Comparative design and performance of surface water irrigation pumps for smallholder farmers in South and Southeast Asia

Abstract

An experimental study on the performance of various Thai irrigation pump impellers and a newly design conical hollow-shaped impeller was investigated. They were tested experimentally. The design pump based on a similar theory was developed. The objectives of this experiment were to provide data for comparison of Thai irrigation pump impellers, to evaluate, and to improve the current design of Thai irrigation pumps in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner. The efficiency and design variables of Thai irrigation pump impellers were presented as a function of dimensionless specific speed in the range, 2.1 < N_s < 4.1. The geometric and design variables as functions of the specific speed and the specific diameter or Cordier diagram presented in this paper could be used as a practical design guide for Thai irrigation pump impellers. This is a preliminary design phase of Thai irrigation pump impellers and the result from this study is intended to make a modest contribution. However, they are facing new challenges that require pump performance improvement and innovative design.