New Method of Hydraulic Performance Evaluation on Emitters with Labyrinth Channels

Hydraulic performance of the emitter is crucial in drip-irrigation systems. Considering the limitations of evaluating an emitter's hydraulic performance, a new method was proposed by using a pressure loss coefficient (PLC) as the evaluation index, which was derived from frictional and local losses of the fluid in labyrinth channels. The value of PLC can be obtained through numerical calculations of flow rates and pressure heads of the emitter by a Reynolds stress model (RSM). In addition, experiments were also carried out to measure the emitter's PLC, and the results are found to be consistent with those obtained through numerical analysis. The new evaluation method can be used to predict and compare the hydraulic performance of this specific type of labyrinth channel with a range of dimensions.