Estimation of Centrifugal Pump Efficiency at Variable Frequency for Irrigation Systems

Dorin Bordeasu (), Florin Dragan, Ioan Filip (), Iosif Szeidert and Gelu Ovidiu Tirian
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Dorin Bordeasu: Department of Automation and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Vasile Parvan, No. 2, 300223 Timisoara, Romania
Florin Dragan: Department of Automation and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Vasile Parvan, No. 2, 300223 Timisoara, Romania
Ioan Filip: Department of Automation and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Vasile Parvan, No. 2, 300223 Timisoara, Romania
Iosif Szeidert: Department of Automation and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Vasile Parvan, No. 2, 300223 Timisoara, Romania
Gelu Ovidiu Tirian: Faculty of Engineering of Hunedoara, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Revoluţiei, No. 5, 331128 Hunedoara, Romania

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: The sustainability of the food production achieved with the help of irrigation systems and the sustainability of their energy consumption are major challenges of the current century. Pumping systems currently account for approximately 30% of global electrical energy consumption. As electricity prices rise, there is a growing need for technological advancements to enhance energy efficiency and reduce consumption costs effectively. This study focuses on operating centrifugal pumps at variable frequency as an effective means of achieving this goal. Most centrifugal pump manufacturers/providers traditionally assume that pump efficiency remains constant across various operating frequencies, often equating the efficiency at various frequencies to that at the standard frequency (50/60 Hz). In contrast, this paper introduces a new formula for estimating pump efficiency, crucial to precise power consumption determination, particularly in variable-frequency scenarios. The formula parameters are identified by using experimental data acquired from an existing pumping system. The tests and results presented in this paper demonstrate that the proposed formula outperforms the formulas of the current industry standards in accuracy. Practically, the new relation assures enhanced accuracy in estimating pump efficiency and absorbed power, allowing for the design of a more precise model used for control systems synthesis required for operating centrifugal pumps at variable frequency. This research offers a new way of calculating pump efficiency, which could be very useful for industry practitioners seeking to optimize energy consumption in pumping systems.

Keywords: sustainable development; irrigation system; pumping system; centrifugal pump; pump efficiency; variable frequency; efficiency estimation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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