AGM2601

Water Hydraulics

The study of the behavior of water at rest and in motion, including its properties and movement in systems such as pumping and irrigation.

Evaporation

The process by which water is converted from liquid to vapor, typically influenced by temperature and wind speed.

Transpiration

The process by which water is absorbed by plant roots, moves through plants, and is released as vapor through stomata.

Condensation

The conversion of water vapor into liquid water, often occurring when moist air cools.

Precipitation

Any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from clouds and reaches the earth's surface, including rain and snow.

Infiltration

The process by which water penetrates the soil surface and moves into the soil.

Run-off

Water that flows over the ground surface when excess water is present, often leading to erosion and loss of soil.

Centrifugal Pump

A type of pump that uses rotational energy to move fluid through a system.

Characteristic Curves

Graphs that represent the performance of pumps, showing the relationship between flow rate, head, and efficiency.

Flow Rate

The volume of fluid that passes through a section per unit of time, commonly measured in cubic meters per second (m3/s) or liters per second (L/s).

Density of Water

The mass per unit volume of water, typically measured as 1,000 kg/m3 at 3.98 °C.

Atmospheric Pressure

The pressure exerted by the atmosphere at a given point, approximately equal to 101.4 kPa at sea level.

Gauge Pressure

The pressure of a fluid measured relative to the atmospheric pressure; often read on a gauge.

Absolute Pressure

The total pressure exerted by a fluid, including atmospheric pressure and gauge pressure.

Energy Loss

The reduction in total energy as water flows through pipes due to friction and turbulence.

Hydraulic Efficiency

The ratio of useful energy output to total energy input in a hydraulic system.

Irrigation Efficiency

The measure of efficiency in the use of water for irrigation, accounting for losses during the application process.

Water Harvesting

Techniques aimed at collecting and storing rainwater for agricultural, domestic, and environmental use.

Drainage Systems

Structures and methods used to remove excess water from an area, particularly to prevent waterlogging of crops.

Rainwater Harvesting Techniques

Methods used to collect and store rainwater for various applications, such as agriculture, livestock, and domestic use.

Soil Moisture Retention

The ability of soil to retain moisture, impacting crop growth and irrigation needs.

Effective Rainfall

The portion of rainfall that is available for plant use after losses due to evaporation, runoff, and interception.

Crop Coefficient (Kc)

A factor used to estimate the water requirements of a crop based on its growth stage and environmental conditions.

Net Irrigation Requirement (NIR)

The depth of irrigation water required to meet a crop's evapo-transpiration needs after accounting for effective rainfall.

Gross Irrigation Requirement (GIR)

The total water requirement for irrigation, including losses and inefficiencies in the irrigation system.

Priming of Pumps

The process of removing air from the pump and suction line to ensure proper functioning before operation.

Micro-irrigation

A method of irrigation that applies water slowly and directly to the crop's root zone through a network of tubing.

Surface Irrigation

An irrigation method where water flows over the surface of the field, relying on gravity to distribute water.

Drip Irrigation

A type of micro-irrigation system that delivers water directly to the base of the plant through emitters.

System Efficiency

The measure of how effectively an irrigation system delivers water to crops relative to the total amount of water withdrawn.

What is hydraulics?

Hydraulics is the branch of science that deals with the mechanical properties of liquids and their application in engineering.

What is a pump?

A pump is a mechanical device used to move fluids by converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy.

What are the main types of pumps?

The main types of pumps are positive displacement pumps and dynamic pumps.

What does a positive displacement pump do?

Positive displacement pumps move fluids by trapping a fixed amount of liquid and forcing it into the discharge pipe.

What is a dynamic pump?

Dynamic pumps impart velocity to the fluid, converting kinetic energy into pressure energy as the fluid flows through.

What is flow rate in hydraulics?

Flow rate is the volume of fluid that passes through a given point in a system per unit of time.

How does a centrifugal pump work?

A centrifugal pump uses rotational energy from a motor to spin a rotor, drawing fluid into the center and pushing it outward to create flow.

What is the purpose of a pump curve?

A pump curve graphically represents a pump's performance under various conditions, showing relationships between flow rate, head, and efficiency.

What role does hydraulic efficiency play?

Hydraulic efficiency indicates how effectively a pump or hydraulic system converts input energy into useful work.

Why is priming important for pumps?

Priming removes air from the pump and suction line, ensuring the pump operates correctly and maintains consistent flow.