Water Supply in Rwanda. Use of photovoltaic systems for irrigation
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Estadístiques de LA Referencia / Recolecta
Inclou dades d'ús des de 2022
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hdl:2117/77571
Tipus de documentProjecte Final de Màster Oficial
Data2014
Condicions d'accésAccés obert
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continguts d'aquesta obra estan subjectes a la llicència de Creative Commons
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Reconeixement-NoComercial-SenseObraDerivada 3.0 Espanya
Abstract
The current energy situation in the world where most of the energy needed is generated from
non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels is no longer sustainable. During few years, nonrenewable
sources have become an interesting solution to provide energy to areas with small
needs of electricity, rather than using non-renewable sources.
Therefore, this project has pursued to implement photovoltaics panels to supply energy in a
rural region in central Africa, contributing to the development of the area and proving that this
technology is viable to pump water for irrigation instead of the conventional electric grid.
A rural area between Kidogo Lake and Rilima town, in Bugesera district of Rwanda, has been
chosen as target. This analysis has focused on typical plantations of the country, being the main
crops banana, cassava and maize, each one with very similar maximum water needs; 71
m3/ha_day, 70 m3/ha_day and 67 m3/ha_day, respectively.
The eastern province of Rwanda is formed by seven districts. A preliminary study was developed
in order to find the target area in terms of weather conditions, high temperature and low
rainfall. Therefore, parameters such as precipitation, solar irradiance and evapotranspiration,
among others, have been crucial for deciding the driest zone. Indeed, the Bugesera district is an
ideal candidate due to the reception of a large amount of solar irradiation, with an annual
average of 5,28 kWh/m2_day.
In order to dimension the photovoltaic and water-pumping system, a preliminary research
including a large amount of background was required to determine the best structure. Indeed,
knowing the water demand, we decided the water should be pumped up into a tank, letting it
irrigate the field via gravitation only. A sample irrigation layout was then designed to ensure that
with a number of pipes, water was conveyed to every plant.
The use of a tank not only for storing water, but also as a source of system’s pressure lead us to
calculate the minimum distance from the ground to the bottom. The height obtained of 2,2
meters provides the necessary pressure to distribute water and irrigate the field.
With the energy needed for the water supply, a photovoltaic pumping system, consisting of a
PV generator, inverter and pump, was selected. Our main findings was that the photovoltaic
system must have a rated power of 1,73 kW in order to guarantee proper functioning. For the
photovoltaic system, six STP290 - 24/Vd solar modules from Suntech were chosen, for the water
pumping system, a B50 Electric Drive from the company BBA Pumps. Moreover, and regarding
the inverter system, model Galvo 1.5-1 from company Fronius with a nominal output power
capacity of 1.500 watts was chosen.
MatèriesIrrigation -- Rwanda, Water-supply -- Energy consumption, Photovoltaic power generation, Sustainable development -- Rwanda, Regatge -- Ruanda, Aigua -- Abastament -- Consum d’energia, Energia solar fotovoltaica, Desenvolupament sostenible -- Ruanda
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Col·leccions
Fitxers | Descripció | Mida | Format | Visualitza |
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Water Supply in Rwanda - Master's thesis.pdf | Report | 4,104Mb | Visualitza/Obre |