Irrigation Professionals with questions about ... - Hunter Industries

Basic HydraulicsIntroductionHydraulics is defined as a branch of science that deals with the effects ofwater or other liquids in motion. In this section we will studycharacteristics of water – both in motion and at rest. The emphasis will beon the relationships between flow, velocity, and pressure. With thisknowledge we will be able to determine pressure losses in pipe andfittings, and pressures at various points in an irrigation system.A knowledge of the basic principles of irrigation hydraulics is essential todesigning and maintaining an economical and efficient irrigation system.Understanding the principles outlined in this section will lead to irrigationsystems that have a more uniform distribution of water and cost less toinstall and maintain.How Does Hydraulics Affect an Irrigation System?Water pressure in an irrigation system will affect the performance of thesprinklers. If the system is designed correctly, there will be enoughpressure throughout the system for all sprinklers to operate properly.Maintaining this pressure in the system will help to ensure the mostuniform coverage possible. While a consistent pressure is the primarygoal, it is important to achieve this at the lowest cost. With a knowledge ofhydraulics, it is possible to design a system using the smallest andtherefore least expensive components while conserving sufficient pressurefor optimum system performance.