A solar water pump is an application of photovoltaic technology which converts solar energy into electricity to run the pumping system thereby, replacing erratic grid supply and pollution-causing diesel-powered versions. The solar water pump is powered by solar modules that helps draw surface or ground water out for irrigation. The connection of this pump can be done by connecting this pump to a controller. When the sunlight falls on the solar panel, then this pump starts to pump the water by lifting from the ground. It doesn’t need electricity to run the pump. This pump is more economical and used where electricity is not available. These pumps are mostly used in agriculture and horticulture fields by farmers and also used in foundation, swimming pools, water circulation, etc
Types of Solar Pumps
Based On Technology
Submersible Solar Pumps
Drip irrigation system, also known as ‘trickle irrigation system’, is a method of applying the amount of water directly to the root zones of plants through drippers or emitters at frequent intervals. In this system, water is applied drop-by-drop or by a micro jet on the soil surface or sub-surface at a rate lower than the infiltration rate of the soil. The emitters dissipate pressure from the distribution system by means of orifices, vortexes and tortuous or long flow paths, thus, allowing a limited volume of water to be discharged. Most emitters are placed on ground, but they can also be buried. The emitted water moves within the soil system largely by unsaturated flow. The water moves into the soil and wets the root zones of plants vertically by gravity and laterally by capillary action. The lateral movement of water beneath the surface is greater in medium to heavy soil as compared to sandy soil. Drip irrigation can be used on windy days and during various land operations.
Surface Solar Pumps
Surface pumps are designed to be used in water bodies that are less than 10 meters in-depth, such as ponds and wells. They are installed on the surface and are easier to maintain. These pumps are used in ponds, shallow wells, storage tanks otherwise streams. Generally, these pumps can’t pick up the water very high from the deep well, they can push the water 200 feet or above distance
Solar Water Pumps
Based On System Configuration
AC Solar Pumps
The motor used in this kind of pump works with Alernating Current (AC), which means the Direct Current(DC) generated by the solar array is converted to AC with the help of an inverter. Under this configuration the pump controller consists of a Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) for solar array, inverter, VFD to control the AC input to pump motor and other system electronics to control the operation of Solar water pumps.
DC Solar Pumps
The motor used in this kind of pump works with direct current, thus there is no need for inverter or battery. Under this configuration, the pump controller consists of Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) and other system electronics to control the output of the solar array and required input to the pump. While DC pump is more efficient than AC pump and requires less solar panels to operate, it is difficult to maintain in remote areas as it needs specialized service centers and is expensive than AC pump