Economic development of a country depends upon the basic resources available. Energy is an important resource that is required for the overall economic growth and development of a country. Solar energy is an excellent source of renewable energy. Solar energy is used in solar heaters, solar refrigeration, solar cookers and photovoltaic cells.
In this article, we will discuss the use of solar power for running a water pumping system. Electrical power generated from solar energy is supplied to an electric pump in this system. The system consists of three main parts: the water pump, the controller and solar panels.
A panel of solar cells is installed to receive maximum sunlight. The size of the system depends upon the amount of water that is required and on the size of the pump.
The controller is used to match the output power received by the pump with the input power that is available from the solar panels. Controller also helps to control the voltage frequency. The system gets switched off if the voltage is too low or too high for the normal operating range of the pump.
Voltage used in solar pump motors can be AC or DC. Direct current motors are used for small applications such as for drinking water for livestock, small irrigation fields, etc. DC system is more efficient and cheap. DC electricity generated from solar panels is fed to the water pumps through the controller.
If an AC system is used, an inverter is included to change the direct current from the solar panels into an alternating current for the water pump. Solar powered water pumping system is mostly used for irrigation purposes. It is a highly reliable system for pumping water. It requires minimum maintenance and has a long service life. Water can be pumped in the daytime and stored in water tanks. Stored water can be used at any time. It is a suitable method of supplying water in the remote areas where electricity is not available.
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