Variable speed pumps for agricultural irrigation: an approach to energy conservation. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6066051

Constant speed electric motors, used to drive the pumps account for approximately 1/3 of the energy consumed to irrigate crops (0.26 quad Btu-total consumption). Electric variable speed pumping systems (EVSPS), although not commonly used on the farm today, could save a considerable amount of energy if they were utilized. There are very few farms where energy consumption cannot be reduced by using EVSPS rather than the commonly used induction motor or Electric Constant Speed Pumping System (ECSPS). One major deterrent to using the more energy efficient EVSPS is the fact that the initial system cost can be as much as four times greater than the equivalent horsepower ECSPS. Detailed economic study shows that in spite of this large cost differential, there are significant numbers of farms that can use EVSPS, reduce energy consumption and apply the dollar savings against the purchase price to achieve a reasonable payback.

• Research Organization: Foster-Miller, Inc., Waltham, MA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG01-78CS40188
• OSTI ID: 6066051
• Report Number(s): DOE/CS/40188-T1; ON: DE85007861
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
AGRICULTURE
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC MOTORS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
INDUSTRY
IRRIGATION
MOTORS
PERFORMANCE