Fall 2023, MIT
Clog-Resistant Drip Irrigation Emitter Inlet
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Reducing Clogging in Drip Irrigation Emitters with a Novel Inlet
Drip irrigation is a water-saving irrigation technology that can help produce food in water-stressed regions, however they consist of small geometries that tend to get clogged on farms. As part of a class project, my team and I developed a novel inlet inspired by fish gill structures that reduces clogging by deflecting away particles in the water. This work was presented at IDETC 2024 and a provisional patent has been filed.
Environment
Drip irrigation emitters are small devices installed inside tubes called driplines that meter out regular flow rates for irrigation. They consist of small geometries that can build up particles (like dirt) and clog, requiring replacement. We thought if we could design an inlet that prevented particles from entering the emitter, clogging could be reduced and lifetime extended.
Nature Inspiration
We found that filter-feeding fish have cylindrical structures in their gills that allow water to pass through while keeping small particles in the bulk flow. After brainstorming many ideas, we pursued this one.
CFD Work
While my teammates developed different designs, I ran CFD simulations on their designs so we could iterate on the features and dimensions. My CFD work showed that this design produced horizontal-axis vortices that the literature review showed to be beneficial for filtering.
Experimental Results
We ran experimental tests with a few of our leading designs and found that the “Nozzle” design significantly reduced clogging compared to an industry “Cross Tower” inlet.
Patent Filing
We filed a provisional patent with MIT on the inlet design that we hope to convert to a full patent in the summer of 2025. MIT gave me this pin for having a patent filing in progress!
IDETC Conference Paper First Page