Accuracy Examination of the Method of Visualizing the Electric Power Consumption by the Field Survey of Two Dairy Farms

Although electricity and fuel are necessary for farm operation due to mechanization, there are few reports which investigated the quantity and the pattern of the electric power consumed at the farms. The farmers do not know the amount and tendency of the electricity consumption at their farms because they do not have the equipment to measure the amount of consumed electricity. Then, we showed how to simply grasp the power consumption for every work and for certain periods of time in a day by the “visualization of electric power consumption.” The farmers could know the amount of consumed electricity by writing down the types, numbers, and use frequency of machine operated at the farms. Furthermore, we measured the amount of consumed electricity at farms with the electric power analyzer which could measure the amount of consumed electricity. We investigated two dairy farms in Kanagawa prefecture. By putting the estimated amount of consumed electricity at each dairy farm into the form of diagram in accordance with the “visualization of electric power consumption,” the following matters could be confirmed: (1) the power consumption and use frequency of the machine, (2) the time frame of the maximum power consumption, (3) the estimated maximum power consumption, and (4) the tendency of power consumption on an hourly basis. Based on the comparison of the actual measured values with the estimated values of consumed electricity, the amount of estimated electricity consumption of the bulk cooler became more exact by applying the value of 15 % of its rated output. However, the continuous verification shall be examined.