Designing A Solar and Motor-Based Hybrid Powered Mobile Sprinkler System for Small-Scale Irrigation: A Case Study for Auchi Polytechnic Demonstration Farm

Abstract

This research aimed at developing a model of a hybrid-powered sprinkler irrigation system for use in the town of Auchi, Nigeria, a town with costly and intermittent electricity access. As a highly agrarian society, it is vital that market gardens developed by the family have access to water to provide their families with food and income from the selling of the crops. In Nigeria, changes in rainfall patterns are posing a threat to crop output. Irrigation can be utilized to maintain consistent production; however, motorized irrigation systems are both expensive to operate and environmentally unsustainable. Alternative watering methods are consequently required. Irrigation systems can be powered by readily available renewable energy sources. In order to irrigate 1 acre of vegetable planting in Auchi Polytechnic Demonstration Farm, Auchi, Nigeria, this research sought to design an effective Generator-solar hybrid system. The Using metrological data, mean wind speed and monthly solar irradiance of global radiation horizontal for the district were analysed. The mobile hybrid sprinkler system was optimally designed for a vegetables plant on 1-acre land with water requirement of 33.73 m3 d−1. The results upon fabrication showed that the system could effectively operate at speeds of 20 m s −1 without deformation. The research will, therefore, be a useful guideline in making investment decisions in hybrids irrigation systems. Keywords: Automated, Irrigation, Auchi Polytechnic Demonstration Farm, hybrid-powered sprinkler DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/12-4-01 Publication date:October 31st 2021