Use of Solar Energy to Power an Irrigation
System proposed for a Rooftop Garden in Kuwait
Project Deliverable II
2023-2024
Sustainable and Renewable Energy System
AE 529
Dr.Javad Farrokhi
Group Members Name ID Section
1 Batoul Abdullah 54114
F1
2 Nour Murad 53591
Summer 2024
Page 1 of 32
Table of Contents
1. Design Overview ...............................................................................3
Define the design problem. ..................................................................3
Identify engineering design requirements and define design strategy. .3
Identify all the relevant design constraints. ...........................................4
2. Design analysis .................................................................................5
a) Calculate the steady flow rate in each pipe by considering the head
losses...................................................................................................5
b) Propose two distinctive designs ......................................................7
c) Evaluation of Design Considerations: .............................................9
3. Selection of the best design ............................................................ 11
4. Conclusion ...................................................................................... 12
5. References ...................................................................................... 13
Appendix A ........................................................................................... 14
a) Solar Energy Assessment ............................................................ 14
b) Setup Setting ................................................................................16
c) Result ........................................................................................... 22
Page2
1. Design Overview
Define the design problem.
One of the design challenges that has to be addressed is the creation of a solar-powered
watering system that can be adapted to fit the specific requirements of a rooftop garden in
Kuwait that spans an area of two hundred square meters. The system must use renewable
energy sources and account for the particular environmental factors and limitations of the
rooftop location in order to ensure efficient water distribution in the garden. The report
include an appendix that offer a detailed discussion of the techniques for determining the
cost of the project, as well as the procedures that were generated from the RETScreen and
print-screen photo.
Identify engineering design requirements and define design strategy.
Efficiency The optimal growth and well-being of plants in the rooftop garden rely
on the systems capacity to carry water -effectively - to every area.
sustainability to achieve sustainability objectives and lessen dependency on traditional
energy sources the design must include solar energy -as a means of
powering the irrigation system.
Customization When customizing the system for the rooftop garden in Kuwait, the
designers took into consideration a variety of elements, including the
weather conditions, the water needs of the plants, and the available
space.
Reliability To ensure the plant's health and continuous operation, the system must
be reliable, requiring little maintenance and experiencing minimal
downtime.
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Scalability The design must be able to readily allow any future adjustments or
additions to the rooftop garden.
Identify all the relevant design constraints.
Space Given the limited area of 200 square meters, it is necessary to ensure that
Constraint the garden and irrigation system components are designed to increase
space utilization.
environment The irrigation systems in Kuwait need to be robust enough to survive the
severe heat and aridity that are characteristic of the natural environment
of the nation.
Budget The acquisition, installation, and maintenance of equipment are all
included in the limits put on the budget. It is necessary that, the design to
have an emphasis on cost-effectiveness while also preserving optimum
performance and dependability.
Regulatory The design must be in accordance with the legislation and standards that
Compliance pertain to the installation of rooftop installations, water distribution
systems, and electrical systems in order to guarantee compliance with the
requirements.
Safety It is essential that the design have elements to reduce the risk of electrical
dangers and to prevent,. water seepage in order to ensure the health and
safety of people who are operating the system as well as those who are
attending to the rooftop garden
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2. Design analysis
a) Calculate the steady flow rate in each pipe by considering the head losses
Determine System Parameters:
• Length of pipe segment (L)
𝐿 = 60 𝑚
• Diameter of each pipe (D)
𝐷 = 1 𝐼𝑛𝑐ℎ = 2.54 𝑐𝑚
• Fluid properties
• Density
𝑘𝑔
𝑝 = 1000
𝑚3
• viscosity
𝜇 = 10−3 𝑃𝑎. 𝑠
• Flow rate requirements for each pipe segment (Q)
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 −4
𝑚3
𝑄 = 600 = 1.667 × 10
ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑠
Calculate Reynolds Number (Re):
𝑉𝐷
𝑅𝑒 =
𝜈
1.667 ∗ 10−4
𝑉= 𝜋
(0.0254)2
4
𝑚
𝑉 = 0.329
𝑠
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𝑚2
𝜈 = 1.0533 ∗ 10−6
𝑠
0.329 ∗ 0.0254
𝑅𝑒 =
1.0533 ∗ 10−6
𝑅𝑒 = 7930
Determine Pipe Roughness (ε):
Relative Roughness for concrete
0.25
= = 0.009842
25.4
Relative Roughness for steel
0.025
= = 0.0009842
25.4
Calculate Friction Factor (f):
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Friction Factor (f) at Re = 7930 and Relative Roughness = 0.009842 for concrete is 0.0441
Friction Factor (f) at Re = 7930 and Relative Roughness = 0.0009842 for steel is 0.0342
Calculate Head Losses (Δh):
Using the Darcy-Weisbach equation:
𝑓𝐿𝑉 2
𝛥ℎ =
2𝐷𝑔
For concret:
𝑓𝐿𝑉 2 0.0441 ∗ 60 ∗ 0.27432
𝛥ℎ = = = 0.5753 𝑚
2𝐷𝑔 2 ∗ 0.0254 ∗ 9.81
For steel:
𝑓𝐿𝑉 2 0.035 ∗ 18 ∗ 0.3292
𝛥ℎ = = = 0.4461 𝑚
2𝐷𝑔 2 ∗ 0.0254 ∗ 9.81
b) Propose two distinctive designs
Concrete and steel are able to fulfill the standards that have been established and take into
account the public's health, safety, and welfare, in addition to taking into account global,
cultural, social, environmental, and economic criteria.
Concrete Design:
• As a result of their resistance to corrosion and its prolonged lifespan, concrete. pipes are
an excellent choice for use in highly demanding environments.
• Due to the fact that it is both inexpensive and widely accessible, concrete is an excellent.
material to utilize for large-scale construction projects.
• As a result of their significant weight, concrete pipes provide a higher resistance to
displacement, which in turn results in increased stability.
• In order to meet the needs of systems that have varying designs and flow rates, concrete
pipes .are created in a wide range of diameters and shapes.
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Steel Design:
• The lightweight nature of steel pipes makes it simple to transport and install them, which
in turn results in lower labor costs and fewer obstacles in terms of logistics.
• The fact that steel pipes are lighter and have a greater strength-to-weight ratio than
concrete pipes- makes them a more cost-effective alternative to construction pipes.
Because of this, walls may be made thinner, and diameters can be reduced.
• Steel is a more ecologically friendly alternative than concrete since it is recyclable and has
a lower impact on the environment. Concrete is a material that is used in construction.
• Considering how readily they can be adjusted and mended, steel pipes provide a
substantial amount of flexibility in terms of both design and maintenance.
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c) Evaluation of Design Considerations:
➢ Public Health, Safety, and Welfare:
Concrete Design:
• Its nature is one that is resistant to corrosion and is long-lasting.
• Weight lessens the likelihood of displacement occurring.
• The possibility that damage may occur during the process of installation and handling of
the apparatus.
Steel Design:
• An exceptional level of dependability and endurance as a result of its capability to
withstand corrosion and corrosion resistance.
• Because of its lightweight construction, there is less of a chance that it may be damaged
during handling or installation.
• It is possible that preventative measures against corrosion are required.
➢ Global, Cultural, Social Factors:
Concrete Design:
Despite the fact that it has a considerable carbon footprint and may contribute to
environmental deterioration owing to its high energy needs throughout the manufacturing
process, it is nonetheless considered a traditional practice by certain communities.
Steel Design:
When compared to concrete, this material offers a number of advantages, including a less
impact on the environment, compatibility with a circular economy -and the capacity to attract
populations who are ecologically conscious
Page9
➢ Economic Factors:
Concrete Design:
• Decreased purchase expenses for raw materials.
• If there is a need to install cumbersome apparatus, the costs can turn out to be higher.
• Despite the fact that it requires minimal care, it may be necessary to do checks on
occasion.
Steel Design:
• The initial cost of acquiring it is more than the cost of purchasing concrete to begin
with.
• Costs are reduced to a minimum as a consequence of the use of lightweight materials
and installation techniques that operate well.
• It is essential to take measures to avoid corrosion and to stick to a maintenance
program that provides for periodic checks.
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3. Selection of the best design
For the purpose of doing a comparison between the two designs, the concrete and steel
designs, we have selected the following criteria. In addition, we develop a decision-making
matrix in order to choose the most suitable design.
Concrete Design Steel Design
Criteria
Weight Rate Scale Rate Scale
Public Health, Safety and Welfare 4 1 4 2 8
Global, Cultural, Social Factors 3 2 6 2 6
Economic Factors 3 2 6 2 6
Total 16 20
After demonstrating the decision-making matrix, we will choose the design that is the most
suitable. We have come to the conclusion that the steel design is the superior design.
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4. Conclusion
Consideration of the pros and drawbacks of each material is an essential aspect of the process
of selecting pipe material for an irrigation system. Despite its durability and stability,
concrete's weight may make it difficult to work with and install. Furthermore, because of the
significant environmental impact of its manufacturing, it may be incompatible with
sustainability goals. Though it may be more costly to acquire steel initially and apply corrosion
protection methods for continuing maintenance, the material's endurance, resistance to
corrosion, and lower environmental impact make it an excellent option. Economic
considerations such as material costs, installation expenses, and maintenance requirements
should be balanced against public health, safety, welfare, global, cultural, and social aspects
of the design. The use of RETScreen software, which considers factors such as weather,
system performance, and solar radiation levels, has considerably improved the solar energy
needs of rooftop garden irrigation systems. We were able to determine the optimal number
of solar panels to meet the irrigation system's daily energy use and properly estimate their
capacity thanks to the program's user-friendly design. The RETScreen study is used in
combination with the project cost estimate to determine the feasibility and allocation of
resources required to establish and manage the solar-powered irrigation system, taking into
consideration equipment prices, installation expenditures, and maintenance procedures.
Page12
5. References
[1] F. F. Farshad and J. D. Garber, “Relative Roughness Chart for Internally Coated Pipes
(OCTG),” All Days, Oct. 03, 1999.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241782749_Relative_Roughness_Chart_f
or_Internally_Coated_Pipes_OCTG
[2] “Steel Pipe vs. Concrete Pipe | Eiffel Trading,” Eiffel Trading Company.
https://www.eiffeltrading.com/blog/post/steel-pipe-vs-concrete-pipe
[3] “What is the pipe roughness coefficient?,” Quora. https://www.quora.com/What-is-
the-pipe-roughness-coefficient
[4] DeWitt, F. P. (2012). Principles of Heat and Mass Transfer.
[5] “What are the differences between concrete and steel structures in terms of design,
materials, and construction methods?,” Quora. https://www.quora.com/What-are-
the-differences-between-concrete-and-steel-structures-in-terms-of-design-
materials-and-construction-methods
[6] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259641909_Structural_Design_Methodol
ogies_for_Concrete_Pipes_with_Steel_and_Synthetic_Fiber_Reinforcement
[7] ASHRAE. (2016). ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2016 (I-P Edition).
[8] Igor J. Karassik, J. P. (2012). Pump Handbook.
[9] Nag, P. (2017). Engineering Thermodynamics |6th Edition .
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Appendix A
a) Solar Energy Assessment
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b) Setup Setting
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c) Result
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For Natural Gas
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For Solar
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