OFF THE GRID Property Irrigation System Alex Chepeska Alex Chepeska

Outline  Project Objective  Background  Design Decisions  Analysis and Testing  Results  Implications and Future Recommendations

Goals and Objectives  Design irrigation system for remote areas of property with sparse water  Automate system  Must run without access to conventional power  Modify existing design  Increase functionality  Manufacture using readily available materials  Low cost  “Do-it-yourself” kit

Previous System  Springs along stream served as water source  Pump at each spring  As output decreases more pumps added  4 years of dry summers + 4 springs + 8 pumps =60 GPH

Current System  4000 sq. ft. garden space  6 foot well producing 120 GPH  4 pumps deliver water up 12 feet to crops  Distributed via drip irrigation  Solar panels to charge 12v batteries  Requires 2491 gallons/week

Problems  Clogging pumps and tubing  When system is off water flows backward into well  Well produces 1/5 of the pumps capacity  Weather limits solar panel use  Pumps consume extra amps when batteries are full  Abundant water overflows stations

Possible Concepts

Design Concept 2:  Completely covered pumps, covered reservoir, tighter seals and screened irrigation output, backflow valves, full well operation, automatic shutdown, windmill/central control box, weatherproofed for winter, windmill charges extra batteries, 110v pump

Other Design Decisions FMEA Design for X analysis Manufacture Manufacture Assembly Assembly Maintenance Maintenance Recycling Recycling

Windmill  Type  Size  Blades  Permits

Windmill Base  1/8” angle iron  12’ in height  Triangular shape  Setup instructions  20-6’ sections

Windmill Blades  PVC  Home made construction  Cut into quarters

Generator  Home Made  Alternator  Permanent magnet generator

Pump Selection  110v Sump Pump  Inverted from 12v battery  $70-$80  Replaces multiple 12v pumps

Reservoir  Sold at many stores  Easy to maintain  Under $50  Screen or full cover

Automation Control  Backflow prevention valve  Auto shutoff  Rain sensor  Control box

Material List

Testing

Results GPM = (HP*2178) / Feet of head = (1/6*2178) / 12 = (1/6*2178) / 12 = GPM = GPM Pump ran for 30 minutes So ….→ GPM * 30 minutes = gallons pumped

 Plan for 12,000 sq. ft. * 1” per week= 1000 cubic feet 1000 * 7.48 gal./cubic foot = 7,480 gallons  1 battery can pump gallons 7,480 / = 8.24 batteries per week Battery Usage

Average Wind power

Windmill Charge Time  6 foot diameter Blades  Ave wind speed = 10 mph

Windmill Charge Time  This gives approximately 51 Watts output 50 W/ 12v *24 Hrs= 50 W/ 12v *24 Hrs= 100 amp-hrs of charge 100 amp-hrs of charge  Batteries require 75 amp-hours to fully charge  50 W/ 12v * X hrs = 75 amp-hours X= 18 hours to charge 1 battery X= 18 hours to charge 1 battery

Implications  Find way to charge/discharge all batteries in succession  Lead-Acid batteries maintain voltage when dead  Parallel setup  One way diode

Conclusions  Input spreadsheet with recommended specifications  Can be applied to any size property/budget  Feasible, but needs more physical testing

Do-It-Yourself Kit  Spreadsheet  Windmill building instructions  Windmill blade creation instructions  Recommended products  Entire system assembly instructions

Future Recommendations  Generator construction  Different windmill designs  Fully constructed system and testing

Questions