A Seminar on

Solar Powered Water Pumping

System
Presented by

Subrahmanya

Department of Electrical and Electronics

Engineering

Contents
Introduction
Typical Solar Configurations
Block Diagram of SDPS and BSPS
Installing the SWPS
Applications
Conclusion
References

Introduction to Solar Water Pumping

Solar Basics:

A solar powered water pumping system is made up of

two components,
1)Solar panels:
-Photovoltaic module
2)Pumps:
-Centrifugal
-Submersible

Solar module
The power supply consists of PV panels,
-PV

panel produce Direct Current(DC) and are

made up of many cells wired in series.

The smallest element of a PV panel is the

Fig1.Solar panel

solar cell.
-Each solar cell has two or more specially prepared

Fig2.Solar cell

layers of semiconductors material that produce DC electricity

when exposed to light.

One or more solar panels installed

together is called a solar array.

Fig3.Solar array

Series and Parallel configuration

Individual PV panels can be wired in series or parallel

to obtain the required voltage or current needed to run

the pump.
The voltage and current output from panels wired in

parallel is the exact opposite of series wired panels.

Panels wired in parallel, the current (amps) output is

the sum of all the currents (amps) from the panels and
the voltage is equal to the voltage output from an
individual panel.

Power law
Manufacturers normally rate voltage(volts) and

current(amps) output from PV panels. Peak power

(watts = volts * amps) is the maximum power
available from the PV panel.
The amount of DC current produced by a PV panel is

much more sensitive to light intensity striking the

panel than voltage.
-Roughly speaking, if we halve the light intensity,
we halve the DC current output, but the voltage output
is reduced only slightly.

Types of Solar Powered Water Pumping

System
There are two basic types of solar powered water

pumping systems,
1)Battery based
2)Solar direct
A variety of factors must be considered in determining

the optimum system for a particular application.

Block Diagram of Battery based Solar Water

Pumping System

Fig 5. Block diagram of BSPS

Battery based Solar Water Pumping

System(BSPS)
Battery

based water pumping system consists of

photovoltaic(PV) panels charge controller, batteries, pump
controller and DC water pump,
- Water supply for home or cabin.
- Pumping at night.

Block Diagram of Solar Direct Water

Pumping System

Fig 4. Block Diagram of SDPS

Solar-Direct Water Pumping System(SDPS)

In solar direct pumping system electricity from the PV

modules is sent directly to the pump which in turn

pumps water through a pipe to where its needed.
Solar direct pumping systems are sized to store extra

water on sunny days so it is available on cloudy days

and at night. Water can be stored in a larger than
needed watering tank or in a separate storage tank
and then gravity fed to smaller watering tanks.

Selecting solar powered water pumping

system
Cost is a factor that must be considered when selecting a solar

powered system.
Total cost depends on many factors such as the type of system

(Solar-direct, battery based) daily water requirements,

complexity of the water delivery system etc.
For example low volume solar pumping system keep costs

down when compared to higher output solar pumping system

by using a minimum number of solar panels and by using the
entire daylight period to charge batteries or pump water.

Common information required to size a

water pump system
Maximum number of gallons of water needed daily for

each month of year.

Total vertical distance that water is to be pumped as measured

from the lowest level from the water source to highest level of
storage tank.
Description of water source.
Information on any water pumping equipment distribution

system and storage capacity presently being used.

Installing the system

When choosing a site, it is essential to avoid trees or

other obstructions that could cast shadows on the

solar panels and reduce their output.
The solar array should be mounted facing due south
in a location where they receive maximum sunlight
throughout the year.
Solar panels produce the most power when they are
pointed directly at the sun. For maximum energy
collection, the panel should be perpendicular to the
sun.

Advantages
Low operating cost
Free fuel
Environmental friendly
Easy transportation

Disadvantages
Variable yield
Water quality
Theft

Applications
Agriculture livestock watering / crop irrigation, home

gardens and drip irrigation systems.

Domestic portable water for remote homes,

campgrounds.
Pond water management and water transfer.
Water supply for villages in developing world.

Conclusion
Photovoltaic power for irrigation is cost competitive with

traditional energy sources for small, remote applications,

if the total system design and utilization timing is carefully
considered and organized to use the solar energy as
efficiently as possible. In the future, when the prices of
fossil fuels rise and the economic advantages of mass
production reduce the peak watt cost of the photovoltaic
cell, photovoltaic power will become more cost
competitive and more common.

References
Solar Powered Water Pumping Systems,

Journal of

B. Eker Trakia

Sciences, Vol. 3, No. 7, pp 7-11, 2005

Design of Photovoltaic Water Pumping System and Compare it

with
Diesel Powered Pump, M.Abu-Aligah
Number 3, June 2011 ISSN 1995-666

Volume 5,

Solar Water Pumping System, Prof. G. M. Karve ISSN 2250-

2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 7, July

2013
Solar Photo Voltaic Water Pumping: Harnessing Maximum

Power, ACEEE Int. J. on Electrical and Power Engineering,

Vol. 4, No. 1, Feb 2013

THANK YOU