Agricultural Water Management (Sep 2024)
The incorporation of solar energy and compressed air into the energy supply system enhances the environmentally friendly and efficient operation of drip irrigation systems
Abstract
Photovoltaic-powered drip irrigation is a vital approach to address the irrigation requirements in regions with limited water resources and energy deficiencies, thereby ensuring the provision of sustenance and horticultural produce for local inhabitants. However, the susceptibility of the drip irrigation system to clogging as well as the fluctuations in photovoltaic output can significantly impact irrigation quality. Moreover, conventional storage methods commonly employed in photovoltaic-powered drip irrigation systems, such as elevated water tanks and batteries, exhibit notable technological, economic, and environmental limitations. The present study introduces a novel photovoltaic drip irrigation technology (CAES-PVDI) that utilizes solar energy as the exclusive source of power, enabling stable and cost-effective high-quality drip irrigation. This technology actively regulates solar energy through compressed air energy storage, employing a cyclic pulse discharge method to ensure uniformity in irrigation outflow and significantly enhance the anti-clogging performance of the drip irrigation system. The proposed technology was implemented in a solar greenhouse for drip irrigation, and subsequent tests were conducted to assess its hydraulic performance and anti-clogging properties The results demonstrated that the system achieved a discharge uniformity of no less than 91.76 %. Furthermore, there was no blocked emitter in CAES-PVDI system, and the sedimentation inside the capillary tube decreased by 78.95 %-93.36 % compared to traditional drip irrigation system. In comparison to existing photovoltaic-powered drip irrigation technology, the CAES-PVDI system exhibited exceptional technical indicators and offered significant economic and environmental benefits, thereby presenting a novel approach to promote environmentally friendly and efficient operation of drip irrigation systems.
