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Solar PV Based Water Pumping System

Contents

• Introduction

• Solar PV water pumping system Configuration

• Components of SPWPS

• Design of SPWPS

• Challenges

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Introduction

 Solar Water Pumping

• It is an alternative system to the conventional grid or diesel generated
electricity which provides power from solar energy to pump and convey
water from the source to the point of water application.

• Solar water pump reduces the dependence on diesel, gas or coal based
electricity.

• Noise free, eco-friendly, reliable, low maintenance with no fuel cost and
having no moving parts.

• Initially expensive however cheaper energy system for long term

application.

• The water supplied by the solar water pump can be used to irrigate
crops, water livestock or provide potable drinking , cooking and
sanitation water.

 Solar PV water pumping system diagram

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Solar PV Water Pumping System Configurations

1. Battery-Coupled Solar Pumping Systems

2. Direct Coupled Solar Pumping System

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 Solar photovoltaic powered pump architecture for AC pump

600-700 VDC

SOLAR
PANEL

CAPACITOR
SURGE PROTECTOR
BANK VFD
MOTOR
MCC
B

90-300 VDC MPPT CONTROL

SOLAR
PANEL

SURGE PROTECTOR Controller

MCC
B
AC PUMP

Components of Solar Water Pump

A solar power water pumping system mainly made up of FOLLOWING components:
1) Solar PV Array
2) Solar Inverter cum pump controller
3) MPPT (inbuilt with solar inverter unit)
4) Pumps (AC/DC)
5) Mounting structures
6) Protection circuit (MCB, Surge Protector and Earth, Dry Run protection unit, etc.)
7) Switch On/Off system

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3. Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)

Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), also known as:

• Inverter

• Variable Speed Drive (VSD)

• AC Drive

A VFD can be used to control both the speed and torque of a

standard induction 3 phase AC motor.

• It varies both the frequency and amps of the AC waveform

being delivered to the motor saving costs of electricity.

• Basic components of a VFD:

• Input section, draws AC electric power from the utility.

• Rectifier section, converts the AC into DC power.

• Inverter section, converts DC back into a controllable AC

waveform. 9

 Purpose of the VFD

• VFDs help to limit demand and electrical consumption of motors by

reducing the amount of energy they consume.
– Standard motors are constant speed and when they are energized
they run at a 100% no matter the load.
– VFDs ‘Soft Start’ can protect AC electrical motors from damage
caused by sudden influxes of power.
– Only use energy you need

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A variable frequency drive converts incoming 60 Hz utility power into DC,

then converts to a simulated variable voltage, variable frequency output

AC DC AC

RECTIFIER INVERTER
(AC - DC) (DC - AC)
50/60 Hz Power
50/60 Hz

VFD
To
Motor

Electrical Energy

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How often you switch from positive

pulses to negative pulses determines
waveform frequency

Positive
+
DC Bus
Voltage

Negative -
DC Bus

RECTIFIER INVERTER
Carrier Frequency

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 Functions of VFD based Inverter (Controller)

 Soft start
 Capable of taking care of high inrush current
 Variable frequency driving from Solar power i/p
 DC to AC 3 phase conversion
 MPPT control on the Solar side to maximize the Solar Power
 Wide MPPT range allows Solar Panel acceptability in wide range and
enables a flexible selection
 Controls the o/p to motor pump set till 30% of power i/p available from
Solar
 Self recovery on sensing suitable parameters
 Constant polling of Solar i/p and Drive o/p to Motor and self reconnect
 Fully Automatic control and completely interlocked system

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Design of Solar PV Water Pumping System

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Hydraulic System & Curve

The Pump curves

(head H versus flow Q as a function of input voltage)

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Hydraulic operating points

Electrical operating points

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(Expressed as Equivalent Lengths)

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Challenges of solar water pumping system

 Optimal selection and Energy management issues:
Inadequate database and the intermittent nature of climate
 Ground water depletion risk: Solar pumping may lead to
over-irrigation and depleting of groundwater resources through
indiscriminate pumping as farmers face no additional costs of
pumping water.
 Potential mitigation measures: – Treat solar power as a “cash
crop” and allow farmers to sell surplus power to the grid at an
attractive fee-in tariff. In this case the farmers become micro-
level Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to the grid. –
 Future potential: Monitor farmers water usage via remote
monitoring features and strengthen the role of groundwater
regulators.
 Operational Challenges:
 Repair and spare parts of solar pumping systems – The
inverter needs replacement – Technical capacity of pump
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