Irrigation Pumping
Agricultural and landscape irrigation systems pump water from a supply (well, surface, recycled) through pivots, drip, or solid-set sprinklers. Design priorities: matching the system curve to the operating point at the irrigated area's required pressure and achieving uniform application.
Target industries
Agriculture Landscape contractor Golf course / sports turfRecommended calculation methods
- Hazen-Williams (PVC mainlines)
- Manning's (for delivery canals)
Key design factors
- Distribution uniformity (DU) target ≥ 0.85
- VFD for variable-zone systems to maintain emitter pressure
- Friction loss + elevation across the field's most-distant zone
- Suction-side NPSHa for surface-water pumps with seasonal level swing
Common pitfalls
- Designing on full-flow head curve only — partial-zone head can stall the pump
- Ignoring filter clogging losses over the season
- Undersized motor at operating speed for frequent VFD slow-down