Optimal pump selection for large-scale irrigation systems

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5189336

Buchleiter, G W

A general computer program was developed to provide recommendations for improving the water and energy management on a branched irrigation distribution pipeline network with a single source and multiple pump stations. The program has three main parts: (1) irrigation scheduling, (2) hydraulic model for the determination of head and flow requirements for any desired irrigation schedule, and (3) optimal pump selection that supplies the head and flow requirements. Irrigation scheduling provides recommendations for irrigating each field served by the distribution network. The hydraulic model calculates the flow and head required at each pump station to satisfy any irrigation schedule desired by the user. The pump-selection algorithm recommends the pump combination at each pump station, which gives the lowest total energy cost for the farm. The program was field tested on a 4850 ha. farm in north central Oregon for two irrigation seasons. Preliminary estimates indicate that energy costs can be reduced by at least 20% by operating the most economical pump combinations. Additional savings are possible by applying only the water required by the crop, by rearranging irrigation schedules to reduce peak electrical demands, and taking advantage of lower electrical-demand charges during off-peak time periods.

• Research Organization: Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5189336
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320300* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990220 -- Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs-- (1987-1989)
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DECISION MAKING
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
IRRIGATION
MANAGEMENT
OFF-PEAK POWER
POWER
PUMPS
WATER PUMPS
WATER REQUIREMENTS