Hydraulic Properties Effect of Filter Media on Emitter Clogging Problems

Abstract

Series of laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the filtration performance of different types of filter media under different operating conditions, and to study their influence on the emitter clogging problems. The emitter clogging problem under these different operating conditions was investigated. Five different emitter types were used. The statistical split-split-split plot design was chosen for this study. Obtained results indicated that, Sedimentation loads is the second most important factor affecting the media filter performance. Using high sedimentation loads of 50 and 100 mg/L affected drastically the removal efficiency. An improvement of the removal efficiency due to increasing filter bed depth from 30 to 50 cm was noticed. The susceptibility to clogging of the tested emitter types varied according to its emitter type, sedimentation loads, and removal efficiency. Obtained results indicated that the use of crushed silica and crushed basalt (2) media types, E-2 and Supertif emitter types under operating condition of at least 50 cm and sedimentation loads of 10 to 20 mg/L contributed to better performance of the trickle-irrigation system.