Project Number: 6209-13610-006-11
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jun 01, 2001
End Date: May 31, 2006

Objective:
Evaluate various materials for construction of wind turbine rotor blades and solar collectors, evaluate the long-term performance of electrical wind turbines for powering irrigation pumps, evaluate the long-term performance of solar powered systems for pumping livestock water, and determine the economic feasibility of water pumping systems power by renewable energy.

Approach:
Three horizontal-axis wind turbines will be used in side-by-side testing to determine the best performing rotor blades shapes and materials. Materials and fabrication techniques that exhibit the best structural loading and power performance will be determined. Small horizontal-axis wind turbines will be erected in actual field pumping situations, either irrigation or livestock. Solar water pumping systems will be erected for livestock water pumping applications. Systems will be evaluated on performance, reliability, capacity factor, overall efficiency, and cost. Materials that show the least deterioration over several months will be evaluated for solar panels. All systems will be compared for least cost per unit of water pumped.