An Integrated Approach to Predict Wind Resource Energy from an Urban Wind Turbine in a Complex Built Environment
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, December 2021
Pages:
17-28
Received:
30 June 2021
Accepted:
15 July 2021
Published:
27 July 2021
Abstract: Introducing an urban wind turbine in the crowded and complex City of North Sydney built environment can provide a significant opportunity to generate onsite wind energy and reduce electric demand and utility costs. Elevated turbulent conditions present a number of well-known challenges to urban wind turbines and as a result the energy production may reduce due to changes in wind speeds and directions. This current case study presents a procedure to optimize urban wind turbine energy production comprising key steps which include the project site potential for the installation of wind turbines, the estimation of the annual wind power available and the cost estimate for installation and maintenance. The wind potential for the project site was initially determined from statistical wind data cross-referenced with typical weather data for the Sydney region. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of principal wind directions were then used to adjust the local wind climate data and establish a suitable wind turbine position. Finally, the annual energy production for a number of 10-20 kW commercially available wind turbines was estimated taking into account the wind turbine power curve and technical specifications. The CFD simulations in the current study accounted for the complex site topography and incorporated the shielding impact of nearby trees and other vegetation in order to find the least turbulent area for a successful installation. This study assessed all the parameters that have impact on the accuracy of the numerical model including, computational domain, mesh distribution, numerical scheme and CFD results integration with the localized weather data for the project site.
Abstract: Introducing an urban wind turbine in the crowded and complex City of North Sydney built environment can provide a significant opportunity to generate onsite wind energy and reduce electric demand and utility costs. Elevated turbulent conditions present a number of well-known challenges to urban wind turbines and as a result the energy production ma...
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Conveyance Efficiency and Maintenance Performance Evaluation of Canals at Serenta Irrigation Scheme, Northern Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, December 2021
Pages:
29-34
Received:
12 August 2021
Accepted:
4 October 2021
Published:
5 November 2021
Abstract: Evaluation of conveyance efficiency and maintenance performance of canals in irrigation schemes is very important to improve the productivity of the irrigation scheme as whole. Thus, results help to improve the canals problem and the water loss. However, canals conveyance efficiency of Serenta irrigation scheme is not yet evaluated. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the canals conveyance efficiency and maintenance performance of the Serenta Irrigation Scheme. To evaluate the canals conveyance efficiency, canals flow were measured using Parshall flumes (for secondary and tertiary canals) and Floating method (for main canal). The results from the field measurement revealed that, the average conveyance efficiency of the main canal measured from five observations was 96.2%. The average discharge of this canal was 0.104m3/s at upper measuring point and 0.1m3/s at lower position. Thus, the amount of water lost was estimated to be 4 l/s or 0.0076 l/s/m. The source of loss was observed during the field visiting and measurement, which was due to seepage loss. From the 4 (four) secondary canals of the irrigation scheme, the average conveyance efficiency ranged from 75.86% to 91.9% with an overall mean efficiency of 86.3%. The lowest conveyance efficiency (75.86%) was observed in secondary canal 3 (SC-3). This reflected that the high amount of water loss, due to broken and cracked condition of the structure at this particular canal, which contributed for deep and off farm loss. And, the average conveyance efficiencies of the tertiary canals ranged from 63.5% to 91.3%, with the overall mean value of 76.6%. The low conveyance efficiency observed in tertiary canal 6 (TC-6), implied for high mount of loss, due to the weak earth work canal (small width), a lot of water was flowing over the canal. Unlike the main canal the secondary and tertiary canals were under performance. So to reduce water loss and improve the performance the irrigation scheme, the conveyance efficiency of the irrigation scheme should be improved through regular canal cleaning and maintenance of the broken structures by mobilizing farmers to participate on the activities.
Abstract: Evaluation of conveyance efficiency and maintenance performance of canals in irrigation schemes is very important to improve the productivity of the irrigation scheme as whole. Thus, results help to improve the canals problem and the water loss. However, canals conveyance efficiency of Serenta irrigation scheme is not yet evaluated. Therefore, this...
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