Water/Energy Storage System

The system I looked into for the water aspect of our smartFarm was to combine water storage with a turbine to both store renewable energy created onsite, and to automate the watering process.

The incremental watering process would be done through the use of a level sensors at the watering tanks (halfway down the hill) and a solenoid valve. The desired level of water needed for the storage tanks would be modified by the farm workers to meet the demands of the crop.

Rain water collected from 6,000 sq. ft. roof = 62,200 gallons

Total Storage needed = 468,600 gallons (*assuming 500,000 gallons - roof collection during growing season)

Intermediate watering tank size = 290 gallons (* assuming watering twice daily and half watering demand is located below the tanks)

**See linked spreadsheet for additional calculations

The energy storage side of this system would allow the rainwater collected to be used for more than one purpose. I made a sketch in Google Sketchup (link below) and the approximate height diferential between the upper tank and the lower tank is 15.7m. Here are some results from the spreadsheet I created.

from PE = KE or 1/2 mgh = m*v^2/2 -> 12. 4 m/s = 40.7 ft/s -> 130 gpm in a 4" pipe (*system syzer wheel)

The average house consumes 8,900 kW-hr's per year (1020 W's continuously for a year)

At full flow 130 gpm (4" pipe @ 1 ft/ 100 ft  pipe pressure drop) power produced is equal to 47.6 kW

At 3 gpm flow (3/4" pipe @ 2.5 ft pipe pressure drop) 1.1 kW (typical house consumption)

A full tank would allow for 108 days of power generation @ 3 gpm

Or 2.5 days of peak power generation @ 130 gpm

**My calculations do not loses by the pump and neglected friction, but the ammount of power available even after the loses are accounted for w

The concept shown on this picture is more visually represented in the google sketchup model link located at the end of this text.

http://tinyurl.com/yjotygu  Calculations

http://preview.tinyurl.com/ygc6fpd  Google Sketchup

Comments

[Josh Doerr]

The spreadsheet link is now functioning correctly. I would appreciate any feedback regarding the spreadsheet.

Any one with knowledge pertaining to what crops are grown (seasonally and area allotment) it would be great to put together a better estimate for the water requirements for the existing farm, rather than going off of data that includes multiple leaks/bursts.

Thanks in advance,
Josh

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