Step-by-step CFD design method of pressure compensating emitter

In order to improve the design and development efficiency of the pressure compensating drip irrigation emitter, a step-by-step computational fluid dynamics (CFD) design method combined with finite element technology was proposed in the paper. The emitter flow rate was predicted by the step-by-step CFD method and the designed pressure-flow (P-Q) curve of the emitter was obtained. The test samples of pressure compensating emitter were manufactured by means of rapid prototype and manufacturing technology, the hydraulic performance experiment of the emitter was carried out and the experimental P-Q curve was obtained consequently. The results showed that the predicted values were coincident with the experimental results well within normal range of the emitter’s working pressures, which verified the step-by-step CFD design method. On this basis, the influence of the emitter structure on its pressure compensating performance was studied, which showed that the height of pressure compensating chamber had significant effect on the emitter pressure compensating performance, based on that the series of pressure compensating emitter could be designed by changing the chamber height. This research can provide a reference for design and development of pressure compensating drip emitter.