Performance of wind-electric and solar-PV water pumping systems for watering livestock

Conference · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:372137

Vick, B D; Clark, R N ^[1]

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1. USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Bushland, TX (United States). Conservation and Production Research Lab.

The water pumping performance of two wind-electric systems is compared to the water pumping performance of two solar-PV systems. The wind-electric systems were rated at 1.0 kW and 1.5 kW at a wind speed of about 12 m/s, and the rotor diameters were 2.75 m and 3.05 m, respectively. The solar-PV systems were rated at 0.1 kW and 0.9 kW at a radiation level of about 1,000 W/m{sup 2}, and the total solar panel surface areas were 1 and 17 m{sup 2}, respectively. Both wind-electric systems powered 3 phase 230 V AC induction motors with centrifugal pumps. The smaller of the solar-PV systems powered a DC motor with a diaphragm pump, and the larger one powered a single phase 230 V AC induction motor with a centrifugal pump. Only a well pumping depth of 30 m was evaluated for both wind-electric and solar-PV water pumping systems. The 0.1 kW and the 0.9 kW solar water pumping systems can provide enough water for 25 and 75 cattle, respectively, if the incident solar radiation is similar to that of Bushland, TX. The 1.0 kW and 1.5 kW wind-electric water pumping systems can provide enough water for 300 and 400 cattle, respectively, if the wind regime is similar to that of Bushland, TX.

• OSTI ID: 372137
• Report Number(s): CONF-960154--; ISBN 0-9648731-8-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
17 WIND ENERGY
AGRICULTURE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
PERFORMANCE
SOLAR WATER PUMPS
TEXAS
WIND TURBINES