Mitigating Clogging in Drip Irrigation Through Hydrodynamic-Informed Design

Drip irrigation is a key water-saving technology for sustainable agriculture, but its reliability is limited by the physical clogging of labyrinth emitters. We develop an integrated experimental and numerical framework to understand and improve emitter resilience to clogging. Using rapid prototyping via CAD design and 3D printing, we create transparent millifluid channels representative of labyrinth drip emitters to systematically study how geometric parameters influence flow, particle deposition, and potential clogging by solid particles. The hydraulic performance and internal flow fields are characterized, ensuring our prototypes operate under realistic agricultural conditions. We then perform clogging experiments with clay particle suspensions to identify preferential deposition locations within the labyrinth channel under two operational modes: continuous flow and intermittent flow cycles. By correlating clogging locations with local hydrodynamic features, we identify some geometric features that enhance clog resistance. This work contributes to informing the design of next-generation, clog-resistant emitters, which may improve the durability and efficiency of drip irrigation systems.