A Smart Pipe Length Splitting Method for Cost Minimization of a Pressurized Irrigation Network

The increasing global demand for high-quality agricultural products poses significant challenges for water resource management while the traditional irrigation methods, reliant on open canal systems, are inefficient and environmentally detrimental, necessitating a shift to more efficient pressurized irrigation networks. However, designing these systems is complex and costly, primarily due to the high expenses associated with pipe materials. This research introduces a novel pipe length splitting (PLS) method which optimizes the pipe diameters and lengths by allowing a strategic splitting of the pipes under certain constraints (e.g. flow velocity, head losses etc.) aiming to reduce costs without sacrificing the network efficiency. In this work the proposed PLS method combined with the existing computationally efficient Simplified optimization method (SOM) offers a robust solution for cost minimization while it is very flexible and compatible also with various existing optimization methods (e.g. linear and dynamic programming). In this work the network under study was the existing open canal irrigation network of Limnochori in North Greece which was studied as a pressurized irrigation network. Applying the SOM in conjunction with the PLS, the comparative study shows a total cost reduction of 21,930€ while PLS affected 45% of the total number of pipes. These numbers can be considered remarkable considering that the network can be characterized as a small-medium sized network (107 hydrants). Ultimately, the PLS method is a valuable tool for engineers and decision-makers, which could be used also to other hydraulic works, providing economic benefits through cost savings while also supporting broader goals of environmental sustainability and water resource conservation.