 4064 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 808 meters of metrological Class B were evaluated in six water supplies, with age ranges of 3.7 to 16.4 years of use. The measurement error was estimated by comparing the volume measured in a calibrated tank with the volume registered by the meters at flow rates of 30, 120, 750 and 1,500 L h-1. The metrological operation period of the meters was obtained for each flow rate by the relation between error of measurement and time of use (simple linear regression). According to the results, the majority of the equipment presents increasing under-registration errors over time, more pronounced at low flow rates and with less favorable operating conditions. The metrological operation period for flow rates of 30, 120, 750 and 1,500 L h-1 is estimated at approximately 3, 8, 14 and 13 years. This operation period combined with consumption patterns of users will establish the best time to replace the meters.

The performance and installation alternatives of four Venturi injector prototypes were studied at Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain (39°29' N; 0°23' W; 20 m). This device performance was studied under several parameters such as head loss, relation of flows and injection efficiency. The installation configurations analyzed were: without the injection of nutrients solution and with the injection either having negative or positive pressure at the Venturi throat. The inlet pressures were established between 10 and 40 m.w.c. The experimental data has been processed using multiple stepwise regression techniques and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Moreover, geometry integration versus diameters, flows and pressures is used to obtain some equations for predicting the head loss and injected flow. The results of the present study showed that the relation between flows and injection efficiency were better when the diameter of inlet nutrient line increases and become worse when decreases the diameter of the Venturi throat. Accordingly, these dimensions become very important in the design prototype and installation configuration. Furthermore, after the analysis of laboratory experiments it can be concluded that head losses, at the same injected flow, were lower if the injection was carried out with positive pressures at the throat than in the case of negative pressures. Also in this case, the relationship between flow rates and injection efficiency leaded to a good performance of the proposed installation.

En la UniversitatPolitécnica de València, Valencia, Espana (39°29' N; 0°23' W; 20 m), ha sido estudiado el funcionamiento de cuatro prototipos de inyector Venturi y tres formas de instalación distintas. El funcionamiento se ha analizado bajo diversos parâmetros, como pérdidas de carga, relación de caudales y rendimiento. Las formas de instalación analizadas han sido: sin inyección y con inyección y presiones negativas o positivas en la garganta. Las presiones se establecieron entre 10 y 40 m.c.a. A partir de los datos experimentales han sido procesados utilizando técnicas de regresión múltiple y análisis de la varianza. Con ellas, fue posible, a través de la integración de geometrías en función de los diâmetros, caudales y presiones, obtener expresiones para prever la pérdida de carga o el caudal inyectado. Se pone de manifiesto que la relación de caudales y el rendimiento son mayores cuanto mayor es el diámetro de la aspiración y empeoran al reducirse el diámetro de la garganta, siendo estas las dimensiones que más condicionan la inyección. También, puede afirmarse que la pérdida de carga, para un mismo caudal inyectado, es inferior si la operación se realiza con presiones positivas que con presiones negativas. La relación de caudales o el rendimiento también proporcionan valores más elevados bajo esta forma de instalación propuesta.