Optimization and feasibility analysis of pico-hydro generation system used in small agricultural pipe network

Remote monitoring and control of irrigation can be realized by using agricultural automatic irrigation technology. Power supply is important to ensure the normal operation of automatic irrigation monitoring and control system. Using pipeline water flow as the energy source could solve the problem of power shortage outside the city. In order to fully utilize the water flow energy, we proposed a pico-hydro generation system in this paper, including the optimized power generation module and its peripheral circuit. Firstly, different structures of 3-D impeller models are constructed. These models are analysed and compared with each other using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the optimized impeller model is selected. Finally, the peripheral circuit is designed based on the hydraulic turbine output using the optimized impeller structure. The results show that the impeller model with 7 blades, each of which is with the angle of 53°, has a stable flow pattern. And the water energy utilization efficiency is as high as 82.1%.