INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF WIDE-CAPACITY IRRIGATION MACHINES THROUGH THE USE OF SEMI-STATIONARY SYSTEMS

The article presents a comparative analysis of existing technical and technological solutions aimed at improving the efficiency of irrigation using circular wide-span sprinkler machines (WSM) by increasing the land use coefficient (LUC). The results of the analysis indicate that existing solutions focused on modernizing WSM provide only a marginal increase in LUC and present operational and maintenance challenges. Conversely, integrating WSM with other irrigation systems, while significantly boosting LUC, introduces substantial difficulties in adapting their operating parameters. These findings served as the basis for developing a new technical and technological solution that ensures an LUC increase above 95% through a hydraulically justified integration of irrigation processes. The proposed solution is a combination of a WSM and a semi-stationary system based on long-range sprinklers. The system design involves connection to the pressure pipeline at the central tower of the WSM, underground laying of main and lateral polyethylene pipelines, and surfacing of hydrants equipped with stand-mounted sprinklers in the non-irrigated corner areas. Water supply is regulated by butterfly valves. Based on hydraulic calculations, the operating parameters of the combined systems were adapted. The use of a polyethylene pipeline with an outer diameter of 140 mm ensured a pressure differential not exceeding 0.05 MPa, enabling the synchronization of the combined system's irrigation process. As a result of the proposed solution, the land use coefficient increased from 78.5% to 98%. Thus, the developed technical and technological solution can serve as a basis for significantly improving the efficiency of irrigated land use.