Irrigation Water Supply Systems Research Articles

Frequency control in an isolated wind‐diesel hybrid system with energy storage and an irrigation water supply system

AbstractWind‐Diesel Hybrid Systems (WDHSs) integrate wind turbines into diesel power systems, reducing costs and emissions in isolated grids. Due to the no‐load consumption of the Diesel Generators (DGs), fuel savings are only possible when the DGs are shut down. This requires a proper implementation of the frequency control to avoid perturbations because of the wind speed variations. During wind‐only (WO) operation, the Synchronous Machine (SM) generates the isolated grid voltage and the frequency controller varies the energy stored/supplied by an Energy Storage System and consumed by the controllable loads to balance the power. In this paper, a Battery‐based Energy Storage System (BESS) uses Li‐Ion batteries with a Dual Active Bridge (DAB) and a grid‐tie inverter connected to the isolated network. The controllable load is an Irrigation Water Supply System (IWSS), consisting of a pump supplying water to a reservoir tank. The pump is driven by a variable speed drive that uses a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM). The coordinated control of BESS and IWSS gives full priority to the BESS for harnessing the wind potential whereas the IWSS consumes the excess of wind power. The full Wind Diesel Power System (WDPS) is modelled and simulated to validate the proposed system for different case scenarios.

A multidisciplinary approach to assess environmental and economic impact of conventional and innovative vineyards management systems in Northern Italy

Viticulture is gradually shifting to more sustainable production systems and a fair number of studies aim at assessing the environmental impacts of different technologies and techniques adopted in the wine production through the Life Cycle Assessment approach. The main environmental issues identified are on water, soil and energy use, management of organic and inorganic solid waste streams, greenhouse gas emissions and use of chemicals. Precision viticulture (PV) techniques can play an important role in the sustainable use of water and fertilizers in grape production, thanks to the site-specific application of these inputs, improving yield and quality of grapes while minimizing negative effects on the environment. However, PV often implies investments and additional management costs. The objective of this study is to compare different strategies for the management of water and fertilizers in vineyards, ranging from the conventional ones to the most technologically advanced, to assess their sustainability both from an economic and an environmental point of view. Six scenarios have been explored, considering different irrigation water supply systems, and irrigation and fertilizer management strategies. A multidisciplinary approach, including Life Cycle Assessment, economic assessment and multivariate analysis was used to assess the sustainability of the different vineyard management approaches. The results show the higher economic and environmental sustainability for the scenario considering irrigation water supplied from an irrigation consortium, a variable rate drip irrigation system for irrigation and fertigation. Finally, also according to PCA results, at least for the scenarios explored in the study, the introduction of PV technologies led to the reduction of environmental impacts and to the increase in economic advantages, which showed to be inversely correlated.

Models of Distribution of Flow Parameters in Intensive Garden Irrigation, System Pipes

Annotation: The mathematical description of the movement of water in the systems of irrigation pipelines, based on the equation of continuity of the medium, the system of Navy-Stokes equations. The resulting mathematical package describes a system with distributed parameters and is performed based on the condition of dynamic balance at the point of flow, taking into account the dependence on the nature of the flow and the physical properties of the environment. Calculation is executed with use of functions Besseliya. Methodology for calculating the hydrodynamic component of water movement in irrigation water supply systems. Pipelines are universal in nature and can be used in the calculation, construction and assessment of the stability of water supply hydraulic systems; the technique can be used to describe the object of operation in the construction of control systems for the hydraulic parameters of the water supply system. Keywords: pipeline, irrigation systems, non-uniformity, liquid, water, strength, function, three-dimensional, water supply, hydrodynamics, hydrostatics, quasi-one-dimensional, unsteady, flow, potential, surface, coordinate system, stresses, projection, velocity, cylindrical coordinates, unsteady motion , asymmetric, viscous, compressible fluid, plastic pipe

Study Of The Effectiveness Of Drip Irrigation Techniques On The Use Of Diferent Mulse In Dry Land Tomato Cultivation

In order to meet the water needs of tomato plants and ensure that they grow well, an adequate irrigation water supply systems that are ideal for tomato plans. This analysis aims to 1] determine the effectiveness of drip irrigation techniques on tomato plant growth on dry land, and 2] assess the impact of drip irrigation techniques on plots given silver and straw plastic mulch, as well as properties without both. This research used an experimental apporoach that included both field and laboratory experiments. A one-factor randomized blog design (RBD) was used in this analysis, with three treatments: P1 = no mulch and straw, P2 = silver color plastic mulch, and P3= straw. The least significant difference method (LSD) was evaluated at the 5% actual level using SPSS analysis. Observation data were analyzed using two apporoaches: a mathematical apporoach using Microsoft excel and statical analysis using ANOVA analysis. The serults showed that the parameters of plant height, stem diameter, and the number of leaves of tomato plants had a significant impact on P1 ( no mulch and straw), P2 ( Silver Color Plastic Mulch), and P3 (Silverr Color Plastic mulch) (straw). It applied drip irrigation techniques to the growth of tomato plants in dryland. Although tomato plant wet weight and tomato plant dry weight parameters had a significant impact on tomato plant growth and dry weight than P1 and P3. It results in an average wet weight of 162.678 grams, P1 24.05 grams, P3 81.10 grams, and an average dry weight of 31.62 grams, P1 5.84 grams P3 18.74 gram, respectively.

The problem of Ararat aquifer basin and the ways of solution

The dynamics of water intake for different purposes from the Ararat artesian basin has been studied in connection with the overuse of water by fish farms in Ararat Valley. It has been shown that as a result of those negative processes the surface area of groundwater with positive pressure has decreased by 3 times, 31 communities are partially or completely deprived of water obtained from fountain boreholes for various purposes. As a consequence of the decline in groundwater level irrigation norms of agricultural crops have increased by 25% or about 14 million m3, the physical properties of soils have deteriorated on the area of 7 thousand hectares. It has been proposed to reuse discharge waters from fish-farms for irrigation. Through technical and economic calculations, it has been shown that in case of solar station-pump station-irrigation pipeline construction the cost price of irrigation water per 1 m3 is 8-10 times cheaper than in case of reservoir construction and irrigation water supply systems.

The technical efficiency of the Apulian winegrowing farms with different irrigation water supply systems

Apulia has a considerable demand of irrigation water, however high inefficiency levels of the collective water networks force most of the regional farms to use groundwater, with a consequent worsening of its quality, as well as of soil and crops characteristics. Therefore, the use of sustainable supply methodsfor irrigation water is desirable both through improvements of the collective networks and by appropriate economic tools.However, making the correct choices in these matters requires knowledge concerning the effects of the present water supply systems on the economic performance of farms.The objective of this study is to measure and compare the technical efficiency of winegrowing farms in northern Apulia that use different supply systems for irrigation water: groundwater from private wells, irrigation water from collective networks, and irrigation water from both private wells and collective networks. The results enable to understand if and how different supply systems of irrigation water affect the management of productive factors and inputs. These findings also provide useful information for appropriate policies aimed at preserving groundwater and its externalities, as well as at improving the economic performance of Apulian farms.

Achieving sustainable irrigation development in agricultural areas of Serbia with limited water resources

Irrigation has contributed significantly to poverty alleviation and food security; however, the sustainability of irrigated agriculture is being questioned both economically and environmentally. Agriculture is the economic sector where most water is consumed, but the lowest price is practised. This article presents an interdisciplinary approach to selecting and prioritizing infrastructure, by differentiating water sources for irrigation, in the case of two complex irrigation systems. Comparative analysis was undertaken for major hydrological, hydraulic, hydrotechnical and economic parameters in order to estimate a long-term water supply for irrigation. In the case of complex irrigation water supply systems, differentiating the ‘subsystems’ per water source and allowing their separate development require less investment and give a better chance for the project implementation. The average calculated investments in basic irrigation infrastructure were in a wide range, from EUR3327 to 10,103 ha−1, depending on anticipated water source (impoundments, groundwater and rivers). Economic water price also varied widely, EUR0.09–0.30 m−3, depending on the water source for irrigation.

Promoting ecosystem-friendly irrigation farm management practices for sustainable livelihoods in Africa: the Ghanaian experience

The contribution of farming to food security, nutrition, employment and poverty alleviation in Africa cannot be overemphasised. This paper analysed the effects of adopting ecosystem-based farm management practices (EBFMPs) on the livelihoods of irrigation farmers in Africa, using Ghana as a case study. The paper employed mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative techniques) for purposes of triangulation and cross validation of the issues. Data were collected using key informant interviews, focus group discussions and administration of a questionnaire to 300 households. A treatment effect model was employed to estimate the effects of adopting EBFMPs on livelihoods of farmers. Specifically, the average treatment effect (ATE) and average treatment effect on the treated (ATET) were estimated and found to be positive and significant. This means that the adoption of EBFMPs has positive and significant implications for farmers’ livelihoods. The paper therefore recommends that irrigation farmers should be educated on the importance of using ecosystem-friendly irrigation practices as this is critical for sustainable livelihood development of the poor and vulnerable, especially irrigators in Ghana who rely on the exigencies of the weather to survive. Irrigation farmers should also be educated on the functioning of irrigation landscape (in terms of water flow from up-stream area to down-stream), and how their activities and practices affect the irrigation water supply system.

Optimal pipe size design for looped irrigation water supply system using harmony search: Saemangeum project area.

Water supply systems are mainly classified into branched and looped network systems. The main difference between these two systems is that, in a branched network system, the flow within each pipe is a known value, whereas in a looped network system, the flow in each pipe is considered an unknown value. Therefore, an analysis of a looped network system is a more complex task. This study aims to develop a technique for estimating the optimal pipe diameter for a looped agricultural irrigation water supply system using a harmony search algorithm, which is an optimization technique. This study mainly serves two purposes. The first is to develop an algorithm and a program for estimating a cost-effective pipe diameter for agricultural irrigation water supply systems using optimization techniques. The second is to validate the developed program by applying the proposed optimized cost-effective pipe diameter to an actual study region (Saemangeum project area, zone 6). The results suggest that the optimal design program, which applies an optimization theory and enhances user convenience, can be effectively applied for the real systems of a looped agricultural irrigation water supply.

Towards Establishing an Irrigation Water Supply System That Addresses Global Warming

Towards Establishing an Irrigation Water Supply System That Addresses Global Warming

Design of multiquality irrigation water supply systems using the Q–C feasibility domain concept: II. QCFD model and applications

AbstractThe world shortage in water sources for irrigation indicates a need to exploit poor water quality sources. Traditional design methods of irrigation systems consider primarily the hydraulic aspects. Inclusion of water quality aspects requires new tailored design methods. The method suggested herein is part of a continuous effort taken in that direction. Earlier works paved the way for the presently suggested design model which computes the feasibility domain of water discharge and quality of supply networks. Steady‐state conditions, conservative water quality parameters, instantaneous and complete mixing of water from diverse water quality sources were assumed. The Q–C (chemical transport sub‐problem) was dealt with and the QC feasibility domains of sources for the inner nodes and outlets were computed for every feasible flow pattern in a given network. Feasibility of supply was evaluated by comparing demand (water discharge and quality) values with the supply values computed by the QCFD. Real water supply in a rural community in the Arava desert, Israel, was designed using the QCFD model. Feasibility of various irrigation schedules was tested and a guideline for operation derived. The method, however, needs further improvement. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Design of irrigation water supply systems using the Q–C feasibility domain concept: I. Introduction and theory

AbstractThe Q–C Feasibility Domain (QCFD) was defined and proposed as a tool for design of multiquality irrigation water supply systems. It determines all feasible combinations of water discharge and water quality, and can be represented by a point, a line, or an area in a diagram of water discharge versus solute flow rate (a Q–J diagram). The shape of the QCFD is the result of dilution of two or more flows from sources of different water quality. (assuming conservative substances) Several types of QCFDs were analyzed at sources, inner nodes of a network, and of consumer outlets. The effect of water discharge constraints (due to flow limitations in the network) on the QCFDs was formulated and analyzed. Computation of QCFDs of dilution junctions by vector addition of their inflows was described. The method was extended numerically to nonlinear mixing due to dependence of water salinity. Use of this method enables computation of QCFDs for inner nodes in networks, including dilution junctions. The effect of network topology and flow direction was discussed. Application and demonstration will follow in the next paper in this series. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Flexible Irrigation Systems: Concept, Design, and Application

This paper presents the need, value, and concept of flexible irrigation water supply systems that can deliver water with flexibility in frequency, rate, and duration under the control of the farmer at the point of application using a limited rate arranged-demand or other schedule. It introduces the needed terminology including “congestion”—how much reserve time and capacity is required to assure water delivery at the frequency and rate desired. An illustrative design procedure for the necessary pipeline and reservoir capacities is illustrated. The techniques discussed emphasize the conversion of the economical steady supply canal flows to flexible on-farm usage through the use of service area reservoirs located between the secondary and tertiary systems, and of semiclosed pipelines and/or level-top canals as automated distribution systems which facilitates the farmers’ need for daytime only variable on-farm deliveries to permit optimization of on-farm water management. This improved management is the ultimate source of increased food production after improved crop, land, and water resources have reached their maximum. The coordinated use of return flow systems is described.

Regulating reservoirs in pressurized irrigation water supply systems

A regulating reservoir between the water supply source and the delivery system buffers the system from fluctuating demands, In addition, the system can reduce energy costs, by storing water pumped during off-peak energy tariff times and by improving the operation of pumping stations. A model is proposed to determine a regulating reservoir's capacity and establish an annual pumping schedule that accounts for energy costs. The optimal reservoir size and operation minimize the sum of the amortized reservoir construction and annual pumping costs (annual total cost). The solution was determined using a dichotomic searching procedure that includes one algorithm to calculate the optimal reservoir dimensions using Newton's method and another algorithm to determine the optimal annual pumping to the reservoir based on the concept of 'emptying period'. The model was applied to a pressurized irrigation delivery system located in southern Spain. The analysis used historical hourly water demand data. A cluster analysis was used to screen non-typical demand data from the data set before extracting a typical temporal demand pattern. The analysis indicated that the addition of a regulating reservoir with optimal size and operation scheme was cost effective. Total costs can be further reduced by adjusting the demand pattern to better match with off-peak energy tariff times.

Pricing Irrigation Water in Pakistan: An Evaluation of Available Options

Irrigation water shortages have lately been a main area of concern for policymakers and planners in Pakistan. Current literature on the country’s water resources predicts an alarming situation regarding the availability of irrigation water in the future due to declining water tables and serious financial, environmental, and social constraints of developing big storage reservoirs. Since there is little room to augment water supplies by building new dams, the existing supply-driven surface irrigation system needs to be replaced by a demand-based system with special focus on water use efficiency through the introduction of an appropriate water pricing system. The present study aims to evaluate several alternative water pricing systems in the search for choosing one that will ensure efficient use of irrigation water in Pakistan. A related objective is to test the extent of sensitivity of the demand for irrigation water to a change in alternative water prices. A major conclusion that emerges from this research is that irrigation water shortages are the result of the inflexibility of the present irrigation water supply system for agricultural use and have little to do with the existing water pricing practice in the country. Furthermore, the results of our water price simulations exercise confirm the general perception that demand for irrigation water is less sensitive to changes in alternative irrigation water prices. Two findings from the pricing policy perspective are: (i) irrigation water is not available in adequate quantity to farmers in the nine sub-districts surveyed at almost all of the alternative prices in Pakistan’s irrigated agriculture sector since the predicted water usage at all prices is greater than the actual usage for all districts; and (ii) our empirical analysis indicates significant inefficiency of resource allocation in respect of irrigation water as shown by its positively large marginal value product to opportunity cost ratio.

A model of crop yield response to irrigation water salinity: theory, testing and application

A relationship between crop yield and irrigation water salinity is developed. The relationship can be used as a production function to quantify the economic ramifications of practices which increase irrigation water salinity, such as disposal of surface and sub-surface saline drainage waters into the irrigation water supply system. Guidelines for the acceptable level of irrigation water salinity in a region can then be established. The model can also be used to determine crop suitability for an irrigation region, if irrigation water salinity is high. Where experimental work is required to determine crop yield response to irrigation water salinity, the model can be used as a first estimate of the response function. The most appropriate experimental treatments can then be allocated. The model adequately predicted crop response to water salinity, when compared with experimental data.