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Contenido archivado el 2022-12-27

MICRO-IRRIGATION BY SOLAR PUMPING ON A FARM

Objetivo

To demonstrate the use of a photovoltaic solar water pump (924 Wp) with various types of water distribution system. The pump was used to irrigate a 6,000 m2 field on a farm at Bourriot Bergonce, Landes, France, and water consumption and crop yield were compared with those on an adjoining 7,400 m2 plot with a diesel pump and conventional sprinklers, and on two 400 m2 non-irrigated plots.
The PV pumping system consisted of 56 RTC modules type BPX 47818 connected directly to a Guinard ALTA X 900 pump set, and operated with a nominal head of 17 m, raising water from a depth of 5.5 m to an overhead storage tank (30 m3).
The project was primarily aimed at demonstrating technical viability, although commercial viability was also considered.
With the exception of a pump breakdown in 1980, caused by faulty adjustment, and a failure of the shaft extension in 1981, the plant has worked perfectly, supplying in 1979 and 1980 about 80% of the water needed to irrigate the field. (the field was deliberately oversized to ensure that all the PV-pumped water was used). The project has therefore demonstrated the feasibility of solar pumping for irrigation.
Economic viability will depend on improvements in pump reliability, a reduction in PV module prices and the choice of crops with a high market value.

Detailed assessment of the maize crops during 1979 and 1980 showed that irrigation increased yield by a factor of 3, the best results being obtained with microjets and modified microtubes. The microtubes are preferred, as their flow rate is only about a fifth of that of the microjets and they are easier to move.

Since asparagus is a perennial, it is proposed to analyse harvests over a 5-year period (1983-7) before drawing conclusions with regard to this crop.
This project formed an early demonstration of photovoltaic water pumping, and contained an important study of the water distribution as well as of the pump itself. Efficient water utilisation is an important aspect of any solar powered irrigation system.
The plant comprises :
- a 12 m deep x 18 cm diameter borehole,
- a 924 Wp photovoltaic array of 56 RTC type BPX 47818 monocrystaline Silicon solar cell modules,
- a guinard ALTA X 900 pump set, comprising a 24 Vdc motor above ground, Coupled by a long vertical shaft to a submerged 5-stage centrifugal pump,
- a 30 m3 overhead storage tank, producing a head of 10 to 12.5 m,
- three experimental distribution systems, embodying gana drippers (irrigating one 1500 m2 plot), capillary drippers or microtubes (one 1500 m2 plot) and Ditam microjets (two 1500 m2 plots).
The pump motor was directly connected to the PV array, there being no battery or maximum power point tracker. The flow of water to the various experimental outlets ismanually controlled so as to replace the estimated loss of water transpired by the plants the previous day. Maize was grown in 1979 and 1980 but in 1981 a change was made to asparagus, a more valuable crop.
No detailed cost analysis is available for this project.
The system was first characterised by short tests. In the early stages the performance was deduced using meteorological data from a nearby military base. However from 1980 onwards, measurements of solar radiation, temperature (wet and dry bulb), wind speed and rainfall were sent by satellite to be recorded on magnetic tape for later analysis by the project team. The growth of crops and moisture patterns in the soil were also studied.

Convocatoria de propuestas

Data not available

Régimen de financiación

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinador

Elf Aquitaine Production
Aportación de la UE
Sin datos
Dirección
26 avenue des Lilas
64018 Pau
Francia

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Coste total
Sin datos