Water Distribution by Self Balanced Non-automated Facilities in Irrigation Canals

In the exploitation of the irrigation systems, the water distribution nodes are subject to wear and tear of the mechanisms and devices for regulating the water levels, as well as the design characteristics of the outflow, and as a consequence the magnitude of the prescribed water quantity, which is intended to be distributed in a lateral or other type of branch canal, is violated. It is therefore necessary to implement an adjustment algorithm for elevating of the water distribution shields in the canals to compensate for the variation of the projected design characteristics for water distribution. In this way, the influence and variation of the water quantity of the flow, the overestimation of the roughness coefficient, the velocity indices and the depth of flow in the canal, etc., will be taken into account and considered. For these reasons, this paper deals with water distribution in open canals for irrigation in condition of steady flow. Analytical equations and method about this type of distribution are shown. This type of water distribution, without or minimized underpropped condition avoiding a backwater effect of the flow in irrigation canal, ensure an increasing level of energy efficiency in irrigation technologies employed in practice with open canals in agriculture.