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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171184
Title: LIVESTOCK WATERING WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Author
item Clark, Ray
item Vick, Brian

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2005
Publication Date: 7/31/2005
Citation: Clark, R.N., Vick, B.D. 2005. Livestock watering with renewable energy systems. In: Outlaw, J., Collins, K.J., Duffield, J.A., editors. Agriculture as a Producer and Consumer of Energy. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: CABI Publishing. p. 232-242.

Interpretive Summary: Over the past 15 years, the Agricultural Research Service, Bushland, TX, has tested several water pumping systems using renewable energy technologies. The pumping performance of two wind-powered pumping systems is shown along with the pumping performance of two solar-powered systems. The wind-powered systems used electricity produced by the wind turbines to power induction motors with centrifugal pumps. The wind systems provided enough water for 100 cattle with the smaller systems to 300 cattle for the larger system. The solar-powered pumping systems used photovoltaic (solar-PV) panels to produce electricity. The smaller solar-PV systems powered a DC motor with a diaphragm pump and provided enough water for 25 cattle. The larger solar-PV pumping system powered a 230 V AC motor with centrifugal pump and provided enough water for 110 cattle. These systems are expected to perform similarly in other areas where wind speeds or radiation intensity is similar to those in Bushland, TX.

Technical Abstract: Various water pumping systems using renewable energy have been tested by the Agricultural Research Service over the past 15 years and are summarized in this paper. The pumping performance of two wind-electric pumping systems is shown along with the pumping performance of two solar-PV systems. The wind-electric systems ranged from 1.5 to 10 kW and used three-phase, 230 V AC induction motors with centrifugal pumps. The wind systems provided enough water for 100 to 300 cattle depending on water pumping depth. The solar-PV pumping systems ranged in size from 0.1 to 0.75 kW at a radiation level of 1000 W/m2 and total solar panel surface areas were 1 and 18 m2. The smaller solar-PV systems powered a DC motor with a diaphragm pump and the larger one used a 230 V AC motor with centrifugal pump. The smaller solar-PV pumping system provided enough water for 25 cattle and the larger system provided for 110. These systems are expected to perform similarly in other areas where wind speeds or radiation intensity is similar to those in Bushland, TX.