Analysis of the pressure resistance of mini valve used in drip irrigation with finite elements

Abstract

Different types of valves are used in irrigation systems to transport water efficiently. One of these valves is mini valves, which attract attention with their ease of use and functionality. Mini valves are elements that can be quickly mounted and dismounted on the irrigation line and are generally preferred for flow control and on/off operations. In the design of valves, it is of great importance to analyze the pressure losses occurring in the irrigation system. In this study, the strength of a manually controlled, two-way mini plastic valve, which is frequently used in irrigation systems, is numerically investigated. This mini valve is an element used to control the flow direction of water in a certain direction and is especially used in drip irrigation systems. These valves, which are preferred to minimize pressure losses and manually manage the flow of the line, play a critical role in terms of system efficiency. Valves must be resistant to certain pressure values for long life and safe operation. In this study, a manually controlled bi-directional mini plastic valve with a worm mouth connection port was designed and its resistance was evaluated by numerical analysis. Tests were performed by applying 2, 4 and 6 bar pressure to the valve respectively. According to the results of the analysis, the mini valve can operate safely up to 2 bar pressure, but it is seen that the stress levels increase as the pressure increases. At 6 bar pressure, it was found that the valve approached the material strength limit. These findings provide valuable information to determine the operating limits required for the safe use of mini plastic valves in irrigation systems.

Keywords

• Mini valve
• Finite element analysis
• Compressive strength
• Stress analysis

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