Journals Information
Universal Journal of Engineering Science(CEASE PUBLICATION) Vol. 7(1), pp. 8 - 19
DOI: 10.13189/ujes.2019.070102
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Sizing of Solar Water Pumping System for Irrigation of Oil Palm Plantation in Abia State
Idorenyin Markson 1, Simeon Ozuomba 2,*, Iniobong Edifon Abasi-Obot 3
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Uyo, Nigeria
2 Department of Electrical/Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Uyo, Nigeria
3 Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
In this paper, sizing of solar water pumping system for irrigation of oil palm plantation in Abia State, Nigeria was presented. The relevant meteorological data for the case study site were obtained from the NASA website. The daily water requirements for the oil palm trees were determined and the pumping system was simulated using PVSyst software. According to the results, the annual water demand for the oil palm plantation was 14636 m3 but the pumping system was able to supply about 12251 m3 of water which was equivalent to a missing water of about 16.3% per year. Based on the missing water, the month of February was identified as the critical month with the lowest water supply to the plants. Furthermore, when the rainwater capture on the palm plantation was also considered along with the solar pumped water, it was found that in the month of February, the grown-up yielding oil palm trees can still get their required maximum daily water requirement of 200 liters per day while the older palm trees can get their daily water requirement of 338.55 liters/day. In essence, the shortfalls in the irrigation water pumping system can be supplied by the rainwater. In all, the solar-powered pumping system and the rainwater capture in the oil palm plantation can effectively meet the water need of the oil palm trees in the case study plantation.
KEYWORDS
Solar Energy, Water Pump, River-to-Storage Pump, PVSyst Software, Renewable Energy
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Idorenyin Markson , Simeon Ozuomba , Iniobong Edifon Abasi-Obot , "Sizing of Solar Water Pumping System for Irrigation of Oil Palm Plantation in Abia State," Universal Journal of Engineering Science(CEASE PUBLICATION), Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 8 - 19, 2019. DOI: 10.13189/ujes.2019.070102.
(b). APA Format:
Idorenyin Markson , Simeon Ozuomba , Iniobong Edifon Abasi-Obot (2019). Sizing of Solar Water Pumping System for Irrigation of Oil Palm Plantation in Abia State. Universal Journal of Engineering Science(CEASE PUBLICATION), 7(1), 8 - 19. DOI: 10.13189/ujes.2019.070102.