South Dakota State University

Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional

Repository and Information Exchange
Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletins SDSU Agricultural Experiment Station

1980

Center Pivot Irrigation Design

S.T. Chu

Follow this and additional works at: http://openprairie.sdstate.edu/agexperimentsta_tb

Recommended Citation
Chu, S.T., "Center Pivot Irrigation Design" (1980). Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletins. 61.
http://openprairie.sdstate.edu/agexperimentsta_tb/61

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the SDSU Agricultural Experiment Station at Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access
Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletins by an
authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information,
please contact [email protected].
 CONTENTS

l. Introduction ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 3

2. Center Pivot Irrigation System ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4

3. Plant, Soil and Water Relationships •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4

3.1 Plant: 3.1-1 Root Zone Depth••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 7

3 .1-2 Evapotranspiration •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8

3.1-3 Blaney-Criddle formula •••••••••••••••••••••• 8

3.2 Soil: 3.2-1 Available Water Holding Capacity ••••••••••• 11

3.2-2 Infiltration Rate and Surface Pondage •••••• 12

3.2-3 Application Rate and Retention Capacity •••• 13

3.3 Water: 3.3-1 Gross Depth of Application .•••••••••••••••• 14

3.3-2 Irrigation Period •.•••••••••••••••••••••••• 17

3.3-3 Annual Time of Operation ••••••••••••••••••• 17

3.3-4 Time of Application •••••••••••••••••••••••• 20

4. Fluid Mechanics of Center Pivot Irrigation system ••••••••••••• 20

4.1 Discharge ••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 20

4.2 Lift: 4.2-1 Elevation Difference ••••••••••••••••••••••• 22

4.2-2 Pressure Head •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 23

4.2-3 Friction Loss •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 23

4.3 Energy Equation and Total Lift •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 26

4. 4 Pump and Motor • • • . • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 28

4.5 Pressure Distribution in the Lateral •••••••••••••••••••••• 30

5. Center Pivot Irrigation System Design••••••••••••••••••••••••• 34

5.1 Test the Application Rate ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 34

5.2 Select the Supply Line Size .•..••..•.•••.•...•.•.•••.•.•.• 36

5.3 Select the Lateral Size 40

5.4 Select Sprinklers for a Constant Spacing System ••••••••••• 40

5.5 Select Spacings for a Variable Spacing System ••••••••••••• 45

5. 6 Re-nozzling ............................................... 51

Published in accordance with an Act pas ed in 1881 by the 14th Leg1slat1ve A sembly, Dakota Territory, establishing the Dakota Agriculture College and with the Act of re-organization passed
1n 1887 by the 17th Leg1slat1ve Assembly , which tabl1shed the Agricultural Experiment Station at outh Dakota tate Un1vers1ty
FIie: 6.6·1 .4-500 printed at estimated $1 .67 each-1-80Jse-5623A.

2
 Center Pivot Irrigation Design
S . T. Chu , Associate Professor , Agricultural Engineering

1. Introduction

This article de s cribes some technical aspects of irrigation by center pivot

systems . It is developed from the accumulated experience in lecturing several

irrigation courses at the Department of Agricultural Engineering , South Dakota State

University . Tv 10 specific problems are of general interest in the planning and design

of center pivot systems. They are :

1. How to find an acc~ptable application rate of a center pi vot system

for a given soil and ground surface condition .

2. How to select sprinklers on a center pivot system for re-nozzling

of system design .

The solution to these problems is to be presented from an analytical viewpoint .

The content of this article c a n be divided into two parts. The first four

sections provide basic knowledge in center pivot irrigation and the last section

describes the application of the basic knowledge in the system design . Unnecessary

theoretical derivations are neglected and plenty numerical examples are illustrated

to that much practical informa tion can be included .

The material is prepar ed for students , engineers and personnel in extension

or marketing of irrigation equipment . It is the first attempt of the writer to

summarize the techniques in the design of center pivot systems . Crudeness in both

theory and application are unavoidable . It is intended that this article b e served

as a starting point from which improved analysis may be developed in the future.

I am in debt to my colleagues in the Agricultural Engineering Department at

South Dakota State University for their assistances , to Mr . Leroy Cluever for his

valuable suggestions , to Drs . Darrell W. DeBoer and Charles Ullery for their reviews

and comments and to Mrs . Darlene Hofer and Leanne Siebert for typing the manu script .
3
2. Center Pivot Irrigation System

A center pivot system consists of a pipeline with sprinklers. The pipe-

line (lateral) is supported by steel frameworks (towers) spaced along the

lateral. The towers are mounted on wheels, enabling the system to rotate

around a pivot point. Water pumped from the well is delivered to the pivot

and into the lateral through a supply pipeline.

The lateral of a typical center pivot system is about 1,300 feet long,

but varies with the size of the field. An end gun is sometimes found on

the end of the lateral (downstream end). The irrigated area covered by a

typical system is circular in shape and is approximately 130 acres in size.

The water delivered by the system covers only a small part of the entire

irrigated area at any one time. The lateral completes its circular sweep

around the pivot in a period of 3 or 4 days. Various components of a center

pivot system are shown in a schematic diagram (Figure 1).

A center pivot system is one of three types, based upon the arrangement

and size of sprinklers.

The constant spacing system consists of a sequence of small to large

sprinklers spaced equal distances apart. Variable spacing systems include

a collection of medium sized sprinklers arranged at uneven intervals. The

spray mist system is similar to the variable spacing system except spray

nozzles are used instead of sprinklers.

The water coverage of these systems is illustrated schematically in

Figure 2. A comparison of the properties of the three types of systems is

summarized in Table 1.
3. Plant, Water and Soil Relationships

Irrigation is the process of supplying water to the soil. Three basic

elements are involved in the process: plants, soil, and water. A study of

the relationships among these elements provides the principles in irrigation

?lanning.
4
 BOUNDARY OF IRRIGATED AREA

SPRINKLER
\

SUPPLY LINE

LATERAL

PUMP & WELL BOUNDARY OF FARM

FIGURE 1: CONPONENTS OF A CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEM

5
 CONSTANT SPACING SYSTEM

VARIABLE SPACING SYSTEM

SPRAY NOZZLE SYSTEM

FIGURE 2: TIIREE TYPES OF CENTER PIVOT SYSTEMS

6
TABLE 1 PROPERTIES OF THREE TYPES OF CENTER PIVOT SYSTEM.

TYPE CONSTANT VARIABLE SPRAY

SPACING SPACING MIST

Spacing Constant Variable Variable

Sprinkler Large Medium Small

Size

Sprinkler Variable Relatively Relatively

Constant Constant

Sprinkler Wide Medium Narrow

Coverage

Pressure High Medium Low

Cost Relatively Relatively Relatively

High Low Low

Energy High Medium Low

Requirement

3.1 Plant

The plant properties which are most important to irrigation are the

root zone depth and the amount of evapotranspiration during the growing season.

3.1-1 Root zone depth

The root zone depth varies from 1 to 4 feet for different plants. All

the plant's nutrient and water supply come from the feeder roots. It is

unnecessary to irrigate beyond these feeder roots except in the spring or

when irrigation is used to establish a fully moistened soil profile. Average

root zone depth for selected crops are shown in Table 2.

7
 TABLE 2. PLANT ROOT ZONE DEPTHS (Gray, 1957)

ROOT ZONE DEPTH

CROP IN FEET

Alfalfa 3-3.5

Beans 2

Beets 2-3

Corn 2.5

Grain 2-2.5

Potatoes 2

3.1-2 Evapotranspiration

Soil moisture may reach the atmosphere by direct evaporation from the

soil, or by transpiration through the plant. The combined process of these

two mechanisms is referred to as evapotranspiration. In the planning of

irrigation, evapotranspiration is different from water evaporation from

the surface of wet leaves, wet ground and water drops in the air. This

is referred to as evaporation loss.

3.1-3 Blaney-Criddle Formula
The Blaney-Criddle formula (SCS, 1967) is frequently used to estimate

the monthly evapotranspiration that

t • p
- - - - (1)
100

Where ET is the monthly evapotranspiration in inches,

0
tis the monthly mean air temperature in F,

Kt= 0.0173 • t - 0.314, a climatic coefficient associated to the mean

air temperature,

K is a coefficient reflecting the growth stage of crop (values of

c K are obtained from Fig. 3).
C

pis the monthly daylight hours expressed as a percentage of the annual

daylight hours. Values of pare obtained from Table 3.

8
 0
.
0
N
.
0 0
CX)
,_.
0
,_.
N
0
1
, · 1 ·: . ! , : 1 . , i .. . ,
: ~--+:. ·:~T~~ ~-f: 1 · ........ !........ - \.... , :· · 1: .. · ;· · 1' .; . . . . :·-:· I;

.: I .. I :i '." . ! l
.'. s: r-~-.
I.· I ·... . ... : . . l"'
,_.
:m.;· .·. -- .: . ·:.~: ~... I ' .
~i
·.• ,.' . .. ' . ,I: -... '1 . . . . . . . : . -.: ·. - .. . . . . 1· . . . l ,· : J
0
. . ... I . • I . . . : .· 1 · -i - -. :· 1· : i
--:- mh~;t .,,:~ 1- t- '· :.1 ..::.. · ::··· · :·- · · ·--r~:1 :....· ~:1.· ;. --·1
N
0 ·:.· ·L/
::a.
·~ : · .: l-··l -· ~---:
I I ..
<· :··l -·· .: -.. ,. . ~. ~ ---! ...\ 1

I •
:_ .. · · ·: · i
! 'i
I , • : '

·, ~ 1· ~ 1 ·1' I: : ·.· · 1· , ·

:~;--·~:·.--11·:l'(.L :i-'' ···-'· :::L :·:·i

· .:·· H.
~-t--,~......
. · ,.· . · I:- .
---~,~- -·:··· ~,~·-,·" (. . , ···-. ·-·:. "'i"'.
·1·· . . :. · !.
w 1
0
···:-··· --··:····1
:· \i '. ~ ; 1·' i"' . ; .... , · I ' I .. , : I 1 ..

Fr·,.; ... ,: :·.·, ·:··.· :·,,<

.'.. ,-: ~:-~:--··-:!,:~·< :··1-·:··I,
. ·, ! >1· . :· . ,-.··-·1
.. ,··-·1-··-·-·.. .....:
'1 .

!
!
··l . ;·:
.: ... . .T.:l l·i -~~ . . ·.. . ... ..:._j. I ,j

- ~: ~Y-l~o~~n~-SE~~-~I ~rr~~E-
e.L :
;: ;]-+ T
! I '' 1··· ,- . I
I '
V1
0
·,

.·. 'o
·( "!~~I~~ .I ..
~ ·I

~ :...
~

:t:· ;··
:.

~ -:.: ~.F~LL
' .:,.

l - . :·: ··,
I I

.
:

-·1····;·.
. ::- ,\/\ / i f . :'l\~ :'+;
i. ~ ...• , - ·. ~-;· ··· 1 : . . . . ... . . . .

~ ~~ i : .. ··{ .... '. I .L.

'T. ," ·+.. i~ ·.:..~ARI ~AIR~)'- ~;L~ ; ~ +·:
1

°'
0 , .-: .

·: : . · ·:· '"(" ··l' 1· , I 1 I 1 . ;

r:: .. i ~ ;--· ;·:

t ••• LA r·:·'
E M .K . .
~
~-f: ·:' ·1···;..:, .... I..~·>;··:··~::;
••• ..... : '·.·.;·
1, . . . . . . . . I

.i.;_i··-·~·-· :~ , . ::~ -- ,I_ .-T:-! --·· ·,-~t · . : ..!. ... ) _;J7 1·- -m
!·:·· -~ ~.· - --·· ...
·.'
fTI ,.: .. :;;l:: .... ,'. .
I. '" ·. t I I• I•• • • :·.
• •. :·
!· .
• : 1 •• j
. "'.' i;: :: . . ·
I ',
·: ..
i
· ·i:·" .... , ..
1 I ............ : .I

CX)
0

I .. "l "I .. ,·. .. t .. , . . . . . . . 1 · .I.. .. I .. I . .... .. I

1
·_ _~ <_/ · ::i~..:~: / :_~· . !:.:. _, _ ;,_;,'. ._.._:_. ...:.I~1· .. '. .. ,i :........ L~. :_:_L· ,.
1 I · .,·
:: ... : :· · :· !· . .
· +·· . .,.i......··i...'....:.-~~
·:·Y: · ... : ·:: ::·· ~- ·
;
!....
· : :> I
l__ :l · - :: :· ... :·· r

,_.
0
<::'"
_...... :.J..:. ---·· ~:.

. ..
'+:.y: _.J_J::.. k.·!. J._•_.I.. ·1··'. -·
(_ . · - · · · - · -t-
1
..__.:._~_,:

L J ,. - ,.- ... ..
1
f .. .. ; ..

+·i·· ';
L __L:: .. _:: ..

---,--!-· ., . ·- - -~
I

FIGURE 3: CROP GROWTH STAGE COEFFICIENT FOR CORN (GRAIN)

SOURCE: SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE, TECHNICAL RELEASE NO. 21, 1970

9
Example 1: Estimate the monthly evapotranspiration for corn in Brookings,
South Dakota.

Input information:

Latitude at Brookings: 44° 19"

Normal growing season at Brookings: May 15 - September 15.

Calculations:

Month May June July August September

t, from
weather data 56.4 66.0 71. 5 69.6 60.2

Kt=0.0173 t
-C.314 0.66 0.83 0.92 0.89 0.73

P, estimated
from Table 2 10.27 10.41 10.52 9. 72 8.41

Growth 0.0 to 0.13 to 0.37 to 0.63 to 0.88 to

stage* 0.13 0.37 0.63 0.88 1.00

K, estimated 0.48 0.66 1.02 1.03 0.91

C
from Figure 3

monthly
ET**, inches 1. 83 3.76 7.06 6.20 3.36

Average daily
ET, inches*** 0.06 0.13 0.23 o. 20 0.11

* Total growing season from May 15 - September 15 is 123 days.

The growing period in May (May 15 - May 31) is 16 days.
The growth stage at the end of May is thus 16/123 = 0.13.

** By Blaney-Criddle formula, monthly ET in May is 0.66 (.48) 56.4 (10.27)/

100 = 1.83 inches.

*** Number of days in May is 31, so the average daily ET in May is 1.83/31 c

0.06 inches.

10
 Table 3. MONTHLY PERCENTAGE OF DAYLIGHT HOURS OF THE YEAR (SCS, 1967)

Latitude
ON Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

50 5.99 6.32 8.24 9.24 10.68 10.92 10.99 9.99 8.46 7.04 6.08 5.65
48 6.17 6.41 8.26 9.17 10.52 10.72 10.81 9.89 8.45 7.51 6.24 5.85
46 6.33 6.50 8.28 9 .11 10.38 10.53 10.65 9.79 8.43 7.58 6.37 6.05
44 6.48 6.57 8.29 9.05 10.25 10.39 10.49 9.71 8.41 7.64 6.50 6.22
42 6.61 6.65 8.30 8.99 10.13 10.24 10.35 9.62 8.40 7.70 6.62 6.39
40 6.75 6. 72 8.32 8.93 10.01 10.09 10.22 9.55 8.39 7.75 6.73 6.54
38 6.87 6.79 8.33 8.89 9.90 9. 96 10.11 9.47 8.37 7.80 6.83 6.68
36 6.98 6.85 8.35 8.85 9.80 9.82 9.99 9.41 8.36 7.85 6.93 6.81
34 7.10 6.91 8.35 8.80 9.71 9.71 9.88 9.34 8.35 7.90 7.02 6.93
32 7.20 6.97 8.36 8.75 9.62 9.60 9.77 9.28 8.34 7.95 7.11 7.05
30 7.31 7.02 8.37 8.71 9.54 9.49 9.67 9.21 8.33 7.99 7.20 7.16

3.2 Soil

Soil properties which greatly influence irrigation are available water

holding capacity, infiltration rate, and surface retention capacity. The

available water holding capacity of the root zone indicates the amount of

soil moisture which crops can use. The infiltration rate and the surface

retention capacity determine how much water can be applied without causing

runoff.

3.2-1 Available water holding capacity

Moisture holding capacity is the amount of moisture that can be stored

in soil. Heavy textured clays hold more moisture than light sandy soil.

A certain portion of the moisture held by soil is not available for

plant growth. The attraction between moisture and soil is greater than

between moisture and plant roots. This portion unavailable for plant use is

referred to as the amount of moisture held at wilting point. Wilting point

is the soil moisture at which the plant begins to wilt. The rest is available

11
soil moisture. Holding capacity for different types of soils are shown in

Table 4.

TABLE 4: WATER HOLDING CAPACITY FOR VARIOUS SOILS (Gary, 1957)

SOIL WATER HOLDING AMOUNT HELD IN AVAILABLE

TYPE CAPACITY SOIL AT WILTING POINT SOIL MOISTURE
inches /f.oot inches/foot inches/foot

Sandy 1. 25 0.25 1.00

Medium 2.25 0.56 1.69

Heavy 3.67 1.28 2.39

3.2-2 Infiltration rate and surface pondage

Infiltration is water entering the soil. The infiltration rate depends

on soil type and the amount of water already stored in the soil. Infil-

tration rate on sandy soils is usually greater than on heavy soils. The

first inch of water enters into the soil at a faster rate than the following

inches.

The variation of the infiltration rate can be described by the Green

and Ampt equation (Green and Ampt, 1911) that

f =- K (1 + SM/F) - - - - (2)

where f is the infiltration rate in inches per hour,

K is the hydraulic conductivity of the wetted zone in inches per hour,

SM is the soil characteristic associated with moisture content and

soil moisture tension,

Fis the cumulative infiltration.

Kand SM are needed to determine whether the application rate of a

center pivot system is acceptable. The Soil Conservation Service has

classified soils into several soil intake families; soil characteristics

associated with each family, evaluated by Chu (1977), are listed in Table 5.

12
 TABLE 5: SOIL CHARACTERISTICS FOR VARIOUS SOIL INTAKE FAMILIES

SOIL SOIL INTAKE K SM

FAMILY INCHES PER HOUR INCHES

Clay loam 0.3 0.09-0.26 1. 70-2. 40

Silt loam 0.5 0.26-0.55 1. 40-1. 70

Sandy loam 1. 0 0.55-1.05 1. 05-1. 40

Surface pondage results when application rate is greater than the

infiltration rate. Surface pondage depends on the application rate and

pattern and the amount of applied water. Dillon et al. (1972) suggested

that the rate-time relationship of the applied water under a center pivot

system can be represented by an elliptical pattern. Surface pondage under

an elliptical pattern is descriped in Fig . 4

3.2-3 Allowable application rate and surface retention capacity

The Soil Conservation Service (1978) has carried out sprinkler irrigation

tests on various soils to study maximum application rate. These tests were

conducted under a constant application pattern.

TABLE 6: MAXIMUM SPRINKLER APPLICATION RATE (ALLOWABLE RATE), IN/HR, FOR CROPS
WITH COVER (SCS, 1978)

SOIL
INTAKE LAND NET APPLICATION
SOIL FAMILY SLOPE 0.5" 1.0" 1. 5"

Clay 0.3 2% or less 2.00* 0.90-1.50 0.55-1.00

2-5% 1. 60-2. 00 0.65-1.10 0.50-0.85
over 5% 1. 50-1. 80 0.55-0.95 0.40-0.75
Silt loam 0.5 2% or less 2.00 1. 50-2. 00 1. 00-1. 85
2-5% 2.00 1.10-2. 00 0. 85-1. 70
over 5% 1. 80-2. 00 0.95-2.00 o. 75-1.50
Sandy loam 1. 0 2% or less 2.00 2.00 1. 85-2. 00
2-5% 2.00 2.00 1. 70-2 .oo
over 5% 2.00 2.00 1. 50-2. 00

* 2.00 considered as highest practical rate for design or operation of system.

For bare ground or row crops, use 2/3 of the value listed in the table.
13
 There is a maximum amount of water which can be held on the soil surface

without causing runoff. This amount is the surface retention capacity. If

the surface pondage is less than the retention capacity, runoff will not occur.
Surface pondage under allowable application rate equals the retension capacity.

The relationship between the retention capacity and the allowable application

rate is described in figure 5. Figures 4 and 5 are the basic information

needed to determine whether the application rate of a center pivot system is

acceptable.
3.3 Water
3.3-1 Gross depth of application
How much water is to be applied? The amount of water applied per

irrigation is the gross depth of application. Water applied by a sprinkler

system is subjected to evaporation loss from the surface of wet leaves, the

wet ground and water drops traveling through the air. Such loss is estimated

to be one quarter of an inch per irrigation. The gross depth of application

is recommended to be not less than one inch, otherwise a large portion of

the water is lost by evaporation.

Even when the irrigated water reaches the soil profile, it is subjected

to further losses due to deep percolation and uneven distribution.

When the evaporation and deep percolation losses are deducted from

the gross depth of application, the remaining part is called the net depth

of application. The application efficiency is defined as

e a = Dn /DG - - - - (3)

where e is the application efficiency,

a
D is the net depth of application in inches,
n
DG is the gross depth of application in inches.

The net depth of application is usually set to be 1.0 inch for center

pivot irrigation. A larger net depth may cause runoff.

14
1.0 ... . ( - l.
I I
I·

·1 I

0.8 . - .
j
· 1 .. .
l -··· ..
I

I I

·\ i
-· r
I! ·!·
I
0.6

0.4
I

.!
l

0.2 I

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
K/h

FIGURE 4: SURFACE PONDAGE UNDER AN ELLIPTICAL APPLICATION PATTERN

( NUMBERS ON CURVES ARE VALUES OF De/SM)

15
 ..
1.0 I
I

I , I
I ! ! . I
I
I .i:· i i. I i
0.8
: · 1 - 1 .+- 1- - I - r-- 1
i
. ... !
i i :
i II
I
;

!i I . 1'

0.6
"j I

I
I.
I
. II
. 1 . . 1 ·· I
II
. '
..I
0.4 .. 1· T:- --·-' - - : - 1 I

I .. : I: ' I
I __ J_ -r ..
'I ...

· : . J . _ 1 ..

! i . I : .! !
I I
. I
I

0,2 1·.:- ·.

0
0 0. /. 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
K/I
FIGURE 5: DETENTION CAPACITY UNDER A CONSTANT APPLICATION PATTERN

( NUMBERS ON CURVES ARE VALUES OF DG/SM)

16
3.3-2 Irrigation period
How often should the farmer irrigate? The amount of water in the soil

profile is consumed by the plant at a rate equal to the amount of evapotranspi-

ration. The irrigation period or the time period between two consecutive

irrigations is therefore
I = D /ET - - - - (4)
P n

where Ip is the irrigation period in days

ET is the average daily evapotranspiration in inches.

The shortest irrigation period is the critical one. The time per

revolution of the center pivot system should not be longer than the critical

irrigation period to insure that the crops'needs in the critical period are

satisfiea.

Example 2. Determine the critical irrigation period for the growing season
of corn at Brookings, S.D. The net depth of application is 1.0 inch.

Month May June July August September

ET, inches/day 0.06* 0.13 0.23 0.20 0.11

I , days 16 8 4** 5 9
p

* Result from Example 1.

** Critical irrigation period.

3.3-3 Annual time of operation

The annual time of operation is the amount of time when the system delivers

water to the irrigated area. Crops in an irrigated area receive water from

both irrigation and rainfall. The rainfall available for crop use is referred

to as effective rainfall. Factors influencing rainfall effectiveness include

the amount of rainfall, evapotranspiration, and the net depth of application

(SCS, 1967).

17
 Table 7 is prepared for estimating effective rainfall based upon the

result published by Soil Conservation Service (1967).

The amount of evapotranspiration provided by irrigation is the annual

irrigation requirement. The relationship between the annual irrigation

requirement and the annual time of operation is defined as

T = IR (T )/D - - - - (5)
o r n
where T is the annual time of operation in hours,
0

IR is the annual irrigation requirement in inches,

T is the time per revolution of center pivot system in hours,

r
D is the net depth of application in inches.
n
The following example illustrates how to determine annual time of operation.

Example 3: Determine the annual time of operation for irrigating corn at

Brookings, South Dakota.

Input information:

Growing season of corn is May 15 - September 15

Time per revolution is 3 days (72 hours)

Net depth of application is 1.0 inch

Line Month May June July August September

(1) ET, inches 1. 83* 3.76 7.06 6.20 3.36

(2) Rainfall, inches 2.90 4.05 2.58 2. 7.4 2.15

(3) Effective
rainfall inches
(Table 7) 1. 39 2.02 1. 69 1. 66 1.12

(4) (1)-(3) 0.44 1. 73 5.35 4.53 2.24

(5) IR, inches 0.22** 1. 73 5.35 4.53 1. 12**

* Result from Example 1

** Use half the value in (4) to adjust for the growing season
Annual IR= 0.22 + 1.73 + 5.35 + 4.53 + 1.12 = 12.95 inches (Use 13 inches)
T = 13 (72)/1.0 = 936 hours. (Use 900 hours)
0

18
 TABLE 7: AVERAGE MONTHLY EFFECTIVE RAINFALL* AS RELATED TO MEAN MONTHLY RAINFALL
AND AVERAGE MONTHLY EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

MONTHLY AVERAGE MONTHLY EVAPOTRANSPIRATION, inches

MEAN 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0

RAINFALL

inches AVERAGE EFFECTIVE RAINFALL, inches

o.o 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.5 0.22** 0.23 0.25 0.26 0.28 0.29 0.31 0.32 0.35
1. 0 0.45 0.49 0.51 0.54 0.57 0.60 0.64 0.68 o. 72
1. 5 0.67 0.72 0.75 0.79 0.84 0.89 0.94 0.99 1.05
2.0 0.88 0.93 0.98 1.04 1.10 1.16 1. 22 1. 30 1. 37
2.5 1. 13 1. 20 1. 27 1. 34 1. 42 1.50 1.59 1.68
3.0 1. 33 1. 41 1. 49 1. 58 1. 67 1. 76 1.86 1. 97
3.5 1. 52 1. 62 1. 71 1. 81 1. 91 2.02 2.13 2.26
4.0 1. 72 1. 82 1. 92 2.03 2.15 2.27 2.40 2.53
4.5 2.01 2.13 2.25 2.38 2.51 2.66 2.81
5.0 2.20 2.33 2.46 2.60 2.75 2.91 3.08
5.5 2.39 2.53 2.67 2.83 2.99 3.16 3.34
6.0 2.57 2. 72 2.88 3.04 3.22 3.40 3.60
6.5 2.76 2.92 3.08 3.26 3.45 3.64 3.85
7.0 3.10 3.28 3.47 3.67 3.88 4.10
7.5 3.29 3.48 3.68 3.90 4.12 4.35
8.0 3.48 3.68 3.89 4 .11 4.35 4.60

* Based on 1-inch net depth of application

** Values below line exceed monthly evapotranspiration and are to be used for
interpolation only.

19
3.3-4 Time of Application

The last key question is how long should a specific point in the

irrigated area be irrigated? In Figure 6, consider a point B located at

the same distance as a sprinkler. Irrigation at B starts when the sprinkler

is at A and ends when the sprinkler is at C. The arc distance of AC is very

close to the range of coverage (wetted diameter) of the sprinkler. The time

required for the sprinkler to travel from A to C, or the time of application

at B, is approximately

T C s (T )/2~r - - - - (6)
a C r
where T is the time of application in hours,
a
s C is the wetted diameter of the sprinkler in feet,
T is the time per revolution in hours,
r
r is the radial distance of the sprinkler in feet.

Example 4: Determine the time of application for a point 1,285 feet from the

pivot.

The gross depth of application is 1.25 inches and,

the time per revolution is 3 days (72 hours).

A sprinkler is located 1,285 feet from the pivot with a range

of coverage of 90 feet.
T = 90 (72)/2 (3.14) 1285 = 0.80 hours
a

4. Fluid Mechanics of Center Pivot Irrigation System

Transporting irrigation water requires energy for the engine to drive the

pump. The study of the movement of water, the energy, and the rate of supplied

energy is the field of fluid mechanics.

4.1 Discharge

Discharge is the rate at which water is being delivered to the irrigated

area. Water, equivalent to the gross depth of application, is distributed

to the irrigated area during the time per revolution, therefore

- - - - (7)
 I
I
/

FIGURE 6: POSITIONS OF THE LATERAL AT THE START AND AT THE END OF WATER APPLICATION
FOR A POINT NEAR THE BOUNDARY OF IRRIGATED AREA

21
where Q = the discharge in gallons per minute,

A = the acres irrigated,

DG = the gross depth of application in inches,

T = the time per revolution in hours,
r
1 acre inch per hour= 453 gallons per minute.

Example 5: Determine the discharge of a center pivot system which distributes

1.25 inches (the gross depth of application) in 72 hours (the
time per revolution) to an irrigated area circular in shape with
a radius of 1320 feet.
2
A= n (1320) /43,560 = 125.7 acre

where 1 acre= 43,560 square feet.

The discharge is by Equation 7

Q = 453 (125.7) 1.25/72 = 989 gpm

4.2 Lift

The work load involved in irrigation depends on the discharge of the

center pivot system and the height the water has to be lifted. This height

is the lift, and is classified into three types.

4.2-1 Elevation difference

The first type of lift is the elevation difference between the water

source and the end sprinkler. When water is pumped from a well, the ground

water will drop. This is the drawdown.

The amount of drawdown depends on the discharge and the water bearing

formation surrounding the well. The relationship between the discharge and

the drawdown is called the characteristics curve of a well. This should be

determined by the well drilling company during the pumping test. An example

of the characteristic curve is shown as follows:

Example 6: Characteristic curve of a well

Discharge in gpm 100 200 400 600 800 1000

Drawdown in feet 4 8 16 25 35 45

22
4.2-2 Pressure head

The second type of lift is associated with the pressure at the end

sprinkler. Pressure is required to spread water to the surrounding area.

If there is no pressure there is no sprinkler discharge.

Pressure is usually expressed in pounds per square inch. When the

pressure is represented by feet of water, it is referred to as the pressure

head. The pressure head is determined by

y = 2.31 • P - - - - (7)

where y = the pressure head in feet,

P = the pressure in pounds per square inch,

1 pound per square inch= 2.31 feet of water.

Example 7: Determine the pressure head at the end sprinkler. The pressure

at the end sprinkler is 50 pounds per square inch.

y = 2.31 (50) = 115.5

4.2-3 Friction loss

The main part of this energy loss, the third type of lift, is due to

friction losses. Friction loss in a pipe depends on diameter, discharge,

length, and surface roughness. Scobey's formula is used to estimate this

friction loss

h = K • L • Q1 • 9 • D- 4 . 9 (1.45 x 10- 8 ) - - - - (8)

f s
Where hf= the friction loss in a supply line in feet,

Ks = the roughness coefficient of the pipe,

L = the length of pipe in feet,

Q = the discharge of pipe in gallons per minute,

D = the inside diameter of pipe in feet,

(approximately 98% of the outside diameter)

1.45 x 10-8 = the conversion constant of units.

23
 A graphical representation of this equation (Figure 7) shows the friction

loss in practice. The following example illustrates the procedure to determine

friction loss of asupply line.

Example 8: Determine the friction loss in a supply line 1870 feet long,
8 inches in diameter (O.D.) with a discharge of 989 gpm and
with a roughness coefficient of 0.34.

(1) Solution by formula:

1 4
hf= 0.34 (1870) 989 • 9 {(0.98)(8/12)}- • 9 (1.45 X 10-8 )
= 36.4 ft

(2) Solution by Figure 7:

hf/100' = 1.97 feet

hf= 1.97 (1870/100) = 36.8 feet

The discharge in a lateral decreases down the pipe towards the end

sprinkler because part of the discharge goes out through the sprinklers

along the lateral. The friction loss, per unit length of lateral, decreases

because of the decrease in pipe discharge.

The total friction loss in a lateral must be less than the loss in a

corresponding supply line with the same total discharge, diameter, length,

and roughness coefficient. It is possible to represent the friction loss in

a lateral as a fraction of that in the corresponding supply line. This is

referred to as the friction factor and is 0.543 (Chu, 1972). The friction

loss in the lateral of a center pivot system is, therefore

- - - - (9)

where~= the friction loss in the lateral, in feet,

hf= the friction loss in the corresponding supply line, in feet.

Example 9: Determine the friction loss in the lateral of a center pivot

system with a discharge of 989 gpm, a length of 1290 and a
diameter of 6-5/8 inches and a roughness coefficient of 0.34

Solution: The friction loss of the corresponding supply line is from Figure 7.

24
 10,000 ·1 . "j
., : !
8,000 - - - - - -·- - - - -
!

6,000
:H
5,000

4,000
1= -k,~ .- . : l ~ .. i

I .. .1 !
1-
,
I

r
~- • I ••••• : ••

j· t =- :j i

3,000 r• •
I
' ••
I ;
• ·
i :' i I /
' L /" [ ' i /

j
I • •
i " l -i: !'' T '
,
I .. .
1
! .. 1·:
2,000 j
I • • • I .
i ...
I.
1 . 1· . .
i~-:
t:,
H
I · 1·
(/) i.
("")

!;
;;;:, 1,000
N G")
VI trj

H 800
z
G")
t-rj
.I
!.
::s::
600
500

400
_:_l_
300
- - - - - - - -./'- I -~--r--,- 1·
j_ - . - . ; I ... I
200
I
l I I

i
;
, ..... , .. ~
i _ • . __ •
:
'.
:
, • _
- J_:_
. . . . j · --- L.. .. ..
! . ·: :
!
;
.
. I
: - .. . ·.
!---· -- .-I .
I
1
. ~ ' I •• • - .• !,
, ' I
r
~ /' ,
' . ·· '' I
I · ------- 1 -
. - .. - - -- ---
'
J - '
___j: ____
.
I I II
! I !-- I •.
.j
- --- -
· - ·
1-- -- 1-. L
· •· · ·-·
--

. +--. !· .
!
- _,I

· I I t

I .. -1·· I ·· t
: I I !
- ·-
1-
I
:I -
·

I
· I - ·

! · · !' I !·.
100 I I

.02 . 03 : 04 . 05 . 06 . 08 .1 .2 .3 .4 .s .6 •8 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 8.
FRICTION LOSS PER 100 FEET OF PIPE, FEET
 hf/100 ft= 4.9 ft

hf= 4.9 (1290/100) = 63.2 ft

The frictiDn loss of the lateral is by Equation (9)

~ = 0.543 (63.2) = 34.3 ft

4.3 Energy equation and total lift

Energy expressed in feet of water is the lift. The energy equation

can be used to describe the relationship between the lift of two different

points in a center pivot

- - - - (10)

where E , E = the elevation at point 1 and point 2, in feet,

1 2
Y1 , Y = the pressure head at point 1 and point 2, in feet,
2
h ,
1 2
= the energy loss between points 1 and 2, in feet.

Let point 1 be the water source and point 2 be the end gun. The energy

equation becomes

H = (E g - E)
s
+ Yg +hf+ h_
-""L - - - - (11)

where H = the pressure head required at the water source, in feet,

= the elevation at the end gun and at the water source respectively,
in feet,

Yg = the pressure head required at the end gun, in feet,

hf,~= the friction loss in the supply line and in the lateral respectively,
in feet.

The water source pressure head is referred to as the total lift. This

lift has to be provided by the pump.

Example 10: Determine the total lift of a center pivot system

Input information: Elevation at the end gun= 1642 ft.

Elevation at the pump= 1622 ft.
The static water table is 10 ft below the motor.
The discharge of the pump = 989 gpm (from Example 5).
The characteristic curve of the well is represented by
Example 6.
The pressure required at the end gun= 50 psi (from
Example 7).
26
 The friction loss in the supply line is 36.8 ft
(from Example 8) and
the friction loss in the lateral is 34.3 ft
(from Example 9.)

Solution:

(1) From Example 6 the drawdown is interpolated to be 44 ft. So the

water source elevation when the system is under operation is

1622 - 10 - 44 = 1568 ft

(2) The pressure head at the end gun is by Equation (7) or from

Example 7 is 2.31 (50) = 115.5 ft

(3) The total lift is by Equation (11)

H = (1642 - 1568) + 115.5 + 36.8 + 34.3 = 260.6 ft

The energy equation can be used to check pressure at various points

along the pipeline. Let point 1 be a certain point and point 2 the end

sprinkler. The energy equation becomes

y = (Eg - E ) + y + hl - - - - (12)
1 1 g ,g
where yl = the pressure head at the point of interest, in feet,

El = the elevation at the point of interest, in feet,

h = the energy loss between point 1 and the end gun, in feet.
1,g
The following example shows the procedure to check the pressure.

Example 11: Check the pressure at the pivot point.

Input information: Elevation at the pivot point= 1647 ft. All the other
information is the same as that give in Example 10.

Solution: The elevation at the pivot point is higher than that of the end

gun, so the pressure at the pivot point should be checked. From Equation (12)

yl = (1642 - 1647) + 115.5 + 34.3 · = 144.8 ft

The pressure at the pivot point is figured by equation 7

pl C 144.8/2.31 = 62.7 psi

In this case the pressure is considered to be adequate. If the pressure

at any point is considered not acceptable then the total lift should be increased

to fulfill the requirement.

27
4.4 Pump and Motor

The energy loss of the pump and that of the electric motor are not

considered as part of the third type of lift. The pump efficiency and the

motor or engine efficiency take these energy losses into account. The relation-

ship between the lift and the discharge is referred to as the performance curve

of a pump.

An example is shown in figure 8. Proper combination of lift and discharge

results in high pump efficiency. Pump discharge and system discharge must be

matched to insure efficient performance. Frequently, one pump stage is not

enough to produce the total lift required by the irrigation system. A pump

with multiple stages is needed to fulfill the demand.

The power required by the irrigation system is defined as

Ww = Q • H/3960 - - - - (13)

where W = the power required by the system, in horsepower,

w
Q = the discharge, in gpm,
H = the total lift, in feet,

1 horsepower= 3960 gpm - feet.

The power of a pump is determined by

W = W /e - - - - (14)
p w p
where Wp = the power of a pump, in horsepower,

e = the pump efficiency.

p
In a similar manner, the power to a motor is

wm = 0.746 Wp /em - - - - (15)

where w = the power to a motor (or engine) in kilowatts,

m
em = the motor (or engine) efficiency,

1 horsepower = 0.746 kilowatts

Example 12: Select a pump and determine the power of the pump and the
electric motor.

28
 ------ ·----------------- ---- ---- ------. ---·-- ., __
60
i

. i -·
- - - ---- 1760 RP~ --
- ·-

40 ·- - ·1c-·:--c- . -==::..__----------------: .
. _ --~
/ ; __: ----- J
75 80 82
4
-· -··· -·
-- - 82

~
t:rl
-~
0
::_ ~ -
.

• _,1460 RPM
___-_ :
~_ _-:-·r-:-:
-
- -
-
.

- - ./
-_
! /

-
- / --

--· _/_ /__ ___/

. -
: . /

/_ -- - -/
/ _.,,,...
~
: __- ~ /--::/ /
/ /.
- =--_.- ----
~ -- --- ~ -- 70
t'd
t:rl
~ 20 1i60 RPM_::_: ' '
___:/./.. _____/ _.,,,.- _
Cl)
·---- -- >?.· -/'..,~ ---; .,........~ __;:...-----=- -- - - --
t-3
~
t:rl --- ·- --
- --
--------- - -- ---- - - - - - ,·- ·
---- ---
.

H
N
z ----~ ------ ------ ----·- -- · - - -·- - -
. -,

: .-; ----;· --=----~~~---:_-·-==--=:-- -------_- --~--------- ----------_1-

\0 trj
- 15
~
t-3
0
~~- 10
1760 RPM
- I_-- ..- ~ ---- - - - -- -- ·1460 RPM~ t:,::j

, -· -;i ___- - T ---- -- --·-- 1160 RPfc ·---- -- - - - - - - ----- 5

~

t'd

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200

DISCHARGE IN GPM

FIGURE 8: PERFORMANCE CURVE OF A PUMP

Input information: The discharge= 989 gpm (from Example 5).
The total lift= 260.6 ft (from Example 10 and
the motor efficiency= 0.9.

Solution: The pump efficiencies for various pumping conditions shown in

Figure 8 at a discharge of 989 gpm are:

Pumping condition Efficiency

1760 rpm 0.84

1460 rpm 0.80

1160 rpm 0.60

The pump operated at 1760 rpm is selected because of its efficient

performance. The lift provided by one stage is 35 feet so

Number of stages= 260.6/35 = 7.45 (Use 8 stages)

From Equation (13), the power required by the system is

W = 989 (260.6)/3960 = 65.1 h.p.

w
The power of the pump and that of the motor by Equations (14) and (15)

are
W = 65.1/0,84 = 77.5 h.p.
p

W = 0.746 (77.5)/0.9 = 64.2 kw

m
4.5 Pressure Distribution in the Lateral

Sprinkler discharge depends on the operating pressure. Proper selection

of sprinklers requires information on the sprinkler pressure. The pressure in

the lateral varies from the pressure at end sprinkler P to the pressure at
g
the pivot P . Based upon the energy equation and assuming the elevation
p
difference is negligible, we have
P - P = H /2.31 - - - - (16)
p g L
P = the pressure at the end sprinkler in psi,
g
H = the friction loss in the lateral, in feet.
1

The pressure distribution in a lateral can be determined with the use

of the distribution factor (Chu, 1972). The distribution factor is a function

30
of the distance ratio r/R wher e r is t he radial distance of the sprinkler f rom the

pivot and R is the wetted radius of the irrigated area. The graphical

representation of the distribution factor is shown in Figure 9. The sprinkler

pressure is determined by

P
r
= P
g
+ (P P - P)
g
• DF - - - - (17)

where P = the sprinkler pressure in psi,

r
P the end sprinkler pressure in psi,
g
P = the pivot pressure in psi,
p
DF = the distribution factor

Example 13: Determine the sprinkler pressure with radial distance of Oft,
330 ft, 660 ft, 990 ft, and 1290 ft from the pivot.

Input information: The end sprinkler pressure= 50 psi. The friction loss
in the lateral= 34.3 ft (from Example 9) and the wetted

radius of the irrigated area is 1320 ft.

Solution:

(1) The pressure difference P - P is by Equation (16)

p g

P - P = 34.3/2.31 = 14.9 psi

p g
(2) The pressure distribution at the sprinklers is by Equation (17)

Radial r/R Distribution Pressure Pressure at

Distance factor difference Sprinklers
r, feet DF (Figure 9) p -P , psi p , psi
r g r

0 0 1.000 14.9* 64.9

330 .250 .555 8.3 58.3

660 .500 .215 3.2 53.2**

990 .750 .030 0.5 50.5

1290 .977 0 0 50.0

* From Equation (16) P - P = 14.9

p g
** From Equation (17) P = 50 + 14.9 (0.215) = 53.2 psi
r
31
 1.0 T "

I
I I
i I

l
I I
I· i
0.8 .- - ! -- ... !I ·-1 ····r· I-
i I '·
I I
1- l
I
l
I
l i
!
~ 0.6
I
t
- I
Ii "'
I
0 j I

E-c
u I ..
< I1 •• •
~ ...
-! ·- . iI · -
z I I I
0
H
..
I I
I
I I -I
II
E-c 1 i
:::>
p:i 0.4 I. . -1-
H
~
I I

I
E-c
U)

,· .. I I I I I
I

I' .
j
H
A . I

I I
I , ... I
.·· · !·. . I
I

I. I
; j
I . II
!
I
I I I I·- ·
I

I
I

: ... TI · I

0.2 . I

I
I -· · .

i I
I
r···1 .. Il
· -1-
. : i i
i 'lI I I i ! i
I I I !
.-i
I
I
!... --i-.
I
-- ·T --·j
I
···1

II I
I I
i ! II
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

DISTANCE FACTOR, r/R

FIGURE 9: DISTRIBUTION FACTOR OF A CENTER PIVOT SYSTEM

32
 The pressure distribution represents the result on a level surface.

I n prac t ice , i t changes when ther e is elevation diffe r ences . However , if the

maximum elevation differ ence f r om the end sprinkler along t he lateral is wi t hin

10% of the pressure head at the end sprinkler (ASAE Minimum Performance for
Sprinkler Systems), then the result described by Equation (17) is still

considered as acceptable. Pressure head should be adjusted to the elevation

difference based upon the relationship described by the energy equation

(equation 12) that

pr= (Eg - El)/2.31 + plevel - - - - (18)

where P = the pressure at the sprinkler in psi,

r
E E = the elevation difference from the end sprinkler, in feet,
g 1
p
level = the pressure at the sprinkler on a level surface determined

by Example 13.

Example 14: Determine the pressure head at the sprinklers when the elevation
at the sprinklers are given as follows:

Radial distance, ft. 0 330 660 990 1290

Elevation, f t 1647* 1643 1632 1637 1642*

* From Examples 10 and 11 respectively -

Other information remains the same as Example 13.

Solution: The maximum elevation difference is 1642 - 1632 = 10 ft.

The pressure at the end gun is 50 psi (example 13) = 115.5 ft.

The allowable difference in elevation is 10% (115.5) = 11.6 ft (>10 ft), so

the elevation difference is acceptable. The pressure distribution is:

33
 p
Radial Elevation level Pressure at
distance E , feet in psi sprinkler
1
r, feet from Ex. 13 P , psi
r

0 1647 64.9 62.7*

330 1643 58.3 57.9

660 1632 53.2 57.5

990 1637 50.5 52.7

1290 1642 (E ) 50.0 50.0

* From Equation (18) Pr = (1642-1647)/2.31 + 64.9 = 62.7 psi

5. Center Pivot Irrigation System Design
The previous sections present basic knowledge concerning center pivot

irrigation. This section describes the application of this basic knowledge.

5.1 Test the Application Rate
To test the application rate of a center pivot system, the designer

should first estimate the surface pondage under an elliptical water application

pattern (figure 4). Next, he estimates the surface retention capacity under

a constant water application pattern (figure 5). If the surface pondage is

less than or equal to the surface retention capacity, then runoff will not

occur and the application rate of the system is not excessive.

The critical runoff area is near the outer boundary of the irrigated

area. This is because the application rate is high (Dillon et al. 1972). A

thin strip of land along the outer boundary of the sprinkler may be taken

as a sample from the critical area for analysis. If surface runoff does

not occur on this strip, then the application rate of the center pivot system

is acceptable.

The relationship between the gross depth of application and the maximum

application rate under an elliptical pattern is needed for the calculations

of the application rate testing. This relationship is given by Dillon et al.

(1972) as
- - - - (19)

34
where h = the maximum application rate of an elliptical pattern in inches per
hour,

D = the gross depth of application in inches,

g
T = the time of application, in hours.
a
An example is prepared to illustrate the testing procedure.

Example 15: Test t~e feasibility of the application rate of a center pivot
system.
Input information: The net application rate is selected to be 1.0 inch. The

gross depth of application is estimated to be 1.25 in. The radial distance

from the last sprinkler to the pivot is 1,285ft. The sprinkler coverage of

a large sprinkler (for constant spacing system) is 175 feet and that of a

medium sprinkler (for variable spacing system) is 90 ft. The time per

revolution is 72 hours. The soil parameter for a 0.5 intake family soil is

K = 0.40 iph and SM= 1.55 inches (Table 5). The crop is corn (row crop) and

the average ground slope is 3%.

Calculations:

(1) Determine the surface pondage for a variable spacing system.

The time of application, referring to Example 4, is 0.80 hours.

The maximum application rate is by Equation (19)

h = (4/~) 1.25/0.80 = 1.99 iph

The values of the parameters are

K/h = 0.40/1.99 = 0.20

and

DG/SM = l.25/1.55 = 0.81

Enter the two parametric values in Figure 4 to obtain the surface

pondage to be

Sp• 0.17 DG m 0.17 (1.25) = 0.21 inches

35
(2) Determine the surface retention capacity

The allowable rate for row crops on a 0.5 intake family soil with 3%

slope is estimated to be (Table 6)

I= 2.00 x 2/3 = 1.33 iph

The value of the parameter

K/I = 0.40/1.33 = 0.30

Enter the parametric values of DG/SM and K/I into figure 5 to obtain

the surface retention capacity, D, as

C

D = 0.065 (1.25) = 0.08 in

C

The surface pondage is larger than the retention capacity, so runoff

will occur. The application rate under variable spacing is excessive. An

alternative is to use a constant spacing system.

(3) Determine the surface pondage under a constant spacing system. The time

of application for a sprinkler coverage of 175 ft is

T = 175 (72)/(2 • n • 12b5) = 1.56 hours
a
and

h = (4/ff) l.25/1.56 = 1.02 iph

The value of the parameter

K/h = 0.40/1.02 = 0.39

The value of DG/SM is 0.81. Enter the two parametric values into

Figure 4 to find Sp/DG = 0

There is no surface pondage under a constant spacing system. All water

infiltrates into the ground and application rate is acceptable.

5.2 Select the supply line size

Suppose a designer selected a rather large pipe size for the supply
line. Based upon the information on discharge, roughness coefficient, length,
36
and size of pipe now at his disposal, he calculated the friction loss for the

selected supply line. Next he replaced the pipe size with a smaller one. Such

a replacement brought about two changes. First, the pipe cost is reduced

because the new pipe is smaller in size. Second, the energy cost will increase

because the friction loss of the smaller pipe is higher than that of the larger
pipe. If the saving in pipe cost surpasses the increase in energy cost,

such a change in pipe size is feasible. He could repeat this process to obtain

further cost reductions. When the saving in pipe cost becomes less than or

equal to the increase in energy cost then the optimum pipe size is obtained.

The previous statements can be described as follows:

Pipe cost saving= (Cpb - Cps) • CRF - - - - (20)

where cpb = the pipe cost per unit length for the large pipe in $/ft,

C = the pipe cost per unit length for the small pipe in $/ft,
ps
CRF = the capital recovery factor.

energy cost increase= 0.000188 (h

fs
- hfb) • CKH • Q • To /E p • Em ---- (21)

where hfs = the friction loss per unit length of the small pipe in feet,

hfb = the friction loss per unit length of the large pipe in feet,

CKH = the energy cost per kilowatt hour of energy in $/KWH,

Q = the discharge in gpm,

T = the annual time of operation in hours,

0

E = the pump efficiency

p
E = the motor (or engine) efficiency,
m

1 KWH = 0.000188 feet-gpm-hour

The criterion to obtain optimum pipe size is

pipe cost saving~ energy cost increase

or

p - Cps ) • CRF -< 0.000188 (hf s - hfb) • CKH • Q • To /E p • Em - - -(22)

(Cb
A graph representing the relationship between the quantity hfs - hfb

and the discharge Q is prepared in Figure 10 to speed the calculations

37
involved. The procedure of pipe size selection is described in the following

example.

Example 16: Determine the optimum pipe size of the supply line.

Input information: The discharge= 989 gpm (from Example 5).

The annual time of operation= 900 hours (from Example 3).

The pump efficiency= 0.84 (from Example 12).

The motor efficiency= 0.9.

The energy cost= $0.025/KWH (1976 estimate).

The capital recovery factor= 0.117 and the pipe cost of

steel pipe (1976 estimate).

Pipe size 5" 6 II 7" 8" 10" 12"

Pipe cost, $/ft 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.60 5.90 7.60

Solution: Let the quantity 0.000188 · CKH • Q • T /E · E be represented by

o p m

a constant Kand for this example

K = 0.000188 (0.025) 989 (900)/0.84 (0.90) $5.53

Substitute Kin equation (21) to obtain

energy cost increase = K (hfs - hfb) --- (23)

Pipe Cost Cost
Pipe hfs-hfb
Cost difference Saving/ft increase/ft
Size
C C -C (Eq. 20) (Figure 10) (Eq. 23)
in inches p pb ps

12 7.60
1. 70 $0.20 0.0039 $0.02
10 5.90
1.30 $0.15 0.0129 $0.07
8 4.60
0.60 $0.07*** 0.0182 $0.10
7 4.00
0.50 $0.06 0.0421 $0.23
6 3.50
0.50 $0.06* 0.1170 $0.65**
5 3.00

* pipe cost saving= 0.50 x CRF = 0.50 x 0.117 = $0.06/ft

** energy cost increase= 0.1170 x K = 0.1170 x 5.53 = $0.65/ft

*** select 8 inches because when 8 inches is replaced by 7 inches the

pipe cost savings= $0.07 ~ the energy cost increase= $0.10

38
 10,000
i :: I- 1 !
---r ~ - - - - - --
! I
8,000 ----=-----!..-'_' ____ - - - -

6,000
5,000 .!

4,000
i . . !. ; :·
! . : .. : :.·1·:~ . . '1
..I:· iI
.I ~ - .:~ - _,!
, - - ,- :-r----·
!:
- - - - - . - - - -- ---- ---- - - -

3,000 ' . ! l I i : :
j .~ !. !

2,000
i
H.i
l
.
I

i -!
i-
I

t:1
H
Cl'l
1,000
w
\.0
~
c;)
800
t%1
H
z
c;)
600
t-'d
~ 500

400
: :- j

300 ..

t
t - 1
1-
200 -i L

I- .---'
i
--:-
: --
-I
I
l
i'
I l - 1 ·· ! I·
t ·· -· - · -- l I

' I
----_·,'--- !
____ - . - -- i~.. -
1l---r-----t· ~ . - -- ' - ..

4
-- : . -- 1 I • ' : i I. j. ..
-r - ,:~,
I · II

- --- t--- ; -. --- 1··-·t

1 l····· t··-1
1 - , I --
1-
I - -
I
1"- -
I
,
I
l
-

--
-

- ·1·- 1··1
--- ·

·t
1·

I
-

j
I! I ----- :-- -· I
- - - -- . -· - -

. '
•

.
- ' l'
!
I
- - - - 1•

I - i -1-
100 I I -
j
-
1-- . I_
'
! I
I
I
;
I

.0002 .0003 .0004 .0006 .001 .002 • 003 . 004 .006 .01 .02 • 03 • 04 .06

FRICTION LOSS SAVING, FEET

5.3 Select the lateral size

The size of the lateral can be determined by the same procedure described

in the previous section, except the friction factor of a center pivot system

(equation 9) should be included in a constant~ where

~ = 0.543 K - - - - (24)

and energy cost increase for a lateral=~ (hfs - hfb) (25)

Example 17: Determine the lateral size of a center pivot system.

All the input information is the same as that in Example 16.

Pipe Size Saving/ft Cost increase/ft Cost increase
in inches (example 16) (from example 16) of lateral/ft

10
$0.15 $0.07 $0.04
8
$0.07 $0.10 $0.05
7
$0.06** $0.23 $0.12
6
$0.06 $0.65 $0.35*
5

* energy cost increase for a lateral= 0.543 (0.65) = $0.35

** select 7 inches because when 7 inches is replaced by 6 inches the pipe

cost saving= $0.06 < the energy cost increase= $0.12

In practice, lateral size selection is more complicated than what is

described here. When lateral size is reduced, the load on the towers is

also reduced, so there is additional saving on the cost of the towers. When

the saving on the towers is added on to the saving of pipe cost, the optimum

pipe size will reduce also. This is why the lateral size on a regular center

pivot system in practice ranges from 6 inches to 6-5/8 inches instead of the

7 inches determined in this section.

5.4 Select Sprinklers for a Constant Spacing System
Sprinkler spacing on a center pivot system is the basic input information.

The objective is to select the right set of sprinklers for the lateral. Consider

a sprinkler with a constant sprinkler spacing of S and a radial distance r

s
from the pivot. The irrigated area attributed to this sprinkler is

40
 a= 2 n •r • S /43560
s
where a= the irrigated area of the sprinkler in acres

r = the radial distance from the pivot in feet

S = the constant sprinkler spacing, in feet

s
1 acre= 43560 square feet

Equation (26) represents a ring shaped area bounded by two concentric

circles with radii r ± S . Some water is distributed outside the bounds set
s
by the two circles. Apparently the area specified by Equation (26) is conserva-

tive. However, there is also an approximately equal amount of water from other

sprinklers carried inside the ring shaped area. The tradeoff is nearly equal.

This is why Equation (26) is an acceptable representation of the irrigated

area of a sprinkler.

It follows from Equation (7) that the required sprinkler discharge is

q = 453(2 n • r • S /43560) • DG/T

s r - - - - (27)

where q = the required sprinkler discharge in gpm

DG = the gross depth of application in inches

Tr the time per revolution, in hours

Similarily the system discharge is represented by

2
Q = 453 (n • R /43560) • DG/Tr - - - - (28)

where Q = the system discharge in gpm

R = the wetted radius of the irrigated area covered by the center

pivot system, in feet.

Divide Equation (27) by (28) to obtain

q = 2 • Q • r • Ss/R2 - - (29)

The design procedure in selecting sprinklers in summarized as follows:

1. Calculate the pressure difference between the end gun and the pivot.

2. Determine the pressure distribution in the lateral.

3. Calculate sprinkler discharge by Equation (29).

41
Example 18: Select sprinklers for a constant spacing system.

Input information:

The wetted radius of irrigation area, R = 1,320 ft (from Example 5).

The system discharge, Q = 989 gpm (from Example 5).

The constant sprinkler spacing is selected to be S = 30 ft.

s
The radial distance of the end gun, L = 1,290 ft.

The size of lateral is selected to be D = 7 inches and,

the operating pressure of the end gun is selected to be 70 psi (for large

sprinklers on a constant spacing system).

Calculations:

(1) Determine the pressure difference or the friction loss.

Enter the values of Q = 989 gpm and D = 7 inches into figure 7 to obtain

Hf/100 ft= 3.7 ft

Hf= 3.7 (1290/100) = 47.7 ft

From Equation (9)

Hl = 0.543 • Hf = 0 . 543 (47.7) = 25.9 ft

From Equation (16) the pressure difference is

p - P = 25.9/2.31 = 11.2 psi
p g

42
(2) Pressure distribution and sprinkler discharge

Radial Distance Distribution Pressure Sprinkler

distance factor factor distribution discharge
r r/R DF P , psi q
r
from Fig. 9 from Eq. 17

1290 0. 977* 0 70.0 43.9***

1260 42.9
1230 41. 9
1200 40.9
1170 39.8
1140 38.8
1110 37.8
1080 0.818 0.012 70.1** 36.8
1050 35.8
1020 34.7
990 33.7
960 32.7
930 31. 7
900 30.7
870 0.659 0.080 70.9 29.6
840 28.6
810 27.6
780 26.6
750 25.5
720 24.5
690 23.5
660 0.500 0.215 72 .4 22.5
630 21.5
600 20.4
570 19.4
540 18.4
510 17.4
480 16.3
450 0.341 0.418 74.7 15.3
420 14.3
390 13.3
360 12.3
330 11. 2
300 10.2
270 9.2
240 0.182 0.670 77. 6 8.2
210 7.2
180 6.1
150 5.1
120 4.1
90 3.1
60 2.0
30 0.023 o. 960 80.9 1.0
*r/R = 1290/1320 = 0.977
**P r = Pg + (P p - P)
g • DF 70 + (11 • 2) 0.012
= = 70.1 psi
2
***q • 2 (909) 1290 (30)/1320 • 43.9 gpm

43
(3) Sprinkler selection

Radial Pressure Calculated Sprinkler Catalog

distance p , psi sprinkler from sprinkler
r
r discharge catalogue discharge
feet gpm gpm

1290 70.0 43.9 85-E-TNT-3/8"x7/32"-20° 44.9

1260 " 42.9 70-E-TNT-3/8"x7/32" 42.2
II
1230 41. 9 " 42.2
1200 " 40.9 80-E-TNT-11 / 32"x7 /32" 40.1
1170 " 39.8 70-E-TNT-11/32"x7 /32 11 38.6
1140 " 38.8 II
38.6
1110 " 37.8 " 38.6
1080 " 36.8 " 38.6
1050 " 35.8 70-E-TNT-5/16"x7/32" 34.5
1020 " 34.7 "II 34.5
990 " 33.7 34.5
960 " 32.7 70-EW-TNT-3/8" 33.2
930 " 31. 7 70-E-TNT-9/32"x7/32" 30.4
900 " 30.7 " 30.4
870 " 29.6 " 30.4
840 28.6 70-EW-TNT-11/32" 28.5
810 27.6 " 28.5
780 26.6 70-E-TNT-9/32"x3/16" 27.4
750 25.5 70-EW-TNT-5/16" 23.9
720 24.5 " 23.9
690 23.5 " 23.9
660 22.5 70-E-TNT-1/4"xll/64" 22.6
630 " 21.5 " 22.6
600 " 20.4 70-E-TNT-7 /32"xll/64" 19.0
570 75.0* 19.4 " 19.7
540 " 18.4 14070-TNT-15/64"xl/8" 17.8
510 " 17.4 " 17.8
480 " 16.3 14070-TNT-7/32"xl/8" 15.9
450 15.3 " 15.9
420 14.3 14070-TNT-13/64"xl/8 11 14.5
390 13.3 14070-W-15/64" 13.6
360 12.3 14070-3/ 16''xl /8''-20° 12.8
330 11. 2 14070W-TNT-15/64" 10.2
300 10.2 " 10.2
270 9.2 14070-TNT-ll/64"x3/32" 9.6
240 80.0* 8.2 14070-TNT-5.32"x3.32" 8.7
210 " 7.2 30-EW-TNT-5.32" 6.3
180 " 6.1 " 6.3
150 " 5.1 30W-TNT-9/64" 5.2
120 " 4.1 29B-TNT-1/8" 4.1
90 " 3.1 20C-TNT-7/64" 3.2
60 " 2.0 " 3.2
30 " 1. 0 0
Sum= 966. 5 Sum= 967 .o
* Pressure values rounded off to the nearest 5 psi's.
** Sum of sprinkler discharges.

44
(4) Additional sprinkler

The sum of the sprinkler discharges listed in part (3) does not check

with the system discharge of 989 gpm. The reason is that the lateral is 1,290 ft

long and the irrigated area assigned to the end gun is a 15 ft wide ring (the

constant sprinkler spacing) on each side along its path of travel. But the

total irrigated area extends to a radial distance of 1,320 ft, so there is a

15 ft wide ring of land along the periphery not included in the calculations.

The discharge required by this outside strip is figured by Equation (29)

q = 2 (989)(1320 - 15/2) 15/1320 2 = 22.4 gprn

From the catalog (Rain Bird, 1978) the sprinkler 70 E-TNT-1/4 inch x

11/64 inches can deliver this amount of water (catalog sprinkler discharge

is 22.6 gpm) at a pressure of 70 psi. However, the sprinkler can not be set

at a radial distance of 1,312.5 ft because the lateral ends at 1,290 ft. So

the next best thing is to set the sprinkler somewhere near the end gun, for

example, at a radial distance of 1,285 ft. The total sprinkler discharge after

this adjustment becomes 967.0 + 22.6 = 989.6 gpm, which checks favorably with

the system discharge of 989 gpm.

5.5 Select spacings for a variable spacing system

The purpose of the variable spacing system is to arrange the sprinklers

at strategic locations on the lateral so that the distribution of water along

the lateral is uniform. Selecting the sprinkler type and size is the first

step. Next, determine the pressure distribution by the procedure described

in the previous section. The sprinkler discharges are obtained for various

pressures specified by the pressure distribution. The objective is now to find

the relationship between the spacing and sprinkler discharges so that the

former quantity can be determined based upon the given information on the

sprinkler discharges.

45
 Consider the irrigated area between two adjacent sprinklers

- - (30)

where~= the irrigated area between two adjacent sprinklers in acres,

rd= the radial distance of the downstream sprinkler from the pivot,
in feet,

r = the radial distance of the upstream sprinkler from the pivot, in

u feet.

The discharge associated to this area should be the average discharge

of the two sprinklers. Based upon Equation (7)

2 2
(qu + qd)/2 = 453 n (rd - ru) • DG/43560 Tr - - - - (31)

where qu = the upstream sprinkler discharge, in gpm,

qd = the downstream sprinkler discharge, in gpm.

Combine Equations (28) and (31) to obtain

= r 2 + (q + qd) • R2/2Q - - - - (32)

u u
The variable spacing is represented by

Ss = rd - ru - - - - (33)

where S = the variable spacing in feet.

s
The procedure of selecting variable spacing is summarized as follows:

(1) Select the sprinkler and the pressure at the end gun.

(2) Determine the pressure distribution.

(3) Find the sprinkler discharge for various pressures specified by

the pressure distribution.

(4) Start from the pivot where q = 0 and r = 0. So Equations (32)

u u
and (33) becomes
2 2
rd 2 = qd • R /2Q = Ss - - - - (34)

(5) Equation (34) can be used to determine the radial distance of

the first sprinkler.

(6) For the second sprinkler the value of rd for the first sprinkler
becomes the value of r . Equation (32) can be used to determine
u
the radial distance of the second sprinkler and repeat this process.

Example 19: Select the sprinkler spacings for a variable spacing system

46
Input information:

The wetted radius of irrigated area= 1,320 ft.

The system discharge= 989 gpm.

The size of lateral= 6-5/8 inches.

The length of lateral= 1,290 ft.

The gross depth of application= 1.25 inches.

Time per revolution= 72 hours.

Design: (1) Select sprinklers and the end gun pressure.

Rain Bird 30-W-TNT-7/32 inch is the sprinkler type. This is a medium sized

sprinkler which is suitable to operate at a medium pressure, so the pressure

at the end gun is 50 psi.

(2) Determine the pressure distribution and sprinkler discharge.

Referring to Example 13: the pressure difference between the pivot and the end

gun is

P - P = 14.9 psi
p g
A convenient way to represent the pressure distribution is to specify the

pressure first and to find the associated radial distance. Such a representation

is more suitable for application than the representation shown in Example 13.

Range of Nominal Range of Range of Range of Sprinkler

pressure Pressure distribution r/R radial discharge
in psi in psi factor DF from Fig. 9 distance, r q, gpm

50-52.5 50 0-.168* 1.00-.550** 1320-726*** 9.88

52.5-57.5 55 .168-.503 .550-.285 726-376 10.30

57.5-62.5 60 .503-.839 .285-.090 376-119 10.60

62.5-67.5 65 .839-1.00 .090-0 119-0 10.95

* D = (P - P )/(P - P) = (52.5 - 50.0)/14.9 = 0.168

F r g p g
** Enter DF = 0.168 into Fig. 9 to obtain r/R = 0.550

*** r = 1320 (0.550) = 726 ft

47
 The values of sprinkler discharge are obtained by entering the repre-

sentative pressure into the sprinkler catalog from Rain Bird 30-W-TNT-7/32"

sprinkler.

48
(3) Determine the radial distance and the spacing for sprinklers

Index of r Pressure Discharge r Spacing

u
sprinkler Pr, psi qd, gpm in ~eet S , feet
in feet s
by Eq. (32)
from part (2) referring by Eq. (33)
to part (2)

1 0 10. 95 98 98d
2 98a 10.60 169c 71
II
3 169 " 217 48
4 217 " " 256 39
5 256 " " 290 34
II
6 290 " 321 31
7 321 " " 349 28
8 349 " " 375 26
9 375 55 10.38 399 24
10 399 " " 421 22
11 421 " " 442 21
12 442 "
II
" 462 20
13 462 " 481 19
14 481 " It
500 19
15 500 " It
518 18
16 518 " " 535 17
II
17 535 It
552 17
18 552 " II
568 16
19 568 " II
584 16
20 584 "
II
" 599 15
21 599 " 614 15
II
22 614 " 629 15
23 629 " " 643 14
II
24 643 " 657 14
25 657 " It
671 14
26 671 II
" 684 13
27 684 II
" 697 13
28 697 II
" 710 13
29 710 " " 723 13
30 723 50 9.88 735 12
31 735 " " 747 12
32 747 " " 759 12
33 759 " " 770 11
34 770 " " 781 11
35 781 " " 792 11
36 792 " " 803 11

To be continued on next page

a The value of ru for this sprinkler is the same in value as rd for the
upstream sprinkler.
b The value of rd is to be larger than 119 ft so referring to part (2) P
is 60 psi. r
2 2 2
c rd = 98 + (10.95 + 10.60) • 1,320 (989), rd• 169 ft.
d S = 169 - 98 = 71 ft.
s

49
 r Discharge rd Spacing
Index of u Pressure
qd' gpm S , feet
sprinkler in feet Pr, psi in feet s
from part (2) referring by Eq. (32) by Eq. (33)
to part (2)

37 803 50 9.88 814 11

38 814 II II
824 10
39 824 II

II
"
II
835 11
40 835 845 10
41 845 II II
855 10
42 855 " " 866 11
43 866 " " 876 10
II II
44 876 885 9
45 885 II II
895 10
46 895 II
" 905 10
47 905 " "
II
914 9
48 914 II
924 10
II
49 924 " 933 9
II
50 933 " 943 10
II
51 943 " II
952 9
52 952 "
II II
961 9
53 961 970 9
II II
54 970 979 9
II II
55 979 988 9
II II
56 988 996 8
57 996 II
" 1005 9
58 1005 " " 1014 9
59 1014 II
" 1022 8
II
60 1022 II
1031 9
61 1031 " " 1039 8
62 1039 " " 1048 9
63 1048 II
" 1056 8
,,
64 1056 " 1064 8
65 1064 " " 1072 8
66 1072 II
" 1080 8
67 1080 II II
1088 8
68 1088 " " 1096 8
69 1096 " II
1104 8
70 1104 " II
1112 8
71 1112 II II
1120 8
72 1120 " II
1128 8
73 1128 " " 1135 7
74 1135 " " 1143 8
75 1143 " " 1151 8
76 1151 " " 1158 7
77 1158 II
" 1166 8
78 1166 " " 1173 7
79 1173 " " 1180 7
80 1180 " " 1188 8
81 1188 " " 1195 7
82 1195 II
" 1202 7
83 1202 II
" 1210 8
84 1210 " " 1217 7
To be continued on next page

so
 Discharge
qd, gpm rd Spacing
Pressure S , feet
r s
Index of u Pr, psi referring in feet
Sprinkler in feet from part (2) to part (2) by Eq. (32) by Eq. (33)

85 1217 50 9.88 1224 7

II II
86 1224 1231 7
II II
87 1231 1238 7
II
88 1238 II
1245 7
II II
89 1245 1252 7
II II
90 1252 1259 7
II II
91 1259 1266 7
II
92 1266 II
1273 7
II II
93 1273 1279 6
II II
94 1279 1286 7

Sum= 943.6

(4) End gun. The sum of the sprinkler discharges listed in part (3) is 943.6

gpm, which does not check with the system discharge of 989 gpm. The reason is

the same as the described in the previous example. The area associated with

the outside strip not covered by the sprinklers listed in part (3) is by

Equation (31)
2 2
Q = 453 n {1320 - (1286 + 7/2) } 1.25/43560 (72) = 45.1 gpm
The additional discharge can be provided by an end gun "Rain Bird

85-EW-PS-15/32".

5.6 Re-nozzling
When the surface runoff becomes a serious problem after the center pivot

system has been installed, a simple solution is to change the sprinklers so

that the water is applied at a slower rate. The process of changing sprinklers

is referred to as re-nozzling. A reduction in the application rate is usually

associated with an increase in pressure. High pressure can be controlled by

a pressure reducing valve so that the pressure distribution remains

approximately the same as that of the previous design. After the new pressure

distribution is determined, the sprinklers are selected from a sprinkler catalog.

The procedure is similar to that described in Example 18, except the position

of sprinklers is already fixed on the lateral.

51
 To extend the tecnique described in Example 18 to a variable spacing

system, consider the irrigated area of a sprinkler with a radial distance r.

Referring to Equation (26) this area is

rd+ r r + r r + r r + r
a = 2 'IT {~ ( 2 + _ _)}(-d
_u __ u )/43560
2 2 2
rd+ r 2 r + r 2
= TI {( ) - ( u ) }/43560 - (35)
2 2
where a= the irrigated area of a sprinkler in a variable spacing system,
in acres,

rd= the radial distance of the downstream sprinkler in feet,

r = the radial distance of the upstream sprinkler in feet.

u
The sprinkler discharge referring to Equation (7) is

r + r 2 r + r 2
q = 453 TI {( d ) - ( u ) } DG/43560 Tr - - - - (36)
2 2

Divide Equation (36) by (28) to obtain

rd+ r 2 r + r 2
q = Q {( 2 ) - ( u 2 ) } /R2 - - - - (37)

The procedure of re-nozzling is summarized as follows:

(1) Determine the new system discharge.

(2) Determine the new pressure distribution.

(3) Calculate the discharge of the new sprinklers by Equation (37).

(4) Select the sprinklers from a sprinkler catalog.

Example 20: Re-nozzling the center pivot system described in Example 19.

Let the time per revolution be increased from 72 hours to 96 hours so that the

application rate is reduced.

(1) System discharge. From Equation (28)

2
Q = 453 'IT (1320) 1.25/43560 (96) = 741.2 gpm

(2) Pressure distribution, From Figure 7, the friction loss of an associated

supply line with Q = 741.2 gpm, D • 6-5/8 inches and L = 1,290 ft is

52
 Hf/100 ft= 3.65 ft

Hf= 3.65 (1,290/100) = 47.1 ft

The friction loss of the lateral is by Equation (9)

hl = 0.543 (47.1) = 25.6 ft

The pressure difference between the pivot and the end gun is by

Equation (16)

P
p
- P
g
= 25.6/2.31 = 11.1 psi

Let the pressure at the end gun be adjusted to 50 psi (same as Example
19) by a pressure reducing value. The new pressure distribution is represented

by

Range of Nominal Range of Range of Range of

Pressure pressqre distribution r/R radial
in psi in psi factor, DF by Fig. 9 distance, r

50-52.5 50 0-.225* 1.00-.492 1320-649**

52.5-57.5 55 .225-.676 .492-.180 649-238

57.5-62.5 60 . 6 76-1. 00 .180-0 238-0

* DF = (52.5-50)/11.1 = 0.225
** t = 0.492 (1320) = 649

53
(3) Sprinkler selection

Sprinkler (rd+ r)/2 Calculated Pressure Sprinkler Catalog

index discharge p from discharge
in feet r
from Eq . (3 7) catalog in gpm
in psi

1 133.5* 7.58** 60 30-CP-5/32"x3/32 11 7.47

2 193 8.26*** 55 30-CP011/64"x3/32 11 8.25
II
3 236.5 7.95 " 8.25
4 273 7.91 II
30W-CP-3/16" 7.51
5 305.5 8.00 II
30-CP-ll/64 11 x3/32 11 8.25
ti
6 335 8.04 " 8.25
7 362 8.01 II
30W-CP-3/16 11 7.51
8 387 7.97 " 30-CP-ll/64"x3/32 11 8.25
9 410 7.80 II
)OW-CP-3/16 11 7.51
10 431. 5 7.70 " 30-CP-11/64 11 x3/32 11 8.25
II
11 452 7.70 30W-CP-3/16" 7.51
II
12 471. 5 7.66 " 7.51
II
13 490.5 7.78 ti
7.51
14 509 7.87 " 30-CP-11 / 64 11 x3/ 32 11 8.25
II
15 526.5 7.71 50 7.87
16 543.5 7.51 " 30W-CP-3/16" 7.18
17 560 7.75 ti
30-CP-ll/64 11 x3/32" 7.87
II
18 576 7.73 " 7.87
II II
19 591. 5 7.70 7.87
20 606.5 7.64 II
30W-CP-3/16 11 7.18
21 621. 5 7.84 II
30-CP-11/64 11 x3/32 11 7.87
II II
22 636 7.76 7.87
23 650 7.66 II II
7.87
II
24 664 7.83 " 7.87
II
25 667.5 7.70 " 7.87
26 690.6 7.57 " 30W-CP-3/16 11 7.18
27 703.5 7.71 " 30-CP-11/64 11 x3/32 11 7.87
ti
28 716.5 7.85 II
7.87
II II
29 729 7.69 7.87
30 741 7.50 II
30W-CP-3/16 11 7.18
31 753 7.63 II
30-CP-1 l/ 64 11 x3/ 32 11 7.87
32 764.5 7.42 II
30W-CP-3/16 11 7.18
II
33 775. 5 7.21 II
7.18
II
34 786.5 7.31 II
7.18
35 797.5 7.41 II
" 7.18
36 808.5 7.51 II
30-CP-11/ 64 11 x3/ 32 11 7.87
37 819 7.27 II
30W-CP-3/16 11 7.18
II
38 829.5 7.36 II
7.18
39 840 7.46 II
30-CP-11/64 11 x3/32" 7.87

To be continued on next page

* Referring to Example 19. (rd + r) /2 = (169 + 98) /2 133.5'
2 2 2
** q= 741.2 (133.5 - 0 )/1320 = 7.58 gpm
2 2 2
*** q = 741.2(193 - 133.5 )/1320 = 8.26 gpm

54
Sprinkler (rd+ r)/2 Calculated Pressure Sprinkler Catalog
index discharge Pr from discharge
in feet
from Eq. (37) in psi catalog in gpm

40 850 7.19 70 30W-CP-3/16 11 7.18

41 860.5 7.64 " 30-CP-11/64 11 x3/32 11 7.87
II
42 871 7.73 II
7.87
43 880.5 7.08 II
30W-CP-3/16 11 7.18
II
44 890 7.15 " 7.18
45 900 7.61 " " 7.18
46 909.5 7.31 II
" 7.18
II
47 919 7.39 " 7.18
ti
48 928. 5 7.47 II
7.18
49 938 7.54 II
30-CP-11/ 64 ''x3/ 32'' 7.87
so 947.5 7.62 " " 7.87
51 956.5 7.29 " 30W-CP-3/16" 7.18
52 965. 5 7.36 ti
" 7.18
II
53 974.5 7.43 " 7.18
54 983.5 7.50 " 30-CP-ll/64"x3/32" 7.87
55 992 7.14 " 30W-CP-3/16" 7.18
56 1000.5 7.70 " 30-CP-ll/64"x3/32 11 7.87
57 1009.5 7.70 " 30-CP-11/64"x3/32" 7.87
58 1018 7.33 " 30W-CP-3/16 11 7.18
59 1026.5 7.39 " " 7.18
60 1035 7.45 " " 7.18
61 1043.5 7.52 " 30-CP-11/64 11 x3/32 11 7.87
62 1052 7.58 " " 7.87
63 1060 7. 19 ti
30W-CP-3/16t1 7.18
II
64 1068 7.24 " 7.18
65 1076 7.30 " " 7.18
II
66 1084 7.35 " 7.18
67 1092 7.41 " " 7.18
68 1100 7.46 " 30-CP-11/64"x3/32" 7.87
69 1108 7.51 " II
7.87
70 1116 7.57 " 30W-CP-3/16" 7.18
71 1124 7.62 " 30-CP-11/64 11 x3/32" 7.87
72 1131.5 7.20 " 30W-CP-3/16 11 7.18
73 1139 7.24 " II
7.18
74 1147 7.78 II
30-CP-11/64t1x3/32" 7.87
75 1154. 5 7.34 " 30W-CP-3/16 11 7.18
76 1162 7.39 II II
7.18
77 1169. 5 7.44 ti
30-CP-ll/64t1x3/32t1 7.87
78 1176.5 699 ti
30W-CP-3/16" 7.18
79 1184 7.53 " II
7.18
80 1191.5 7.58 II
30-CP-11/64"x3/32" 7.87
81 1198. 5 7.12 " 30W-CP-3/16" 7.18
82 1206 7.67 ti II
7.18
83 1213.5 7. 72 ti
30-CP-ll/64t1x3/32" 7.87
84 1220.5 7.25 " 30W-CP-3/16" 7.18
85 1227.5 7.29 II II
7.18
86 1234.5 7.33 70 30W-CP-3/16" 7 .18
To be continued on the next page

55
Sprinkler (rd +r)/2 Calculated Pressure Sprinkler Catalog
index discharge Pr from discharge
in feet
from Eq. (37) in psi catalog in gpm

87 1241. 5 7.37 70 II
7.18
88 1248.S 7.41 II
30-CP-ll / 64 "x3/ 32" 7.87
89 1255.5 7.46 "
II
30W-CP-3.16" 7.18
90 1262.5 7.50 30-CP-ll/64"x3/32" 7~87
91 1269.5 7.54 " 30W-CP-3/16"
II
7.18
92 1276 7.04 " 7.18
93 1282.5 7.07 " 30W-CP-3/16" 7.18
94 1289.5 7.66 " 30-CP-ll/64"x3/32" 7.87

707.5*

* Sum of the discharges of the sprinklers

(4) End gun. The range covered by the sprinklers listed in the table extends to

a radial distance of 1290.5 ft. (referring to the last value on the second

column). The discharge associated with the area beyond its range is by Equation

(29)
1320 1289 5 2
q = 2 (741.2) ( + • )(1320 - 1289.5)/1320
2
= 33.9 gpm
This discharge can be provided by an end gun"Rain Bird 85-EW-PS-13/32."

(q = 33.3 gpm). The total discharge is

Q = 707.5 + 33.3 = 740.8 gpm

which checks favorable with the system discharge of 741.2 gpm.
REF'ERENCES

1. Chu, S.T. 1972. Hydraulics of a Center Pivot System. Trans. ASAE 15(5):
894-896.

2. Chu, S.T. 1977. Adequate Application Rate for Center Pivot Irrigation.
ASAE Paper No. NCR 77-1003.

3. Dillon, Jr., R.C., E.A. Hiler and G. Vittetoe. 1972. Center Pivot
Sprinkler Design Based on Intake Characteristics.
Trans. ASAE 15(5): 996-1000.

4. Gray, A.S. 1957. Sprinkler Irrigation Handbook. Rain Bird Sprinkler

Mfg. Corporation, Glendora, California.

5. Green, W.H. and G.A. Ampt. 1911. Studies on Soil Physics I, The Flow
of Air and Water through Soils. Journal of Agr. Sci.
4(1): 1-24.

6. Rain Bird 1977-1978 Irrigation Equipment, 1976. Rain Bird Sprinkler

Mfg. Corporation, Glendora, California.

7. Soil Conservation Service, 1967. Irrigation Water Requirements. Technical

Release No. 21. USDA-SCS.

8. Soil Conservation Service. 1978. Irrigation Guide for South Dakota.

USDA-SCS, Huron, S.D.