Development of Flow Meter for Controlling the Irrigation System

Abstract

Hydraulic design method of curved pipe bend flow meter with bypass was shown in previous paper (Yuan, B. 1 et al., 2003).
In this paper, the development of curved pipe bend flow meter using a float meter in bypass route was shown. Recently, the mulch is introduced to prevent the infiltration of rainfall in order to control the soil moisture in the orange orchard.
Under the mulch, drip irrigation systems were carried out in orange orchard. By the introducing the flow meter, control of the irrigation system is easy. Especially if the float meter is installed at the beginning of drip irrigation system, controlling of the irrigation system is very easy.
The result is as follows.
1) The flow meter with float in bypass route is recommended to control the irrigation system and is low cost system.
2) The hydraulic design method of flow meter with bypass is proposed.
3) As curved pipe bend with bypass is used, the cost of flow meter is low and easy to set up in irrigation system.
Although main flow direction is horizontal, using the bypass flow system, float meter is easy introduced.