RATIONALE FOR THE APPLICABILITY LIMITS OF POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS OF SPRINKLERS

Abstract

Different power supply systems with hydraulic, electric and mechanical drive are used in sprinklers for watering crops of the same type. Depending on the agrotechnical operating conditions of sprinklers, the systems differ from each other in terms of energy and operating costs in 1.5...4.2 times. The paper considers a problem of choosing the optimal power supply system for a sprinkler unit working under specific conditions. The author has examined power supply systems for sprinklers: a hydraulic drive with a rotating hydraulic motor; a hydraulic drive with a reciprocating hydraulic motor; a mechanical drive; an electric drive powered by a cable line, an overhead line, a portable generator or accumulator batteries, which are all characterized by an individual resulting quality indicator. This indicator can be represented by any parameter of the system. Applying the theory of vector synthesis, he has chosen the efficiency criterion as an indicator that takes into account the system parameters: specific power, energy losses, reliability indicator, operating costs, cost and mass of the system elements; as well as agrotechnical conditions: inlet pressure, distance from the water reservoir and centralized energy supply system, investments in sprinklers, irrigation rate, irrigation area and irrigation profit. According to the efficiency criterion, a graphical solution to the problem has been presented and it has been established that systems with an electric drive and various power sources are feasible for areas of more than 40 hectares, those with a hydraulic drive - for an irrigated area of less than 40 hectares, and those with a mechanical drive - less than 6 hectares.