With the increase of the greenhouse effect impacting the environment, research and development in renewable energy has become increasingly popular as an alternative energy source. In developing countries such as India and Morocco, farmers are in need of an effective way to pump water from underground in order to grow cash crops without having to rely on diesel generators as a source of power. Solar power not only reduces the harmful effects of fossil fuels, but also is very cost effective due to low maintenance. The project intends to build a scaled down system to provide water to a small farm--water supply for people, animals, and small crops like tomatoes and peas.

Real World Scenario:

In rural Morocco, the average time of daylight is 8 hours and 36 minutes. 71.8% of daylight hours is sunny. There is approximately 6 hours and 19 minutes of usable sunlight. Seasonal and latitude variation is not accounted. Peas and tomatoes require similar amount of water. Peas and tomato plants require 1 to 2 inches of water each week, but a more accurate measurement is 1 inch of water, or 1 gallon of water, every 5 days.

For Tomato, it requires 40-50 days period of growth divided in three phases:

First phase: 0.5 gallon/m² , and for a 6000 m² it will be 3000 gallon/day

Second phase: 0.8 gallon/m² , and for a 6000 m² it will be 4800 gallon/day

Third phase: 1.5 gallon/m² , and for a 6000 m² it will be 7200 gallon/day

We will choose the third phase as a base for deciding the total gallons needed a day because it’s greater than the first and second phase. Therefore, covering the lesser value requirements.

We will use water for irrigation, livestock, and human daily use.

Conditions:

1. 10 people in a farm: 52.8 gallon per day
2. 100 chicken: 2.1 gallon per day
3. 3 cows: 39 gallons per day
4. 5 sheep: 2.64 gallons per day
5. 6000 m² land: 7200 gallons per day

Total: 52.8 + 2.1 + 39 + 2.64 +7200 = 7296.54 ≅ 7297 gallons per day

It is recommended to store 2-3 days of water. Therefore, a 20,000 gallon water tank is chosen for the scenario.

Summary of Calculations for the Small Farm

• Calculated Total Dynamic Head is about 277 feet to store 20,000 gallons of water given the space
• For the estimated 7,300 gallons/day of water used, a minimum of 3 HP water pump is needed
• 3 HP motor will need about 2800 Watts of power, accounting for losses