Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Jonesboro, Arkansas » Delta Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309004
Title: A pump monitoring approach to irrigation pumping plant testing

Author
item HENRY, CHRISTOPHER - University Of Arkansas
item MCDOUGALL, W. MERITT - University Of Arkansas
item Reba, Michele
item CARMAN, DENNIS - White River Irrigation District

Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE)
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/14/2014
Publication Date: 7/16/2014
Citation: Henry, C.G., Mcdougall, W., Reba, M.L., Carman, D.K. 2014. A pump monitoring approach to irrigation pumping plant testing. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE). Presented at the ASABE-CSBE/ASBE Joint Meeting, July 13-16, 2014, Montreal, Quebec Canada. Paper Number: 141928167. Pages 1-11 (doc: 10.13031/aim.20141928167) St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE.

Interpretive Summary: A new approach to irrigation pumping plant performance evaluation is the implementation of using high frequency, real-time data from pump monitoring systems. This method uses season-long pumping plant performance data to establish the pumping plant performance. Throughout a typical irrigation season, a single pumping plant typically operates at a wide range of total dynamic heads as a result of aquifer drawdown and/or changes in water direction through pipeline. When coupled with telemetry, this approach can provide in-season feedback to the irrigator on pumping plant performance as the operating point of the system changes throughout the season. Pump monitoring can be used to determine real time pumping plant performance. Power unit over-sizing and under-sizing may be a major contributor to widespread pumping plant efficiencies below the NPPPC. Cost of water for electric alluvial wells ($1.01/acre-in) was about twice that of electric surface water relifts ($0.53/acre-in) on average. Cost of water for electric deep wells ($3.88/acre-in) was about 7 times that of surface water systems and four times that of alluvial wells on average. High seasonal flow loss on well pumps should be considered when running programs with input flow values such as computerized hole selection software. When normalized by TDH, pumping cost of diesel systems was found to be 2.5 times more expensive than electric pumping. Continuous monitoring of pumping plant yields useful information that will improve production sustainability and profit.

Technical Abstract: The conventional approach for evaluating irrigation pumping plant performance has been an instantaneous spot measurement approach. Using this method, the tester measures the necessary work and energy use parameters to determine overall pumping plant performance. The primary limitation of this approach has been the characterization of performance at only one point in time. A new approach to irrigation pumping plant performance evaluation is the implementation of using high frequency, real-time data from pump monitoring systems. This method uses season-long pumping plant performance data to establish the pumping plant performance. Throughout a typical irrigation season, a single pumping plant typically operates at a wide range of total dynamic heads as a result of aquifer drawdown and/or changes in water direction through pipeline. When coupled with telemetry, this approach can provide in-season feedback to the irrigator on pumping plant performance as the operating point of the system changes throughout the season. Nearly 100 irrigation pumping plants were evaluated over three irrigation seasons using a network of pump monitoring systems. Seasonal flow change, cost of water per unit volume pumped, and efficiency as a percentage of the Nebraska Pumping Plant Performance Criteria are reported. Seasonal averages and trends in pumping performance values can be used to develop recommendations to producers in order to improve a pumping plant performance and reduce operating costs.