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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 #94054
Title: WIND-POWRED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS WITH DEEP WELLS

Author
item MOLLA, S - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item KENIMER, A - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item REDDELL, D - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item HENGGELER, J - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item MORTON, A - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Clark, Ray

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In recent years, farmers irrigating from the Edwards-Trinity aquifer of west Texas have suffered losses in revenue due to falling crop prices, rising energy prices, and high equipment costs. Farmers typically irrigate from this aquifer using three or more submersible pumps tied together. These pumps are usually powered using utility grid lines connected to each pump location. In an effort to find a cheaper yet viable alternative source of energy for irrigation, two 10 kW rated wind turbines were installed. The wind turbine test sites were located in Garden City and Stiles, Texas. The pumps were operated at a system head of 48 m and 80 m. Additional equipment used in this study included a 3.73 kW [5 Hp] 40S50-15 submersible pump with a 5.6 kW [7.5 Hp] submersible motor. Wind speed, flow rate, water level, back pressure, and turbine current, voltage, and frequency were monitored at each site. The project demonstrated that wind energy could provide an economic alternative to utility-supplied energy fo irrigation in west Texas provided cost of electricity increases or the cost of wind power turbines decreases in the future.