Proposed Pump Powered by

Whirlpool Generator for

Irrigation
Submitted by:

BSCE 4A

Submitted to:

Engr. John Michael Casibang

June 2019
 Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Agriculture is the principal industry in the Philippines and it remains as the main

livelihood of millions of Filipinos for having 41.72 % percent of its total land area was reported

to be an agricultural land (World Bank Collection of development indicators, 2014). However, so

much activity remains to be done to improve the agriculture industry and to increase the earning

capacity of the farmers. Every year there is an anticipated shortage of the staple food crops in the

country because of continuous decline in the quality of our prime agricultural areas. One of the

common cause of it is the climate change.

The Philippines has long been particularly vulnerable to extreme weather. Aside from the

extreme typhoons that devastates the country, climate condition like El Niño has been

particularly affecting the farmers all over the country. Since early 2015, more than 40% of the

Philippines has been experiencing severe drought triggered by El-Niño, causing the loss of

agriculture production amounting to 82 million US dollars (Information Bulletin, International

Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)).

The climatic indicators of El Niño phenomenon in the Philippines are delayed onset of

the rainy season and early termination of the rainy season resulting to below-average

precipitation, prolonged shortages in the water supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or

ground water which greatly affects crops (PAG-ASA). Water is very important to plant growth.
Water helps the plant move nutrients from the soil up through its stems and leaves in order to

produce fruits. To help maintain the growth of their crops during this season, farmers use

irrigation which adds to the principal capital used by the farmers and lessen their yields from

their crops.

Statement of the Problem

The agriculture industry of the Philippines has been triggered by the drought season it is

experiencing. The yield of the farmers has been drastically decreasing as its effect. Various ways

on lessening the effect has been done by the farmers and one of this ways is using pump powered

irrigation. Now a days, pumped powered irrigation which common Filipino farmers used, does

not contribute much in lessening the decrease of their yield. Prices of goods has been

considerably increasing and one of those goods is fuels which is badly needed in enabling pump

motors. Irrigation has contributed significantly to poverty reduction and food security for farmers

but the greater need of improvement is recognized to improve farmers’ quality of life.

Objectives of the Study

The general objective of the study is to design an irrigation system using a pump powered

by whirlpool generator.

Specifically, it aims to:

 provide sufficient water for irrigations for agricultural land

  design a miniature of an irrigation system using pump powered by

whirlpool generator

 provide turbine that supplies power for the pump

Conceptual framework

This study focuses on designing a pump powered by whirlpool generator irrigation

system. The researchers aim to address the current problem affecting farmers.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

Water availability and access:

 Proximity
 Temporal quantity and quality of
available water
 Approximate lifting technologies
and conveyance structures

Cost and Construction: Technology improved

 Materials irrigation system
 Design
 Energy and time requirement

Impacts:
 Socio-economic
 Food security
 Nutritional
 Environmental
Significance the of the Study

This paper focuses on studying the pump powered by whirlpool generator for irrigation. In

addition, the researchers, through this study, wish to share the benefits and contributing factors in

the progress and development to the following:

 To the government – refers to help them to sustain the loss of energy that is use in

irrigation.

 To the farmers - refers to the study will help to come up with an idea of choosing

improvised materials. It will also solve problems concerning irrigation. Lastly, they can

achieve low cost expenses.

 To the environment - this study refers to help the environment to have a greater

opportunity to become healthier and to come back to its old shape little by little.

 To the readers - refers to help them realize that there are also ways to help the

community by improvising machines for environmental purposes.

 To the present researchers- refers to help them discover and appreciate the application of

hydraulics and engineering in real life and to learn in advance things for their chosen

profession that lies ahead

 To the future researchers – refers to help researchers who wish to have a study related or

somehow similar to this study would benefit them by giving good and reliable basis.
Scope and limitations

This study will focus on the design of a pump powered by a whirlpool generator.

The design will be presented through the built miniature. The proposed project is limited

on elevated agricultural land near a water source.

 Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATE LITERATURE

For over 5,000 years, irrigation has been both the central feature of agriculture and

product of many cultures. Irrigation is the application of controlled amounts of water to plants in

growing agricultural crops, maintaining landscape and revegetating disturbed soils in dry areas

and during period of less than average rainfall. It also helps in suppressing weed growth in grain

fields and preventing soil consolidation.

In the Philippines, irrigation development has been influenced by three distinct factors;

the country has been and still chiefly agricultural, rapid increase of mostly rice-eating population

and a pronounced rainy season punctuated by typhoons followed by a relative dry summer period

(Jose B Del Rosario, NIA book).

Two of the most common problems with farm irrigation system have to do with irrigation

scheduling. Starting an irrigation cycle can be too early and/or running an irrigation cycle too

long is considered over watering. At the very least this practice wastes both water and money.

Overwatering can cause crop damage if done on a prolonged basis, likewise starting an irrigation

cycle too late or not running the system for a long enough period of time is considered under

watering and can caused reduced yields and poor crop quality which can affect price. Looking at

these problems in depth is the key to minimizing their financial and practical impact on crops.
 The heart of most irrigation systems is pump. To make an irrigation system as efficient as

possible, the pump must be selected to match the requirements of the water source, the water

distribution system and the irrigation equipment (Thomas F. Scherer, NDSU). Pump is a device

that uses kinetic energy of flowing water to force a small fraction of that water to a reservoir at a

higher level. Fluids tends to flow from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure.

In some study, a solar energy operated water pump is designed for a small scale irrigation

system replacing the conventional system which makes use of natural fuels that are exhaustible

and non-friendly to the environment. The main concentration of this study is implementing solar

power source because of its abundance and it is more volatile than any other fuel resources. The

solar powered water pumps can be even implemented in hilly areas (Fenjo A, et al.,2017)

Today, more than 85% of renewable energy comes from rivers and most of hydropower

plants are situated in hilly areas because hydel plants need the potential difference in the water

level to rotate the turbine. Though it is considered a renewable energy at a high extent in its

construction. But the problem seems to be solved as new and innovative concept of hydropower

plant has been given by some Belgian engineers who have developed a turbine known as

whirlpool generator. Whirlpool generator is a low pressure turbine with submersible generator

fitted inside which generates electricity that is sufficient to power up 60 houses 24/7 without

harming nature as well as aquatic life. It has been developed by Turbulent, a Belgian company

(Anmol Tiwary, 2019). It is capable of converting energy in low moving fluid to rotational
energy using low hydraulic head. This technology is based on a round basin with a central drain.

Above the drain the water forms a stable line vortex which drives a water turbine.

In an article which focused on free surface vortex (FSV) as hydraulic

phenomenon and its application in engineering fields especially for micro hydropower

sites; it is indicated that FSV is a cornerstone of the gravitational water vortex power

plant has achieved great significance for the global environmental concerns.
 Chapter 3

Methodology

Project Design

A hole will be dug beside the water source and a concrete channel will be constructed. A

water level height difference of 1.5 m must be observed. The water channel should be created in

such way that whirlpool can easily be generated. The main component, the turbine is fitted in the

lower core of the basin. This turbine generates electricity with the help of a submersible

generator which will be fitted inside it. Also, a gate is provided in the channel to control excess

of water flow to maintain the required pressure of water and save the turbine. As the water starts

to flow, whirlpool is generated and which gives the energy to rotate the turbine and generate

electricity to power the pump (Anmol Tiwary, 2019).

 Discussion

Table 1. Project Cost Breakdown

COST ANALYSIS
Cost
Turbine 15 kw
Unit Cost 3,700,000
Installation Cost 150,000
Maintenance Cost/year 10,000
Pump 7.5 kw
Unit Cost 1,150,000
Installation Cost 50,000
Maintenance Cost/year 5,000
Pipes
110mm diameter/1200 8500mm 10,200
80 mm diameter/1100 1000mm 1,100

Grand Total 5,076,300

Net Gross Water Supply Cost Net Income

Per Cropping of 6 Ricefield 81000 5500 75500
Per Ricefield is 0.5 hectares

Per Hectare is 1500 kg of Rice 4500

Every 1 kilo of Rice Cost, Pesos 18
High Class Rice

Water Needed, cu.m. 11000

0.5 pesos per cu.m. 0.5

Water Suppy Cost

6 hectares, pesos 5500
 Table 1 presents the tabulated cost of the project. The generator is expected to generate

15kw of electricity. Its unit cost is P 3,700,000, based on the standard price of Turbulent

Company. Its installation costs P150,000 with and yearly maintenance cost of P10,000 pesos.

The pump uses about 7.5 kw upon usage. Its cost is 1,150,000, an installation cost of P50,000

with a yearly maintenance cost of P5,000. The pipes installed in the system 110 mm diameter of

cost P10,200 and an 80mm diameter pipe cost P1,100. The total estimated cost of the project is

P5,076,300.
References

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data.html,retrieve from Philippines Agricultural Land (% of land area)

https://pcij.org/stories/stats-on-the-state-of-the-regionsland-population-population-
density/ , retrieve from Stats on the States of the Regions: Land, Population, Population
Density, Crystal joy dela rosa, Justin , Oliver Fiestada, PCIJ Team. Et al. July 11,2018

https://psa.gov.ph/content/review-agriculture-sector-cagayan-valley ,retrieved from A

review of Agricultural Sector in Cagayan Valley, Philippines Statistic Authority,
November 3,2004.

http://www.ijstr.org/final-print/nov2014/Land-Resource-Information-System-Of-
Cagayan-Valley-A-Guidefor-A-Sustainable-Agricultural-Production-System.pdf ,
retrieved from International Journal of Scientific & technology Research

https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/how-climate-change-affecting-philippines,
retrieved from How is climate change affecting the Philippines?, 2016

https://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/asia-pacific/philippines/in-
pictures---el-nino-and-food-security-in-the-philippines/ ,retrieved from In- Pictures- El
Niño and Food Security in the Philippines

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/environmental-sciences/scope-and-limitation-of-the-
study-environmental-sciences-essay.php , retrieved from Scope and limitation of the
Study Environmental Science Essays, 2016

https://technologyandus.com/amp/whirlpool-turbine-an-innovation-to-inlight-the-rural-
areas/ retrieved from Whirlpool Turbine an Innovation to enlight the rural areas, Anmol
Tiwary, 2019