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In an irrigation system, pipes play the role of transporting water resources and hold a very important position. If there is a problem with the pipes, the impact can be widespread, affecting both irrigation efficiency and the utilization of water resources.
The most likely issue with irrigation pipes is leakage. This article will reveal to readers the five main causes of irrigation pipe leakage and their solutions.
Material Aging
Material aging is a very common reason and also a typical issue with plastic products. During long-term use of plastic pipes, the pipes themselves will experience a certain degree of wear. Moreover, irrigation pipes are generally used outdoors, and some pipes are even directly exposed to the air. After being exposed to sunlight and ultraviolet rays for a long time, plastic pipes tend to age, harden, and become brittle, which can cause cracks or even holes in the pipes.
If this problem occurs, engineers should first observe the extent of the pipe damage. If the damaged area is large, it means the pipe has reached the end of its service life, and it’s recommended to simply replace it with a new one. Although this will incur some cost, it solves the problem once and for all, ensures the normal operation of the irrigation system, and avoids a series of potential issues that may arise later.
If the pipe is only partially damaged, engineers can cut off the damaged section and reconnect it with new fittings. Duk da haka, it’s important to ensure the connection is firmly fixed, or glue can be used to make sure the connection is tight and seamless, in order to avoid leakage at the joint.
Loose Connections
A complete pipe system involves many pipes and fittings, and pipe leakage may also be related to the connection points. There are two common types of pipe connections: threaded connections and socket connections.
Among them, there are two standards for threads: British Standard Thread and American Standard Thread. For irrigation pipes, British Standard Threads are more commonly used. Duk da haka, in the irrigation field, some pipes and fittings are not designed in a very standardized way (this problem is more likely to occur in small workshop factories). When pipes and fittings are connected using threads that don’t fully match, it can lead to loose connections, which in turn causes pipe leakage.
As for socket connections, they rely on the friction between the pipe and the fitting. If the water pressure inside the pipe is relatively low, the connection will generally hold without problems. But if the pressure is too high, it may cause the connection to loosen and result in leakage. Bugu da kari, if the surfaces of the pipes and fittings are rough and uneven, with poor sealing performance, excessive water pressure can also lead to leakage at the connection point.
If leakage occurs at a threaded connection, engineers should first confirm whether the pipes and fittings are compatible. Then, Teflon tape can be wrapped around the external threads, which can effectively prevent leakage. For socket-connected pipes and fittings, engineers can choose methods like hot-melt, electrofusion, or glue to seal the leaking area. If the leakage is caused by poor sealing, we can add a rubber ring at the connection to increase stability and prevent leakage.
Excessive or Fluctuating Water Pressure
When building a piping system, special attention must be paid to system pressure, and pipes with appropriate pressure resistance should be selected. Gabaɗaya magana, the pressure resistance of irrigation pipes is sufficient, but during actual use, it is still possible for localized excessive pressure to cause pipe rupture.
Bugu da kari, pressure fluctuations inside the pipe may also be caused by the entry of air, and the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the pipe can lead to pipe rupture.
If the water pressure inside the pipe is too high, we can usually use a pressure-reducing valve to lower the pressure. If air enters the pipe, we can install some air release valves on the pipe to avoid this problem.
External Damage
Leakage caused by external damage is also very common for irrigation pipes. Misali, during construction, the pipe may collide with stones, be crushed by agricultural machinery, or be stepped on by people, all of which can damage the pipe and cause leakage.
We should try to prevent these problems from happening. During construction, we must be careful not to damage the pipes. If the pipe is buried underground, it should be buried as deep as possible. Signboards should be placed where the pipes are laid to remind others not to damage the pipeline equipment.
Pipe Blockage
During irrigation, due to insufficient dissolution of water and fertilizer, or the accumulation of sediment and algae inside the pipes, large particulate impurities may clog irrigation equipment (such as drippers, sprinklers, da sauransu). This can cause localized pressure to rise inside the pipe and may lead to leakage.
To deal with this situation, we should regularly clean irrigation equipment such as filters, sprinklers, and drippers. For the pipes themselves, chemical cleaning agents can be used, and the drain outlet should be opened regularly to discharge dirty water from the pipes.
Bugu da kari, pressure gauges or other monitoring devices can be installed at key positions in the pipeline. If the pressure increases, the system can send an alert to remind the workers to handle the problem. This can reduce the risk of pipe damage.
Final Words
This post introduced five causes of pipe leakage and their corresponding solutions—hope you find it helpful!
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Author: Allen and Michael
Editor: Michael
Content Reviewer: Michael
