Performance Evaluation of Inverted Umbrella Type Rainwater Harvesting System at Raichur Campus

Abstract

The Inverted Umbrella-Type Rainwater Harvesting System is an innovative approach to collecting and storing rainwater efficiently. It is designed in the shape of an inverted umbrella, with a lightweight and durable frame that can be installed on rooftops, open fields, and urban landscapes. This unique design was used with a aim to maximizes rainwater collection efficiency, even during light showers, while occupying minimal space. The system's adaptability to various geographic and climatic conditions makes it a versatile solution for addressing water scarcity. It has potential applications in residential, commercial, and industrial settings, contributing to more responsible water resource management. Rainfall data was collected from meteorological station at Raichur and potential for rainwater harvesting was calculated. Developed rainwater harvesting system was made out of Mild Steel material and transparent white polyethylene sheet was used as cladding material.. The Inverted Umbrella-Type Rainwater Harvesting System represents a promising step toward more responsible water resource management. The Inverted Umbrella-Type Rainwater Harvesting System of size 3m*3m was selected in the study to analyze rain water harvesting efficiency with components like canopy, central conveying pipe, storage tank, filteration mechanism etc. Once the rain falls over the canopy it was diverted to a central connecting pipe and then stored in a storage tank. A co-efficient of performance for kharif season during the year 2022 was developed to estimate the efficiency of the system. Annually 5700 litres of water can be harvested from a single unit of inverted umbrella type rainwater harvesting system. Anticipated and actual water yield during kharif season was found as 4627.56 and 4480.5 L respectively with overall efficiency as 97%. Key features of this system include high collection efficiency, a small footprint, environmental sustainability, ease of maintenance, and water quality assurance. It reduces reliance on traditional water sources, helping conserve water and mitigate environmental impacts