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Energy and Hydraulic Performance-Based Management of Large-Scale Pressurized Irrigation Systems

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Abstract

Improving energy and hydraulic performance of large-scale pressurized irrigation is now perceived as a very pressing need, after large budgets have been allocated into systems modernization. This paper tackles this priority area by developing a management oriented multi-step methodology, that integrates different existing models, to sector the system according to the pressure requirements of the hydrants, and to regulate the pumping station for i) a fixed and a variable pressure head control, and for ii) an enhanced performance. When applied to an on-demand system in the Sinistra Ofanto irrigation scheme of Foggia (Italy), this integrated approach showed potential for energy saving under the optimal scenario of 49 %, and noticeable improvement in the system performance in terms of hydrant pressure heads, as compared to the actual conditions. The monetary assessment demonstrates that the achieved energy saving amounts to 23,636 Euros per irrigation season, 45 % among which are due to sectoring.

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Acknowledgments

This research was developed in the framework of a master thesis funded by CIHEAM-Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (MAIB), Italy and conducted in collaboration with the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Division of Land and Water Resources Management at CIHEAM-MAIB, to the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, to the Water Users Organization “Consorzio di bonifca della Capitanata”, which together made this research work possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIHEAM-Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (MAIB), via Ceglie 9, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy

    R. Khadra

  2. Regional Centre of Water Research (CREA), University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Campus universitario s/n, 02071, Albacete, Spain

    M. A Moreno

  3. CIHEAM-Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (MAIB), via Ceglie 9, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy

    H. Awada & N. Lamaddalena

Authors
  1. R. Khadra
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  2. M. A Moreno
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  3. H. Awada
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  4. N. Lamaddalena
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Correspondence to R. Khadra.

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Khadra, R., Moreno, M.A., Awada, H. et al. Energy and Hydraulic Performance-Based Management of Large-Scale Pressurized Irrigation Systems. Water Resour Manage 30, 3493–3506 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-016-1365-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-016-1365-z

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