Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

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

Journal Article · · Journal of Solar Energy Engineering
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2871780· OSTI ID:438764
;  [1]
  1. 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 three-phase 230 V a-c induction motors with centrifugal pumps. The smaller of the solar-PV systems powered a d-c motor with a diaphragm pump, and the larger one powered a single phase 230 V a-c 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.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
438764
Journal Information:
Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Solar Energy Engineering Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 118; ISSN JSEEDO; ISSN 0199-6231
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English