Solar water pumping: Experimental evaluation of the Buck converter effect under low irradiance conditions

Abstract

A stand-alone solar water pumping system is an excellent solution, especially for remote locations. In such systems, solar energy is captured directly from photovoltaic panels without using battery storage or any type of energy conversion. The energy is then stored as hydraulic energy in a reservoir to be used later for purposes such as the irrigation of agricultural crops. These systems have a unique characteristic in that the operational parameters of the pumps, such as total dynamic head (TDH), flow rate, and efficiency, depend on solar irradiation, which changes with the season and across the day. The results show that in the daytime, when solar radiance is low at sunrise and sunset, the pump cannot reach the fixed head. Low solar radiance conditions have led to several ideas for pumping system adjustments. The selected solution noticeably increases the water pumped in these conditions.