Methodology for designing lateral lines with microtubes operated under variable inlet pressure

ABSTRACT Design of lateral lines consisting of microtubes enables to optimize water distribution uniformity. In addition, there must exist a range of pressures at the lateral line inlet in which the water distribution uniformity remains acceptable. Thus, such emitters are interesting for use in micro-irrigation systems supplied by alternative power sources, in which temporal variability in the electrical power supplied to the pumping systems normally occurs. This study presents a methodology for designing lateral lines with microtubes operated under varying pressure, using the step-by-step method in order to establish the recommended range of lateral line inlet pressures. The proposed methodology was validated over three replicates by testing maximum, minimum and optimum pressures. Deviation between estimated and observed values of flow rate was lower than 6%, indicating a satisfactory accuracy. Distribution uniformity of the system was higher than 95% under all pressures within the estimated range of values. Lateral lines can operate within a wide range of operating pressures and even so satisfactory results of distribution uniformity are obtained.