Conceptual Analysis and Prototypical Design of a Smart Solar Water Pumping System for Irrigation: Case Study of a Farm in the Gambia

Abstract

Food, water and energy are essential components in our daily lives. Often conflicts arise due to the availability of space for the production and management of all three on the same piece of land. Agro photovoltaic(APV), a concept that propose the multiple use of land for energy and food production can be an ideal solution to this conflict. The solar panels can be used to provide shade to the crops to protect them from the extreme heat conditions and provide energy that can power the systems of the farm including pumping water for irrigation. This thesis was written to study the existing water supply and monitoring system in the Gambia and to make a prototypical design of a smart solar water pumping system for irrigation and community water supply. The study included assessing the irrigation water needs of the Maruo Farm (Case study farm) and to size a solar water pumping system. The Pvsyst software was used to size and design the system. Homer Software was used to evaluate the economic feasibility of the system. A comparative analysis was done further to ascertain the suitability of a stand-alone solar powered system as compared to a solar powered system with backup. A smart water monitoring and regulation system was also simulated by extension using the Protues 8 professional software. The system consists of a power source, soil moisture sensor, water level sensor, Arduino Uno with cellular communication protocol. A simulation was done to monitor and regulate the irrigation system.