Investigation of the Influence of Sprinkler Fins and Dissolved Air on Jet Flow

Abstract

Experimental investigations of an irrigation gun water jet revealed that the flow is a mixture due to the degassing of the air dissolved in the supply water. The expansion of resulting air bubbles allowed velocity measurements in the region of the free jet close to the nozzle by a nonintrusive method (particle image velocimetry). Additional measurements were also implemented with an intrusive double-tip optical fiber probe. In this study a comparison was undertaken on the dynamic parameters of the outflow from a gun with fins and a second unfinned. Results underline the effects of fins and degassing on the jet internal properties and their consequences on the irrigation process.