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Up-scaling and Application of Solar Photovoltaic Pump for Smallholder Irrigation and Household Appliances in the Central Coastal Region of Bangladesh (2018-19)

M A Hossain
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Processing Engineering Dvision, BARI, Gazipur

M A Hoque
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Processing Engineering Dvision, BARI, Gazipur

S S A Kamar
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Processing Engineering Dvision, BARI, Gazipur

M A Rahman
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Processing Engineering Dvision, BARI, Gazipur

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Base line survey was conducted in six Upazila such as Kalapara and Galachipa of Patuakhali district, Borguna Sadar and Amtali of Borguna district and Charfassion and Lalmohon of Bhola district. In each Upazila, 30 farmers were interviewed with pre-tested interview schedules. Among the selected Upazilla, average age of farmers was 75 years old. Among 166 interviewed farmers, 75.90 % had primary education, 15.07 % were illiterate, 2.41% had secondary, 3.61% were had higher secondary and rest 3.01 % were qualified up to degree and higher studies. The average literacy in the study areas was 96.76%. The average area of farm house, homestead and vegetable cultivation was found 183, 41 and 48 decimals, respectively. The vegetables-based cropping pattern was 10-15%. The main source of irrigation water in the study areas was surface water (Canals and ponds). About 1.91 m deep fresh water was always found available in the water sources throughout the dry season. Farmers of the study areas were found to use low lift pumps for irrigating. There was no solar pump in the study areas. Average solar home system (SHS) package was found as 40W_p panel capacity with at least three DC tube light and a single DC fan. Matching the demand of farmers, solar pump and SHS were designed fabricated for and irrigation and operation of household appliances at FMPE Division, BARI, Gazipur. The new solar pump was made with 51 mm diameter centrifugal pump directly coupled with 900 W dc motor. The performance of the solar pump was tested and average discharge was found to be 180 L/min. Six solar pumps along with SHS were installed for field trials in the six Upazila along with 1300 W_p solar panel for each pump. Two field experiments were conducted in the research field of FMPE Division, BARI, Gazipur for testing of solar pump drip irrigation system during rabi season of 2018-19. The tested crops were tomato (Roma VF) and brinjal (BARI Begun-8). Significantly the highest tomato and brinjal yields were found from drip irrigation than furrow irrigation method. There were no significantly differences of yields among three days five days, seven days intervals of water application in drip irrigation method. Drip irrigation saved about 50% and 45% water than furrow irrigation for irrigation in tomato and brinjal, respectively. This experiment will be continued for next year.

Keywords: Solar pump, Efficiency, Irrigation, Solar energy

Location: FMPE Division, BARI, Gazipur and Patuakhali, Borguna and Bhola Districts

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Pump

Objectives:

Up-scaling and improvement of solar pump for higher capacity and efficiency
Test the efficacy of application of solar energy for pumping and household appliances for year round uses, and
Field trials of solar pump for irrigation of high value crops and year round uses of solar energy in household appliances in the central coastal region of Bangladesh

Methodology:

At the beginning of the project, the base line survey was conducted in the project areas. Three sets of questionnaires were prepared- one for solar pump users, one for solar pump service providers and another for general farmers in the project areas. Data were collected from six upazila such as Kalapara and Galachipa of Patuakhali district, Borguna Sadar and Amtali of Borguna district and Charfassion and Lalmohon of Bhola district. In each Upazila, 30 farmers were interviewed through pre-tested interview schedule from 2-3 villages. Secondary information was collected from Upazila Agriculture Office, internet, available reports, journals, etc. Data and information like availability of electricity, cropping pattern, water availability, existing irrigation systems, water salinity along with socio-economic conditions of the farmers, etc. were collected and analyzed. The information was collected using interview schedule. On discussion with the Upazila Agriculture Officers and from the assistance of Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO), the sites were selected and surveyed in Patuakhali, Borguna and Bhola districts. The locations of surveyed areas in the selected Upazilas and districts are given in Table 1. Some photographic views of base line survey of six upazilas in Patukhali, Borguna and Bhola districts are shown in Fig. 1. Field data were collected from different types of farmers, solar panel dealers, service providers and users of solar home appliances. Three sets of interview schedules were prepared for farmers, irrigation equipment users and solar power dealers. Thirty farmers, randomly selected, who used the irrigation equipment for field crops were chosen and directly interviewed through prescribed interview schedules. Information was also collected from 10 electric machinery dealers/traders/ electricians from the nearby markets of the selected upazila. Design and fabrication of solar pump: A 900W centrifugal type dc motor operated solar pump was fabricated at Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering (FMPE) Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur. The size of both the suction and delivery pipe was 51.0 mm (2 inches). The pump was directly coupled with a 900 W dc motor. The specification of the new solar pump is done. Testing of solar pump: The solar pump was tested in the pump test bed of FMPE Division, BARI, Gazipur in a partly sunny day of May-June 2019. The pump was operated by 1000 W_p solar panel. The solar panels were connected in such a combination of series-parallel connections that the output voltage would be about 48 V_dc. The panel arrangement of solar powered irrigation system is shown.Total panel capacity is 1300 W_p whereas each panel carries 325 W_p and supplying 24 V as nominal and can produce 8.16 A current at 1000 W/m². Two sets of series connection were made to increase the voltage up to 48 V and then one set of parallel connection was made to increase the current up to 17.24 A at 1000 W/m², so that the pump can operate well. A check valve was inserted in the suction pipe and immersed in water. The another end of the suction pipe was connected by clamp with the suction pipe of the pump. The solar panels were placed south facing with 23.5° inclination. Before starting, the input and output voltages and current of the inverter were measured with ac/dc multimeter (Uni-T Product, UT-203, made in China). Then the pump was primed with water. The motor switch was made ON and water was discharged from the delivery pipe of the pump. The pump was tested at 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 6.5 m suction heads. The suction head 1.0 was maintained just placing the pump on the dike of the pond. Another three heads were maintained raising the pump on the platform of pump test bed. The discharge of the pump was measured at one hour interval using a water flow meter by fitting it with the delivery pipe of the pump. Solar radiation was measured at one hour interval by a solar meter (Model 5.0, Solartech Inc., USA). The solar home system is shown in the following Fig. 5. The figure describes how a solar panel of 325 W_p capacity can give service to a family. The full solar powered irrigation system i.e 1300 W_p panel capacity can control one single pump of 910 W and four houses as solar home system. In this system a charge controller was used to protect the solar battery from overcharging. The solar panel generates 8.62A at 1000 W/m²with 24V as nominal. The auto recut charge controller receives and diminishes the power and supplies it to recharge a 12V battery. It disconnects the battery from solar panel while the battery becomes fully recharged thus it protects the battery from overcharging and save the whole system. Field experiments: Two field experiments were conducted on solar pump irrigation in tomato and brinjal in the research field of FMPE Division, BARI, Gazipur. The soil was sandy clay loam with an average field capacity (FC) of 30.23 % (weight basis) and mean bulk density was 1.54 g/cm³. Each of the experiment was laid out in RCB design with four treatments and three replications. The treatments were- T₁= Drip irrigation at 3 days interval; T₂= Drip irrigation at 5 days interval; T₃= Drip irrigation at 7 days interval; and T₄= Furrow irrigation (control).

Source of Information: Annual Research Report 2018-2019, BARI, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Among 166 interviewed farmers, the average literacy in the study areas was 96.76%. The average area of farm house, homestead and vegetable cultivation was found 183, 41 and 48 decimals, respectively. The vegetables-based cropping pattern was 10-15%. The main source of irrigation water in the study areas was surface water (Canals and ponds). About 1.91 m deep fresh water was always found available in the water sources throughout the dry season. Farmers of the study areas used low lift pumps for irrigating field crops. There was no solar pump in the study areas. Average solar home system (SHS) package was found as 40W_p panel capacity with at least three DC tube light and a single DC fan. The new solar pump was made with 51 mm diameter centrifugal pump directly coupled with 900 W dc motor. The average discharge was found to be 180 L/min. Six solar pumps along with SHS were installed for field trials in the six Upazila along with 1300 W_p solar panel for each pump. Significantly the highest tomato and brinjal yields were found from drip irrigation than furrow irrigation method. There were no significantly differences of yields among three days five days, seven days intervals of water application in drip irrigation method. Drip irrigation saved about 50% and 45% water than furrow irrigation for irrigation in tomato and brinjal, respectively.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings