International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN:2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 10 | Oct 2024 www.irjet.net p-ISSN:2395-0072
Renewable Energy-Based Irrigation Pump
Manish Nayak
High
School Student, Dr.A.N.Khosla DAV Public School, Rourkela, Odisha, India
Abstract – This paper presents an innovative renewable energy-based irrigation pump that leverages solar energy and vacuum creation to provide an efficient, sustainable, and low- cost solution for agricultural irrigation. The system consists of two concave mirrors, a black-colored container, and two pipes (intake and discharge). Sunlight is concentrated on the black container using concave mirrors, causing the air inside to heat and expand. When the mirrors are removed, the air cools, creating a vacuum that draws water from a nearby source through the intake pipe. The discharge pipe, positioned lower, releases water to the fields using fluid pressure. This design eliminates the need for traditional diesel or electric-powered pumps, reducing both operational costs and environmental impact. This system is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and simple to maintain, making it highly accessible to small-scale farmers with limited resources. Its scalability and ease of replication for various agricultural settings, promoting sustainable farming practices. The proposed system offers a reliable water supply, contributing to improved crop yields and food security in resource-limited regions.
Key Words: Renewable energy, solar energy, vacuum pump, irrigation, sustainable agriculture.
1. Introduction
Agriculture plays a fundamental role in sustaining global populations, particularly in developing regions where the majority of people rely on farming as their primary sources of livelihood. Water management is one of the most critical factors for successful crop production, but manyfarmersfacesignificantchallengeswhenitcomesto irrigation. Traditional irrigation systems often depend on water pumps powered by diesel engines or electricity, bothofwhichhavesignificantlimitations.
Diesel- powered pumps contribute to environmental pollutionthroughtheemissionofgreenhousegases,while the rising cost of fuel places an economic burden on famers, especially those with limited financial resources. Electric-powered pumps, though cleaner, are constrained by inconsistent electrical supply in rural areas, as well as the rowing costs of electricity. Moreover, both systems
dependonnon-renewableenergysources,whicharebeing depletedatanunsustainablerate.
The increasing demand for eco-friendly and cost-efficient alternativeshasledtotheexplorationofrenewableenergy sources, with solar energy emerging as a highly viable solution.Solarenergyisabundant,clean,andfree,making it an attractive option for agricultural purposes. However, thechallengeremainstoeffectivelyharnessthisenergyfor waterpumpinginanaffordableandaccessibleway.
Thispaperintroducesarenewableenergy-basedirrigation pump that utilizes solar power, thermodynamics, and vacuum creation. The proposed system is simple yet innovative: two concave mirrors focus sunlight onto a black-colored container, heating the air inside. As the air cools down, a vacuum is formed, drawing water through an intake pipe from a nearby source, which is then distributed to the fields through a discharge pipe. This design not only reduces operational costs by eliminating the need for fuel or electricity but also minimizes environmental impact, making it an ideal solution for small-scalefarmersinremoteandresource-limitedareas.
In the sections that follow, I will detail the design, operation, and advantages of this system, which has the potentialtorevolutionizeirrigationpracticesbyproviding a scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to traditionalwaterpumps.
1.1Problem Statement
Farmers, particularly those in rural and undeveloped regions, often struggle with the costs and environmental impacts of traditional irrigation systems. Diesel-powered pumps are expensive to operate and maintain, and they contribute significantly to air pollution through carbon emissions.Electricpumps,whilecleaner,areimpracticalin areaswithunreliableelectricitysupply,andtherisingcost of electricity places further strain on small-scale famers. Additionally, both systems rely on non-renewable energy sources, which are becoming increasingly scarce. This presents a presenting need for an affordable, sustainable, andeco-friendlysolutiontoagriculturalirrigation.
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN:2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 10 | Oct 2024 www.irjet.net p-ISSN:2395-0072
1.2Objectives of the Project
The primary objectives of the renewable energy-based irrigationpumpsystemare:
1. Environmental Sustainability:Toreducecarbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable energybyutilizingsolarpowerforirrigation.
2. Cost-Effectiveness: To provide an affordable solution for small-scale farmers by eliminating fuel and electricity costs associated with traditionalpumps.
3. Reliability and Simplicity: To design a system that is easy to maintain, using readily available materials, and can be implemented in resourcelimitedareas.
4. Scalability: To create a design that can be easily replicated and adapted for various agricultural environments, from small farms to larger agriculturalcrops.
5. Enhancement of Agricultural Productivity: To increase crop yields by ensuring a reliable and efficient water supply for irrigation, ultimately contributingtofoodsecurity.
2. Literature Review
Various studies and innovations have been conducted on solar-powered irrigation systems, yet most rely on photovoltaic panels to power electric pumps, which can still be costly and require regular maintenance. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report on solar-powered pumps highlights the potential of solar energy in irrigation, yet it also notes that implementation remains challenging due to initial costs and complexity. Studies like Chandel et al. (2015) discuss solar photovoltaic water pumping but focus less on low-cost alternativessuitableforsmall-scalefarms.
The proposed system differs by eliminating photovoltaic panels and mechanical pumps, using only mirrors and vacuum principles to create an affordable and efficient irrigation method. This approach is ideal for remote, resource-limitedsettings.
3. System Design and Methodology
The renewable energy-based irrigation pump system is designed to provide an efficient, sustainable, and affordable irrigation solution using solar power and vacuum creation. This section details the components, design, and operational principles of the system, along withthemethodologyforitsimplementation.
3.1 System Components
Thekeycomponentsoftheirrigationpumpsystemare:
1. Concave Mirrors: Two concave mirrors are used to focus sunlight onto a central container. These mirrors are positioned in such a way that the concentrate solar energy onto a focal point, increasingtheheatabsorptionefficiency.
2. Black-Colored Container: A black-colored containerisplacedatthefocusofthemirrors.The black surface absorbs the concentrated sunlight, causingtheairinsidetoheatupandexpand.This container isconnected to bothan intake pipe and adischargepipe.
3. Intake Pipe: The intake pipe is responsible for drawing water from a nearby water source into the black container. The vacuum created inside thecontainerpullsthewaterthroughthispipe.
4. Discharge Pipe: The discharge pipe is positioned slightlylowerthantheintakepipetofacilitatethe release of water into the field, using the principle offluidpressure.
3.2 Operating Principle
This system operates based on the principles of thermodynamics and vacuum creation. Sunlight is concentrated onto the black-colored container using the two concave mirrors. As the container heats up, the air inside expands. Once the mirrors are removed, the air cools,creatingavacuuminsidethecontainer.Thisvacuum draws water into the container from a nearby source through the intake pipe. The water is then distributed to the filed through discharge pipe, which is strategically positioned to take advantage of the pressure difference (pressureincreaseswithdepth)toensureasteadyflowof water. This entire process is powered by renewable solar energy,requiringnoexternalelectricityorfuel.
3.3 System Advantages
This design is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.Iteliminatestheneedforelectricityordieselfuel, reducing operational costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the material required-such as mirrors and basicpiping-areaffordableandeasytosource,makingthe systemaccessible tosmall-scalefarmers.Thesimplicity of the setup also makes it easy to maintain and replicate in variousagriculturalsettings.
Volume: 11 Issue: 10 | Oct 2024 www.irjet.net
4. Economic Analysis
4.1 Cost Comparison
The estimated setup cost for this system is approximately 70% lower than diesel-powered pumps, with minimal maintenance costs. Diesel pumps incur continuous fuel expenses,whilethissystemreliessolelyonsunlight.
4.2 Long-Term Savings
Overfiveyears, thesystem cansavefarmersan estimated 85% in operational costs compared to diesel and electric pumps. This makes the system especially appealing for low-income,small-scalefarmers.
Chart-1: 5-Year Operational Cost Comparison of Irrigation Pumps.
5. Environmental Impact Analysis
5.1 Carbon Emission
Replacing diesel pumps with this solar-powered system could reduce carbon emissions by approximately 3 tons per pump annually. This is significant for small-scale famers, aligning agricultural practices with sustainable environmentalgoals.
5.2 Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture
The system’s reliance on renewable solar energy helps preserve natural resources and promotes sustainable farming, which is essential in water-scare and droughtproneregions.
Table 1: Estimated Environmental Impact Reduction with Renewable-Energy Based Irrigation Pump.
6. Future Scope and Improvements
6.1 Automation and Remote Control
Future iterations can incorporate to automation to adjust the mirrors’ angle according to the sun’s position, maximizing efficiency throughout the day. Sensors can be added to automate water release based on soil moisture levels.
6.2 Scaling and Adaptation
Researchisunderwaytoadaptthissystemforlargerfarms by increasing mirror size and container capacity. With minor adjustments, the system can also be adapted for drinking water purification byharnessing sunlight to heat andpurifywaterbeforedelivery.
6.3 Integration with Other Renewable Sources
While the system operates entirely on solar power, wind or other renewable sources can be integrated in areas where sunlight is inconsistent, ensuring continuous functionality.
7. Conclusions
Therenewableenergy-basedirrigationpumppresentedin thispaperoffersaninnovativeandpracticalsolutiontothe challengesfacedbyfarmersinwater-scarceandresourcelimited areas. By utilizing solar energy and the principles of thermodynamics and vacuum creation, the system provides an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and low-maintenance alternative to traditional diesel and electric-poweredirrigationpumps.
Thissystemsignificantlyreducestheoperational costsfor farmers while also minimizing their carbon footprint. Its simple design, relying on readily available materials such
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN:2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 10 | Oct 2024 www.irjet.net p-ISSN:2395-0072
asconcavemirrorsandablack-coloredcontainer,makesit accessible and scalable for different agricultural settings. Additionally, the system’s ability to improve water supply reliability contributes to enhanced agricultural productivity,helpingtoensurefoodsecurity.
The proposed irrigation system supports sustainable farming practices by offering a cleaner, more affordable, and efficient irrigation method. With further research and development, this system can be adapted for various climatesandregions,providingawide-reachingimpacton globalagriculture.
By addressing the dual challenges of environmental sustainability and cost-efficiency, this system holds the potential to revolutionize irrigation practices, particularly forsmall-scalefarmersinremoteareas.
References
1. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) "Solar Pumping for Irrigation: Improving Energy AccessandWaterManagement."IRENA,2016
2. Chandel, S. S., et al. "Review of Solar Photovoltaic Water Pumping System Technology for Irrigation and Community Drinking Water Supplies." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 49,2015,pp.1084-1099.
3. A. F. Tola, B. D. Odugbose, O. B. Olatunde, H. O. Adeyemi,B.O.AdetifaandA.A.Babalola.“DESIGN OF SOLAR POWERED WATER PUMPING SYSTEM FOR IRRIGATION IN RURAL FARM DWELLINGS.” ResearchGate,2020