Potential Energy Recovery Using Micro-Hydropower Technology in Irrigation Networks: Real-World Case Studies in the South of Spain

Proceedings

Gallagher, John¹  Rodríguez-Díaz, Juan Antonio²  Chacón, Miguel Crespo³  Coughlan, Paul⁴  Morillo, Jorge García⁵ 

[1] Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.;Department of Agronomy, University of Córdoba, International Campus of Excellence ceiA3, 14071 Córdoba, Spain;Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland;Presented at the 3rd EWaS International Conference on “Insights on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus”, Lefkada Island, Greece, 27–30 June 2018;Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland

关键词: hydropower;    irrigation networks;    excess pressure;    turbines;    energy recovery;   

DOI  :  10.3390/proceedings2110679

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The agricultural sector is one of the most significant users of water resources worldwide. Irrigation infrastructure has been modernized in recent years in many regions dedicated to agriculture, transitioning from traditional open channels to more efficient on-demand pressurized irrigation networks. Despite improvements in water efficiency, the modernization of these networks has led to increased energy demands of the irrigation sector. Several negative consequences have been linked to additional energy requirements of pressurized networks, such as the rising cost of irrigation water. Other consequence linked has been the excess pressure in certain locations that could be used to recover energy from these networks. This paper studies the excess pressure in pressurized irrigation networks and the conversion of this excess to usable energy by means of small-scale hydropower turbines. Twelve irrigation networks located in the South of Spain have been modelled, quantifying the excess pressure available for power generation. Over 1 GWh per annum has been estimated that could be recovered.

【 授权许可】

CC BY