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GCO 2431
Irrigation
BASIC HYDRAULICS & IRRIGATION
SYSTEM DESIGN
INSTRUCTOR
Doug Callison
Area Specifications Manager
1/4/98
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DESIGN TERMINOLOGY
Scale = mechanical or engineering
measurements.
Plan view = flat view of the
site from a particular height.
PSI = pounds per square inch
(water pressure).
GPM = gallons per minute (flow rate).
Elevation = height difference in feet.
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DESIGN TERMINOLOGY
Friction Loss = pressure lost by water
flowing through system components
(pipe, valves, etc...) measured in psi.
Velocity = speed of the water moving
through system components measured
in feet per second (fps).
Water hammer = surge pressures created by
combinations of high velocity, fast closing
valves, long pipe runs & high psi.
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BASIC HYDRAULICS
Relationship between pressure & elevation:
1 foot of elevation = .433 psi
1 psi = 2.31 feet of elevation (head)
Static (hydrostatic) pressure = water
at rest / experiencing no friction or
pressure losses.
Dynamic (hydrodynamic or working)
pressure = water in motion / experiencing
friction or pressure losses.
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BASIC HYDRAULICS
Feet of elevation x .433 = psi
2 feet of elevation x .433 = .866 psi
20 feet of elevation x .433 = 8.66 psi
or
STATIC PSI EXERCISE
100-PEB valve
Inlet 60 PSI Static
Calculate the static pressure at the following points:
Outlet of control valve __________
Pressure gauge A __________
Pressure gauge B __________
Pressure gauge C __________
60 PSI
60 PSI
55.67 PSI
51.34 PSI
100 50 50
3/4 Class
200 PVC Pipe
1 Class
200 PVC Pipe
1-1/4 Class
200 PVC Pipe
6
10
20
30
40
50
60 0
A
10
10
20
30
40
50
60 0
B
10
10
20
30
40
50
60 0
C
DYNAMIC PSI EXERCISE
100-PEB valve
Inlet 60 PSI Static
A
Calculate the dynamic pressure at the following points:
Outlet of control valve __________
Inlet of sprinkler A __________
Inlet of sprinkler B __________
Inlet of sprinkler C __________
55 PSI
51.8 PSI
45.1 PSI
38.6 PSI
100 50 50
B
C
10
10
3/4 Class
200 PVC Pipe
1 Class
200 PVC Pipe
1-1/4 Class
200 PVC Pipe
Falcon Rotor
10 GPM each
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OBTAINING SITE INFORMATION
Plot plan = scaled drawing
of the site including:
all structures and hardscapes.
water source (water meter size,
service main size, gpm & psi).
landscape (type & location of plant
material / lawn shrub borders).
exposures to sun, wind & rain (direction north).
soil & slope conditions.
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CALCULATING SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS
ET = evapotranspiration (water
lost to the plants use by
evaporation & transpiration)
in inches for a certain time period.
PET = potential highest ET (maximum
inches of ET based on historical
records and site conditions.
Irrigation design should be based on the site
PET or the worst case scenario.
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CALCULATING SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS
Soil infiltration rate = maximum inches of
water that can be absorbed by a particular
type of soil in one hours time.
Soil holding capacity = inches of water
available to the plant in different soils.
Rooting depth = average depth of a
plants root system in different soils.
This information is used to determine the
frequency of irrigation.
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CALCULATING WATER
SOURCE CAPACITY & PSI
Collect the following water source info:
Water meter size (5/8, 3/4, 1, etc...).
Service line size & type (3/4 K copper,
3/4 sch. 40 galv., 1 sch. 40 PVC, etc...).
Service line length (from water source to
point of connection - POC).
Static water psi (with no water running).
Working water psi (with water running).
Average high/low psi from purveyor.
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CALCULATING WATER
SOURCE CAPACITY & PSI
Select a maximum system working capacity
that is the most restrictive of these 3 values:
The pressure loss through the water meter
should not exceed 10% of the minimum static
pressure available in the city water main.
The maximum flow through the meter for
irrigation should not exceed 75% of the
maximum safe flow of the meter (AWWA standard).
The velocity of flow through the service line should not
exceed 5 fps (for PVC/poly pipe) or 7 1/2 fps (for
copper/galv/cast iron/ductile iron pipe).
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CALCULATING WATER SOURCE
CAPACITY EXERCISE
Calculate the maximum system working capacity
based on the following information:
60 PSI Static __________
5/8 x 3/4 Water Meter __________
1 Schedule 40 PVC Pipe __________
Maximum system GPM __________
13 GPM
15 GPM
12 GPM
12 GPM
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CALCULATING WATER
SOURCE CAPACITY & PSI
Water
Source
Service
Line
Static
Pressure
Maximum
Flow
5/8 x 3/4
Meter
3/4 type K
copper
80 psi 10 gpm
5/8 x 3/4
Meter
1 sch 40
Galv.
60 psi 12 gpm
3/4 Meter 1 type K
copper
70 psi 18 gpm
3/4 Meter 1 sch 40
PVC
50 psi 13 gpm
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
Sprinkler
Type
Typical
Spacing
Emission
Style
Operating
Pressure
Flow
Rate
Drip/Micro
or Bubbler
0 to 3
feet
point of
use
10 to 60
psi
.01 to 5
gpm
Spray
Head
4 to 15
feet
fixed fan
or pattern
15 to 50
psi
.3 to 5
gpm
Rotory
Sprinkler
16 to 100+
feet
rotating
stream(s)
25 to 100+
psi
.5 to 100+
gpm
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
Sprinkler series will often include a fixed
shrub version & different pop-up height
models for irrigating various plants/grasses.
Sprinkler radius = distance from the
sprinkler to the edge of throw (in feet).
Sprinkler gpm = flow rate of the
sprinkler with different size nozzle orifices.
Sprinkler psi = sprinkler operating pressure.
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
Overlapping coverage is required for
uniform coverage on all sprinkler layouts.
Stretched sprinkler spacing will result in
uneven coverage and wet / dry spots.
Head-to-head spacing = sprinklers spaced
at their expected radii. This is the most
commonly used sprinkler spacing range in
landscape irrigation system design.
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
Square pattern = sprinklers placed in a
square pattern, with the same distance
between all 4 sprinklers in the pattern.
Best pattern for areas with 90
o
corners.
Triangular pattern = sprinklers placed in a
triangular grid, with the same distance
between all three sprinklers in the pattern.
Good pattern for irregular shaped areas
where overspray is not a problem.
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
Equilateral triangular pattern
row spacing formula:
L = S x .866
L = Distance in feet between sprinkler rows.
S = distance in feet between sprinklers on a row.
.866 = a constant.
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
Rectangular pattern = like square pattern
but one side of the pattern is closer
together. Best pattern for fighting wind.
Staggered pattern = combinations of
various spacing patterns to adapt to site
conditions or move around obstacles.
Sliding pattern = gradual change from one
pattern to another to work around curves.
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
This chart shows the maximum spacing
ranges for different wind velocities.
Wind
Velocity
Square
Pattern
Triangular
Pattern
Rectangular
Pattern
0 to 3
mph
55% of
Diameter
60% of
Diameter
60% x 50% of
Diameter
4 to 7
mph
50% of
Diameter
55% of
Diameter
60% x 45% of
Diameter
8 to 12
mph
45% of
Diameter
50% of
Diameter
60% x 40% of
Diameter
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
Precipitation rate = the average amount of
water that would be applied to a given area
by all sprinklers in 1 hour (measured in
inches per hour).
Matched precipitation rates = sprinklers
which apply water at the same rate per hour
no matter the arc of coverage (matching
gpm flow rates to arc of coverage).
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
Precipitation rate formula:
96.3 x GPM
S x L = IPH
96.3 = a constant.
GPM = gallons per minute applied to the
target area by all sprinklers in pattern.
S = distance in feet of the sprinklers on a row.
L = distance in feet between sprinkler rows.
IPH = average inches per hour.
Calculate the precip. rate for the sprinkler layout using the
following information: Operating pressure = 45 PSI.
T4-T30-1.3 T4-T30-2.5 T4-T30-5.0
CALCULATING PRECIP-
ITATION RATE EXERCISE
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28
58
112
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Calculate the precip. rate for the sprinkler layout using the
following information: Operating pressure = 45 PSI.
T4-T30-1.3 T4-T30-2.5 T4-T30-5.0
CALCULATING PRECIP-
ITATION RATE EXERCISE
90
o
- 1.4 GPM 180
o
- 2.9 GPM 360
o
- 5.5 GPM
29
28
100%
1.4 GPM
50%
1.45 GPM
50%
1.45 GPM
25%
1.375 GPM
96.3 x 5.675 GPM 546.5
---------------------- = ------
28 x 29 812
= .67 inches per hour (PR)
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
Start your sprinkler layout by selecting one
area and measuring it.
Select a sprinkler spacing range that would
fit in the area (length & width).
Select a sprinkler with a radius that
will fit your spacing range.
Lay out your sprinklers starting in the
corners and working your way out.
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SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING
Check your sprinkler layout.
Are sprinklers stretched too far apart
(farther than head-to-head spacing)?
Are all sprinklers in the pattern
spaced the same distance apart?
Are there any sprinklers missing in the
pattern (areas of little or no coverage)?
Will there be much overspray onto
hardscapes or buildings?
SPRINKLER SELECTION
& SPACING EXERCISE
O O O O
Rectangular spacing 28 x 29.33
O O O O
88
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Select a sprinkler spacing range that will best fit
the area while minimizing overspray (0-3 MPH wind).
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CIRCUITING SPRINKLERS
INTO VALVE GROUPS
Never combine sprinklers into the same
valve group if:
the sprinkler precipitation
rates are not matched.
the sprinklers have different operating psi.
the sprinklers cover plant material with
differing water requirements.
the areas of sprinkler coverage have different
exposures to sun, wind or rain.
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CIRCUITING SPRINKLERS
INTO VALVE GROUPS
Select sprinklers with common precipitation
rates, operating psi, plant material and
exposure to combine into valve groups.
Add up the gpm of all sprinklers in a
group and divide the total by the
maximum gpm available from the
water source. This tells you the number
of valves you will need to supply water
for this group of sprinklers.
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MAINLINE & LATERAL PIPING
SYSTEM LAYOUT
Draw lateral pipe lines between all
sprinklers on a common valve.
Center feed (rather than end feed) the zone
if possible to reduce friction losses.
Select locations for valves (combine where
possible but keep in area of the sprinklers).
Draw mainline pipe lines between water
source and all valves. Use common lateral
trenches where possible.
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SIZING LATERAL &
MAINLINE PIPE
Pipe should be sized so that:
the desired gpm & psi can reach each sprinkler.
water travels through the piping system at
a safe velocity, limiting the possibility of
water hammer & damaging surge pressures.
the smallest size pipe possible is used to
accomplish the task (for economic reasons).
Pipe friction loss/velocity charts are used to
select the appropriate size pipe.
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SIZING LATERAL &
MAINLINE PIPE
The maximum safe velocity for irrigation
system piping is:
5 feet per second in PVC or poly pipe.
7 1/2 feet per second in copper, galvanized,
cast iron or ductile iron pipe.
Pipe sizing is done in reverse, starting with
the pipe segment supplying water to the last
or furthest sprinkler from the valve and
working in.
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SIZING LATERAL &
MAINLINE PIPE
Use the manufacturers catalog & find the
gpm flow rate of the various sprinklers.
Use the pipe velocity chart to select a pipe
size that will supply the gpm flow rate of
the sprinkler at a velocity of 5 fps or lower.
Use the same procedure to size all the pipe
segments remembering to add the total gpm
flow rate of all sprinklers that pipe supplies.
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SIZING LATERAL &
MAINLINE PIPE
This chart shows the maximum gpm
flow rate for various sizes of Class 200
PVC pipe at velocities of no more than
5 feet per second.
Pipe
Size 3/4 1 1-1/4 1-1/2 2 2-1/2 3
Max
gpm 10 16 26 35 55 80 120
Circuit sprinklers into valve groups, lay out & size the
lateral pipe lines. Water source capacity = 12 GPM.
1804-12Q 1804-12H 1804-12F
CIRCUITING SPRINKLERS
& SIZING PIPE EXERCISE
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#1
10.4
#2
10.4
3/4 3/4
3/4
3/4
3/4
3/4 3/4 3/4
3/4 3/4 3/4
3/4
3/4
1 1
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SIZING VALVES &
BACKFLOW PREVENTERS
Use the following guidelines when sizing
valves and backflow preventers:
Valve pressure loss should not exceed 10% of
the static psi in the irrigation mainline.
The valve should be the same size or no
more than one size smaller than the largest
lateral pipe it serves.
The valve should not be larger than the largest
lateral pipe it serves.
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CALCULATING SYSTEM
PRESSURE REQUIREMENTS
Select the worst case valve circuit:
valve with the largest gpm flow rate.
valve with sprinklers requiring highest psi.
valve furthest distance from the water source.
valve at highest elevation above water source.
Add up all system pressure/friction losses &
add to the pressure required at the sprinklers
on this valve. This is the total system psi
requirement.
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CALCULATING SYSTEM
PRESSURE REQUIREMENTS
Subtract the total system psi
requirement from the static psi
available from the water source.
If the answer is a positive number,
the system will work as designed.
If the answer is negative, look back over the
design & see where you can change pipe
sizes or add valves to lower pressure losses.
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PREPARING THE FINAL
IRRIGATION PLAN
Design at a maximum readable scale of:
1 = 20-0 for spray heads or drip.
1 = 50-0 for small radius rotors.
1 = 100-0 for large radius rotors.
Use a different symbol for each type of
sprinkler, valve, backflow preventer, etc...
Inset sprinkler symbols from boundary lines
for easy reading.
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PREPARING THE FINAL
IRRIGATION PLAN
Use a different line style for mainline
piping verses lateral line piping.
Check local codes for POC &
backflow requirements & 120v
power connections for the controller.
Write out a schedule for each valve showing
by month, the cycle days, average run
times, maximum cycle time & minimum
soak time between cycles.
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IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
Valve operating time formula:
ET x 60 = OT
(PR x EFF) x DA
ET = evapotranspiration (inches per week).
60 = a formula constant.
PR = precipitation rate.
DA = days of the week available for irrigation.
EFF = system efficiency % (as a decimal).
OT = station operating time per day.
CALCULATING VALVE
OPERATING TIME EXERCISE
1.25 ET x 60 75
--------------------------------------------- = --------
(.67 PR x .65 Eff.) x 4 Days per week 1.742
= 43 minutes operating time per irrigation day
Calculate the valve operating time based on:
ET requirement = 1.25 per week
Precipitation rate = .67 per hour
Days for irrigating = 4 days per week
System efficiency = 65%
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COMPUTER AIDED
IRRIGATION DESIGN
RainCAD - CAD design package with
irrigation & landscape design modules.
IrriCalc - Irrigation scheduling
and water use/cost calculations.
XeriCalc - Drip/Micro irrigation
scheduling & product applications.
CIT-Space - Sprinkler test/evaluation data.
IA-Water Audit - Water auditing package.