CONTINUOUS SOLUTIONS INC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: C56-10a

Description

The agricultural sector must adopt available technological advances to decrease its significant contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Its high levels of energy and water consumption are two of the main sources of inefficiencies. At the same time, many rural communities lack access to reliable electricity, specifically under-utilizing clean energy sources. An opportunity exists for existing technologies to solve both issues through the development of a novel off-grid micro hydropower unit. One area that poses a significant challenge regarding water and energy management is modernization of crop irrigation. There is a need for alternative sources of clean and renewable energy from and used within irrigation systems. This project aims to address this problem by developing a novel energy recovery solution for harvesting power from water distribution and irrigation pipes. This project will use micro-hydropower generators that can be easily installed and operated. The proposed system will use a modular design that can adapt to different flow rates, head heights, and electrical load needs. The system will also use smart sensors and controllers that can optimize water flow to work in conjunction with other irrigation systems to optimize water usage. In Phase I, the following tasks will be performed: (1) Design and optimize a micro-hydropower system that can generate electricity from irrigation flows; (2) Develop and simulate a smart sensor and controller module that can monitor and adjust the turbine operation according to the flow conditions and load demand; and (3) Evaluate the technical feasibility and economic viability of the proposed system compared to conventional diesel pumps or grid electricity. The proposed system has potential applications in various agricultural settings where irrigation water flows are available. The system can provide clean and renewable energy for irrigation systems, reducing dependence on diesel fuel or grid electricity, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and improving water management efficiency. The system can also create new revenue streams for farmers by selling excess electricity to the grid and reducing water consumption. The system can enhance rural development by creating jobs in installation, operation, maintenance, manufacturing sectors.