Performance Evaluation of Solar Pump for Landscape Irrigation System

Abstract

Experiments were performed at a private garden in Al-Qaddbah, Al-Gharbia Governorate, Egypt. The latitude and longitude of the experiment site are 30°56'37''N and 30°47'01'' E, respectively, and the altitude equals 30 m, at the 2019 season, the total landscape area (13.5m x 9m) was divided into 6 treatments each of an area (20.25 m2), three plots were operated using solar system while the other three plots were operated using electric system. The irrigation systems were similar, 4 multi-stream sprayers, (90◦) and the distance between the sprayers was (4.5*4.5 m), different operating times were applied on each plot, under local climatic and working conditions. All the plots were planted with turfgrass (Passpalm10). The obtained results show, at solar energy powered system, uniformity coefficient increased from (65% - 75%) at operating time (10 –30 min), then it decreased during operating time (40 - 60 min), while at electric energy powered system the averages of the uniformity coefficient were (76% - 80%), at operating time (10 –40 min), while at operating time (45 - 60 min) the uniformity coefficient decreased to (75%), due to the silt clogging in the sprayers' filters. The energy saving reached (63%) with solar energy operation rather than electric energy operation in the summer season. The least total cost was (351 L.E/m2/year) at the landscape area (A3 60.75m2), which was irrigated on 3 cycles per day to give the highest uniformity coefficient (75%). When operating the solar batteries at full charge 3 - 4 times for a plot area of (20.25 m2). The hydraulic power obtained was (17.86 –26.74 W), the sprayer radius was (5.3 –5.8 m), at an average pressure of (1.9 -2.5 bar) which gave the best uniformity coefficient. The turf quality index was higher using electric motor rather than solar motor.

Keywords

• solar energy
• electric energy
• unite area
• landscape irrigation
• battery cycle