Application of Diesel Generators in Agricultural Irrigation

Agriculture, as the fundamental industry of a country, its development is directly related to food security and social stability. In agricultural production, irrigation is a crucial link to ensure the growth of crops and improve the yield and quality of crops. However, in many areas, especially in remote rural and mountainous regions, there are problems such as unstable power supply from the grid and imperfect power infrastructure, which pose great challenges to agricultural irrigation. There are many application of diesel generators in agricultural irragation. As a reliable mobile power source, diesel generators play an important role in agricultural irrigation, thanks to their flexibility, high efficiency, and freedom from grid constraints.

1. Current Situation of Agricultural Irrigation and Power Demand

(1) Main Irrigation Methods in China

China has a vast territory, and the terrain, climate, and water resource conditions vary greatly in different regions. Therefore, there are diverse agricultural irrigation methods. Currently, common irrigation methods include traditional ones such as flood irrigation, border irrigation, and furrow irrigation, as well as water – saving irrigation methods like drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and micro – irrigation. Traditional irrigation methods are simple and easy to implement. But they have a low water resource utilization rate and cause serious waste. In contrast, water – saving irrigation methods can supply water precisely according to the water requirements of crops. Effectively improve the utilization rate of water resources. However, they have higher requirements for irrigation equipment and the stability of power supply.

(2) Characteristics of Power Demand in Agricultural Irrigation

The power demand in agricultural irrigation is seasonal and intermittent. During the critical growth periods of crops, such as the sowing stage, seedling stage, and heading stage, a large amount of water is needed for irrigation, resulting in high power demand. In other periods, the irrigation demand is relatively low. In addition, due to the frequent start – up and shutdown of irrigation equipment. There are also high requirements for the instant starting ability and stability of the power supply. Moreover, different irrigation methods and equipment have different power requirements. For example, the power of large – scale sprinkler irrigation machines can reach dozens of kilowatts. While that of small – scale drip irrigation systems is relatively low.

(3) Problems of Grid – supplied Power in Agricultural Irrigation

In some remote rural and mountainous areas, there are many problems with the grid – supplied power. On the one hand, the coverage of the power grid is limited, and some farmlands cannot be connected to the grid, making it impossible for irrigation equipment to operate normally. On the other hand, the power supply from the grid is unstable, often with power outages and voltage fluctuations, which affect the service life of irrigation equipment and the irrigation effect. In addition, the construction and maintenance of rural power grids lag behind. Once a failure occurs, the repair time is long, causing great inconvenience to agricultural irrigation.

2. Advantages of Diesel Generators in Agricultural Irrigation

(1) Flexibility and Mobility

Diesel generators are compact and lightweight, making them easy to move and transport. Whether it is a small piece of farmland in a remote mountainous area or a large – scale plain farmland, diesel generators can be easily moved to the irrigation site to provide power support for irrigation equipment at any time. In contrast, grid – supplied power requires the laying of complex transmission lines and is greatly restricted by geographical conditions and the coverage of the power grid.

(2) Unrestricted by the Grid

As independent power – generating equipment, diesel generators are not restricted by the grid – supplied power. When the power supply from the grid is unstable or there is a power outage, diesel generators can be quickly started to provide continuous and stable power for irrigation equipment, ensuring the smooth progress of irrigation work. This is of great significance for ensuring the growth of crops and the yield. Especially in dry seasons, timely irrigation can effectively prevent crop production reduction or even crop failure due to water shortage.

(3) Strong Instant Starting Ability

Irrigation equipment requires a large starting current when starting. Diesel generators have a strong instant starting ability and can meet the starting requirements of irrigation equipment. In contrast, some grid – supplied power systems may not be able to provide sufficient instant starting current, resulting in difficult or impossible starting of irrigation equipment.

(4) Relatively Simple Maintenance

Diesel generators have a relatively simple structure and low maintenance costs. Generally, it is only necessary to regularly replace vulnerable parts such as engine oil, filters, and spark plugs, and check the working conditions of the fuel system, cooling system, and electrical system to ensure the normal operation of diesel generators. For farmers in rural areas, this simple and easy – to – understand maintenance method is more acceptable and operable.

3. Application Cases of Diesel Generators in Agricultural Irrigation

(1) Case 1: Irrigation of Small – scale Farmland in Mountainous Areas

In a certain mountainous area, due to the complex terrain, the grid – supplied power cannot cover some farmlands. Local farmers use a 5kW diesel generator to power a small – scale drip irrigation system. The drip irrigation system covers an area of about 5 mu and mainly grows vegetables and fruits. During the growth period of crops, according to the soil moisture and crop water requirements, the diesel generator is used for 2 – 3 hours of irrigation every day. By using the diesel generator, the problem of farmland irrigation in this area has been solved, the crop yield has been significantly increased, and the farmers’ income has also increased accordingly.

(2) Case 2: Irrigation of Large – scale Farmland in Plain Areas

In a certain plain area, there are large – scale wheat fields. Local farmers use large – scale sprinkler irrigation machines for irrigation, and each sprinkler irrigation machine has a power of 30kW. Due to frequent thunderstorms in summer in this area, the grid – supplied power is unstable, affecting the sprinkler irrigation operation. To solve this problem, the farm is equipped with two 50kW diesel generators as backup power sources. When there is a power outage in the grid – supplied power, the diesel generators can be quickly started within 10 seconds to provide power for the sprinkler irrigation machines, ensuring that the irrigation work is not affected. By using diesel generators, the water supply for wheat during the critical growth period is guaranteed, and the yield and quality of wheat have been improved.

(3) Case 3: Application in Water – saving Irrigation Projects

In a certain water – saving irrigation project, an intelligent drip irrigation and micro – irrigation system is adopted. This system has high requirements for the stability of power supply. The grid – supplied power in the project location has large voltage fluctuations, affecting the normal operation of the irrigation system. To solve this problem, the project party selected a 10kW diesel generator as a backup power source and equipped it with an intelligent voltage – stabilizing device. When the voltage of the grid – supplied power fluctuates beyond the allowable range, the diesel generator starts automatically to provide stable power for the irrigation system. In this way, the efficient operation of the water – saving irrigation system is ensured, the utilization rate of water resources is improved, and the damage to irrigation equipment caused by voltage fluctuations is also reduced.

4. Problems and Solutions in the Application of Diesel Generators in Agricultural Irrigation

(1) High Fuel Costs

Diesel, as the fuel for diesel generators, has a relatively high price. Long – term use will increase the cost of agricultural irrigation. To solve this problem, the following measures can be taken: First, optimize the irrigation plan. Arrange the irrigation time and water volume reasonably according to the water – demand law of crops, and reduce unnecessary irrigation times, thereby reducing the operation time of diesel generators and fuel consumption. Second, choose energy – saving diesel generators to improve fuel utilization and reduce the fuel consumption per unit of power generation. Third, pay attention to the price fluctuations of the fuel market. Stock a certain amount of fuel when the price is low to reduce the procurement cost.

(2) Noise and Exhaust Pollution

Diesel generators generate significant noise and exhaust pollution during operation, which has a certain impact on the surrounding environment and the lives of residents. To reduce noise pollution, a sound – proof cover can be installed on the diesel generator, and sound – absorbing materials can be used to reduce the noise in the machine room. At the same time, choose low – noise diesel generator models to reduce noise generation from the source. For exhaust pollution, exhaust gas purification devices can be installed. To purify the exhaust gas and make it meet environmental protection standards. In addition, choose the installation location of the diesel generator reasonably. And try to keep it away from residential areas and environmentally sensitive areas.

(3) Technical Maintenance Difficulties

Although the maintenance of diesel generators is relatively simple. For some farmers lacking professional knowledge, there are still certain technical difficulties. To solve this problem, technical training for farmers can be strengthened. Through holding training courses and distributing technical manuals, farmers can be taught the basic principles, operation methods, maintenance knowledge, and common fault – troubleshooting techniques of diesel generators. At the same time, establish a complete after – sales service system. Professional technicians provide timely technical support and maintenance services to ensure the normal operation of diesel generators.

(4) Equipment Investment Costs

Purchasing diesel generators requires a certain amount of capital investment. For some farmers with poor economic conditions, there may be financial pressure. To reduce the equipment investment cost, the method of leasing diesel generators can be adopted. Lease diesel generators with different powers according to actual irrigation needs to reduce one – time investment. In addition, the government can introduce relevant support policies to provide certain subsidies to farmers. People purchase diesel generators for agricultural irrigation, reducing the equipment purchase cost of farmers.

5. Development Trends of Diesel Generators in Agricultural Irrigation

(1) Intelligent Development

With the continuous development of technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence, the intelligent level of diesel generators in agricultural irrigation will continue to improve. Future diesel generators will have functions such as remote monitoring, automatic diagnosis, and intelligent control. Users can use terminal devices such as mobile phones and computers to monitor the operating status of generators in real – time. Such as oil temperature, water temperature, oil pressure, power generation, and other parameters. They can also remotely control the start – up, shutdown, and operation parameter adjustment of generators according to actual irrigation needs. At the same time, the generator can automatically diagnose faults and send alarm information in a timely manner to prompt users for maintenance. To improve the reliability and operation efficiency of the equipment.

(2) Integration with New Energy

To reduce fuel costs and environmental pollution, diesel generators will be integrated with new energy sources. For example, in areas with solar resources, solar panels can be installed around farmlands to convert solar energy into electrical energy and store it. During the day when there is sufficient sunlight, solar energy is preferentially used to power irrigation equipment. When solar energy is insufficient or irrigation is needed at night, the diesel generator is started for supplementary power supply. This power-supply mode that combines new energy with diesel generators can not only make full use of renewable energy but also ensure the stability and reliability of irrigation power.

(3) Application of High – efficiency Energy – saving Technologies

In the future, diesel generators will continuously adopt high – efficiency energy – saving technologies to improve fuel utilization and reduce emissions. For example, advanced fuel injection systems, turbocharging technologies, intelligent control systems, etc. will be used to optimize the combustion process of generators. Improve energy conversion efficiency, and reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. At the same time, new types of environmentally friendly diesel generators will be developed. using clean fuels or renewable fuels to further reduce the impact on the environment.

Diesel generators have advantages such as flexibility, freedom from grid restrictions, strong instant starting ability, and relatively simple maintenance in agricultural irrigation. They can effectively solve problems such as unstable grid – supplied power and imperfect power infrastructure. Through practical application cases, it can be seen that diesel generators play an important role in the irrigation of farmlands of different scales and types, increasing crop yields and farmers’ incomes.

However, in the application of diesel generators in agricultural irrigation. There are also problems such as high fuel costs, noise and exhaust pollution, technical maintenance difficulties, and equipment investment costs. These problems need to be solved through measures such as optimizing the irrigation plan. Installing noise – reduction and exhaust – purification devices, strengthening technical training and after – sales services, and introducing support policies.

Looking ahead, with the continuous development of intelligent, new energy, and high – efficiency energy – saving technologies, the application of diesel generators in agricultural irrigation will become more extensive and in – depth, making greater contributions to promoting the modernization of agricultural development.

SR POWER will always pay attention to the needs of the agricultural irrigation field. Continuously innovate and optimize products, provide more high – quality, efficient, and environmentally friendly diesel generator solutions for agricultural users. And help the sustainable development of agricultural production to make more application of diesel generators in agricultural irragation.