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Based on the experience with the temporary pyramids we knew that an elevation of 2.5 m provided sufficient pressure to tapstands up to 500 m away (later confirmed with hydraulic calculations of head loss in pipelines). Although we were switching to more permanent storage we could not easily increase the height beyond 2.5 m using our preferred design. United Water New York Conceptual Design Report Haverstraw Water Supply Project Black & Veatch Project No. 146323 Page. 1 Section 3. Raw Water Supply and Storage 3.1 Plant Capacity and Flow The water treatment plant will be constructed in three (3) phases with an initial production capacity of 2.5. System very carefully as well as the liquid to be conveyed. Pipe systems have always special characterstics and must be closely inspected for the choice of the appropriate pump. Details as to considerations of pipe systems are given in Chapter 6, 'Design of pumps'.
DESIGN AND COST ANALYSIS OF A 0.75 kW SOLAR POWERED WATER PUMPING SYSTEM
1Nwobi E.U. 2 Ajide O.O. and 3 Abu R.
1 CHEVRON Nigeria Limited, Nigeria.
2,3 Department of Mechanical Engineering ,University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Corresponding Author email 1 : emchunwobi24@yahoo.co.uk
Solar powered systems have been built for various applications ranging from public lighting to water supply units. Robust efforts have not been made in the systematic study of the effectiveness and viability of such systems as it applies to the Nigerian techno-economic situation. The objective of this study is to design a solar photovoltaic (PV) powered water supply system for rural areas in Nigeria using Onipe, a village in Ibadan without electric grid connection as a case study. The methodology adopted for this study involves field survey and detail system design and analysis. The design of the solar powered system was based on the estimated daily water supply rate of
15,000 litres with a view to obtaining a cost-effective and energy-efficient system to drive it. A review of pump technologies, alternative energy applications in some parts of the world and an assessment of the potentials of various alternative energy technologies in Nigeria and particularly in the study location was undertaken. The data gathered from the location which include the required water supply capacity and the likely depth of the borehole were applied in the design. This depth was estimated by a geo-physical survey using Vertical Electric Sounding (VES) techniques. Pipe sizing, pump sizing, power supply design and protective devices selection were all carried out during the design of the system. Finally, a cost-comparison analysis between the solar-powered system and generator powered system was done using Life-Cycle costing and analysis. Results obtained from the study showed that a 0.75 kW solar powered unit can supply the desired water quantity. Comparing the power supply costs of both systems over a 20-year life cycle showed that
the generator powered system has a present value cost of over two times ( ≥ 200 % )that of the
solar powered unit. In addition, the annual Carbon dioxide emission tonnage from the generator
powered system is estimated to be about 3.2 tonnes whereas the solar powered system is emission free. The outcome of this study will find useful modularization applications in villages with similar characteristics and can also be easily adjusted to fit larger or smaller sized communities.
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There is growing concern among researchers on the exploitation and application of renewable energy for provision of basic needs in the villages and rural communities where there is very little or no access to national grid supply. This concern is necessitated from the fact that the present use of fuel generator is not only expensive but the associated intense emissions of carbon oxide gases constitute environmental threat. Several studies have demonstrated how renewable energy can be provided at a more economical level in a way that it can be easily affordable and practically implementable in the poor rural communities. The Sun, wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal have been identified as the prominent renewable energy sources capable of meeting energy needs of rural dwellers (Ijeoma, 2012). Extensive studies revealed that solar energy is greatly employed in the world rural communities to provide electricity for lighting and in the most recent time, as energy source for heating systems and provision of basic amenities such as water pumping systems.
Numerous research efforts have been made in the application of solar photovoltaic (PV) for water pumping systems. Different programmes are now available for training personnel in acquiring skills necessary for installation of solar PV for water pumping systems. Barbosa et al. (2000) studied a partnership experience between a University and hydroelectric power plant on solar PV water pumping systems installation training programme. They further corroborates the growing acceptance of solar PV for water pumping systems. Solar powered water pumping has the potential to bring sustainable supplies of potable water (Short and Thompson, 2003). Equally, Khattab et al. (2011) paper focused on the implementation of solar technologies on the development of rural communities. Their paper satisfactorily described how solar technologies can be utilized to provide basic needs such as clean water. The use of photovoltaic has been considered as one of the most promising applications for water pumping system. Ghoneim (2006) carried out a design optimization of photovoltaic powered water pumping systems. The author developed a computer simulation program which helped in determining the performance of the solar PV system in the Kuwait climate. The author’s study showed that a newly developed motor-pump model can be used reliably in designing and calculating the long term performance of a PV water pumping system. Wong and Sumathy (1999) reported that some efforts have been made by research scientists in exploring solar PV for irrigation water pumping for farm activities. Hamidat et al. (2003) work focused on small-scale irrigation with photovoltaic water pumping system. They were able to develop a suitable PV system for irrigation of two selected stations in Sahara regions of Algeria.
The findings showed that for low heads, the possibility of using photovoltaic water pumping system
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for small scale irrigation of crops in Algerian Sahara regions was enormous. Glasnovic and
Margeta (2007) have also developed a model for sizing of photovoltaic irrigation water pumping systems. From the previous works, there is no doubt that the application of solar PV has made a great impact in Agricultural practices through irrigation system especially during the dry season when there is low volume of rainfall or total drought .
The provisions of potable water supply remain a recurring challenge in rural communities. The importance of clean and hygienic water supply cannot be over emphasized in the efforts of any country to improve the health status of her citizens and reduce all water borne diseases to the barest minimum. Solar PV has been found to be a useful energy resource for providing functioning pumping water system in rural communities. A study which focuses on the application of Photovoltaic in the design of pumping system for drinking water has been carried out (Ammar et al.
2007). Hrayshat (2004) work has also shown the application of solar energy technology for water pumping system. In the study, ten sites in Jordan were selected based on the available data. Results obtained from the study showed that there is interesting potential for solar water pumping system in some stations in Jordan. In the same vein, the work of Al-Ibrahim et al. (1998) is on the design procedure for selecting an optimum photovoltaic pumping system in a solar domestic hot water system. A pilot study on the application of solar energy for domestic drinking water in India government houses was carried out by Akshat (2013). In the work, a DC pump was selected as way of reducing the initial cost of solar pumping system. This is because DC pumps uses one third to one half of the energy of a conventional AC pump. Findings from the study showed that a DC centrifugal pump could be selected to give a maximum flow rate of 8 litres per minute at approximately 14.5 watts of power. The system performance is considered satisfactory when kept on ground level where it will pump the water to a water storage tank at an approximate height of 15 feet from the ground. This paper is indeed a good contribution to the literature and has provides illumination on how to explore solar energy for pumping water at minimal cost. The study of Abdeen (2001), Maurya et al. (2013), Ahmad et. al (2014) and many other works have shown the enormous applications of solar PV in the provision of drinking water for rural dwellers.
Extensive literature review shows that robust efforts have not been made in Nigeria in the exploitation of solar PV for water pumping system to a satisfactory level. However, the effort of some researchers in the study that bothers on application of solar PV for provision of drinking water in rural areas of Nigeria is commendable. For instance, Yahya and Sambo (1995) carried out a study on design and installation of solar PV powered water pumping system at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. They successfully presented the outcome of powering a
conventional A.C. type water pump by photovoltaic solar modules. The installed solar PV system
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was tested and its results showed a satisfactory performance of the system. In the contribution of
Bolaji and Adu (2007), a design analysis was done on the practicability of adapting solar PV system for rural applications in Nigeria. Although there are some other research efforts on how solar PV pumping system could be used successfully in Nigeria, the efforts are however insignificant when compared to numerous water supply problems encountered in Nigeria rural communities. In addition, Nigeria is far behind in the area of provision of potable water for her citizens by means of Solar PV pumping system.
Therefore, this study is aimed to contribute to a study that focuses on the effective and efficient use of Solar PV pumping system in Nigeria rural communities. The general objective of this study is to design and implement a solar photovoltaic (PV) powered water supply system for rural areas in Nigeria using Onipe, a village in Ibadan without electric grid connection as a case study.
In the Design of a Solar PV powered water supply system, the following preliminary works were undertaken:
• Determination of the water requirements
• Establishment of water availability
• Determination of characteristics of the water source (depth, quality, drawdown)
• Amount of solar insolation available for given location
The above listed parameters were used to determine the capacity of pump required and consequently the amount of energy needed to power the system. The solar insolation value was obtained from readily available data from previous studies.
Onipe is a village in Oluyole local government area of Oyo state in Nigeria occupying a land mass of about 4,500 square metres (excluding farmlands). It is situated along Ijebu-Ode road on the way out of Ibadan. The community is mostly an agrarian one with a population of about 1,200 inhabitants split into about 250 households. The villagers engage in farming both for subsistence and commercial purposes and depend on the rainy season for irrigation of their farmlands. A survey of about 30 households in the community revealed the average daily water consumption per household to be about 200 litres. Being within 15 kilometers radius from Ibadan city center, the average daily insolation values for Ibadan was used for this design. Table 1 shows the average
insolation values on a monthly basis over a one-year period.
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Table 1: Monthly Insolation values for Ibadan (Measured in kWh/m2/day onto a horizontal surface)
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
5.45 5.64 5.57 5.27 5.00 4.49 3.93 3.73 4.05 4.65 5.06 5.30
Source : Solar Electricity Handbook
(http://www.solarelectricityhandbook.com/solarirradiance.html)
From the Table 1, the annual average value for the location is 4.85 kWh/m2/day and this was used in the design of the solar power supply system. The availability of water bodies close by and the existence of other functional borehole systems in the area was a reasonable pointer to the viability of the aquifer. For the design, however, a geo-physical survey using the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) system was done to obtain an estimate of the borehole depth. This information is important for an optimal design of the power supply system as well as selection of the borehole pump.
A survey of 30 households in Onipe community indicated that the average household used about
200 litres of water per day for drinking, cooking, washing and other domestic purposes. This value amounts to a daily consumption of about 50000 litres per day for 250 households. To locate a productive site for the development of a borehole, a geophysical/hydro geological survey using Horizontal Electrical Profile Line and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) was conducted within the study area. From the survey carried out, the estimated depth of the borehole was put at between 45 and 50 metres. The actual yield of the borehole could not be ascertained (because this can only be confirmed from a well test done after drilling). An assumption here is that the borehole will be able
to yield at least 3.0 m3/h . This would fulfill the water needs of the system as designed. A two-day
storage capacity to hold the water needs of the system as designed was also considered. The reason for this is to have a buffer in the event of cloudy days, rainy days and days of poor insolation. Again, the target water supply volume was estimated at 20% of the total water consumption which would be specifically potable water for drinking and cooking. According to the United Nations Water Federated Water Monitoring System, the average drinking water needs of an individual ranges between 2-4 litres daily. Hence using the upper limit value for Onipe which has a population
of about 1,200, the estimated drinking water needs would be 4,800 litres per day. This amounts to
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Download free converter jpg to pdf filemarcus reid. about 10% of the total daily water consumption. An additional 10% in the design is expected to
take care of some of the cooking water needs of the community.
The hourly water output of the system which is essential to pump sizing was calculated using the daily water supply capacity of the system and the daily sun hours. The daily sun hours is a value derived from the average daily insolation values for Ibadan (see Table 1). The formula applied is:
𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 =
𝑆𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (1)
𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 = 200 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑠 = 250
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦 = 250 × 200
= 50,000 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦
Design capacity is 20% of total water consumption:
0.2 × 50,000 = 10,000 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦
For a 2 day storage capacity, we opt to have a daily water supply rate of 75% total holding capacity
to allow for 25% redundancy in storage capacity:
10,000 × 2 × 0.75 = 15,000 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦
Hence the borehole system will be designed to produce a minimum of 15,000 litres of water daily.
The average sun hours per day in Ibadan is 4.85 hours (see Table 1) Hence:
15,000
4.85 = 3092.78 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
≅ 3.10 𝑚3 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
Hence a borehole yield of at least 3.10 𝑚3/ℎ
The power supply system adopted was a system with a direct connection from the solar arrays to the pump. No inverters or battery banks were incorporated in the design. This is to keep the system
as simple and basic as possible and to eliminate costs and the technical expertise associated with the
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installation and maintenance of a battery-backup system. Since the location of the water supply
system is in a rural area, it is best to make it able to run for a long time with little or no intervention by way of maintenance or repairs. The use of a direct-connect system which has a direct current output also means a direct current (pump) was used in the design. With the power requirement for the water pump known, the number of solar panels making up the solar array can be determined. Many PV panel manufacturers recommend an increase of the minimum peak power value by 25% to account for any potential reduction in power due to high heat, dust, age and cloud cover or
reduced insolation.
Thus:
𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 × 1.25 (2)
While selecting the solar panels, a higher voltage system was preferred in order to reduce energy losses and cost of bigger wire sizes which accompany higher current systems. To achieve this, solar panels which normally come in voltage ratings of 12, 24 and 48 volts are connected in series to obtain this higher voltage and a reduced current. The total system voltage and power are given by equations 3 and 4;
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3 +. … … … … . +𝑉𝑛 (3)
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝑃1 + 𝑃2 + 𝑃3+. … … … … . +𝑃𝑛 (4)
Where;
n=number of solar panels in the array
V= Maximum voltage rating of each panel
P= Rated power output of each panel
Also the maximum current of the array was calculated thus;
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑦
𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑦 = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑦 (5)
The power, voltage and current characteristics of the solar array were matched with the operating parameters of the pump.
A direct current pump was used with a power rating of approximately 600 Watts. Each solar panel could range between 12 Volts and 48 Volts. To provide a power supply of 600 Watts and 96 Volts, four 24 Volts panel or six 16 Volts panels are used.
Applying equation 2 to include the 25% incremental design allowance for optimal power
generation;
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𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 600 × 1.25
𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 750 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠
A solar array with a power capacity of 750 Watts was used for the system. For an array of four 24
Volts panels, the power for each panel is: 750 = 187.5 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠
4
For an array of six 16 Volts panels, the power for each panel is:
750
6 = 125 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠
Using a petrol generator for this system, it is rational to reduce the operational hours per day as well as the storage capacity in order to prolong the life of the generator and to have a practical system. For this design, the storage capacity is 10,000 litres, which is the daily water use for the system, since the power supply, unlike the solar powered system, is available on demand. Free hdmi cable with every. The operational hours was scaled down to two hours which implies a higher pumping rate and a pump with higher power rating. An alternating current (AC) pump was used for this system and this imposes another additional power requirement for the motor starting current. Sizing a generator to meet the power needs of an AC pump requires that the power supply from the generator must be sufficient to provide the higher starting current drawn by the pump’s AC motor during start-up. This current varies between 5 to 8 times the normal running current. Due to various start-up systems which tends to reduce this in-rush current, typical AC motor start-up power requirements are within 2 times the nominal power of the motor.
Assuming a 2-hour daily operational period, the new hourly rate is calculated thus:
𝐻𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 =
10000
2 = 5000 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠/ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
The new hourly rate is thus 5 m3/ hour; using this value to estimate the hydraulic power:
𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑑 =
𝜌 × 𝑔 × 𝑄 × 𝐻
3600 × 1000 (6)
𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑑 =
1000 × 9.82 × 5 × 58
3600 × 1000
𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑑 = 0.791 𝑘𝑊
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The hydraulic power required to pump 10000 litres of water in 2 hours is approximately 0.8 kW.
Assuming mechanical losses of 15%,
the required power for the motor-pump unit is = 1.15 × 0.8 = 0.92 𝑘𝑊
Thus a pump rated at 0.92 kW (about 1.2 hp) is required for the system. For ease of procurement, a
1.5 hp pump is used for this system. The generator for this system is rated at 2 times the nominal power of the pump. Hence:
𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 2 × 1.12 (1.12 kW = 1.5 hp) = 2.24 𝑘𝑊
A 2.3 kW generator is used to supply the energy required by this system.
The analysis was carried out using Life Cycle Costing (LCC) as this method captures every part of the useful duration of the system from procurement to disposal. When used as a comparison tool between possible design alternatives, the LCC process shows the most cost-effective solution within the limits of the available data. The cost elements considered, however, are those that are directly related to the provision of energy to the water supply system. Other cost elements such as wiring, storage and support systems are considered fixed for the two systems and thus add little or no value to a comparative analysis. Equation 7 shows the life cycle costing of a pump used in an industrial process. For the purpose of this study, certain cost elements would be removed since they may not apply directly to the problem at hand.
𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝐶𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 𝐶𝑖𝑐 + 𝐶𝑖𝑛 + 𝐶𝑒 + 𝐶𝑜 + 𝐶𝑚 + 𝐶𝑠 + 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑣 + 𝐶𝑑 (7)
Where:
𝐶𝑖𝑐 = Initial costs, purchase price (pump, system, pipe, auxiliary services)
𝐶𝑖𝑛 = Installation and commissioning cost (including training)
𝐶𝑒 = Energy costs (predicted cost for system operation)
𝐶𝑜 = Operation costs (labour cost of normal system supervision)
𝐶𝑚 = Maintenance and repair costs (routine and predicted repairs)
𝐶𝑠 = Down time costs (loss of production)
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𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑣 = Environmental costs (contamination from pumped liquid and auxiliary equipment)
𝐶𝑑 = Decommissioning/disposal costs (including restoration of the local environment)
The cost elements applicable directly to making a comparative analysis between a generator-
powered unit and solar powered unit pumping unit and a solar powered pumping unit are:
i. The initial costs ii. Energy costs
iii. Maintenance and repair costs iv. Environmental costs
v. Replacement costs (Not included above)*
(The Life cycle period is 20 years and pump replacement will occur within that period) The equation for the Life Cycle Cost Analysis of these two systems is thus:
𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝐶𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 𝐶𝑖𝑐 + 𝐶𝑒 + 𝐶𝑚 + 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑣 + 𝐶𝑟 (8)
Where:
𝐶𝑟 = 𝑅𝑒𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑠.
The actual future cash flow of costs occurring annually and at specified times in the future during
the system’s life cycle were projected using the future value as illustrated in equation (9):
𝐹 = 𝑃𝑉(1 + 𝑖)𝑛 (9)
Where:
F= Future worth; PV= Present value (worth); i= Interest Rate (Inflation rate); n= Number of Years. To achieve a common basis for comparison, the present worth of the sum of all future values was
calculated using equation (10):
𝐹
𝑃𝑉 = (1 + 𝑖)𝑛 (10)
Where: F=Future value; PV=Present value; i=discount rate (rate of inflation); n=number of years
This present worth and the initial cost are presented as the total system cost.
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Fig. 1 shows a one-line electrical diagram of the 800 Watts, 96 volts solar power unit used for the water supply system. In this option, four 200W/24V solar panels are connected in series (800 Watts is used for practical reasons- 200 Watts panels are more readily available commercially). The water cut-off switch is automatically set to disconnect power from the pump when the water in the tank gets to a preset level. The charge controller or solar pump controller includes a low water level cut- off switch to protect the pump from damage in the event of drop in the borehole’s water level below the suction of the pump.
Based on the calculated water storage capacity of 15,000 litres (3750 gallons), four 1000-gallon plastic tanks were selected for the water storage system. Fig. 2 shows arrangement of the storage and support system. The height at which the tanks are stored is 4 metres.
Solar array
Water Tank
Stanchion
Charge controller
Water Tap
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Solar Panels Use water to carry out a light shower wash Quarterly of the panel’s surface
Solar Controller Check the controller box for any signs of wear Every six months to the protective cover
Wiring Inspect cable insulation for wear and tear Every six months
Piping Check for leaks (Leaks upstream of the tank can Weekly
Reduce system efficiency considerably
Table 2 is a maintenance routine suggested for this system. From the Table 2, it can be seen that there is minimal maintenance required over the life of the equipment. Unlike what is obtainable in a generator powered system, where the generator has to be maintained through a more labour and cost intensive approach (Regular changing of lubricating oil and worn parts), this system requires little or no expertise to maintain. The cost analysis showed that the life-cycle cost of the petrol generator-powered system is 200% that of the Solar-powered system excluding cost of storage, wiring and support structures, which are invariably the same for both systems. The Life-Cycle cost analysis looks at the costs that would vary over time based on the power supply system adopted. The other cost component of the system (about N 1,972,120), is fixed and as such has only an initial cost component.
In this study, the following conclusions can be made:
This design provides a model that can be applied to any stand-alone solar-powered water supply system, especially in the rural areas of Nigeria.
The environmental benefits of using solar energy for this project can also be visualized by considering the potential Carbon dioxide emission removed from the atmosphere. The generator-powered system is expected to pour out an estimated Carbon dioxide emission of about 3,204 Kilograms per annum to the environment while the solar-powered system is carbon free.
With the cost implications of the generator-powered system which mainly come from maintenance and fuelling, its sustainability is low compared to the solar-powered system which requires little periodic maintenance. Though the solar-powered system has a higher
Introduction to Chemical Engineering. Course Rationale for 1st Semester 2010-2011 (Uploaded 08 June 2010) Schedule of Lectures for 1st Semester 2010-2011 (Uploaded 12 June 2010) Part 1. Fundamental Concepts in Chemical Engineering Calculations Lecture 1. Chemical Engineering Calculations Made Easy! This course includes video and text explanations of the fundamentals in chemical engineering, and it includes more than 40 worked through examples with easy-to-understand explanations. 'Introduction to Chemical Engineering' is organized into two main sections: Chemical engineering; Calculus. Course materials che 31. introduction to chemical engineering processes.
initial cost of over 250% when compared to that of the generator-powered system, its
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overall functionality and life-cycle benefits overshadow that initial cost and makes it down
as a more cost-efficient and technically viable alternative to the generator-powered system.
The system designed in this study uses a 750 Watts solar array to supply 15,000 litres of clean water per day in an area without electricity grid connection.
[1] Abdeen M.O. (2001), Solar water pumping clean water for Sudan areas. Renewable
Energy,Vol.24, pp.245-258.
[2] Ahmad A.S.,Didik H.P. , Didit S.P. and Nurul H.(2014), Development of a solar water pumping system in Karsts rural area, Tepus, Gunungkidul through student community services, Energy Procedia,Vol.47,pp.7-14.
[3] Akshat A. (2013), Solar energy for domestic drinking water- A pilot study. International Journal of
ChemTech Research, CODEN (USA),Vol.5, No.2,pp.811-814.
[4] Al-Ibrahim A.M.,Bechman W.A.,Klein S.A. and Mitchell J.W.(1998), Design procedure for selecting an optimum photovoltaic pumping system in a solar domestic hot water system. Solar Energy,Vol.64, Nos.4-6,pp.227-239.
[5] Ammar M.,Ali A.A. and Ala A.J.A. (2007), A PV pumping station for drinking water in a remote residential complex. Desalination, Vol.209, pp.58-63.
[6] Barbosa E.M.,Tiba C., Salviano C.J.C., Carvalho A.M. and Lyra M.F.(2000), Photovoltaic water pumping systems installer training: a partnership experience between the University and Sao Franscisco hydroelectric power plant. Renewable Energy, Vol.21, pp.187-205.
[7] Bolaj B.O. and Adu M.R.(2007), Design analysis of a photovoltaic pumping system for rural application in Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Science, Environment and Technology, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria, Series B., Vol.6 (2),pp.120-130.
[8] Ghoneim A.A. (2005), Design optimisation of Photovoltaic powered water pumping systems.
Energy Conversion and Management, Vol.47,pp.1449-1463.
[9] Hamidat A.,Benyoucef B. and Hartani T.(2003), Small-Scale irrigation with photovoltaic water pumping system in sahara regions. Renewable Energy, Vol.28, pp.1081-1096.
[10] Hrayshat S.E. and Al-soud S.M.(2004), Potential of solar energy development for water pumping in Jordan. Renewable Energy, Vol.29, pp.1393-1399.
[11] Ijeoma V.A.(2012), Renewable energy potentials in Nigeria. Porto, International Association for
Impact Assessment.
[12] Kala M.,Sadrul U. and Steven B.(2008), Solar photovoltaic water pumping- opportunities and challenges, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,Vol.12,pp.1162-1175.
[13] Khattab N.M.,Soliman H.,Metias M.,EI-Seesy I.,Metattawee E.,El-Shenawy E. and Hassan
M.(2011), Implementation of solar technologies in the development of rural, remote and sub urban
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communities. International Journal of Thermal & Environmental Engineering,Vol.3, No.2, pp.59-
66.
[14] Maurya V.N.,Arora D.K.,Maurya E.A.K. and Gautan R.A.(2013), Numerical Simulation and Design parameters in solar photovoltaic water pumping systems. American Journal of Engineering Technology,Vol.1, No.1,pp.1-9.
[15] Short T.D. and Thompson P.(2003), Breaking the mould: Solar water pumping-the challenges and the reality. Solar Energy,Vol.75, pp.1-9.
[16] Solar Electricity Handbook (http://www.solarelectricityhandbook.com/solarirradiance.html).
[17] Wong Y.W. and Sumathy K. (1999), Solar thermal water pumping systems : a review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol.3,pp.185-217.
[18] Yahya H.N. and Sambo A.S.(1995), Design and Installation of solar photovoltaic powered water pumping system at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. Renewable Energy, Vol.6, No.3,pp.311-312.
[19] Zvonimir G. and Jure M.(2007), A model for optimal sizing of photovoltaic irrigation water
pumping systems. Solar Energy,Vol. 81, pp.904-916.
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Alternative Water Supplies are supplies other than groundwater and surface water. Frequently, they are “reused” supplies, meaning they were potable water supplies that were captured for use individually or system-wide after being used once.
Here are a few quick definitions to begin:
Recycled Water | Gray water | Storm water | Desalinated Water |
Heavily treated wastewater that is used for irrigation, groundwater replenishment and as a subsurface barrier against seawater intrusion; typically in California, recycled water is used for irrigation | Household wastewater, including water from the washing machine, shower, bathroom sinks, that is captured and reused, but excluding blackwater, which is water from toilets and kitchen sinks; commonly referred to as 'lightly used' water | Runoff from precipitation (rain or snowmelt) that flows overland; may mobilize pollutants and is better to capture on site to replenish groundwater | Ocean or brackish water that has had the salt removed to make it potable; two primary methods are used worldwide, but in the United States, reverse osmosis is most frequently used |
Learning Objectives
After reading this section, you should be able to:
- Analyze the water supply portfolio for several geographic locales in terms of the likelihood of adding an alternative water supply
- Differentiate among types of alternative supplies and their appropriateness, given different situations
Recycled Water
You may hear “recycled water” used in a variety of ways in the United States and abroad. In California, specifically, there is some confusion in terminology. Changes to a variety of codes occurred in 1995 when “recycled water” became the term of choice rather than “reclaimed water.” These are essentially the same thing. Regulations for the level of treatment for various uses are in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
What happens to wastewater when it leaves your house? It travels through a series of larger and larger pipes to a wastewater treatment facility. Alternatively, if you live rurally, your wastewater may be held and separated in a septic tank on your own property. Wastewater that has undergone primary treatment has had the solids removed. Wastewater that has undergone secondary treatment has had organic materials removed through biological processes. Secondary treated wastewater can be used for groundwater recharge and irrigation. Water that has undergone tertiary treatment has undergone sedimentation, chemical flocculation, and filtration. As you might imagine, water that has undergone tertiary treatment has a range of uses, even those involving body contact, such as recreational use in lakes, as well as irrigation.
Recycled water has only system-wide applications in that individual homes are not creating and using recycled water. You may be familiar with recycled water for irrigation of golf courses, medians, but it also can be used for groundwater recharge, including to act as a seawater intrusion barrier. Orange County Water District treats recycled water in a three-step process of microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet treatment. The treated water is then injected into the groundwater basin. The water serves as a barrier against the intrusion of ocean water into the aquifer.
Recycled water seems like an important source to add to a water supply portfolio. After all, what community in California wouldn't want a reliable source of water for irrigation of landscapes? And what coastal community wouldn't want water to inject into the ground as a barrier of seawater intrusion. Overall, recycled water can decrease the demand for potable water by providing an addition to a water supply portfolio. But recycled water is expensive. Next to desalination, it is one of the most expensive options out there (think of the treatment costs!). Like many aspects of infrastructure, recycled water is politically appealing to residents, but the added costs are not.
Gray water
Certainly, the water that you drink, wash your clothes in, and use to bathe needs to be potable. But what about the water that you flush your toilets with? What about the water that you irrigate with? The premise of gray water use is that not all water that we use on a daily basis needs to be potable. Keeping this in mind, you then have to consider what can be reused in your indoor water use.
Wastewater from toilets and wastewater from the kitchen sink both contain bacteria from feces or meats. But wastewater from a washing machine can be reused without many concerns, assuming diapers are not washed or clothes are not highly soiled, greasy or contaminated.
The easiest gray water system to construct is called “Laundry to Landscape.” Wastewater from the washing machine is directed to a drip irrigation system outside the house. Water isn’t stored in any fashion - when you run a load of clothes in the wash, you are irrigating with the wastewater directly afterwards. You can see that you would need to time your laundry - washing everything on Sunday would lead to too much water for irrigation. Doing a load of wash every other day might be enough water for irrigation in the summer.
What do you need in order to have a simple Laundry to Landscape system?
- Your washing machine should be located close to an exterior wall in order to run a pipe to the outside of the house
- Your house should be slightly above the area that you are irrigating so you can use gravity to direct the water to the drip system and the plants without a pump (though pumps that remove water from washing machines can be powerful and enough to move water some distance);
- You need to have plants that can be irrigated with drip irrigation (shrubs or trees); and
- You need to install a diverter valve at the washing machine that would allow especially dirty loads of laundry to drain toward the sewer or septic tank and not into your irrigation system.
There are more complicated gray water systems that involve storing gray water in tanks and using pumps and filters, but most gray water practitioners agree that simple is best.
Here are some best practices in residential gray water systems:
- Don’t store gray water
- Minimize body contact with gray water
- Allow gray water to infiltrate the soil with drip irrigation, not pool on the surface
- Simple is better. Avoid pumps and filters.
- Install a diverter valve
- Match needs of plants
Please note that these are best practices, but not necessarily rules and regulations. Rules and regulations vary by city and county.
In a recent study of graywater systems in the Bay Area, it was noted that the most common problem in gray water systems was clogs, but this wasn't much of a surprise because most people reported performing no maintenance on the system. Plants were generally just as healthy as with a standard irrigation system and some were overwatered and some were under watered. Overall, people saw an average reduction in water use of 26%. There was at least one unintended consequence - with an abundance of water to irrigate, some people planted more plants and their irrigated area increased in size.
There are a number of institutional hurdles to expanding gray water use. The primary hurdle is one related to the construction of homes: homes are plumbed with intermingled graywater and blackwater. This means that the wastewater from the entire home is treated as blackwater and sent to the sewer or septic tank. Additionally, if you check the city, county and state code related to graywater, they are frequently contradictory. California code, Title 24, Part 6, Chapter 16 a, Part 1 establishes minimum requirements for gray water regulations. Additionally, AB 849 (Gatto) prohibits local jurisdictions from banning gray water. However, a city or county may impose additional regulations so that it becomes too complicated to establish gray water in the home. Furthermore, as you can imagine, setting up a gray water system relies on a knowledge base of basic plumbing and wastewater. It is probably not an overstatement to say that most customers try not to think about this.
Water Pump System Diagram
Misconception Alert!
Many people use “graywater” to refer to all sorts of alternative supplies, including recycled water and stormwater. This is simply incorrect, but a common misuse of language. Graywater must be water from indoor use that can be reused, typically for irrigation. It is not wastewater or stormwater.
Stormwater
Picture the last rain storm that you remember in Southern California. Was there gentle rain for a long time? Or was there a short burst of rainfall? When there is an entire day (or even just an afternoon) of gentle rain, the rain is usually able to infiltrate into the ground, and eventually recharge the aquifers beneath the surface. But much of the rainfall that we receive in California is in bursts with heavy downpours and then days, weeks, and even years of nothing. This type of heavy rain results in a lot of run off. Stormwater is run off that can be captured.
Stormwater becomes a problem when it encounters a lot of impervious surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete. These surfaces may hold visible pollutants (e.g., trash, dog poop) and invisible residues (e.g., pesticides, herbicides). When stormwater encounters impervious surfaces and pollutants, it turns can drain pollutants into storm drains and eventually the ocean.
What slows down stormwater? Vegetation and pervious surfaces. These sorts of textured surfaces allow water to infiltrate the soil. Parkways, the area in between the sidewalk and the street, can slow water from running off properties and into the street. Planter beds near downspouts can let water percolate rather than run into the street. Plants, whether shrubs, or groundcover, or even trees, can slow water down on slopes and hillsides.
What about rain barrels? Aren't they a good way to capture stormwater? Rain barrels are typically used on a residential site to capture water that comes off the roof through the rain gutters. In many parts of the country, rain barrels work well because the water needs of the plant correspond to the times when there are heavy rains. In much of California, the rainfall occurs in the cooler times of the year when the plant water needs are minimal. This means that water in a rain barrel must be stored for lengthy periods of time. And this is where we run into issues with creating the perfect habitat to breed mosquitoes - it’s still water available for irrigation, but it may be there for more than 4-7 days, which is all mosquitoes need to breed.
There are other (and better) ways to capture rainfall. On a small scale keeping vegetation on hillsides and parkways, directing downspouts to planter beds, and keeping lots of green plants will decrease stormwater run-off. On a larger scale, stormwater can be captured within a neighborhood. Several neighborhoods within Los Angeles are tackling this. Elmer Avenue in Los Angeles has a stormwater capture area. Catch basins with soft bottoms allow water to percolate into the groundwater rather than re-enter the stormwater system and get flushed into the ocean. There are also bioswales in the yards near the catch basin to slow the water and allow it to infiltrate rather than run off.
Desalination
You may hear desalination or “desal” frequently touted as the solution to all water supply problems. You may wonder why there are not more desalination plants around if it is such the perfect solution. Good question—read on.
2.5 Pump Design Water Supply System
There are two primary methods of desalination: thermal and membrane. In thermal desalination, water is heated in a boiling chamber, it then condenses in a dome, and collects in a chamber leaving all the salt behind. In membrane desalination, seawater is screened, filtered, and pushed through a reverse osmosis membrane under high pressure, and then the distilled water is treated to drinking water standards. These methodologies aren’t that complicated, but they do tend to use large amounts of energy, leading to a high cost.
For both methods of desalination, there are similar hurdles:
Seawater intake—Seawater needs to be removed from the ocean very carefully so as not to hurt plant and animal life. Typically, a speed slower than the ocean current is best.
Power consumption—Typically, the reverse osmosis process uses the most energy, which contributes to the highest costs
Brine—While brine can be returned to the ocean, most plants and animals thrive in a small range of salinities. There may be environmental consequences associated with creating areas of higher than normal salinity.
Santa Barbara, California, provides an interesting case study in desalination work. As a result of the drought in the 1980s, the City of Santa Barbara along with Montecito and Goleta constructed a desalination facility with a capacity of 7,500 acre-feet per year (AFY) with expansion to 10,000 AFY. Construction costs of $34 million were shared based on proportions of water provided for the City of Santa Barbara of 3,181 AFY, Montecito of 1,250 AFY and Goleta of 3,069 AFY.
By the time the desalination facility was built, the drought had ended and a period of heavy rainfall had begun. The plant operated for March, April, May and June of 1992 during and after a time of heavy rainfall. Then the desalination plant was put on standby. After it was paid off over 5 years, Goleta and Montecito decided not to renew the contract and subtracted desalination from their water supply portfolio.
Santa Barbara has recently decided to re-activate the desalination plant as the sole funder of this enterprise. The facility will produce 3,125 acre-feet per year or roughly 30% of Santa Barbara's water supply in a year. In terms of hurdles, the intake is 2,500 feet off shore with openings of 1 millimeter and takes in water at a rate of 0.5 feet per second, which is slower than the existing current. Additionally, the power consumption for reverse osmosis has decreased by 40% since the facility was designed. The brine has twice the salinity of seawater and will be discharged at an outfall shared with the wastewater treatment facility. A study was recently completed with Scripps Institute of Oceanography, which suggested the city can comply with discharge requirements.
It probably goes without saying, but let's say it anyway: desalination is more appropriate for coastal communities, such as Santa Barbara, San Diego or Santa Cruz. For an inland community to fund desalination, the inland community would also be evaluating an expensive pipeline to transport water or negotiating a water exchange with a coastal community in order to avoid building the pipeline. Proximity to the source is everything in desalination.
Alternative Supply | What is it? | What are the benefits? | What are the drawbacks? | System-wide Opportunities? |
Desalinated water | Potable water that was ocean or brackish water that has the salt removed to make it potable | A drought-proof supply | Generally, the most expensive source of supply. Disposal of the brine can be problematic. High energy use. | Yes |
Gray water | Non-potable household wastewater, including water from the washing machine, shower, bathroom sinks, that is held and reused; excludes blackwater, which is water from toilets and kitchen sinks | Cost-effective method for residential irrigation | Supply and demand must be balanced. Easy to end up with too much supply Water can contain pathogens. | No |
Recycled water | Non-potable water that is treated wastewater that is used for irrigation, groundwater replenishment and as a barrier against seawater intrusion | Non-potable use of water; can recharge groundwater | Expensive; requires separate plumbing system of purple pipes | Yes |
Stormwater | Non-potable water that is runoff from precipitation (rain or snowmelt) that flows overland; may mobilize pollutants | Can recharge groundwater | Must be captured, retained and allowed to percolate | Yes |
Try It!
- A coastal community in Southern California is considering diversifying its water supply with an alternative water supply. Which type of water supply is considered “drought-proof”? Why?
- An inland community is looking for an alternative supply to use for recharge. Which type of supplies make sense to use for recharge? Why?
Key Terms
Desalinated water—Potable water that was ocean or brackish water that has the salt removed to make it potable; considered a drought-proof supply
Gray water—Non-potable household wastewater, including water from the washing machine, shower, bathroom sinks, that is held and reused; excludes blackwater, which is water from toilets and kitchen sinks
Recycled—Non-potable water that is treated wastewater that is used for irrigation, groundwater replenishment and as a barrier against seawater intrusion
Stormwater—Non-potable water that is runoff from precipitation (rain or snowmelt) that flows overland; may mobilize pollutants