Testing of Microhydropower Generation from a Sprinkler Irrigation System

Abstract

Sprinkler irrigation is one of the advanced water-saving irrigation technologies, which has a significant effect for the development of agriculture. Sprinklers are designed to rotate in a circle. In practice, sprinklers can also be used to generate electric power by attaching a generator (dynamo) to its rotating head. Thus, the sprinklers can be converted into a turbine. Hydropower generation from a sprinkler system is theoretically discussed in textbooks on fluid mechanics. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to evaluate theoretical considerations and experimental results of hydropower generation from a sprinkler system. In this study, hydropower generation from a sprinkler system is simply tested with a practical application. The results indicate that a sprinkler irrigation device is capable for hydropower generation, i.e., electrical energy can be produced using sprinkler devices. Hence, the generated energy can be used for energy requirements (e.g., remote-controlled electric sprinkler, lighting, and other uses). If sprinkler devices are technological redesigned for both irrigation and power generation, they will generate low-cost electricity for energy requirements. Also, hydropower can be produced from sprinkler head series in center pivot sprinkler irrigation type.