Skip to main content
Log in

A particle tracking velocimetry technique for drop characterization in agricultural sprinklers

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Irrigation Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A variety of techniques have been proposed in the literature for sprinkler drop characterization. An optical particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) technique is proposed in this paper to determine drop velocity, diameter and angle. The technique has been applied to the drops emitted by an isolated impact sprinkler equipped with two nozzles (diameters 3.20 and 4.37 mm) operating at a pressure of 175 kPa. PTV has been previously used to determine the velocity vector of different types of particles. In this research, PTV was used to photograph sprinkler drops over a region illuminated with laser light. Photographs were taken at four horizontal distances from the sprinkler, which was located at an elevation of 1.65 m over the soil surface. Drop angle and velocity were derived from the displacement of the drop centroid in two images separated by a short time step. Centrality and dispersion parameters were obtained for each drop variable and observation point. Results derive from the analysis of 2,360 images. Only 37.5 % of them (884 images) contained drops which could be processed by the PTV algorithm, resulting in a total of 3,782 drops. A filtering algorithm just validated 1,893 valid drops, which were successfully analyzed. The proposed technique uses expensive equipment requiring continued protection against irrigation water. This methodology has proven valuable to characterize irrigation water drops. Despite its robust measurement procedure, further comparison with other techniques seems necessary before this optical technique can be recommended for practical use in sprinkler drop characterization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adrian RJ (1991) Particle imaging techniques for experimental fluid mechanics. Annu Rev Inc Fluid Mech 23:261–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous (2004) Agricultural irrigation equipment—Sprinklers Part 3: Characterization of distribution and test methods. ISO 15886-3/2004. International Organization for Standardization. Geneva, Switzerland p. 15

  • Basahi JM, Fipps G, McFarland MJ (1998) Measuring droplet impact energy with piezoelectric film. J Irrig Drain Eng 124(4):213–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bautista C, Salvador R, Burguete J, Montero J, Tarjuelo J, Zapata N, González J, Playán E (2009) Comparing methodologies for the characterization of water drops emitted by an irrigation sprinkler. Trans ASABE 52(5):1493–1504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bautista C, Zavala M, Playán E (2012) Kinetic energy in sprinkler irrigation: different sources of drop diameter and velocity. Irrig Sci 30(1):29–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bavi A, Kashkuli HA, Boroomand S, Naser A, Albaji M (2009) Evaporation losses from sprinkler irrigation systems under various operating conditions. J Appl Sci 9(3):597–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beard KV (1976) Terminal velocity and shape of cloud and precipitation drops aloft. J Atmos Sci 33:851–864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrión P, Tarjuelo JM, Montero J (2001) SIRIAS: a simulation model for sprinkler irrigation: I Description of the model. Irrig Sci 20(2):73–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eigel JD, Moore ID (1983) A simplified technique for measuring raindrop size and distribution. Trans ASAE 26(4):1079–1084

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fukui Y, Nakanishi K, Okamura S (1980) Computer evaluation of sprinkler irrigation uniformity. Irrig Sci 2:23–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauser D, Amayenc P, Nutten B, Waldteufel P (1984) A new optical instrument for simultaneous measurement of raindrop diameter and fall speed distributions. J Atmos Ocean Technol 1(3):256–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jadhav DB (1985) Raindrop charge and fall velocity measurements at a tropical station. Arch Meteorol Geophys Bioclimatol 33:389–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen KD (2004) Flow measurements. J Braz Soc Mech Sci Eng 26:400–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones DMA (1956) Rainfall drop-size. Distribution and radar reflectivity, p 20

  • Kincaid DC (1996) Spraydrop kinetic energy from irrigation sprinklers. Trans ASAE 39(3):847–853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kincaid DC, Solomon KH, Oliphant JC (1996) Drop size distributions for irrigation sprinklers. Trans ASAE 39(3):839–845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohl RA (1974) Drop size distribution from medium-sized agricultural sprinklers. Trans ASAE 17(4):690–693

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohl RA, DeBoer DW (1984) Drop size distributions for a low pressure spray type agricultural sprinkler. Trans ASAE 27(6):1836–1840

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohl RA, DeBoer DW, Evenson PD (1985) Kinetic energy of low pressure spray sprinklers. Trans ASAE 28(5):1526–1529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunkel B (1971) Fog drop-size distributions measured with a laser hologram camera. J Appl Meteorol 10:482–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Kawano H (1995) Simulating water-drop movement from noncircular sprinkler nozzles. J Irrig Drain Div ASCE 121:152–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Kawano H, Yu K (1994) Droplet size distributions from different shaped sprinkler nozzles. Trans ASAE 37(6):1871–1878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montero J, Tarjuelo JM, Carrión P (2003) Sprinkler droplet size distribution measured with an optical spectropluviometer. Irrig Sci 22:47–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okamura S (1968) Theoretical study of sprinkler sprays (part 3) on drop size distributions in sprays. Trans Japanese Soc Irrig Drain and Reclam Eng 26:62–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson J, Martin G (1957) An evaluation of raindrop sizing and counting techniques. Sci Rep 1:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad AK (2000) Particle image velocimetry. Exp Fluids 79(1):51–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Salinas TH, García AJ (2011) Fórmula experimental para la velocidad de caída de sedimentos en flujo transversal. Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua, antes Ingeniería Hidráulica en México 2(2):175–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Salinas TH, García AJ, Moreno HD, Barrientos GB (2006) Particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) algorithm for non-uniform and non-spherical particles. Proc Electron Robot Automot Mech Conf CERMA 2:322–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Salles C, Poesen J, Borselli L (1999) Measurement of simulated drop size distribution with an optical spectro-pluviometer: sample size considerations. Earth Surf Process Landf 24(6):545–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salvador R, Bautista-Capetillo C, Burguete J, Zapata N, Playán E (2009) A photographic methodology for drop characterization in agricultural sprinklers. Irrig Sci 27(4):307–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sang YL, Yu DK (2004) Sizing of spray particles using image processing technique. KSME Int J 18(6):879–894

    Google Scholar 

  • Seginer I (1965) Tangential velocity of sprinkler drops. Transactions of the ASAE pp 90–93

  • Sheppard B (1990) Measurement of raindrop size distribution using a small Doppler radar. J Atmos Ocean Technol 7:255–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smits AJ, Lim TT (2000) Flow visualization: techniques and examples. Ed Imperial College Press p 396

  • Sudheer KP, Panda RK (2000) Digital image processing for determining drop sizes from irrigation spray nozzles. Agric Water Manag 45:159–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tarjuelo JM, Ortega JF, Montero J, De Juan JA (2000) Modelling evaporation and drift losses in irrigation with medium size impact sprinklers under semi-arid conditions. Agric Water Manag 43:263–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson AL, James LG (1985) Water droplet impact and its effect on infiltration. Trans ASABE 28(5):1506–1510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulbrich C (1983) Natural variations in the analysis form of the raindrop size distribution. J Clim Appl Meteorol 22:1764–1775

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dyke M (1982) An album of fluid motion. Ed Parabolic Press, p 176

  • Wiesner J (1895) Beiträge zur Kentniss der Grösze des tropischen Regens. Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematika-Naturwissenschaften Klasse. Sitz Berl Verl 104:1397–1434

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the Centro Interamericano de Recursos del Agua from the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México and to the Maestría en Ingeniería Aplicada Orientación Recursos Hidráulicos of Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas. Thanks are also due to CONACYT for providing a scholarship to Cruz Octavio Robles Rovelo to pursue Master Degree studies. This research uses the concept of first-last author emphasis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Bautista-Capetillo.

Additional information

Communicated by J. Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bautista-Capetillo, C., Robles, O., Salinas, H. et al. A particle tracking velocimetry technique for drop characterization in agricultural sprinklers. Irrig Sci 32, 437–447 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-014-0440-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-014-0440-6

Keywords

Navigation